Browse: Home / 2010 / April / 19 / Taxed to Death (Book Review), Debra Purdy Kong

Taxed to Death (Book Review), Debra Purdy Kong

By on April 19, 2010

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
Debra Purdy Kong
Mystery/Suspense
[rating: 3/5]

Available in:
• Mobi/Kindle
• ePub/iPad
• PDF
• HTML
… from…
• Amazon
• MobiPocket
• AllRomanceEbooks
• OmniLit
Also in paperback

Posted in , , | Tagged , , , , | 13,146 Responses

13,146 responses to “Taxed to Death (Book Review), Debra Purdy Kong”

  1. Chriszer
    Chriszer June 22, 2025 at 8:11 am |

    https://pharmajetzt.shop/# apotheken im internet

  2. canadian pharmacies for cialis
    canadian pharmacies for cialis June 22, 2025 at 8:18 am |

    canadian pharmacies

  3. one88ing
    one88ing June 22, 2025 at 8:34 am |

    Wow! After all I got a webpage from where I can really take
    helpful information regarding my study and knowledge.

  4. kashpo dizain_otsn
    kashpo dizain_otsn June 22, 2025 at 8:36 am |

    Друзья, подскажите, где найти изящное кашпо? Выбираю подарок для мамы на 8 марта, хочется что-то женственное и красивое.

  5. EdwardSoabe
    EdwardSoabe June 22, 2025 at 8:38 am |

    https://medicijnpunt.shop/# MedicijnPunt

  6. canadian pharmacies top best
    canadian pharmacies top best June 22, 2025 at 8:40 am |

    best mail order pharmacies

  7. kashpo dizain_cnsn
    kashpo dizain_cnsn June 22, 2025 at 8:41 am |

    Ищу прикольные горшки для своей коллекции суккулентов. Хочется, чтобы каждое растение стояло в уникальной емкости.

  8. canada pharmacy estrogen without prescription
    canada pharmacy estrogen without prescription June 22, 2025 at 8:44 am |

    discount prescription drugs online

  9. MichaelRag
    MichaelRag June 22, 2025 at 8:45 am |

    купить шторы Шторы Пятигорск – это качество, стиль и традиции, воплощенные в каждой складке. Повешенные шторы

  10. GichardAdura
    GichardAdura June 22, 2025 at 8:48 am |

    Hello, after reading this remarkable piece of writing i am also glad to share my knowledge here with mates.
    cialis prezzo 5 mg

  11. kashpo dizain_irsn
    kashpo dizain_irsn June 22, 2025 at 8:49 am |

    Друзья, где найти авторские кашпо? Коллекционирую необычные вещи для дома, хочется добавить в коллекцию уникальные горшки.

  12. Moneycai
    Moneycai June 22, 2025 at 8:51 am |

    Не могу расслабиться. Онлайн чат с психологом без регистрации. Psicologo.

  13. 비아그라 구매
    비아그라 구매 June 22, 2025 at 9:07 am |

    제 동생에게 이 웹사이트를 정기적으로 방문해서 가장 최근의 업데이트를 받으라고 말할게요.

    Hi all, here every person is sharing these kinds of experience, therefore it’s fastidious to read this website, and I used to pay a quick
    visit this website everyday.

  14. AngelJat
    AngelJat June 22, 2025 at 9:10 am |

    варфейс магазин Приобретение нового оружия в Warface – это возможность расширить свой арсенал, улучшить свою статистику и адаптироваться к различным игровым ситуациям. Аккаунты Warface

  15. Geraldbep
    Geraldbep June 22, 2025 at 9:10 am |

    Zagraj w Vavada Casino – legalne kasyno online dostepne po polsku legalne kasyno online

  16. Lorenzoflilt
    Lorenzoflilt June 22, 2025 at 9:14 am |

    Effective marketing collateral is essential for promoting your brand The Key to Effective Sales Training: Strategies That Drive Results

  17. zaimpodptsmskabrak
    zaimpodptsmskabrak June 22, 2025 at 9:20 am |

    взять кредит под залог машины
    proavtolombard-pts65.ru
    кредит под птс мотоцикла

  18. Geraldbep
    Geraldbep June 22, 2025 at 9:22 am |

    Zagraj w Vavada Casino – legalne kasyno online dostepne po polsku vavada casino

  19. Lorenzoflilt
    Lorenzoflilt June 22, 2025 at 9:24 am |

    Effective marketing collateral is essential for promoting your brand The Strangest World Records That Have No Real Purpose

  20. JustinAreks
    JustinAreks June 22, 2025 at 9:25 am |

    Предлагаю https://www.openhuis.nu/19e-eeuwe-kunst/rigolet/#main/

  21. Eugeneemome
    Eugeneemome June 22, 2025 at 9:30 am |

    рабочая ссылка на фишинговый сайт Фишинговый сайт это, простыми словами, обманчивый сайт, созданный для воровства ваших паролей и других личных данных. Делаем фишинговый сайт

  22. legitimate canadian pharmacy
    legitimate canadian pharmacy June 22, 2025 at 9:33 am |

    mexican online pharmacies

  23. Lorenzoflilt
    Lorenzoflilt June 22, 2025 at 9:38 am |

    Effective marketing collateral is essential for promoting your brand Innovations in Data Center Enclosures: What’s New?

  24. Klybnaya myzika_mzMr
    Klybnaya myzika_mzMr June 22, 2025 at 9:40 am |

    слушать крутую музыку слушать крутую музыку .

  25. keramogranit kypit_aima
    keramogranit kypit_aima June 22, 2025 at 9:45 am |

    керамогранит стоимость м2 керамогранит стоимость м2 .

  26. keramogranit kypit_laPi
    keramogranit kypit_laPi June 22, 2025 at 9:50 am |

    купить керамогранит цена купить керамогранит цена .

  27. Sazrsto
    Sazrsto June 22, 2025 at 10:00 am |

    Приобрести диплом института по выгодной стоимости вы сможете, обратившись к проверенной специализированной фирме. Приобрести диплом о высшем образовании: jobs.foodtechconnect.com/companies/premialnie-diplom-24

  28. Sazraoo
    Sazraoo June 22, 2025 at 10:15 am |

    Заказать документ ВУЗа можно в нашей компании в Москве. Мы предлагаем документы об окончании любых университетов России. Даем гарантию, что при проверке документа работодателем, каких-либо подозрений не возникнет. globalscaffolders.com/employer/eonline-diploma

  29. Cazriff
    Cazriff June 22, 2025 at 10:18 am |

    Мы можем предложить документы институтов, которые находятся на территории всей РФ. Документы делаются на “правильной” бумаге высшего качества: topdubaijobs.ae/employer/frees-diplom

  30. mostbet_geoa
    mostbet_geoa June 22, 2025 at 10:23 am |

    мостбет com https://www.mostbet4019.ru

  31. amitriptyline sleep apnoea
    amitriptyline sleep apnoea June 22, 2025 at 10:29 am |

    Medicine prescribing information. Brand names.
    amitriptyline sleep apnoea
    Some trends of drug. Read information here.

  32. Mental Health_uomt
    Mental Health_uomt June 22, 2025 at 10:54 am |

    mental health chatbot http://www.mental-health5.com .

  33. where can i get cheap capoten without dr prescription
    where can i get cheap capoten without dr prescription June 22, 2025 at 11:06 am |

    can i get cheap capoten without prescription

  34. znachki na zakaz_ibOr
    znachki na zakaz_ibOr June 22, 2025 at 11:08 am |

    значки металлические на заказ znacki-na-zakaz.ru .

  35. zaimpodzalogptsekbabrak
    zaimpodzalogptsekbabrak June 22, 2025 at 11:09 am |

    деньги под птс авто
    proavtolombard-pts65.ru/ekb.html
    кредит наличными под залог авто

  36. mostbet_rdoa
    mostbet_rdoa June 22, 2025 at 11:17 am |

    mostbet com mostbet com

  37. Arthurgal
    Arthurgal June 22, 2025 at 11:27 am |

    Натяжной потолок в спальню Пластиковые окна с установкой – это комплексное решение, включающее в себя замер, изготовление, доставку и монтаж окон. Профессиональная установка гарантирует герметичность и долговечность конструкции, а также предотвращает возникновение сквозняков и теплопотерь. Натяжные потолки с гарантией по договору

  38. Melvinhof
    Melvinhof June 22, 2025 at 11:27 am |

    PharmaConnectUSA: PharmaConnectUSA – longs pharmacy store locator

  39. Diplomi_pykt
    Diplomi_pykt June 22, 2025 at 11:32 am |

    Мы предлагаем документы ВУЗов, расположенных на территории всей Российской Федерации. Купить диплом о высшем образовании:
    ourfathersfamily.com/blogs/new

  40. Dnrtbeg
    Dnrtbeg June 22, 2025 at 11:34 am |

    Мы изготавливаем дипломы любой профессии по невысоким тарифам. Мы готовы предложить документы ВУЗов, расположенных в любом регионе РФ. Дипломы и аттестаты выпускаются на “правильной” бумаге высшего качества. Это позволяет делать настоящие дипломы, которые не отличить от оригиналов. orikdok-v-gorode-irkutsk-38.online

  41. EugeneMuh
    EugeneMuh June 22, 2025 at 11:36 am |

    Обязательно попробуйте https://mightymoosehockey.teamsnapsites.com/2023/08/10/hello-world/

  42. Antoinesop
    Antoinesop June 22, 2025 at 11:36 am |

    vavada casino отзывы Отзывы реальных игроков – это ценный источник информации о Vavada Casino. Изучение отзывов позволяет узнать о преимуществах и недостатках платформы, а также получить представление об игровом опыте других пользователей.

  43. Robertdeell
    Robertdeell June 22, 2025 at 11:37 am |

    Очень советую https://strava.nu/forums/topic/qbvcx/page/1831/#post-1473429

  44. Belajar GSA SEO
    Belajar GSA SEO June 22, 2025 at 11:43 am |

    What’s up, all is going nicely here and ofcourse every one is sharing facts, that’s genuinely good, keep up writing.

    https://belajargsaseo.my.id/

  45. Product Comparisons
    Product Comparisons June 22, 2025 at 11:57 am |

    Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It actually was
    a entertainment account it. Glance complicated to far brought agreeable from you!
    However, how can we keep up a correspondence?

  46. AlbertOmips
    AlbertOmips June 22, 2025 at 12:16 pm |

    cytotec pharmacy online: Pharma Connect USA – PharmaConnectUSA

  47. pin_up_hxpa
    pin_up_hxpa June 22, 2025 at 12:29 pm |

    pin up kazino o‘yinlari bepul https://www.pinup3015.ru

  48. Klybnaya myzika_jsMr
    Klybnaya myzika_jsMr June 22, 2025 at 12:37 pm |

    dj music dj music .

  49. zaimpodptsnovosibabrak
    zaimpodptsnovosibabrak June 22, 2025 at 12:38 pm |

    кредит под залог авто без авто
    proavtolombard-pts65.ru/nsk.html
    автоломбард залог авто

  50. keramogranit kypit_dkma
    keramogranit kypit_dkma June 22, 2025 at 12:40 pm |

    керамогранит цена за м2 керамогранит цена за м2 .

1 … 121 122 123 124 125 … 263

Leave a Reply