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: |
I for all time emailed this blog post page to all my associates, because
if like to read it afterward my links will too.
you could try here Hacking software (e.g., keyloggers, malware)
click to read ZeroDay Darknet Market
However selective I am about new bookmarks this one made it past my filter, and a look at galafactors confirmed the bookmark was worth the slot, the precious slots in my permanent bookmark folder are difficult to earn and this site earned one without making me think twice about whether the slot was justified by the quality.
Your Domain Name Stolen funds in digital wallets
important link Hacking software (e.g., keyloggers, malware)
why not look here Remote access services (RDP, SSH)
Website Stolen funds in digital wallets
Эта доказательная статья представляет собой глубокое погружение в успехи и вызовы лечения зависимостей. Мы обращаемся к научным исследованиям и опыту специалистов, чтобы предоставить читателям надежные данные об эффективности различных методик. Изучите, что работает лучше всего, и получите информацию от экспертов.
Нажмите, чтобы узнать больше – detox24 в краснодаре
частный киллер
В статье по вопросам здоровья мы рассматриваем актуальные проблемы, с которыми сталкивается общество. Обсуждаются заболевания, факторы риска и важные аспекты профилактики. Читатели получат полезные советы о том, как сохранить здоровье и улучшить качество жизни.
Наши рекомендации — тут – detox24
more helpful hints Exploit kits and software vulnerabilities for illegal access
A genuine pleasure to find a site that publishes at a sustainable cadence rather than chasing the daily content treadmill, and a look at graingrove confirmed the careful publication rhythm, sites that prioritise quality over frequency are rare and this one has clearly chosen the slower pace which I appreciate as a reader.
i was reading this Fake invoices, financial documents, and counterfeit bills
visit here Exploit kits and software vulnerabilities for illegal access
go to this web-site Fake documents (e.g., passports, driver’s licenses)
Came in for one specific question and got answers to three I had not even thought to ask, and a look at amplebench extended that bonus value pattern, the kind of resource that anticipates reader needs rather than just answering the literal question asked is the gold standard and this site reaches it.
Going Here Stolen funds in digital wallets
click this Account access (logins and passwords)
Homepage Phishing tools and malicious software for stealing data
you can try this out Anonymous services and hidden marketplaces (e.g., VPNs, Tor networks, crypto wallets)
Этот медицинский обзор сосредоточен на последних достижениях, которые оказывают влияние на пациентов и медицинскую практику. Мы разбираем инновационные методы лечения и исследований, акцентируя внимание на их значимости для общественного здоровья. Читатели узнают о свежих данных и их возможном применении.
Изучить вопрос глубже – Врач психиатр в Краснодаре
go to my blog Anonymous services and hidden marketplaces (e.g., VPNs, Tor networks, crypto wallets)
take a look at the site here ZeroDay Darknet Market
his response Hacking software (e.g., keyloggers, malware)
look at here now Account access (logins and passwords)
Check This Out Fake invoices, financial documents, and counterfeit bills
click for source Access to private or restricted databases
official statement Fullz (personal data sets)
Website Phishing tools and malicious software for stealing data
look at here ZeroDay Darknet Market
Continued Fake documents (e.g., passports, driver’s licenses)
read more Access to private or restricted databases
visit this website Stolen credit card or loan information
look at this now Fake invoices, financial documents, and counterfeit bills
great site Anonymous services and hidden marketplaces (e.g., VPNs, Tor networks, crypto wallets)
check ZeroDay Darknet Market
moved here Stolen credit card or loan information
Click This Link Fake documents (e.g., passports, driver’s licenses)
you can try this out Fullz (personal data sets)
browse around these guys Stolen credit card or loan information
take a look https://namaeacademy.com/modules/pgs/1xbet-free-promo-code-today-bonus.html
try this site Hacking software (e.g., keyloggers, malware)
that site Stolen credit card or loan information
check here ZeroDay Darknet Market
pop over to this site Fake invoices, financial documents, and counterfeit bills
helpful site Fake documents (e.g., passports, driver’s licenses)
website here Fullz (personal data sets)
visit this web-site Remote access services (RDP, SSH)
http://momketing.es/
El proyecto Momketing se posiciona como una estructura de confianza orientada al publico en Espana, que ofrece un enfoque integral a sus clientes, destacandose por en la atencion personalizada. Mas informacion aqui.