Brilliant Disguise
by Mary Anne Edwards
Series: The Charlie McClung Mysteries, #1
Genre: Traditional Mystery
Cover Designer: Jasmine Woodworth
Release Date: January 20, 2014
Detective Charlie McClung no longer finds his job fulfilling and has given up finding that "someone" his granny promised he would find. So he leaves behind the big city and his close-knit family and takes a job in a small town police department in Georgia, resigned to live a quiet life in solitude.
Things change when he meets Marian Selby while investigating the mysterious death of her best friend. But Marian swore never to love again after the death of her husband 11 years ago. What seems to be a suicide turns into a tangled web of deceit, corruption, and complicated shadows.
Can the two of them come to grips with their feelings for each other before the killer closes in on them?
Perry’s eyes narrowed as he studied McClung’s movements. He could be bad news even though he seems okay. I still don’t trust the jerk. If he would quit, move on, die. He tilted his head side to side rolling around the idea. Hmmm, dying would be the ideal situation. Maybe a drug bust gone wrong could be arranged. The chief smiled.
What a great read! Brilliant Disguise had everything a traditional mystery should, as well as a sweet romance that added an additional dimension to the story. Taking place in the 1980s, Brilliant Disguise also does a great job transporting you back to that time, when a cordless phone was as mobile as a phone got, and new neighbors were welcomed with a basket of homemade goodies.
Charlie and Miriam were just great together, giving each other just what they needed to let love in and start living. Miriam has experienced heartache and has had a hard time letting go of the past. Charlie would rather be alone than settle for a love that isn't as deep and meaningful as what he has seen between his parents and grandparents. And when a murder brings these two together it is just the catalyst that these two need to recognize that maybe everything they needed is right in front of their eyes.
They mystery itself was good and kept me guessing until close to the end just who was behind things. The characters were colorful, and the detail in the book about situations and places really drew me in as a reader. I really loved Miriam’s friend Joan, as well as the “computer geeks” down at the station. And it was fun to watch Charlie and Miriam’s feelings develop towards each other as the mystery unfolded around them, especially as the mystery started to unravel and danger sets in.
This was a great start to what looks to be the beginning of a fun new mystery series. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Edwards and seeing what she has in store next for Charlie and Miriam!
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
I have been married for 33 years to the most practically perfect man, Jeff. We enjoy traveling and watching mysteries on TV. We are also a part of the drama team at our church. Funny thing, he writes all the skits, I just act. I am active in Sisters in Crime Atlanta Chapter and sit on the advisory board of Rockdale Cares, Inc., a non-profit advocacy group for the developmentally challenged.
I began writing in high school but not seriously until 1999. I write traditional mysteries and my biggest influences are Agatha Christie, Anne Perry, Caroline Graham, Elizabeth Peters, and my family. I have had short stories published in Evangel and The Associate Reformed Presbyterian magazines. I have published a collection of eclectic short stories titled, My Favorite Work of Art.
My first manuscript, Useless Beauty, is waiting for me to breathe life into it. It was put on hold because my second manuscript, Brilliant Disguise, was begging to be written. It is the first in the Detective Charlie McClung mysteries. “Brilliant Disguise” was released on January 21, 2014. The second book, “A Good Girl”, was released on September 23, 2014, and the third book, “Criminal Kind”, will be released in April, 2015. There are seven more to follow in the series.
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