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February 2017
Book Review Jeanne Burrows-Johnson. Prospect for Murder Reviewed by Diane C. Taylor |
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Some of my favorite mysteries are written by women and take place in “exotic” locations: J.A. Jance, with her characters in Sedona and Bisbee; Donna Leon in Venice; Louise Penny in Québec; and Jacqueline Winspear in and around London. These are all series where you meet the main characters and are drawn into their lives.
Jeanne Burrows-Johnson’s Prospect for Murder is apparently the first in a series of mysteries around Natalie Seachrist, set on the island of Oahu. Natalie, in her 50s, is a retired travel writer who does freelance research projects and a twin with certain powers of premonition. I’m always skeptical about such things – not just the mental powers, but an early retiree who seems to have pretty unlimited financial resources. One can only dream….
In this first novel, we meet Natalie, her purring four-legged companion Miss Una, and her family: twin brother Nathan, who has other mental powers; grandniece Brianna, also a twin; and aunt Carrie, suffering from dementia. In a sort of dream, Natalie sees Ariel, Brianna’s twin and her other grandniece, fall to her death at an apartment complex. This event is immediately confirmed by a phone call from brother Nathan. Natalie then resolves to find out what happened to Ariel.
Along the way we learn about Hawaiian culture, complete with several Hawaiian words, explained in an appendix at the back. The apartment complex is owned by two sisters originally from China, giving the author the opportunity to explain some Chinese culture and clothes, also explained in the appendix.
Jeanne Burrows-Johnson’s Prospect for Murder is apparently the first in a series of mysteries around Natalie Seachrist, set on the island of Oahu. Natalie, in her 50s, is a retired travel writer who does freelance research projects and a twin with certain powers of premonition. I’m always skeptical about such things – not just the mental powers, but an early retiree who seems to have pretty unlimited financial resources. One can only dream….
In this first novel, we meet Natalie, her purring four-legged companion Miss Una, and her family: twin brother Nathan, who has other mental powers; grandniece Brianna, also a twin; and aunt Carrie, suffering from dementia. In a sort of dream, Natalie sees Ariel, Brianna’s twin and her other grandniece, fall to her death at an apartment complex. This event is immediately confirmed by a phone call from brother Nathan. Natalie then resolves to find out what happened to Ariel.
Along the way we learn about Hawaiian culture, complete with several Hawaiian words, explained in an appendix at the back. The apartment complex is owned by two sisters originally from China, giving the author the opportunity to explain some Chinese culture and clothes, also explained in the appendix.
Every author seems to have a pet item. I gave up on one who spent pages describing in great detail what each person was wearing. This author gives some details, but doesn’t overdo it – except perhaps on the wines and beer. We know exactly which brand and type of wine is being offered – and it’s quite a collection. On TV or in the movies, we’d call this “product placement”.
I guess I’m always suspicious of novels that begin with a lengthy cast of characters and end with an appendix. I appreciated the larger type of this book, yet I found it disturbing. Maybe it was the font, the smaller margins, or the curlicues around the numbers at the bottom of the page. The writing was very precise – almost too precise.
If you’re interested in Hawaiian and/or Chinese culture and mysteries, you might want to read Prospect for Murder.
Learn more about Jeanne Burrows-Johnson and her writings at her website: https://www.jeanneburrows-johnson.com/
I guess I’m always suspicious of novels that begin with a lengthy cast of characters and end with an appendix. I appreciated the larger type of this book, yet I found it disturbing. Maybe it was the font, the smaller margins, or the curlicues around the numbers at the bottom of the page. The writing was very precise – almost too precise.
If you’re interested in Hawaiian and/or Chinese culture and mysteries, you might want to read Prospect for Murder.
Learn more about Jeanne Burrows-Johnson and her writings at her website: https://www.jeanneburrows-johnson.com/
Diane C. Taylor is a writer and fused-glass artist. She frequently interviews artists for Sonoran Arts Network and also writes for Zocalo. See more of her artwork here> Diane's Fused Glass