Sounds of Murder - Patricia Rockwell, Author

4:05 PM Posted by MAC


Italian Sausage Soup
  A Favorite Recipe of Rocky and Patricia Rockwell
 
1 lb. Italian sausage
1 onion
1 clove garlic
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 cup white wine
1 container (16 oz.) chicken stock
1 large potato
1 cup fresh spinach
Fresh grated parmesan cheese

Rocky first removes the sausage from the casings and sautés it in a frying pan.  He chops the onion and garlic finely and sautés them in a separate pan until golden brown.  He peels and chops the potato into small chunks.  Eventually, he puts all ingredients except the cheese into a large pot and lets them simmer on the stovetop for several hours.  He sprinkles the cheese over each bowl just before serving.

Sounds of Murder – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat

‘Pamela followed Kent, running behind him around the corner of the main hallway towards the experimental computer laboratory at the far end of the side hallway.  She could see in the distance that the door to the lab was wide open and the lights were on.  Kent ran through the doorway and Pamela followed on his heels.  He went immediately to the first row of computer carrels, to Carrell #4, one of the department’s special “souped up” computers.  Pamela could see a woman in the carrel bent over the computer desk, a tousled head of blond curls.  As she drew closer, she realized that the woman was Charlotte Clark.  “It’s Dr. Clark,” said Kent, “Dr. Barnes!  I think she’s dead!”

Dr. Charlotte Clark was Chair of the Tenure Committee and taught courses on addiction at Grace University.  She was world famous and popular with students which lined up to take her classes.  But by her peers, she was considered abrasive and confrontational.  More often than not creating verbal attacks on anyone who crossed her.  So, when word of her death made its way around the campus, very few tears were shed.

After completing her evening class, Dr. Pamela Barnes, a Psychology Professor, and her graduate assistant Kent Drummond, found Charlotte’s body in the computer lab.  Charlotte being in the lab was normal but the question that pops into Pamela's mind is “why was she in the lab late at night?”  Before class, Pamela had heard Charlotte and Department Head, Mitchell Marks, arguing.  Charlotte had even made threats to go to the Dean to resolve their argument.  So, did Mitchell Marks follow Charlotte to the computer lab and murder her?  As Pamela soon finds, there are many others that have reason to take Charlotte out of the picture.  For starters there are 3 candidates up for tenure with the Dean only allowing 2.  There is also the Animal Psychology Lab which became upset with Charlotte after she  announced that their research wasn’t needed and should be cut.  The more Pamela searches, the more suspects she ends up adding to her list.

Sounds of Murder ends up being solved by “sound.”  This, to me, took the suspense to an entirely different field for.  As I read, I found myself listening to Pamela as she details each sound in her attempt to decide which would are beneficial clues in solving the crime.  Near the middle of the book I had the case solved as to who had committed the murder but not why, so I thought.  It turned out that I was totally off base. The murderer wasn't revealed until the end and to my surprise this character wasn't even on my list of suspects.  This book kept me in suspense from beginning to end.

2010
Cozy Cat Press
204 pages
ISBN# 978-0-9844795-0-4


3 comments:

  1. Patricia Rockwell said...

    Martha,
    Thank you so much for the lovely review! I hope you enjoy the Italian sausage soup.

  2. Lola said...

    Visiting from Patricia's site. What a great idea for a blog. I'd love to follow you on Google, but I don't see a sign-up.

    lolasdiner@yahoo.com
    http://lolasdiner.blogspot.com

  3. Anna said...

    Dear Martha,
    I found your blog through Patricia Rockwell's Subjective Soup. Wonderful idea for a blog! Great review!
    Best wishes
    Anna
    lastest post:
    Anna's U-words

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