Book Review: Murder List

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

Murder List     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Julie Garwood
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Random House Publishing Group, 2004, 403pps.

Julie Garwood combines murder, suspense and romance in Murder List, which is a fast moving novel. Regan Hamilton Madison, along with her three brothers, owns a chain of hotels and is currently living in the Chicago hotel. She is head of a foundation that makes charitable contributions to many worthy organizations. She maintains an office in the hotel.

One of Regan’s best friends from grade school, Sophie, works at a newspaper and is on the trail of a big story. She talks Regan and their friend Cordie into assisting her go after a con man that lures women into his web and then takes their money and possibly even helps them along to the hereafter. Regan agrees to follow up with the police on a woman who was involved with Dr. Shields and mysteriously dies and meets a Detective Sweeney to whom she takes an instant dislike.

At the first seminar the three attend given by Dr. Shields, the man being investigated, they were asked to make a list of people that they don’t like and would like out of their lives. Regan jokingly entitles her list “Murder List” but before the evening was over she lost her list as well as her folder from the seminar.

The next thing that happens is Regan is sent an email showing the body of the first person on her “Murder List”. The police take over and Alec Buchanan is given the job of guarding Regan until the murderer is found. Regan’s brothers also get involved and hire a multitude of security people, which irritates Regan to no end because she is not happy with her brothers’ attempts to run her life.

You will have to read the book to find out how many on her list die and how the killer is finally caught. There’s a twist at the end that is not even hinted about throughout the book.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM