Customer Reviews

Kiss of Death (Daytime Mysteries)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Linda Palmer has written the fourth book in her a Daytime Mystery series. She has done an excellent job of adding to a series without making the reader feel left out if they have not read the first ones. But this one will make new fans want to run out for the other three.

The main character, Morgan, is the co-producer and writer for a day time soap opera. This setting contributes a bit of fun, insider feeling to the story. The setting does not control the plot, it just gives it a unique sense to the story and enables the author to create characters who have strong personalities. The tv setting does not make this mystery a fluffy, powder puff piece but an entertaining and solid entry into the field of cozies. It does add a bit of light hearted atmoshpere to this seriously well constructed work

In Kiss of Death the plot consists of two story lines. In one, Morgan's best friend is accused of killing her lover's ex-wife. She is found standing over the body of the woman she hates which makes her seem pretty suspicious to the police. In the other Morgan is trying to solve the mystery of her own past, a past of which no one knows about. She hires a PI to find clues to her past, and the police should be handling the murder but she is drawn personally into both investigations, one to clear her best friend and one to find out what really happened to her in her childhood. The plots do not intertwine but Palmer is able to handle both with grace, not lessening the impact of either story line. Each is written so thoroughly that it is like getting two books in one. Palmer's background in both screen writing and photography have give her the ability to create a broad, brisk moving narrative without omitting the small details that make the scenarios whole and solid.

This is a great book for either a blanket on the beach or fireside in a ski lodge. It can hold its own during any season, a notable entry among the numerous character driven mysteries of today's literary marketplace.

I am an avid reader of mysteries. To my delight I discovered Linda Palmer about 3 years ago and have bought her books every year since. Her new one, "Kiss of Death" is just as much fun as her first three if not more so. I love her plot twists and her characters. I also enjoy the main character's self-deprecating sense of humour. Since I am also a fan of soaps, these books allow me into a world where I previously just been an outside observer.

Don't miss this well written series by Linda Palmer. Fun mysteries set in the world of Daytime television. A rare glimpse into that normally hidden world, written by a woman who actually wrote for Daytime television.

Morgan Tyler is a writer and co-producer of a daytime soap. When her best friend Nancy is arrested for murdering her boyfriend's evil ex, Morgan knows she didn't do it and sets out to prove it. Homicide Detective Matt Phoenix isn't thrilled with her involvement and things soon heat up.

In the meantime, Morgan has hired a P.I. to help her discover the truth about her childhood. No one is aware of her past, and she wants to keep it that way. She just wants to know the truth herself.

And on the set, they are dealing with a bizarre disappearance from years ago that apparently was never dealt with and has become a chat room joke. But when Morgan brings back the arrogant actor into the role, she doesn't know what she's in for.

I love this series. Morgan is such a fun character. I love getting to know the behind the scenes drama of running a daytime soap. Plus her uncanny way to discover the truth is always enjoyable. She has many escapades without me wanting to scream stop like so many other mysteries. She seems to keep her head about her when going into situations.

I hope there will be many more books in this series. I highly recommend this book and series.

I like the light and fun part of this series, but this one dealt with evil -- an evil man who did an evil thing many years ago. Somehow, I didn't expect that from this series.

The "detective" in this series is likeable Morgan, a writer-producer for a long-running soap opera -- or should I say daytime drama. Morgan lives a great life in Manhattan, particularly since someone in an earlier book left her a whole lot of money (she was doing pretty well on her own before that). Morgan has a bunch of men in her life, but somehow never seems to be able to settle down to a particular boyfriend. Morgan's best friend forever offers some stability, so when the friend is arrested for murder, Morgan is driven to try to prove that the friend didn't do it -- although it looks very bad.

Intertwined with this story is another story of Morgan trying to discover who she is -- she was found at a young age, and her parents or name or even her age were never identified. Now that Morgan has some money, she hires a private investigator to see if he can discover more about her.

This is an enjoyable books (a great book to take on a long plane trip or to read on a rainy day). I hope future books don't continue with this serious material -- it's very real, but I read these books to escape quite so much reality.

Linda Palmer's writing just keeps getting better with each book in this terrific series. This time amatuer sleuth Morgan Tyler works to solve two mysteries, one deeply personal, and the other in defense of a dear friend accused of murder. There are some fabulous new characters. As always with Ms. Palmer's mysteries, you're in for a fun read and a wild ride.

I have been a fan of the Daytime Mysteries since the first book, Love Is Murder. I was anxiously awaiting this book, and when I finally read it, I was slightly disappointed. As another reviewer as already given a plot synopsis, albeit one that did not really follow the book, I will skip that.

There were two completely separate, non-related mysteries. I felt that this made the story a bit choppy. In my ideal, each of these mysteries should have had their own book. Each one could have had the time dedicated to it.

The other lowlight for this book was the little time that was devoted to the "Love of My Life" set and cast. The other books focused heavily on the part of Morgan's life, and I missed catching up with these characters.

All in all, a fair mystery novel that fans of the series will want to read as continuing storylines/relationships are given some minor shake-ups. Those new to the series will want to go back and read the series in order that way they can follow along with those subplots. I will read the next in the series with hopes that the author puts it back on track with more of the daytime drama setting and focusing on just one mystery.

KISS OF DEATH, the latest installment in this wonderful series, is probably the most moving of the four. The wonderful twists and dialogue are right up there, but (without giving anything away) I found Morgan's back story, and the way it was dealt with, extremely touching/heartbreaking. Can't wait for the next one!

Having received a surprised inheritance, Love of My Life soap opera writer Morgan Tyler realizes she can afford to fund her dream. When she was six years old, a local sheriff found Morgan by herself in an abandoned van near Downsville, West Virginia twenty-four years ago. A search to locate her parents failed and no one reported a little girl missing. Now she can hire a private investigator to find out who she is and why she was left by herself.

After warning Morgan that these types of cases rarely turn out happy, Bobby Novello agrees to investigate. He starts off with that local sheriff Masefield who initially found a young Morgan and arranged with a judge for her to have birth certificate. However, though he expects the worst, even a cynic like Bobby is unprepared for the twist of the arrest of Morgan's best friend Nancy Cummings, accused of murder; which means Morgan sleuthing to prove otherwise.

This entertaining investigative tale is actually at its best when the plot focuses on the back room of a soap opera although Bobby's inquiries are fascinating as readers almost as much as Morgan will want to know what happened back then. Morgan is a terrific protagonist who has gone through a lot in her thirty years of life as on top of what happened as a child her spouse died in Africa; yet she remains an optimist. The forth Daytime Mystery (see Love You Madly) is a wonderful combo amateur sleuth private investigative tale.

Harriet Klausner