Death on a Casual Friday (Scotia MacKinnon Mysteries) [Paperback]

Sharon Duncan (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Signet (August 7, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451203984
• ISBN-13: 978-0451203984
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,617,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting and intricate novel, August 8, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death on a Casual Friday (Scotia MacKinnon Mysteries) (Paperback)

He hates anyone who isn't white and blames an Asian for hurting his knee causing him not to play pro ball or go to Vietnam at the height of the war. Now he gets his jollies by killing any non-white activist who wants to give minorities a helping hand. On his last mission he killed a Mexican reformer who was becoming high profile on both sides of the border.

Scotia MacKinnon, a former police officer turned private investigator, lives on her boat "Dragonspray" off San Juan Island. She maintains an office on land so she can keep her personal and professional lives separate. Her latest client is Elyse Montenegro, a woman who believes she is being stalked. Elyse's husband, a political activist, was killed four months ago but the murderer left no evidence at the scene. She wants Scotia to find the stalker and identify the killer. Scotia is too tenderhearted to say no to what is a very dangerous case.

Sharon Duncan makes her debut with an intricate and interesting novel. Her heroine is a cross between Kinsey Millhone and Paul Bishop's Fey Croaker. This blending of these two characters should not work, but does. DEATH ON A CASUAL FRIDAY is a memorable mystery and hopefully there will be more novels starring this very likable heroine.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great First Novel, January 11, 2002

By 

Philip A. Bauso (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death on a Casual Friday (Scotia MacKinnon Mysteries) (Paperback)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging Sleuth, September 13, 2002

By 

Mel Odom (Moore, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death on a Casual Friday (Scotia MacKinnon Mysteries) (Paperback)

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.