Digging Up Death by Gina ConroyMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I had a hard time initially with DIGGING UP DEATH. I felt the author was straddling between genres. Though labeled a Mystery/Romance, the first several chapters read like a chick-lit novel. The characters were described as if they were quirky caricatures, and over-the-top descriptions were given to the simplest of things. A pastry was described as “forbidden fat grams, assaulting my senses, my stomach growling with Eden temptation”. I am not a chick-lit fan, so these first several chapters were a struggle to get through. I would’ve stopped if I didn’t feel compelled by the obligation of writing a promised review. But, as I continued, I felt like the writing style slowly changed to a more serious tone, more like that expected in a suspense novel. I began to get involved with the characters, feeling Mari’s desperation as she tried to piece together how those around her fit into the puzzle of the unsolved murder. I felt her heart torn between Jack, her ex-husband, and Fletcher, her former flame. I felt nothing but contempt for Susan, a user and schemer. So, in the end DIGGING UP DEATH drew me in. Though I did feel the many overlapping secrets that tied so many people together was a bit far reaching, I enjoyed the twists and turns, red-herrings, and obstacles Gina Conroy created. I would recommend DIGGING UP DEATH to anyone who likes a good mystery, but doesn’t mind the quirkiness associated with a chick-lit novel.
Book provided for review purposes.
View all my reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment