Deadly Interest (Alex St. James Mystery #2) [Hardcover]

Julie Hyzy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2006

Second in the Alex St. James series. Note: NEW COVER as of May 18, 2011

Reeling from public humiliation by a former lover, Alex St. James comes home to find that her neighbor has been murdered. Drawn into the investigation, Alex uncovers a shocking secret buried long ago. Determined to untangle the web of duplicity spun by those around her, Alex must face down the killer, a formidable foe with a Deadly Interest in her future.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Hyzy's second cozy to feature Chicago TV reporter Alex St. James delivers on the promise of the first in the series, Deadly Blessings (2005). When Alex returns home after a humiliating evening with her former lover, she's dismayed to discover that Evelyn Vicks, her elderly neighbor, has been murdered. Evelyn, who worked at a bank, had earlier asked Alex's advice about some suspicious financial business involving the bank. Alex soon finds herself stalked by an ex-con and dealing with the victim's estranged son. New romantic interests and the care of her handicapped sister further complicate Alex's life as she puts her keen investigative skills to work for the police under the direction of the efficient, astute Detective Lulinski. The fast-paced plot builds to a spine-chilling ending. (Oct.)
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 390 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (ME) (September 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159414494X
• ISBN-13: 978-1594144943
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,113,117 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Julie Hyzy is the national bestselling author of the White House Chef Mysteries and the Manor House Mysteries. She won the Barry and Anthony Awards for Best Paperback Original for State of the Onion in 2009, and several other awards for her novels and short stories. Her first Manor House Mystery, Grace Under Pressure, earned a Starred Review from Publishers Weekly. Julie loves to read, eat out, and watch old movies and TV shows with her husband and three daughters. They live near Chicago with two rambunctious cats, Kitka and Violet.

MANOR HOUSE MYSTERIES
Grace Under Pressure
Grace Interrupted
Grace Among Thieves (coming, June 2012)

WHITE HOUSE CHEF MYSTERIES
State of the Onion
Hail to the Chef
Eggsecutive Orders
Buffalo West Wing
Affairs of Steak

Originally published in hardcover books now available on KINDLE:
Artistic License (standalone romantic suspense)
Deadly Blessings (first in Alex St. James series)
Deadly Interest (second in Alex St. James series)

Also on KINDLE
Short Story Collection, Volume 1
Writing Dialogue
Deadly Shorts, Alex St. James short stories

Available on KINDLE - under the N.C. Hyzy pseudonym (decidedly less cozy!):
Playing With Matches
Mystery Short Stories, Volume 1
Tracer's Blues

And, under the S.F. Hyzy pseudonym - Science Fiction shorts
Science Fiction Short Stories, Volume 1

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Deadly Research, October 29, 2006

By 

Lesa Holstine (Glendale, AZ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deadly Interest (Alex St. James Mystery #2) (Hardcover)

Poor Alex St. James. She feels guilty about the murder of her neighbor, Mrs. Vicks, because she brushed her off the same evening she was killed. When she brings her disabled sister home for two weeks, she misses a work trip with a newsman she admires. And then she's attacked when she enters her neighbor's home.

Alex, a researcher for a news magazine show in Chicago, reluctantly agrees to look into the neighbor's financial dealings, and then the murder itself. She's threatened and pushed around, but once she's involved she's determined to find Mrs. Vicks' killer. She's an admirable character, determined to do right for other people. She's one amateur detective that admits "This isn't the job I signed on for, you know. News research isn't supposed to be a life-threatening occupation." Anyone looking for an amateur sleuth who knows her limitations will appreciate Alex St. James in Deadly Interest.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who killed Evelyn Vicks and why, June 14, 2007

By 

Dawn Dowdle "Mystery Lovers Corner reviewer" (Lynchburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deadly Interest (Alex St. James Mystery #2) (Hardcover)

Alex St. James, a TV reporter in Chicago, comes home from a night of public humiliation by her former lover to find her elderly neighbor, Evelyn Vicks, has been murdered. Earlier that evening Mrs. Vicks had asked Alex for help with a financial situation. Feeling guilty from pushing her off, Alex does some investigating into Mrs. Vicks' life.

She discovers Mrs. Vicks had been secretly looking into the lending practice's of the banks she worked at. Mrs. Vicks' son is soon hounding Alex because he was promised money from his mother and the bank won't let him see her safe deposit box. Add to that the fact that Alex has been attacked and appears to be stalked, Alex knows she must help the police find her killer and fast.

I couldn't put this book down. I kept picking it up to read another chapter to find out what happened. I loved Alex. She is such a great character. Her being a TV reporter really added to the story.

I can't wait to read more in this series. I highly recommend this book! Just make sure you have lots of time to read as you'll not want to put it down!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars terrific investigative thriller, October 24, 2006

By 

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

This review is from: Deadly Interest (Alex St. James Mystery #2) (Hardcover)

Chicago TV reporter Alex St. James of the Midwest Focus Newsletter is running late for an award ceremony in which she is a nominee so somewhat brushes off her neighbor Evelyn Vicks when the older woman wants to show her something. She does help Evelyn get back into her locked house before racing off to the gala where she watches her former lover, Dan Starck of a rival show win the award. He humiliates her in his rambling speech dubbing her as the engine that could implying no matter how hard she tries she can't with no hint that he stole her story.

When she returns home she learns someone killed Mrs. Vicks whose son Bart insists she help him with probate because the president of the bank where Mrs. Vick work David Dewars insists Bart killed his mother because he needed his inheritance. Alex, who wants to help, is being stalked by a dangerous con just released from prison. As Chicago Police Detective Lulinski investigates, Alex finds she is caught in the dangerous middle even as her older sister Lucy, who suffers from Williams Syndrome, temporarily moves in with her during renovations at the assisted living facility where she lives.

The second "deadly" tale is a terrific investigative thriller starring a likable protagonist whose life becomes quite complicated when her sibling moves in with her, her neighbor is murdered just after speaking with her, and several men enter her life interested in her. The story line is fast-paced and the ending surprising but plausible as readers will count their blessings that Alex is on the case. On top of that is a fascinating coda at a gas station between Alex and Chicago private detective Ron Shade (Michael A. Black's literary sleuth).

Harriet Klausner