Review: Entertaining, if willing to overlook minor annoyances
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 12 15, 2011
A DEAD RED HEART, Dead Bear Publishing, an e-book by R. P. Dahlke is a murder mystery with a woman protagonist the Spanish would refer to as a real testarudo- stubborn to a fault.Lalla Bains is a twice divorced, forty- year-old former model who has returned to Modesto to run her father's successful dust-cropping business. She has an inclination to want to solve crimes and, when a man who has a crush on her is killed, she is a suspect and can't leave the investigation alone. The crime takes place in an alley behind Mr. Kim's restaurant in a rather undesirable section of town. From this point, the plot evolves with numerous suspects besides Lalla. These include Kim, who is a former Vietnamese freedom fighter, his lovely daughter, Grace, a nebulous shadow figure, and a pilot that Lalla fired. A number of other characters are important to the story, and most are Lalla's former classmates or other acquaintances. The exceptions are Detective Rodney, Pippa Roulette, a beautiful new addition to the police department, and Sheriff Caleb Stone, an ex-marine hunk who is the new love of Lalla's life.The story is based on a plot I have not previously encountered and follows along at a brisk pace that readers no doubt will enjoy. The protagonist exhibits not only rebellious tendencies, but often downright ridiculous actions and police procedures as pictured, are quite removed from normally acceptable action. Additionally, manuscript proofing- errors increase gradually to become a sizable number in the last third of the book.All in all, however, if a reader is willing to overlook the problems described, they will find a few entertaining hours. Reviewed by John H. Manhold, award winning fiction/non-fiction author.NOTE:I have been informed that the author has published an edited copy that should measurably increase enjoyment.3/30/14 JHM.