2.5 starsThis novel seems to be in the vein of a Jessica Fletcher mystery but in an urban setting. If anyone is mistaking Hartford for some cozy little back-water they have made a mistake! This is a sophisticated city and the Capitol of Connecticut. Now why did I feel it was important to tell you this? Because some of the things happening in this book, would never ever happen here or most probably any police department in the country, back-water or not.Kate Lawrence has left her prestigious and highly stressful job and has decided to down-scale what she does for a living. She decides to apply for an assistant position in a high powered law firm in the Capitol. The law partners are typically annoying, in a cliched sort of way and they treat their support staff like children.One day soon after she has started her job, Ms. Lawrence comes upon a scene of one of the partners in a fight with his assistant and a a few days later he is found dead. And guess who finds him? Yes, Kate, of course! And being a mystery naturally he is dead under suspicious circumstances and his assistant Ingrid Torvalson, is one of the main suspects.Now Ingrid has become a rather good friend of our Kate so naturally Kate jumps at the chance to help her out. And this is where knowing that this is a sophisticated city comes in handy. Ingrid and Katherine have been called down to headquarters; they know not why. It has not been announced just how Alain has been killed (yes it was murder) but both of these women seem to be under suspicion. Now imagine, going to see the Detectives on the case and the detectives instead of grilling you, takes you into their confidences not only telling you nearly all the information on how he died, what exactly was used to kill him (multiple natural poisons) but the Detectives asking for your help? This all seemed to force me to suspend my disbelief a little too much.So now Kate Ingrid and assorted other mad cap women are running around Connecticut trying to build a case for the police. Meanwhile there are several other little plots going on involving Kate's Homeowners Association and her man-friend Armando. (who we never really connect with because he leave soon after we meet him)All the evidence is used to throw a rather large and overly obvious red herring at you. And when the denouement is unveiled it was like Ms Ivie just plucked a person out of thin air and said- "you I'll make it you who did it!" yes there was a minuscule foreshadowing, but not enough to give you multiple suspects. And multiples really livens things up in a mystery!Now the editing---yes as another reviewer has pointed out the editing was atrocious. It may have been fixed, but how in the world did something like this pass by---"Margo flapped the men of her dress to stir the air over her legs." I nearly had an embarrassing accident while I was laughing like a loon after I deciphered that one!So this was a quick read, but not one that was worth my $3.00.
Do You like book Waiting For Armando (2009)?
Kate Lawrence was an executive with a company that was going down the toilet. She decided that rather than having a great deal of responsibility to stock holders and employees, she would become an executive assistant. Life would be simpler and at the end of the day she could go home with no worries. She goes to work for a huge firm of lawyers.Of course, she did not realize she would find a dead body. And she certainly did not realize she and some friends would decide they needed to save the life of the woman who was the evident suspect.Kate is an interesting character. She is a mature woman with a man friend, 2 grown children and 2 cats. She lives in a condo situation with many rules and regulations and neighbors who report every tiny infraction.All this is background which establishes the character and personality of Kate. We meet family and friends. We get to know how things work and who makes for interesting side stories.This is a good book. The mystery is well developed and keeps the interest of the reader.There are good descriptive passages which provide the atmosphere in the law firm and other locations which play a part in the story.I think that if you are a mystery fan, and want to find an original plot and creative characterizations, this would be a good book to read.You will like Kate and all the characters who are introduced in this book. I am going to read the next book soon, just so I can keep up with what is going on with all these people I really like.
—Annette
