Customer Reviews

Double Exposure (Bert & Nan Tatum Mysteries)

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Bert and Nan Tatum are identical twin whose personalities are totally different. Nan is a flirtatious swinging single and Bert is a domesticated divorcee. However, they share a common bond that can never be broken. It is tested by photographer Crane Morgan when Nan falls in love with him at first sight. Bert wishes that she could feel happy for her sibling, but something about Crane leaves her on edge.

Louise Eagleston tells Bert that Crane had an identical twin who killed his girl friend and then committed suicide. Already shaken by that revelation, Bert's bones quiver to the core when she finds Louise's dying body holding a series of photos starring Crane and his brother. Bert strongly feels that there is a connect between the deaths of Louise and the girl friend of Crane's sibling. A bedazzled Nan won't listen to a negative comment about her beloved. It is up to her protective sister to snoop around in order to learn the underlying mystery that engulfed the Morgan twins.

The differing perspective of what is happening from the viewpoints of both twins (whose voice is heard in alternating chapters) makes for a fresh and oftentimes humorous amateur detective cozy. The dawning realization of who and what the villain is turns the novel into a tension building, absorbing story line. This brisk pace leads to character familiarity that makes DOUBLE EXPOSURE a delightful reading experience and showcases the writing talents of Ms. McCafferty and Ms. Herald that should one day reach the pinnacle of their chosen profession.

Harriet Klausner

The Bert and Nan Tatum books are well-written and a joy to read. The sisters, although twins, each have their own strengths and quirks. The chapters in the books alternate between each sister telling the story. Lots of humor along with a good mystery.

Solving the DOUBLE MURDER in the first book has made identical twins Nan and Bert local celebrities. Still, they have no desire to investigate another murder. But then Nan meets Crane Morgan. He's handsome and romantic, and Nan is swept completely off her feet. But Bert has reservations, especially when Louise Eagleston tells her that Crane's identical twin was accused of murder but committed suicide. When Bert goes to hear more from Louise, she finds Louise shot. Now, Bert wants to know more about what's going on, but Nan doesn't want to hear anything bad about Crane or his late brother. Can Bert find the truth while keeping both herself and Nan alive?

This is a fun book. The twins alternating narration is a nice and often funny touch and their personalities get better defined. I figured out the ending before the twins, but by then I was so concerned for them that I had to keep reading. These are great characters that I hope I can keep reading about for years to come.

Sometimes one plus one does't add up to two. When twins write a mystery about twin sleuths and twin killers, it doesn't really compute. My problem with the book is that it alternates from one twin's life and thoughts to the other. It is not confusing, but seems to rely too much on this gimmick and not enough good story telling.