Review: Judas Island

Judas Island Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Kathryn Wall
Class/Genre: Mystery Woman Main Character
Series: Bay Tanner # 4
St. Martin’s, Hardback, 5/04, 294 pages, $23.95

Bay Tanner and her friend Erik Whiteside have started an investigation agency. Bay’s background is in accounting and financial consulting. These skills still come in handy in investigations. Erik is great on the computer. Bay’s father, The Judge, although confined to a wheelchair, often assists them.

Bay returns home from Paris after the apparent collapse of her short-lived affair with Interpol agent Alain Darnay. Not long after returning, she discovers a rift has been wedged between The Judge and his housekeeper, Lavinia. With some information from Lavinia, Bay is trying to discover the truth about what has happened.

In the meantime, her partner Erik calls about a new case. His old college drinking buddy, archaeologist Gray Palmer, has uncovered a grave and taken a bone. After hinting the bone may belong to a murder victim, Gray is found dead. Bay and Erik start investigating to find out whether his death is related and who the murder victim is. They hit lots of roadblocks along the way, especially from Gray’s father. Gray Jr.’s girlfriend spurs them along, but Bay can’t decide if she is telling them the complete truth.

This is the first Bay Tanner book I’ve read. It definitely won’t be the last. It was terrific. I found myself constantly picking it up to read more!

Bay has a lot of personal baggage and it is intertwined into the story in just the right way to keep you wanting more. I really like Bay. She is a believable protagonist. The relationships between characters are very well written, too.

I love books set in the south. Set in South Carolina, this book is steeped in the south. Bay’s knowledge of the area and people really comes to play in the solving of this mystery.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Dawn Dowdle

Book Review: Judas Island