Intrigue Press, May 2003, 24.95, 338 pp.
ISBN 1890768499
Nobody can be happier than psychotherapist Cassidy McCabe that her client Claire Linden is getting married again. In the three years that Claire has been going to Cassidy, she divorced her abusive husband, learned how to stand on her own two feet and how to trust another man. Ignoring the warning bells that go off in her head indicating Max is too good to be true, Cassidy and her reporter husband Zach Moran agree to attend the wedding.
When the couple is about to say their vows, a shot rings out and Max keels over. He is the dead victim of a professional hit. An upset Claire pleads with Cassidy and Zach to find out who killed her groom. The pair agree having experience in solving high profile homicides in the past. During the course of their investigations they learn that Max had many enemies who would want him dead. Almost as soon as they start asking questions, Cassidy acquires a stalker who warns her off the investigations if she wants to see tomorrow.
This is the seventh Cassidy McCabe mystery and it is absolutely terrific. The characters have grown and changed in ways that make their marriage a joyous celebration of life and them more of a team on this investigation than before. Zach realizes he can't control Cassidy and she knows that there are times it is better to give in then argue. The victim in this novel wasn't a bad man, just a flawed one who managed to get the wrong person angry. Alex Matthews is a talented author who knows how to keep her series fresh and challenging.
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book descript. of violence and chases - 10% Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40% How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%
Tone of story
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain?
- Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story:
- present (2000-2010)
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 60%
Kind of investigator
- skilled citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- feelings towards lover
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- a little
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- business executive
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
Motive of antagonist
- revenge
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Midwest
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 2
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
