 Death on a Casual Friday: A Scotia Mackinnon Mystery
by Sharon Duncan (Mass Market Paperback - August 2001)
List Price: $5.99 Price: $5.99
Out of Print - used copies may be available
Product Details
- Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.82 x 6.77 x 4.22
- Publisher: Signet; (August 7, 2001)
- ISBN: 0451203984
- Amazon.com Sales Rank: 170,465
Reviews
Scotia MacKinnion works as a private investigator on San Juan Island between Washington State and Vancouver British Columbia. In the past, she's been a homicide detective for five years with the San Diego Police Department, so she knows the moves and she has the chops. Her infield team consists of Zelda Jones, a web site designer and graphic artist who does computer research for her, Ben Carey, a homicide detective in Berkeley who looks into police matters, and Jared Saperstein, a news reporter with a talent for hacking. Elyse Montenegro tries to hire Scotia to dissuade a stalker she insists is following her around, but Scotia isn't too certain she wants the case. Later, after having Zelda run the license plate Elyse gave her and turning up the fact that it belongs to a rental vehicle leased by a man that might be a private investigator himself, Scotia's interest rises. Only a short while later, Elyse's friend Campbell Sawyer is run off the road while driving Elyse's car. Elyse returns to Scotia's office, and this time she tells Scotia of her husband's murder. Julio Montenegro was a lawyer who worked with Latin Americans who had immigration problems or other legal entanglements. But Julio had another side to him as well: he also wrote an inflammatory column regarding United States-Mexico relations that offended major players in financial circles and political circles on both sides of the border. In addition, Julio was a player and had a mistress on the side. As if the case isn't complicated enough, Scotia discovers that other Hispanic attorneys have been murdered lately, and she has to give some thought to whether or not she's on the trail of a serial killer.
DEATH ON A CASUAL FRIDAY is author Sharon Duncan's first novel, but a second Scotia MacKinnion novel, A DEEP BLUE FAREWELL, is already on the shelves. Before turning to full time writing, the author worked with linguistics and statistics. She is also an avid sailor.
Scotia MacKinnion is an engaging heroine. She has a very full, very real life in addition to her work as a private investigator. Her relationship with her mother-Jewel Moon, a 1960s activist and former flower child-is strained. Scotia also has a college-aged daughter living out of the home who, when left to her own devices, tends to fall into her grandmother's orbit a little too much for Scotia's comfort. Nick Anastazi, a maritime lawyer, is her lover and gets somewhat too involved in his cases and his own teenage daughter to be around as much as Scotia would want. Scotia's world is realized very completely and with lots of details that make the reader feel as though he or she is walking at Scotia's side through Friday Harbor, San Juan. Zelda and Scotia's gossip feels real, and when the women start in talking about people the reader doesn't know-yet-the ears immediately start prick up and wait for the dish to begin. The mystery is ably plotted and gives Scotia plenty to do while tracking down suspects and turning up more information on the murder victim than she'd wanted. The story also gives the author room to discuss the political issues that are obviously important to her.
Sharon Duncan's light romp will be a fun read for cozy lovers and mystery fans who like their action relatively bloodless and at a tolerable adrenaline level. Readers of Carolyn G. Hart and Dorothy Cannell should have a new series to enjoy.
- Mel Odom from Moore, OK USA
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