 |
| ||||||
| ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Mystery
Title: The Fragrant Trail: a Rusty Linden mystery Author: Patricia Turner Rating:  Very Good!
Publisher: DLSIJ Press Web Page: www.dlsijpress.com Reviewed by: Rod Clark | View Bio |
 
|
|
||
|
BOOK REVIEW THE FRAGRANT TRAIL By Patricia Trail Reviewer: Rod Clark Patricia Turner, a native of Sydney, Australia, is clearly influenced by both British and American crime writing styles. Her new book, The Fragrant Trail, however, leans a bit more toward Agatha Christie than Elmore Leonard. The puzzle and plot take center stage, while gritty realism stays mostly in the wings. While the characters seem to be drawn from the stock types you might expect at a dinner theater mystery, it is clear that her goal is to engage the reader not so much in “who,” but in “who dunnit,” writing in a fast moving murder mystery style that may not be always realistic, but has a long, and sometimes distinguished tradition. To that end,Turner certainly creates a lively and engaging puzzle that keeps you turning pages. Turner’s hero is intrepid lady newspaper reporter, Rusty Linden, who is assisted by her news intern, high schooler Sonia Randal. Other players include surly Newtown Detective Inspector Rick Williams and his rich and snobbish wife Caroline, police sergeant Phil Fernwood, the sleazy defence lawyer Silvestri, and The elusive serial killer who calls himself “The Executioner.” A string of ruthless murders is foreshadowed by arrogant warning letters mailed to both reporter Rusty Linden and Inspector Williams. Williams is irritated that Rusty is being kept in the loop by the killer, and friction emerges betweeny the two of them as the warnings are followed by a set of brutal assassinations of victims apparently selected at random throughout the city. The murderer is described as tall and dark-haired, and probably male—-but there is a mystery Rusty must solve in order to uncover the killer’s identity. The first near victim, a cleaning lady who is coincidentally Sonia’s mother believed she smelled a woman’s expensive perfume just before thwarting the attack.
As the arrogant letters continue, followed by “successful” killings, Rusty must consider a number of plausible suspects. As she does so, she is haunted by the mystery of the expensive perfume—- wondering if this olfactory clue will put her on the scent of the killer. As the tension grows, even the Inspector himself becomes a suspect! All in all, readers who enjoy fast-paced “who dunnits” are sure to appreciate this deftly plotted little mystery from the land Down Under.
Go Back read another review, or choose a different category. | ||||