Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable British Columbia amateur sleuth tale, July 9, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Taxed to Death (1st in Alex Bellamy Series) (Paperback)
In Vancouver, the Revenue Canada Special Investigation (SI) section informs two of the department's auditors Andy Gowen and Alex Baldwin to drop their inquiries into a potential fraud case. Alex tries to persuade Andy that they need to continue to look into wrong doing by officials of Ice Craft, Lions Import, and the Silby and Morrow Accounting Firm. Alex also believes that someone in SI is part of the fraud and is abetting the firms by halting the investigation. However, that night someone murders Andy, but makes it seen that the recently promoted victim killed himself. Alex was also assaulted, but manages to escape. Needing help inside the accounting firm, Alex kidnaps Jillian Scott, secretary to the senior partner. Though she thinks he is a lunatic, they begin to share information because Alex knows he must start by identifying the Silby and Morrow partner who condoned the fraudulent deal. TAXED TO DEATH is an intriguing amateur sleuth tale that fans of regional tales will enjoy. The story line centers on a Canadian fraud case that is under investigation by the government, thereby by providing a different perspective to the reader. Alex is an intriguing character who deserves sequels as his obsession to go to any extreme (just ask Jillian) to get his "man" will keep him ticking in future novels. The support cast brings a touch of the region to the fine plot. Debra Purdy Kong provides the audience with an entertaining mystery that will gain her many fans who will relish the British Columbia setting. Harriet Klausner
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Twists and turns, likeable characters and quick chapters...., May 3, 2009
This review is from: Taxed to Death (1st in Alex Bellamy Series) (Paperback)
Author Debra Purdy Kong's TAXED TO DEATH is the first book I have read by a Canadian author, and what beautiful portraits of Canada did she describe!
I chose the book as it was tax season in the USA and thought "how fitting." Reading about Revenue Canada instead of the IRS was also a first for me, so that took a little getting used to, but not problematic at all.
The given synopsis of the story is as follows: "Revenue Canada auditor, Alex Bellamy, has always dreamed of adventure. During a field audit, he discovers evidence of fraud. When Alex learns that others, including someone inside Revenue Canada, are involved, he persuades his colleague, Andy Gowan, to help him investigate. But Andy is murdered and Alex is forced to turn to Jillian Scott; a lady he's never met and who has her own frightening reasons for refusing to cooperate. Soon, Jillian's fears and Alex's search for a killer embroil them in a bizarre and disturbing nightmare...not everyone will survive."
The main plot of TAXED TO DEATH is filled with several twists and turns, the dynamic between the main characters, Alex and Jillian is likeable and the chapters for the most part are quick reads. The only thing I longed for was a little more description of the characters and the adventure scenes.
J.R. Reardon
[...]
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
First chapter sets the hooks, December 6, 2010
This review is from: Taxed to Death (1st in Alex Bellamy Series) (Paperback)
This review is a culmination of both myself and my wife, Barbara's, opinion of Debra Purdy Kong's suspenseful novel.
The first chapter caught us with the untimely and horific death of Andy. We were unable to resist moving through the pages to discover the who and why behind Andy's death. In getting to that answer the story worked its way through a multitude of characters, peppered with greed and tax evasive intrigue. We were taken down to depths of an underground cavern,much more rank than that home of the Phantom of the Opera...we entered plush board rooms where sinister plots to evade were orchestrated. We read on to piece together the many characters and their motivations...and we found our way through that maze of intrigue until at the end it all came together and was well understood.
Debra Purdy Kong describes the workings of Revenue Canada as they pit their resources against those who would murder to gain more wealth and to evade being taxed to death. A complex, but enjoyable read. We recomend!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
