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: |
O segredo do Sugar Rush é não ter ganância. Puxei cemzão e parei. Nunca corra atrás de red.
Публикация посвящена жизненным историям людей, успешно справившихся с зависимостью. Мы покажем, что выход есть, и он начинается с первого шага — принятия проблемы и желания измениться.
Прочесть заключение эксперта – вывод из запоя наркология
здесь https://tripscans74.co
В этой статье мы говорим о важности поддержки в процессе выздоровления. Рассматриваются семьи, группы поддержки, специалисты и онлайн-ресурсы, которые могут сыграть решающую роль в избавлении от зависимости.
Проследить причинно-следственные связи – капельница на дому в екатеринбурге
A sensação de pedir saque de cemzão depois de jogar Sugar Rush é boa demais. O mercado premia a consistência.
A estratégia no Hood vs Wolf deu muito certo de madrugada.
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.
Только факты! – врач вывод из запоя
Эта публикация содержит ценные советы и рекомендации по избавлению от зависимости. Мы обсуждаем различные стратегии, которые могут помочь в процессе выздоровления и важность обращения за помощью. Читатели смогут использовать полученные знания для улучшения своего состояния.
Посмотреть подробности – реабилитационный наркологический центр
интернет https://tripscans74.co/
Have you ever considered writing an ebook or guest authoring on other websites?
I have a blog centered on the same subjects you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know
my readers would appreciate your work. If you’re even remotely interested,
feel free to shoot me an email.
Paciência paga. Entrei no Blackjack com pouco e puxei R$ 200 rapidinho.
презентация ии бесплатно http://www.litteraesvfu.ru
Wow, that’s what I was seeking for, what a data! present here at this web site, thanks admin of this website.
Alavancagem perfeita no Treasures of Aztec no fim de semana. O segredo? O mercado premia a consistência.
Tive uma intuição com o Mahjong Ways 2 no fim de semana e batata: uma grana boa de lucro.
этот сайт трипскан официальный сайт
ссылка на сайт tripscan официальный
https://xjj3.cc/home.php?mod=space&uid=564844
Источник https://tripscans74.co/
пояснения https://tripscans74.us/
A thoughtful piece that did not strain to be thoughtful, and a look at syruptunic continued that effortless quality, when thinking shows up in writing without the writer drawing attention to it you know you are reading something genuinely considered rather than something performing the appearance of consideration which is also common online.
нажмите здесь https://tripscans74.co/
взгляните на сайте здесь https://tripscans74.us/
Sessão rápida e lucrativa no Fortune Mouse. Nada como ver o saldo subir. Gestão de banca em primeiro lugar.
Продолжение трипскан сайт вход
зайти на сайт трипскан официальный
другие https://tripscans74.co
luxury car hire luxury car hire
Читатели получат представление о том, как современные технологии влияют на развитие медицины. Обсуждаются новые методы лечения, персонализированный подход и роль цифровых решений в повышении качества медицинских услуг.
Что скрывают от вас? – вывод из запоя на дому в екатеринбурге
интернет tripscan зеркало
Источник https://tripscans74.co/
нажмите здесь https://tripscans74.us/
в этом разделе трипскан сайт вход
Главная трипскан ссылка
другие https://tripscans74.us/
O pessoal avisou e é verdade: Ninja vs Samurai tá distribuindo. Saquei milzão.
корпоративные сувениры москва http://www.suvenirnaya-produkcziya-s-logotipom-8.ru
интернет трипскан ссылка
узнать больше Здесь tripskan
здесь https://tripscans74.us/
Перейти на сайт https://tripscans74.group
Aquele mega win.
выберите ресурсы https://tripscans74.us
посетить сайт tripscan вход
зайти на сайт сайт трипскан
Текст посвящён распространённым мифам о зависимости и их развенчанию. Мы предоставим научно обоснованную информацию и дадим рекомендации по выбору эффективного способа борьбы с зависимым поведением.
Заходи — там интересно – нарколог на дом цены
выберите ресурсы https://tripscans74.co
E aí galera, Wild Bandito tá on fire ontem à noite. Saque de R$ 500 já na conta.
смотреть здесь трипскан сайт вход
этот контент https://tripscans74.us