Dead Air: A Jessie Drake Mystery

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Summary: This book has sharp dialogue and a fast-paced plot.
Review: "Dead Air" is Krich's best novel since "Speak No Evil". Jesse Drake is back. She is an LAPD detective who has previously appeared in several Krich novels. This time, Jesse is investigating the kidnapping of Molly, the daughter of Dr. Renee (a radio psychologist), and the murder of Molly's nanny. Renee Altman and Jesse Drake used to be friends, but they drifted apart over the years. Now Jesse is once again involved with Renne as she delves into her friend's troubled life. Not only is Renee in torment over Molly's diappearance, but she is also upset about her separation from her husband, Barry, and the sinking ratings of her radio show. Jesse and her colleagues must find out who kidnapped Molly and where the child is being held. Could Barry, Renee's estranged husband, have had something to do with the child's disappearance? Or is the kidnapper someone with a grudge against Dr. Renee? Krich captures the atmosphere of "radio psychology" well, as Dr. Renee lambastes her callers with scathing advice and withering criticism. Dr. Renee is a thinly veiled Dr. Laura, whom the author mentions in the book several times. Krich explores the theme of how effective and therapeutic radio psychology can ever be. Do radio psychologists serve a beneficial purpose or is what they do shallow and harmful--"microwave psychology," as one character derisively labels it? Krich explores Renee's and Jesse's personal and professional problems nicely and the book is exciting and entertaining. "Dead Air" is a timely and engrossing mystery.

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Summary: Radio Shrink Teams with Detective Drake to Outwit Kidnapper
Review: Dr. Renee Altman left her psychology practice to become the famous advice-giving talk show host Dr. Renee. Her career move led to her husband wanting a divorce, alimony, and child support because he demanded full custody of their six-year old daughter. As she struggles to cope with her former spouse's demands, Renee begins to feel that someone is stalking her. She receives strange anonymous gifts, letters with no return address, and phone calls without a speaker. Renee persuades her friend Los Angeles homicide detective Jessica Drake to conduct a discreet investigation.

A man calls the radio show begging Renee to tell his wife to come home and bring their son with her. When Renee refuses to assist, the person kidnaps Renee's daughter, insisting that the little girl will be returned when his family returns to him. The abductor taunts Renee on the air, which sets off media and talk show frenzies. Jessica and her partner learn who the perpetrator is, but have no idea where the child is. Both know that if they fail to find the girl quickly, tragedy is imminent.

Jessica Drake is a superb law enforcement official, but her personal life remains in shambles though she seeks contentment. She has mixed and confusing feelings about her ex-husband. She slowly is coming to terms with her Jewish heritage. Finally, Jessica struggles with an inner conflict involving her abusive mother and her "see no evil" father who ignored it. Because Jessica seems so real, the entertaining mystery appears even more genuine. An excellent story line is made even stronger by Rochelle Krich's talent for characterization.

Harriet Klausner

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Summary: This is why I love reading!
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book, it was so good I almost finished it the same day I began reading it. I am looking forward to reading all future books that she writes. I am hopeful that her critics will put her up there with Faye Kellerman and others of her genre.

Rating:
Summary: wonderfully engrossing
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book, it was so good I almost finished it the same day I began reading it. I am looking forward to reading all future books that she writes. I am hopeful that her critics will put her up there with Faye Kellerman and others of her genre.

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Summary: Dead Air Dead On
Review: I waited for this new Jesse Drake book and was not dissappionted in it. It kept me spell bound to find out who had Molly .I enjoyed learning more about Jesse,but I was hoping her relationship with her ex would go in a different direction.I am really interested in how Jesse adds her jewishness to her life as a detective.If you enjoy Kellerman than you will love Krich and her characters as they keep you turning the pages for more.

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Summary: This is why I love reading!
Review: This is one of the most enjoyable books I have devoured recently. I am not a reader who keeps trying to figure out "who done it" before the author reveals the ending. But I truly appreciate a finely crafted mystery with unexpected twists and turns. Krich juggles several potential culprets convincingly. Just when I thought the ending was in sight, she turned another corner in the story line.

After reading this I had to find another title by Krich to see if she was this good or if she just wrote a real "winner." Having read _Speak no Evil_, I can say, "She is a wonderful writer." I also devoured the second book by her. Now I intend to find as many of her titles as I can. I hope her publishers take notice of her "out of stock" and "out of print" titles and make them available as soon as possible.

She is an author to discover, if you haven't read anything by her yet.

Rating:
Summary: Don't miss this one
Review: Who among us hasn't struggled with the comnflicting strees of life - children, spouses, family, work - and tried to achieve a balance that will answer everyone's needs? For Dr. Renee Altman these all come crashing together when the center of her world, her daughjter Molly, is kidnapped. Det. Jessie Drake copnfronts her own individual conflicts as she races against time to find Molly and apprehend the kidnapper without endangering others who are objects of his hate.
Rochelle Krich draws her characters with such realism you feel like they are part of your life. She skillfully weaves the tension of the drama with character profiles in a way that draws you personally into the plot. As with all her books, this one is difficult to put down before the end. You'll be missing a wonderful treat if you don't read this and the other Jessie Drake books.