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: |
The market is rewarding disciplined players, not just aggressive ones.
читать mega onion
stromectol reviews: cost of ivermectin cream – stromectol reviews
You appear to know so much about this, and I see you’re a published author. Thanks
Players who logged history evolved more on decision making.
rankboostai – Overall, professional vibe here; trustworthy, polished, and pleasantly minimal throughout.
пояснения mega darknet
нажмите mega ссылка
Mahjong Ways 2 delivered consistency on short respins through the morning.
другие мега ссылка
There were short sessions hitting x200+ on Lucky Neko without stretching spins beyond plan.
Читать далее mega onion
Players who kept stable bets avoided unnecessary swings.
Fortune Ox is back delivering full-screen wins, drawing attention peak hours.
Greetings!
Found an awesome slot platform!
Just tried Nova Jackpot Casino and really enjoying it: Nova Jackpot reviews
Crypto is accepted. Players seem to love it.
Drop your experience below?
“yagmurlu havada cay keyfi” konusu icin cok faydal? bir yaz? buldum. Suradan okuyabilirsiniz: https://kendiyolu.com/articles/yagmurlu-havada-cay-keyfi/
https://anonyme-miniholiker.de/images/pgs/assassin039screedro.html
birxbet giri? 1xbet-giris-70.com .
посмотреть в этом разделе mega onion
Fortune Dragon appeals to those who like visual sessions with high-expectation bonuses.
узнать больше mega darknet
Изучая себя, свой внутренний мир, свое тело, женщина все лучше понимает, как тот или иной предмет гардероба воздействует на нее https://cassidy.ru/catalog/detskaya-odejda
Today highlight: efficiency, fewer spins, better decisions, exit at the right moment.
нажмите, чтобы подробнее мега сайт
смотреть здесь мега даркнет
Provider transparency on Fortune Ox math has improved this year.
Some platforms are highlighting weekly tournaments with ranking for PG Soft slots.
the discord valued consistency above exaggerated narratives.
Wild Bandito in turbo mode delivered solid streaks during peak liquidity hours.
https://brazino777.net.co/
Brazino777 Casino constituye un moderno portal de juego virtual y centro de apuestas deportivas desarrollado especialmente para la audiencia de Colombia, el cual funciona de manera autorizada y ofrece una propuesta integral ya sea por medio del movil como desde el ordenador.
https://institutocea.com/layouts/inc/?1xbet-bonus-code_and_promo-code.html
Следующая страница mega ссылка
https://brazino777.net.co/
Brazino777 Casino es un innovador casa de apuestas online asi como centro de apuestas deportivas desarrollado especialmente para la audiencia de Colombia, que se maneja de forma legal y brinda una experiencia completa tanto desde el celular como desde el ordenador.
https://brazino777.net.co/
Brazino777 Casino es un contemporaneo casa de apuestas online y tambien casa de apuestas disenado exclusivamente para el mercado colombiano, que se maneja de forma legal y ofrece una experiencia completa ya sea por medio del movil como a traves de la PC.
https://brazino777.net.co/
La plataforma Brazino777 se presenta como un innovador sitio de apuestas digital y tambien casa de apuestas pensado unicamente para el publico colombiano, que se maneja de manera autorizada y brinda una vivencia integral tanto desde el celular como a traves de la PC.
Автономний інтернет-видання, присвячена новітнім культурним явищам, мистецтву, музиці, стилю та нестандартному репортажу. Платформа зосереджується на сюжетах, які залишаються поза популярною культурою: глибокі інтерв’ю з учасниками андерграундних сцен, критичні розбори на нестандартні альбоми, аналізи образотворчості та статті про трансформацію ідентичностей. Підвищена фокус відводиться вітчизняним мистецьким процесам, незалежним музикантам, вуличній моді та напрямкам, що творять сучасний погляд нашого часу. Досліджувати цей світ ви можете на necatli.space, де тексти об’єднують глибоку аналітику з образною мовою, пропонуючи аудиторії не просто новини, а інший підхід осмислення навколишнього.
Some platforms are highlighting weekly tournaments with ranking for PG Soft slots.
Ключевой критерий правильного выбора — способность обеспечить контроль динамики. Если состояние нестабильное, симптомы нарастают волнами, есть риск резкого ухудшения ночью или уже наблюдаются опасные признаки (например, выраженная спутанность сознания, судороги, боли в груди, нарушения дыхания), безопаснее стационар. Если риски умеренные, пациент контактный и способен соблюдать рекомендации, возможна выездная помощь и дальнейшее наблюдение по плану.
Подробнее тут – http://narkologicheskaya-klinika-pushkino12.ru/chastnaya-narkologicheskaya-klinika-v-pushkino/
Помощь начинается с первичной оценки. Врач уточняет длительность запоя, время последнего приёма алкоголя, ведущие симптомы, хронические заболевания, прошлые осложнения, аллергии, а также препараты, которые пациент уже принимал самостоятельно. Далее проводится осмотр: измеряются давление и пульс, оценивается дыхание, температура, признаки обезвоживания, уровень сознания, выраженность тремора и тревоги. На основании этой информации выбирается тактика и формат — на дому, амбулаторно или в стационаре, если риски высокие.
Углубиться в тему – vyvod iz zapoya na domu orekhovo
Streamer endorsements now require visible bankroll discipline.
веб-сайте mega darknet
https://brazino777.net.co/
Brazino777 constituye un actual casino en linea junto con centro de apuestas deportivas disenado exclusivamente para los jugadores en Colombia, que opera de manera autorizada y pone a disposicion una experiencia completa ya sea por medio del movil como a traves de la PC.
Fortune Rabbit chase scenarios are systematically avoided by veterans.
зайти на сайт mega onion
Fortune Mouse kept high engagement among curious players.
https://brazino777.net.co/
Brazino777 es un actual sitio de apuestas digital junto con operador de apuestas pensado unicamente para el mercado colombiano, que se maneja de manera autorizada y pone a disposicion un recorrido completo tanto a traves del telefono inteligente como desde el ordenador.
Mahjong Ways 2 delivered good combinations in sequence.
https://brazino777.net.co/
La plataforma Brazino777 es un moderno portal de juego virtual y plataforma de apuestas desarrollado especialmente para el mercado colombiano, que realiza sus actividades con licencia oficial y brinda una vivencia integral desde el dispositivo movil como desde la computadora.
Hello everyone!
Just discovered a great gaming site!
Stumbled upon Nova Jackpot Casino and I’m impressed: read the reviews here
Great welcome bonus. Players seem to love it.
Anyone else tried Nova Jackpot?
Отдельный риск — самолечение препаратами. Часто пытаются «уснуть» с помощью снотворных или седативных, принимают лекарства от давления без контроля цифр, смешивают всё это с алкоголем. Такие сочетания могут повлиять на дыхание, сердечный ритм и уровень сознания, а симптомы становятся менее предсказуемыми. Поэтому медицинская помощь начинается с уточнения того, что уже было принято, и с оценки состояния — чтобы выбрать безопасную тактику.
Получить дополнительную информацию – вывод из запоя круглосуточно