The Cold Hard Fax [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Leslie O'Kane (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2000

Gardening is not usually considered a blood sport, but whenever cartoonist Molly Masters is out in the yard she must contend with the harassing comments of her neighbor, Helen Raleigh, who once owned Molly's house. Then, after a particularly unpleasant confrontation, Helen is shot dead on Molly's property--and a shocking secret is revealed.

When Molly shoves her trowel into the dirt of the murder investigation, she starts receiving some threatening faxes--and realizes that one determined killer could quiet her questions forever. . . .

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Now that I am a suburban dweller, I especially love mysteries that take place in these lovely safe havens, especially if they are funny and THE COLD HARD FAX is a hoot. Leslie O'Kane is particularly effective when she is skewering the gossipy atmosphere that goes with living on a cul-de-sac and she is even better when she takes on the world of the politically correct. I can't wait for more mysteries about cartoonist Molly Masters.

Amelia Zalcman: Director, Contracts Administration


--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

Gardening is not usually considered a blood sport, but whenever cartoonist Molly Masters is out in the yard she must contend with the harassing comments of her neighbor, Helen Raleigh, who once owned Molly's house. Then, after a particularly unpleasant confrontation, Helen is shot dead on Molly's property--and a shocking secret is revealed.

When Molly shoves her trowel into the dirt of the murder investigation, she starts receiving some threatening faxes--and realizes that one determined killer could quiet her questions forever. . . . --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 381 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Pr (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786228334
• ISBN-13: 978-0786228331
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,466,422 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and delightful mystery, March 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Cold, Hard Fax (Molly Masters Mysteries) (Hardcover)

While on the phone in her home in Carlton, a suburb of Albany, New York, Molly Masters hears a shot and watches a body fall to the ground just outside her window. She races outside to see that her neighbor Helen Raleigh is dead. She notices that the deceased was digging a hole in her yard. Later on she learns from the police that Helen was actually Frank Worschem, a criminal allegedly involved in a $2 million jewel robbery.

Molly begins to investigate when a second neighbor is killed. She notices that another neighbor, Sheila Lillydale, is wearing a diamond bracelet that probably came from the heist. Though Sheila is arrested for murder, Molly knows that a second killer still is free. She worries that the second killer thinks that Molly has found the loot from the jewelry job and will come after her or her family, seeking the stash.

THE COLD, HARD FAX is a breezy pick me up filled with eccentric characters trying to perform incomprehensible deeds. Readers will especially enjoy the heroine for her bravery and wit. Leslie O'Kane has written an intriguing who-done-it that should garner her a wider audience.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fluffy but Entertaining, October 4, 2000

By 

"labibliophile" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cold, Hard Fax (Molly Masters Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Freelance fax-cartoonist Molly Masters and her family have moved into a new house, only to find that the previous owner keeps harassing them when they try to dig up the garden. Then he is shot dead on the property, the garden gets dug up rather more thoroughly than planned (killing the children's pet pumpkin in the process) and someone starts faxing Molly threats. Certainly not the way to make a good first impression on the neighborhood!

A light, silly dark comedy, this book might seem shallow, but it is also humorous and entertaining. Definitely worth the effort.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Light and lots of fun -- Molly Masters is terrific, September 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Cold, Hard Fax (Molly Masters Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Another delightful adventure with Molly Masters, who creates fax greetings for a living. Her mother and kids are funny, but not intrusive, and the plot is more substantial than most light mysteries. I liked the suspects and the wisecracks from Molly -- she's amusing, but not mean spirited. I highly recommend this book.