Tag Archives: New York City

REVIEW of Never Tell: A Novel of Suspense, By: Alafair Burke

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Never Tell: A Novel of Suspense – Alafair Burke
Published: 2012 Pages:368
Series: Ellie Hatcher, 4
Setting: New York

“Poor little rich girl.” (page 19)

NEVER TELL (2012) is NYPD detective Ellie Hatcher’s fourth appearance in the series that started with DEAD CONNECTION in 2007.  I read ANGEL’S TIP (also called CITY OF FEAR in the UK) and enjoyed it but NEVER TELL was more of a mixed bag for me. I’ll start with the positive. The author’s strengths include drawing upon her professional experience as an attorney to give readers an inside look at courthouse politics and investigative strategy. Those are some of my favorite scenes. The author is really good at keeping up to date with social trends and pop culture. Her characters act like they inhabit the same universe that we do. Dialogue is another one of  her strengths. These characters talk like real people talk. Ellie Hatcher is a strong, likable character and I enjoy the camaraderie she has with her partner, J.J. Rogan. Last but not least, there is a subtle but very nice romance.

The plot for NEVER TELL involves plenty of secrets and mingling with the Manhattan elite. The basic premise involves the death of a young teenage girl from Manhattan. Her death looks like a suicide but her mother insists that it isn’t. The police department sends out two homicide detectives – Ellie Hatcher and J.J. Rogan– at the parents request. Ellie makes a rush to judgment in deciding that this is an open and shut case and blows off the parents.

In fact she’s convinced that the scene is exactly what it is – a suicide. The victim’s father is a famous music producer. The family are apart of the NYC elite and are well connected. They make the necessary calls to force Ellie and her partner to re-work the case. The detectives learn all kinds of eye-opening information about teens who inhabit the world of the privileged class juxtaposed with teens who exist on the outskirts of society.
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Mortal Stakes (A Spencer Novel) – Robert B. Parker

“Mortal Stakes” (1987) by Robert B. Parker is the third book in the Spencer series. Confession: I’m not a baseball fan but you needn’t be one to enjoy this book. Here we have a Boston detective and what a character he is, too, investigating a baseball player who might be throwing games. I can’t help but be reminded of Dennis Lehane now that I know who influenced him. Moving on. I’m glad I read this story and will write this review without spoilers. It was a quick and fast read. Reading out of order, I wasn’t lost.

“And the work is play for goddamned mortal stakes/Is the deed ever really done?”

Spencer, a wise-cracking private detective from Boston, is hired to discreetly investigate The Red Sox star pitcher. He’s suspected of throwing games. Spencer delves into the case under the guise of writing a book on what else? baseball. As he scrutinizes the players and other associated personnel, he runs into a couple of thugs who have an issue with Spencer hanging around the ball park and asking questions. Continue reading →

Angel’s Tip (Ellie Hatcher No.2) – Alafair Burke

“Angel’s Tip” (2008) by Alafair Burke is a hardcover mystery novel published by Harper. It should now be available in paperback.

Angel’s Tip is a smartly written mystery that follows homicide detective Ellie Hatcher with the NYPD. This is her second outing in this series that started with “Dead Connection” in 2007. The premise: Manhattan nightclub scene is served up as the hunting ground for a sociopath serial killer with a fetish. The perp seems to target single women who are late night party-goers.

Chelsea Hart, a young college student from Indiana, visits New York for spring break with two friends. The girls make one last stop at a popular nightclub, Pulse, before heading for the airport in the morning. However, the girls become separated when Chelsea refuses to leave the nightclub. It’s late, she’s alone and enjoying that one last drink of Angel’s Tip. Continue reading →