Tangled and Dark (Brenda Strange Mysteries) [Paperback]

Patty G. Henderson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Brenda Strange Mysteries | Publication Date: July 1, 2004

Brenda Strange is back. A Private Investigator in Tampa, Florida, Brenda isn't your ordinary private eye. This time, she's got the living and the dead wanting a piece of the action. Proving that a death ruled as an accidental drowning was actually murder gets a bit more complicated than Brenda Strange bargained for.

It's Christmas time in Florida but the heat's up full blast. Brenda is investigating the death of Paula Drakes, a local businesswoman and a leader in the lesbian community. When one of Brenda's suspects, Joan Davis, ends up dead, the path of her investigation puts her face to face with not one, but two possible killers -- one diagnosed with Multiple Personality Disorder and violent enough to commit murder.

Along the way, her job becomes more bizarre when her suspects start getting spooked by a fishy apparition that leaves wet footprints behind. Brenda has to catch up with the killers before something that goes bump in the night bumps them off. And if this problem isn't enough, Brenda has to patch up the relationship with her mother and reconcile with her lover...

Editorial Reviews

Review

".....the storytelling is fluid and the characters fresh and interesting. It would make a terrific movie." -- Walt Hicks, editor, Hellbound Books

"TANGLED AND DARK is a run-away train of excitement. Henderson keeps her readers ensnarled. A good, solid, exciting read." -- Prudy Taylor Board, author of

"Think the X-FILES meets a lesbian Jackie Collins for a weekend of fun and frolic at The House of Usher." -- Ellen Hart, author of the Jane Lawless mystery series

From the Publisher

Bella is excited to bring you Patty G. Henderson's highly acclaimed mystery series!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 242 pages
• Publisher: Bella Books (July 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931513759
• ISBN-13: 978-1931513753
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,006,914 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 Henderson weaves a tangled web, October 13, 2004

By 

Kathleene Thomason "katreads" (Dunbar, KY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tangled and Dark (Brenda Strange Mysteries) (Paperback)

Brenda Strange is back in another adventure that crosses the boundaries of the living and the dead, once again using both worlds to solve the puzzle. Brenda, trying to piece together the shattered remains of her life, a life without Tina, who has gone away to sort things out. So when her friend Kevin asked her to help him out with a case that happened in her neck of the woods, she agrees to at least give it a try. Paula Drakes, a young woman who drowned during a party on a boat owned by Brenda's neighbors, Joan and Stewart and even though the police rule her death a suicide, her sister believes that she was murdered and hires Brenda to prove it. When Brenda talks to Joan, Joan seems to think that Paula is haunting her and when Joan is found dead, Brenda is sure that there is a connection between the two deaths and that both women were murdered by the same person.

While she is trying to stay one step ahead of the killer, her parents show up, wanting to spend some time with her before her mother dies and a psychic investigator move in to try to film her ghosts, all of which leads to some interesting conflicts in her life. And when she is sure that she can't handle one more thing, Tina decides that she will pay a visit and talk over things. Told with wit, charm and wonderful scenery descriptions, Henderson has once again woven the natural and the supernatural into a fascinating mystery that transcends time and place.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fun and Spooky Read, September 7, 2004

By 

Cynthia Chow (Kaneohe, Hawaii) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tangled and Dark (Brenda Strange Mysteries) (Paperback)

TANGLED AND DARK continues where BURNING OF HER SIN left off. After an office shooting led Brenda Strange to give up her law career and move to Florida, she now works in Tampa as a private investigator. One of her first cases was the mystery behind the two ghosts now companionably haunting her home. A favor for a friend now has her investigating the drowning of Paula Drakes, a lesbian restaurant owner the police believed died in a diving accident. Things get weird when Brenda discovers that Paula's body disappeared from her grave, a prime suspect gets murdered, and a ghost hunter comes to stay in Brenda's home.

The second Brenda Strange mystery proves to be a much tighter story than the previous and Brenda herself emerges as a very engaging character. While running a handmade teddy bear business she is also restoring the historic Malfour home, attempting to repair the rift between herself and her estranged girlfriend, and taking advice from a pair of ghosts. Her Strange Investigations certainly lives up to its name. Despite the paranormal aspects of the story, TANGLED AND DARK can be appreciated for its mystery elements and the pace swiftly moves to an exciting finish. The secondary characters are more developed than they were in the previous mystery in the series, with Cubbie, a former waitress now working as Brenda's secretary, and the attractive and competent Detective Lisa Chambliss standing out. My one problem though, is that I never understood the appeal of Brenda's girlfriend who comes across as being self-centered and selfish. However, Henderson has again revealed herself to be an exciting new author to watch and I look forward to reading the next Brenda Strange mystery (which is hinted at by the end of this novel).

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful return visit to Malfour House and Brenda Strange, August 16, 2004

By 

S. Chuey "Sue Chuey" (Eugene Oregon) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tangled and Dark (Brenda Strange Mysteries) (Paperback)

I was so excited when I got my copy of Tangled and Dark in the mail, and I was not disappointed.

This mystery takes placed just before Christmas and many things are happening in Brenda's personal life. Her Partner Tina has moved back to NJ and Brenda misses her so much. Tina is coming home for the holidays and Brenda hopes she will be staying. Brenda's Mother is also very ill and she and Brenda's Father are coming to visit.
And so is Susan Christie - a paranormal investigator who is coming to study Malfour House. This provides a interesting subplot.

Brenda is also investigating the "accidental" death of Paula Drakes. Paula's sister thinks her Sister was murdered and Brenda is out to prove that it was murder.
Brenda finally gets to set up her PI office and gets a secretary.

As with The Burning of Her Sins, the characters are well fleshed out and I really care about all of them. The mystery is a real page turner and I can not wait for the next installment. Tina and Brenda's loving relationship is well written and hopefully things will get better for them.

Patty is a great writer and I hope that all mystery readers - especially those who like
Paranormal Mysteries will read and enjoy these books as much as I have.

Sue Chuey