Cookie Cutter

Rating:
Summary: The Diary of a Mad Keebler Elf.
Review: "Bloody" Mary Cunningham must catch a killer with a very unique theme. Certain african-americans are being executed because of their politics, precisely those that lend themselves to be catagorized as 'sell-outs'. After each murder, an oreo cookie is left in their hands as a sign of their betrayal of their race. The clock is ticking, because the race for mayor is under way, and it especially turns ugly when the killer seems to be connected. Characters seem to be inserted when there was no need for them, but further along, the pieces begin to fit and the story moves even further. Kudos for an original story, a determined dectective, and, with luck, another continuing mystery.

Rating:
Summary: The Diary of a Mad Keebler Elf.
Review: "Bloody" Mary Cunningham must catch a killer with a very unique theme. Certain african-americans are being executed because of their politics, precisely those that lend themselves to be catagorized as 'sell-outs'. After each murder, an oreo cookie is left in their hands as a sign of their betrayal of their race. The clock is ticking, because the race for mayor is under way, and it especially turns ugly when the killer seems to be connected. Characters seem to be inserted when there was no need for them, but further along, the pieces begin to fit and the story moves even further. Kudos for an original story, a determined dectective, and, with luck, another continuing mystery.

Rating:
Summary: High Suspense
Review: A killer has taken it upon himself to rid the world of oreos, in other words, blacks who are white on the inside. The twist is that the biracial killer looks Caucasian but is militant, making him white on the outside but black on the inside, a kind of reverse oreo. Pitted against him is Lt.(Bloody)Mary Cunningham.

This is not your garden variety serial killer vs. cop formula. The author does a great job in keeping the chase fast-paced and suspenseful with several subplots that come together neatly. I'm glad that there seems to be an increase in novels by black authors in the suspense/mystery/crime genre. I'll keep a look-out for this author's next offering.

Rating:
Summary: A great find
Review: A self-appointed crusader is bumping off victims who he regards as Oreos (black on the outside but white on the inside). A quick tempered hot mama of a homicide detective draws the assignment of stopping him. That's the plot in a nutshell. It's a fresh storyline but I didn't rate it just on originality. What I liked most was the execution and I'm not talking about the murders. I'm talking about the quality of the writing. I found every character believable with strengths and weaknesses. I disconnect with stories based on characters that are all good or all evil. The main character, Bloody Mary (no, that's not the killer), for example, has a number of personal issues that she wrestles with in addition to having to stop a serial killer. And speaking of the devil, Eugene Shaw is an original as far as I know. I've never run across the likes of him on page before and certainly hope never to in person. I sort of stumbled onto this book. It was listed as one of the books readers also bought for another book I ordered. The cover is very eye catching but I was convinced by the reviews. Now I'm returning the favor. Buy the book.

Rating:
Summary: Want some milk with that cookie?
Review: I was so excited to see a murder mystery written by an African-American other then straight out of the newspaper. I kinda' get tired of one genre and flip to another script after awhile. I love a good murder mystery that holds my interest. The author did this in that the first murder committed was not by the 'killer' but by his father. You knew that the killer had issues but you never knew which way it was going to take him. I was kept in suspense when he finally found love, something that you didn't even think would come into play, being that he almost killed her too. You were set to wonder, ok, when is he going to kill her for some misspoken word or gesture and how is he going to justify it?

The heroine, Bloody Mary, go figure, sets out to find the killer with a partner (seemingly a modern day good-ol-boy) who it seems is set to work against her instead of with her. The author fleshes her out by giving her character a life of her own, which I liked. He builds her character with building blocks, fortifying her, so that we know what's making her tick. She's definitely 3-dimensional. Call me petty, but, the only thing that I didn't like was that the pumps didn't go with that outfit...only the fashion conscious will pick up on it... hahaah. Mary can come back to my reading nook anytime. I'll be waiting to go through another adventure with her. All that I have to say for her is... YOU GO GIRL! Bring on the next adventure. This was a good, intriguing read. If murder and mayhem are your thing, you'll enjoy it too.

Rating:
Summary: Smart Suspense
Review: Overall Mr. Anthony's book was a good first try. The back cover caught my attention first. The major problem I had with the book was the relationship between Annie Parsons and Isaac Shaw. It smacked too much of the stereotype of the black male as a menancing predator looking for innocent underage white female victims. I would have preferred for Annie and Isaac to have been two adults engaged in a clandestine interracial affair. After Annie became pregnant she would confront Isaac and even though it would be painful for Isaac he and his wife Gertrude would agree to adopt the baby. Annie would establish a trust fund for the child but would not want her identity revealed to the child. All three would agree to the adoption and the deception.

However, I loved the character Eugene. He was merely the victim of circumstances, both racial and social. I really wish Mr. Anthony had explained the "Parsons' curse" or given more insight into Eugene's "descent into madness". I can imagine how devastating it must have been for him to have learned his true parentage, witnessed his friend murdered by adult racists and experienced the pain of potential rejection by both black and white society. However, every black person in America has had to deal with similar issues and have not resorted to murder so what additional factors caused Eugene to commit murder? What triggered his decision to kill "Oreos?" Why did he feel this was his only means of dealing with them? I can easily understand his identity crisis in such a racially polarized society but what actually triggered his spree of serial killings? What led him to the breaking point?

The ending was very disappointing. I hated to see the talented Eugene end up in an institution after he and Mocha seemed to have developed a deep love for each other. Eugene had many redeeming qualities. His love and concern for black people and their future and his obvious intelligence created a deep empathy for him. Mocha and their unborn son seemed to have given Eugene stability in his life and I wish they had been allowed to pursue love and family life. I would have had Eugene find out that all of his scholarship money came from a mysterious white female benefactor who he learns is his own mother. I would have Annie finally reveal her identity to him and ask for reconciliation which Eugene would accept. Eugene would then receive an opportunity to be the curator of an African Musuem in Ghana. He and Mocha would be married over there and Annie, Isaac and Gertrude would be in attendance and all would be reconciled. Eugene would meet with some African elders who would set him on a positive course and teach him more of his history. In the final confrontation between Mary and Eugene I would have had Eugene explain his motives to Mary, show her all of his wonderful exhibits and plans to leave the country. Mary would fully understand Eugene's motives and rather than pursue him and turn him in, she would secretly let him escape.

Overall it was a good first try. I loved the character Eugene. He was a bright and intelligent individual. I wish his motives for his killing spree had been more fully developed. I would have liked to see him "redeemed" and go on to live a full and happy life with Mocha and his son in a country where he would not have to live with such racial schizophrenia.

This novel was a good first for a new writer. I wish Mr. Anthony even greater success in the future.

Rating:
Summary: Hot as July
Review: The main plot was carried by the protagonist and the protagonist, in this case the cop and the killer. That's the way it should be. But this book had a strong supporting cast of characters that played out several subplots and made the book more textured and twisting. Issac(the undertaker) was my favorite but others deserve mention, such as Precious (the addict)and Mocha (the girlfriend of the villian). The main characters of any story can't do it alone. In this story they had a lot of good help.

Rating:
Summary: Worked for me
Review: This is a suspenseful novel about some unsavory aspects of modern urban life. Well conceived. Well written. I identified with the main character, a female cop who has to deal with the baggage of working in a field dominated by males. I hope she becomes a serial character because I would buy her future adventures. Maybe the author was too hasty in giving the killer a fate that prevents his return because I thought he was unique enough to be a serial character too. But since there will be no rematch between these two, I'll settle for a return of the heroine.

Rating:
Summary: A suspense thriller
Review: This is the second mystery thriller that I have read in which the main characters are Black. It was well thought out and written impressively by Sterling Anthony making his debut as an author. I read it quickly and enthusuastically, wanting to know how the several story lines were interwoven and the final conclusion. I felt at times that the author gave alot of excess information that was not necessary and was a bit distracting, however on the whole it was a good book. I liked the originality of the plot, wherein a Black male who looks Caucasian is so confused and unhappy about his racial identity that he goes to extremes of murdering those Blacks who seem to hold disdain for their race and side with the White man in perpetuating oppression. It is interesting how the author makes the killer a believeable figure, because Black people are not known for being serial killers. However, the reason that Eugene commits these crimes is not difficult to understand, given his unbalanced state of mind. I liked the way Anthony gave Mary Cunningham, the newly promoted officer in charge of the case a full, interesting life in which she had others options open to her aside from police work. She also had a loving and supportive husband. Oftentimes, Black authors want to dwell on the negative aspects of Black family life. I do hope that this is not the last that we have heard from Mr. Anthony. I would enjoy reading more of the exploits of Lt. Mary Cunningham, but whatever the subject matter I'm sure he will do it justice.