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: |
мелбет букмекерская зеркало https://melbet5006.ru/
dyson com официальный dn-kupit.ru .
https://avto-instrumenti.com/best-beauty-products
I am no longer sure the place you are getting your information, however great topic. I must spend a while studying more or understanding more. Thanks for wonderful information I used to be searching for this information for my mission.
This post is a perfect example of quality content.
https://loxan.eu/index.php?route=journal3/blog/post&journal_blog_post_id=1
https://marabukids.ro/traveling/classic-watches
https://t.me/s/kAZino_s_mIniMALnyM_DEPoZITom/8
https://www.expenews.com/en/expeditions/135/dispatches/2002#
One of your best pieces yet — absolutely loved it.
https://www.pigmamma.gr/blog/fit-pig-cake-sugar-free
https://www.diigo.com/item/note/a3uoe/8ija?k=8c1925d588d921ac33f9a8ae9359baa8
I’m now not certain the place you’re getting your info, however good topic. I needs to spend some time studying more or understanding more. Thanks for wonderful info I was looking for this information for my mission.
https://t.me/Asiapsi
Добрый день!
Топливная рампа Cummins — распределитель высокого давления. Ее трещины или утечки опасны и требуют немедленной замены. Не ремонтируйте рампу сваркой — только оригинальная замена. При снятии соблюдайте правила безопасности — давление в рампе сохраняется долго. В статье — признаки неисправности рампы и методы диагностики.
Вся информация на сайте https://pro-cummins.ru/originalnye-zapchasti-cummins-vs-analogi/
вода в топливе Cummins, неисправность масляного насоса Cummins, запах антифриза в салоне Cummins
мощность Cummins X18, ошибки системы EGR Cummins, какой Cummins подходит для Валдая
Удачи и комфортной езды!
https://reidkzjq14691.vblogetin.com/45312480/c%C3%B3digo-promocional-1xbet-el-salvador-2026-1x200red
https://cialisnet.net/1xbet-promo-code-kenya-1xbig2026-bonus-e130/
https://www.PetAdsHub.com/61/posts/1/1/1780085.html
http://historydb.date/index.php?title=1xbetfreespins
I’m no longer certain where you are getting your info, however good topic. I needs to spend some time finding out much more or working out more. Thanks for excellent info I used to be looking for this info for my mission.
Der Prozess beginnt meist mit einer intensiven Beratung. https://newdeal4peace.org/leihmutterschaft-paare-und-einzelpersonen/
I am no longer sure where you are getting your info, but great topic. I must spend some time learning more or figuring out more. Thank you for fantastic info I was looking for this information for my mission.
https://cfo-on-demand.mn.co/posts/95859451
https://www.exchangle.com/CodeVip1xbets
https://padlet.com/muhammadhasnainpk1_/discussion-topic-goes-here-5n3mh7gugixzfnu6/wish/Xb8YaLX7wgx6ayn1
https://quickcoop.videomarketingplatform.co/68aef8853159a
Try your luck with jilispin and win a big prize today!
With a broad range of games and a customer-focused design, it appeals to many gamers.
сюда водка бет казино
https://888starz.plus/pl/
This post was incredibly insightful.
https://pubhtml5.com/homepage/xtqec/
https://www.slideshare.net/bonusmelbet1?tab=about
https://alianzy-businesspartnership.com/profile.php?do=profile&from=space&action=view&username=isis-caraway_495626&name=Your_Account
https://www.highpriceddatinguk.com/read-blog/32119
https://youslade.com/read-blog/297480
Have you ever considered publishing an ebook or guest authoring on other websites?
I have a blog centered on the same information you discuss and would really like to
have you share some stories/information. I know my readers would value your
work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel
free to shoot me an e mail.
https://forum.mbprinteddroids.com/showthread.php?tid=95386
You ought to be a part of a contest for one of the best sites on the web.
I am going to recommend this site!
https://sentencedict.com/agrobacterium.html
почему не работает мелбет http://melbet5006.ru/
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w5RxffE_LD6gDSOZoT3H0ZkDh4oj26wPJVgZrpvYUzo/edit?usp=sharing
Game logic programming for slots, roulette, and blackjack https://groupslinky.com/ai-driven-personalization-in-slot-machines-adaptive-features-and-smart-rtp/
melbet .com http://melbet5006.ru
May I simply say what a relief to find someone that genuinely
understands what they’re talking about online. You certainly realize how to bring an issue to light and make
it important. More people ought to look at this and understand this side of your story.
It’s surprising you aren’t more popular since you surely have the gift.
мелбет букмекерская зеркало мелбет букмекерская зеркало
Fur viele Familien ist Surrogatmutterschaft der einzige Weg zum Kind. https://democracyrising.us/haufige-deutscher-paare-leihmutterschaft/
https://blogs.umb.edu/nehayasamamreh001/guidelines-for-blog/#comment-455
This post was full of helpful information.
https://www.byorganik.com.tr/Orta%C3%87ar%C5%9F%C4%B1%20Blog/journal-blog
https://www.cletina.com/blog/journal-blog-is-here