Murderous Means
by Lida Sideris
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GENRE: Cozy Mystery
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BLURB:
Corrie
Locke may not be the best rookie lawyer in Southern California, but when it
comes to catching a killer, she’s got the skills to bring a band of shifty-eyed
suspects to their knees.
When the wealthy matriarch of the dysfunctional Means family dies in her sleep,
the family is convinced her death was anything but peaceful. They hire Corrie
to prove it, but the only evidence they have to go on is a psychic’s half-baked
vision that it was murder. To put the matter to rest, Corrie sets her sights on
proving the psychic is a fraud. After all, everyone knows psychics are
crack-pots, don’t they?
But what should be a simple investigation morphs into something deadly. The
deeper Corrie digs, the more bizarre clues are revealed, and a possible witness
is found dead. As tempers rise, it is up to Corrie to catch a killer…who’s
about to strike again.
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Excerpt One:
Most people think the worst when they spot a shadowy figure lurking outside in the middle of the night. But there’s often a perfectly reasonable explanation. Take tonight, for instance. I was previewing my next job at a time carefully selected to avoid interruptions.
It was the quiet hour, halfway between sunset and sunrise. Although breaking and entering was one of my favorite past-times, I carried a key for tonight’s visit, provided by a prospective client. Except she wasn’t expecting me till much later, like in twelve hours. I was checking out the place to determine if the job was worth taking.
The house was one of four structures on twenty-nine acres at the end of Old Canyon Road in Los Ranchos, population 1300. The tiny town was nestled between two powerhouse communities with small town vibes of their own: Calabasas and Malibu. Just far enough away from Los Angeles to make residents forget the worries and bustle of city life. Los Ranchos was a hidden pocket of relief in the massive overcoat of L.A.
I entered a sturdy Victorian home sitting dead center of fenced-in pastures. The antique furnishings were the real deal, fashioned by expert craftsmen. From Windsor chairs to walnut corner pieces, it was like stepping back in time, circa 1900, except ladies back then didn’t dress in black sweats or don suede ankle boots. Nor did they stash pistols in their crossbody bags and Japanese throwing stars in their belt buckles. Well, maybe the pistols.
Oriental rugs scattered around tongue and groove floors, quieting my footsteps. Not that anyone would hear me. The house sat unoccupied ever since…I dove behind a small settee and froze. A floorboard creaked on the porch, a weighty creaking that lasted a tad too long. Was somebody out there?
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Review: The death of an old lady normally wouldn’t justify a case, especially if there didn’t seem to be any foul play. But a psychic said there was more to it and PI Corrie Locke decided to check it out if only to prove the psychic was a fake. Irony was that Corrie had her own fake psychic, which was odd. I mean, why have the fake psychic at all?
Corrie spends the first few
chapters trying to decide whether or not to take the case. Okay, you’d think
that that would’ve been decided already, but, sure, we’ll play along. The diary
narrative was nice and witty, but it can take a long time, especially when
describing the lush SoCal scenery. I liked the humorous references like the
séance from the “I Love Lucy” episode.
The prose was smart and clever, but, quite honestly, it didn’t move fast enough and it wasn’t too centered on the case. Story was quirky and oddball, which definitely sets it apart from other mysteries, but it wasn’t quite as efficient as a mystery.
It’s pretty good for a chuckle and it’s a decent mystery.
Rating: 3 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Lida Sideris is the author of the Southern California Mysteries. Slightly edgier than the usual cozy mystery, the series is loosely based on the author’s former life, working as an entertainment attorney for a movie studio…kind of like her heroine, Corrie Locke... except without the homicides. Lida is a recipient of the Helen McCloy Mystery Writers of America Scholarship Award and a 2x Killer Nashville, Silver Falchion Award finalist. She lives in the northern tip of Southern California with her family, rescue dogs, and a flock of uppity chickens. To learn more, please visit www.LidaSideris.com
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/lidasideris
Twitter: @lidasideris
Instagram: @lida_sideris
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GIVEAWAY :
Lida Sideris will be awarding $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you for hosting today.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a good read.
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