Book Review: Family Matters

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Family Matters     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Justine Wittich
Class/Genre:   Romance   Mystery   Romantic Suspense
Five Star, Sep 2004, $26.95, 274 pp.

In Donhaven, children’s book illustrator and painter, Jenny Tyler notices her neighbor’s overflow of mail. Though not much more than acquaintances, she goes to check on Dolan, but notices his cat Choc acting weird. Jenny rings the bell, but receives no response. She notices the door is unlocked, enters and finds Dolan dead.

Police Chief Pierce comforts her when troubleshooter Gabe Daniels arrives on the scene. Gabe works for the DEA and corporate CEO Sterling Thomas. He bullies Jenny, but she mostly ignores him. When Dolan turns out to be embezzler DeWitt and his house is blown up, Gabe worries that Jenny is in peril especially when assailants break into her home. As they become better acquainted Jenny and Gabe fall in love, but she has a history with the mob and he trusts no one not even his grandfather.

This is an intriguing police procedural romance that ironically showcases in a twisted way that FAMILY MATTERS. Gabe and Jenny are solid protagonists while Pierce and to lesser degree Thomas are the elderly statesmen. Fans will find DeWitt quite fascinating as he stole millions, hardly spent any of it, and still needed the thrill of playing in another illegal activity. The falling in love subplot takes a back seat to a bewittiching strong suspense story.

Harriet Klausner

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