Customer Reviews

Dead Even

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Three prisoners met briefly one February morning. Archer Lowell was the youngest. To make himself look tougher, he suggested a game. Each of them thought up three people that they would love to kill once they were out of jail. Then they swapped victims. Archer never meant for any of it to really happen. When Archer finally got out of prison, he decided to stay on the straight and narrow. So the other two prisoners went after those on their swapped hit list. One of them, Curtis, was dead. The other, Vince, would never get out of prison again. Archer was not a killer and had no intention of going after his three targets. However, Archer did not expect Vince to hire someone to watch him. When it became obvious that Archer would not play the game, Burt stepped in to make him.

FBI Special Agent Miranda Cahill was partnered with Agent William "Will" Fletcher to watch Archer, just in case he went on a killing spree. No one expected him to actually do it, not even the Bureau's profiler, Anne Marie. When the first person died under their noses, the hunt was on for a fleeing Archer.

Also, Julianne, the daughter of Mara Douglas (from previous novel), had been located after seven long years. Mara's ex-husband, Jules, had hidden himself and his daughter with the Reverend Prescott. An agent had been inserted into the Reverend's Valley of the Angels and would soon escape, taking a reluctant young girl home to her mother. The agent first had to gather evidence that would shut down the child-prostitution rung that masqueraded as a shelter for run-away girls on the street. Everything was about to come to a climatic ending!

***** Romance takes a back seat in this, the third of the "Dead" series. Since Miranda and Will already have a history together, the author did not have to build on the love portion. The two main characters already had strong feelings for one another. This gives much more time to the story's plots. Plots, plural.

Hold onto your seats, because Mariah Stewart will plunge you into a heart pounding, roller coaster ride. You won't come up for air until the last page has been turned. Excellent! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

DEAD EVEN is the third in the series by Mariah Stewart. Even though DEAD WRONG and DEAD CERTAIN are complete in themselves, this one ties up all the loose ends and in a most satisfying way.

Miranda Cahill is the lead agent on this investigation. She is teamed with Will Fletcher who has been her significant other off and on for 6 years. Two years ago they had drifted apart and neither knows how to relight the fires that burn in both of them.

In DEAD WRONG we met the three men who talked about killing each others enemies. Well one is left, Archer Lowell. A 19 year old kid. Vince Giordano is now in prison, but he is determined that Archer fulfill his part of the bargain. He promises his friend Burt Connolly a lot of money to see that Archer does his job.

The FBI already have figured out that the 3 men planned on the killings even if they don't know when they were together. Miranda and Will pay a visit to Archer and are convinced he is not a killer. However, shortly after the visit the killings begin. Burt has forced Archer to live up to his part in the deal.

Will figures out that Miranda may be one of the 3 people on Curt Channings list. As the other 2 people on the list are killed they desperately search for Archer.

While they are caught up in their case. Mara Douglas's daughter has been found in a religious commune, where young girls are sold to the highest bidder. Julianne has been protected by her father, who stole her from Mara 7 years ago. Jules has been money-laundering for the cult.

Both investigations are intense and riviting.

This brings us to a very unusual exciting climax. This is a very good book, I enjoyed it very much and I will be looking for more from this author.

By now readers have probably figured out; Archer Lowell is the proverbial weakest link in the murder game started in Dead Wrong. The FBI has as well, piecing together the bones of the deadly plot concocted to pass the time between three inmates. The first killer died during his escapade, and now that it is Archer's turn to kill that list of names, the FBI knows only that he will kill, not who. Ironically, one of those assigned to the case is on the list. Working with the heroes of prior books, Miranda Cahill and her off and on again lover / partner race to make checkmate. None of them know that Vince, the last murderer, has introduced a new player in the game, one determined that Archer will not break the chain.

*** If you are looking for a romance or to try and outguess the charcters, then you will probably not be completely satisfied. Miranda and Will's relationship has less tension and uncertainty than most romantic pairings in fiction, and you already know "who dun it." However, there are complex twists to keep the action apace. ***

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

I'm not really sure what the "even" has to do with anything, but this is the third book in the "Dead" series by Mariah Stewart, following "Dead Wrong" and "Dead Certain". It's helpful to read the books in order, but for the most part, the books stand on their own as well.

Convicted stalker Archer Lowell has just been released from prison. His earnest desire to stay clean and not do anything that will ever send him back. But Archer is weak, immature and ignorant. And he was foolish enough to come up with a `hypothetical' what-if game one day when he found himself locked in a room with 2 other prisoners: "What if you could do anything - anything at all - and not get caught?" It turns into a "Strangers on a Train" you-kill-mine-and-I'll-kill-yours thing. Only problem, one of those two guys, Curtis Channing, decided to make it real and, when released, tried to complete one of the other's murder list. Channing ended up dead. Then, the second guy, Vince Giordano, was released, and decided his honor was at stake, so he took on Archer's list. Giordano ended up back in prison. Now, Archer is out, and decides he wants to stay out. He reasons there's no one to make him go after Channing's list, since one's dead and the other's in jail. He reasons incorrectly. Did I mention Archer's not very smart? Giordano wants to make sure Archer follows through, so he gets one of his buddies, Burt, to ride herd on Archer to follow through on the last murder list. Archer's choices are kill or be killed, and he's just too stupid to know what to do.

It's an interesting twist. Of course, the FBI has figured out the whole game by the end of "Dead Certain" but they can't arrest Lowell unless he actually tries to follow through. Based on their previous interviews with him and a current meeting after his prison release, they conclude that he's too ignorant and without the resources to attempt the murders. However, Archer's ignorance is too much to be believed at times - it borders on spoof at times. How is possible that such a person could actually do the killing? And while the story walks us through it, it's never fully convincing. And yet, there is something really compelling about Lowell's character - will he actually pull it off, or is he doomed? At first, I was dubious about Giordano's insistence that Lowell do his part, but it is consistent with his character as Stewart has developed it - an evil control freak.

On the other hand, I really do like Miranda Cahill as the heroine. This is the great thing about series - the author gets the chance to develop characters over the course of a couple books and by the time they move from supporting character to the role of hero/heroine, you know them. Such is the case with Miranda - we know she likes junk food, she's gorgeous, and has a twin sister, Portia. And we know she has history with Will Fletcher, whom we've also met before in "Until Dark".

Overall, the story is a good read. In fact, I've re-read it several times, always remembering it as `not so great' and then really enjoying it when I read it. I like Stewart's books - they have more weight than a basic romance, but they're not too intense as suspense thriller.

For those who have read the whole series, there's a sub-plot that brings some closure to Mara Douglas' story (from "Dead Wrong"). I would guess that might be a bit distracting to those who pick up "Dead Even" without having read the first two, but Stewart weaves this sub-plot into the story to bring about a big finish to the whole series. (There is a fourth "Dead" title - "Dead End" - which is related by the characters, and explores Annie McCall's story, to which we were introduced in "Dead Wrong", but the `strangers on a train' murder list story is concluded in this book, "Dead Even".)

This book, this entire series, is so amazing. Normally a series of books starts off really good and simply gets worse as the other books come along. Not this one! Each book in the series continues to get better and better. I'm just waiting on pins and needles for her next book to be out!

This is the third book in an inovative series by Mariah Stewart. I read them in sequence(highly recommended), Dead Wrong, then Dead Certain, followed up by this last book, Dead Even. I liked the first book, not at all the second, and in my opinion this book was the best. I stayed up all night reading. We had experienced a broken water pipe in our new home's basement--I surveyed the damage, called a plumber, and continued to read--that's what husband's are for, right? Seriously folks, this book is a keeper. It had dueling plots that kept me on the edge of my seat, instead of being annoying like some books. When Mara(Dead Wrong) finally had her reunion with her long-lost daughter Julianne, I had to wipe my eyes. I found Miranda and Will's story refreshing. No sex, but lots of chemistry. I don't know if it was intentional, but the scenes between Archer Lowell and Burt were hilarious. I got a kick out of Archer's "stupid criminal" scenes. Like Miranda, I almost started to feel sorry for the guy. Almost. Anyway, loved the book. It's a page-turner.

good condition, excellent service, always use this seller whenever the books I want are available.

Mariah Stewart always makes for an interesting read. She makes the improbable
believable. 3 prisoners meet in jail & play a game of how they would kill
someone for the others. Not knowing the victims, the killer would not be
suspected. 1 of the men thinks it's a game, but he finds out different and
must carry out his deadly bargain. I've read a few of her books & liked all
of them.

Wow, what a great author. I have all her mystery books. Love the books!!!

The book came fast, was in great shape! I'll definately order from them again!