Book Review - Lay Death at Her Door by Elizabeth Buhmann

Lay Death at Her Door
Elizabeth Buhmann
Print Length: 315 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1940215005
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing, LLC (May 22, 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00CYMBUXI

When the story opens we learn that Kate Cranbook sent the wrong man to prison for rape and murder twenty years ago. Now there is new evidence that proves he didn't do it, but instead of admitting that she was wrong, she continues to try to cover the truth.

Kate, who grew up in Africa, now lives in Virginia, on an estate bought with money left to her father by his mother, but Kate is discontented with her life there. She longs for more, especially more from the man she had decided she has to have, no matter the cost. She also wants to escape from the iron hand her father uses to control her, and she longs for more independence.

At first, I forgave Kate for her poor choices and totally self-absorbed behaviors that drive the story. After all, she was traumatized by the alleged rape she experienced and the murder she witnessed. However, as the story progressed, I struggled more and more with caring about her, until eventually there was nothing to like about her. At least not for me, and I noted that there was one reviewer on Amazon who felt the same way. That reviewer wrote, "This is a dark, and deeply disturbing story, with a 'heroine' who is extremely difficult to care about. There were points where I truly despised Kate."

For most of the book, the writing was well crafted and kept me engaged, but the ending did stretch credibility for me. There was one surprise that was cleverly hidden, yet hinted at, that was very well done, and the truth of what happened that fateful night twenty years ago was another surprise.

Fans of a new style of story telling that is very dark and focused on characters that that challenge us to like them will probably enjoy this book. Perhaps those who are loyal followers of the television shows like "Hannibal".

Elizabeth Buhmann is originally from Virginia, where her first novel is set, and like her main character, she lived several years abroad while growing up. She graduated magna cum laude from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, and has a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh. For twenty years, she worked for the Texas Attorney General as a researcher and writer on criminal justice and crime victim issues. Elizabeth now lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, dog, and two chickens. She is an avid gardener, loves murder mysteries, and has a black sash in Tai Chi.

Elizabeth will be my guest on Wednesday to share a bit more about herself and how the book came about. Please do try to come back and make her feel welcome.

New E-Book - Open Season

I am thrilled that my mystery, Open Season, is now available as an e-book. It has been a long wait, but the publisher, Venture Galleries, has done a wonderful job with the editing and formatting, and Dany Russell made a terrific new cover for it.

The hardcover version of this book was quite popular and received some terrific reviews. It is always quite a thrill for an author to get such reviews, yet also a bit humbling, too. At least it is for me, and I am so thankful to all the people who have read and enjoyed my books. I remember when I was just a young girl and decided to be a writer because I wanted to create stories that touched people the way the books I read touched me. I never thought that childhood dream would become reality, but it has.

Wow!

My publisher has a blog piece about my book as part of their promotional campaign, and you can read that HERE.

But do come back to read this excerpt from the book. This is the first of what the press will dub The Mall Murders.

Mel unlocked the door to the maintenance room and flicked the switch on the wall for light. He still had fifteen minutes until his shift ended at midnight, but he didn’t figure anyone would notice if he bugged out early. There was only one other person left in the whole mall anyway. And by the time the security guard made his pass through here, it would be well past clock out time anyway.

He pushed his tool box into its designated place on the dented metal shelves with a harsh scrape, thankful that he’d had a light workload tonight. Wouldn’t have to lose time with a shower. He could just zip out of here and head straight to his favorite watering hole. If he was lucky, he could pick up some good shit on the way. And Rita would be there with some good stuff of her own.

After locking the door to the storage room, Mel set off at a brisk pace, his boots thumping hollowly in the empty corridor.

He stood in the shadowed doorway down the hall, watching. He’d watched unseen before, waiting for the right moment. He’d long ago quit worrying about  the wisdom of what he’d planned. It was the only choice he had left.
 
He eased the door closed and listened to the thud of footsteps draw near, then pass.
 
It was time.
 
A rush of adrenaline sent his heart on a wild, erratic riff, and a sudden storm of panic threatened to overwhelm him. It was no simple act he was about to perform. All kinds of things could go wrong.
 
Maybe he should leave. Forget the whole crazy scheme.
 
No.
 
The sound from the hallway ceased. He cracked the door open and saw the man stooped over the water fountain.
 
Go! Now!

Mel whirled at the unexpected creak of the men’s room door opening behind him. Who the hell was skulking around down here at this hour? He relaxed when he recognized the man standing a few feet away.

“You scared the piss outa me.” Mel wiped drips of water from his chin. “What’re you doing sneaking around here, anyway?”

The man didn’t answer, and the lure of Danny’s Grill finally overcame Mel’s curiosity. If the guy didn’t want to talk, so be it. Bastard never was very friendly. Not even when Mel offered to share some of his best shit. If anything, the guy had been downright unfriendly since then. So screw him.

The decision to act was made somewhere deep in his subconscious. He lunged, whipping the weapon around Mel’s neck in one fluid move and pulling it tight.