Dead
Copy
A Cauley MacKinnon
Mystery
Kit Frazier
Midnight Ink (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-7387-0959-X (073870959X)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7387-0959-8 (9780738709598)
Publication Date: May 2007
List Price: $13.95
Synopsis (from
the publisher): Twentysomething Cauley MacKinnon is dying to escape the
obituary beat and become a real reporter for the Austin
Sentinel. Her best chance at a front-page scoop disappeared when she
got too close to a case and almost got killed. Cauley also managed to
fall for the smoking-hot FBI agent assigned to protect her.
When Special Agent Tom Logan shows up asking for a fake obituary to
make a key trial witness disappear, Cauley jumps at the chance to help.
After all, she's still watching his dog Tahoe although maybe its the
other way around.
Caught in the crossfire on the courthouse steps, Cauley sees the murder
of the man whose death she already helped fake.
Now someone is making it clear that they don't want Cauley getting any
closer to the case unless she wants to wind up on the obituary page
herself.
Review:
Dead Copy
is the second mystery by Kit Frazier to feature spirited obituary
writer Cauley MacKinnon who's looking for any chance to prove she can
be a credible journalist.
An opportunity to do just that comes by way of FBI agent Tom Logan who
asks her to write an obituary for an informant who is still alive. They
want him to disappear until the trial at which time he can give his
testimony regarding two mob gangs, one in Austin and one just south of
the border in Mexico. The day of the trial, and before he can testify,
the "dead" man is gunned down between two US marshals on the steps of
the courthouse. Cauley witnesses the murder and sees the shooters
leave. Knowing she identify the killers, she is sent a canary stabbed
to death with one of her own knives. The note in the box makes it
perfectly clear what would happen to her if she sings. Someone out
there wants Cauley to know they are watching and stay away from this
case. Cauley, being the impetuous person she is, decides to press
forward to find the person or persons who want her dead. At her side is
her adopted search-and-rescue dog, Marlowe.
Frazier does a terrific job of allowing the reader to connect with
Cauley MacKinnon. She is not a wonder woman and knows her own
limitations. When there's a job to be done, she ponders over it for a
few minutes then seeks out the most suitable friends or co-workers to
help her. Dead Copy
is
written with a light touch, melding several touching scenes with others
that include lively banter between Cauley and her friends and enemies.
It's a good mystery wrapped around an exciting love story. Or maybe the
other way around.
And then there's Marlowe. What a sweet, talented dog he is!
Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Dead Copy and to Midnight Ink for providing a copy of the book for this review.
Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.
Mysteries in this series ...
Scoop
Midnight Inc (Trade Paperback), 2006
ISBN-10: 0-7387-0915-8 (0738709158)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7387-0915-4 (9780738709154)
Dead
Copy
Midnight Inc (Trade Paperback), 2007
ISBN-10: 0-7387-0959-X (073870959X)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7387-0959-8 (9780738709598)
Omnimystery keywords for Dead Copy ...
Location(s) referenced: Austin, Texas Hill Country.
