A Moment of Madness [Hardcover]

Hilary Bonner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 16, 2006

For journalist John Kelly, the violent death of local celebrity and rock superstar Scott Silver promises to be the best story he's seen since his days on Fleet Street. With a little work he may even turn it into the second chance he's been looking for all these years.
            DCI Karen Meadows isn't so sure her old friend Kelly is seeing clearly. The prime suspect lies dead next to Silver, and his alluring widow, Angel, claims she killed the intruder in self-defense. Wherever the truth lies, Karen knows the hordes of tabloid press, not to mention her own bosses, have their own distinct agenda.
            Kelly can't let the story lie and, digging deeper, he unveils an intense and complex tale of intrigue and deception. For him, it all centers on Angel Silver, the volatile but stunningly attractive woman who is prepared to confide only in him. But as Kelly falls deeper and deeper under her hypnotic spell, the question soon becomes just what price she'll demand for the exclusive access she has granted the reporter. And will Kelly be able to resist Angel's relentless seduction, both personal and professional, and get a handle on his priorities before further violent events unfold?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This twisty, gripping mystery marks a return to form for British author Bonner after 2005's disappointing When the Dead Cry Out. Award-winning Fleet Street journalist John Kelly, an old friend of Bonner's series heroine, DCI Karen Meadows, has fallen from grace as a result of his addictions and is now a reporter for a small Devon newspaper. Meadows gives Kelly a tip regarding the murder of rock superstar Scott Silver, who was apparently stabbed in his Torquay home by an intruder, who was himself stabbed to death by Silver's wife, Angel, in self-defense—or so Angel claims. Tired of covering such mundane matters as council meetings, Kelly uses his personal history with the widow to get an exclusive interview, but doing so launches him further down the road to self-destruction. While the truth of the double killing becomes obvious early on, Bonner adds another murder toward the end whose solution will shock many. (May)
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Review

Praise for Hilary Bonner and When the Dead Cry Out
 
"Pick up Hilary Bonner at your peril---you won't be able to put her down. Bonner's taut, compelling tales have more twists and turns than an English country lane. She'll drive you to distraction."---Val McDermid, author of The Torment of Others
 
"Bonner works outside conventional mystery or police procedural mode, keeping readers guessing."---Kirkus Reviews
 
"Hilary Bonner's secret is that as a top journalist she's been there, seen it close up and asked the crucial questions. She plots with pace, passion, and that marvelous ability to keep you turning the pages long after you meant to put out the light."---Peter Lovesey, author of The Circle
 
"A fascinating tale of believable people, in the hands of an absolutely ace storyteller; I read it in one sitting, with enormous pleasure."---Lindsey Davis, author of Scandal Takes a Holiday

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (May 16, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312339488
• ISBN-13: 978-0312339487
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,616,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars terrific character study inside a wonderful whodunit, May 20, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Moment of Madness (Hardcover)

He was highly regarded by his peers and won many awards for his work, however, the once proud Fleet Street journalist John Kelly let alcohol, drugs and an Angel control his life and destroy his career and marriage, and sever his relationship with his son. He currently works at a paper in Devon praying to have one last chance at regaining all he lost while staying sober.

Opportunity may have come his way when his friend DCI Karen Meadows gives John a tip about a double murder in Torquay. Apparently, a drifter stabbed to death rock superstar Scott Silver. Scott's wife Angel, John's Angel from his days of falling from the mountain, affirms she killed the intruder in self defense, but has no idea who murdered Scott. John knows he must avoid Angel if he is to stay away from the devils that devastated him, but she is also his only ticket back to the big time.

Readers ironically will know who is behind the double killing from the onset, but not care as the investigative tale hinges more on whether Kelly falls into the same angelic trap that led to his personal and professional collapse. Fans will root for him not to plop back into the ooze below the food chain that he barely climbed out of, but the femme fatale temptation is back. A secondary role by DCI Meadows (see WHEN THE DEAD CRY OUT) will elate Hilary Bonner fans and a final clever twist will stun the audience. A MOMENT OF MADNESS is a terrific character study inside a wonderful whodunit.

Harriet Klausner