Done Wrong

Rating:
Summary: Definitely worth reading.
Review: It took me a few books to get into Ms. Bland's style of writing but now her character, Marti McAlister, is one of my favorite detective stories. In this one Marti finds out more than she bargained for regarding the death of her husband. When she pulled the puzzle pieces together I was both happy for her and enraged about the findings all at the same time.

Thanks Ms. Bland for writing a good detective novel with a main character that just happens to be black and female.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good, but with a few weak points
Review: The various relationships Marti has with her kids, partner and boyfriend are some of the highlights in this book, indeed in the Marti McAlister series. And for the most part, the mystery itself is well plotted. However, I felt a little let down when Johnny's killer was revealed, not just because it was telegraphed about 10 to 20 pages prior to the revelation but also because it was kind of lame. Also, I didn't buy Marti's reasons for waiting three years to look into her beloved husband's death. This is a man she's known since childhood; the father of her children; the love of her life; the only man she's ever been intimate with. And she waits three years to find out why he died? Plus, she only looked into it because several people prodded her to do it. Why? If you know in your bones that your man didn't kill himself, and common sense ought to tell you that an experienced cop really can't accidentally shoot himself in the head, it kind of only leaves one conclusion. That plot point stuck with me, unfortunately, throughout the book, lessening my enjoyment. Still, it's a decent read, as ETB is a talented writer. If this is the low point of her series, then it's a series woth having.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good, but with a few weak points
Review: The various relationships Marti has with her kids, partner and boyfriend are some of the highlights in this book, indeed in the Marti McAlister series. And for the most part, the mystery itself is well plotted. However, I felt a little let down when Johnny's killer was revealed, not just because it was telegraphed about 10 to 20 pages prior to the revelation but also because it was kind of lame. Also, I didn't buy Marti's reasons for waiting three years to look into her beloved husband's death. This is a man she's known since childhood; the father of her children; the love of her life; the only man she's ever been intimate with. And she waits three years to find out why he died? Plus, she only looked into it because several people prodded her to do it. Why? If you know in your bones that your man didn't kill himself, and common sense ought to tell you that an experienced cop really can't accidentally shoot himself in the head, it kind of only leaves one conclusion. That plot point stuck with me, unfortunately, throughout the book, lessening my enjoyment. Still, it's a decent read, as ETB is a talented writer. If this is the low point of her series, then it's a series woth having.

Rating:
Summary: SETTING THINGS RIGHT
Review: Three years have passed since the death of Marti's husband in an undercover narcotics operation. His death was thought a suicide. Although Marti had her doubts she never pushed for any further information. Now another agent has died under similar circumstances. Like Marti, this agent's wife is told that the death is a probable suicide. His widow informs Marti that he too was suspicious about her husband's death and was asking questions.

Marti sees that she can no longer remain silent. She must set the record straight over her husband's death. In this mystery we come across a different Marti as she relives the pain, shock and memories of her husband's death. You find a woman who is very sensitive but must hold back her emotions in order to unravel this long overdue mystery. Watch her and Vik weave through a quagmire of police cronyism and corruption as they uncover information long hidden in the investigation of her husband's death and those of other key players.

Brace yourself for the violence, racism and betrayal of friends as these two detectives pour through the evidence that will put their lives in danger. This side of Marti is one in which you will never forget.