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Breakfast at Madelines |
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Breakfast at Madelines by Matt Witten Signet Mystery Books 244 pages, 1999 ISBN 0451196813 Reviewed by PJ Nunn Read our author interview What writer hasnt dreamed of that long-awaited big break that puts dollars in the bank and an agent on the phone with more offers? Jacob Burns stumbled into that scenario, took full advantage of it, then promptly developed a full-blown case of writers block. Wagging his laptop to Madelines diner, a comfortable daily custom, his routine was severely interrupted by the death of another writer, Donald Penn, literally at his feet. The mans dying act was to thrust a safe deposit key into Jasons hand. What else can he do but set out on a quest to discover what the dying writer intended? Jacobs investigation immediately hits snags, one after another. Penns writing stinks. In fact, it appears, once Jacob gains entrance to the coveted safe deposit box, that Penn wrote and rewrote the very same Prologue again and again for some thirty years. Jacobs missing something, but before he can figure it out, he notices there are several citizens, including the mayor, who are extremely concerned about what Penn has written. Concerned enough to break into Jacobs house, and even to set fire to an office hes in at the time. Jacob better solve this puzzle before someone else winds up dead. Wittens caustic wit is the springboard for this mystery. In fact, it sometimes supercedes the story. A seasoned television scriptwriter, Witten is no amateur, yet perhaps the fiction mystery genre is not the best showcase for his talents. Breakfast at Madelines is a valiant first, yet both the characters and the plot seem a little too sensationalized to be truly engaging. Even so, there is some excellent writing contained within the book, with snappy repartee and potential for more to come. |
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