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Forever Fatal

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Forever Fatal by Nancy Glass West

In Nancy West's Forever Fatal, Aggie Mundeen, a character introduced
in an earlier novel, Nine Days to Evil, is growing concerned about a
shortage of men in her life and the consequences of encroaching middle
age so she signs up for a course on aging at a local university and
joins a health club. On her very first visit to the club she helps
rescue a member from electrification in the swimming pool. That looks
suspicious, but when that member is run down and killed in the Club
parking garage a day or two later, Aggie knows something is seriously
amiss and needs her attention. But, she seems to alienate every hunk
and beauty at the club. She can not even go to school right, absences
and flippant comments in class estrange her from the professor. There
are attempts on her life, jealousies and conflicts among staff and
members of the health club emerge and when the handsome, smart and
caring San Antonio homicide detective tries to keep Aggie from
meddling in the ongoing police investigation, Aggie can only see her
life spinning out of control. Even her kind, helpful and loving
elderly neighbor has a nasty (to Aggie) little dog and is under some
kind of police suspicion. But she continues to poke at the
investigation and even cooperate a bit with the handsome police
detective. And then, quickly, the parts start coming together and
with a rush the major issues are very satisfactorily resolved, and the
too clever murderer is caught.

In short, it has a creative plot, interesting and effective tension
maintenance (few obvious cliffhangers but it is hard to put down) and
interesting characters. All together a very fun read.

Although both books are set in contemporary San Antonio and several
key characters appear in both Nine Days to Evil and Forever Fatal this
is not a really serial (sequel sort-of maybe), each novel is a stand
alone mystery. In the second novel all the mysteries are solved and
major issues settled or explained so that the reader is not left
hanging, but some relationships seem likely to have a future. Aggie
and the detective are both complex characters with "histories" that
impact them both before and beyond this story. Aggie's young, pretty
and very bright friend from school suffered a major trauma but must
have an interesting future? Even the elderly neighbor may or may not
have a suitor? So, it will be a disappointment to this reader if this
book does not lead to a series.--------

With the big 4-0 fast approaching, former Chicago bank executive Aggie Mundeen decides to fend off the approaching middle-age by enrolling in a graduate class on aging to improve her mind and, more importantly, address the physical by actually joining the San Antonio Forever Fit Health Club. Her dread of physical exercise doesn't even approach the horror of discovering a young woman electrocuted into unconsciousness in the club's pool, yet somehow Aggie overcomes her trepidation and enrolls due to a mix of her need to work out and her overwhelming curiosity over the "accident," especially when things turn fatal..

Despite numerous attempts on her life that includes a poisoning, a shove down stairs, and a chemical bomb, Aggie continues to investigate the gym and who there wanted Holly Holmgreen dead. Despite the warnings of her friend and possible love interest Detective Sam Vanderhoven, Aggie continues to stick her nose where it isn't wanted in between her sporadic attendance of the graduate classes, the investigation of a possibly homicidal neighbor, vegan food tastings, and torturous workouts.

Introduced as a side character in Nancy Glass West's Nine Days to Evil, Aggie's appearance here occurs in a much more light-hearted mystery. However, despite the comedic elements to her investigation, a tragic secret in Aggie's past adds a deeper element to her character and could be a crucial turning point in her relationship with Sam and his daughter. Although readers may at times marvel at Aggie's seeming lack of sense of self-preservation they will find themselves appreciating her resiliency and continual good humor. Overall, this is a mystery that is enjoyable and proves to be an amusing novel that never takes itself too seriously.

Most people would choose to run from a murderer - few would stand in defiance. "Forever Fatal" tells the story of Aggie Mundeen, a Chicago woman who moves to San Antonio and finds herself as a fish out of water. She soon draws the intention of a serial killer, and rather than lie low as the police expects, she hopes to uncover his identity before it's too late. "Forever Fatal" is a creative and original mystery, well worth a read.