Irish Parade Murder - A Review

 

Irish Parade Murder

by
Leslie Meier

A Review

I grew up reading Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes mysteries - bur that is about as close I got to cozy mysteries until the early 1990s when I discovered the series of Lucy Stone mysteries written by Leslie Meier. I read as many Lucy Stone books as I could for the next seven or eight years; but, because life goes on, I moved to other authors and genres. However, over the past year I have again stumbled upon this imaginative and fun cozy mystery writer. It was eleven months ago I found myself reading British Murder, a compilation of two earlier Lucy Stone books. This past week I found myself reading the newest book in the series, Irish Parade Murder (2021) and I was not disappointed.

Lucy Stone, a reporter for the local small town weekly newspaper, finds herself uncovering the details of a murder for which her main, newly hired, competition at the paper is charged. In the process she finds that she will nearly become the killer’s next victim.

I was up late for two or three nights in a row, not being able to put the book down while my eyes wanted me to put my head down on the pillow. This is a cozy mystery lover’s cozy mystery. I easily give it five stars.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

Halloween Murder - A Review

Halloween Murder

Killing Maine - A Review

Killing Maine

by

Mike Bond

A Review

An exciting, fast moving environmental-political-industrial drama that holds the reader's attention from page 1 to the last paragraph.  This author has something to say - not just a plot to deliver.  The novel is as much a  commentary on the interaction between industry, politics, and environmental concerns as it is a story to be enjoyed.  This commentary, the plot, and the theme would suggest the book should easily receive five stars.

However, a book is more than what it says.  Two problems stand out.  The first is that the writing is uneven.  This is partly covered by the first person narrative by a person whose English is marginal at best.  But not all of the writing problems can be covered by the author's use of a first person narrative.  Some of the errors found in the book were obvious slips by the editor - errors that could have been corrected with careful reading. [EDIT: An e-mail from the author let me know that I was reading a pre-publication galley - unintentional errors have been corrected in the final copy.]

This reviewer's second concern is the  author's over dependence on sex as a dramatic element. If translated, as written, into a movie, the result would most likely be an R-rated extravaganza.  Perhaps with some careful (i.e. very careful) directing and editing, the resulting product could arrive on the big screen with a PG-13 rating.  No warning was made that this was a major part of the story - at all levels of the book.  

Mike Bonds has presented eco-terrorism at its best, detailing the potential evil in corporate America, politicians, and greed in all its forms.  In spite of its faults, the book did make this reviewer think - about life, death, values, and people. One cannot walk away from the book without feeling something.  The book will not leave the reader alone - which, I suspect, is the author's purpose.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.