Affirmative Reaction

Affirmative Reaction is the third detective David Alvarez and Tory Travers mystery. This time, it's Tory Travers turn to ask Detective Alvarez for help because someone wants her dead and seems at any cost. Ms. Travers finds a woman's body in a storm drain of an abandoned subdivision. The body turns out to be a city employee who was known for speaking out against affirmative action programs. The Hispanic contractor, who built the now abandoned subdivision, was thought to have committed suicide, but could it have really been murder too? David and Tory must go back into the past in search of answers they need in the present. These characters are growing on me. I love the under current of romance between these two. They continue to work together and try to hide their feelings for each other. Be prepared to enjoy every minute of this book. I found it to be an Excellent Read. Pam Stone

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I have her 2 others. Aileen's prose is very crisp, and enjoyable to read. The mix of the main character Tory's personal life (for instance, she is struggling with her 16 year old son noticing a girl for the first time) and the actual crime is well balanced. The characters have been developing over the series, and the relationship between Tory and David is fun to watch. The mystery unfolded nicely, certainly surprising me at the end.I would recommend reading this series in order, because there is reference to the previous book (Framework for Death). But by all means, read it.

I polished off Affirmative Reaction by Aileen Schumacher in one day and thoroughly enjoyed it. Of course, I am a big fan of hers anyway, but I think that each book gets better. This one had a great combination of humor and suspense and a great opening line: She figured it came down to a choice between going to work or committing murder.Aileen switches emphasis between her main character and the man who would like to be her significant other. I love the shifting between the two though I know that such is not to everyone's taste. But it makes it much more believable to me on how this amateur detective gets involved in the homicides.Highly recommended.

Fifteen years ago, affirmative action was coming into vogue, allowing Craig Diaz to expand his one person contracting firm into a large conglomerate. Craig was awarded the contract to build Monte Vista Heights, a hundred-acre development with a 350 home proposal. Craig also planned to run for city commissioner, a situation that alienated radical right wingers who prefer Hispanics to remain in their place. Craig's work sites were under harassment and the Monte Vista storm drains failed the test, forcing him into bankruptcy. Craig ultimately committed suicide. In the present time, the engineering firm of Tory Travers is commissioned to determine the cost of bringing the Monte Vista project up to code. Tory inspects the site and realizes that the drains work properly. Just prior to a city run water test, Tory finds the body of a dead woman in one of the drains. Tory teems up with El Paso detective David Alvarez to uncover what happened to the victim, a bigot who had the power to deny permits to Diaz. The investigation shows the current crime links to the Diaz fiasco. Though many suspects surface, only one of them is willing to kill again to keep certain secrets buried. The third "Travers-Alvarez" murder mystery (see ENGINEERED FOR MURDER and FRAMEWORK FOR MURDER) is a complex, often times humorous, and very entertaining novel. The relationship between the two protagonists boils to a new temperature high, but that does not stop them from professionally working to solve the homicide. Aileen Schumacher is a talented author who has cross appeal to romantic suspense fans as well as who-done-it readers. She is a rising star in both genres.Harriet Klausner