Sunday 16 August 2015

SAM ABBOTT - A COLD GOODBYE (2015)


Synopsis/blurb….

Ned Fain is a damaged man. Crippled in a bomb blast in Afghanistan the ex-army JAG officer has lost his wife, lost his career and may be losing his mind. People cringe at the sight of his burned face; added to that he’s flat broke. But when Ned witnesses a bizarre murder in the polar bear pit at the zoo, his basic instinct for justice kicks in. It’s added incentive that a pretty woman needs his help, and he sets out to expose the killer and conquer his own demons.

A Cold Goodbye was a 60-70 page novella introducing a war-damaged veteran as a reluctant investigator. For the uninitiated, a JAG officer (Judge Advocate General's Corps) is a branch of the military concerned with military justice and military law.

Our man, Fain witnesses a strange occurrence while visiting the zoo and after ushering a possee of young schoolchildren away from the scene, becomes involved with one of the teachers looking after the party.

Our young schoolmistress, Josephine Rosier was rather inconveniently away at the bathroom when our victim plunged into the bear pool. Rosier it transpires was involved with our corpse – Caleb Armstrong, who by coincidence was also known to Ned.

Fain’s eye for detail and forensic mind convinces the police that Armstrong was dead before he struck the water. Rosier gets hooked in for the murder and by using her feminine wiles convinces Fain to look into the murder and prove her innocence.

Armstrong had married into money and had a somewhat open but loveless marriage. Rosier points the finger at the wife and her man-friend, claiming she’s been set-up. Fain uses his skills to get to the truth.

Best book ever – no but there was a lot to look in this hour long read.

Fairly straightforward in its presentation – we have two possible solutions to our murder and I was kind of guessing up until the end as to which way the cards were going to fall and who the guilty party was.

Decent characters, interesting protagonist…….worth a buck of anyone’s money and an hour of their time.

4 from 5
Sam Abbott is the pseudonym of a cozy mystery author – Liz Dodwell. Liz has a website which is here. You can also catch up with her at her Facebook page – here.

She has written a total of 5 Ned Fain cases – all of a similar length to this one. The latest has only recently been released – A Poisonous Mind.   


Liz/Sam was kind enough to send me a copy of this one.

8 comments:

  1. It does sound interesting, Col. I like the premise, too - getting involved in a murder investigation as a reluctant witness. Glad you found some things to like here.

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    1. Margot it was an interesting set-up and I enjoyed it. Another new author that paid off!

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  2. This does sound very interesting, Col. I have downloaded a copy and I will give it a try. Not in 2015 though. Too many books to read before the end of the year.

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    1. I hope you enjoy it when you get around to it Tracy. Not too long for the book sale!

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    1. John - far worse ways of spending an hour!

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  4. Col, the war-returned hero or "war-damaged veteran" unwittingly fighting another cause is a good premise for a crime or thriller novel. Sam Abbott seems to have treated the subject well.

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    1. I found it an hour or so well-spent! I may try more from her, if time allows

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