Review: Sarah Does a Blackmail
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 24, 2014
Sarah Woods, now a licensed detective, visits West Palm Beach to vacation with Max, her current love interest. They reunite happily--hugs, kisses, etc.--and then attend a penthouse party hosted by Max's wealthy boss. While there, Sarah meets several friends and acquaintances of the host who reveal tensions and animosities among the host, family members, and guests. One guest who does not is Max's former lover, but she prompts Sarah's jealousy.The boss, a heavy smoker, suffers a fatal heart attack at the party. Bad luck for him, but not for Sarah, for his widow, in need of a private detective with no local connections, hires Sarah to find her blackmailer. A reader might be surprised that Sarah is not hired to investigate the cause of the husband's death, but the barely grieving widow is unconcerned; no autopsy, and hubby's remains are cremated. The husband's death and wife's need to find the blackmailer simply occur concurrently. Or do they?Sarah calls upon her mentor Carter to help her find the blackmailer. They interview various parties, build a list of suspects (alienated daughter, personal assistant, husband and wife pair, etc.), gather evidence, develop theories, test them, and (no spoilers allowed). Along the way, Sarah surfaces an unlikely love affair, uncovers a missing half sister, and struggles with her feelings after finding her lover and his old flame together under suspicious circumstances.As in other Sarah Woods novels, the story moves along at a fast pace, with solid dialogue and good descriptions, suspense building as fresh clues pop up and new suspects appear. Highly recommended, as always.