Customer Reviews

Something to Kill for

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SOMETHING TO KILL FOR was the third winner of St. Martin Press's Malice Domestic contest. That means this is the first book published by this author.

Anneke Haagen spends a morning scouring garage sales -- she'd actually asked her friend Joyce in a moment of weakness and desperation for a change of scenery -- if she could go along. She finds a treasure and is delighted to get it for pennies. The day goes along successfully for both until they notice a fellow antiquer's car parked in an odd place. Things don't look right, so they stop to help. The woman dies, speaking one politically incorrect clue at the end.

That clue leads authorities to Anneke's friend and Anneke vows to help her. The story moves along at a lively pace. It's an amusing, entertaining read with good characterization in an intriguing setting -- perfect for those of us who love to cozy up with a cozy.

I picked this up at the library the other day, expecting a little story to pass the time. Instead I was rewarded with a little gem of a mystery centered around...yard sales. Mrs. Avid Reader says it is truly amazing what you can learn by reading and I have to agree. I thought yard sales were for broken down couches, old tools, 10-year old shirts and gifts from Aunt Erma. Apparently though, depending on the "socio-economic" class of the neighborhood it is possible to find a diamond in the rough.

In this case, one of the yard sale buyers / antique dealers found something worth killing over and the only clue is her dying last word, JAP. Of course there is an Oriental lady with a husband (professor, who else?) who dislikes policemen viscerally. There are the playboys, those who collect Art Deco (our heroine), modern, Oriental or eclectic. Directing the investigation is Lt. Karl Genesco, former professional NFL star with the Steelers. Anneke is a software developer (semi-realistic descriptions) who does work for the police. The two meet, fall for each other and solve the crime. Nothing complex, deep or soul-searching - just a good yarn about Ann Arbor and the people who live there.

A focused plot, abundant humor, and intriguing personality. Hilarious portrayal of the garage sale scroungers is another definite strength. A lot of fun for readers who enjoy bright characters , fast-moving action and a really good plot.

No complaints here!

It is so enjoyable to read books that are set in my favorite city of all...the home of the Michigan Wolverines! As if that is not cool enough, some of Holtzer's books also are set in my other favorite city, San Francisco. The Ann Arbor and University of Michigan references are great. In this particular book, she even alludes to an actual comment that former Michigan State football coach Darryl Rogers made about how U of M people are
"arrogant asses." She does this without specifically mentioning Rogers or MSU, but a true Wolverine (or Spartan) fan will know what she is talking about.

Anneke was not believable as a computer consultant. She was not likable, coming off as a very self-obsessed, shallow clotheshorse. The author's writing technique got very much in the way of the telling of the story. The rules of fair play in handling a mystery were not, in my opinion, followed. Things were very deus ex machina. I was not satisfied with how the mystery was solved.