Body of a Girl

Rating:
Summary: Stroll Down the Humid, Sultry, Mean Streets Of Memphis!
Review: A 25-year old fledging ace crime newpaper reporter seeks the answers to a night time street murder of a multi-faceted young lady with a surprising resemblance to the reporter herself. Our intrepid narrator meets about every type, from frustrated lovers, drugged out kid brothers, very good local police, and a lot more. And in this case, the police do a fine job in crime solving, a nice change from many novels of the genre. A fine atmospheric job you'll read thru to the end! My only quibble..Is it that easy to enter the apartment of a murder victim?

Rating:
Summary: Read This Book!
Review: Body of a Girl is so wonderful I can only urge you to order it and read it as soon as possible. Allison Avery is the perfect 'girl.' Beloved by friends and family. Her murder opens up her life... a secret life that may have led to her brutal murder. Olivia Dale is a young reporter who covers the story for her Memphis newspaper. Olivia bears a resemblance to Allison and soon the murdered girl's family and friends open up to her, giving her insight into Allisons life. Olivia is drawn into this shadowy and dangerous world, fascinated by the wild side hidden inside her. Leah Stewart is a wonderful writer . I never thought anyone could hold a candle to Ruth Rendell, but here she is! This book is what a crime novel should be...literate, insightful and most importantly, great fun to read. I look forward to the next book!

Rating:
Summary: A fun read, a great mainstream thriller
Review: I loved this book. It has wonderful writing, strong pace, and a fascinating main character -- a reporter who risks herself to get the story of her life, about a young murder victim who looks like her.

She penetrates the dead woman's world and dresses like her and goes to the nightclubs where she went and interviews her family and friends as she digs up the dirt. The character and personality of the dead woman haunt the narrative. Her fascination with this crime victim is the engine that drives the story. The dead woman's presence is riveting.

This is not your typical hard-boiled mystery, thank heaven. It reads like a mainstream or even literary novel and comes closer to "The Secret History" that to the genre stuff of Robert B. Parker. It swept me up in its world. As a writer myself, I had very few nitpicks, which is unusual. I recommend it highly.