Review: Fire Pages reviews Giving Up the Ghost
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 6, 2012
The Three Things I Love About "Giving Up the Ghost"1) Every character is fully developedNo matter how big or small the role a character plays, Marilyn gives each character her full attention. Take Jill Leverette as an example. She is not a main character, but we know that Jill is married to Fred, had an affair with Cam (our murder victim), Theo (Jill and Fred's daughter) caught Jill and Cam together and resents her mother, Fred is having his own affair with a coworker... The family dynamic for these supporting characters is intriguing, and it's because of Marilyn's attention to detail in character development. As a result, it's impossible not to get drawn into the drama that's boiling in Chrissom Harbor.2)  Everyone is a suspect and capable of murderMarilyn doesn't hold back when it comes to murder suspects. Every man, woman, and child are considered suspects. Marilyn slowly reveals the secrets the residents of Chrissom Harbor are trying to hide, complicating the plot, adding to the suspense, and drawing you deeper into this small community. I also enjoyed how Marilyn explores the darker side of simple, primal emotions like jealousy, friendship, and love. With Cam being a flirt and a ladies man, the women of the town loved him yet were secretly jealous when he showed affection to another. Cam was also a business man who made sure that he came out ahead in every deal, making his friends and business partners jealous of his money and resentment towards his selfish behavior.3) Gabbie is a smart, curious protagonistI loved playing detective with Gabbie in this novel. Gabbie is smart, a teacher, and really cares for the community of Chrisson Harbor even though she arrived not too long ago. After agreeing to help Cam find out who murdered him, she gets to know her fellow residents. Gabbie has a way of asking the right questions - vague with a hint of curiosity - and playing up the fact that she's new in town. She is a great friend to Cam, a good detective, and fits into Chrissom Harbor perfectly.Overall, Marilyn is my favorite mystery author hands down. Her writing style is easy to read, making it easy to keep track of all the characters in the novel, the pacing is consistent, and the plot perfectly unfolds,  revealing the murderer at just the right time. I highly recommend Giving Up the Ghost.Zee, Fire Pages