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Guilt Trip: The Mystery
Donna Huston Murray, author
Stockholders send you death threats, and your son-in-law/Chief Financial Officer just committed suicide. Now something is off about the blonde hanging onto the deceased’s remaining brother. Allow her to attend the Caribbean funeral your daughter planned? Friends close/enemies closer. A nod, and ex-cop Lauren Beck is in. Big mistake.
Reviews
A highly personal case preoccupies ex-cop turned bartender Lauren Beck in Murray’s page-turning sequel to 2012’s Cured. Toby Stoddard, the brother-in-law of Lauren’s brother, Ron, has committed suicide by shotgun in his Maryland hunting lodge. The method Toby used to end his life makes Lauren suspicious, and she gets an opportunity to give substance to her doubts when she volunteers to attend the ceremony scattering his ashes in the Caribbean. Her speculation that someone faked the suicide is bolstered by her encounter with Toby’s brother, Mike, who firmly believes self-slaughter was absolutely inconsistent with Toby’s nature. Lauren and Mike agree on a subterfuge: she will pose as his lover at the ceremony and mingle with the other family members to assess their possible motives for murder. From Toby’s widow, Chantal, Lauren learns that he was the CFO for the family company, making a business motive for his death a strong possibility. Murray couples the engaging lead with a clever solution. (BookLife)
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Murray is the master of her craft. Her writing is descriptive enough to set the stage but not cumbersome as to slow down the pace and development of the story. Her story line is creative and compelling. Her new heroine, Lauren Beck, has a depth of character that is often lacking in other female sleuths. She is capable yet imperfect, strong yet vulnerable, a nice blend of true humanity. The kind of character that leaves you waiting to meet her again not only for the next adventure but also to see how her personal life issues will unfold as you would a friend.
Kudos and thank you. 5 stars
