Too Close to Evil

Rating:
Summary: An Exciting Mystery
Review: "No good deed goes unpunished" begins the back cover blurb for this maiden effort of Elizabeth Terrell. And the punishment keeps piling on for Nashville P.I. and ex-cop Jared McKean. An apparently battered woman he tries to help out at a local bar gets him targeted by his former police colleagues as the prime suspect for the murder of another woman. With his DNA and fingerprints at the murder scene, and his voice on the woman's answering machine, he needs to find who set him up before the cell doors close for good.

The body count rises, further complicating matters, as Jared is tugged in other directions by problems of family and friends. Divorced, he has a son with Down's syndrome. Though straight, he lives with a gay friend who has AIDS. And he's asked to track down a teenage nephew who's into the Goth lifestyle and vampire games. If you're like me, you'll learn a lot of stuff you didn't know about before.

As he looks into all the suspects, Jared becomes aware the killer knows things about him that only someone close should know. He must continue the search despite a growing danger.

TOO CLOSE TO EVIL is an exciting, well-written mystery full of vivid imagery. The descriptions of Nashville locations give you the feel of being there. And despite his many faults, Jared McKean strikes you as a basically decent guy you'll want to hear more of in future books. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book, can't wait for the next one!
Review: I found the book an easy read but captivating and suspensfull. The characters are believable and complicated just like real people. The author even includes modern social issues that will have us re-examining our positions on things like homosexuality and family values. A must read! Good job Beth.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful page-turner
Review: I found Too Close to Evil to be a wonderfull suspense novel in the vein of good old fashion murder mystery whodunnits that kept me guessing right up to the last page. The author has skillfully crafted characters that are interesting and believeable, and placed them into a plot that twists and turns with seemingly no way out. I find it refreshing that the author has created something new and exciting in a genre that has been mined of innovation to exhaustion. Too Close to Evil is a thrilling read that will leave you wanting more.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful page-turner
Review: I found Too Close to Evil to be a wonderfull suspense novel in the vein of good old fashion murder mystery whodunnits that kept me guessing right up to the last page. The author has skillfully crafted characters that are interesting and believeable, and placed them into a plot that twists and turns with seemingly no way out. I find it refreshing that the author has created something new and exciting in a genre that has been mined of innovation to exhaustion. Too Close to Evil is a thrilling read that will leave you wanting more.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read
Review: This book grabs you right from the beginning, takes you on a suspenseful ride full of twists and turns, and leaves you wanting more at the end.
The story is fascinating and almost impossible to stop reading. The characters are deep and rich and very believable. The book itself is extermely well written and full of detail and ambiance.
Overall, this is an excellent book that will appeal to a wide variety of readers. I think it is a must read and can't wait for the next one.

Rating:
Summary: Spend the summer Too Close to Evil!
Review: While I have had the pleasure of a five-year acquaintance with Elizabeth Terrell-Hicks, I never knew the woman with the laughing eyes until I read Too Close to Evil. Although a budding author, Beth's skillful prose, extraordinary and colorful character development, inexplicable sensitivity to issues such as mental and physical challenges, gentle humor and literary finesse are astounding. These qualities are expected from seasoned professionals, yet a welcome rarity in such a young wordsmith. In many ways, her fallible hero and the motley crew he encounters resemble individuals who actually inhabit Beth's corporeal world; others are people she knows -- and I wish I knew. This novel maintains a rapid, spellbinding pace and leaves the reader wanting more. Now. Until then, pour a frosty brew, slather on the sun screen, stretch out under a shady tree and prepare to be scorched as you spend the summer Too Close to Evil!!