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Murder in Four Part Harmony |
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| Murder in Four Part Harmony by Lorie Ham AmErica House 261 pages, October 2000 ISBN 1893162931 Reviewed by PJ Nunn The world of gospel music may seem a strange venue for a mystery, but it is unique. Alexandra Walters is a singer. That’s her life. She has a group of friends that share her house, a beautiful young daughter and a career she enjoys. And like most women, Alex has vivid memories of her first true love Jerry. But they rarely intrude on her current, promising relationship with Stephen Carlucci. Returning home from a weekend singing engagement, Alex is shocked to learn that Jerry has vaulted from her past into her present, in jail in her small town and suspected of murdering his own cousin. A brief visit with Jerry throws Alex's emotions into a whirlwind. Convinced of his innocence, she sets out to prove it, familiar with the process of crime solving after a brief stint as a reserve with the local police department. With the help of an attorney and Stephen, the town’s only PI, Alex plunges into the investigation wondering if Jerry can survive the fiasco, or if she will emerge alive. Ham writes passionately about a world that she’s obviously familiar with. Maybe too familiar. Her descriptions and phrasing allow the reader a peek into an unknown territory, at times assuming the reader's knowledge. The character of Alex is well written and she’s a likable sort. But do we only glimpse what lies beneath the surface? Much of Alex’s time is spent pondering questions about her relationships, past and present, as she involves herself in the quest for answers about a murder. Murder in Four Part Harmony is a good first effort, especially for readers who enjoy a romantic suspense element. Ham shows great promise as a teller of tales. It will be interesting to see if she reaches new depths with the next outing. |
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