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: |
Extra resources https://aixbt.buzz/
winner – https://winner-de.com
calm living store – The site feels cozy and organized, with product descriptions that make sense.
wikipedia reference https://neur.cloud/
visit their website https://prismagent.org
use this link https://upshift.my/
here are the findings https://cwap.us
заказать анализ сайта заказать анализ сайта .
zylavocore access – Cohesive design and readable content create a balanced experience.
why not find out more https://exponent.lat
he has a good point https://agents-land.org
growth journey – Messaging feels methodical and encourages steady improvement.
read here https://gofundmeme.us
Extra resources https://agents-land.org
Direct site access – Easy-to-follow structure gives a professional feel right from the start.
address https://xmaquina.us
go to this web-site https://alchemistai.buzz/
ХОРОШО СВЯЖЕМСЯ КОГДА ПРИЕДУ ДОМОЙ Я НА ПРИРОДЕ ДАВЛЮСЬ ПИВОМ А МАГАЗИНЕ НАПИСАНО ЧТО ОТПРАВЛЕН MXE Купить Кокаин, Бошки, Мефедрон, Гашиш Бро как с тобой связатся это ярослав мудрый.не плохие ребята, все в срок и по месту)
wildgrainstore.shop – Charming layout, products are easy to find and shopping feels effortless.
夜班医生第四季高清完整官方版，海外华人可免费观看最新热播剧集。
оптимизация сайта франция цена prodvizhenie-sajtov-v-moskve225.ru .
look at these guys https://xmaquina.org/
his comment is here https://elara.uno/
3 Oaks secured certification from the UK Gambling Commission in February 2024 and officially entered the UK market in April of this year, striking a partnership with BVGroup. It is that continued push into European markets that made Starcasino an ideal partner for 3 Oaks. 3 Oaks Gaming has entered the Dutch igaming market through a partnership with Starcasino, which will integrate the supplier’s portfolio of slot titles into its platform. 3 Oaks Gaming has continued its expansion into the UK market by signing a new content partnership with DAZN Bet, the sportsbook and online casino brand of sports broadcaster DAZN Group. Central to the features are the clover-adorned penny symbols, which carry multipliers ranging from x2 to 1,000x. These symbols can land either with the leprechaun or independently, boosting the total win at the end of a spin. If several multipliers land simultaneously, their values are combined, potentially leading to substantial payouts.
https://rush777.net/fortune-gems-by-tadagaming-a-thrilling-online-casino-experience-for-indian-players/
The 39-year-old was among four Indian air force officers shortlisted last year to travel on the country’s first-ever human space flight, scheduled for 2027. India has also announced ambitious plans to set up a space station by 2035 and send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040. Russian satellite breaks up in space, forces ISS astronauts to shelter Another point of contrast: unlike the United States’s highly law-based approach to international consensus-building, China is shaping outer-space norms through project-based initiatives: The San Angelo Hispanic Heritage Museum is dedicated to celebrating and preserving Hispanic culture and heritage in the Concho Valley. Through educational programs, cultural events, and community engagement, the museum aims to promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of the rich traditions and contributions of the Hispanic community.
these details https://upshift.ltd
Ищете ремонт окон пвх? Посетите сайт сервис-окон.бел где вам предложат качественные услуги по обслуживанию и ремонту пластиковых окон, а также по замене оконной фурнитуры и ремонту балконных дверей. Все цены, на наши услуги, вы сможете посмотреть на сайте, а выезд мастера осуществляется оперативно. В наличии все запчасти, даже на старые пластиковые окна. Лишь надежное восстановление оконных конструкций с предоставлением гарантии!
click here to read https://astake.lat
this page https://gofundmeme.sbs
right here https://nucleusearn.org
Recommended Reading https://agents-land.xyz
click https://blend.ad/
go to these guys https://nucleusearn.org
Season reviews, comprehensive summaries of completed campaigns
click this site https://gofundmeme.cc
have a peek at these guys https://heyanon.lat
Привет всем! Решил поделиться, как найти платящее онлайн казино в 2025 году. Главное — не гнаться за большими бонусами, а смотреть на официальную регистрацию и отзывы реальных игроков. Я собрал список проверенных площадок с быстрым кэш-аутом — вот тут: казино мелстроя. Кто уже пробовал?
продвижение на геосервисах Репутолог — специалист, который занимается управлением репутацией в интернете, в том числе на геосервисах, таких как Яндекс Карты, 2ГИС, Google Maps. Особая роль геосервисов: Яндекс Карты, 2ГИС, Google Maps. В арсенале репутолога особое место занимают геосервисы. Для многих потребителей именно эти платформы становятся первым источником информации о локальном бизнесе. Представьте: человек ищет ближайшую кофейню, автосервис или салон красоты. Первое, что он видит – это карточка компании на Яндекс Картах, 2ГИС или Google Maps. И именно там он обратит внимание на рейтинг, количество отзывов и их содержание.
investigate this site https://cwap.us/
Привет всем! Решил поделиться, как найти платящее онлайн игровой сайт в 2025 году. Главное — не гнаться за большими бонусами, а смотреть на лицензию и скорость выплат. Я собрал список проверенных площадок с фриспинами без отыгрыша — вот тут: [url=https://wifispotpro.com/2025/11/18/igrayte-v-onlaynkazino-v-novom-retrostile-v-zerkale-sayta-dlya-rossii/]Ретро казино[/url]. Кто уже пробовал?
More Bonuses https://kyros.wtf
QQ88 mang đến hệ sinh thái cá cược trực tuyến toàn diện, nổi bật với casino live, slot đổi thưởng, bắn cá và thể thao ổn định.
this link https://lombard.pw
web link https://colend.lat/
find this https://hyperunit.cc/
look at these guys https://nucleusearn.org/
growvanta.click – Bookmarked this immediately, planning to revisit for updates and inspiration.
try these out https://astake.lat
Get the facts https://orbitcryptoai.cloud/
he said https://noon.pics/
Привет, форумчане! Решил поделиться лайфхаком: как найти онлайн казино, где реально выводят деньги. Главное — не верить рекламе, а смотреть на лицензию и реальные рейтинги. Я собрал проверенные варианты с выводом на Сбербанк — ссылка тут: new retro casino. Кто уже пробовал?