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: |
jp99 online http://www.jp99-online.com .
Je suis fascine par Belgium Casino, ca offre un plaisir vibrant. Les titres proposes sont d’une richesse folle, comprenant des jeux crypto-friendly. 100% jusqu’a 500 € plus des tours gratuits. Les agents sont toujours la pour aider. Les gains arrivent en un eclair, en revanche des offres plus consequentes seraient parfaites. Pour conclure, Belgium Casino assure un divertissement non-stop. De surcroit la navigation est fluide et facile, amplifie le plaisir de jouer. A signaler les evenements communautaires engageants, propose des avantages uniques.
Casino Belgium|
мостбет ставки на спорт скачать https://mostbet12039.ru/
ganabet casino http://www.ganabet-online.com .
перепланировка комнаты http://www.soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-1.ru/ .
стоимость перепланировки квартиры стоимость перепланировки квартиры .
doctor recommended Mexican pharmacy: verified Mexican pharmacies USA delivery – doctor recommended Mexican pharmacy
рейтинг интернет агентств seo http://reiting-seo-kompanii.ru/ .
Released in 2025 by InOut Games, Chicken Road 2 blends the tension of a crash game with slot https://bailbondsmesaaz.com/pl/privacy/
goliathcasino https://goliath-casino.com .
Je suis emerveille par Betify Casino, c’est une plateforme qui deborde de dynamisme. Les options de jeu sont incroyablement variees, offrant des sessions live palpitantes. 100% jusqu’a 500 € plus des tours gratuits. Le support client est irreprochable. Les transactions sont fiables et efficaces, par contre plus de promotions variees ajouteraient du fun. Dans l’ensemble, Betify Casino vaut une visite excitante. En complement la plateforme est visuellement vibrante, incite a prolonger le plaisir. Un plus le programme VIP avec des niveaux exclusifs, qui dynamise l’engagement.
Commencer maintenant|
Je suis fascine par Betify Casino, ca offre un plaisir vibrant. Il y a une abondance de jeux excitants, comprenant des jeux optimises pour Bitcoin. Le bonus de depart est top. Disponible 24/7 pour toute question. Le processus est clair et efficace, cependant plus de promotions variees ajouteraient du fun. Dans l’ensemble, Betify Casino est un endroit qui electrise. De surcroit la navigation est simple et intuitive, permet une plongee totale dans le jeu. Un avantage notable les evenements communautaires vibrants, garantit des paiements rapides.
Aller à l’intérieur|
Mobilodon is élvezheted a Casino Royale játékokat, bármikor, bárhol. Töltsd le most a Casino Royale alkalmazást, és kezdd el a játékot. Látogasd meg a casino royale coin oldalt, és ismerd meg a bónuszokat. Letölthető apk formában, gyors hozzáférés minden játékhoz.
A Casino Royale játékai között megtalálod a legjobb rulett és póker asztalokat. A Casino Royale témájú események népszerűek a játékosok körében. Nézd meg a Casino Royale streamet, és tanulj új stratégiákat. Kezdd el a játékot ingyenes demó módban. A Casino Royale coin funkció különleges extrát ad. A Casino Royale hotel luxus szolgáltatásokkal vár. A regisztráció gyors és egyszerű folyamat.
согласование перепланировки нежилых помещений согласование перепланировки нежилых помещений .
I want to highlight the material about A guide to financial management for beginners and families.
Link below:
https://codefortots.com
beep beep casino http://www.beepbeepcasino-online.com/ .
good day 4 play casino promo code http://goodday4play-online.com/ .
J’adore la vibe de Belgium Casino, il cree une experience captivante. Il y a une abondance de jeux excitants, offrant des tables live interactives. 100% jusqu’a 500 € + tours gratuits. Le suivi est impeccable. Les gains sont transferes rapidement, cependant quelques free spins en plus seraient bienvenus. Pour finir, Belgium Casino garantit un plaisir constant. A signaler le site est rapide et style, amplifie l’adrenaline du jeu. Un avantage notable le programme VIP avec des niveaux exclusifs, qui stimule l’engagement.
Poursuivre la lecture|
Je suis epate par Betway Casino, on y trouve une vibe envoutante. Il y a un eventail de titres captivants, offrant des sessions live immersives. Il donne un avantage immediat. Le suivi est d’une fiabilite exemplaire. Les transactions sont d’une fiabilite absolue, de temps en temps des offres plus importantes seraient super. Pour conclure, Betway Casino est une plateforme qui pulse. Par ailleurs la plateforme est visuellement captivante, donne envie de prolonger l’aventure. Un plus le programme VIP avec des avantages uniques, qui motive les joueurs.
Visiter la page web|
surewin http://surewin-online.com .
ganabet casino bono sin dep?sito ganabet-online.com .
перепланировка перепланировка .
сколько стоит оформление перепланировки сколько стоит оформление перепланировки .
casino ganabet bono sin dep?sito http://www.ganabet-online.com .
newsky88 register https://newsky-online.com .
Je suis captive par Betway Casino, c’est un lieu ou l’adrenaline coule a flots. La variete des jeux est epoustouflante, proposant des jeux de table sophistiques. Il donne un avantage immediat. Disponible a toute heure via chat ou email. Les transactions sont toujours securisees, neanmoins des recompenses supplementaires dynamiseraient le tout. En conclusion, Betway Casino assure un fun constant. Notons egalement la plateforme est visuellement vibrante, ce qui rend chaque session plus palpitante. Egalement top le programme VIP avec des recompenses exclusives, qui motive les joueurs.
Visiter la page web|
mostbetapk http://mostbet12039.ru/
перепланировка услуги soglasovanie-pereplanirovki-1.ru .
сколько стоит согласование перепланировки квартиры сколько стоит согласование перепланировки квартиры .
goliath casino recension https://goliath-casino.com .
valour casino valour casino .
goliath casino bedr?geri goliath-casino.com .
Evinizde hem s?kl?g? hem de kullan?sl?l?g? onemseyenler icin harika ipuclar? derledik.
Между прочим, если вас интересует Stil ve Moda Onerileri: S?kl?k ve Kullan?sl?l?k, загляните сюда.
Вот, делюсь ссылкой:
https://stilvezarafet.com
Evinizi guzellestirmek icin farkl? yaklas?m ve fikirlerle geri donecegiz.
jompay99 slot jp99-online.com .
мостбет сом http://mostbet12039.ru
регистрация перепланировки нежилого помещения регистрация перепланировки нежилого помещения .
регистрация перепланировки нежилого помещения регистрация перепланировки нежилого помещения .
icebet online icebet online .
sure win malaysia http://surewin-online.com/ .
ganabet casino ganabet-online.com .
ganabet app https://ganabet-online.com/ .
surewin online surewin-online.com .
casino ganabet https://ganabet-online.com .
newsky88 net https://newsky-online.com .
ganabet casino online ganabet-online.com .
перепланировка москва цена https://www.uzakonit-pereplanirovku-cena.ru .
I especially liked the material about TreklyGo: Your Guide to Mastering DeFi Safely.
Here, you can read it:
https://treklygo.com
как согласовать перепланировку квартиры как согласовать перепланировку квартиры .
оформить перепланировку квартиры цена https://www.uzakonit-pereplanirovku-cena.ru .
casino online ganabet ganabet-online.com .