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: |
golden hearts casino app – https://golden-hearts-us.com/golden-hearts-casino-app/
Artful home shop – Designs feel thoughtfully arranged, and the layout supports easy exploration.
Таможенное оформление импорт москва — всё под ключ, голова не болит
https://gitea.ultrasoft.cm/scottgok006598
Design showcase portal – Work is displayed neatly with attention to professional detail.
UrbanField Works – A great mix of artistic displays, navigation feels smooth and natural.
flames bet – https://flamesbet-br.com/
top asian porn web
Дальнейших успехов вам и продаж! Купить кокаин, бошки, гашиш по ходу дела отпишусь.Слив засчитан.
Explore Sergii Dima – Work is presented clearly, giving visitors a professional impression.
locowin – https://locowin-de88.com
The 1win app has become increasingly popular among users. A diverse set of features is available through this app. A key feature that attracts users is its intuitive interface.
Users can easily navigate through the different sections. The straightforward design significantly improves user satisfaction. Regular updates ensure that the app meets the evolving needs of its users.
1win aviator apk download https://livem.link/forums/users/leticiarodriquez/
cock ring gay porn
Curated Purposeful Picks – Purposeful items showcased clearly with intuitive interface and navigation.
UrbanField Art Space – Everything here has a refined creative touch, browsing was relaxing.
توتال فوتبول – https://total-football-eg.com
Artisan designs shop – Items are beautifully displayed, and the site feels lively and inspiring.
Wild Hollow Designs – The site showcases beautiful designs, with a creative layout and clear product presentation.
Design inspiration hub – The site is visually engaging, highlighting products creatively and clearly.
Visit Wild Hollow – Browsing is inspiring, with artistic products displayed in an easy-to-navigate format.
realprize login – https://realprize-us.com/realprize-login/
sky crown casino app – https://sky-crown-casino-au.com/sky-crown-casino-app/
I savor, lead to I found just what I was having a
look for. You’ve ended my 4 day lengthy hunt! God
Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
vn888 – https://vn888-vi.com
You have made some really good points there. I looked on the web for more info about the
issue and found most individuals will go along
with your views on this web site.
купить диплом советского образца http://www.r-diploma5.ru .
Doceniam wysiłek, który w to włożyłeś.
Wild Hollow boutique – The creative aesthetic stands out, with products arranged clearly for easy viewing.
live XXX cams
xpbet app – https://xpbet-br.com/xpbet-app/
best free american porn sites
8800 bet – https://8800-bet.com
victor96 casino login – https://victor96-casino-au.com/victor96-casino-login/
UrbanField Creations – Clean and artistic style throughout, made for a pleasant experience.
It’s actually a cool and helpful piece of information. I am glad
that you simply shared this helpful info with us.
Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
натяжной потолок нижний новгород цена http://natyazhnye-potolki-nizhniy-novgorod-4.ru/ .
brdice – https://brdice-br.com/
Excellent blog you have got here.. It’s hard
to find high-quality writing like yours these days.
I honestly appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!
UrbanField Display – Artistic and modern, every corner of the gallery feels carefully planned.
Creative decor shop – Items are visually appealing, and the site makes exploring designs effortless.
Curated Design Market – Organized layout with smooth browsing flow and clearly separated sections.
UrbanField Designs – Beautiful artistic feel, navigating through the gallery was smooth and fun.
UrbanField Studio Works – Such a polished collection, exploring the pieces was really satisfying.
Design and art hub – Users can navigate work that is clearly showcased and professionally styled.
Your passion elevates every topic — brilliant writing!
Purpose-Driven Hub – Clear, minimal layout with thoughtfully arranged sections and intuitive navigation.
Creative design hub – The layout feels imaginative, and products are visually appealing and well organized.
UrbanField Originals – Feels artistic and inviting, made exploring the gallery delightful.
Everything about this post radiates excitement — loved it!
Go to our updated website — https://bergkompressor.ru/
I appreciate how engaging and informative this was.