Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
Playing Dead
Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Lindsay Maracotta
Class/Genre: Mystery Amateur Sleuth
Morrow, Jan 1999, $24.00
In a remote Los Angeles canyon, someone shoots and kills documentary filmmaker Brandon McKenna, an old college friend of wealthy cartoonist Lucy Freers. Though she is pregnant, Lucy decides to investigate the murder of Brandon, who she recently hired as a nanny to her four-year old daughter.
Lucy quickly realizes that Brandon packed very lightly as if he was on the lam. She soon looks at some of Brandon's tapes, including the murder of a casting director by a child. The police ruled that death was an accident due to a fall down a set of stairs. Lucy panics when her daughter informs her the child-killer attends her exclusive school. Since no one wants to accept a cherubic child as a murderer, Lucy knows it is up to her to prove otherwise before the killer strikes again at her or her loved ones.
PLAYING DEAD is an interesting Hollywood who-done-it. The story line is fast paced and filled with action. The characters, including the kid-killer, seem genuine. Additionally, the return of Terry Shoe (see THE DEAD CELEB) adds a nice touch to a nicely fashioned amateur sleuth mystery that will gain Lindsay Maracotta new fans.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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