Customer Reviews

All About Mary: A Mick Hart Mystery

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Fasten your seat belts as Lawrence Christopher takes you on a ride through the life and death of Mary Jane Jenkins. The story unfolds as Private Investigator, Mick Hart, digs through a list of ex-lovers, rapist, and so-called friends, in search of the truth. With life-like characters such as Perry and little Sapphire, you can't help but to be drawn into their world. You will laugh a little, and maybe even cry a little too, but you certainly won't be board. The many twists and turns in this story will have you guessing, until the very end, "Who Did It?"

Nubian Sistahs Book Reviewers

All About Mary was a different, but well written story. Mr. Christopher's fresh approach to the storyline kept my interest and I was entertained from beginning to end. The characters came to life and I can honestly say I know some folks like the ones in the story! Mr. Christopher created a story that has a "flava" not seen often, but it never takes away from the awesome plot and shocking ending. Kudos, Mr. Christopher, and I look forward to the stories that follow!

The novella, All About Mary, gives you just that, everything about Mary. Mary Jane Jenkins is a woman that lived hard for what she needed to survive. A single mother of two young children, Mary used men just as they used her.

When the novella opens, we are introduced to the gruesome death of Mary and the arrest of her fiance'Perry Rogers. Perry is the prime suspect and to the police department, it's an open and shut case. However, private investigator Mick Hart does not see it that way and goes about tracking down Mary's killer at the request of Perry's mother. Hart comes across a list of suspects each of whom had a personal interest in Mary. Their interest ranged from lust, to like, to love.

Lawrence Christopher gives us a tale that is short but very complete. We understand Mary and her plight because we are privy to her childhood and her adulthood pre-Perry. I thoroughly enjoyed the comparison of butter to Mary's body; the chapter titles of some nursery school rhymes and song titles with references to "Mary".

This is very good murder-mystery that will make you shake your head just as you would have shaken some sense into Mary.

Detective Mick Hart, whose job is to apprehend criminals and investigate cases for a living, gives a grieving mother seventy two hours of his time at no charge to clear her presumed innocent son of murder. Is Perry Rogers, a man full of nothing but love and passion, guilty? Detective Hart's odyssey begins as he explores the streets, scrutinizing people from all facets of life. From the ghettos and gangster settings, to the doors of the battered and upscale homes, making impromptu visits at places of business, and delving into the lives of the incarcerated, Detective Hart stops at nothing until he finds out `whodunit'. Now Mary, the victim in this murder, was indeed quite contrary. It seems that every human she had some type of involvement with is a possible suspect. What does that tell you about Mary Jane Jenkins, who is described to be about 200 pounds away from a cheeseburger? Looks are most definitely deceiving as men find this thick woman with penetrating eyes and skin as soft as butter very beautiful and entertaining. As one lead guides Detective Hart to another, will he be able to accomplish his goal within the allotted time frame? Lawrence Christopher has done a wonderful job by turning a few short stories into his first debut, mystery novella. `All About Mary' is a quick and easy page-turner that will draw you in from beginning to end. Great piece of writing Mr. Christopher!

This book tells a woman's story from a man's point of view.

Mary, who has been victimized most of her life, has issues on top of issues. She meets a man who starts out with greedy intentions, but ends up opening his heart and life to her.

He becomes enthralled by her physical presence and sexual prowess, but later learns as much from her as she learns from him.

He actually listens to her and gives her an opportunity to view life and people in a different way than she has in the past.

This is a fantastic new work.

The murder mystery is woven through alternate points of view: Perry, the accused, is rambling towards a confession that just doesn't seem to make sense. Mick, the detective, is searching for the truth. Mary, the deceased, looms larger than life in the background - a woman whose reality transcends her death, and even the pages of the book.

It blends several universal themes:
- The pain of unrequited love
- The trouble of addiction
- The power of divine love
- The struggle in urban society

The story will ring a chord with anyone struggling to make their way in society, anyone on the wrong side of a 1 way relationship, and anyone struggling with the gap between a conviction and reality that don't mesh.

The novel displays outstanding depth in a mere 100some pages. You will read it in one sitting, and immediately crave the next from masterful new author Lawrence Christopher.

Most murder mystery/detective stories leave me sadly disappointed. Lawrence Christopher's All About Mary, however, was an exceptional read and kept me guessing until the very end. Well written and provocative, All About Mary is a superb novella with fascinating characters (Smoke was my favorite!). I can't wait to read another tale with Mick Hart racing against the clock to track down a killer!

Lawrence Christopher weaves a tale of suspense interspersed with murder, passion, and humor in his debut novella, All About Mary. Christopher's story, which was first excerpted on timbooktu.com as Kickin' It With Mary, is definitely a page-turner. His everyman detective, Mick Hart, doggedly pursues his case with an easy style that leaves the suspects unaware of his skillful method and uncanny eye for the simplest detail. Christopher brings his characters to life and makes you feel like they're someone you already knew. A well-written and smoothly-paced whodunit, it will keep you guessing right up until the end.

"All About Mary" had me hooked from beginning to end! It is very well written and you are able to easily follow the dialogue. The suspense will kill you which is why I could not put the book down! The characters may spark a memory of people you knew -- or know -- and the reality of their lives grabs you deeper into this book.

All in all, Lawrence Christopher has done a very good job with his first offering and I look forward to more adventures with Mick Hart.

"All About Mary" was the first Lawrence Christopher "novella" that I read. I could not put it down. My first impression of Mary was less than favorable. After hearing her story from a man's point of view, it cast Mary in a different light.

She does things her own way, but in the end she makes sure that her children are covered if not by her, but by someone who will love them and protect them.