Flowers From the Grave is a bang-up little chiller

Reviewed first for author Title: .Flowers From the Grave Genre: Action Thriller Author: . Wendy Laing http://www.wendylaing.com Line/Publisher: . Crystal Dream Release Date: . 2002 ISBN: 1-59146-073-5 Entertaining Read 5 stars Highly Recommended The Review: Inspector Jane Doe is on the trail of a serial rapist/murderer. Set on the South Coast along Great Ocean Road Victoria, Australia this tale follows Jane in her pursuit of the madman before she almost becomes his next prey. Most of the murdered women have been prostitutes, however it does not take too long before Jane discovers murders of two women who do not fit the pattern. When Jane is attacked by the vengeful psychopath she goes first to hospital and then to Cliff Cottage to convalesce. It is while there on Shipwreck Coast that Jane begins to really unravel this baffling case. Jane is astonished to realize that her chief source of help and inspiration into a long unsolved matter is what appears to be a ghost. The ghost of a man whose wife died at the hands of the man who is now trying to kill Jane herself. Adding to Jane’s turmoil is the fact that her sweetie is less than enamored of her police work. A wreath of dead flowers, lighthouses, a long unsolved mystery and a strawberry birth mark all figure in this gripping tale springing from the prolific intellect of Wendy Laing. Writer Laing’s excellent research methodology prior to commencing any of her tales once again holds her in good stead. Added to that careful groundwork is Laing’s obvious love for the beauty she describes in her Aussie homeland. Flowers From the Grave is a bang-up little chiller sure to grasp the reader right from the opening as Jane confronts the maniacal murderer in a dreary warehouse where Jane nearly loses her life. Evocative of the tension dispensed by Martine Jardin in her Blueprint For Revenge writer Laing presents a cleverly wrought work filled with the sounds of the sea, the scent of liquor on the murderer’s breath, terror filled moments broken only through the ministrations of an other worldly figure and good police work. As in Melinda Rucker’s Ghostly Acts the preternatural is an integral and wholly believable part of the work. The writing found in writer Laing’s enthralling chronology is coruscating, well thought out and downright exciting to read. Filled with captivating settings, down to earth dialogue, fiduciary interplay between the characters and a winning plot theme Flowers From the Grave is an exciting read meant to be savored. Tension between Jane and Oliver is something we can believe as the pair struggle to deal with their caring feelings for one another set against the danger of Jane’s work and Oliver’s understandable wish that Jane not be placed in perilous circumstances. The madman murderer is a plain scary critter. Watch those red herrings. Laing is getting good at laying down false trail sure to suck in the unaware as she crafts a riveting narrative. Reviewed by: molly martin http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mollymartin Criterion use for review: __+_____ Original Story Idea? __+_____ Does the first sentence, paragraph, page hook your attention immediately? ___yes____ Is there a plot? a subplot? Do they tie in to make the story complete? ___yes____ Are transitions handled so the flow of reading isn't interrupted? ___+____ Do the main characters seem real? ___+____ Does the dialogue between characters seem natural? ___+____ Conflict Present? Was the conflict believable? Was it able to sustain the book? ___+____ Was motivation logical? Believable? Could you see yourself reacting that way in that situation? ___+____ Was the climax believable? Could you envision this really happening? ___+____ Did the conclusion seem a natural outcome?