Customer Reviews

Dream House (Molly Blume Series)

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Molly Blume doesn't like loose ends. Her career as a crime novelist free lance journalist involves making sense out of horrific bits and pieces taken from police blotters and weaving them into cohesive investigative reports. When the pieces don't fit, she wants to know why. A series of seemingly random acts of malicious vandalism in LA's exclusive Hancock Park catches her attention, and an initial swing through the neighborhood provides her with a first hand introduction to the kind of fiery dissension pro and anti-HARP (Historic Architectural Restoration and Preservation) forces have created in that area, an impression which is reinforced after she attends an acrimonious meeting where both factions are present. Her involvement with the dispute deepens and becomes more personal due to a chance encounter with former professor of architecture, Oscar Linney, whom she finds wandering the street in a mental fog and takes home to the house he once shared with his daughter Margaret and his irascible son-in-law Hank, thus precipitating her directly into the affairs of the troubled Reston family. Here are puzzles galore. It seems Margaret vanished without a trace five months ago, and now the house is up for sale. Inexplicably, a few days later, it burns to the ground with Linney trapped inside. While the police opine a case of HARP-related arson with tragic but accidental consequences, Molly's sense of order insists that there must be a connection between Margaret's disappearance and her father's death. Establishing it puts her right in the line of fire as she turns up enough missing links to eventually form a horrifying picture of greed, graft and corruption, point the police in the right direction to catch a clever and ruthless killer and write - 30 - to her story.

I think Molly Blume is one of the most thoroughly satisfying, utterly delightful new sleuths to come along in ages. "Blues in the Night" hooked me, but "Dream House" sold me. I always expect rock-solid, off-beat plotting and expert craftsmanship from Rochelle Krich, but the mysteries that really ignite the fan impulse in me are novels of character. And Molly is such a wonderfully complex one! She's smart, caring, feisty...and fun! Lagniappe? Ms. Krich does such a superb job of delineating Molly's deep commitment to her Orthodox Jewish faith that her on-again-off-again romance with her rabbi boyfriend adds still another dimension of depth and humor to her adventures. I think James Joyce would be very happy with 21st century Molly...I know I am.

Avid mystery readers have a list of authors whose work they know they will always find enjoyable. They eagerly await that next book, knowing they can count on the writer to present them with a suspenseful story, intriguing, perhaps even realistic, characters, and a vivid setting. Rochelle Krich is way up there on my list.
I could not wait to get my copy of Dream House, the second in Rochelle Krich's new series starring Molly Blume, freelance crime sheet reporter. I am happy to report that I found it absolutely delightful, a fitting follow-up to the first in series, Blues in the Night.
The story begins with Molly researching vandalized homes in Los Angeles. She learns there is contention between proponents and opponents of the Historic Architectural Restoration and Preservation board. As the warring factions collide, Molly investigates various crime sites. The violence escalates, from graffiti to arson to an elderly man's murder, as he seeks his daughter, missing for five months. And, as the violence increases, so does the danger spread, and Molly becomes a target.
Rochelle Krich builds great tension into this tale. It is the kind of writing that creates conflict for me, since I want to know the outcome, so I read rapidly, but I want to savor the descriptions, as well as the marvelous characters that Krich has created. Molly Blume has a large Orthodox Jewish family, and Krich lovingly and skillfully interweaves parents, sisters and brothers, and the delightful Bubbie G. into the story. Molly's relatives help her solve the mystery, while adding a good measure to the reader's knowledge of how a family lives in modern society within the framework of Orthodox Judaism. Krich has a wonderful way of working Yiddish expressions and biblical references into the story, seemingly effortlessly translating the Yiddish into English within the text. She even provides a glossary of terms, as well as Bubbie G's recipe for Challa bread.
Molly's dating relationship with an Orthodox rabbi who was her high school boyfriend adds interest to the story as well. I am eager to see where that leads!
Dream House is a thoroughly enjoyable book, by an author whose work never fails to inform, entertain, and delight this reader.

Remembered for her splendid performance of "Blues In The Night," actress/voice performer Deanna Hurst gives an equally listenable reading of Ms. Krich's latest.

When does an act of petty vandalism become an evil act? That's the thread of this compelling mystery starring Molly Blume, ace reporter of true crimes. Privileged residents of a luxe Los Angeles neighborhood are more than a little annoyed when pranksters (?) heave a pumpkin through windows and pitch eggs at front doors. Homeowners in this area expect the best, and are already ticked off at the preservation boards that prevent them from remodeling their pricey digs.

Then, more terrifying than annoying, fire breaks out on Fuller Street at the home of Margaret and Hank Reston. The ensuing flames take the life of Margaret's elderly father. To Molly, arson doesn't fit the pattern of thrown eggs and pumpkins. Furthermore, Margaret is missing. Last seen in her garden some five months before she seems to have vanished leaving only a trace of blood.

The police are stymied, and so is Molly. But she doesn't stop.

"Dream House" is a unique crime story sure to entertain and enthrall.

- Gail Cooke

I tried reading this book twice but it was such a waste of energy that I had to give up or lose my mind.

At least the second time I persisted until chapter 21, much longer than the first try which was a mere 2 chapters.

Molly Blume, L.A. Freelance reporter, contacts the local police districts each week to compile the police reports for her Crime Sheet column in a weekly tabloid. From information her sister gives her, she determines that someone is vandalizing homes of the Historic Architectural Restoration and Preservation (HARP) board members. She starts looking into what HARP stands for and why so many people are against it. In researching this, Molly becomes acquainted with many of the board members.

Professor Oscar Linney is a former board member. One day she gives him a ride to his daughter's house, only to find they've moved and he is confused. Luckily a neighbor, Tim Bolt, comes to her rescue. She also discovers that his daughter, Margaret, has been missing for months.

Molly shares information from Detective Vince Porter, Wilshire Burglary division. He often assists her as well. Her best friend , Aggie Lasher, was murdered five years ago. Recently Molly was attacked and almost killed. These experiences have given her the resolve to get to the bottom of this situation to keep others from being hurt.

The violence escalates to arson and finally murder. Molly keeps digging to try to find out how everything is linked and the why.

This is the first I've read in this series. I highly recommend this book. I am really looking forward to reading more books about Molly Blume.

Ms. Krich creates three-dimensional characters and has a well-constructed plot and story. I was a little concerned when the book said "A Novel of Suspense" as I feel those are usually scary. I didn't find this to be true in this series.

This is a gripping novel and I had a hard time putting it down! The many interesting characters that Molly interacts with in her quest to find the truth are truly enjoyable.

This second installment in the Molly Blume series lives up to the promise of the first, Blues in the Night. Molly is a modern Orthodox Jewish woman and a crime sheet reporter for a local Los Angeles rag. She reports on vandalisms in some of L.A.'s swanky areas that are governed by HARP, the Historical Architectural Restoration and Preservation boards, then sells the L.A. Times an article about the controversy between HARP supporters and foes. While visiting a HARP neighborhood, Molly meets retired Professor Oscar Linney when he jumps out in front of her car, apparently lost and confused. By doing some gentle probing, she figures out where he lives and takes the old guy to his daughter's house, where he bangs on the door and yells until the neighbor comes out and explains that his daughter has been missing for several months. A short time later the Professor is killed, and Molly can't help but wonder if her article contributed to his death. Meanwhile, she's been dating her former high school heart throb, Orthodox rabbi Zack Abrams, and the relationship deepens here, despite Molly's short skirts and her obsession with the professor's death. There are lots of suspects in this whodunit and Krich kept me guessing until the very end. This book should hold strong appeal for Faye Kellerman fans, especially of her early works. Note - there is lots of Jewish terminology sprinkled throughout the book, but Krich thoughtfully provides a pronunciation guide up front and a glossary in the back.

Molly Blume is my favorite kind of character: a person who is wiliing to keep digging and keep searching no matter how much she might be put off by police officers. She may be nosy but I like that. She is also very intelligent and tenacious.
I have learned much from Rochelle Krich's Molly about being an Orthodox Jew in today's society. I also love her thoughtful and deep relationship with Zach which is so unlike the average short-term bedded-by-the-third date relationship.
The story is gripping as Molly investigates first home vandalism and then murder. Complex enough to keep me guessing (and guessing incorrectly), I could not put this book down.
I recommend Dream House highly. For an enjoyable, fascinating, and even educational book, read this second Molly Blume. And, if you haven't read the first, Blues in the Night, then make that your next book after this one!

"Dream House," Rochelle Krich's latest suspense novel, features crime reporter Molly Blume. Since Molly writes a weekly "Crime Sheet" column, she pays close attention to the assorted mischief and mayhem occurring in the Wilshire Division of Los Angeles. Molly is a twenty-nine-year-old Orthodox Jew, one of seven children in the close-knit Blume family. She is dating Zach, a local rabbi and former high-school boyfriend, but Molly is not sure that she is cut out to be a rabbi's wife.

Molly is also a free-lance reporter and an author of true crime books. Therefore, she is very much attuned to any trouble that is brewing in her neck of the woods. Molly has heard that local neighborhoods are being torn apart by a group called HARP, which stands for Historical Architectural Restoration and Preservation. HARP groups are springing up in different areas of Los Angeles, and these groups prevent homeowners from remodeling their properties without prior approval. As a result, vandals have started to target HARP board members and things are getting ugly. When an old man, Oscar Linney, who had been vehemently in favor of HARP is murdered, Molly decides to investigate. She also is curious about the fate of Linney's daughter, Margaret, who has been missing for months.

"Dream House" falls short in many areas. The plot is way too complicated, with red herrings galore, and endless discussions about architecture that will bore anyone who has no interest in light fixtures, parquet floors, and French doors. Molly Blume is a bit irritating. She is always poking her nose into everyone else's business and she endlessly pumps people for information. She also clashes with the local detectives who wish that she would keep her nose out of police business. Molly Blume is too much like an Orthodox Nancy Drew.

At almost four hundred pages, the book is tedious and talky. I have a problem with novels that consist mostly of the protagonist interviewing people. In addition, the subplot about Molly's romance with Zach does not fit in comfortably with the rest of the book. "Dream House" is, at best, an average mystery that is a little too bland for my taste.

True crime writer and free lance journalist Molly Blume also writes a weekly column Crime Sheet. She gathers police reports of local crimes in the L.A. neighborhoods and reports on them in the newspaper. She notices a case of vandalism on a street that she knows. When she looks into it she discovers that the person who was vandalized is a very pro HARP (Historic Archeological Restoration and Preservation Board). She observes a pattern to the local vandalism cases as the targets are all Pro-Harp supporters. Tempers between neighbors on opposing sides are turning ugly.

When a fire breaks out in the house of Professor Linney, the police at first think it was the same vandal who did property damage to the other pro-Harp homes. The house was for sale and supposed to be deserted because the professor was living with his son-in-law. Molly thinks Linney's death is linked to his daughter's disappearance five months ago and the same person killed them both. She begins investigating in earnest and comes to the attention of a killer who won't hesitate to commit another murder.

The protagonist of DREAM HOUSE is an Orthodox Jew and her religion is an integral part of her life enabling readers to learn the practices of this group. Rochelle Krich has written a very clever and entertaining journalist investigative tale filled with several viable suspects and a few red herrings tossed in that makes the story line even more exciting. The author incorporates a very interesting social issue into a fine who-done-it plot.

Harriet Klausner