Book Review: Ecstasy

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Ecstasy     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Beth Saulnier
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Hard Boiled   Woman Main Character
Series: Alex Bernier # 5
Mysterious, Mar 2003, $23.95, 341 pp.

Over her reporter’s objections, the Gabriel Monitor editor assigns Alex Bernier to cover the annual upstate New York’s Melting Rock Music Festival. Alex finds all the comfort that would make a teenager feel happy being amidst the racket that the youth calls music. However, she is not a teen so living on undercooked overpriced hot dogs and sleeping outdoors for the four day extravaganza seems rough on the stomach and back respectively.

Alex interviews stoned attendees who’ve been to this event for the past few years. However, the mellow atmosphere of the drugged crowd turns ugly when three male teens suddenly die. Alex feels elated as she is now in her element. She investigates the homicides over the objections of her Gabriel police department officer boyfriend Brian Cody.

The Boomers will enjoy the vivid description of the mini-city of mud, drugs, free love, rip-offs, and good feelings of Woodstock; selective memory enables ignoring the real ugly rapes and other bad doings that went on back then. Fans of investigative tales will find the murders and subsequent inquiries take a back seat to the festival. The hazed teens are a delight to observe until the murders begin. However, Alex should not have inhaled, as that can be the only reason for her to disregard Cody and place herself in danger trying to solve the case.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner