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MURDER, MAYHEM AND A FINE MAN - Claudia Mair Burney Simon & Schuster/Howard Books February 2008 |
SYNOPSIS: All Amanda Bell Brown wanted for her 40th birthday was to watch CSI on television, but what she got was a couple of corpses, a hunk of a detective, and a drop-dead gorgeous red dress. What's a girl to do when a cult madman is on the loose? Save the day, of course, and maybe snag a good man.
INSPIRATIONAL FICTION/MYSTERY | 5 | La-Tessa Montgomery
REVIEW:
Amanda Bell Brown, forensic psychologist, finds herself in the last
place that she wants to be, at a crime scene. Bell, as she’s called by
her loved ones, is in a bit of a funk, and being forced to be at a crime
scene on her 35th birthday, and in her cute red dress no less, is
definitely not helping the situation. With no prospects for a husband,
and an even slimmer chance to have kids, she is not in the most positive
mindset right now. But when Lieutenant Jazz Brown (no relation) shows
up on the scene, her night definitely takes a turn for the better. Jazz
has to be the finest man she’s ever laid eyes on, and it is quickly
evident that the feeling is mutual. When Bell realizes that she and the
victims share a connection rooted in the occult, Jazz asks for her
assistance on the case. These two set out to uncover a murderer, but
they end up finding their hearts, along with their own personal, fire
breathing demons.
Wow!!! This is all I can say after reading MURDER, MAYHEM, & A FINE MAN.
I found this book to be very well written and most certainly
entertaining. When I read the back blurb I was a bit (ok a lot)
skeptical about it; but I am happy to say that my original impression of
this book didn’t hold a candle to the story I actually read. MURDER,
MAYHEM, & A FINE MAN is funny as heck, very touching, climatic, and most
importantly real.
I love Mrs. Burney’s writing style, it’s witty, smooth, and not too
preachy. My biggest complaint of the Christian Lit genre, save a few
authors, is that the stories sometimes come across as an “in your face”
Bible study, littered with scriptures just because. I was pleased to
discover this was not the case with this story. Yes, the story and it’s
leads are rooted in Christianity, but the author keeps them human and
they don’t come across as holier than thou or stilted.
I was a bit leery about how the author would weave the different
elements of this story together, but she does a masterful job of keeping
it properly balanced. Just when I thought the story would get sappy, I
got a hard dose of reality; and just when I thought I knew what was
coming next, I got a walk down a very dark and twisting path. I commend
the author for properly balancing this tale without being predictable,
overly sweet, or Bible thumping.
I was a pleasure getting to know Bell and Jazz. Their interactions are
pure comedy at times, and pure fire at others. Bell and Jazz share a
powerful attraction and connection, but both are determined to handle
the temptation as Christians. I respected their acknowledgement of some
difficult personal issues that each needed to deal with before either
could be fit for a relationship. The fact that Bell and Jazz are first
and foremost human, kept this tale very compelling and real for me.
I absolutely loved this story; it is a wonderful combination of
Christian lit, romance, comedy, and mystery. I definitely recommend this
title to anyone who enjoys a good story, regardless of their genre of
preference.
reviewer@romanceincolor.com | 1st February 2008