26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Four and a half stars, April 30, 2008
This review is from: Poison Pen: A Forensic Handwriting Mystery (Mass Market Paperback)
This is a smart new mystery series but I can't agree with those who have tagged it as "cozy". I found it much too graphic, a little too "salty" if you will, with a considerable tendency toward violence for that description. What this does, however, is demonstrate Ms. Lowe's ability to turn out a page turner. The action is admirably paced and characters well developed. I was very pleased to see, as I got to the end of Poison Pen, that she is working on another in the Claudia Rose series. Speaking again of misleading tags, I don't understand several of those listed for this book. I realize I'm not here to review others' reviews except as how they may affect whether someone gives this book a try. There is nothing psychic involved--nor paranormal....!? The main character's occupation is analyzing handwriting. I highly recommend the book--it's a terrific mystery.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Handwriting is on the Wall - This is an Exciting New Mystery Series!, April 2, 2008
This review is from: Poison Pen: A Forensic Handwriting Mystery (Mass Market Paperback)
Kudos to Sheila Lowe for giving us a new mystery series with an entirely fresh and new story line. Claudia Rose is a forensic handwriting analyst who is often called in to assist the police - both to identify handwriting as belonging to a specific individual as well as to give insight into the actual character, personality and current mental state of an individual who has penned a specific item.
The story opens with Claudia and her best friend, Kelly Brennan, attending the funeral of their old friend, Lindsey Alexander, an influential PR maven who worked with many of Hollywood's elite. The three women had been very close at one time, but had had a falling out years earlier, and while Claudia still did occasional handwriting analysis for Lindsey, the three were no longer on friendly terms. Lindsey's death had been deemed a suicide, but Claudia and Kelly overhear an interesting conversation at the funeral that plants a seed of doubt, and at the reception following the funeral, Claudia is approached by Ivan Novak, Lindsey's business manager, asking her to prove that the suicide note hadn't been written by Lindsey - as he is convinced she was murdered.
Claudia decides to take the case but uncovers a WHOLE lot more than she bargained for regarding Lindsey's very messy past and a host of deviant sexual practices (including child sexual abuse, kiddy porn, bestiality, and S&M) among many of Lindsey's rich and powerful clients. When Ivan is attacked trying to pass along some information to Claudia, the entire story shifts into high gear and it becomes crystal clear that Claudia herself is in extreme danger - so much so, that even the talents of LAPD Detective Joel Jovanic might not be enough to keep her safe.
Ms. Lowe's forensic handwriting series promises us exciting new mysteries in the scientific slash police procedural vein. The plot is well written and the characters believable. This reader is definitely keeping an eye out for Written in Blood, the second book in the series!
Carol Ann Hopkins 4/2/2008
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great insight into handwriting analysis, April 6, 2008
This review is from: Poison Pen: A Forensic Handwriting Mystery (Mass Market Paperback)
If you have read Ms Lowe's book Complete Idiot's Guide to Handwriting Analysis then you are aware that she has solid expertise in the field--court certified, thousands of analyses performed. That background is put to good use in this contemporary mystery. You will be intrigued by the clues her character Claudia Rose extracts from the notes and handwriting samples in the book. Highly recommended.
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