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 haven?t checked in here for a while as I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are good quality so I guess I?ll add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
Доброго!
Комплектация патолого-анатомического отделения: перечень необходимого оборудования и мебели
Стеллажи в ЦСО: выбор между нержавеющей сталью и порошковым покрытием для долговечности
Нормы СанПиН: требования к покрытию полов и стен в помещениях с медицинскими стеллажами
Больше информации по ссылке – http://m.med.by/wwwres/belarus/12_9
грязная и чистая зоны разделение, уход за нержавеющей сталью, качество полировки медицина
стеллажи закрытого типа, матовая или зеркальная полировка, европейские стандарты нержавейки
Удачи!
Isso sim é forra de verdade! Chuva de moeda no Ratinho rendeu 5 mil conto no PIX.
В данной статье мы поговорим о будущем медицины, акцентируя внимание на прорывных разработках и их потенциале. Читатель узнает о новых подходах к лечению, роли искусственного интеллекта и возможностях персонализированной медицины.
Открой скрытое – detox24
Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your web site is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you have on this blog. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched everywhere and just could not come across. What a great web-site.
Bu arada, eger apartman girisi susleme konusuyla ilgileniyorsan?z, buray? inceleyin. Link burada: https://kendihobim.com/articles/apartman-girisi-dekorasyonu-stil-kullanislik/
Этот обзор сосредоточен на различных подходах к избавлению от зависимости. Мы изучим традиционные и альтернативные методы, а также их сочетание для достижения максимальной эффективности. Читатели смогут открыть для себя новые стратегии и подходы, которые помогут в их борьбе с зависимостями.
Изучить эмпирические данные – наркологическая клиника в краснодаре
Bora sacar.
Have you ever thought about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is valuable and all. However think of if you added some great photos or videos to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and clips, this blog could undeniably be one of the best in its niche. Superb blog!
В этой статье мы рассматриваем разрушительное влияние зависимости на жизнь человека. Обсуждаются аспекты, такие как здоровье, отношения и профессиональные достижения. Читатели узнают о необходимости обращения за помощью и о путях к восстановлению.
Узнай первым! – капельница от наркотиков спб
I do trust all the ideas you’ve presented in your post. They’re really convincing and can certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts are very brief for novices. May just you please extend them a bit from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
Excellent beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your site, how can i subscribe for a blog website? The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear idea
Allow me to tell you something nearly all septic companies won’t: there are two categories of people in this reality. Those who believe septic systems are simply “subterranean tanks for waste,” and those that have had raw sewage bubbling into their yard at 2 AM. I learned this difference the difficult way in 2005—standing in muck, trembling in a Washington rainstorm, as my brothers and I helped a grizzled installer restore our family’s collapsed system. I was fourteen. My hands blistered. My jeans were destroyed. But that evening, something crystallized: This is not just digging. It’s people’s lives we’re protecting.
Here’s the ugly truth: the majority of septic companies just service tanks. They act like quick-fix salesmen at a chainsaw convention. But Septic Solutions? They are special. It all originated back in the early 2000s when Art and his brothers—just kids scarcely tall enough to carry a shovel—assisted install their family’s septic system alongside a weathered pro. Visualize this: three pre-teens waist-deep in Pennsylvania clay, learning how soil permeability affects drainage while their peers played Xbox. “We did not just dig trenches,” Art told me last winter, steaming coffee cup in hand. “We learned how ground whispers truths. A patch of cattails here? That’s Mother Nature shouting ‘high water table.'”
https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/septicsolutionsllc/about
I think other web site proprietors should take this website as an model, very clean and wonderful user genial style and design, let alone the content. You are an expert in this topic!
O multiplicador estourou no Mahjong Ways 2! Foi um Chuva de moeda absurdo, coisa de R$ 15.000.
Vague feelings of recognition kept surfacing as I read because the writing names things I have been thinking, and a look at morningcrate produced more of those recognition moments, content that gives shape to private intuitions is content that makes me feel less alone in my own thinking and this site has that effect.
В этой статье рассматривается комплексный подход к избавлению от зависимости. Читатель узнает, как сочетание физического, психологического и духовного восстановления помогает достичь стойкого выздоровления.
Хочешь знать всё? – прокапаться от алкоголя симферополь
wett tipps von profis heute
Feel free to visit my blog post basketball wm wetten (Normand)
Mais um dia positivo. Bati a meta no Heist Stakes e a grana já tá na mão. Lucro bom é lucro no bolso.
В данной статье мы акцентируем внимание на важности поддержки в процессе выздоровления. Мы обсудим, как друзья, семья и профессионалы могут помочь тем, кто сталкивается с зависимостями. Читатели получат практические советы, как поддерживать близких на пути к новой жизни.
Изучить рекомендации специалистов – detox24
Эта публикация обращает внимание на важность профилактики зависимостей. Мы обсудим, как осведомленность и образование могут помочь в предотвращении возникновения зависимости. Читатели смогут ознакомиться с полезными советами и ресурсами, которые способствуют здоровому образу жизни.
А что дальше? – лечение наркомании в крыму
From my observation, shopping for technology online may be easily expensive, nevertheless there are some tips that you can use to obtain the best products. There are constantly ways to uncover discount bargains that could make one to come across the best technology products at the smallest prices. Interesting blog post.
magnificent points altogether, you simply gained a logo new reader. What could you suggest about your publish that you simply made a few days in the past? Any positive?
Bônus do Sweet Bonanza ontem à noite veio na hora certa! cemzão direto no PIX.
Generally I find the content on similar topics frustrating in specific ways and this post avoided all of them, and a look at elegantdailyessentials continued that frustration free experience, content that sidesteps the standard failure modes of its genre is content with editorial awareness and this site has clearly studied what fails elsewhere consistently.
Alavancagem perfeita no Treasures of Aztec no fim de semana. O segredo? O mercado premia a consistência.
В этой статье мы рассматриваем разрушительное влияние зависимости на жизнь человека. Обсуждаются аспекты, такие как здоровье, отношения и профессиональные достижения. Читатели узнают о необходимости обращения за помощью и о путях к восстановлению.
Узнать из первых рук – вызов врача нарколога на дом
holiday villas in dubai https://landforsaleindubai.it.com dubai places to stay
non runner no bet grand national
Feel free to surf to my web blog; Horse race today winner
Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your website? My website is in the very same area of interest as yours and my visitors would certainly benefit from some of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this okay with you. Appreciate it!
Привет всем!
Мебель из нержавеющей стали AISI 304 vs AISI 316
Молибден в сплаве: как AISI 316 противостоит питтингу в условиях агрессивной санобработки
Технологии полировки: достижение зеркальной поверхности для легкой очистки и дезинфекции
Больше информации по ссылке – http://med.by/wwwres/belarus/12_9
агрессивная среда санобработки, сейсмостойкость мебели, эргономика медицинских моек
сплошные полки из нержавейки, логистика медицинского оборудования, заземление металлической мебели
Удачи!
Привет всем!
Инвестиции в лабораторию: расчет окупаемости мебели из стали AISI 316 для научных центров
Разрушение металла в клинике: анализ причин коррозии AISI 304 при использовании хлорсодержащих средств
Радиусные углы в медмебели: стандарт биобезопасности, а не просто дизайнерское решение
Больше информации по ссылке – http://med.by/wwwres/belarus/12_9
Ra параметр шероховатости, частные медицинские объекты, стеллажи для склада медикаментов
шумоизоляция оборудования, регулировка высоты столов, чистые зоны требования
Удачи!
Great blog here! Also your web site loads up fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol
страница водкабет казино
MexiCare Direct: MexiCare Direct – order medicine from mexico
My developer is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the costs. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using WordPress on numerous websites for about a year and am worried about switching to another platform. I have heard fantastic things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can import all my wordpress posts into it? Any kind of help would be greatly appreciated!
В этой статье обсуждаются актуальные медицинские вопросы, которые волнуют общество. Мы обращаем внимание на проблемы, касающиеся здравоохранения и лечения, а также на новшества в области медицины. Читатели будут осведомлены о последних событиях и смогут следить за тенденциями в медицине.
Ознакомьтесь с аналитикой – иглоукалывание красногорск
В этой статье мы рассматриваем разрушительное влияние зависимости на жизнь человека. Обсуждаются аспекты, такие как здоровье, отношения и профессиональные достижения. Читатели узнают о необходимости обращения за помощью и о путях к восстановлению.
Прочесть заключение эксперта – krasnoyarsk detox24
лечение алкоголизма вызов на дом лечение алкоголизма вызов на дом
Para quem tem dúvida, Fortune Tiger é o canal. Sensacional!
Your article has proven useful to me.
Reading this prompted me to dig out an old reference book related to the topic, and a stop at designfocusedclickping extended that connection to other sources, content that connects me back to my own existing knowledge rather than asking me to forget it is content with continuity and this site has that continuous quality.
Thanks for giving your ideas with this blog. Also, a misconception regarding the banking companies intentions any time talking about property foreclosures is that the bank will not getreceive my payments. There is a degree of time which the bank will take payments in some places. If you are way too deep inside hole, they should commonly demand that you pay the particular payment in whole. However, that doesn’t mean that they will have any sort of payments at all. If you and the bank can manage to work one thing out, the foreclosure process may halt. However, should you continue to miss out on payments under the new plan, the foreclosed process can just pick up where it left off.
Super mega win.
Эта публикация посвящена актуальным вопросам современной медицины и здравоохранения. Мы обсудим новейшие технологии диагностики и лечения, а также их влияние на продолжительность и качество жизни. Читатель найдет здесь информацию о научных исследованиях и перспективных разработках, доступно изложенную для широкой аудитории.
Это ещё не всё… – анонимный нарколог краснодар
wett vorhersagen von profis
Visit my webpage … kombiwette Erklärung (gratis-wetten.com)
Jogar Blackjack com a cabeça fria é a chave. Puxei uma grana boa e tô fora.
I really like the calm tone here, it does not push anything on the reader, and after I went through goldencrestartisan I felt the same way, just steady useful content laid out without drama, which is exactly what someone trying to learn something quickly needs to find rather than aggressive marketing.
номер телефона нарколога на дом номер телефона нарколога на дом
I liked as much as you’ll receive performed proper here. The cartoon is attractive, your authored material stylish. nevertheless, you command get got an impatience over that you would like be turning in the following. unwell undoubtedly come more before again since exactly the same just about a lot incessantly inside case you shield this hike.