Book Review: Death Never Takes a Holiday

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Death Never Takes a Holiday     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Noreen Wald
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth   Woman Main Character
Series: Jake O'Hara
Berkley, Nov 2000, $5.99, 240 pp.

Jake O’Hare wants to be a writer, but since living in Manhattan is so expensive, she mostly ghost writes for “real” authors. Jake resides with her mother in their inherited condo. Since ghosting is traumatic, Jake and some associates have formed Ghosts Anonymous to enable them to accept their roles in life. When she is not ghosting, Jake seems to always work a homicide investigation, but death is far from her mind today.

Jake intends to enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day festivities starting with the parade. Following that event, she plans to attend the Greater New York Crime Writer’s Conference that is being given at the Plaza Hotel. At the opening panel, former movie star Holly Halligan, Senator Charles Fiume, and former cat burglar Rickie Romero lead a discussion on “Turning Your Career into Murder”. Before they begin, a leprechaun places a pitcher of green beer on the table. Following a toast, the three panelists drink. Two of them convulse and die. Only Romero, a recovering alcoholic failed to actually imbibe the green suds. Jake, her fellow ghosts, and the rest of her motley crew begin to investigate the double murders.

DEATH NEVER TAKES A HOLIDAY is an amusing amateur sleuth mystery that gives readers keen insight into the role ghost writers play in the publishing world. However, the tale is laced with too many characters involved in too many subplots, leaving bewildered readers struggling to follow the action. Noreen Wald shows her talent that sub-genre fans will appreciate, but hopefully she will save some of her subplots for future novels starring the delightful Jake.

Harriet Klausner

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