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: |
медицинское оборудование медицинское оборудование .
This site certainly has all of the information I needed about this subject and didn’t
know who to ask.
clevelandchristmasclub.com – The tone is lighthearted and inclusive — good for a holiday-themed event.
где купить диплом техникума одних где купить диплом техникума одних .
наркологическая услуга москва https://narkologicheskaya-klinika-24.ru/ .
trendingnewsfeed.net – content appears varied, which keeps things interesting.
медтехника https://medicinskaya-tehnika.ru/ .
медтехника https://www.medicinskaya-tehnika.ru .
electmikemontes.com – The branding is consistent which helps with trust and clarity.
наркология в москве http://www.narkologicheskaya-klinika-24.ru/ .
Je suis epoustoufle par BassBet Casino, ca offre un plaisir melodique. Il y a un flot de jeux captivants, avec des slots aux designs soul. Avec des depots ultra-rapides. Le suivi est impeccable, avec une aide precise. Les retraits sont fluides comme une note tenue, cependant des recompenses supplementaires seraient vibrantes. En bref, BassBet Casino est un must pour les joueurs pour les fans de casino en ligne ! Par ailleurs la navigation est simple et rythmee, ce qui rend chaque session plus groovy. A souligner les tournois reguliers pour la competition, renforce la communaute.
bassbetcasinopromocodefr.com|
медтехника https://medicinskaya-tehnika.ru .
поставщик медицинского оборудования поставщик медицинского оборудования .
поставка медоборудования medoborudovanie-postavka.ru .
J’ai une passion feerique pour Spinit Casino, on ressent une ambiance de fees. Le catalogue est riche et varie, proposant des jeux de table elegants. Renforcant votre capital initial. Les agents repondent comme par magie, garantissant un support de qualite. Les transactions sont fiables, neanmoins des recompenses additionnelles seraient narratives. En bref, Spinit Casino est une plateforme qui enchante pour les joueurs en quete d’excitation ! En bonus l’interface est fluide comme un conte, amplifie le plaisir de jouer. Particulierement interessant le programme VIP avec des niveaux exclusifs, propose des avantages personnalises.
https://spinitcasinobonusfr.com/|
поставка медоборудования https://medoborudovanie-postavka.ru .
Je suis totalement envoute par BassBet Casino, on ressent une ambiance de studio. Il y a une profusion de jeux excitants, avec des slots aux designs rythmiques. Renforcant votre capital initial. L’assistance est efficace et professionnelle, toujours pret a jammer. Les retraits sont fluides comme un riff, cependant plus de promos regulieres ajouteraient du groove. Pour conclure, BassBet Casino garantit un plaisir constant pour les fans de casino en ligne ! De plus le site est rapide et attractif, amplifie le plaisir de jouer. Particulierement interessant les options de paris sportifs variees, propose des avantages personnalises.
https://bassbetcasinobonusfr.com/|
clevelandchristmasclub.com – Good balance between visuals and text; nothing overpowers the other.
Dogal guzelliginizin s?rlar?n? ortaya c?karmaya var m?s?n?z?
Estetik ve Fonksiyonellik: Ideal Mekan Tasar?m? hakk?ndaki yaz? dikkate degerdi.
Asag?daki linke bakabilirsiniz:
https://evsahnesi.com
Cilt bak?m?n? hayat?n?z?n bir parcas? haline getirin ve fark? gorun.
officiële Sildenafil webshop: betrouwbare online apotheek – HerenGezondheid
медтехника medicinskaya-tehnika.ru .
медтехника https://medicinskaya-tehnika.ru/ .
поставка медицинского оборудования поставка медицинского оборудования .
поставщик медоборудования medoborudovanie-postavka.ru .
медицинская техника медицинская техника .
поставщик медицинского оборудования поставщик медицинского оборудования .
медицинская техника медицинская техника .
поставка медоборудования http://www.medoborudovanie-postavka.ru .
медицинская техника медицинская техника .
наркологическая платная клиника http://narkologicheskaya-klinika-23.ru/ .
electmikemontes.com – Pages load quickly and the user experience feels smooth.
зашиваться от алкоголя narkologicheskaya-klinika-23.ru .
поставщик медицинского оборудования поставщик медицинского оборудования .
наркологическое отделение наркологии narkologicheskaya-klinika-23.ru .
Je suis epoustoufle par BassBet Casino, c’est une plateforme qui groove comme une voix soul. Le catalogue est riche en emotions, offrant des sessions live immersives. Avec des depots ultra-rapides. Les agents repondent avec un groove parfait, avec une aide precise. Le processus est simple et vibrant, cependant des recompenses supplementaires seraient vibrantes. En resume, BassBet Casino offre une experience inoubliable pour les fans de casino en ligne ! A noter le site est rapide et captivant, booste le plaisir de jouer. Egalement genial le programme VIP avec des niveaux exclusifs, assure des transactions fiables.
bassbetcasinopromocodefr.com|
поставщик медицинского оборудования поставщик медицинского оборудования .
медицинская техника медицинская техника .
поставка медоборудования http://www.medoborudovanie-postavka.ru/ .
Не понял…Его еще варить нужно??? На плитке?)) https://doramalivex.ru Брал впервые в этом магазине, брал по рекомендации!
медтехника medicinskaya-tehnika.ru .
медицинская техника медицинская техника .
clevelandchristmasclub.com – Would love to see more detailed event schedules and pricing info.
J’adore l’atmosphere mythique de Spinit Casino, on ressent une ambiance de fees. Les options sont vastes comme un grimoire, avec des slots aux designs enchantes. Amplifiant le plaisir de jeu. Le service est disponible 24/7, offrant des reponses claires. Les transactions sont fiables, bien que des recompenses additionnelles seraient narratives. En bref, Spinit Casino est une plateforme qui enchante pour les amateurs de sensations enchantees ! En bonus le site est rapide et captivant, facilite une immersion totale. A souligner le programme VIP avec des niveaux exclusifs, assure des transactions fiables.
https://spinitcasinobonusfr.com/|
Je suis totalement envoute par BassBet Casino, ca plonge dans un monde de notes. Le catalogue est riche et varie, proposant des jeux de table elegants. Amplifiant le plaisir de jeu. L’assistance est efficace et professionnelle, joignable a toute heure. Les transactions sont fiables, de temps a autre quelques tours gratuits supplementaires seraient bien venus. En resume, BassBet Casino vaut une jam session pour les passionnes de jeux modernes ! Ajoutons que la navigation est simple et rythmee, ajoute une touche de rythme. Un plus le programme VIP avec des niveaux exclusifs, propose des avantages personnalises.
https://bassbetcasinobonusfr.com/|
electmikemontes.com – Overall a strong web presence that makes a good first impression.
медицинская техника медицинская техника .
поставка медицинского оборудования поставка медицинского оборудования .
наркологические клиники http://www.narkologicheskaya-klinika-23.ru .
kraken
kraken client
платная наркологическая клиника в москве http://www.narkologicheskaya-klinika-23.ru .