Commentaires client les plus utiles
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3.0étoiles sur 5
A Mystery for Football Fans, Aoû 2 2007
Computer consultant, Anneke Haagen, is anticipating a special weekend of football festivity, especially since her live-in love, police lieutenant and former pro football star, Karl Genesko, will be honoured at the event. But the fun turns to suspicion and unease when student reporter, Zoe Kaplan, breaks a story about recruitment impropriety at the University of Michigan. Unease turns to shock when a National Collegiate Athletic Association investigator is murdered with a flagpole through his stomach.
Although I don't know much about football, I do know it has lots of rules. Susan Holtzer's BLEEDING MAIZE AND BLUE taught me that the recruitment of promising athletes appears to have even more rules. In cities like Ann Arbor, Michigan, where football is a huge deal, breaking recruitment rules is almost a deadly sin, one that ruins careers and reputations.
For some, these are high stakes indeed, but they aren't for Anneke and this is part of the problem with this novel. There was far too little tension for the protagonist. Anneke's only just met the people who have the most to lose by the recruitment scandal, not to mention a murder charge. Despite some reference to Karl being a suspect, this angle isn't pursued. Other than befriending Zoe and satisfying her own curiosity, Anneke has no real stake in solving the crimes. Another problem is that the subplots aren't developed. We do learn that Anneke has her own consulting business, a new home that needs repairs, and a part-time housekeeper who doesn't like her, but other than flitting in and out of her office, showing a friend her home, and dealing with the housekeeper, we see too little of Anneke's life. The tension could have been ramped up by giving Anneke her own work deadlines, renovation nightmares, or real threats to her and Karl's safety. Still, the main plot held together well and for those who love football, it's an entertaining read.
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5.0étoiles sur 5
Fun for anyone, Ann Arborite or not, Juil 12 2004
This mystery takes place at the University of Michigan in the mid-'90s. Anyone around town then will find a lot of fun, familiar elements in this book. Early on in the book, a meeting is held in Michigan Stadium, which is unusual but not unknown since the stadium is generally open during the day. For the uninitiated, "maize" is the specific shade of yellow that Michigan uses in its school colors.There is a lot of journalistic intrigue in the book, too, as a writer for the campus paper (the Michigan Daily) competes for scoops with the Detroit dailies. All in all, it's a fun read.
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5.0étoiles sur 5
Too Much Fun, Fév 23 2003
Par Un client
I am a cozy mystery addict, and extremely hard to please. This book by Susan Holtzer satisfied my craving for cozy and passed my picky muster. The plotting is a joy, the characters are well-developed and the humor is chuckle-making. Bleeding Maize and Blue is warm, well-written and just too much fun.
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