Review: GOOD WRITING MAKES GOOD READING
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 6, 2011
A Dead Red HeartBy R. P. DahlkeI'm a sucker for places I've never been and I'm overjoyed when I come across a setting/location that puts me there as R. P. Dahlke does with Modesto, Calif.Also I love a kick-butt heroine with a sense of humor and a good heart. Lalla Bains is all that and more. A former model turned crop-duster pilot (sounds weird, but good writing and plotting makes it plausible) Sheriff Caleb Stone is her long-time boyfriend. Their interactions are funny, aggravating or heart-rending. Lalla's family owns the crop dusting business. Another memorable character is her dad who fights against odds to keep the company going when there are those who'd like to see it go under. If it kills her, Lalla, a woman addicted to danger, won't let them have their way.The heart of the mystery is Billy Wayne Dobson. He's obsessed with Lalla. Caleb warns him to stay away from her. But his obsession is too great. Lalla goes to confront him and finds him dying, having been stabbed with scissors. He gasps out some last words. Naturally, feisty Lalla is suspect number one. She determines to find out who killed Billy and why. Take a look at this exchange:He (Caleb) gave me a piercing look. "Yeah, you. You got that race-horse out-of-the-gate look all over your face.""If you will remember, I'm the one who found Billy Wayne, and there are people who expect me to find his killer, namely Detective Rodney.""You got something in mind? Never mind. If I don't know, I can't get in trouble." At my surprised look, he said, "You love this stuff, don't you?"Flustered, I sputtered, "Caleb Stone, that's not fair! What am I supposed to do? He died at my feet and my reputation stays in purgatory until the guilty party is in jail.""Deny it all you want, but I know you, you got the bit in your mouth and the chase is on for you, isn't it?"I could feel a flush rising up my cheeks. He was right, of course. His words had touched something deep within me and it sounded very much like a starting gun and whinnying race horses. I never felt more alive than when I was this close to touching danger."Look," he said, "you've gotten more in one day than we have all week. It's not a blank check, so don't go overboard and do anything rash; no flashing your fake badge at people.""But, Caleb...," I could do without the badge, but it felt good to banter with him again."No buts on this."R.P. Dahlke (2011-06-05T21:26:50.694000+00:00). A Dead Red Heart (Kindle Locations 1900-1912). Dead Bear Publishing. Kindle Edition.