A Hard Bargain by Jane Tesh

(original edition published by Poisoned Pen Press; accessible editions available at www.readhowyouwant.com/daisy)

Reviewed by Ann Chiappetta, March 2010 www.brainnatter.blogspot.com

Madalaine is an ex-beauty queen come private detective with training in the visual arts. She is in love with Jerry Fairweather, a college chum with a troubled past. It seems that Jerry has not only inherited family possessions but also carries guilt about the circumstances in which his parents perished in a house fire when he was a child.  Madalaine is attracted to him but isn’t quite sure how to help him.

As the story progresses, we get to know Madalaine, Jerry and the unique cast of characters in the North Carolina town in which they live and work.  As the plot uncoils, we discover Madalaine is not just another pretty face and in fact, she is a top notch detective with an instinct for asking just the right questions, especially when a box full of cash, a missing person, and a murder test her skills.

The romantic elements within the somewhat formulaic mystery format added a dash of realism, giving the reader more than enough dimension to get beyond what makes mysteries sometimes predictable. If you like a fast, entertaining mystery with snappy dialogue and good humor, this book is for you.

As for the format in which I read this book, I downloaded MP3 files and listened to it on a Victor Stream reader. It was fast and accessible from my home computer.

This digital book was provided by Bradi Grebien-Samkow,
Associate Publicist, ReadHowYouWant. If you would like more information about this digital book or the program, please use the phone number, follow the link, or email Bradi:
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