Unkindness of Ravens

by: Kathleen Tracy

Published by: Paribus Press

Reviewed by Jill Stovall

Sam Perry moved to Palm Springs to get away from tragic stories. Reporting the latest scam involving weighted bingo balls was a far cry from her job with the LA Times and her involvement with the gruesome scenes of serial killers. Life was simple, if not boring and lonely, and her two adorable little dogs kept her company as she began to sort out her life.

But, when her new editor called with a fresh murder assignment, Samantha became embroiled in such a bizarre mystery that she could just not resist the challenge. Coincidentally her childhood friend Joe had come for a surprise visit. He and Sam had been a team since high school. He came out of the closet early on and Sam accepted his friendship unconditionally. Joe has a few secrets that he hasn't shared yet though. He insists on tagging along as she tries to find out the details about the murder victim so that she can write a respectful summary of his life. This human story is important--an integrity in journalism that is characteristic of Samantha Perry.

In the process Sam unravels a dark and twisted family secret about a local actress who is involved in politics. But murder is not the only thing that gets unraveled. Samantha has some tangled emotional issues involving romance and discovers some truths about herself that she has avoided exploring in the past. When she becomes delightfully attracted to Ellen Konrad, the beautiful and mysterious actress/candidate, her affections are returned and a love story blossoms as well. Meanwhile Joe, who is generally more interested in designer accessories and beauty makeovers, plays a significant role in solving the mystery as he gently nudges Sam into the arms of Ellen.

Although this book is self-published, the writing and editing are excellent. Sadly, the drab and unprofessional looking photo that is used for the cover is a definite turn-off.

I look forward to another intriguing adventure with Sam Perry!

Armchair Interview says: Don't judge a book by its cover. Kathleen Tracy has proven herself to be a first-class mystery writer.