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: |
электрокарнизы для штор купить в москве http://www.elektrokarniz499.ru .
электрокарнизы купить в москве электрокарнизы купить в москве .
торкретирование стен цена за м2 https://www.torkretirovanie-1.ru .
Eski ama asla eskimeyen 90’lar modas?n?n guzellik s?rlar?yla dolu bu yaz?da bulusal?m.
Между прочим, если вас интересует Ev Dekorasyonunda S?kl?k ve Fonksiyonellik, загляните сюда.
Вот, делюсь ссылкой:
https://evimsicak.com
Tarz?n?zda 90’lar?n esintilerini hissetmeye baslad?g?n?za eminim. Gecmisin izlerini tas?maktan korkmay?n!
clickchain.click – Bookmarked this immediately, planning to revisit for updates and inspiration.
adrise.click – Bookmarked this immediately, planning to revisit for updates and inspiration.
https://tufarmaciatop.com/# farmacias legales en España
Cilt bak?m?na dair dogal guzellik s?rlar?n? ogrenmeye haz?r m?s?n?z?
Cilt Bak?m? ve Dogal Guzellik S?rlar? hakk?ndaki yaz? dikkatimi cekti.
Kendiniz bak?n:
https://turkbakimi.com
Dogal guzelliginizi koruyun ve her zaman en iyi versiyonunuz olun.
Je suis emerveille par Betzino Casino, ca invite a l’aventure. La gamme est variee et attrayante, offrant des experiences de casino en direct. 100% jusqu’a 500 € + tours gratuits. Le service d’assistance est au point. Les retraits sont simples et rapides, par moments quelques spins gratuits en plus seraient top. Globalement, Betzino Casino est un choix parfait pour les joueurs. Pour couronner le tout la plateforme est visuellement dynamique, ce qui rend chaque moment plus vibrant. Un element fort les nombreuses options de paris sportifs, garantit des paiements securises.
Commencer Г explorer|
trafficlaunch.click – Found practical insights today; sharing this article with colleagues later.
Каждый клик — часть цифровой эры kraken зеркало кракен darknet кракен onion кракен ссылка onion
лечение запоя
vivod-iz-zapoya-smolensk027.ru
экстренный вывод из запоя смоленск
наркологическая клиника москва наркологическая клиника москва .
гидроизоляция подвала гаража гидроизоляция подвала гаража .
частная клиника наркологическая частная клиника наркологическая .
J’adore l’energie de Vbet Casino, ca invite a l’aventure. On trouve une gamme de jeux eblouissante, incluant des paris sportifs pleins de vie. Avec des depots instantanes. Le support est fiable et reactif. Les transactions sont d’une fiabilite absolue, malgre tout des offres plus genereuses rendraient l’experience meilleure. Pour faire court, Vbet Casino offre une aventure memorable. En complement le site est rapide et engageant, ce qui rend chaque session plus excitante. Egalement super les competitions regulieres pour plus de fun, offre des bonus exclusifs.
Trouver les dГ©tails|
гидроизоляция подвала снаружи цена https://www.gidroizolyaciya-cena-7.ru .
J’adore le dynamisme de Vbet Casino, il offre une experience dynamique. On trouve une profusion de jeux palpitants, offrant des sessions live palpitantes. Avec des depots instantanes. Le suivi est d’une precision remarquable. Les retraits sont fluides et rapides, cependant plus de promotions variees ajouteraient du fun. En bref, Vbet Casino merite un detour palpitant. A souligner la navigation est intuitive et lisse, ce qui rend chaque moment plus vibrant. Egalement top les paiements securises en crypto, propose des privileges personnalises.
Entrer sur le site|
ремонт гидроизоляции фундаментов и стен подвалов https://gidroizolyaciya-cena-7.ru .
лечение зависимостей в москве http://narkologicheskaya-klinika-28.ru .
exploreandcreate – Love the creativity theme, everything feels fresh and motivating.
Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Thank you so
much, However I am experiencing problems with your RSS.
I don’t understand the reason why I can’t subscribe
to it. Is there anybody else having identical RSS issues?
Anyone that knows the answer can you kindly respond?
Thanx!!
trafficlaunch.click – Navigation felt smooth, found everything quickly without any confusing steps.
спасибо за отзыв! купить скорость, кокаин, мефедрон, гашиш Брал здесь 203-й качество отличное 1 к 10 делал на мать и мачехи с одного водника ушатывает наглухо!!! Магазин отличный, если не ждать ответа менеджера по 2 часа!!!
https://vsemetonado.ru/
J’ai un veritable coup de c?ur pour Betzino Casino, ca transporte dans un univers de plaisirs. Les jeux proposes sont d’une diversite folle, avec des machines a sous aux themes varies. 100% jusqu’a 500 € avec des spins gratuits. Les agents sont toujours la pour aider. Les gains sont transferes rapidement, par moments plus de promos regulieres ajouteraient du peps. En conclusion, Betzino Casino est une plateforme qui fait vibrer. De surcroit le site est rapide et immersif, permet une immersion complete. A souligner le programme VIP avec des niveaux exclusifs, qui motive les joueurs.
Emmenez-moi lГ -bas|
marketblaze.click – Content reads clearly, helpful examples made concepts easy to grasp.
Tarz?n?z? 90’lar?n unutulmaz modas?ndan esinlenerek gunumuze tas?mak ister misiniz? Oyleyse bu yaz?m?z tam size gore!
Кстати, если вас интересует Guzellik ve Kozmetik: 90’lar Modas?ndan Ipuclar?, посмотрите сюда.
Вот, делюсь ссылкой:
https://aynakirildi.com
Tarz?n?zda 90’lar?n esintilerini hissetmeye baslad?g?n?za eminim. Gecmisin izlerini tas?maktan korkmay?n!
Je suis enthousiaste a propos de Betzino Casino, on y trouve une energie contagieuse. Il y a une abondance de jeux excitants, proposant des jeux de casino traditionnels. Il offre un coup de pouce allechant. Disponible 24/7 par chat ou email. Le processus est clair et efficace, par ailleurs des recompenses supplementaires dynamiseraient le tout. Pour finir, Betzino Casino assure un fun constant. Pour couronner le tout le design est moderne et energique, permet une plongee totale dans le jeu. Particulierement interessant les tournois frequents pour l’adrenaline, renforce la communaute.
Regarder de plus prГЁs|
Je ne me lasse pas de Posido Casino, ca transporte dans un univers de plaisirs. Le catalogue de titres est vaste, proposant des jeux de casino traditionnels. Il rend le debut de l’aventure palpitant. Disponible 24/7 pour toute question. Les gains sont transferes rapidement, neanmoins des bonus plus varies seraient un plus. En somme, Posido Casino assure un divertissement non-stop. De surcroit l’interface est lisse et agreable, ajoute une touche de dynamisme. Un point cle le programme VIP avec des recompenses exclusives, offre des recompenses regulieres.
DГ©couvrir maintenant|
Je suis enthousiasme par Posido Casino, on ressent une ambiance de fete. Les options de jeu sont infinies, comprenant des jeux optimises pour Bitcoin. Il amplifie le plaisir des l’entree. Le service client est de qualite. Les retraits sont ultra-rapides, bien que plus de promos regulieres dynamiseraient le jeu. En conclusion, Posido Casino est un choix parfait pour les joueurs. Notons egalement la navigation est intuitive et lisse, permet une plongee totale dans le jeu. Particulierement cool les evenements communautaires vibrants, cree une communaute soudee.
Explorer le site|
Sizi gecmisten ilham alan guzellik ipuclar?yla dolu bu nostaljik yolculuga davet ediyoruz. 90’lar modas?n?n s?rlar?na goz atal?m m??
Хочу выделить раздел про Guzellik ve Kozmetik: 90’lar Modas?ndan Ipuclar?.
Вот, можете почитать:
https://aynakirildi.com
90’lar?n guzellik s?rlar?yla tarz?n?za yeni bir soluk kazand?rabilirsiniz. Eski moda, yeni size ilham olsun!
Dogal guzellik ve cilt bak?m?nda uzmanlar?n s?rlar?na yak?ndan bak?yoruz.
Bu arada, eger En Iyi Mobilya ve Dekorasyon Trendleri 2023 ile ilgileniyorsan?z, buraya bir bak?n.
Asag?daki linke bakabilirsiniz:
https://anadoludekor.com
Unutmay?n, her cilt tipi guzeldir ve dogru bak?m ile daha da guzellesir.
Dogal guzelliginizin s?rlar?n? ortaya c?karmaya var m?s?n?z?
“Zamans?z S?kl?k ve Klasik Giyim Onerileri” konusuyla ilgili olarak cok faydal? bilgiler buldum.
Kendiniz bak?n:
https://klasikstil.com
Cilt bak?m?n? hayat?n?z?n bir parcas? haline getirin ve fark? gorun.
adrise.click – Appreciate the typography choices; comfortable spacing improved my reading experience.
rankhive.click – Mobile version looks perfect; no glitches, fast scrolling, crisp text.
marketblaze.click – Bookmarked this immediately, planning to revisit for updates and inspiration.
ставки на спорт мостбет https://mostbet12036.ru
Dogal ve etkili cilt bak?m yontemlerine dair tuyolar? kesfedin.
Bu arada, eger Modern Tesettur Moda Trendleri ve Ipuclar? ile ilgileniyorsan?z, buraya goz at?n.
Iste, linki paylas?yorum:
https://giyimkeyfi.com
Cilt bak?m?n?n buyusu ile tan?s?n ve hayat?n?za kazand?r?n.
modernlivingtrend – Feels stylish and well-organized, browsing was simple and enjoyable.
ремонт подвала ремонт подвала .
Guzellik ve kozmetikte her zaman gecmisten al?nacak dersler bulunur. 90’lar?n modas?ndan guzellik s?rlar?n? kesfetmeye haz?r olun.
Между прочим, если вас интересует Ev Dekorasyonunda S?kl?k ve Fonksiyonellik, посмотрите сюда.
Вот, можете почитать:
https://evimsicak.com
Nostalji dolu bu yolculukta bizimle oldugunuz icin tesekkur ederiz. 90’lar modas? ve guzelliginin ruhunu hissedin.
1xbet mobil giri? 1xbet mobil giri? .
exploreandcreate – The theme fits perfectly with the user experience, very inviting.
adrise.click – Color palette felt calming, nothing distracting, just focused, thoughtful design.
ремонт подвала в частном доме http://www.gidroizolyaciya-podvala-cena.ru/ .
xbet giri? xbet giri? .
90’lardan gunumuze uzanan guzellik anlay?s?na ?s?k tutan bu rehberle, zaman?n otesine gecen bir tarz elde edin.
По теме “Evinizde Estetik ve Fonksiyonu Birlestirin: Ipuclar? ve Trendler”, нашел много полезного.
Вот, делюсь ссылкой:
https://anadolustil.com
Guzellik, gecmisle gunumuz aras?nda bir kopru kurmakt?r. 90’lar?n moda s?rlar?, bu koprunun onemli parcalar?ndan.
наркологические клиники наркологические клиники .
наркологические клиники москвы наркологические клиники москвы .