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: |
https://vc.ru/migration/1335599-vse-vidy-vnzh-ispanii-kak-poluchit-spisok-dokumentov-i-trebovaniya-dlya-pereezda-na-pmzh-razberem-usloviya-i-osnovaniya-dlya-polucheniya-vida-na-zhitelstvo Виза цифрового кочевника в Испании стала отличным решением для удаленных сотрудников и фрилансеров, стремящихся легально проживать в солнечной стране, и именно здесь собраны все ключевые подробности процесса подачи документов. Наш информационный сайт предоставляет исчерпывающие сведения о минимальном уровне дохода, требованиях к контрактам и особенностях налогообложения для держателей данного типа разрешения. Вы можете изучить подробный алгоритм действий и список необходимых справок тут, чтобы заблаговременно оценить свое соответствие критериям программы и начать подготовку к переезду в комфортных условиях.
read here https://jaxx-web.org
http://www.bethanyecchurch.org/System/Media/play.asp?id=52759&key=CBACC3CF-BCAB-4A1B-8E40-16F87E14A6E7
Go Here https://jaxxwallet-web.org/
click to find out more https://toast-wallet.net
you could check here https://jaxx-web.org
Нужны услуги грузчиков? оказание такелажных работ Предоставим крепких и аккуратных работников для любых задач — переезд, склад, доставка, подъем мебели. Быстрый выезд, почасовая оплата, гибкий график и ответственность за сохранность вашего имущества.
have a peek at this site https://jaxxwallet-web.org
check that https://lumi-wallet.io
https://party.biz/forums/topic/870698/1xbet-promo-code-2026-1xtax200-130-bonus/view/post_id/1950766
Среди подмосковных ландшафтов, в Клину, развивается садовый комплекс “Всё Своё”, предлагающий разнообразные саженцы деревьев и кустов, адаптированные к местной погоде. Ассортимент включает яблони, груши, вишни, сливы, а также редкие многосортовые гибриды и колоновидные формы, полностью адаптированные к зиме и гарантирующие щедрый урожай. Внимание уделено и кустам: малина, смородина, голубика, жимолость, включая декоративные гортензии, розы, хвойные и пионы, более 500 позиций от проверенных поставщиков из России. Профессионалы дают консультации, организуют доставку и посадку, обеспечивая крепкие растения по выгодным ценам. Посетите https://sadovodklin.ru/ чтобы ознакомиться с каталогом, акциями и форумом, где делятся советами по уходу за садом в суровых условиях севера России, и сделайте заказ прямо онлайн или по телефону для самовывоза.
that site https://jaxxwallet-web.org/
Лайнер из Китая оказался чистым, современным и очень хорошо обслуживаемым https://kruizy-iz-kataya.ru/
have a peek at this website https://jaxxwallet-web.org
see this website https://toast-wallet.net/
more https://lumi-wallet.io
https://www.milliescentedrocks.com/board/board_topic/2189097/7647919.htm
this content https://toast-wallet.net
discover here https://jaxx-web.org/
you could check here https://toast-wallet.net/
their website https://jaxx-web.org
click over here https://jaxxwallet-web.org
The Charlie Method PDF is a breath of fresh air. It revitalizes the stale. This guide is oxygen for your goals. Read it now to breathe deep and fill your lungs with the spirit of accomplishment. https://thecharliemethodpdf.site/ The Charlie Method Hockey Romance Pdf
бухгалтерские услуги в эстонии цены https://financeprofessional.ee/ .
Wow! This is a cool platform. They really do have the low fees.
Play Lightning Roulette Online on the official website https://lightningrouletteplay.com/en/ . Learn how to play Lightning online roulette, as well as how to register an account, make a deposit or withdrawal, and learn game strategies. And be sure to take advantage of our lucrative bonuses and promotions!
canada online pharmacy
https://roughstuffmedia.activeboard.com/t72400840/1xbet-promo-code-check-2026-1x200mix-130-bonus/?page=1#lastPostAnchor
his explanation https://jaxx-web.org/
link https://jaxx-web.org/
read review https://jaxxwallet-web.org/
Путешествие прошло спокойно и приятно, персонал всегда готов помочь, атмосфера на борту дружелюбная: https://kruizy-iz-kataya.ru/
check here https://jaxxwallet-web.org
this contact form https://toast-wallet.net/
like it https://jaxx-web.org
Iphone 17 Air Colors Leak Leather Iphone Air Case Iphone 17 Release Date Iphone 17 Coming Out Soon Iphone 17 Air Price Uk Iphone 17 Price In India And Pre-Order Details Iphone 17 Pro Max Specs Apple Official Site What Colors Do The Iphone Air Come In
Make your next reading session unforgettable with a book that hits all the right notes. Getting the Check and Mate PDF is the first step toward enjoying a story that has been praised for its character development and unique setting in the world of chess. https://checkandmatepdf.site/ Ali Hazelwood Check And Mate Pdf
More hints https://jaxxwallet-web.org/
go to my blog https://lumi-wallet.io/
Since the admin of this website is working,
no question very quickly it will be famous,
due to its quality contents.
купить диплом в новосибирске без предоплаты r-diploma31.ru .
site here https://toast-wallet.net
have a peek at these guys https://lumi-wallet.io/
visit site https://jaxx-web.org/
Just wanted to share, a helpful article on cross-border shipping rules. It explains how to avoid scams for antibiotics. You can read it here: п»їthis link.
Your Domain Name https://jaxxwallet-web.org/
find out this here https://toast-wallet.net
Just read this insightful article, worth a look http://vetshonoredhere.com/kupit-diplom-gosobrazca-realnye-dannye-i-pechati-259-2/
плазменный автоклав plazm-sterilizatory.ru .
спасибо за инфу , но только узнал про новый список запвеществ , чувствую вся лавочка прикроется на некоторое время … https://restxiv.ru Перевел деньги на Альфа 21.04.2014 после умення узнали даные (Ф.И.О телефон и адрес) Оператор сказал что посылка будет отправлена 22.04.2014. !!!! 23.04.2014 скинули номер наклодной. По номеру наклодной смог отслеживать свою посылку 24.04.2012.но за долгое сотрудничество с этим