Go Close Against the Enemy (Hardcover)

by Takis Iakovou (Author), Judy Iakovou (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Julia Lambros narrates this very contemporary cozy in which she assists in the running of her husband's Greek cafein Delphi, Georgia. Nick and Julia have a cute dog, a huge and endearing cook, Spiro, from Crete, and an interesting way of fitting their urban ethnicity into their small southern town--they're sleuths. The death of a young interracial couple's baby brings protesters when the child is buried in a white cemetery, and although few mourn the murder of the preacher who sparked the protest, few are surprised when the child's mother, April, caught on video with the gun, is arrested. Julia believes firmly in April's innocence, however, especially when thugs attack April's husband while he guards his son's grave. Although the themes are dark--racism, drink and gambling, good-ole-boy intimidation, and religious fundamentalism--Julia's upbeat and wry persona keeps the story moving. With a title taken from Tyrtaeus of Sparta and keywords defined at the head of each chapter, this book by a husband-and-wife writing team keeps readers turning the pages. GraceAnne A. DeCandido

From Kirkus Reviews
Nick and Julia Lambros, owners of a small restaurant in the college town of Delphi, Georgia, are dismayed by the actions of sanctimonious Walter Fry, married deacon of Mount Sinai Tabernacle Church. Fry is leading a loud vocal protest by church members as still-born Damien Folsom is being buried in the churchs cemetery. Damiens father, Davon, is black. His mother is April, the white daughter of the churchs minister, Reverend Allen McNabb. After the funeral, a nasty scene ensues when a stressed-out April threatens Fry with a gun. Shes slapped by her father, and the gun is thrown into the shrubbery. The same night, Fry is found shot to death on his kitchen floor, killed by the same gun, and April is taken into custody. Aware of her success in solving a previous crime (So Dear to Wicked Men, 1996), April appeals to Julia for help. After a reluctant go-ahead from Louis Humphries, Aprils lawyer, Julia begins to search Frys background, turning up plenty thats unsavorya succession of young black mistresses; partnership in a raunchy dance hall, shifty money dealings, and more. A pair of local brutes lurk constantly in the background, eventually sending Davon to the hospital with life- threatening injuries. In the end, its a tiny piece of evidence and a complex theory that will free April and nail a killer. A rambling, sporadically suspenseful plot enlivened by some well-drawn characters and by the authors heartfelt take on lingering racial injustice. -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 275 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (August 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312185871
• ISBN-13: 978-0312185879
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,250,357 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great addition to this new series, September 25, 1998

By A Customer

If you haven't read one of the 2 books in the series, I highly recommend you do so. The authors have owned restaurants and are now using that knowledge to write entertaining books. The couple in the story own a restaurant in the south. The husband is Greek. They have hired a Greek friend of his who speaks less English. This couple find themselves in many "jams" but always seem to find their way out. A very likeable couple and an easy reading book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gratifyingly realistic, April 24, 1998

By A Customer

Racism is openly flourishing in Delphi, Georgia. This becomes acutely evidenced at the funeral of a stillborn. April McNabb, daughter of the town preacher, married a black man in defiance of her father's commands. Although he disowns her for this sacrilege, he supports her when she wants her baby buried in his churchyard. However, Deacon Walter Fry objects, wanting the infant buried in the black cemetery. During the burial, a demonstrative and ugly protest occurs.

April pushed to the limit, fires a shot at Fry, but misses. However, Fry is soon found murdered and April is arrested for the crime. She calls on her friend Julia Lambros to help her since Julia has successfully conducted a murder investigations before. Though she and her spouse are having problems with an IRA agent, she decides to help her friend. Her snooping places Julia in danger from an individual who wants to remain anonymous.

In SO CLOSE AGAINST THE ENEMY, the victim has many people wishing him dead who also have the means and opportunity to kill him. This makes the story line very complex and difficult to solve. The protagonists are a working class couple whom strikes an immediate chord with the audience. Takis and Judy Iakovou demonstrate that racism is a destructive force that can tear apart a town. This enjoyable book tells a good story while making a powerful social statement.

Harriet Klausner

5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing, funny and serious all at the same time, July 16, 1998

By A Customer

I've read the first in the series (So Dear to Wicked Men) and loved it for its clever plot and funny characters. This one (Go Close Against the Enemy) is even better. The characters are still funny and the plot still clever and there is an added seriousness that is thought provoking and at times heart-wrenching. I highly recommend this book.