Publication Date: July 27, 2013
[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B00E7FTFK0″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/517YeaKHCgL._SL160_.jpg” width=”100″]F6 is back in an exciting new novel! This time F6 is sailed the Med as Suzy Barr. Suzy is playing the role of a rich socialite on the yacht as a guest of the owner. She’s bored to tears with the inactivity and depending on a backup she knows that she can’t trust when Crystal, the femme fatale aiming for their host, ends up in Suzy’s bed dead. Can Suzy trust dashing detective Luke Nolan? How much should she tell him and what about handsome Alex Knight? What does the man that F6 hoped to know better have to do with this case?
The author, Diana X Dunn, gave me a copy of this novel in exchange for my review.
One of the great things about writing a blog such as this one is discovering new favorite authors I might not have comes across left to my own devices. Diana X. Dunn is one such author. Earlier in the year she sent an e-mail asking for my review of her first children’s novel and also her first adult novel. Thus far, I have loved everything this author has written but [easyazon-link asin=”B00E7FTFK0″ locale=”us”]Murder Times Two (An F6 Novel)[/easyazon-link] goes beyond in quality anything released by this author so far.
In [easyazon-link asin=”B00CTWARPK” locale=”us”]Just This Once (An F6 Novel)[/easyazon-link], (you can see my review by clicking here) we got to know F6 in her many identities. None of them truly her, but all with an undercurrent of how this character lives her daily life. Dunn establishes F6 easily at the start of the novel for new readers and then embarks on a fascinating mystery story line featuring new hunk Luke Nolan. Will they or won’t they? The sexual tension is strong in these characters and the bond is immediate and yet not a difficult one to buy. They’re two attractive people, thrust together by fate and tragedy, and they both have an intelligence that connects easily. Suzy (the current F6 identity) cannot help but be the prime suspect when the victim is found in her bed but Dunn doesn’t belabor the suspicion but instead, gets right into the investigation. Of course, F6 isn’t officially on the scene and can’t give any help that isn’t requested; so what better way to accomplish that goal than to cozy up to the man in charge? Not such a hard task. To confide in you readers, Luke Nolan may make my fictional boyfriend list. I really enjoy the way Dunn writes characters in seeming to give a full picture and we do get the essence of who they are. We get to know them even better with each passing page.
It is well known to readers of this blog that I am not a fan of the catty women in fiction. Crystal is one of the cattiest but I think Dunn paints us a different picture of this character in that we suspect without Dunn outright telling us why she is the way she is. She wants Max for security. A badly coveted security. Her life would be easy if she had Max, the host, and his money twined around her finger and she will stop at nothing to see that happen. She is certainly mean and quite manipulative but it isn’t without explanation in a sense.
The light mystery story that follows is logical and yet fascinating. Astute readers will have their suspicions from the start but there are no sure things in mystery novels and the plotline twists offered by Dunn in the narrative are inspired. Dunn’s humor shines in [easyazon-link asin=”B00E7FTFK0″ locale=”us”]Murder Times Two (An F6 Novel)[/easyazon-link] leaving the reader with an eminently satisfying story and the feel of having read a truly solid mystery. The active flow of the story line is perfection and will keep the reader entranced with the need not only to know who killed Crystal but where things will go next with Suzy. Despite her lack of stability and bond with her identity, a reader will easily bond with this character.
There is a carry over from the first novel in the character of Rex. Stalker/Admirer, he doesn’t play much of a role in [easyazon-link asin=”B00E7FTFK0″ locale=”us”]Murder Times Two (An F6 Novel)[/easyazon-link] other than in passing so his mention doesn’t spoil anything in the novel. What is does do is set up great anticipation of the role he’ll play in future novels and I, for one, can’t wait to see it.
If you like JD Robb, John Sandford, Harlan Coben, Robert Crais or any of the mystery greats, pick [easyazon-link asin=”B00E7FTFK0″ locale=”us”]Murder Times Two (An F6 Novel)[/easyazon-link] up today!
If this sounds like a book for you, you can order it through Amazon.com by clicking on the image or book title anywhere in this review. Links for Amazon.ca and Amazon.co.uk appear below.
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For more information about Diana X. Dunn and her work, visit her website and the Distania Chronicles blog. You can connect with her on Amazon, Goodreads and Facebook and Twitter @AuthorDXDunn.