Revolver Road by Christi Daugherty and Carol O’ Connell’s Dead Famous are the 29th and 30th books I have read in 2020. I have previously read books written by both authors. Revolver Road is the third book in Daugherty’s Harper McClain series, which is to date is three books long. While Dead Famous is book 7 of the Kathleen Mallory series from O’ Connell.

Revolver Road – Christi Daugherty  (Harper McClain #3)

Revolver Road is the third book from Daugherty to feature newspaper reporter Harper McClain. And while it was a good read, I didn’t think it was as good as the first two books, The Echo Killing and A Beautiful Corpse, books one and two respectively.

In Revolver Road, while Harper is hiding out on Tybee Island outside of Savannah, she becomes involved in the case of a missing rising rock state. Harper is hiding out because of events that happened in A Beautiful Corpse, which I won’t discuss here. I do though highly recommend that both of the previous books be read first, prior to diving into Revolver Road.

The missing person case eventually turns into a murder case and Harper’s well being becomes more precarious.

While several aspects of the book didn’t thrill me. I still enjoyed reading it. Like the first two books,I still think Harper is  great character. Additionally, the recurring surrounding cast are equally endearing. Specifically, Luke her on and off boyfriend, her fellow newspaper employees and her best friend Bonnie.

If I rate both The Echo Killing and A Beautiful Corpse as A or A+ reads. Then I guess I’d give Revolver Road a B+. It‘s good but not on the same level as the two previous books.

However,,  I certainly look forward to the next installment of this series!

Dead Famous – Carol O’Connell

I wrote earlier that Dead Famous is book 7 in Carol O’Connell’s Kathleen Mallory series. The series consists of 12 books. I have read ten of those books. What happened is I read the first six books many years ago. Then for the longest while Dead Famous and books 8 and 9 of the Series have been on my TBR pile. I made several attempts to start Dead Famous and always put it down and read something else.

The was a six year gap (2006-2012) between book 9 Winter House and book 10 The Chalk Girl. When The Chalk Girl was released 2012 I decided to pick up Mallory’s story there, rather then go back to book 7 and restart the series!

Subsequently, I have read the next two books in the series while, books 7-9 have sat on my bookshelves. Until a few days ago, when I started Dead Famous again. Only this time I was able to stay with it and finish it.

I may have enjoyed Dead Famous more, if I had read the book immediately after book 6 Crime School, rather than 13 years later!!

Have you ever left a series then came  back picking up several books  beyond where you stopped?

The Plot of Dead Famous

Anyway, I found the story somewhat confusing. The gist of the story is there was a murder trail in Chicago in which a shock jock was unanimously found not guilty. Since then The Reaper has been killing the jury members one by one.

The foreman of the jury is a psychiatrist and is now working cleaning up crime scenes in New York. She is in the employ of Mallory’s ex-partner,  who after being shot is on leave from the New York police department. The last members of the jury are also in NYC. As is, the shock jock who is now a major radio star.

Mallory is hellbent on discovering who the Reaper is before he or she strikes again. She is also trying to straighten out her old partner and get him back on the force!

Thoughts About Mallory and Dead Famous

For me Kathleen Mallory is one of the most interesting characters in crime fiction. She started life as a wail in the streets of New York using any means necessary to survive. She was adopted by a top New York City detective and grew up in the precinct house.

While Mallory  is now a stylish NYC detective,  she still uses every means necessary to achieve her goals. While her business partner, the brilliant Psychiatrist  Charles Butler,  tries and most times fails to be here conscious.

I guess I would give Dead Famous a B+. It l was good, but somewhat confusing for me. However, I probably would have enjoyed it more if I had read it right after Crime School. So with that thought in mind, I think I’ll pick up the next book in the series Winter House really soon!

Anyone with any thoughts or either these books or authors??

Links for Further Exploration of  Author Chriisti Daugherty

Author’s Website
Facebook
Twitter;

Carol O’Connell

Random House:Carol O’Connell
Goodreads
Amazon
Wikipedia

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A Beautiful Corpse – Christi Daugherty (Book #2 – Harper McClain)

A Beautiful Corpse is the second book in Christi Daugherty’s series featuring newspaper crime reporter Harper McClain. I read the first book in the series The Echo Killing earlier this year. Both were really, really good. In both books the murders that form the core of the book have a connection to Harper. In The Echo Killing the murder eerily resembles her mother’s unsolved murder. While in A Beautiful Corpse the victim Naomi Scott a law student tends bar in an establishment that Harper frequents and where her best friend works.

When Naomi is murdered in a part of town away from her home. She had left her shift late and appeared to be upset. The first suspect is Naomi’s current boyfriend, but soon two other suspects emerge. First the owner of the bar who had stalked a previous female employee and Naomi’s ex-boyfriend the son of the city’s powerful former District Attorney. Can Harper unravel the mystery, while she deals with her own mystery?

Harper’s mystery had its origins in The Echo Killing when her was broken into and ransacked A message RUN was left for Harper. Now a year later someone has been breaking into Harper’s house! What’s happening??

Give Me a Sleuth That is Not a Policeman or PI

I always like mysteries where the main sleuth is not a private detective or policeman. Two of my favorite series featured Brady Coyne a lawyer and then the Doc Adams books. Doc was a dentist!! A reporter who covers murders is perfect for me! Christi Daugherty has done a great job of creating a believable character in Harper McClain. A well she should because she began covering murders when she was twenty-two years old. She even worked in Savannah the settinh for the Harper McClain books!

Like most books Harper is not alone she has a supporting cast of likable characters The cast includes her photographer Myles, her boss Emma Baxter the newspaper editor Dells. And finally her best friend Bonnie and love interest Detective Luke Walker. It’s a great mix of characters.

Bottom Line – Rating 4 Stars (Really Liked It)

The bottom line is that A Beautiful Corpse was a page-turning great read. And like book 1 left me waiting for book 2. I’m reay for Book 3! Issues still need resolving!!

Book 25 or 2019

Links for Further Exploration

Author’s Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads

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