Book Review: Midnight Hour

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Midnight Hour     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Mary Saums
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Amateur Sleuth
Series: Willi Taft # 1
Silver Dagger, Jan 2000, $15.00, 1888 pp.

Anyone, including her friends, would think Willie Taft owned the world. She has several close friends, a new home, and a career that many people envy as she sings back up to many of Country and Western superstars. However, Willie suffers from several personal problems starting with the feeling that she has outgrown her friends. However, the worse emotion is that two decades of singing C&W has left her numb as she loathes this style of music.

Willie returns to the living after she meets private detective Sam Robbins. Though they start off on the wrong foot, Willie and Sam begin to forge a meaningful relationship. Sam starts to teach Willie the tricks of his craft, but is soon murdered. The police believe he is a victim of a burglary that turned ugly. However, Willie questions the official position when nasty things start to happen. Someone shoots at her and drugs her. Sam’s office and her house are torn apart as an unknown assailant seeks something. Willie realizes she must uncover the identity of the culprit before she becomes the next victim.

The first Silver Dagger mystery, MIDNIGHT HOUR, will leave readers waiting to pick up more tales from what appears to be an imprint that will shine with a long life. Mary Sauns invigorates the amateur sleuth sub-genre with a successful and strong female lead. The tale is clearly owned by Willie, who as she approaches forty struggles with a mid-life crisis that sends her on a path to start anew. The brain-teasing mystery along with Willie’s laid back common sense will leave the audience anxiously wanting more terrific Taft tales.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner