Taxed to Death
Debra Purdy Kong
Mystery/Suspense
[rating: 3/5]
Available in:
• Mobi/Kindle
• ePub/iPad
• PDF
• HTML
… from…
• Amazon
• MobiPocket
• AllRomanceEbooks
• OmniLit
Also in paperback
When Revenue Canada auditor Alex Bellamy discovers that $150,000 is missing from Ice Craft Jewelers inventory, someone from Special Investigations suddenly takes him off the case. But Alex decides to keep investigating anyhow, and before he knows it, his best friend is dead—suicide, if you can believe it. Moreover, someone is chasing Alex himself, and he must turn to Jillian Scott, a woman he’s never met and who is as afraid of him as he is of being caught. Soon, her fears and his search embroil them in a bizarre and disturbing nightmare.
I read Taxed to Death as part of a review-exchange on GoodReads: I read someone’s book, and someone else reviews one of mine. To that end, and short of cash, I purchased a copy of Debra Purdy Kong’s Taxed to Death on the used market. This is the first in the Alex Bellamy series, the second being her more recent release, Fatal Encryption. But I couldn’t find a used copy of the more recent title, and I thought it would probably be best to start with the first in the series, anyhow.
The book started by throwing names and facts at me, as many mysteries do. Unfortunately—maybe because I’m dense—I didn’t get what was happening until later in the story. The story is billed as a mystery, but in some ways, it reads more like a suspense novel… except that I didn’t understand the characters, at all. In fact, the major viewpoint character, Les Silby, who gets the most screen-time, he’s one of the suspects. Him I got, at least as much as I could without knowing his full role until the end. Alex and Jillian, the hero and heroine of the story, I had no idea why they did most of the things they did.
As a side-effect, because the story can’t give away the ending, it frequently gave me a partial view, blanking out obvious things that the viewpoint character could see and was thinking about. Now, I’m not an expert in the mystery genre. As I recall, the mysteries I’ve read have achieved this effect simply by staying in the mind of the detective. Suspense novels, not so much, but in a suspense, it’s more important to maintain the tension between hero and villain, rather than to keep secret who the villain is. I’m not sure I liked the effect in Taxed to Death.
The story did get better near the end, as the situation became clear and the forces of evil began to close around our heroes. Even so, I never understood why Alex and Jillian did most of what they did, or felt what they felt, or thought what they were thinking. This is extremely important to me, because rich, three-dimensional characters are key to a good story. And these characters just fell flat.
This story is also missing a theme, as far as I can tell. I had originally expected something like: financial fraud is about more than money. (And that could be the theme of the story… maybe, kinda.) Or: we all pay when someone embezzles funds. (And I didn’t get that at all from this story.) Much less did I see an uplifting, character-based theme. It simply wasn’t that kind of book.
After all of that, I do hope to read the next book in the series Fatal Encryption. Why? Well, Taxed to Death is Debra Purdy Kong’s first book, published 15 years ago. That means that Debra probably put more into it than any other story she’s written, but also that it reflects her inexperience as an novelist. I’m hoping that Fatal Encryption, which came out just a couple years ago, gave her a chance to address some of the storytelling issues I noticed in Taxed to Death. Most importantly, I’m hoping she has gotten better at characterizing her characters, and I really want to get to know Alex Bellamy.
-TimK
|
Taxed to Death |
Available in: |
войти в Norm Casino
?
Если вы боитесь скачать не тот apk Норм казино, берите клиент только с официальной ссылки в телеграм?канале; там же подробно расписано, как включить установку из неизвестных источников и не словить левый софт вместо настоящего приложения.
I’ve heard the Dubai desert is beautiful, and quad biking must make it even better. Riding through the dunes gives a more active way to enjoy the scenery. It sounds like a perfect activity for adventure travelers.
Quad bike Dubai experiences look fun, thrilling, and memorable. The desert setting makes the activity feel more special than riding anywhere else. I would love to try it with friends someday.
Riding a quad bike across the dunes must feel really powerful and adventurous. The open desert gives you plenty of space to enjoy the ride. It sounds like a perfect activity for adrenaline lovers.
live wedden paypal (Arielle) app
Девушка приехала вовремя, выглядела обворожительно. Нежность, страсть и внимание в одном флаконе. Вечер превратился в настоящее удовольствие – проститутка петербург
Между прочим, если вас интересует Аналитика и мнения о финансах в России, загляните сюда.
Вот, можете почитать:
https://journal-rubl.ru
в таких случаях вызов нарколога на дом предоставляет возможность оценить состояние пациента и предложить амбулаторное лечение.
Выяснить больше – нарколог на дом
live wedden op snooker 2026
Here is my web site; Basketball-Wetten.Com
Особенно понравился раздел про Новости и обзоры бокса для фанатов.
Вот, можете почитать:
https://media-boxing.ru
Работаем в Казахстане с 2015 года — это чувствуется в качестве работы. Специалисты знают местную специфику, знакомы с требованиями КТЖ и региональных служб эксплуатации. доставка спецтехники по Казахстану
It mustbe owned,えろ 人形that here,
Вывод из запоя в Сочи требуется, когда человек не может самостоятельно прекратить употребление алкоголя, испытывает похмелья, признаки ломки, тревогу, бессонницу, рвоту, сильную слабость или резкое ухудшение самочувствие. Даже если запой длится несколько дней, риск осложнений остается высокий: страдают системы организма, печень, сердце, сосуды, нервная система, психика и общее состояние здоровья.
Подробнее тут – вывод из запоя вызов на дом сочи
мелбет мобильная версия http://melbet56606.online
The captain who scores big in matches where the required run rate stays below 8 throughout the chase.
Quad bike Dubai tours look very popular for a good reason. They offer fun, excitement, and amazing desert views all in one. It is easy to understand why tourists enjoy this activity so much.
I would love to ride a quad bike across the Dubai dunes one day. The views must be stunning, especially when the sun is low. It sounds like an adventure worth planning for.
Quad bike Dubai rides must be amazing during golden hour. The desert light at that time would make the whole experience more beautiful. It would also be perfect for taking photos and videos.
A quad bike ride in Dubai seems like a great activity with friends or family. It gives everyone a chance to enjoy something exciting together. Group adventures like this often become the best travel memories.
The feeling of riding over desert dunes must be unforgettable. Quad biking gives you both speed and beautiful surroundings. It sounds like an experience that stays in your memory for a long time.
This article gives a great idea for anyone planning a Dubai trip. Quad biking sounds like a fun activity to add to the itinerary. It is perfect for travelers who want both adventure and sightseeing.
Quad bike tours in Dubai are a great option for people who love adrenaline activities. The desert gives the ride a beautiful and challenging setting. It is definitely something that can make a trip more exciting.
этот контент https://slon8-cc.at/
https://vgrfrancepharm.online/# Acheter Sildenafil 100mg sans ordonnance
Dubai quad bike tours are a great way to experience the desert beyond sightseeing. They allow visitors to enjoy the dunes in a more exciting and hands-on way. It sounds like a very memorable adventure.
A quad bike ride in Dubai seems like a perfect adventure for anyone visiting the city. It offers a nice change from shopping malls and tall buildings. The desert experience would make the trip more balanced and exciting.
I think quad biking in Dubai would be one of the most memorable parts of a trip. The desert views alone are beautiful, but riding through them makes it even better. It sounds like an adventure that every visitor should try.
A piece that demonstrated competence without performing it, and a look at focusdesign maintained the same self assured but unshowy register, the gap between competence and performance of competence is one I track and this site has clearly chosen to demonstrate rather than perform which I find much more persuasive as a reader.
I can see why quad biking is so popular among Dubai visitors. It offers a fun way to enjoy the desert while adding some thrill. This kind of experience is perfect for tourists looking for something unique.
Запоя вывод в клинике Сочи: лечение алкогольной зависимости, капельница, детоксикация, помощь нарколога на дому, кодирование и реабилитация анонимно
Разобраться лучше – вывод из запоя клиника сочи
Quad bike Dubai experiences look fun, thrilling, and memorable. The desert setting makes the activity feel more special than riding anywhere else. I would love to try it with friends someday.
Запоя вывод в клинике Сочи: лечение алкогольной зависимости, капельница, детоксикация, помощь нарколога на дому, кодирование и реабилитация анонимно
Ознакомиться с деталями – вывод из запоя в стационаре в сочи
Halfway through reading I knew this would be one to bookmark, and a look at alliancecorebond confirmed that early intuition, when bookmark intent forms before finishing a post you know the writing has cleared a quality bar that most content fails to clear and this site has cleared it on multiple visits already.
узнать больше Здесь https://slon8-cc.at
Кстати, если вас интересует Академия Талантов: юные звёзды футбольного будущего, посмотрите сюда.
Вот, можете почитать:
https://arsenalfamily.ru
https://www.diigo.com/user/laoipiec?query=%23india
sportwedden bookmaker
my page … internet wedden sites top 10
https://wakelet.com/@opensbets265582
This is the kind of activity that makes a Dubai trip more memorable. Quad biking adds fun and excitement to the travel experience. It is perfect for visitors who want something more than regular sightseeing.
https://notes.io/e3jYJ
Riding a quad bike in Dubai sounds like an adventure worth trying. It gives visitors a chance to experience the desert in a more exciting way. I think it would be one of the best parts of a Dubai trip.
Dubai desert safari with quad biking sounds like a complete adventure package. You can enjoy the desert views and also have some exciting action. It seems like a great way to spend an afternoon or evening in Dubai.
Quad bike rides in Dubai seem perfect for both beginners and adventure seekers. Even if someone has never tried it before, the experience still looks enjoyable. With proper guidance, it can be a fun and safe desert activity.
Smart money management on Dream11 separates players who last from those who flame out.
Quad bike Dubai tours sound like an unforgettable experience for tourists. The desert views and thrilling ride make a great combination. I think this is something many visitors would remember for years.
Quad bike rides in Dubai seem perfect for both beginners and adventure seekers. Even if someone has never tried it before, the experience still looks enjoyable. With proper guidance, it can be a fun and safe desert activity.
Наркологическая помощь позволяет безопасно начать выведение токсинов, снизить интоксикации, восстановить водно-солевой баланс и подобрать дальнейшее лечение алкогольной зависимости. Нарколог проводит анализ состояния пациента, уточняет стаж употребления спиртного, причины запоя, наличие хронического заболевания, психических расстройств, противопоказаний и других ограничений. После диагностики врач выбирает схему: амбулаторно на дому, в стационаре клиники или с госпитализацией.
Узнать больше – наркология вывод из запоя в сочи
This kind of adventure is exactly what makes Dubai unique. You can enjoy luxury attractions and also experience thrilling desert activities. Quad biking is a great example of that balance.
Norm Casino войти
?
Даже если вы играете только по выходным, стоит держать подписку на официальный t.me?канал Норм казино: перед крупными акциями там заранее предупреждают о повышенном трафике, возможных задержках выплат и дают советы, когда лучше делать депозиты.
This activity looks exciting, safe, and full of great desert views. With the right tour guide, quad biking can be enjoyable even for beginners. It seems like a great way to experience Dubai’s desert.