Book Review: The Dangerous Hour

Reviewed By: NH Storm

The Dangerous Hour     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Marcia Muller
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Private Investigator   Woman Main Character
Series: Sharon McCone # 23
Mysterious Press, 2004, 290 pages

Sharon McCone has it all a successful business, a boyfriend who will wait as long as it takes for her to make a committment, friends and coworkers who respect her. Sharon has it all until ex-juvenile delinquent turned investigator, Julia Rafael, is arrested for credit card fraud. Add a diabetic feline into the mix who has gone from a loving cat to a diabolical menance to Sharon's arms.

Believing in her employee's innocent, Sharon starts her own investigation but the evidence points to Julia when the merchandise is found at the office and at her appartment. Julia last assignment involved theft from an nonprofit employment agency. Jules, as she is called, had the key to Trabajo por Todos, and the computer at the center was used to order the merchandise.

Trabajo por Todos has had it's share of misfortune starting with the theft and continuing with the death of one of its founders. The chief grant writer's death, although suspicious at the time, was ruled an accident. A witness to his fall is missing, the police wont help Sharon due to a previous incounter. Alex Aguilar, the phillanthropist who founded Trabajo por Todos, has his own set of problems from earlier encounters with the law but is now trying to run for city office.

Sharon must find the key before her firm and her reputation go down in flames.

Marcia Muller takes us on a merry chase that keeps us wanting to finish the book in one sitting. Unfortunately, some of the story is just not believable, for instance, who would work as an office clerk or a computer whiz pro-bono? Her characters, especially Jules, are well developed, and the action keeps this book a 4 paw book.

NH Storm

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, NH Storm