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: |
check over here https://prlvnote.com
pop over here https://swapzome.cc/
browse around this site https://cryptoconverter.biz/
I am now not certain where you’re getting your information, however good topic. I needs to spend a while finding out much more or working out more. Thank you for magnificent information I was on the lookout for this information for my mission.
see https://slmpleswap.app
un code promo melbet
TimberCrest Gallery Hub – Each piece is thoughtfully displayed, very enjoyable to explore.
site link https://onetlmesecret.com
helpful hints https://swapcrypto.biz/
important source https://usdtswaptrx.com
п»їLately, I stumbled upon an informative page concerning cheap Indian generics. It details WHO-GMP protocols when buying antibiotics. If you are looking for Trusted Indian sources, read this: п»їkisawyer.us.com. It helped me.
imp source https://swapcrypto.biz/
you could try these out https://cryptoarbitrage.sh/
navigate to these guys https://cryptoswap.cc/
Онлайн казино cat casino слоты, live-казино и специальные предложения. Подробно о регистрации, бонусах, выводе средств и безопасности аккаунта. Перед началом игры рекомендуем изучить правила.
navigate to this site https://onetimesecret.info
https://www.dataworks-automation.gr/blog/vacation-time
their explanation https://cryptoconverter.biz/
Лучшее казино куш казино играть: слоты от популярных провайдеров, live-дилеры, акции и турниры. Разбираем бонусную политику, вейджер, платежи и сроки выплат, требования к верификации. Материал носит информационный характер.
Visit This Link https://cryptoconverter.biz
see this page https://cryptoconverter.biz/
helpful resources https://cryptoarbitrage.sh
I am now not sure where you’re getting your info, however great topic. I must spend a while studying much more or understanding more. Thanks for magnificent information I was searching for this info for my mission.
straight from the source https://crowncoinscasino.app/
Great site, i recommend it to everyone IziSwap
Мы изготавливаем дипломы любой профессии по выгодным тарифам. Стоимость может зависеть от определенной специальности, года получения и образовательного учреждения: arcviewproperties.com/author/teddy908947259
Да шляпа какая-то, менеджер работает из рук вон плохо, и валит все на курьера. Абсолютная неразбериха, понять, кто и в каком месте накосячил достоверно – просто невозможно, но тем не менее, факт остается фактом: больше недели я ожидаю отправку заказа, и это только отправка, причем, разумеется, с полной предоплатой. Общались с манагером через скайп и через аську, очень муторно, сообщения теряются, на оставленные мессаги в оффлайне не отвечает, да и в онлайне появляется довольно редко. Купить кокаин, мефедрон, бошки, гашиш, марихуану, шишки Я в личку когда ещё писал, интересовался, думал заказать, но так и не было ответа на мои вопросы!!! Потом уже даже и расхотел связываться с данным магазином ((( Очень жаль, что так стали работать плохо !!! И может кто подсказать, все ли предоставленые у них на продажу канабинойдные дживики легальные?Магазин не отвечает, может типо выходные, ждем понедельника.
browse this site https://cryptoconverter.biz/
view it https://simpieswap.app/
porno amerika
Great site, i recommend it to everyone IziSwap
I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme.
Did you create this website yourself or did you hire someone
to do it for you? Plz answer back as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to find
out where u got this from. thanks
I am no longer certain the place you’re getting your information, but good topic. I must spend a while finding out more or figuring out more. Thank you for excellent info I was looking for this information for my mission.
click site https://vapeheart.shop/
Great site, i recommend it to everyone IziSwap
browse around here https://prlvnote.com/
Resources https://crowncoinscasino.app/
view publisher site https://prlvnote.com
i loved this https://usdtswaptrx.com/
Get More Info https://crowncoinscasino.app
address https://onefimesecret.com
read more https://prlvnote.com/
look here https://swapzome.cc/
fastpay casino app – https://fastpay-casino-77.com/fastpay-casino-app/
romantik porno
best site https://simpieswap.app
porno мульт
Source https://onefimesecret.com
As the admin of this site is working, no uncertainty
very shortly it will be well-known, due to iits quality
contents. http://boyarka-inform.com/
amunra – https://amunra-de88.com