A MEETING IN THE LADIES' ROOM - Anita Doreen Diggs
Kensington/Dafina
March 2004
SYNOPSIS: A page-turning novel of romantic obsession, racial tension - and murder. In the rarefied world of Manhattan book publishing, most of the intrigue takes place in the books. But all that is about to change for respected editor Jacqueline Blue...
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE: (4) Wayne Jordan
REVIEW: Last year Anita Doreen Diggs launched her career as an author with the A MIGHTY LOVE, a story about the unwavering power of true love. Though different in tone and theme, her sophomore release, A MEETING IN THE LADIES’ ROOM is an enjoyable read.
An editor at a large publishing company, Jacqueline Blue’s success can been measured by her lifestyle and her importance to the company. She lives in an upscale apartment, drives an expensive car, and takes good care of her mother. All is fine, until her boss turns up dead and Jackie is caught on tape hurrying from the scene of the crime. She becomes the #1 suspect. When her fingerprints are discovered all over the crime scene, she is arrested, and her once almost perfect life seems a thing of the past.
The appeal of A MEETING IN THE LADIES’ ROOM lies in the character of Jackie. What I most like about her is her imperfection. In the office, she is a strong confident woman but shows vulnerability in her relationship with men. Her obsession with a man who has no interest in her is mostly annoying, but very real. I know of too many women who ache after men who have no interest in them, but reject men who genuinely care about them. Paul, the one who loves her, is a wonderful caring individual who seems wimpy at times, but his strength of character become evident when Jackie is arrested. His unwavering love for Jackie is admirable, and she eventually realizes that he has so much to offer and is the best man for her.
The secondary characters are vivid and possess individual personalities which give a vibrancy to the group called Black Pack. On the surface the members of the group seem like parasites, feeding on and grasping every opportunity to outdo each other. Instead, I saw a group of lonely individuals united, not only by the color of their skin, but by a strange warped affection and admiration for each other.
Ms. Driggs’ writing flows smoothly, allowing for quick reading. There are no unnecessary scenes or clutter. Add the suspense generated from the search to find the true killer and A MEETING IN THE LADIES’ ROOM has all the hallmarks of an engrossing read. Set in the publishing world, Ms. Diggs holds the publishing industry up for readers to see its value as well as its imperfection. Since Ms. Diggs’s works in the industry the sense of reality is strong.
With its themes of obsession, loyalty and friendship, A MEETING IN THE LADIES’ ROOM will leave readers feeling satisfied. Though not as emotionally intense as A MIGHTY LOVE, this story is a worthy follow up to Ms. Diggs’ debut last year.