The Crows [Audio CD]

Maris Soule (Author), Read by Beth Richmond (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2009

Beware the menace posed by a dying man, a sniper in the woods and killer ladybugs. Accountant P.J. Benson recently inherited her grandfather's farm in rural Michigan. During tax season, she has no time for outside interests, but when she's suspected in the murder of a stranger who dies in her dining room, she's forced to turn sleuth.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With a central plot line hinging on a bioengineered strain of killer ladybugs and a solution that will strike most as far-fetched, this romantic cozy is an unremarkable outing for Soule (Chase the Dream), better known for writing straight romances. P.J. Benson, an accountant in the small Michigan town of Zenith, leads a humdrum existence as April 15 approaches. When a dead stranger turns up in her house, P.J. becomes the prime suspect of hunky homicide detective Wade Kingsley. Further break-ins make P.J. wonder whether the killer was after a mysterious box stolen from her neighbors, Julia and John Westman, but when the Westmans deny ever telling her that the box contained lethal insects, neighbors familiar with her family history of mental illness begin to wonder whether P.J. herself is losing touch with reality. The burgeoning relationship between P.J. and Wade generates few sparks, leaving little to keep readers going through the slow-moving plot.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Veteran romancer Soule skillfully combines suspense, mystery and romance in a fast-moving tale. --Kirkus Reviews.

Soule...writes with authority and ease, hooking the reader on page one. Romantic suspense just doesn't get any better. Mary Higgins Clark fans will find much to enjoy here. --Library Journal Review, 11/01/07

Product Details

• Audio CD: 79 pages
• Publisher: Books In Motion (October 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1605485349
• ISBN-13: 978-1605485348
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Maris Soule has had 25 category romances published, 2 finaling for the RITA award, and 2 mysteries. Born and raised in California, Soule was working on a master's degree in art history at U.C. Santa Barbara when she was swept off her feet by a redhead with blue eyes. Soule now lives in south-western Michigan and winters in Florida with an oversized Rhodesian Ridgeback and the same redhead. She has a grown son and daughter, along with two granddaughters, loves to go sailing with her husband, still draws and paints, and loves to cook. Visit her on Facebook, Twitter or at http://MarisSoule.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE CROWS is a creative well written psychological suspense thriller., December 17, 2007

By 

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

This review is from: The Crows (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

CPA P.J. Benson moves away from Kalamazoo into a small house she inherited from her paternal grandfather in Zenith Michigan, a farming community where nobody locks their doors. This proves to be a mistake as P.J. discovers when she is taking a walk in the woods and she hears shots ring out. She rushes home finding a blood trail that leads to her kitchen until she reaches a dead man.

Detective Wade Kingsley is put in charge of the case and feels that P.J. is a possible suspect even though she doesn't know the man. Her closest neighbors John and Julia think they know who the victim was and they believe he stole bioengineered lady bugs from a lab. They can't tell the police because John brought them home from work without permission. Several times P.J. feels someone has been in her home but the police think she is crazy (a sore spot for her because her mother is a schizophrenic) but she knows where each pf her belongings are supposed to be. When certain evidence comes to light, Wade believes her and wants her to stay at his sister's house until they can figure out what is going on. P.J. refuses and almost gets them both killed from a ghost out of her past.

Since mental illness runs in her family, P.J. ponders if the things that are happening to her are hallucinations like a jealous lesbian poisoning her food or her hearing the voice of someone dead for eighteen years over the phone. She comes to realize she is as sane as anyone else and somebody is playing mind games with her. The mystery is well constructed with different neighbors at different times coming under suspicion. THE CROWS is a creative well written psychological suspense thriller.

Harriet Klausner

4.0 out of 5 stars Creative Thriller with a Surpise Ending, April 11, 2009

By 

L. Curtis "Lynette's Two Cents Reviews" (Kalamazoo, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Crows (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

I discovered this book at my local library in a display showcasing local authors. Curious I picked it up and was glad that I did. This was a great book. Often when I read mysteries, I can figure out how it's going to end. I assumed that I did with this one, I was even getting frustrated with the heroine for not figuring it out along with me. Boy was I wrong! The ending was nothing like I thought it was going to be. This book is a great psychological journey. As PJ unravels the pieces, nothing is what it seems and the mystery is masterfully done.

5.0 out of 5 stars Page turner! Great Book., December 24, 2007

By 

Tesla "Tesla" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Crows (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

I couldn't put it down! The characters were so well written that I felt like I was losing an old friend when I finished the book. The twists and turns in plot kept me hooked, and the ending was great. But I think the best part about the book was the feel of reality to it. Its placed in a small town with people who have normal abilities, normal reactions, and regular jobs, yet they overcome great difficulties.

Overall, out of the hundreds of mysteries I read each year, this is one of the best I've read.