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4.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful romantic suspense novel, October 1, 2002
This review is from: Death Benefits (Paperback)
Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
Mici Smith is the attorney, and friend, handling the sudden death of Elinor Grace and the Grace family estate. Elinor's remaining family suspects there was foul play involved in her death, as she was a very healthy woman, expected to live several more years yet. At their request, Mici arranges an exhumation order so an autopsy can be performed on the body.
Dr. Rob Craig is the independent doctor hired by Mici to perform the autopsy. He is one of the best and what he uncovers is rather shocking. It turns out Elinor was murdered... by an overdose of nicotine; but when he and Mici take the autopsy results to the police, no one believes that Elinor was murdered. So they set out on their own to uncover the secrets behind this mystery.
Their first stop is Elinor's insurance provider, Life Benefits, where they start asking questions regarding Elinor's state of affairs and her insurance plan. The medical director, Dr. Eric Martin, there appears nervous when they arrive, making them suspect something. When his dead body turns up a few days later, right around the time a mysterious package, sent by Dr. Martin just before his death, is stolen from Rob's home, they know they are on the right track.
However, there are many unusual circumstances surrounding their investigation, throwing them for a loop. An intruder in Mici's home is the first, threatening her life, and that of Rob, if they continue looking into this issue. Also, some anonymous phone tips lead them in a totally different direction, making them suspect there may be more than one killer on the loose. Conflicting evidence, more suspicious deaths, and continued threats to Mici and Rob's safety, causes them to realize they better solve the case fast...before they both end up dead.
Move over Mary Higgins Clark, a new mystery/suspense author is on the rise! There are more twists and turns here then one would think possible for a single story. It takes one from the ritziest, most innocent of neighborhoods, to the dark, decadent underworld of the city, on a roller-coaster ride of spine-tingling suspense. Danger and depravity are the norm for Mici and Rob's suspects, drawing the two of them into its frightening web of deceit. Yet the two of them manage to get through it all with their innocence intact, while becoming closer to each other, adding a touch of romance to the tale.
Ms. Michaels keeps the reader enthralled from the first page and one will be on the edge of the seat as the pages keep turning, all the way to the shocking and truly gothic style ending, which would do even Edgar Allen Poe proud. This book is most definitely one for the keeper shelf and has this reviewer now ready to go out and find other books by Ms. Michaels.
© Kelley A. Hartsell, August 2002. All rights reserved.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Timeless Tales review, September 14, 2002
This review is from: Death Benefits (Paperback)
By TT reviewer Amy L. Turpin [full review on our website]
There is something sinister going on, and Michelle (Mici) Smith intends to get to the bottom of it! When approached by the granddaughter of a long time client, the successful lawyer turns to forensic pathologist, Rob Craig; a person she believes can confirm or deny the woman's belief that her grandmother's death was not from a heart attack. Mici has no idea how right this woman is! Not only did Elinor Grace not die from a heart attack, it looks like she may have been murdered.
Together, Mici and Rob begin to piece together bits and pieces of what looks like a money making scam straight from hell. The action heats up after Mici's apartment is broken in to, and she realizes that the prowler is not interested in anything in her home but her. He wants her dead, and he wants to be the one to carry out her sentence. Following one disturbing lead after another, the tenacious twosome act on a lead given by a mysterious caller and wind up at a perverse sex club called 'The Dungeon' and make two startling discoveries in the aftermath: one-their killer is more determined to make Mici suffer than they first realized, and two-somewhere along the way, they have fallen in love.
With a maniac on their tail and more than one murder to solve, Rob must use his medical and forensic knowledge to stop the brutal murders and keep Mici safe from a sadistic man with homicidal intentions. Rob knows he is he running out of time, but worse, he knows who the killers is! When he goes to Mici to impart his startling discovery, he finds her note explaining that she has gone to check out a hunch. Problem is, she's headed straight into the path of a killer! The only real question is: Will Rob be in time to save the woman he loves?
This tale of intrigue is catching from the first chapter, and continues to build in substance through the very end. Some of the scenes from 'The Dungeon' sent chills down my spine and I can honestly say the details were an astonishingly graphic and painful read, in a horrific kind of way. Over all, this book is a very worthy effort by the author, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
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