Liz and Garret Adams sailed to Galveston, Texas to celebrate their nephew’s college graduation. Instead, they scrambled to find a killer.
Liz and Garret Adams sailed to Galveston, Texas to celebrate their nephew’s college graduation. Tragedy shattered their joy when Celeste Rogers’ body was found on the beach a few hours before the ceremony. David Devlin, their nephew and the victim’s live-in boyfriend, was suspect number one. Suffering from amnesia, he was unable to provide an alibi. Torn between head and heart, Liz struggled for answers. Her psychic gift failed when she needed it most, to save the young man who was like a son. Desperate to prove his innocence, she focused a guilty lens on all the players, including her sister, Jenny, David’s mother, Geoff, the new man in her sister's life and David's former girlfriend.9
Excerpt
The dark figure slipped out from behind the far side of the stairway. With panther-like stealth, the predator sprang. Celeste tumbled forward, landing on her back. She screamed, but no sound could be heard. Frantic, gasping for air, Celeste flailed at the crushing weight on her chest. The hooded attacker fended off the blows, maintaining control with a straddle. Two hands gripped her throat and squeezed. Celeste clawed at the vice, but it tightened, like a noose. Hot, garlic breath grazed her cheek as a raspy voice whispered in her ear, “Your father is waiting,” and the light led her home.
It is an excellent addition to what appears to be an interesting series. The setting is Galveston TX and she gets the anbiance right.
Liz has physic powers that she can't control and really doesn't really understand. That gives another layer to the mystery and makes her more relateable.
Very enjoyable, suggest you check out the others in the series.
Reviewed by Judith Hanhisalo
1/26/2018
Murder In Galveston is a good, fast-paced read. Marilyn Dalla Valle presents the reader with an interesting cast of characters, intricate plot twists and an unexpected denouement. The protagonist is Liz Adams, a woman in early middle age and her husband Garrett, who are living on a sailboat. They are in Galveston to attend the college graduation of Liz’ nephew.
Other characters include Jenny, Liz’ sister; Danny, Jenny’s son and the graduate; Celeste and Stephanie, his girlfriends; Geoff, Jenny’s boyfriend; Celeste’s mother, Lillian.
When Celeste turns up murdered, all fingers are pointed at Danny. The police are happy with their suspect and not inclined to look further. Liz, however, knows her nephew and refuses to believe that he could such a thing. Using her talent at detection and her unwanted but very real psychic gift, she sets out to solve the murder.
There are a number of side plots, including one involving Jenny’s boyfriend Geoff to whom there’s more than it seems. Lillian, Celeste’s mother, adds complications. Stephanie has her own story.
The book reads quickly and keeps the reader involved. I do have some stylistic quibbles. The author over describes at times. For instance, when a man sits up in bed we don’t need to know all about his pillow cases. There are a few clunky uses of verbs. These flaws don’t unduly distract the reader and don’t damage the story at all. If you like an engrossing and fast moving mystery, Murder in Galveston is for you.
She was quite capable of taking care of herself...She appreciated everything he was doing for her and the Grandmothers Four, but she needed his help, not for him to take over.
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