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.
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.
ReplyDeleteMargot it was an interesting set-up and I enjoyed it. Another new author that paid off!
DeleteThis 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.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it when you get around to it Tracy. Not too long for the book sale!
DeleteSounds fun! I may give it a try.
ReplyDeleteJohn - far worse ways of spending an hour!
DeleteCol, 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.
ReplyDeleteI found it an hour or so well-spent! I may try more from her, if time allows
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