Chosen for Death [Paperback]

Kate Clark Flora (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1995

Pursuing an obsession to find her biological parents, Carrie, an adoptee, follows a trail that leads to her death, and Carrie's big sister Thea is prompted to begin a search in which she discovers an ugly truth about her adopted sister. Reprint. PW. K.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Fans of smart, sexy, slightly screwed-up female crime solvers can add a new name to their list of favorite characters: Thea Kozak. When the heroine of Kate Flora's Chosen for Death takes time away from her career as a consultant to private schools to solve the disturbingly brutal murder of her adopted sister, Carrie, her investigation turns up painful truths she's reluctant to face. Still recovering from the emotional desolation of her husband's accidental death and the shock of Carrie's murder, Thea reenacts her sister's search for her birth mother in hopes of finding the killer in the process. Accompanying Thea--and occasionally battling with her--on her journey of discovery is Andre Lemieux, a Down Eastern detective with more than crime solving on his mind. Flora's full-bodied, complex characters bob and weave, and occasionally collide, in an intricately laid plot that explores the sometimes uncomfortable side of intimacy. More than just another well-written detective novel, Chosen for Death is also a thought-provoking study in identity, autonomy, and family dynamics that mystery lovers are certain to enjoy.

From Publishers Weekly

Because her main characters-Boston-based educational consultant Thea Kozak and Detective Andre Lemieux of the Maine State Police-are engaging, the flaws in Flora's debut are more irritating than fatal. Easy jokes affect even the naming of the victim, who is Thea's adopted "sister Carrie." Worse, Thea's melodramatic motivation is hammered into readers with repeated variations of the theme, "I can't let someone kill my sister and get away with it." Although the sisters have recently drifted apart, especially since Carrie moved to Maine, Thea believes the murder relates to Carrie's search for her birth mother. From the condition of Carrie's bludgeoned corpse, Andre believes that it is a straightforward sex crime. When Thea finds evidence in Carrie's apartment linked to her sister's search, she decides to duplicate the potentially fatal hunt herself, rather than turn the clues over to Andre-even though their relationship has progressed from scrapping to "a tingle" when they touch. Flora's characterization is assured and her plotting is tight and credible.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 2888 pages
• Publisher: Forge (July 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812534298
• ISBN-13: 978-0812534290
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,454,181 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars gripping mystery novel about murder in the family, January 24, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Chosen for Death (Hardcover)

This novel is Kate Floras first mystery novel. The
story centers around a young woman, whose sister
is suddenly murdered. She decides to investigate on
her own, and in doing so must go to the town where
her younger, adopted sister had been murdered to
examine the life of her sister, the associates and
boyfriends. Not only does she have to work on the
mystery, but she also has her own thriving business
and a couple of men in her life to deal with. This novel
is not merely a mystery novel, for it doesn't merely
center on the mystery at hand, but also on the life of the
sister left behind in the tragedy. I highly recommend
this novel if you want more than just the average
mystery! Its gripping at times, humourous, engaging,
and has a very unexpected ending that even left
me surprised!! The author writes along the lines of
Mary Higgins Clark or Gloria murphy...great reads

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Series, August 8, 2009

By 

Ria Darling (the Midwest) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Chosen for Death (Kindle Edition)

I love the Thea Kovacs series-this is the first in the series and an easy great read. There are at least 2 others in the series and all of them are engaging and worth the it. She makes the characters evolve and mature-what happsn in this one is reflected on later in the series. Not hardboiled but not totally cosy either, these are perfect for a Kindle read on a flight or trip.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars chosen for death, February 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Chosen for Death (Paperback)

i think this being the fisrt book is the best beginning and it keeps you wanting to read. The books are so good that i have all of them and i think that kate Flora has made herself a gold mine with the Thea Kozak mysteries as i want to know whats going to happen next with Thea.