Murder By Impulse. [Paperback]

D. R. MEREDITH (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Ballantine Books, New York (1988)
• ASIN: B001KS1CFI
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Mystery, June 28, 2004

By 

Michelle (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder By Impulse (Mass Market Paperback)

I'd recommend D.R. Meredith's John Lloyd Branson series to anyone (regardless of whether he or she is an avid mystery reader). They are simply excellent books, and the stories have it all: wit, humor, a touch of romance, and intriguing mystery. The characters are well-developed, and, as I read through the series, I found myself more attached to them with each novel. I read these books upon their initial publication, and I'm still waiting for more! Please Ms. Meredith -- write more John Lloyd Branson books! Murder by Impulse is a solid, interesting book, as are the other novels in the series: Murder by Deception, Murder by Masquerade, Murder by Reference, and Murder by Sacrilege. If you're looking for a fun, intelligent mystery with two amazing lead characters (not to mention the amusing cast of supporting characters), read the John Lloyd Branson books.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Loved It!, March 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Murder by Impulse (Audio Cassette)

Murder by Volume is simple yet interesting. It is truly a must read. The role reversal of the two main characters is priceless. I hope Ms. Meredith will grace us with more of the same. Carolyn Hart, look out! Those who enjoyed Death on Demand will not want to miss this one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious whodunnit, August 25, 2010

By 

Dee18 "dee" (Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Murder By Impulse (Mass Market Paperback)

`Murder by Impulse' is the first of five books about Texan attorney John Lloyd Branson. Written by DR Meredith in 1988, this series was recommended to me by some crime-fiction aficionados on the Amazon discussion boards. Apparently the `John Lloyd Branson' series is little-known, but hailed by the niche group of readers who live for all things crime-fiction. And I've got to say... I was impressed.

The book opens with a curious murder. A truck carrying gasoline is followed by a hectic car, which eventually crashes into the truck thus killing both the car and truck passengers.

In Amarillo, Texas one Sergeant Jenner is assigned the seemingly open-and-shut case of a drunk/tired driver unfortunately killing herself and a truck driver in a car accident. The driver being one Mrs. Amy Steele of Canadian, Texas. But the case has pricked the interest of Special Crimes Unit detective Ed Schroder, who does some digging and discovers that Amy Steele's widowed husband recently remarried (while his wife's body was still cooling).

Meanwhile, in Canadian, twenty-four year old law student Lydia Fairchild is meeting John Lloyd Branson for the first time. Lydia has been assigned to understudy with the brilliant attorney on recommendation of her University Dean, but John Lloyd is not what Lydia expected. For one thing, John Lloyd is a southern gentlemen bordering on chauvinistic. He dresses like a riverboat gambler and his office is harks back to the Victorian era (though he's only in his early thirties). John Lloyd pushes all of Lydia's buttons, and within a few minutes of meeting him she finds herself threatening to commit bodily harm on his person and cursing like a sailor... but John Lloyd seems to think theirs is a perfect partnership.

The three storylines converge when it is revealed that John Lloyd is the attorney of Mr. Jim Steele, whom Detective Schroder and Sergeant Jenner are travelling to Canadian to visit and question about the suspicious death of his wife.... what happens next is a twisted and layered plot, with thick-as-molasses intrigue and only John Lloyd Branson to wade through the lies.

`Murder by Impulse' is a wonderful crime novel in itself. It is a murder mystery, character exploration and family drama all rolled into one. The crux of the story is Amy Steele - and the mystery as to why everyone in her family wanted her dead. She was, by all accounts, an evil woman. She makes Cruelle Devill look like Florence Nightingale. She abused animals, killed beloved family pets, staged car accidents and disfigured a Steele family friend. The unravelling of her character history is fascinating, coupled with the investigation into her murder... DR Meredith has beautifully constructed this whodunit. And there's nothing in the technical crime-solving to hint that this novel was written in 1988. Apart from a lack of mobile phones or mention of the Internet, there's still forensic analysis and computer lab technology to placate crime-fiction connoisseurs.

I loved the narrative perspectives in the novel. Our two primary narrators are Lydia Fairchild and Sergeant Jenner. These two are navigating new partn erships with the `old-timers' in their respective fields. For Jenner, he is partnered with Detective Schroder and unwittingly taken under the older policeman's wing and taught how to defend the innocent and find the guilty party. Lydia Fairchild is likewise partnered with the best attorney in Texas (though to ask John Lloyd, he would say `the world'). Lydia is in her last year of law school and about to enter the courtroom arena, from John Lloyd she is learning about how to question witnesses, keep the police at a distance and uncover the truth away from prying eyes. I loved the contrast of old/new, up-and-coming versus old dogs. Just as Jenner and Fairchild are trying to figure out how their mentors tick, readers are likewise trying to keep up with these teachers.

But the absolute stand-out star of the novel (and series) is without a doubt John Lloyd Branson. He's a little bit of every witty curmudgeon, snobby intelligentsia and antihero hero that we love. I would liken him to Gregory House, Alan Shore and Sherlock Holmes... but with his own distinct style. He wears three-piece suits, boleros and Stetsons. He is a Southern gentleman through and through, but with a cut-throat sensibility. He doesn't use contractions, and he prides himself on his manners. He is brilliant. And the best thing about John Lloyd Branson is that he is entirely believable. He opens his mouth and can cut a man down at twenty paces. He is *that* intellectually intimidating and sure of himself. But John Lloyd is only a man in his early thirties, and that comes across. John Lloyd has so much passion and fire, especially for the law and his role as an attorney, and when he talks about his responsibilities you know this is a man for whom the law is life, and his appreciation is infectious...

John Lloyd's believable brilliance is not just in how other characters react to him either. It's not a case of Schorder *saying* John Lloyd is clever and witty. It's more a case of DR Meredith writing brilliantly acerbic dialogue for John Lloyd and perfecting his Southerly mannerisms. Still, it is hilarious to read character's reactions to John Lloyd.

`Murder by Impulse' is a murder-mystery of Machiavellian proportions, beautifully executed by DR Meredith's talented pen. But it's also a little romantic, which surprised me. There's definite heat and spark between Lydia and John Lloyd. This will be a slow-burn romance, since John Lloyd seems wholly aware of Lydia's developing crush on him and hell-bent on preventing it... but what John Lloyd doesn't seem to know is that he's slowly falling under Lydia's spell too. I love how these two bounce off each other, and I can't wait to read more of their combustible attraction.

This novel is superb. It is a crime-fiction delicacy to be savoured for its melt in your mouth brilliance. Everything comes together perfectly; the whodunit, the heroes and villains and an intimidating but brilliant protagonist to cut your teeth on. I can't wait to read the next four novels in DR Meredith's series.

5/5