Customer Reviews

Death Pact (Richard Coleman Novel)

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

 

 

This audio MP3 of Death Pact is described as a romantic mystery. I would definitely agree with that assessment and I enjoyed listening to this predictable but entertaining book while driving in my car. The novel is about a 30-something lawyer, Rich Coleman, who is put into the position of trustee for 17-year-old Erica Fox when her divorced, wealthy father dies in a skiing accident.

Though she is not of legal age, Erica and Rich begin an affair and he breaches his fiduciary duty on both moral grounds and because of the reckless way he handles the estate left to Erica. Though they try to keep their relationship a secret, they are found out by Rich's partners at his law firm who fire him, as well as by Erica's Aunt Martha and her son Arnold and who both try to get control of Erica and her money. During the course of the contest over the trustee situation, Aunt Martha is found murdered and Erica is arrested and goes on trial. Erica plans to plead temporary insanity but is afraid she will be convicted and urges Rich to enter into a 'death pact' with her -- if she is found guilty, they will both swallow cyanide capsules and thus be together for eternity.

The audio-book, read by Jeffrey Kafer in a capable manner, is not particularly suspenseful and I didn't find surprises or unexpected twists though the author definitely tries to set up some red herrings. The character of Rich seemed a bit immature but I did think it implausible that he would become embroiled in this situation with an underage charge, and his constant unnecessary references to God and going to Mass and such seemed a bit forced for a person who was going to commit suicide and who was having this type of affair. Erica was portrayed as being older and wise beyond her years thus seeking and gaining emancipation, but I did find the love affair a bit disconcerting. The fact of this affair (actually statutory rape) and the breach of fiduciary duty, however, were what set up the focus of the plot -- who really killed Aunt Martha?

I really liked that the entire book was recorded on one CD rather than having to constantly be changing out disks while also attempting to drive. I noticed there was a second book in the series, Plastic Gods (Rich Coleman Novels, 2), and read the blurb before I finished this one so I knew they didn't kill themselves! I don't know if I will read that one or not because of it being so far into the future of Rich and Erica and not focused on them. As an aside, I did find the fact that this book was set in the late 1970s to be a bit disconcerting as certain plot points would have been impossible with cell phones and other present day technology. I also noticed that the author has another series featuring a character named Stan Tuner, and I wonder if they are set more in the current time. I may or may not check them out.

All in all, I'd recommend this book for a quick and easy read (or listen) on a plane, train, or in the car.

William Manchee has written such a good book. Not only does he surprise the heck out of me with the ending, but he keeps you hooked with every page.

His plots are fresh, the characters very unique, and his words seem to paint the pictures in my head.

Move over Grisham and Turow, there is a new face in town... William Manchee!

After winning a copy of "Brash Endeavor" by William Manchee, I became a fan of his work. I've just completed "Death Pact", which was a non stop thriller from page 1. The entire novel has twists and turns, surprise after surprise......right up until the very end, with an unbelievable ending! Highly recommend this to fans who love to read on the edge of their seats, and can't turn the pages fast enough!

I found Death Pact to be a captivating read. Manchee takes the reader down a path of twists and turns that are totally unexpected and tops it off with an ending no one will guess!

I found it necessary to force myself past the first few pages. In this case, it's immediately obvious that Manchee didn't do his homework very well, with regard to standard evidenciary procedure. And that's just the beginnning of the complaints I have about this tale. However, it isn't worth your time to read my critique of this novel, because it really IS that bad.

Forget it, folks. The comparisons to Grisham should be contrasts. I've read better prose in magazines aimed at 15 year-old girls. Heck, I wrote better prose at 15.

Go re-read an old Grisham...you will find what you hoped for...and the likelihood of predicting the ending is about the same.

Attorney Richard Coleman is asked by client Franklin Fox to be the legal trustee for his 17-year-old daughter Erica Fox if anything should happen to him. Less than a week later, Richard gets a call in the early morning hours from a John Paul Moitz with the American Consulate in Berne, Switzerland, telling him that Franklin Fox had been killed in a skiing accident, and that Erica was quite distressed and claiming that Richard was her guardian. Richard goes to Switzerland and brings Erica home. Shortly after they return to the States, Erica seduces Richard and even though he knows that it is wrong, he lets it happen. Before long they are in love. Richard knows that he could lose his license if word of their liaison gets out; they are able to keep it quiet for quite a while until Erica's Aunt Martha finds out. Aunt Martha really only wants the money. She could care less about Erica's feelings so she decides to start a lawsuit against Richard and have him removed as trustee of the estate.

Before Aunt Martha can reach her son Arnold about the lawsuit, she is murdered in her hotel room and Erica's purse is found in the room. At about the same time Richard is found unconscious in an alley. The next day when he comes to, he remembers nothing about what happened to him. While he is watching a news broadcast, he hears that Erica has been arrested. He knows without a doubt that Erica could not murder anyone; he has to leave the hospital and find the real killer. Erica convinces Richard that if she is convicted they should make a death pact. Richard really doesn't want to die, so he knows that he must find the killer before it's too late. This is where the storyline really takes off!

Death Pact is so wonderfully written with plenty of surprises. I was guessing till the very end, and what an unexpected, shocking end it was! The setting is in Dallas in the 1980's, and from the author's descriptions, I felt as if I was there.

The characters are really well defined and believable, especially Aunt Martha -- The more that I read about her meanness, the less guilty I felt that she died so she couldn't cause any more trouble. The romance was very fiery and passionate between Richard and Erica. You could almost feel the warmth radiate through the pages.

Death Pact is a grand read. My highest score is a 5 and this book definitely deserves a HIGH rating.