Customer Reviews

Face Time (Charlotte McNally Mysteries)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Author Hank Phillippi Ryan is an award-winning investigative reporter at Boston's NBC affiliate. She has twenty-six Emmy's and ten Edward R. Murrow Awards, along with dozens of other national and international journalism honors. Her work has resulted in new laws, homes removed from foreclosure, criminals sent to prison, and millions of dollars in restitution. Before her reporting career, she was a proofreader, a radio reporter, an Editorial Assistant at Rolling Stone, and a legislative aide in the US Senate. Other titles include: Prime Time and Air Time (coming September 2009.) She resides just outside of Boston, MA, with her husband.
Veteran TV reporter, Charlotte McNally, is fighting to get a woman wrongfully convicted of murder out of prison. The problem is, the woman the media refers to as "Deadly Dori" confessed to the crime three years ago and has no intention of recanting that. Her lawyer has found new evidence of her innocence, and Charlotte knows this is the story of a lifetime, so why won't Dori do an interview and why on earth would she want to stay in prison for something she didn't do? The deeper Charlotte digs into the case, the more people turn up dead, and Charlotte seems to be the next target.
The only complaint I have for the book, which I suppose isn't really a complaint, is I missed the "Things they don't teach you in J-school" commentary from the first book, which refers to sarcastic inner thoughts from Charlotte about the things they don't learn in journalism school.
This is book two in the Charlotte McNally Mystery series, with Prime Time before it and Air Time after. These books are cozy mysteries with romantic elements. In book one, Charlotte meets Josh, a handsome college professor, and in this one, it follows their budding relationship and the trials Charlotte has with Josh's eight-year-old daughter, Penny, as well as the investigation. I said it before in my earlier review for the first book, but the author has a dry, witty sense of humor that comes through splendidly in this series. Readers will find themselves not only intrigued by the investigation, rooting for Penny to give in and accept Charlotte, and the romance with Josh, but laughing hysterically in the process. I adore the secondary character, Franklin, who is Charlotte's gay southern producer, and her mother's constant pursuit of anti-aging. The dialog between them will have you rolling. Very well-paced, the plot flowed smoothly, without any dead spots. The setting, which is the Boston area, was laid out beautifully. Most of all, you won't be disappointed by the "real killer." Recommended!

Kelly Moran,
Author and Reviewer

How deep is a mother's love that would do just about anything, including kill to protect that young woman? Charlie McNally is back again as the 46 year old, multiple Emmy Award-winning TV journalist investigator who is expected to come up with another dynamic story that will win awards and keep Channel 3 news as the most popular Massachusetts TV station. It's a tall order that Charlie isn't sure she can do again, but all of a sudden a story comes along begging to be explored and indicating it's huge enough to topple an election and undo a horrific nightmare for an imprisoned, alleged murderer.

New evidence is introduced to evidence that indicates that Dorinda Keeler Sweeney may be falsely imprisoned for the murder of her husband, even though she did freely confess to that crime. As well as wanting to free a wrongly imprisoned inmate, Charlie is also quickly made aware that such a story might ruin the career of Massachusetts Attorney General Oscar Ortega, who is running on a perfect crime solver reputation but who just might be something that isn't quite as perfect as he suggests.

While Charlie and Franklin, her perfect work partner, are gaining leads in this process, Charlie is also coping with meeting the daughter of her new love, Jonathan. Penny's a young girl who is obviously and unexplainably hostile when Penny appears. She's a little girl missing her parents being together and worrying that a replacement is in line for her real Mom's place. While this oil-water relationship continues, Charlie's own Mom is having her plastic surgeon do beautifying surgery on her and wants Charlie to do likewise. Enticed but wary, Charlie watches her Mom's healing process carefully and refuses to commit to any decision on taking twenty years off her physical appearance a la surgical transformation.

Once again, Hank P. Ryan has done it very well, indeed! As a matter of fact, this novel is much better paced and plotted than her first novel in the Charlotte McNally series. It proceeds at a solid pace and keeps the reader totally hooked into the "Who did it?" mode, anxious to keep flipping the pages to find out more and very sorry when the story reaches its unexpected, exciting conclusion. Keep writing, Ms. Ryan! You've got the stuff for great crime drama!

Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on September 10, 2009

Charlotte McNally is at it again, only this time she's after a boost in the Nielsen ratings when mysteriously, a tape winds up in her possession that will prove confessed killer, Dorinda Sweeney, could not have possibly murdered her husband four years earlier. So why is the convicted woman still professing her guilt?

"Charlie's" journalistic senses pick up on the story of a lifetime, delving into the seemingly closed case with her witty, yet stubborn determination to shed light on the truth. But the lead prosecutor in the Sweeney case, now running for Governor, is demanding "Charlie" back off. Instead of doing that, though, his persistence only heightens "Charlie's" instincts that she's on the right track and there's no way she's going to back down on this one!

Though the romance is heating up, "Charlie" is also trying to deal with her questionable future with Josh because his daughter defiantly causes friction on their relationship. And with her mother's demands while recuperating from unnecessary surgery, "Charlie's" stress level is constantly in "peak mode".

But when other people involved in the Sweeney case start turning up dead, Charlie knows she's hit a nerve, but can she prove they have the wrong person behind bars without making herself another target for the real killer first?

I loved the first book in this series, Prime Time, and hoped Ryan would not disappoint me on this second installment. Hank Ryan's not only written yet another action-packed, suspense novel, she's outdone herself with Face Time. Having the journalistic background on her side, Ms. Ryan is able to write a "could really happen" gripping storyline with likeable (and not so likeable) characters readers can relate to.

Brilliantly weaving the personal life of her heroine into the background of the story only adds to the strength in Ryan's writing ability. Her plots are captivating, her characters are realistic and the surprising twists in her storyline draws the reader in to a life behind the scenes of what one won't see when watching the ten o'clock news report.

I love it when a series only gets better, a difficult task for any writer to accomplish, but Hank Ryan breezes through with top-notch literary skills. Her creativity with her characters is fantastic and I can't wait to read the next book in this series to see what "Charlie's" gotten herself entangled into next.


Reviewed for Bookpleasures.com ([....])
Reviewed by: Cindy Bauer (August 25, 2009)

Cindy Bauer is the well-seasoned author of the Memory Box Trilogy, Chasing Memories (2006 & 2008), Shades of Blue (2007 & 2008) and Crystal Clear (2009), an Inspirational Fiction series. She is an avid reader, a freelance writer and editor, and reviews for both Bookpleasures.com and New Leaf Press. She recently joined the staff at Visual Arts Junction and contributes articles on writing, publishing and marketing works. With the completion of her Inspirational series, Cindy plans to write in the mystery/suspense genre, which is her favorite to read and review.

Charley McNally has a story that could put their ratings over the top or could abolish her career forever. What's a good investigative reporter to do when she and her producer obtain video evidence that a murderer was somewhere else when the crime was committed and said murderer will not speak for herself?
The man who sent Dorinda K. Sweeney to prison for the murder of her husband after she confessed to the crime is now running for governor as a law and order candidate. Oscar Ortega and his staff will not allow his conviction record to be damaged even if the woman was innocent, but protecting someone she loved.
Charley's mother is having a face lift prior to her wedding and making plans for Charley to join her for some little tucks to hid aging. With two battles on her hands Charley is trying to make a connection to the daughter of her lover so their relationship can flourish.
FACE TIME by Hank Phillippi Ryan is a great read for every single word rings true in the world of TV news.
Nash Black, author of Indie finalists WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and HAINTS.

A wife confesses to the murder of her husband but has an airtight alibi that indicates her nnocence. Okay, it's obvious that she's protecting the person she thinks committed the crime.The investigative reporter heroine of this is out to make this a big story, but of course puts herself in danger because maybe the murderer is somebody nobody suspects. All this results in a highly readable and well paced mystery with a romantic subplot which doesn't interfere with the mystery itself. This 2nd in the series is more satisfying and entertaining than the first and is definitely recommended to all mystery fans.

Length:: 1:10 Mins

Here is the Official Book Trailer for the Hank Phillippi Ryan Trilogy, that includes Face Time (Charlotte Mcnally Mysteries),Prime Time (Charlotte McNally Mysteries) and Air Time (Charlotte McNally Mysteries)

I read Hank Phillippi Ryan's first book, Prime Time, when it came out earlier this year, and was excitedly awaiting this next installment. This book does not disappoint. The writing is top notch, the characters are very realistic, and the mystery is well drawn. You will not be able to keep from turning those pages, both from a sense of suspense and because there is a fun lightness to the writing. Prime Time and Face Time are a great couple of books to pack on your airplane carry on as the holidays near and you know you'll be waiting in airports. Armed with these two books and you won't even mind being late. Not a bad stocking stuffer either. In any case, I'm now awaiting the next one... Rumor has it, there are two more in the works. Keep 'em coming!

I really enjoyed Prime Time, the first book in this series featuring television journalist Charlotte McNally. Although the plot of that first story had a few awkward moments, overall it was a really enjoyable read.

Face Time, the second book, was also good. I felt the underlying plot worked better with this story - a woman in prison for murder might be released because of new evidence, but she refuses to take part in clearing her name. Charlotte digs deep to try to find out why not, whether she really is innocent and, if she is, who is guilty.

This book continued with the romance thread between Charlotte and Josh which is well-written. This time Josh's daughter is brought into the mix - can Charlie build a relationship with her?

The author's writing style is good and her pacing works well. Once again there were a few aspects of the plot which I felt were a little facile but it was a good evening's read and I recommend it.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2011

Just as described and even better..fast shipping as well...I apologize I took so long for your review..I thought I had done this already...sorry...I will return to you to buy again...thanks again....AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA+++++++++ Pat

Dorie Sweeney confessed three years ago to killing her husband. New evidence has surfaced which gives the lie to that confession. Charlie McNally investigates, which leads her down paths into trouble she really didn't see coming. Her relationship with Josh Gelston progresses, which leads her into the path of his eight-year-old daughter Penny; Penny understandably feels threatened by this new person in her father's life. Complications ensue. And Charlie's mother Lorraine is always there, offering her usual comments and sometimes twisted version of support. I found FACE TIME to be a more enjoyable book than PRIME TIME, mostly because Charlie seems to be considerably nicer to herself this time around.