Dying Voices

Rating:
Summary: Quite an exciting story
Review: In 1976, unknown assailants abduct Susan Blackstock, the third wife of wealthy Wolf and mother of eight-year old Dodie. Wolf refuses to pay the ten million-pound ransom fee. Instead he negotiated with his spouse's kidnappers over the next few weeks, but never completed the deal. Susan never returned home.

In 1996, the police visit Dodie to inform her that they found the body of her mother. However, Susan Carrington, as she called herself, was murdered two days ago. A stunned Dodie has nowhere to turn to ask questions especially since Wolf died last year. Still seeking closure even before her mother's corpse was found, a desperate Dodie begins making her own inquiries, and is unaware of the danger she will soon find herself in from a dangerous foe.

DYING VOICES is a tremendous amateur sleuth tale that works on several levels because readers understand the star's obsession to learn the truth. The story line is fast-paced and filled with twists from start to finish. Dodie is a great character, but hopefully her detective career ends because this case was personal and it is doubtful future tales could match this great novel. Readers will appreciate Laura Baker's efforts and search for previous books like the well written A LITTLE DEATH.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Quite an exciting story
Review: In 1976, unknown assailants abduct Susan Blackstock, the third wife of wealthy Wolf and mother of eight-year old Dodie. Wolf refuses to pay the ten million-pound ransom fee. Instead he negotiated with his spouse's kidnappers over the next few weeks, but never completed the deal. Susan never returned home.

In 1996, the police visit Dodie to inform her that they found the body of her mother. However, Susan Carrington, as she called herself, was murdered two days ago. A stunned Dodie has nowhere to turn to ask questions especially since Wolf died last year. Still seeking closure even before her mother's corpse was found, a desperate Dodie begins making her own inquiries, and is unaware of the danger she will soon find herself in from a dangerous foe.

DYING VOICES is a tremendous amateur sleuth tale that works on several levels because readers understand the star's obsession to learn the truth. The story line is fast-paced and filled with twists from start to finish. Dodie is a great character, but hopefully her detective career ends because this case was personal and it is doubtful future tales could match this great novel. Readers will appreciate Laura Baker's efforts and search for previous books like the well written A LITTLE DEATH.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Whiny Rich Girl Cries A Lot
Review: This book is so slooooow. It's also predictable as it's written in an embarassingly elementary style. Chapter after chapter of very rich girl crying and blubbering. She is allegedly a rebel of her rich family and is distraught after inheriting the biggest fortune in England. For someone who hates money so much, she sure is cheap. At one point, she watches her friend, a single mother who works as a farm hand, count out her change to buy loose cigarettes. Anytime someone talks about their dreams or goals, she thinks "Oh great they want me to buy them a...." Whatever. Thought she hated the money anyway? This book is hard to stomach and totally unbelievable. The poor little rich girl is a whiny, cheap, selfish girl with no life experience. There is no mystery as anyone with half a brain can figure it out less than half way through the book. I hope the publisher didn't sign the author on for more than one book.

Rating:
Summary: Whiny Rich Girl Cries A Lot
Review: This book is so slooooow. It's also predictable as it's written in an embarassingly elementary style. Chapter after chapter of very rich girl crying and blubbering. She is allegedly a rebel of her rich family and is distraught after inheriting the biggest fortune in England. For someone who hates money so much, she sure is cheap. At one point, she watches her friend, a single mother who works as a farm hand, count out her change to buy loose cigarettes. Anytime someone talks about their dreams or goals, she thinks "Oh great they want me to buy them a...." Whatever. Thought she hated the money anyway? This book is hard to stomach and totally unbelievable. The poor little rich girl is a whiny, cheap, selfish girl with no life experience. There is no mystery as anyone with half a brain can figure it out less than half way through the book. I hope the publisher didn't sign the author on for more than one book.