By Evil Means : A Phoebe Siegal Mystery

Rating:
Summary: By Evil Means
Review: I recently discovered Sandra West Prowell on the internet. I had to do an Independent Study for English class and decided to read all three of Prowell's books. I must say she's the best Mystery writer I know about. When I started each book, I couldn't put it down until I finished reading it. The main character Phoebe, has got an attitude that could knock anyone down. She has quick remarks for anyone that stands in her way or 'pisses' her off. Phoebe owns a cat named Stud who brings comedy into the series(cat lovers can relate to this, sometimes moody... and sometimes affectionate feline). Kyle Wolfe is another charater who brings interest to all three books. He's a police officer who becomes good friends with Phoebe and often helps her out with her investigation. At one point he even saves her life. If you enjoy crime stories and a female Private Investigator, then you'll enjoy "By Evil Means", "The Killing Of Monday Brown", and "When Wallflowers Die", by Sandra West Prowell.

Rating:
Summary: By Evil Means
Review: I recently discovered Sandra West Prowell on the internet. I had to do an Independent Study for English class and decided to read all three of Prowell's books. I must say she's the best Mystery writer I know about. When I started each book, I couldn't put it down until I finished reading it. The main character Phoebe, has got an attitude that could knock anyone down. She has quick remarks for anyone that stands in her way or 'pisses' her off. Phoebe owns a cat named Stud who brings comedy into the series(cat lovers can relate to this, sometimes moody... and sometimes affectionate feline). Kyle Wolfe is another charater who brings interest to all three books. He's a police officer who becomes good friends with Phoebe and often helps her out with her investigation. At one point he even saves her life. If you enjoy crime stories and a female Private Investigator, then you'll enjoy "By Evil Means", "The Killing Of Monday Brown", and "When Wallflowers Die", by Sandra West Prowell.

Rating:
Summary: P.I in Montana mystery--terrific!
Review: If you're looking for detailed murder scenes, go for P.D James or Anne Perry. The nitty gritty aspects lasts from book to book. Looking for fun in your mysteries? Check out set characters in series by J.D Robb/Nora Roberts or Janet Evanovich. BUT, if you want a mystery that moves with unique memorable characters to each and every book, Sandra West Prowell delivers modern tales about a fun-but-firm Private Investigator, Phoebie Siegal. She works murder mystery on behalf of paying clients not the police. Occasionally, she greets local customs and lore arriving from Native American heritage. Unlike other series books, Phoebie's adventures leave you guessing to the end. Each tale smoothly reveals aspects of this intriguing main character. And, almost anyone could be the suspect, almost anyone could die, and almost anyone could hire Phoebie Siegal to find out why--or are they trying to set her up? In this story, Phoebe meets an emotional runaway claiming the unusual practices of a high-security drug rehab are the nature of her latest anxiety jaunt. After checking into her deceased brother's last case file, Phoebe discovers that the kid may not have been just expressing her illness. Great read, unpredictable but perfect ending!

Rating:
Summary: An average detective novel
Review: This novel seems to start out a little incoherent, and the first part of the story did not hold my attention. The action picked up at the mid-point. There are some digressions, and some material seemed borrowed, e.g., the cat seems to come from Lawrence Sanders stories about Timothy Cone. The main character, Phoebe Siegel, comes across a bit ditsy at times, and lets emotions rule her brain. Having initially not wanted a case (she has a phobia about March), she hangs onto it tenaciously to the point of not cooperating with federal agents, probably contributing to several deaths. Phoebe is not someone you want involved in your life.

The novel offers a new location for detective fiction with a setting in Billings, Montana. The plot is a little transparent, with the bad guys and the nature of their crimes becoming apparent early in the story. There are some interesting sidelights like Phoebe's cat terrorizing the neighbor's dog, but it is mostly about greedy corrupt people and misplaced trust.

Rating:
Summary: An average detective novel
Review: This novel seems to start out a little incoherent, and the first part of the story did not hold my attention. The action picked up at the mid-point. There are some digressions, and some material seemed borrowed, e.g., the cat seems to come from Lawrence Sanders stories about Timothy Cone. The main character, Phoebe Siegel, comes across a bit ditsy at times, and lets emotions rule her brain. Having initially not wanted a case (she has a phobia about March), she hangs onto it tenaciously to the point of not cooperating with federal agents, probably contributing to several deaths. Phoebe is not someone you want involved in your life.

The novel offers a new location for detective fiction with a setting in Billings, Montana. The plot is a little transparent, with the bad guys and the nature of their crimes becoming apparent early in the story. There are some interesting sidelights like Phoebe's cat terrorizing the neighbor's dog, but it is mostly about greedy corrupt people and misplaced trust.