Review of, Underbelly, by Karen Crawford

I’m typing this at dawn, when the sun is but a freshly cracked egg peaking above the tree line. Those golden rays are steadily reaching into the shadows hiding among the oaks, maples, and junipers, sweeping away the darkness and mystery of the night.  

Mystery is such a tantalizing facet of life, making it more terrifying and delicious at the same time. This brings me to my latest read. A mystery/thriller by Karen Crawford.

The Gist:

A popular Las Vegas hotel and casino is undergoing a billion-dollar renovation, and a killer is operating in the construction zone. The Square is open for guests, but they are unaware that a predator is lurking below the facade of luxury. One woman’s death will draw attention to the murders and spark an investigation. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department retired detective Taryn Winter, her former partner, Daniel Brady and FBI Special Agent Jenae Shannon are on the trail, risking everything to bring a killer to justice. But their opponent has become obsessed with one of them and is on the hunt. Will they find the killer first or be the next victims?

My Thoughts:

Karen Crawford’s experience working in the Criminal Justice System shines through in this gripping murder mystery. Though the twisty, well-orchestrated plot held me captive, it was the main protagonist that left a positive lasting impression.

Retired Detective Taryn Winter is pulled back into the seedy undercurrent of Las Vegas when her former partner, Detective Daniel Brady, finds himself up against a killer targeting the oppressed. Her strength, skills, and confidence have propelled her to success and enabled her to withstand the rigors of the job for many years. While these are admirable traits, what I applaud most is her refreshing vulnerability and reliance on others.

Taryn isn’t another just carbon copy, buck stops here, gunslinger. She doesn’t blaze through life and death crisis with the unflappable demeanor that can cause eye spasms from constant rolling. Those characters have their place, but realism is so appealing. And neither is she a reclusive alcoholic basement dweller, whose diet consists of take-out and canned pasta.

Taryn wrestles with the trauma that comes with the territory, but draws resilience from the unwavering support of her husband and a got your back bond with Daniel.

Taryn’s compassion for the downtrodden has given her great allies on the streets. She’s considered a good cop, winning their trust.  

I recommend this book to those who enjoy a more human take on the world of law enforcement.

Meet Karen:

Karen worked as a probation officer and supervisor for 20 years. During her career, she spent countless hours with criminal offenders, delving into the details that make them tick and gaining insight about human behavior. Her passion and drive for helping people and promoting best practices in criminal justice earned her numerous awards during her tenure, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. Karen has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, with a Minor in Psychology, and a Master’s Degree in Justice Management. She has always championed those who serve, and those who are served, in the criminal justice system. Now, she lets her imagination run wild, writing about the other side of the law. Karen lives in Arizona with her husband, dog and cat. 

A Collection of Six Word Stories

“What happened to the remote batteries?”

The silent anticipation of another adventure!

Review of, The Lilac Notebook, by Carol Balawyder

It’s not often that I review books by the same author consecutively. But here I find myself unable to resist. You can check out my review of Carol’s, Warning Signs, in my previous post.

So what’s it all about?

Three university friends. One in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, another out for revenge and a third murdered.
Holly Baranov is in the beginning stages of fast advancing Alzheimer’s at 40. Unwilling to care for her, Holly’s husband leaves her. While frightened to be on her own, Holly is relieved to be freed from the clutches of a controlling husband.
She moves out of her large home in the middle-class west end section of Montreal and into a small apartment near McGill University where she enrols in a poetry course in the hopes of stimulating her brain.
There she meets Kim Harris, a thirty-something beautiful but damaged law student and Amelia Rose, a twenty-year-old pole dancer in a seedy nightclub who wants nothing more than to graduate, teach high school, marry and raise a family. Both Kim and Amelia were victims of incest, though each see her perpetrator differently. Kim chose law so as to right the justice she was denied while Amelia is angry at the justice system for separating her from a flawed father who was nonetheless her whole world.
When Amelia is found strangled in her apartment, Holly becomes involved in the investigation, both as prime suspect and as a means to defend herself.
Detective Alice Vireovich and her rookie partner, Detective Dan Cardoni, currently investigating the murders of two middle aged men, are also tasked with investigating Amelia’s murder: They come to believe all three murders may be linked because of a Van Gogh Starry Night postcard found at the scene of all three crimes.
Holly’s health worsens quickly. She is transferred to a support facility. Along with her fading memory, Holly is also losing her ability to speak and write. She is uncertain whether she killed Amelia as her friend Kim, ex-husband Roy and the police suspect.
A niece (whom Holly doesn’t recognize and whose motives she distrusts for suddenly wanting to help her) visits Holly regularly and reads Holly’s notes about Amelia’s investigation. This eventually leads the investigation away from her as they seem to implicate Kim.
Kim’s law teacher at McGill agrees to take on the case pro bono, motivated by her interest in litigating whether damaging effects of childhood abuse pose the question whether murder can ever be justified in such cases.
The expanding investigation leads to more findings relating to the postcard found next to Amelia’s body, bringing into view a surprising new suspect.

My Takeaway:

The substance of any great story is relatable characters that inspire genuine emotional connections or reactions. At least for the main antagonists/protagonists.

Here we have three women from different backgrounds and stages of life, yet all have been abused in some form or degree by those who should have been their biggest supporters. The abuse by a loved and trusted one is vile beyond words.

Carol adroitly portrays the varying coping mechanisms utilized by each of these victims.

Though I felt tremendous sorrow for all of these unfortunate women, I found my heart going out to Holly the most. Yes, she had the advantage of growing up in a loving home, but she won me over with her kindness and courageous resilience.

Holly continued her investigation of Amelia’s death even as dusk descended on her memory; even while fighting valiantly to retain a shred of independence. She always found something to be thankful for, whether it was freedom from her controlling husband or the preservation of her sense of smell.

Again, I’d like to offer Carol a nod for creating a suspenseful read without resorting to gory details.  

Meet Carol:

I hold an undergraduate degree with a major on English Literature and a graduate degree in Criminology. I taught Criminology in Police Technology and Corrections programs in Montreal. My area of expertise was in drug addiction and I worked in a methadone clinic with heroin addicts. I helped set up a writing workshop for women in prison and worked in halfway homes and drug rehab centers.

My short stories have appeared in Room Magazine, The Canadian Anthology of Fiction, Mindful.or, Between the Lines and Carte Blanche. I was awarded an honorary mention for a play submitted to The Canadian Playwright Competition.

I manage a blog where I write about: Women Nobel Prize Winners for Literature, Famous Writers’ Desks, Femmes Fatales, India, Book Reviews and my dog, Bau. http://www.carolbalawyder.com/blog

Review of, Warning Signs, by Carol Balawyder

As I gaze out into this cold October morning, my mind goes back to yesterday. Yesterday, was a record breaker for the number of people lining up for breakfast at a community outreach organization I volunteer for. While it’s good to see those in need using the services available to them, it’s a disturbing indicator concerning the state of things.

I’m so thankful for agencies that exist to help, and for those who dedicate their lives to correcting the imbalances in society, while protecting the vulnerable.

This brings me to my latest read. That core belief, correcting imbalances and protecting the vulnerable is a staple when it comes to the main protagonist, Homicide Detective, Darren Van Ray.

What’s it about?

Eugene’s research into his criminal mind is not about the why, but how to prevent his horrific crimes. Angie, a young woman starving for passion sees Eugene as her saviour from a lonely life of caring for her heroin addicted mother. How far is she willing to go in order to save her relationship with Eugene and his promise for a future together? Detective Van Ray is out on a vindictive mission as he attempts to solve the murders of young girls in Youth Protection. Their lives collide in a mixture of mistrust, obsession and ignoring the warning signs. A psychological thriller about human frailty and loneliness.

Just My Thoughts:

I’ve always been fascinated by what actually makes people tick, so to speak. After years of working with the Eugene’s, in a different capacity than Darren, I’ve honestly come no closer to really understanding what drives them to such despicable acts. The traits mentioned in this book do align with what I’ve witnessed. Their outward behaviors are readily observable, but to look into a pair of windowless eyes and discern what’s stirring within their murky depths is a daunting task.

 That being said, Carol’s experience and knowledge shines through in this gripping journey into the mind of a serial killer and the man bent for leather to stop him. The lack of overly graphic violence was appreciated, as I don’t think these scenarios add any value to the story.

As the title foretells, this read is far more about the back room of conscious thought. It’s where the rats scurry around, gnawing away the innocence of childhood dreams and innate needs for love and acceptance. The very things that may create these monsters. And those denizens of darkness do not necessarily produce serial killers. Some are driven to find love and acceptance wherever they can, while others seek meaning by keeping the wolves at bay. It’s Carol’s intriguing presentation of a genre that many choose to fill with the gore of the physical acts themselves that kept me turning those pages.

I highly recommend this book to those who possess a curiosity for human behavior yet prefer a comfortable pace between a mild shiver and a sleepless night.

Introducing Carol:

I hold an undergraduate degree with a major on English Literature and a graduate degree in Criminology. I taught Criminology in Police Technology and Corrections programs in Montreal. My area of expertise was in drug addiction and I worked in a methadone clinic with heroin addicts. I helped set up a writing workshop for women in prison and worked in halfway homes and drug rehab centers.

My short stories have appeared in Room Magazine, The Canadian Anthology of Fiction, Mindful.or, Between the Lines and Carte Blanche. I was awarded an honorary mention for a play submitted to The Canadian Playwright Competition.

I manage a blog where I write about: Women Nobel Prize Winners for Literature, Famous Writers’ Desks, Femmes Fatales, India, Book Reviews and my dog, Bau. http://www.carolbalawyder.com/blog

It’s Been Ten Years Already!

Those who have known me for awhile may be aware that I was once a Correctional Officer. Today I received a ‘memory’ notification on Facebook, dating back to September 28, 2013. This was my last day at working at Kingston Penitentiary. The prison closed for good just a few days later, on September 30th.

Built in 1835, Kingston Pen (or KP) was one of the oldest continuously operating prisons in the world. Today it’s a major tourist attraction, our version of Alcatraz, and plenty of movies and television shows have been filmed there. I often see shots from KP in popular movies.

However, no movie scene, or guided tour can ever recapture the true ambience of an active prison. I wrote and posted this tribute below on the day that heavy steel door slammed shut behind me for good.

Today, I closed the door on 178 years of history. I’ve been part of the last thirteen years of those. As I drive away from the walled fortress for the last time, ghosts appear in my rearview mirror. No, not the spirits of the countless who perished behind those walls; these phantoms are memories. Memories of things I’ve witnessed and been part of. Incidents and characters too many to name. Some hilarious, others mundane, many terrifying and tragic; a large segment just plain bizarre. Enough ghosts for a lifetime. Goodbye KP . . . it’s been quite a ride!

Looking up at the ‘Dome’ inside KP.

The school and workshop area. Note the staircase, it’s made of limestone