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Publisher:
PublishAmerica |
Release
Date: March 2003 |
ISBN:
1-59286362-0 |
Awards:
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Format
Reviewed: Paperback |
Buy
it at Amazon |
Read
an Excerpt |
Genre:
Mystery |
Reviewed:
2003 |
Reviewer:
Kristin Johnson |
Reviewer
Notes: Reviewer, Kristin Johnson, is the author of
CHRISTMAS COOKIES ARE FOR GIVING, co-written with Mimi Cummins.
Her third book, ORDINARY MIRACLES: My Incredible Spiritual,
Artistic and Scientific Journey, co-written with Sir Rupert
A.L. Perrin, M.D., will be published by PublishAmerica in 2004.
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Den
of Deception
By Richard
Alan Nelson
If hero
Jon Roman, head of the investigation firm (think 1-800-USSEARCH)
CalProbe, weren't so completely smitten by the enviably adorable
and brilliant orthopedic surgeon Dr. Brianne Richard, he would be
insufferable, because from Richard Alan Nelson's description, Jon
makes Macgyver and James Bond look inept. Fortunately, males will
appreciate that Jon Roman is too distracted by the lovely Dr. Richard
to notice the hired guns who seek to prevent him from helping her
discover who really murdered her mother twenty years ago and why.
Was it the Mexican gardener Julio Silvas in the kitchen with the
hammer? This should give opponents of illegal immigration some ammunition.
Actually,
the Mexican gardener happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong
time, as Brianne and Jon soon discover when Jon's brilliant but
crude associate, former P.I. John "Buck" Winston, is nearly
killed while interviewing Julio Silvas. It's always the little guy,
the red herring, taking the fall for the powerful guy. In this case,
Brianne's investigation takes her into buried family secrets
and
luckily, into Jon Roman's arms. Is it any coincidence that Jon's
last name reminds the reader of romantic, romance, and the nobility
of ancient Rome?
For
Jon's part, he finally recovers from his fascination from Brianne
to realize that their lives are in danger
particularly when
the hired guns break Brianne's fingers, so necessary to surgery---fortunately,
the injury is to her noncritical hand. But, as any good thriller
writer does, Nelson increases the danger to Jon and Brianne, or
"Brie" as her loved ones call her (Nelson's heroine is
like a fine, rich, elegant, layered cheese) while slowly making
them fall in love. The love story is more flirtation than seduction
for much of the book, but Nelson gets points for not having the
hero and heroine leap into bed, and for portraying a complex, real
relationship affected by danger and family secrets.
There's
much to like in this novel, although Nelson does have the tendency
to jump around omnisciently between his characters' minds, often
in the same scene. Characters such as Jon, Brianne, and Buck drive
this fast-paced intelligent page-turner.
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