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: |
weblink https://blnk.lat
заказать анализ сайта заказать анализ сайта .
888 bet login – https://888-bet-au.com/888-bet-login/
продвижение сайта франция prodvizhenie-sajtov-v-moskve223.ru .
ding ding ding – https://ding-ding-ding.com
оптимизация сайта франция prodvizhenie-sajtov-v-moskve213.ru .
Extra time scores, matches that went beyond 90 minutes with final results
web https://kyros.my/
click this link now https://hyperdrive.ink/
check my blog https://blendfun.xyz
9y bet – https://9ybet-br.com
Tennis live scores from all Grand Slams, ATP and WTA tours updated every point
look at more info https://aixbt.buzz
Здарова народ.
Ищу совет по поводу образования за рубежом.
Они выиграли награду Star Agency Award.
Больше инфы здесь:
кракен онион зеркало
Всем удачи.
Мы гарантируем нашим клиентам полное уничтожение тараканов, кротов, мышей, блох, крыс, моли, постельных клопов уничтожение клопов в москве с гарантией
you can look here https://pactswap.org
weblink https://cwap.xyz
Create a unique design with online stamp maker free and get high-quality printing quickly and conveniently.
Creating stamps online streamlines the process for both personal and business applications.
—
No matter the need, online stamp fabrication helps users save valuable time and resources.
click for more info https://exponent.bond/
explanation https://alchemistai.buzz
Get the facts https://astake.org
click for more info https://elara.cfd/
частный seo оптимизатор частный seo оптимизатор .
Ребята, а вы знаете, где сейчас дают бонусы за регистрацию? Я проверил десятки платформ, оставил только те, где реально можно вывести. Ссылка на подборку: Mellstroy. Обсуждаем!
you can look here https://lombard.pw/
Привет! Хочу предупредить новичков: не все клубы одинаково полезны. Чтобы не слить депозит и получить выигрыш, проверяйте RTP слотов и изучайте форумные обсуждения. Я составил подборку рабочих вариантов с минимальным депозитом от 10 рублей — смотрите тут: [url=https://sailungultra.com/naslazhdaytes-igroy-v-gold-slots-kazino-onlayn-v-rossii/]голд казино официальный сайт[/url]. Делитесь опытом!
http://julymonday.net/pblog/index.php?showimage=71
see here https://heyanon.pro/
продвижение сайтов продвижение сайтов .
you could try these out https://hyperunit.buzz
home https://neur.cloud/
оптимизация и seo продвижение сайтов москва prodvizhenie-sajtov-v-moskve224.ru .
Web Site https://agentsland.org/
Мы изготавливаем дипломы психологов, юристов, экономистов и любых других профессий по приятным тарифам. Стоимость зависит от выбранной специальности, года получения и университета: whatsyournormal.com/5/diplom-za-korotkij-srok-sroki-ceny-uslovija-105-2
read the full info here https://astherus.us
раскрутка и продвижение сайта prodvizhenie-sajtov-v-moskve213.ru .
Homepage https://flaunch.cc/
служба по контракту калуга
Мы гарантируем нашим клиентам полное уничтожение тараканов, кротов, мышей, блох, крыс, моли, постельных клопов избавление от клопов
Привет! Многие спрашивают, где сейчас дают реальные выплаты. Ответ прост: смотрите на отзывы за последние 3 месяца. Я собрал актуальный рейтинг казино 2025 с фриспинами за регистрацию — ссылка: sykaaa casino. Пробовали что-то из списка?
Всем здравия! Недавно искал, где реально можно вывести деньги в онлайн казино. Оказалось, что многое зависит от RTP автомата. Проверяйте статистику выплат, читайте комментарии. Составил актуальный рейтинг на 2025 год с прямыми ссылками: Рльдорадо зеркало. Интересно, кто из вас уже играл здесь?
Offside traps, high line defenses and their success rates
Всем привет! Поделюсь лайфхаком: чтобы не слить депозит впустую, выбирайте онлайн казино с высоким RTP. Я проверил десятки сайтов и оставил только те, где реально выводят. Список тут: казино РќСЊСЋ Ретро. Кто уже играл — подтвердите?
he has a good point https://prismagent.org/
content https://prismagent.org
important site https://asterdex.cc/
click this site https://neur.cloud
visit this web-site https://blend.ad/
Visit Website https://heyanon.lat/
like it https://perena.cc