The Christopher Killer

Title: The Christopher Killer

Author: Alane Ferguson

Publisher: Sleuth Viking

Copyright Date: 2006

Print Date: May 2006

ISBN: 0670060089

Pages: 274

Series: 1st of the Forensic Mystery series

Book Description (from dust jacket):

THE SLEEPY ROCKY MOUNTAIN TOWN of Silverton, Colorado hasn't seen a murder in years, according to Pat Mahoney, the county coroner. So when his teenage daughter, Cameryn, asks if she can be his assistant — as preparation for a career in forensic pathology — he figures it's a safe bet. But neither of them imagines that their first case will involve someone Cameryn knows . . . the fourth victim of a serial killer called the Christopher Killer.

Attending her first autopsy is more difficult than Cameryn had ever expected, but she s determined to find her friend s murderer. Before long, Cameryn is plunged into a disturbing mystery, matching wits with everyone from the cantankerous medical examiner who doubts her abilities to the famous psychic who is predicting yet another death — soon.

Edgar-award winner Alane Ferguson has written a smart and fascinating forensic mystery — the first of many.

Comments:

I have to say the idea of a 17 year old working for a coroner was startling (Not to say there's anything wrong with it. I was off at college by 17 and taking forensic classes — not like handling the reality of murder, but still — by 18. I guess I just never thought of age and that sort of job). Cameryn certainly has a better memory for the details of forensics than I ever had (hmmm...maybe if I had studied more).

The mystery is nice. Part looking at evidence, part stumbling on answers (classic amateur sleuth there). I wasn't as fond of the big reveal in Cameryn's personal life (family secrets), but maybe it'll read better in the rest of the series.

Nevertheless, an interesting and enjoyable read.

Dead Write

Title: Dead Write

Author: Sheila Lowe

Publisher: Obsidian Mystery

Copyright Date: 2009

Print Date: August 2009

ISBN: 9780451228123

Pages: 310

Series: 3rd in the Forensic Handwriting Mystery series

Book Description (from back cover):

Sheila Lowe's mysteries "just keep getting better,"* thanks to feisty forensic handwriting expert Claudia Rose knows that when it comes to solving a murder, sometimes the pen can be mightier than the sword.

Claudia heads to the Big Apple at the behest of Grusha Olinetsky, the notorious founder of an elite dating service whose members are mysteriously dying. The assignment puts Claudia at odds with her boyfriend, LAPD detective Joel Jovanic, who suspects Grusha herself is trouble.

Drawn into the feckless lives of the rich and single, Claudia finds herself enmeshed in a twisted world of love and lies fueled by desperation. But desperate enough to kill? Clues in the suspects' handwriting might help Claudia save Grusha's already dubious reputation before the names of more victims are scribbled into someone's little black book....

*Armchair Interviews

Comments:

Here's the thing about cozy mysteries. They tend to center around themes (hobbies, animals, holidays, professions, etc.). IMO, the best are those that really get you interested in doing or becoming involved in that background theme. For instance, Monica Ferris writes the Needlecraft mysteries - and I took a class in crocheting. Elaine Viets writes the Dead-End Job mysteries - and I've decided I could live with a dead-end job (some would be more preferable than others of course). =) What makes these especially enjoyable is that the author manages to portray enough about these themes to get me interested in more, but doesn't bog the story down with details and such.

So... I would really love to have my handwriting analyzed. It would be interesting what details I give away and what characteristics remain the same in both my nice handwriting and my sloppy rushed handwriting.

In other words, this is another enjoyable mystery with Claudia Rose, Forensic Handwriting expert... and Sheila Lowe has done a great job of attracting me to graphology without becoming to technical and boring (which would have been very possible considering her expertise — 35 years — in the field).

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any information at all about a fourth book (although, the series has certainly been set up to allow for one). Hopefully, there is one in progress. Or better yet, one to be released relatively soon. Because I hate a series I enjoy dropping.

Written in Blood

Title: Written in Blood

Author: Sheila Lowe

Publisher: Obsidian Mystery

Copyright Date: 2008

Print Date: September 2008

ISBN: 9780451224873

Pages: 306

Series: 2nd in the Forensic Handwriting Mystery series

Book Description (from back cover):

Sheila Lowe's Poison Pen was hailed as a "fast-paced, crisp...novel that penetrates the world of celebrity."* And Hollywood forensic handwriting expert Claudia Rose is about to prove once more that no matter what words it forms, a pen will always write the truth....

Claudia Rose's latest client is a dime-a-dozen type. The widow of a rich older man, Paige Sorensen is younger than — and hated by — her stepchildren. And they're dead set on proving that Paige forged their father's signature on his will, which left his entire estate, including the Sorensen Academy, to her.

Intrigued by this real-life soap opera, Claudia soon breaks one of the cardinal rules of business: Never get personally involved. But Claudia has grown attached to a troubled Sorensen student, and when disaster strikes, she'll realize that reading between the lines can mean the difference between life and death.

*Armchair Interviews

Comments:

I agreed to mail the book following this one to someone else, and of course I needed to read the series in order so...

I had forgotten pretty much everything from the first book in this series (Poison Pen) except that I liked it. Getting to re-meet Claudia Rose while learning more about forensic handwriting (of particular interest to me considering I minored in Forensic Science during my undergrad days) was a pleasure. The overt mystery came late in the story but Claudia's curiosity about other issues leading up to that point built up to the mystery — preventing the book from becoming to slow-paced. In fact this was a very quick read. I read it within 4 hours — and that timeframe includes frequent interruptions such as dinner.