Book Review: Nailed

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Nailed     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Lucy Taylor
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth
Onyx, Jul 2001, $5.99, 232 pp.

Eight years ago Matt Engstrom accidentally killed Harold Petrosky, who was stalking his wife Calla. Matt went to prison for four years. Calla divorced him and was murdered two days after ending her marriage. Matt, a construction company owner, meets his foreman Barry Bishoff at the Rose Bar. However, Barry who selected the site fails to show up. Matt leaves only to find a dead Barry in the back of his truck. The police suspect Matt killed Barry. When financial fraud surfaces at his company, Matt realizes that the police now have a motive to accompany the opportunity. Barry found out about the money scheme and Matt silenced him using his truck to confuse the investigation as the cops would never believe someone would drive a vehicle containing the person they killed. He begins his own inquiries starting with his missing accountant, but not yet realizing how the unsolved murder of his former wife and his current mess entwine tighter than the DNA helix. NAILED is an exciting amateur sleuth tale that works because the hero knows only he can save himself as the evidence mounts against him. Matt is an interesting protagonist and his in-laws add eccentricity and much more to a non-stop thriller that leaves the audience NAILED to their seat until Lucy Taylor's book is finished.

Harriet Klausner

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