Book Review: Dark Undertakings

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Dark Undertakings     Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon Canada HC
Rebecca Tope
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth
Series: Drew Slocombe
Dunne, Jun, 2001, $23.95, 304

Fifty-five years old Jim Lapsford was in perfect health. He had not seen a doctor since 1986 until he went last week to see Dr. Lloyd for a bum knee. Now Jim is dead with Dr. Lloyd insisting from a heart attack without any examination.

Only an undertake trainee for a month, Drew Slocombe feels something is wrong with the way Dr. Lloyd handles the death especially someone as healthy as Jim apparently was. Drew begins to wonder if a homicide has occurred. Drew is unable to ignore his hunch because he carries guilt from what happened to a child at his previous job at a hospital. He investigates his feeling that a clever individual killed Jim even knowing it could cost him his latest position.

Once readers accept Drew's need to investigate against the policy of his employer and the expert opinion of a doctor, fans will find the story line quite an exciting amateur sleuth tale. Drew is a wonderful caring person and his spouse Karen is an ideal individual to help the audience understand the hero. The plot is clever as Rebecca Tope keeps the embalming fluid to a minimum and the suspense to a maximum in what is a unique undertaking.

Harriet Klausner

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

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.