3 out of 4 stars
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Work and Wagers by Sherrie Sushko is the first installment in the David Wagers Case detective series. It can be categorized in the Crime/Mystery/Thriller genre. David Wagers is a New Jersey private detective investigating the murder of Courtney Tabbin, a paralegal in a health insurance company. A year ago, the young woman failed to show up for a dinner with co-workers and was later found dead in a desolate wooded area. Tracking down leads is hampered by uncooperative co-workers and friends. When Victoria, a California transplant, starts working in the same department where Courtney used to work, David sees an opportunity to gain inside information that could solve the crime.
I enjoyed this detective story. Written in the third person, the book alternates between several characters’ points of view. The switches in perspective are seamless and add depth to the story.
The investigation is interesting and the plot moves along at a rapid pace. However, most of the characters are not well developed. In particular, I found it hard to connect with the main character. It felt like David was a generic detective analyzing clues and questioning people instead of a character I knew well. The rest of the characters are generally one-dimensional, including Pam who is a creepy, manipulative person. However, I did like the undercurrent of attraction between David and Victoria rather than the pair jumping into a steamy romance. Authors often turn a mystery into a detective-and-sidekick love affair which overwhelms the central plot. Happily, this isn’t the case here.
There is much more of an emphasis on sequential actions in the storyline that there is on nuanced descriptions and imagery. As a result, I became interested in what was going to happen next, but I was unable to visualize the characters or the setting. Despite a fairly predictable plot, the book actually became a bit of a page turner in the second half of the book. Although I was easily able to solve the mystery, I still enjoyed the process along the way.
The writing is easy to understand and the plot moves forward at a consistent pace. There is a large crew of characters, but I had no problem keeping track of them. However, the book lacks that special sparkle that excellent mysteries have. If there were more attention given to character development, the suspense element, and a less predictable course, I think the result would have been more satisfying.
I give this book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. The story kept my interest, but the climax isn’t too surprising and there is a lack of tension throughout the book. The book is still a solid choice for mystery fans who want a light beach-style read.
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Work & Wagers
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