Rating: 
Summary: SPLENDID VOICE PERFORMANCE
Review: Remembered for her splendid performance of "Blues In The Night," actress/voice performer Deanna Hurst gives an equally listenable reading of Ms. Krich's latest.When does an act of petty vandalism become an evil act? That's the thread of this compelling mystery starring Molly Blume, ace reporter of true crimes. Privileged residents of a luxe Los Angeles neighborhood are more than a little annoyed when pranksters (?) heave a pumpkin through windows and pitch eggs at front doors. Homeowners in this area expect the best, and are already ticked off at the preservation boards that prevent them from remodeling their pricey digs. Then, more terrifying than annoying, fire breaks out on Fuller Street at the home of Margaret and Hank Reston. The ensuing flames take the life of Margaret's elderly father. To Molly, arson doesn't fit the pattern of thrown eggs and pumpkins. Furthermore, Margaret is missing. Last seen in her garden some five months before she seems to have vanished leaving only a trace of blood. The police are stymied, and so is Molly. But she doesn't stop. "Dream House" is a unique crime story sure to entertain and enthrall. - Gail Cooke
Rating:
Summary: SPLENDID VOICE PERFORMANCE
Review: Remembered for her splendid performance of "Blues In The Night," actress/voice performer Deanna Hurst gives an equally listenable reading of Ms. Krich's latest. When does an act of petty vandalism become an evil act? That's the thread of this compelling mystery starring Molly Blume, ace reporter of true crimes. Privileged residents of a luxe Los Angeles neighborhood are more than a little annoyed when pranksters (?) heave a pumpkin through windows and pitch eggs at front doors. Homeowners in this area expect the best, and are already ticked off at the preservation boards that prevent them from remodeling their pricey digs. Then, more terrifying than annoying, fire breaks out on Fuller Street at the home of Margaret and Hank Reston. The ensuing flames take the life of Margaret's elderly father. To Molly, arson doesn't fit the pattern of thrown eggs and pumpkins. Furthermore, Margaret is missing. Last seen in her garden some five months before she seems to have vanished leaving only a trace of blood. The police are stymied, and so is Molly. But she doesn't stop. "Dream House" is a unique crime story sure to entertain and enthrall. - Gail Cooke
Rating: 
Summary: Terrific New Series
Review: This second installment in the Molly Blume series lives up to the promise of the first, Blues in the Night. Molly is a modern Orthodox Jewish woman and a crime sheet reporter for a local Los Angeles rag. She reports on vandalisms in some of L.A.'s swanky areas that are governed by HARP, the Historical Architectural Restoration and Preservation boards, then sells the L.A. Times an article about the controversy between HARP supporters and foes. While visiting a HARP neighborhood, Molly meets retired Professor Oscar Linney when he jumps out in front of her car, apparently lost and confused. By doing some gentle probing, she figures out where he lives and takes the old guy to his daughter's house, where he bangs on the door and yells until the neighbor comes out and explains that his daughter has been missing for several months. A short time later the Professor is killed, and Molly can't help but wonder if her article contributed to his death. Meanwhile, she's been dating her former high school heart throb, Orthodox rabbi Zack Abrams, and the relationship deepens here, despite Molly's short skirts and her obsession with the professor's death. There are lots of suspects in this whodunit and Krich kept me guessing until the very end. This book should hold strong appeal for Faye Kellerman fans, especially of her early works. Note - there is lots of Jewish terminology sprinkled throughout the book, but Krich thoughtfully provides a pronunciation guide up front and a glossary in the back.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific New Series
Review: This second installment in the Molly Blume series lives up to the promise of the first, Blues in the Night. Molly is a modern Orthodox Jewish woman and a crime sheet reporter for a local Los Angeles rag. She reports on vandalisms in some of L.A.'s swanky areas that are governed by HARP, the Historical Architectural Restoration and Preservation boards, then sells the L.A. Times an article about the controversy between HARP supporters and foes. While visiting a HARP neighborhood, Molly meets retired Professor Oscar Linney when he jumps out in front of her car, apparently lost and confused. By doing some gentle probing, she figures out where he lives and takes the old guy to his daughter's house, where he bangs on the door and yells until the neighbor comes out and explains that his daughter has been missing for several months. A short time later the Professor is killed, and Molly can't help but wonder if her article contributed to his death. Meanwhile, she's been dating her former high school heart throb, Orthodox rabbi Zack Abrams, and the relationship deepens here, despite Molly's short skirts and her obsession with the professor's death. There are lots of suspects in this whodunit and Krich kept me guessing until the very end. This book should hold strong appeal for Faye Kellerman fans, especially of her early works. Note - there is lots of Jewish terminology sprinkled throughout the book, but Krich thoughtfully provides a pronunciation guide up front and a glossary in the back.
Rating:
Summary: Very clever and entertaining journalist
Review: True crime writer and free lance journalist Molly Blume also writes a weekly column Crime Sheet. She gathers police reports of local crimes in the L.A. neighborhoods and reports on them in the newspaper. She notices a case of vandalism on a street that she knows. When she looks into it she discovers that the person who was vandalized is a very pro HARP (Historic Archeological Restoration and Preservation Board). She observes a pattern to the local vandalism cases as the targets are all Pro-Harp supporters. Tempers between neighbors on opposing sides are turning ugly. When a fire breaks out in the house of Professor Linney, the police at first think it was the same vandal who did property damage to the other pro-Harp homes. The house was for sale and supposed to be deserted because the professor was living with his son-in-law. Molly thinks Linney's death is linked to his daughter's disappearance five months ago and the same person killed them both. She begins investigating in earnest and comes to the attention of a killer who won't hesitate to commit another murder. The protagonist of DREAM HOUSE is an Orthodox Jew and her religion is an integral part of her life enabling readers to learn the practices of this group. Rochelle Krich has written a very clever and entertaining journalist investigative tale filled with several viable suspects and a few red herrings tossed in that makes the story line even more exciting. The author incorporates a very interesting social issue into a fine who-done-it plot. Harriet Klausner
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