Bloodlines : An Irene Kelly Novel

Rating:
Summary: great crime thriller
Review: In January 1958 thugs badly beat Jack Corrigan after he sees a farmer bury a car. Meanwhile the bodies of wealthy socialites Mr. and Mrs. Duchane wash up on the beach. Their son Todd, his wife Katy and her dog who were also on the yacht with them remain missing; their baby is kidnapped and the nurse is left for dead. Although Corrigan and his protégée reporter Conn O'Connor work the case, they can't solve the crimes.

In 1978, reporter Irene Kelly covers the groundbreaking of a shopping center when a car is uncovered. Inside the trunk are the remains of Katy, Todd and the dog. O'Connor works with Irene to find evidence to bring the criminals to justice. When they get too close Irene and the man thought to be the Duchane heir are kidnapped and left to die. O'Connor saves her and the kidnappers go to jail but again, the mastermind can't be implicated. In the present, Irene and her protégée are again kidnapped by the same thugs who kidnapped her in 1978 because the mastermind is afraid they finally found enough evidence to implicate him.

Jan Burke has written her best work to date, bar none. The crime thriller is written for the first part in the third person and the rest of the book is told from Irene's point of view, a technique that works brilliantly for this particular work. Readers are treated to some very special characters who had a formidable impact on Irene's career and the audience will feel their every emotion. In addition to brilliant characterizations, BLOODLINES contains a gripping story line that keeps reader attention from first to last page.

Harriet Klausner


Rating:
Summary: The mystery of great writing /Nashville City Paper
Review: Saralee Says
Jan Burke is one of my favorite mystery writers, and I am thrilled that her newest book, Bloodlines (Simon & Schuster) once again features Irene Kelly, the curious reporter. If you do not know about Kelly then stop what you are doing right now and go read Goodnight Irene (Simon & Schuster), Burke's first novel which was published in 1993. I guarantee that you, too, will become hooked. Her series is the best since Sue Grafton introduced us to Kinsey Millhone in A is for Alibi (Pocket Books).Burke is one of the few writers who can combine suspense with the ability to be clever. Her character, Kelly, is daring and manages to be assigned to cover homicide investigations that frequently put her in danger. Kelly and city detective Frank Harriman sometimes combine forces and often compete to solve murders that usually happen in Southern California. The other Kelly books are Sweet Dreams Irene (Pocket), Dear Irene (Avon), Remember Me Irene (Pocket), Hocus (Pocket), Liar (HarperTorch) and Bones (Signet). Flight features only Frank Harriman and Nine introduces a new character, Alex Brandon. I am partial to the Kelly series, and the great news is that you do not have to read them in order, but it helps. The great drought is over with Bloodlines as finally Burke has rewarded my patience with another Kelly mystery. It was worth the wait because I could not put this book down.In this book, Kelly has a chance to investigate a crime that plagued her mentor, O'Connor. Will Harriman and Kelly work together or compete during this captivating story? I will not spoil the surprise but will tell you that Burke is at her best in Bloodlines
Larry's LanguageLet me make it clear that I introduced Saralee to Burke both in person at the Southern Festival of Books and in writing by loaning her a treasured copy of Goodnight Irene. Then I did the same thing with Patterson and Nelson DeMille by giving her an edition of Along Came a Spider (Warner), Patterson's first Alex Cross novel and The General's Daughter (Warner) by DeMille.

My reward has been that Saralee never returned my copies and asserts her marital rights by insisting that she gets to read their new books first. I have tried negotiating, pleading and acting out, because these are three of my very favorite authors. Having failed all attempts at persuasion with Saralee, now I just buy two copies of their new books because they are the kind of fast-paced, thrill-bending, keep-you-awake-late reading that is so addictive that you cannot wait for the paperback. Saralee Terry Woods is president of BookMan/BookWoman Books, and Larry D. Woods is an attorney. Send your comments and requests for future City Paper Book Club discussions to [e-mail].

Rating:
Summary: Another wonderful novel - featuring Irene Kelly
Review: This was a superb story. I absolutely LOVE this series. As far as I am concerned, Ms. Burke can not write fast enough. Keep 'em coming!