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A KEVIN R. TIPPLE BOOK REVIEW: Murder Off The Books: A Sullivan Investigations Mystery by Evelyn David
Murder Off The Books: A Sullivan Investigations Mystery By Evelyn David Echelon Press March 2007 ISBN # 978-1-59080-522-0 Uncorrected Galley
Rachel Brenner is having a rough time of it. Divorced from an idiot, living in D.C. and about to start her new job working at a funeral home, she has plenty to do and seemingly very little control over her life. Things are chaotic as it is and a break-in at her home while she is there certainly does not help things at all. The responding cops have seen it all before and are bored except for their amusement that in the course of the crime half of a ham was taken as well. Little does Rachel know that she is about to be drawn into a huge mess involving her brother, embezzlement and murder.
Mackenzie "Mac" Sullivan and his Irish Wolfhound Whiskey are starting a new career too. At least Mac is as he is the former cop with twenty years experience. Wherever Mac goes, Whiskey is right behind and he is now as Mac has decided to go hang out his shingle as a private investigator. His case is currently focused on Rachel, sister of the suspect, Dan Thayer, and little does she know that Mac and his always present dog will become a huge part of her life over the next seven days.
What follows is a good cozy with plenty of humor, action and a hint of romance. While Rachel and Mac are the main characters, Whiskey becomes a strong character in its own right proving both comic relief and stressful moments. Surrounding these three is a delightful assortment of suspects, friends and family that serve to not only move the tale forward at a steady pace but also add spice and depth to the read.
The result is a fun read that reminds one of the old "Murder, She Wrote" TV show. The characters and everything involved is different and yet the underlying theme that one knows with a wink and chuckle to the reader everything will be fine in the end fits perfectly. Justice will prevail and everything will be wrapped up nice and neat. Billed as "Book One" of a new series, the read is a great start to the foundation and hopefully not the last from this writing team.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2007 |