Murder Under The Microscope

Murder Under the Microscope by Jane Bennett Munro

What can possibly be preserved when everything around you is completely altered?

How do you fight accusations from your own peers, including the police?

Jane Bennett Munro has orchestrated the ultimate novel to answer such puzzling dilemmas. In the world of Dr. Antoinette Day, a pathologist at Perrine Memorial Hospital in Twin Falls, Idaho, reputation is everything. Never has it been more crucial to necessitate the preservation of her professional integrity than the present.

The appearance of Dr. Shore, a temporary replacement for a regular resident, begins the rapid decline into strange occurances such as misread reports and missing patient data. The sudden onslaught of murder doesn't help matters. It seems that practically overnight, Dr. Day has become the focus of a police investigation that places her as the prime suspect.

"Oh, no. I broke out in a cold sweat. My knees felt as if they were going to buckle under me."

But her professional life isn't the only thing threatened. Antoinette and her husband, Hal, are thrown yet another twist, they are being stalked within the privacy of their home.

"I opened my mouth to answer, but before I got a word out, Hal took the phone away from me and hung up. I was so angry I was shaking. Hal put his arms around me and held me without saying a word. I buried my face in his shirt front. We stood there like that for a long time."

It is an intriguing tale of murder, deceit and, strangely enough, faith. The author's background lends a deeper perspective into the medical world, illuminating and merging complicated data into an intelligent and appalling story. Munro demonstrates her talents of narration throughout the book.

If there's any downside here, it is that I wish the antagonist who was thought to be the villain, had been given a longer lifespan; after all, I do love a horrible nemesis. Perhaps it was Munro's way of presenting a murderous intent, so deeply hidden, it projected the ultimate sinister unknown presence.

Jane Bennett Munro, MD, has been a hospital-based pathologist for thirty-three-years. She is now semi-retired, residing in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Murder Under the Microscope by Jane Bennett Munro, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4502-9862-9

Killer Honeymoon

Killer Honeymoon by G.A. McKevett

Killer Honeymoon is a continuation of the Savannah Reid mysteries by G.A. McKevett.

The book begins with detective Savannah Reid, of the Moonlight Detective Agency, newly married and on her honeymoon in Santa Tesla with Dirk Coulter, a police detective and her ex-partner. It doesn't take long for the blissful couple to encounter a murder in progress. When the actions of the local police induce an obvious cover-up, Savannah and Dirk decide to get involved. 

Calling on her resources from the fellow members of the Moonlight Detective Agency, Savannah decides to pursue the investigation regardless of the blatant lack of communication and disregard from the local Chief of Police.

As the story unfolds, the crime proves to be the tip of the iceberg. An intricate web of deceit is unearthed and ends on a shocking note. 

Having never read any of its predecessors, I was worried that I would not be able to connect the dots in terms of past character development.

I'm happy to state that I was wrong. 

There was no moment that I felt out of touch with the characters or confused about any past references. Killer Honeymoon stands well on its own merits as a humorous and romantic murder-mystery. A thoroughly entertaining novel. 

Exit Strategy

An astonishingly harrowing tale of terror and fright. The mind is a truly incredible mechanism.

Exit Strategy by L.F. Falconer

The story is about Jonas Dumar, a fugitive accused of murder, who sets sail to start a new existence. Only, there's a catch, how far can a person outrun himself?

A stroke of desperation. 

Jonas decides to venture across the Atlantic, away from the accusations of murder and deceit, he sets off with his trusty dog to find haven in a different land.  In the silence of his journey, his mind is his greatest friend and enemy. As he grapples with the emergence of new and old acquaintances, he is pushed to the brink of restraint. 

Enter Gabe and Izzy. They are two free spirits trying to work their way back to Spain. Jonas takes the couple along on his vessel, hoping to circumvent the long, quiet hours spent on the open sea. But nothing is as it seems. The ominous and hellish journey has only begun, Jonas risks his very existence as he attempts to outrun his own demons.

Exit Strategy is a fantastic, hair-raising story that will keep the reader guessing. L.F. Falconer weaves a masterful tale, both simplistic and convoluted, giving insight into the human psyche and causes us to ruminate on our own sanity. I highly recommend this new read of 2013.