Customer Reviews

The Camera Never Lies (Hometown Mysteries)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Fun, interesting story that kept my attention. The end was a bit of a letdown though as the author did a good job of building things up but then it just kind of ended abruptly and was somewhat boring. This was a nice 'clean' book with a spiritual background and a good mystery intertwined.

Last night I indulged in creative juice sensation with Elizabeth Goddard's Carol Award Finalist THE CAMERA NEVER LIES. I wish there was a way to give 6 stars on the reviews!

The main character, Polly, is simply taking a weekend off to photograph a dear friend's small location wedding in a national park. The action begins immediately with threats and surprise meetings, followed closely by the appearance of a body. A dead body to be exact. Horribly gruesome, but then a murder mystery isn't quite all there without a body.

And this murder mystery is definitely all there! One of the best I've read, it reminding me of the delight I gained from Phyllis A. Whitney's classics. The plot was so twisted and knotted, I found myself thoroughly overwhelmed.

By the time the knots were finally unraveled and I could breath again, I could only relish in the afterglow of brilliant conundrum. I wish I could find books like this one every day!

The idea for this mystery is a good one but I think the cover and description of the book are misleading. I was expecting more of a quirky comedy but this story was not very funny. The characters were not very interesting and I didn't feel like I could like any of them very well, including the heroine and her fella. I didn't really connect with the characters and I had to force myself to finish the book (wishing I hadn't purchased it). There are plenty of twists and turns but the story comes to an abrupt end, it's almost like the author just wanted to finish it fast after dragging it out for so long. I don't recommend it if you are looking for a light, fun read.

Polly Perkins has gone to a small town on the Oregon coast to be with her best friend, Rene when she marries. But Polly has no sooner arrived than her mother does, all upset due to a scam where someone stole over $50,000 from her. Polly thinks her mother is blowing it all out of proportion, until an acquaintance from Polly's past is found dead--and Polly's mother had been overheard threatening to kill him.

Polly was supposed to be there to take photos of her friend's wedding, but instead she finds herself taking shots of the victim, the maid, the gawkers, and everyone else. She firmly believes the camera never lies, but will her pictures help her find the murderer? Or will the murderer find her, first?

THE CAMERA NEVER LIES is one of the final few cozy mysteries that Barbour books published. I enjoyed most of the light-hearted mysteries in this collection, but unfortunately, this wasn't one of them. This book did have the usual array of colorful characters, including Polly's own mother, but most of the story came across flat.

I did figure out who the victim was before he was killed, and I started gathering my clues for the killer as soon as possible. And I had my suspicions early on. If you are looking for a cozy mystery, then THE CAMERA NEVER LIES might be something you'd like. $10.99. 249 pages.

Professional photographer Polly is at beautiful Caldera Lake Lodge to photograph her friend's wedding. It should be a calm, happy weekend.

Except the bride is jittery, on the verge of backing out. An old love from Polly's past shows up. So does another guy from her past. And then there's that dead body in the closet.

The list of suspects - including Polly's own slightly ditzy mother - is varied and ever-growing, and some of them aren't what they seem to be.

This is a fun excursion through both mystery and romance.

Polly Perkins is a portrait photographer who is hired to take pictures of her friend's wedding. The ceremony will take place at beautiful Caldera National Park in Oregon, which happens to be only 30 miles from where her mother lives, so Polly invites her mom to join her for the special weekend event. Once at the lodge, Polly encounters a blast from the past when she runs into Alec Gordon, who she still blames for an accident that killed her best friend back in high school. Feelings of resentment immediately rise to the surface. Polly remains cordial, but high-tails it away from Alec as swiftly as possible before she says anything she regrets.

A little while later, Polly hears a scream coming from the room next to hers. She rushes over and sees the shaken housekeeper pointing at the closet. Polly steps closer and finds a dead body inside. She's stunned to see it's none other than Alec Gordon. Despite her shock, Polly can't help herself from snapping a few photos of the crime scene. She decides to try her hand at sleuthing, thinking that finding the killer and solving this case may somehow make up for her earlier reaction to Alec and the fact that she didn't extend forgiveness to him when she had the chance.

It quickly becomes evident that Alec had made many enemies over the years who very well may have wanted him dead. This includes Polly's mother, whom Alec recently swindled out of several thousand dollars. To Polly's dismay, the clues start to stack up against her emotionally unstable, pill-popping, sleepwalking mom. But there are plenty of other suspects to consider, including the housekeeper who discovered the body, a lodge groundskeeper, a tour guide, and an odd/mysterious woman Polly keeps bumping into.

One more suspect to add to the list is another blast from the past who Polly didn't expect to see this weekend: the Best Man and her ex-boyfriend, Spencer Bradford III, who she dated years ago and has never quite gotten over. When she tells him about the murder, he confesses that he confronted Alec about his intentions after seeing her talking to him that morning. Spencer then offers to help Polly in her amateur sleuthing efforts, and she cautiously accepts. Although she can't believe Spencer could kill someone, she remembers his hot temper and can't help wondering if he had snapped.

With so many suspects with just as many motives, Polly has her work cut out for her. As she begins to follow the clues, people start whispering about "that photographer who keeps asking questions." And it soon becomes clear that someone isn't too happy that Polly is poking around. When she realizes that she may have actually caught the killer --- or at least a clue or two --- on camera, things really get interesting.

THE CAMERA NEVER LIES is a delightful first-person story with all the elements that make up a good cozy mystery. There's certainly no shortage of quirky characters, most notably Polly's mother, who's good for several chuckles along the way. The clues to the murder are set nicely in place, taking the reader on a puzzling journey, with lots of twists and surprises throughout. Just when you think you have it figured out, you're thrown another curveball. The romantic suspense between Polly and Spencer is enjoyable and doesn't overpower the mystery. The banter between them is light and fun, yet provides enough romantic tension for the avid romance novel fan.

The spiritual element is also there. Polly continually prays for God's guidance, and the implication is that it's because of His guidance that the killer is caught.

Author Elizabeth Goddard is known for writing romance novels and anthology novellas. This seems to be her first attempt at a mystery, but you'd never know it. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, then THE CAMERA NEVER LIES shouldn't disappoint.

--- Reviewed by Lynda Schab ([...])

How long has it been since you've read a good mystery? I devoured them as a young reader, but I admit it's been a really long while. I read this one upon a recommendation from a friend and was glad I did. This author has penned a fun story with all the best elements of a mystery. Just when I thought I had things figured out...the author went and surprised me.