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4.0étoiles sur 5
Engaging Sleuth, Sep 13 2002
Scotia MacKinnion works as a private investigator on San Juan Island between Washington State and Vancouver British Columbia. In the past, she's been a homicide detective for five years with the San Diego Police Department, so she knows the moves and she has the chops. Her infield team consists of Zelda Jones, a web site designer and graphic artist who does computer research for her, Ben Carey, a homicide detective in Berkeley who looks into police matters, and Jared Saperstein, a news reporter with a talent for hacking. Elyse Montenegro tries to hire Scotia to dissuade a stalker she insists is following her around, but Scotia isn't too certain she wants the case. Later, after having Zelda run the license plate Elyse gave her and turning up the fact that it belongs to a rental vehicle leased by a man that might be a private investigator himself, Scotia's interest rises. Only a short while later, Elyse's friend Campbell Sawyer is run off the road while driving Elyse's car. Elyse returns to Scotia's office, and this time she tells Scotia of her husband's murder. Julio Montenegro was a lawyer who worked with Latin Americans who had immigration problems or other legal entanglements. But Julio had another side to him as well: he also wrote an inflammatory column regarding United States-Mexico relations that offended major players in financial circles and political circles on both sides of the border. In addition, Julio was a player and had a mistress on the side. As if the case isn't complicated enough, Scotia discovers that other Hispanic attorneys have been murdered lately, and she has to give some thought to whether or not she's on the trail of a serial killer.DEATH ON A CASUAL FRIDAY is author Sharon Duncan's first novel, but a second Scotia MacKinnion novel, A DEEP BLUE FAREWELL, is already on the shelves. Before turning to full time writing, the author worked with linguistics and statistics. She is also an avid sailor. Scotia MacKinnion is an engaging heroine. She has a very full, very real life in addition to her work as a private investigator. Her relationship with her mother-Jewel Moon, a 1960s activist and former flower child-is strained. Scotia also has a college-aged daughter living out of the home who, when left to her own devices, tends to fall into her grandmother's orbit a little too much for Scotia's comfort. Nick Anastazi, a maritime lawyer, is her lover and gets somewhat too involved in his cases and his own teenage daughter to be around as much as Scotia would want. Scotia's world is realized very completely and with lots of details that make the reader feel as though he or she is walking at Scotia's side through Friday Harbor, San Juan. Zelda and Scotia's gossip feels real, and when the women start in talking about people the reader doesn't know-yet-the ears immediately start prick up and wait for the dish to begin. The mystery is ably plotted and gives Scotia plenty to do while tracking down suspects and turning up more information on the murder victim than she'd wanted. The story also gives the author room to discuss the political issues that are obviously important to her. Sharon Duncan's light romp will be a fun read for cozy lovers and mystery fans who like their action relatively bloodless and at a tolerable adrenaline level. Readers of Carolyn G. Hart and Dorothy Cannell should have a new series to enjoy.
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4.0étoiles sur 5
Casual Beginnings, Fév 24 2002
With this first novel, Sharon Duncan has begun what looks to be an interesting series. Scotia MacKinnon, the novel's leading lady, looks to be as vibrant and intelligent as any of the other leading female detectives.Scotia MacKinnon is persuaded to take a stalking case that she really doesn't feel worth her while. The large retainer, however, is. The young woman fears she is being stalked by the same man who previously killed her husband, a lawyer fighting for the rights of Hispanics in California and elsewhere in Latin American countries. Disowned by her own family, and turned away by the police as hysterical, the woman begs Scotia MacKinnon to take her case. As she investigates the dangers that lurk in this case, McKinnon encounters police, professors, and civil rights activists, many with good reason to commit a murder of this kind, before she solves this particular mystery. What prods her on, however, is the subsequent murders so like the young woman's husband's death. The stalker may have good reason to want this woman dead as well. Sharon Duncan's characters are as interesting as their particular story suggests, and this novel is well worth the read.
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5.0étoiles sur 5
Great First Novel, Janv. 11 2002
Sharon Duncan has written a remarkable first novel, one that can scarcely fail to please even the most discriminating fan of the mystery genre. Her principal character, PI Scotia MacKinnon, is tough and cagy, rather than hard or cynical, managing the difficult feat of dealing with violence and evil while remaining human and feminine. Scotia is complimented by a cast of well constructed supporting characters who never fail to seize the reader's attention and interest. These include two villains whose malice is, these days, altogether too believable.A well drawn plot, from which humor is not excluded, is enhanced by the author's obvious familiarity with domestic terrorism and the machinations of white supremicists. She is, as well, familiar with police proceedure, the weaponry of assassins and the firearms black market. Combine the above with superb technical writing skills, and a sharp eye and ear for detail, and the result is a book which once opened, will prove difficult to set aside before the last page is turned. Scotia MacKinnon is truly a heroine for today. Let us hope the author will allow us to delve deeper into her background and character in the course of many more adventures down the road.
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