Reviewed By Liz

ISBN 0-440-23605-3

Writ of Execution is part legal drama and part thriller. It starts of with two young people meeting under strange circumstances in a casino just before one of them hits the big slot machine jackpot worth seven million dollars. But the young woman who wins it is afraid to claim the money in her own name because she is on the run from a man determined to destroy her. The couple, Jessie and Kenny, need a quick legal consultation from Nina Reilly in the middle of the night before an even faster wedding. Nina prepares the paperwork to shield the woman’s identity from her pursuer so she can claim the money, but they quickly discover they have other problems, as well.

It seems that someone feels that jackpot isn’t rightly theirs, wants the money, and is willing to use any means necessary to get it back. And then Jessie’s past catches up to her and she becomes embroiled in legal matters with Nina trying to defend her against a very powerful and wealthy man, represented by Nina’s legal rival, Jeff Riesner. Nina, and her investigator Paul Van Wagoner are trying to hide Jessie and Kenny to keep them safe from a killer who wants his money, while simultaneously protecting their future in the courtroom.

Writ of Execution has interesting legal maneuvers, lots of suspense, and good characters. It has plenty of bad guys of varying degrees but, unfortunately, we know who the ultimate bad guy is. I would have preferred to guess. It is still a good book and worth reading, though.

Favorite character? Kenny. Did I guess it? They tell us who it is. Will I read another? Yes. I like these legal thrillers.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2007

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ISBN 0-385-33796-5

I was a little nervous when I started this book. Keeper of the Keys is not in the Nina Reilly series and the cover bills it as a novel of suspense, rather than a mystery. As you probably know, “Suspense” can cover a wide territory from classic Hitchcock style suspense to hand-wringing psychological dramas to horror. But this one kept to a format most mystery readers will be comfortable with. There are two basic themes that keep you in suspense during the book – what happened to Ray Jackson’s wife after their argument and what is the issue from his childhood that he is trying to work through?

Unlike the mysteries that most of us are used to which start off with a crime, we spend most of the book trying to determine if there has actually been a crime. Is Mrs. Jackson dead? If so, did her husband kill her? An old friend is determined to find out what happened in this missing persons case and bring the husband to justice, if necessary.

I liked this book. It is a mystery with a different setup, basically, and is a nice break from traditional mysteries. The authors (sisters Mary and Pamela O’Shaughnessy) aren’t too heavy handed with the childhood or psychological issues, the plot is interesting, and the characters are good. For a while, it looked like the ending might fizzle but they pulled it out.

Favorite character? Zak. Did I guess it? Sort of. Will I read another? Yes, but I still prefer a traditional mystery. This book was a departure for the authors, so I will check out their Nina Reilly mystery series.

Mystery Book Reviews by Liz at http://reviewedbyliz.com ©2007

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