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: |
Hello there, I found your site by means of Google whilst looking
for a comparable topic, your site got here up, it appears
great. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hello there, simply became alert to your weblog via Google, and located that it is truly informative.
I’m going to be careful for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you happen to proceed this in future.
A lot of people will likely be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
Join a vibrant residential community with vanian park aedas – official access only
top rated canadian online pharmacy
бездепозитные бонусы в казино за регистрацию
canada drugs without prescription
Hmm it appears like your site ate my first comment
(it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I
wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog.
I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to everything.
Do you have any tips for first-time blog writers?
I’d really appreciate it.
canadian drug store
bitstarz casino app – https://bitstarz-casino-77.com/bitstarz-casino-app/
I’m amazed, I have to admit. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s equally educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you’ve
hit the nail on the head. The problem is an issue that too few men and
women are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy that I came across this in my
search for something concerning this.
I appreciate how honest and thoughtful this post is.
check these guys out https://beraborrow.cc/
visit this website https://hyperliquid-wiki.cc/
look at this site http://www.winning-partnership.com/%EF%BB%BFabsolutely-free-biggest-mature-dating-online-website/
rankvelocity.click – Pages loaded fast, images appeared sharp, and formatting stayed consistent.
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having
trouble locating it but, I’d like to send you an email. I’ve got some recommendations for your
blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great site and I
look forward to seeing it grow over time.
trafficpath.click – Navigation felt smooth, found everything quickly without any confusing steps.
growthsystems.click – Bookmarked this immediately, planning to revisit for updates and inspiration.
click here to investigate https://etherealtrade.rest
trafficlogic.click – Pages loaded fast, images appeared sharp, and formatting stayed consistent.
Here’s the dirty truth: nearly all septic companies just service tanks. They’re like quick-fix salesmen at a disaster convention. But Septic Solutions? They are special. It all started back in the early 2000s when Art and his siblings—just kids barely tall enough to lift a shovel—assisted install their family’s septic system alongside a grizzled pro. Picture this: three kids knee-deep in Pennsylvania clay, learning how soil permeability affects drainage while their friends played Xbox. “We did not just dig ditches,” Art shared with me last winter, hot coffee cup in hand. “We learned how soil whispers truths. A patch of marsh plants here? That’s Mother Nature yelling ‘high water table.'”
https://deangsdy246.cavandoragh.org/how-fall-home-improvements-prevent-costly-winter-repairs
webtrafficpro.click – Bookmarked this immediately, planning to revisit for updates and inspiration.
straight from the source https://www.politraining.upiita.ipn.mx/temas/tipos-de-datos-numeros-y-strings/comment-page-234/
blog here https://boros.cfd/
Step into a new residential experience with vanian park aedas
wikipedia reference http://printerrepairreimichi.blogspot.com/2017/04/printer-repair-cost.html
read the full info here https://arch.credit/
долго гуляя по форуму, выбирал хороший магазин для себя. хотелось чтоб устраевало все! прежде всего меня интересовало качество товара и его цена! хотелось чтоб цена была доступной! так же есть большое желание всегда получать товар 100% т.к. в закладочных магазинах бывают случаи не находа, такие магазины для постоянных покупок рассматривать не стал! рассматривалось много вариантов! ну гдегде же всетаки заказать??? то предлогают сразу слишком много товара (ну как же брать если ты сам лично не знаешь за его качество)??? бывало чаще всего не устраевал сервис обслуживания! Купить кокаин, бошки, гашиш Уже заказывал и получил chm-100 и chm-400 всё ровно)магаз ровный спасибо 5+
read the full info here http://boilerrepairsrimaise.blogspot.com/2017/07/oil-boiler-repairs-cheshire.html
click here for info https://kittenswap.cc
I appreciate how practical and actionable your content is.
other http://ingenieriaymantenimiento.blogspot.com/2007/10/mantenimiento-que-es.html
non prescription
check this https://goodnames.eth.link/wiki/Documentation.html
бездепозитные бонусы казахстан за регистрацию в казино
Looking for vanian park aedas? This is the one true and official source
click here to find out more https://prjx.space/
these details https://rangerfinance.xyz/
новые бездепозитные бонусы в казино 2026
бонус за регистрацию без депозита в казино
More hints https://usdai.cloud
click this https://safeglobal.club/
have a peek here https://usdai.cloud
batbet app – https://batbet-br.com/batbet-app/
designdiscoverhub – DesignDiscoverHub features stylish selections arranged for smooth and enjoyable exploration.
why not look here http://portableairconditioningunitsoku.blogspot.com/2015/02/
intentionalstylehub – IntentionalStyleHub offers thoughtfully chosen products for a seamless browsing experience.
designbuyzone – DesignBuyZone features carefully curated stylish items in a smooth layout.
I feel that is one of the such a lot important info for
me. And i’m satisfied studying your article. But should statement on few general things,
The web site taste is ideal, the articles is truly nice : D.
Good process, cheers
look at this website https://beraborrow.cc/
потолочкин натяжные потолки нижний новгород http://natyazhnye-potolki-nizhniy-novgorod-6.ru/ .