Book Review: Tell Me No Lies

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Tell Me No Lies     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Annie Solomon
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Romance   Police Procedural
Warner, Mar 2004, $5.99, 352 pp.

In the small Hudson Valley town of Sokanan, with less than two weeks before retirement, Detective Hank Bonner investigates the murder of convenience store employee Luka Kole. The case looks like a simple robbery turned ugly, but Hanks has problems because the thief failed to take a bank sack containing one thousand dollars. When he notices a newspaper clip involving the Renaissance Oil of Russia deal inside the victim’s wallet, he visits the consultant listed in the article.

Alexandra Baker informs Hank she does not know Luka before tossing him out as she hosts a gala for Renaissance Oil guru Miki Petrov. Alex is upset with her friend’s murder, but continues with her plan to destroy the man who killed her father thirteen years ago in Russia. Though Hank looks forward to nurturing his depressed niece and nephew, he places the pressure on Alex. He is told to back off by everyone including his brother the mayor. He ignores everyone except Alex who he falls in love with even as he wonders how she is connected to Luka and his killer.

TELL NO LIES is a fine romantic police procedural that fans will enjoy as an obsessed Alex goes through with her scheme though she knows how dangerous it is to her and her loyal comrades. Hank is a hero refusing to fade into the night and though he worries that he now loves a murderer, he is the one person who changes Alex’s passion for vengeance into an ardor of love. Though the resolution is too neat, readers will appreciate this solid romantic suspense.

Harriet Klausner

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