Rating: 2 1/2 stars
Susan Callisto left real estate law for politics. As a political consultant, Susan specializes in helping her candidates reach low-level office. Throwing herself into her work since her boyfriend, Det. Michael Benedict, walked away from their relationship, Susan is successful in terms of wins, but is struggling to stay above water financially.
When Charles Renfrow, scientist and owner of a biotech company on the brink of a breakthrough, approaches Susan and announces he’d like to run for mayor, she isn’t sure what to think. Not only is mayor a much higher office than she’s used to handling, but it’s questionable why a scientist would be seeking it. However, Renfrow’s $20,000 retainer makes the decision to help a lot easier.
It’s not long before Susan’s too-good-to-be-true thoughts about Renfrow begin to play out. After finding the body of Renfrow’s assistant and being attacked herself, Susan wonders what she got herself into. To complicate things even more, Michael is on the case and back in Susan’s life and her heart.
When she finds herself ensnared in a web of murder and fraud, and Michael suspects one of her other candidates, Susan does everything she can to prove him wrong and find the truth—although the truth turns out to be more than she can handle.
Susan Callisto doesn’t come off as an exceptionally gifted investigator or even an unlikely hero, so it will be interesting to see how the author develops her enough to carry a mystery series. The relationship between Michael and Susan could also use a shot in the arm.
Overall , Angela Gerst’s debut, and the first in the Susan Callisto Mystery series, is a solid freshman effort. With enough interesting characters to lend just the right amount of complexity to the story, Gerst weaves a tale of political ambitions, intrigue and power struggles that casts a guilty pall over just about everyone.
In the end, Ms. Gerst does a good job of pulling it all together, neatly tying up loose ends without making it feel too convenient or contrived.
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Paperback: 250 pages
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (September 6, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-1590589465