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4.0 out of 5 stars
amusing amateur sleuth, August 29, 2009
This review is from: The Desert Hedge Murders (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)
In her mind her brother reclusive clairvoyant Willie Grisseljon, a sexagenarian like she is, conned into going with their octogenarian mom and the other Florida Flippers traveling Miami Dolphins' fan club to Laughlin, Nevada. The former judge and retired Fed widow Sylvia Thorn wonders what trouble can the Flippers get into on their trip when they find a corpse in the bathtub of a room shared by Sandra Pringle and non-member Patsy Strump.
Sandra turns up missing while the troupe heads off to the Lone Cactus Gold Mine. There they find Sandra's corpse. Willie has a vision of his sister in trouble so with his dad at his side; they race to Nevada while the FBI Agent Damon Falls investigates the goings on at the Mohave County, Arizona mine though he would not mind investigating the much older Sylvia in a more exclusive luxurious locale. As Sylvia tries to keep the Flippers out of trouble, trouble seems to find them; so with Patsy, her sibling, her parents, the other Flippers, and a six foot plus female dynamo, she leads the inquiry (more like a chaotic retreat) into the death of Sandra that forces law enforcement at all levels to share notes.
Though over the top of Hoover Dam, THE DESERT HEDGE MURDERS is an amusing amateur sleuth tale in spite of the fact the lead "detective" has experience as a former FBI agent. The story line is as fast as Freda the amazon drives her bike and never slows down even when the seniors are a bit tired. Fans will enjoy this zany Nevada-Arizona whodunit.
Harriet Klausner
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Review For Desert Hedge Murders, July 19, 2010
This review is from: The Desert Hedge Murders (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)
For ex-FBI employee and retired circuit court judge Sylvia Thorn, a trip from Florida to Laughlin, Nevada should be a celebrated vacation filled with memories and pictures of good friends and fun times. Sylvia is accompanying a group called the Florida Flippers (named after their favorite sports team, the Miami Dolphins) which includes her mother and six other members.
However, events take an immediate turn for the worse when a corpse is found in the hotel bathroom of two members, Sandra and Patsy. Patsy is the newest member of the group and no one except Sandra knows anything about her. Then, Sandra disappears.
During an excursion to a deserted gold mine, Sylvia and the Flippers come upon Sandra's body hanging over a deep, dark shaft. Not knowing if she is alive or dead, the tour guides try to reach the body, only to see it plunge into the seemingly bottomless crevice.
The intrigue mounts as Sylvia discovers Sandra's unscrupulous husband is operating a hedge fund Ponzi scheme and the Flippers had invested in the fund. Then it is revealed to her an organized crime boss she previously tried is also involved.
The story also contains an FBI special agent who is as personally interested in Sylvia as he is in the case. Local law enforcements, Sylvia's clairvoyant brother Willie and her father, and local residents fill out the believable yet sometimes eclectic cast of characters.
Sylvia, Willie, and Patsy continue to investigate the murders and return to the mine at night, only to find them selves trying to save their own lives as they are confronted by the bad guys.
"Desert Hedge Murders" is a fun, amateur sleuth, cozy mystery. Patricia demonstrates her writing talents with terrific character development, team and individual dynamics within the Flippers, a couple murders, and describing the desert scenery at day and during the night. There are also a couple scenes when the lights go out in the mine. Sylvia has to navigate her way through the pitch black tunnel, surrounded by strange noises and the sense she was being followed. Nicely done
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Hedges Have Edges, March 4, 2010
This review is from: The Desert Hedge Murders (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)
This is the second installment of the adventures of Sylvia and Willie, a middle-aged sister and brother act. Sylvia is a retired judge who decided to run rather and fight when she was falsely threatened with disbarment. She spends some of her time now escorting her mother's travel club comprised of well constructed, individuals who share a common sense of adventure and have disavowed the role society tended to expect of them. No prissiness here. This book covers their expedition to Las Vegas. One of their group comes to an untimely death, likely a murder. Willie, who has some PTSD problems due to his experiences in Vietnam, shows up. He is guided by his 6th sense that Sylvia may be in danger. What follows is the scrapes and misadventures along with mature behavior by the group that lead to the solution of the murder. Who will like this book the most? Ladies, young and old, who like to read about adventurous women who have the ability to surprise. Men who love women and cope with PTSD themselves or are interested in a clear manifestation of this widespread, contemporary malady. This book made me reread it immediately upon the first reading because it was a pleasure worth repeating.
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