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: |
купить игровой компьютер купить игровой компьютер .
Recently I was also looking for a working pari promo code during registration http://revolverp.forumex.ru/viewtopic.php?t=1710
1xBet promo codes are special alphanumeric codes that users can enter https://maps.google.com.ar/url?q=https://www.radio-rfe.com/content/pages/1xbet_new_account_promo_code.html
взять кредит под залог автомобиля
e-avtolombard-pts65.ru/kazan.html
взять кредит в залог автомобиля
Hi to every one, it’s truly a nice for me to pay a quick visit this website, it consists of important Information.
Преимущества деревянных домов под ключ перед каркасными и кирпичными постройками
деревянный коттедж под ключ деревянный коттедж под ключ .
лучшие dj треки скачать https://www.klubnaya-muzyka30.ru .
Unlock an exclusive welcome offer by using the 1xBet promo code 2026 https://email-support.hellobox.co/7348042/promo-code-for-1xbet-egypt-today-vip-bonus-eur130
Yes! Finally something about مبل شویی در نیاوران.
Recently I was also looking for a working pari promo code during registration http://insight24.hobbyfm.ru/viewtopic.php?t=1132
Promotional codes are the key to unlocking bonuses and extra benefits https://www.holycrossconvent.edu.na/profile/1xbeeetapp82450/profile
1xBet promo codes are special alphanumeric codes that users can enter https://socialrus.com/story20192456/1xbet-promo-code-welcome-bonus-up-to-130
сколько стоит проект перепланировки http://www.proekt-pereplanirovki-kvartiry13.ru .
Unlock an exclusive welcome offer by using the 1xBet promo code 2026 https://www.asianfanfics.com/blog/view/1329528
Эта информационная заметка содержит увлекательные сведения, которые могут вас удивить! Мы собрали интересные факты, которые сделают вашу жизнь ярче и полнее. Узнайте нечто новое о привычных аспектах повседневности и откройте для себя удивительный мир информации.
Изучить вопрос глубже – https://nakroklinikatest.ru/
Drugs information sheet. Short-Term Effects.
other brand name of metoprolol
Actual what you want to know about medicament. Get now.
Promotional codes are the key to unlocking bonuses and extra benefits https://peatix.com/user/27008775/view
1xBet promo codes are special alphanumeric codes that users can enter https://www.online-free-ads.com/index.php?page=user&action=pub_profile&id=349391
Recently I was also looking for a working pari promo code during registration http://rosseia.forumex.ru/viewtopic.php?t=3895
Hi there, just wanted to mention, I liked this article.
It was funny. Keep on posting!
Unlock an exclusive welcome offer by using the 1xBet promo code 2026 https://www.atoallinks.com/2025/1xbet-ph-free-promo-code-bonus-100-up-to-e130/
Promotional codes are the key to unlocking bonuses and extra benefits https://www.workingtontowncouncil.gov.uk/profile/1xbeeetapp40417/profile
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! However,
how can we communicate?
Greetings, I’m Ivan from Croatia. I wanna tell you about my insane experience with this next-level online casino I stumbled
on this spring.
To be honest, I was struggling badly, and now I can’t believe it myself — I hit
€1,200,000 playing mostly sports bets!
Now I’m thinking of getting a new car here in Warsaw, and investing a serious chunk of my winnings into
Ethereum.
Later I’ll probably move to a better neighborhood and
retire early.
Now I’m going by Luka from Croatia because I honestly feel like a new person. My
life is flipping upside down in the best way.
I gotta ask, what would you guys do if you had this kinda
luck? Are you wondering if it’s real right
now?
For real, I never thought I’d get out of debt.
It’s all happening so fast!
Let’s talk crypto too!
займ под залог автомобиля
e-avtolombard-pts65.ru/kazan.html
деньги под залог машины
Бездепозитный бонус в казино
where buy omnicefs pills
Hello to all, how is everything, I think every one is getting more from this website, and your views are pleasant designed for
new viewers.
Ищете незабываемый тур на Камчатку? Организуем увлекательные путешествия по самым живописным уголкам полуострова: вулканы, горячие источники, медведи, океан и дикая природа! Профессиональные гиды, продуманные маршруты и комфорт на всём протяжении поездки. Индивидуальные и групповые туры, трансфер и полное сопровождение: тур на камчатку из москвы цена
кайт : Кайт: Он – ваш билет в мир безграничной свободы! Он – ваш крылатый конь, готовый нести вас навстречу приключениям! Он – ваш верный друг, который никогда не предаст!
https://efarmaciait.com/# EFarmaciaIt
Очень советую https://ems.nitk.ac.in/?p=44
Нужен монтаж отопления в Алматы? Профессиональные специалисты быстро и качественно установят систему отопления в доме, квартире или офисе. Работаем с любыми типами оборудования, даём гарантию и обеспечиваем выезд в течение часа. Доступные цены и индивидуальный подход к каждому клиенту: монтаж отопления работы
защитный кейс калибр plastcase.ru
https://svenskapharma.com/# bettskena apotek
What’s up it’s me, I am also visiting this web
page regularly, this web site is truly pleasant and the viewers
are in fact sharing nice thoughts.
1000 рублей за регистрацию
Hey there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after browsing
through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.
Anyways, I’m definitely delighted I found
it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back frequently!
Pin Up Girisi
mostbet online скачать https://mostbet4004.ru/
My partner and I stumbled over here different web page and thought I might
as well check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you.
Look forward to exploring your web page yet again.
деньги под залог машины
e-avtolombard-pts65.ru/kemerovo.html
займ под залог птс кемерово
Предсказавшая COVID-19 “новая Ванга” назвала ближайшую дату Судного дня
https://x.com/kiselev_igr/status/1935957113026539690
Medication information leaflet. What side effects?
where to buy cheap macrobid for sale
Everything information about medicament. Read information here.
кейс защитный 1100 1000 410 https://plastcase.ru/
Amazing blog! Do you have any hints for aspiring writers?
I’m planning to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you recommend starting with a free platform like WordPress
or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there
that I’m completely overwhelmed .. Any recommendations?
Bless you!
кайтсерфинг в крыму обучение Кайт споты Египта разнообразны и предлагают отличные условия для кайтинга. Каждый спот имеет свои особенности, и кайтеры могут выбрать место в зависимости от уровня подготовки и предпочтений.
Купить документ о получении высшего образования можно в нашем сервисе. Приобрести диплом ВУЗа по невысокой стоимости возможно, обращаясь к надежной специализированной фирме. babygirls008.copiny.com/question/details/id/1105077
Мы можем предложить дипломы любой профессии по доступным тарифам. Мы можем предложить документы техникумов, которые находятся в любом регионе России. Дипломы и аттестаты выпускаются на “правильной” бумаге высшего качества. Это дает возможность делать настоящие дипломы, не отличимые от оригиналов. orikdok-v-gorode-vologda-35.online
pin up bonus ro‘yxatdan o‘tish orqali pin up bonus ro‘yxatdan o‘tish orqali