Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
Beat a Rotten Egg to the Punch
Amazon US TPB Amazon Canada TPB
Cathie John
, John Celestri
, Cathie Celestri
Class/Genre: Mystery Woman Main Character Amateur Sleuth Culinary
Series: Kate Cavannaugh # 2
Journey Brook Press, Oct 1998, $12.95, 290 pp.
Trade Paperback
Many of her peers consider Kate Cavannaugh to be an amazing individual. The feisty caterer has overcome breast cancer and has even tracked down killers on crimes that impact her (see ONE DEAD CRITIC). Though the last thing she wants to get involved in is another killer, Kate is tied up in a basement by a murderer (that is info made available on page 1). Brilliantly using flashbacks, the events that led Kate to her current predicament are clearly chronicled.
While catering a wedding, Kate has to deal with a slimy man coming on to her. When she next sees the guy, he is a corpse. Before reporting it to the police, Kate notices an odd piece of jewelry on the victim. Apparently, he was a member of the Children of Life religious sect. She goes to tell the police, only to have the person she saw run from the scene accuse her of murder. Soon, other members of the cult are murdered. Kate is unable to resist the lure of an investigation and begins to seek answers. Her activities soon comes to the attention of the killer, who eventually ties her up in a basement....
Cathie John is a strong writer whose abilities lie in powerful characterizations. She provides to the aging baby boomers an understanding that the young, seek absolute truths almost reverently. She furnishes to the younger generation an understanding of what motivates the aging generation that sired them. The mystery is well written, but it is the underlying philosophy as represented by Kate that keeps readers wanting more entries in this series. Kate is a fascinating protagonist, who, hopefully, has years of novels left before readers can claim they completely comprehend what makes her tick.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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