Release Date: December 2/2014
Acquired: Print ARC provided by Publisher
Goodreads: ADD
Purchase: Amazon/IndieBound/Book Depository
Master of mystery Phillip Margolin transcends his traditional territory in this new and different book, a haunting thriller inspired by an unforgettable photograph.
Visiting an art museum displaying a retrospective of acclaimed photographer Kathy Moran’s work, aspiring novelist Stacey Kim is stunned by the photo at the center of the show—the famous “Woman with a Gun,” which won a Pulitzer Prize and launched the photographer’s career. Shot from behind, the enigmatic black and white image is a picture of a woman in a wedding dress, standing on the shore at night, facing the sea. Behind her back, she holds a six-shooter.
The image captures Stacey’s imagination, raising a host of compelling questions. Has the woman killed her husband on their wedding night? Is she going to commit suicide? Is she waiting for someone she plans to kill? Obsessed with finding answers, Stacey discovers that the woman in the photograph is Megan Cahill, suspected of killing her husband, millionaire Raymond Cahill, with the six-shooter on their wedding night. But the murder was never solved.
Drawn deeper into the case, Stacey finds that everyone involved has a different opinion of Megan’s culpability. But the one person who may know the whole story—Kathy Moran—isn’t talking. Stacey must find a way to get to the reclusive photographer or the truth may never see the light of day.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ah, the good ol' story within a story. There have been many times when this type of narrative has worked for me, but alas, this was not one of those times. Woman With a Gun was rather dull, and read more like a script than a thriller novel filled with interesting main leads, and suspicious, yet intriguing, side characters. The characters I met in this novel were one-dimensional and cliched. I wanted to feel closer to them, but there was just nothing to grasp on to.
I want to make a special mention of the scenery because that was one of the few things that were a win for me. Phillip Margolin definitely has a knack for creating visually appealing scenes, and I had no trouble at all placing myself firmly on the ground, sand, grass, he described. He won over my mind's eye, that's for sure. The rest I could have done without. Especially when the storyline began bouncing back and forth in time. You're asking, so I'm telling you that I particularly liked the sections that Jack Booth occupied. I was amused by his attitude, in terms of life, the current murder case, and even his raging hormones. I was content to spend the entire time reliving his past, and finding out how he was connected in the grand scheme of things.
In terms of thrillers, I wouldn't go so far as to categorize Woman With a Gun as such, it was more of a mild mystery. I wasn't sitting at the edge of my seat in anticipation, nor could I put an end to the eye-rolling caused by some of the cheesy dialogue. If you're looking for a narrative to fly through without having to think too hard, I would definitely recommend this one.
Recommended for Fans of: Mystery, Contemporary, Crime Fiction, Robert B. Parker.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read all about David on his Goodreads Author Page HERE.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank-you to Trish from TLC Book Tours for hosting this tour, and to Hodder & Stoughton for sending me a print copy to review! CLICK HERE to follow the rest of the tour.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts as part of the tour.
ReplyDeletewear sunglasses and seek out the shade when you are outdoors. Prefer to stand to the shady side of the area if possible that would help you to stay away from the negative effects of sunlight.
ReplyDelete