The Red Scream

Rating:
Summary: Death Penalty Novel
Review: Edgar-Award winning author Mary Willis Walker demonstrates her talent as a serious writer with this death penalty novel. She does not preach but provide a few things that could go wrong when executing someone guilty of capital murder. In this novel she introduces Louie Bronk, a self-confessed serial killer, who in the next few days will be executed for a crime he might have not committed.

Molly Cates is a crime writer for Lone Star Monthly from Austin, Texas. She has recently published a true crime book chronicling the life of Louie Bronk and the murder of Andrea 'Tiny' McFarland. As she prepares to follow-up with this story she is being deterred by the victim's husband as well as her boss no to proceed with the story. A few days later two people related to the McFarlands are brutally murdered. If this was not bad enough Bronk confesses to dozens of murders except the McFarland one. He has found religion and he is not going to confess to something he did not do. Molly hates to look like a fool after everything she went to write her book so she is determined to find out the truth. Everything she believed about the case will be shattered and she will do what she can to make things right.

Mary Willis Walker has a winner with this book. This is her first book in a series that will be a pleasure to continue to read. Her character development is very strong by showing everything she can reveal about Molly, warts and all. There are times when Ms. Cates is not sure about what she is doing that the author reflects on her weaknesses and her insecurities. This makes her appear more real to the reader and more appealing. THE RED SCREAM is pure enjoyment and hopefully her other novels will be just as good.

Rating:
Summary: I JUST LOVE MOLLY CATES!!!
Review: I don't know what it is about this Molly Cates Woman. I just love her in this book (the first starring Molly Cates) and UNDER THE BEETLE'S CELLAR (the second starring Molly Cates).

Like I said in my review of Under the Beetle's Cellar, she's so normal. Because of that, she's so easy to relate to. She's a crime reporter for a monthly magazine.

In this book Molly has written a book (and several newspaper articles) about this psycho that kills people and then shaves their heads.

Molly Cates is anti-death penalty; but she admits that even Louie Bronk deserves to die. He's committed many many murders and shavings over the years. Then it comes to her attention that Louie Bronk may be just days away from being executed for the capital crime he may or may not have committed [the murder of an woman married to an upper class man] (although, let's not forget he's committed others--all worthy of the death penalty).

Well, her book comes out. She starts getting letters in her mail that lead her to believe that there may be a copy cat on the loose. When the 2nd wife of the upper class man gets murdered...people start thinking copycat or are we about to execute the wrong person?!

Needless to say, the book is creepy, scary, messed up, entertaining. It keeps you guessing all the way to the end!

Mary Willis Walker has a way of writing that's so wonderful I just can't describe it.

Just READ THIS Book and then read Under The Beetle's Cellar. You'll be so happy you did.

The bad part of the books starring Molly Cates? They End!! BooHoo!

Rating:
Summary: Akin to the Green Mile
Review: Louie Bronk, a serial killer confesses to (among other things) the murder of a Austin Socialite Tiny McFarlan. Crime journalist Molly Cates dives into the mystery and produces her first "true crime book" - already headed for the best seller list. Bronk is now scheduled for execution, and Molly is attempting to write the final chapter in the story for her magazine. But when the second Mrs. McFarlan is discovered murdered in copy-cat style, Molly begins unraveling the tale she has written and believed to be true. Mary Willis Walker is a master of characterization and suspense, and uses lots of Texas landmarks. The interaction between Molly, her daughter and ex-husband will leave you howling; the visit with the governor was so real I felt I was there. The crazy day at the junk yard is astonishing - to say the least. Beware this book is not afraid of making political and religious judgments which will be sure to make some folks uncomfortable, but it is a spectacularly well written story and I hugely enjoyed the unabridged audiotape.