Caught in the Act (Amhearst Mystery Series #2) [Paperback]

Gayle Roper (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1998

In the second Amhearst Mystery, Merry Kramer, girl reporter, discovers a grisly murder and soon finds out that most of her friends are suspects.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Introduced in the much less entertaining Caught in the Middle (LJ 6/1/97), reporter Merrileigh Kramer returns with another crime to solve in this humorous light mystery. Merrileigh's troubles begin when she accompanies a co-worker to her estranged husband's home only to discover that the man has been murdered. Soon enough, Merrileigh is plunged into a murder investigation while simultaneously juggling two ardent suitors as well as a feature article on unwed teen mothers. Roper balances the numerous plots as well as Merrileigh does, making this a thoroughly enjoyable mystery with a devoutly Christian heroine. This second volume in the series is genuinely funny, with an extremely likable lead in Merrileigh. Fans of Carolyn Hart should find much to enjoy. Highly recommended.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

A choice to give a friend a lift ends up plunging female reporter Merry Kramer into a murder investigation. When Merry takes co-worker Jolene Meister to the home of Jolene's former husband, the last thing they expect is to find the man stabbed to death.

Curious about the obvious wealth reflected in Jolene's former home, Merry looks into the company for which the late Arnie worked, Bushay Environmental. In a plot full of red herrings, Merry finds abundant reason to suspect just about everyone of everything. The question is, at the end of a trail of clues, circumstances, convoluted relationships, and blind leads, who is the real killer? The answer won't come easily--especially with a monkey wrench thrown into Merry's private life in the form of Jack, her ex-boyfriend, who wants to marry her now that she has discovered a new flame.

Like the first book in this series, Caught in the Act looks at the long-term consequences of the choices we make. Whether it's a pregnant teen deciding if she should give her baby up for adoption, a young woman choosing to live selfishly or unselfishly, or Merry wondering which man she should marry--or whether to marry at all--this mystery, woven with threads of romance and humor, ties plot and subplot together into an enjoyable read with a clear Christian message.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 16 and up
  
• Paperback: 267 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; Second Printing edition (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310219094
• ISBN-13: 978-0310219095
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #445,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Caught in the Act" blew my mind..., September 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Caught in the Act (Amhearst Mystery Series #2) (Paperback)

The predecessor to this book was good, but the sequel was even better. The characters are just as real and loveable, and the feisty heroine Merry tells her story with both dry wit and tender feeling. The mystery was also even better--just about as hard to solve as an Agatha Christie. If you liked the first book, grab "Caught in the Act"!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear space on your shelf, July 13, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Caught in the Act (Amhearst Mystery Series #2) (Paperback)

After reading Caught in the Middle, the first book in this series, I thought that it would be impossible for the second installment in Gayle Roper's series to measure up to the first book. Happily, the second book is even more entertaining than its predecessor and will not disappoint readers in any way.

Perhaps the best part of this series is the main character. Merry Kramer continues to be a person that everyone can relate to. She, unlike many characters in Christian fiction, is a real person who is not perfect. She makes mistakes but learns from them, just like the rest of us. She battles with bad hair days and the always present cat hair on her pants. She often finds herself in unusual and often hilarious situations and never runs away from a challenge. The rest of the books characters are immensely entertaining; from Merry's demanding cat to the artist who is constantly frustrated at her independence. The newspaper staff that Merry works with is full of colorful characters who provide many of the best scenes in the novel.

As an avid mystery reader, I am used to being able to predict the endings of mysteries before the main character does. I was very happy to discover that I was completely wrong in my guess at who the murderer was in this book. The ending is a complete surprise; I cannot think of a better way to end such a charming, entertaining book.

Humor, mystery, faith, and a little bit of romance are all skillfully blended together to create a book worthy of a "prime" spot on anyone's bookshelf.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, March 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Caught in the Act (Amhearst Mystery Series #2) (Paperback)

I didn't think I would enjoy "Caught in the Act" as much as I did "Caught in the Middle", but I liked it even better! The mystery kept me guessing until the end of the book(and so did the romance). I can really relate to Merry. She seems like someone who would be a good friend(if she were real). She's a great character. I cannot wait for the next in the series. Write(and publish) faster!