A Penny for Your Thoughts

Rating:
Summary: Great Start to a Promising New Series
Review: Callie Webber is looking forward to a week's rest as soon as she drops off one last check for her boss Tom. But when Wendell Smythe says that it's only a loan to Feed the Need and not a gift, Callie finds herself with an hour's paperwork to do. Returning to his office with the proper forms all filled out, she finds Wendell dead. The police quickly rule it a murder and ask Callie to stay in town as a material witness. Then Tom asks Callie to investigate. And how can she turn her boss down?

Staying with the Smythes gives Callie easy access to her prime suspects. But beneath the surface of a seemingly happy family lurks some sinister secrets. Who is leaving threatening messages for Sidra? What drove Sidra and Derek apart? What was going on at the company? And does this have anything to do with the murder?

Meanwhile, Callie is finding her own emotions hard to deal with. Being around this much sadness and death is reminding her too much of the death of her own husband. Can God help her deal with her own renewed emotions and solve the case?

The titles of this series really intrigued me, so I decided to give the first a try. It was certainly worth it. Callie was a very human character and I found myself chocking up on more then one occasion with the hurt she was going through. She's also strong and fun to hang out with. While the story started a little slow, it gained speed quickly. The twists came so fast in the final 100 pages I stayed up much later then was wise to finish. I never saw the ending coming, either.

If the rest of the series is this good, I can't wait to read it. The author has won herself a new fan.

Rating:
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: I Really wanted to like this book. I haven't read a mystery in a long time. I bought it for a friend who is not a Christian, thinking it would be a gift of good, clean fun with a dash of the light of the truth to boot. But alas! I felt I had wasted my time after reading it, and didn't give it to my friend after all. If there were no references to Christianity, I would probably have liked it just fine. I am, however, a Christian, and as such, I was appalled at the portrayal of "christians" in this book. (Warning, spoiler coming). Our heroine wasn't Too bad, well except for the part where she says she bends truth for a living. Mmmm. There were 4 other characters who seemed to be "christian" One was the murderer, as it turns out. Another was a "manic-depressive" who was hooked on psychotropic drugs (as indicated by the fact that when she went off her meds while pregnant, she had a nervous breakdown). This character, who's alibi was her usual Monday morning bible study, was described by her pastor as a strong Christian. Yet this same character was involved in a secret relationship with an extremely obnoxious unbeliever for whom she stole. A third "christian" was so wrapped up in materialism that he almost lost his marriage. The fourth "christian" decided to committ suicide rather than face an uncertain future. So! No thanks. I don't want my friend to think that this is what is reflective of real Christians. Although there was a gospel presentation, it was also a disppointment. It was soooo man-centered. The gospel was all about finding the peace of God through your relationship with him. It seemed to be "Come to Jesus and He'll make your life all better." While the gospel is Good News, in order for it to be good news, one must first be confronted with sin and our need for a savior. But I suspect I expect too much from a simple amusement, and I guess it's inteded for believers, not unbelievers. To sum it all up, in this book, believers are no different than those who are unbelievers. What's the point????

Rating:
Summary: It made me carsick and my husband complained...
Review: I started reading "Pennies" on a plane trip to Bermuda. I couldn't put it down.I tried to continue to read it during the extremely curvy taxi ride to our hotel. I picked it up again, after aspirins and a nap, and my husband complained that we were there for our 25th anniversary and not for a reading marathon!

When we got back, I lent it to my mother. She complained to me, too. She couldn't put it down, either. She read it in one day, didn't get anything else done, and didn't go to sleep until she finished it. She was tired and cranky the next morning.

We both thought it was fabulous and well worth the pain.
Thanks to Mindy and Callie and friends for a wonderful book!
(We can't wait to read about the rest of Callie's adventures).

Rating:
Summary: It made me carsick and my husband complained...
Review: I started reading "Pennies" on a plane trip to Bermuda. I couldn't put it down.I tried to continue to read it during the extremely curvy taxi ride to our hotel. I picked it up again, after aspirins and a nap, and my husband complained that we were there for our 25th anniversary and not for a reading marathon!

When we got back, I lent it to my mother. She complained to me, too. She couldn't put it down, either. She read it in one day, didn't get anything else done, and didn't go to sleep until she finished it. She was tired and cranky the next morning.

We both thought it was fabulous and well worth the pain.
Thanks to Mindy and Callie and friends for a wonderful book!
(We can't wait to read about the rest of Callie's adventures).

Rating:
Summary: A MILLION DOLLAR DEBUT
Review: In this first book of Clark's Million Dollar Mystery Series, lawyer and P.I. Callie Webber has a fascinating new job: investigating charitable organizations for JOSHUA foundation to see if they're worthy of receiving a grant. On the way back from delivering a large check, her mysterious boss Tom asks her to drop off another check without investigating first. When the recipient is killed while Callie is waiting to hand over the money, Tom asks her to look into the murder. Clark has created an intriguing, intelligent, and caring protagonist. I'm looking forward to reading more of Callie's adventures and learning something about her mysterious boss. If you remember "The Millionaire" and "Charlie's Angels" from TV, this series is somewhat of a blend of the two.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely awful - worst book I've ever ordered from amazon
Review: The writing in this book is so stilted and saccharine that it's impossible to get through. I had read all the positive reviews and eagerly looked forward to A Penny for Your Thoughts. What an incredible disappointment. Readers also should be alerted that these books are a series of Christian mysteries. Sadly, the references to prayer and God seem wooden, just like the characters. Anyone who may be interested in this author should check out her books from a library first.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: This book is a page turner as well as unpredictable. The characters are well developed. Can't wait to read the next one!

Rating:
Summary: I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Review: This book was tough to put down. There is the main element of a murder mystery going on but there are also some great insights into the life/mind of a strong intelligent woman. Callie Weber is an ex-PI working for a mystery man who donates money to worthy charities. Callie is hired to investigate the charities to ensure they are 'above board'. Inevitably she runs across a mystery. Not only is this intriguing enough but there are also some great sidebar situations going on that keep you turning the pages - not to mention your need to find out more about this mystery man. Buy it! I recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely awful - worst book I've ever ordered from amazon
Review: With this debut novel, Mindy Starns Clark creates a memorable and unique sleuth: Callie Webber, agent of a philanthropic organization (remember "The Millionaire"?). Callie's mission is to investigate non-profit organizations to assure they are legitimate and deserving of the rich guy's grants, which can be darned generous. In this installment, however, she's just supposed to drop off a check and leave--until the recipient drops dead practically before her eyes. Even jaded mystery readers will be wondering which of the many suspects is the killer--and more importantly, why. A fast-moving, puzzling, fascinating read. Word is, there are more Callie Webber books on the way, and that is good news for anyone interested in a good mystery.

Rating:
Summary: Puzzling and fascinating
Review: With this debut novel, Mindy Starns Clark creates a memorable and unique sleuth: Callie Webber, agent of a philanthropic organization (remember "The Millionaire"?). Callie's mission is to investigate non-profit organizations to assure they are legitimate and deserving of the rich guy's grants, which can be darned generous. In this installment, however, she's just supposed to drop off a check and leave--until the recipient drops dead practically before her eyes. Even jaded mystery readers will be wondering which of the many suspects is the killer--and more importantly, why. A fast-moving, puzzling, fascinating read. Word is, there are more Callie Webber books on the way, and that is good news for anyone interested in a good mystery.