Customer Reviews

DEADLY KISSES (FRANCESCA CAHILL)

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

"Deadly Kisses" is author Brenda Joyce's eighth installment in the historical mystery/romance series featuring New York City debutante Francesca Cahill. Ms. Cahill, society bluestocking and heiress to a considerable fortune, has done remarkably well so far as an amateur sleuth, NYC's first female private investigator and a major novelty in her chosen profession. It is only 1902, after all, and women still have seventeen more years before the United States Congress and Senate approve the 19th Amendment, giving them the right to vote.

Francesca has solved the case of the City Strangler, the heinous Cross Killer mystery, two child kidnappings, several murders, captured a stalker, discovered the ringleaders of a child prostitution ring and had them put behind bars, restoring the young girls to their families, and thus has earned the right to call herself "Crime-Solver Extraordinaire," as printed on her Tiffany embossed business cards. Of course she has had the assistance of her dear friend and former love, police commissioner Rick Bragg, to teach her the ropes. Unfortunately for the nascent romance, Rick's estranged wife, Leigh Ann, returned from a lengthy stay in Europe, and nipped it in the bud.

Fran fortuitously met and fell deeply in love with Calder Hart, Rick's half brother, at about the same time Leigh Ann appeared on the scene. So our sleuth is not mourning the loss of Rick's attentions one bit. Calder is a wealthy art connoisseur, rogue and rake, but is bent on reforming his ways now that he is engaged to marry Francesca. However, he has serious misgivings about the marriage as his feelings for his fiancee intensify. At times he is convinced that he is not good enough for her, a sentiment shared by Andrew Cahill, Fran's father, Rick Bragg, Daisy Jones, Calder's former mistress, and various other members of society. Francesca believes in Calder despite his past, and realizes how much she loves him and wants to make a life with him. Clearly the two are an eccentric match made in heaven. Not only do they share a firm friendship, she is Calder's first and only friend, but sparks fly when they're together.

So if this is a mystery, why am I rambling on about the soap opera aspects of the "Deadly" novels? Well, because I have read every single book in this series - in order - and am much more interested in the characters than in the frequently transparent whodunnits that Francesca's is dedicated to solving. I am not alone in this preference as I have spoken with other Brenda Joyce fans, and their attachment to these characters is similar to mine.

So, while the ever addictive drama of Ms. Cahill's personal life continues in "Deadly Kisses," one of the more interesting mysteries in this series unfolds.

Late one evening, Francesca receives a note asking her to come immediately to the home of Calder's former mistress, Daisy Jones. When she arrives, she finds Daisy dead, stabbed brutally. The woman's former, former lover and dear friend Rose, (Daisy swung both ways), is holding the body in her arms, obviously in shock and grieving. Calder is also in the house, Fran discovers, and all the evidence points to him as the probable murderer.

Obviously, Francesca believes that Calder could never commit such a crime, even though he had threatened Daisy just a few weeks prior to her horrible demise. Throughout the ordeal which follows, Fran never loses faith in him nor doubts his innocence. But her fiance is keeping significant information from her - a terrible secret that could ruin their relationship forever.

When evidence forces Rick Bragg to arrest Calder, Hart decides, unilaterally, to break-off his engagement to spare Francesca's reputation and possible ostracism from polite society. Francesca braves the anger of her father and others in her determination to solve the crime and to stand by her man, no matter what. Her tenacity makes her the murderer's next target.

I must admit I am still hooked on the series, the developing characters and their ongoing, individual stories. If you are interested, I would suggest reading the previous Francesca Cahill novels before "Deadly Kisses," as this is a continuing saga and extremely addictive. I warn you there are many flaws, but I have just finished eight books - so what else can I say?

Come meet these personages, if you have the patience, and become involved in their lives, loves, traumas, and the delightful historical setting of 1902-1903 New York City, with its society balls and glitter, the tenements and roughs, gambling halls and beautiful, exotic call girls. Seth Low, the mayor, was recently elected on a reform platform to fight the Tammany Hall machine, and the police commissioner he appointed took some of the actions the fictional Rick Bragg has taken and faced many of the same difficult issues Bragg faces in attempting to reform the terribly corrupt police department. If Ms Joyce takes the series past 1903, Rick will be out of a job as the next administration is a "Tammany beast." Perhaps, Bragg will use the opportunity to run for Senator. ENJOY!! I am.
JANA

In 1902 New York amateur sleuth Francesca Cahill gets her father to agree to support her marrying notorious businessman Calder Hart, who he fears will break his daughter's heart one day but dad stipulates she wait one year to wed him. Not long after compromising with her caring father, Francesca receives a note from Rose who asks her to come quickly to Daisy Hart's home.

Though she is reluctant to visit Daisy, Calder's former lover, who hates her, Francesca comes anyway. A near hysterical Rose asks Francesca to investigate the homicide of Daisy as she does not trust the police. Francesca would prefer to team up with Commissioner Rick Bragg as she has done several times recently. However, her mind is made up for her when she sees Calder, who was supposed to be in Boston on business, staring at the battered corpse. The evidence points at her fiancé as the killer. Everyone assumes he committed homicide except Francesca who refuses to believe her beloved would kill so viciously though she knows he is concealing something from her.

The latest Cahill historical amateur sleuth tale (though not paid can you remain classified an amateur sleuth after eight or nine investigations?) is a terrific tale as the audience obtains a fine murder mystery and further insight into how Francesca's parents feel about Calder as a son-in-law. The inquiry is interesting because everyone assumes that Calder killed Daisy except Francesca who sets out to prove she is right in spite of her beloved not cooperating. Brenda Joyce freshens up her Cahill capers with this fine who-done-it that also moves forward on the two male fronts that had seemed stagnant in recent books.

Harriet Klausner

After reading the last couple of books in this series and not enjoying them I decided to give Brenda one more chance. Deadly Kisses was a real good treat for me. This book finally put it all together. Calder is framed for murder and Fran will have to risk everything to save him. Leigh Ann and Rick Bragg have everything on the line to protect their future daughters from harm and finally Evan,Fran's brother throws the Bartello woman out on her butte and dumps her flat. Very enjoyable read and highly recommended read if you have been caught in this series. Now the only problem is waiting for the next book in this series. Now I want Calder and Fran to be together.

I enjoy Brenda Joyce's character development--consistently very well done. This was especially so with the Deadly series. I'm very disappointed that she doesn't have plans to write the sequel. It's really leaving us hanging. In this book I actually fell in love with Calder Hart...a powerful character in whom Joyce lets us see strengths and weaknesses. I empathized with Francesca in her defense of him. Come on, Brenda, one more time with Deadly...PLEASE write the sequel.

This was my first of this series so I will be doing a lot of catching up! Some writers can just make a character so dynamic you feel such emotion for them. Calder Hart just jumps off the page for me, with his arrogant sexuality - I felt drawn to him immediately. He was supposed to be so bad, but like Francesca I too would have found myself supportive and 100% convinced of his innocense in Daisy's murder. Most women would have doubted his innocense and felt jealous and unsure. Francesca is certainly not most women which is probably why Calder has found himself in love for the first time. She is strong in her own right. How refreshing to see the depth of her love as she sleuths along with the police in clearing Calder's name. The murder mystery was a great and interesting plot but for me the depth of Francesca's love for the complicated and difficult Calder was what kept me reading this book non stop thru the nite. I have no idea if the other books in this series will measure up to this one, but I just loved Calder - he could certainly make my heart melt and sizzle!!

Set in 1902 New York City, but written with a 21st Century mind, DEADLY KISSES is a fairly good sleuth story. Francesca Cahill, independent young uptown lady, is also a detective. One would think she would have a wall of male disapproval to hit her head against, but fortunately, she had a liason with the chief of police sometime previous, and although he is a married Victorian Era man, he is willing to accept Francesca as an equal. It just so happens that Francesca is engaged to Calder Hart, half-brother to the chief. Calder is a reprobate, albeit an extremely wealthy one. He leaves town on mysterious business without confiding to his fiance his destination or purpose in leaving town, and while he is away his ex-mistress, Daisy Jones, is murdered in a most foul and brutal fashion! Francesca insists that Calder is innocent, and nothing can sway her resolve to clear him, not even when he heartlessly breaks off the engagement and tells her to get out of his life. The plot becomes more and more involved as Daisy's true origins are uncovered, scandals exposed, and finally the murderer unmasked! Unfortunately, there will be no justice for Daisy the prostitute whom Francesca oddly comes to love and admire, even though she was her fiance's mistress and was trying to blackmail him by becoming pregnant. Yikes.
The characterization does not ring true. These are not 19th Century people with their tortured system of ethics, these are modern day Americans on a romp. We might be able to put that criticism aside, but the story line reminded me very much of a real good MONK eposide without the delightful characterization of Mr. Monk, or a LAW & ORDER SVU episode without the compelling characterization of the SVU Squad. The writing was a little too dense and wordy, no doubt in an effort to portray 19th Century writing style and draw the reader in with that hook. The sex was gratuitous and occurred at inappropriate and absurd moments.
For the reader hoping to find a logical (as logical as crime can be) murder mystery, Agatha Christi is still your best hope.

I followed this series faithfully and when I got to the middle of the third book I was truly heartbroken. I had waited patiently all this time for something serious to develop with Rick and Francesca only to be let down seriously by the author having her affiance herself to Calder Hart. I suppose they are an okay couple but it was a major letdown. the plot is ok but slow and I didn't like the book as much as I did the first two.

Brenda Joyce fans, Francesca Cahill is at it again, this time her fiance is accused of murdering his former mistress. In my opinion, the story is fast paced. I quickly finished the book even though I tried to read it slowly.
It shows Calder Hart's vulnerable side and how Francesca supported him during his darkest moments. I liked Francesca's spirit, intelligence, courage, love and recklessness. I appreciate that Calder tries to be noble only because of Francesca.
It seems that there's a budding romance between Evan Cahill and Maggie Kennedy, Sarah Channing and Rourke Bragg. There's not enough story about them though, they only touch upon their lives. And what about Rick Bragg and Leigh Anne? Not enough about them, but then again it's a Francesca Cahill series. If Ms. Joyce gave enough focus on all the characters then the book would be 1000 pages long!
Overall, I enjoyed the book very much. I liked the characters and the story, to me it was exciting, romantic and funny. Recommended.

Super Sleuth Francesca Cahill is back in action. Her current case may be the most important of her life. Francesca's fiancé, Mr. Calder Hart's, ex-mistress Daisy Jones calls Francesca late one evening with an urgent request for her attendance at her home. With her interest piqued she rushes to Daisy's to discover what could possibly be so important at this hour only to find Daisy has been murdered. She was viciously stabbed to death and it quickly begins to appear as if Calder may become a prime suspect. Francesca believes whole heartedly in Calder's innocence. She will go to great lengths to find the real killer and exonerate her lover.

As the drama unfolds, it becomes clear Calder is keeping something from Francesca. He insists on pushing her away from the scandal that is gaining notoriety. Francesca, never one to be put down for long, delves into the life of Daisy Jones and is shocked by the discoveries she makes. Will anything she finds help clear Calder? As Calder pushes her away, her family has now turned against the relationship as well, fearful of the consequences such a debacle will have to her reputation. Francesca's life seems in such a state of disrepair, but this sleuth never gives up. The more she searches, the closer she comes to the real killer, and that killer will do anything to keep their secret, including target New York's finest sleuth.

Deadly Kisses gets your heart pumping from page one! Deadly Kisses captured me with its masterful whodunit immediately. It had me so enthralled several hours managed to zoom by as I was desperately trying to figure out who the killer was and what would happen to the couple that I have grown to love. Brenda Joyce's characters come to life on the pages of Deadly Kisses! She has created people I love and one's that I hate with more passion than I can express! I find myself even now thinking about how I would love to slap a couple of people who have so foolishly dared to mess with the characters I love!

The kisses in Deadly Kisses were not all bad. Francesca and Calder's relationship has progressed lovely and the heat that flares to life when they are in a room is unmistakable. They are quickly becoming one of my all time favorite couples! They are not the only couple that shares exciting sexual tension. Francesca's brother, Evan, is torn between the Countess and the lovely seamstress Maggie. While Commissioner Bragg fights to save what's left of his marriage and make his wife, Leigh Ann, believe in his love. Ms. Joyce manages to keep her reader riveted with mystery while creating many stirring relationships to satisfy the romantic in us all. Deadly Kisses is an exhilarating thriller with heart!


Miranda

I am a fan of the Francesca series and love the first 6 books. I am sorry to say I will not be picking up another after this read. Here's why, Francesca is no longer believable. Yes, I know this is romantic fiction, but I found my limits of 'suspension of disbelief' completely overtested with this one. Francesca is a noble character, but her nobility regarding Calder's secret was too much. Secondly, I have a bit of a problem with continuity...Calder explains something about the romantic nature of his relationship with Daisy that is completely contradicted in 'Deadly Affairs' I know this is picky, but the author seems to be trying to rewrite her character's history. It just seems like with the switch in publisher's the bar was lowered in terms of story and character development. Frankly, it's boring. I am so sad that a series that I loved, is now something I will be passing by on the shelf.