3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Howling Bloody Murder" is a 'Howling' Good Read, January 10, 2002
This review is from: Howling Bloody Murder (Paperback)
I barely glanced at this book the first time I picked it up. The title "Howling Bloody Murder",the phrase 'Dog Lover's Mystery'& what I saw as surrealistic type cover art were all turn-offs to me.
But, after reading an email from a trusted friend who raved about Sue Owens Wright's book "Howling Bloody Murder", I took a second look.
Thank God for second looks! After putting on my glasses, I saw that what I thought was unappealing surrealistic type art, was actually a very well done picture of a cute Bassett Hound named Cruiser & Cave Rock cleverly depicted as a yawning skull head. The art exuded cold,frigid winter & suspense. It screamed out to me that this book could very well be my cup of tea.The fact that the author also did the cover art herself, only made the book more enticing.
In her first mystery book "Howling Bloody Murder",Wright has adroitly brought together likable,fully formed characters,a great setting in Lake Tahoe in the midst of winter & a thoughly engrossing 'different' plot.
The protagonist Elsie'Beanie'McBean, freelance reporter & strong middle-aged Mom is living her dream life in a two story cabin in the woods of beautiful Lake Tahoe with her Bassett Hound Cruiser-who is treated as all loving pets should be-a valued,loved member of the family.
All that keeps Beanie's life from complete happiness is the recent,tragic loss of her beloved Scottish Husband,who died in the line of duty as a Fire Fighter& her nagging belief that had she not insisted upon her 'dream', he would still be alive.
When Daughter Nona brings her new beau Medwyn Abercarn to Thanksgiving dinner,both Beanie & Cruiser smell trouble. Is it a valid feeling or as Nona accuses-simply a still grieving Mother who does not want to let her go?
To make matters worse,a string of viciously mutilated bodies of important men are piling up,one by one. Does it have to do with the feud between the militant tribal council of the Washoe Indian Tribe opposed to further 'corruption'of the land by big Corporations? Could it be an avenging animal-like Spirit or a much more human menace at work? Either way,Beanie who is half Washoe Indian is torn between her ties to her heritage & belief that some changes are needed & inevitable.
With the blessing of Skip Stoddard,Sherriff & close friend, Beanie & Cruiser set out together to solve the murders,before more lives- maybe even their own, are lost.
Not a single page drags in this book & I found myself up until the early AM,unable & unwilling to put it down.
The only false note in this book- a VERY small one,was Beanie allowing Nona to go back to the cabin,not once but twice at night, even after suspecting that the murderer may have been scratching at Cruiser's doggy door-even leaving deep marks in the wood & large tracks in the snow.BUT, this is a very small thing in a book as good as this one. Suspense,mystery,terror,warmth & fleshed out characters-who could ask for more?
Sue Owens Wright has created a world I want to know better. She says her next book in this highly entertaining series will be longer & I say-the longer,the better. One Hundred Eighty-one pages is never enough with writing this good.
Do yourself a very big favor-read "Howling Bloody Murder" by Sue Owens Wright- you will be so glad you did.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great debut novel!, March 18, 2002
This review is from: Howling Bloody Murder (Paperback)
Set in Lake Tahoe. Elsinore "Beanie" MacBean was a widow that lived with a basset hound named Cruiser. She was a freelance writer for the Fur & Feather Quarterly and the Tahoe Times. When she came upon a mutilated body, she called in Skip Cassidy from the Sheriff's Office. Skip was not only a very good cop, he was also the man Beanie was casually dating. The Times asked Beanie to cover what became called the Tahoe Terror about the same time Skip asked her to help him solve the case. His boss, Sheriff Stoddard, was running for mayor and had begun putting pressure on Skip. The bottom line: solve the case quickly or lose your job.
At the same time Beanie was dealing with her daughter. Nona came home from her modeling career to spend Thanksgiving with her mother. Problem was she was bringing along her latest in a line of boyfriends. Beanie hated him on sight and so did Cruiser!
The bodies begin piling up and all seemed to be connected to the Tallis Corporation in some way. Tallis was trying to build a resort on Cave Rock for rock climbers. The Washoe tribe was against it. Therefore, clashes were immanent. Things would soon get hotter than Beanie's famous "run for the nearest faucet" chili!
***** This is Sue Owens Wright's debut novel? Geez, hard to believe! It is so well done! A puzzling mystery filled with regular home life and snappy dialogue that had me chuckling aloud while trying to figure out who was doing the murders. Perfect for all mystery lovers and highly recommended! I can hardly wait for the next mystery involving Beanie and Cruiser! *****
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