Living Witness: A Gregor Demarkian Novel

First Sentence: If Ann-Victoria Hadley had been forced to tell the truth--and she never had to be forced; she always told the truth--she would have to admit this was not the first time she had been the most hated person in Snow Hill, Pennsylvania. An attack on elderly, yet indomitable, Ann-Victoria Hadley summons ex-FBI agent Gregor Demarkian from Philadelphia to the small town of Snow Hill, PA. Ms. Hadley, now in a coma, was part of a law suit against bringing "intelligent design" into the school's curriculum. Because the chief of police is a Fundamentalist Christian, he doesn't feel it would be right to lead the investigation. A second attack results in murder and increasing tension across the various factions in the town. Any book which deals with differing religious views can be both interesting to read and challenging to review. Ms. Haddam does include characters who fall within several camps; evangelicals, fundamentalists, Christians, secular humanists and atheists. She also raises issues of snobbery, peer pressure, ignorance and education. I appreciated reading Ms. Haddam's views on each of these topics and felt she did a very good job integrating them into the plot For the most part, they were presented without blatant bias against the beliefs but rather against the individual character. This was the first Haddam book I've read but was pleased to find, as far as knowing the primary characters, it didn't matter. Enough back story was provided for Demarkian and his fiancée that I was very comfortable and didn't feel anything was missing. As to the other characters, I should like to have seen a better balance. Perhaps, however, it was only that those who are extreme in their views seem to predominate whatever environment they are in. However, there were some secondary characters I found fascinating but about whom I was left wanting to know more. I fault the author's desire to focus on the attitudes and philosophies rather than the characters. For all that, the basics of the plot were very good. There was a clever diversion and an unexpected motive. I was also surprised when I realized that, for the volume of text, the story encompassed only three days. However, there were times one lost the focus of the story for the viewpoints. I felt this was a shame as it diminished what could have been a very good book with stronger editing. While I enjoyed the book, it didn't make me want to seek out others in the series. LIVING WITNESS (Unl. Invest-Gregor Demarkian-Pennsylvania-Cont) - G+ Haddam, Jane - 24th in series Minotaur Books, ©2009, US Paperback - ISBN: 9780312372262

Jane Haddam is one of my favorite authors. She builds wonderful rich charactres and writes a story full of twists and surprises. Living Witness is no exception. Gregor Demarkian is finally going to get married, but must first solve yet another mystery. The crime gets him away from wedding planning and places him into the middle of a debate on intellegent design. This story makes the reader think about the rights of individuals with different opinions, religious beliefs and life experiences. As her other books, Living Witness is entertaining and thought provoking. A must read. Elisa Robyn, author of Way of the Well

I always await Jane Haddam's books eagerly, because they contain an interesting puzzle, delightful characters, and a theme that moves the book a bit deeper than run-of-the mill mysteries. Living Witness is a take on the evolution vs. creationism controversy, reminiscent of the Dover Area School Board court case of recent memory. Jane's takes on such issues are always fascinating, and, as usual, her research is exemplary; readers can access her sources and make up their own minds on the issue. The puzzle is set in motion by a murderous attack on an older woman who is a member of the school board in a small Pennsylvania town; the whodunnit and why are well disguised throughout the book (the clues are fair). Gregor Demarkian, Bennis Hannaford, Father Tibor and the usual characters of this long-running series are present and their stories are moving along. The small town characters are not sentimentalized, not portrayed as thoughtless hicks, but given personalities and opinions on many different aspects of the main issue. Nevertheless, Jane Haddam has written better books. The issue overpowers the story to an extent that is rare in her work, and sometimes the dialogue comes across as little didactic speeches. Fans of her work (and I am one) will find much to enjoy, but if I were asked by someone who hadn't read her before, I would not recommend starting with this book; I'd recommend Somebody Else's Music or Cheating at Solitaire as a better introduction.

I like it that Haddam builds her mysteries around issues. It is fun to see the different views portrayed. For me Living Witness was not the best book of the series, but it had everything I always enjoy--extensive character explication, an interesting mystery, and Gregor Demarkian.

Philadelphians Gregor Demarkian and his longtime significant other Bennis Hannaford prepare for their upcoming wedding. However, in Snow Hill, Pennsylvania someone batters nonagenarian Ann-Victoria Hadley; the elderly woman clings to life, but is in a coma. Skipping the egomaniac state police, Snow Hill Police Chief Gary Albright asks former FBI agent Gregor to investigate the attempted murder. He readily agrees so he can escape the last second wedding preparations as he did recently when he fled to Margaret's Harbor in New England to conduct an investigation (see CHEATING AT SOLITAIRE). He begins his inquiries seeking who might want Ann-Victoria dead. He learns she just became a member of the school board after she co-filed in court a civil lawsuit to prevent the teaching of intelligent design in the town's public schools. Two other plaintiffs in that lawsuit are soon killed. Gregor fears a creationist is behind the assault until additional clues make him consider a detour outside the intelligent design debate. The prime plot, the whodunit investigation, is superb as always in this great series. This entry is enhanced by a look at the Intelligent-Design-Evolution education debate as Jane Haddam insures the arguments of both sides are lucid and each side's supporter sharp. However, Gregor's inquiry remains the focus even with a deep look at the dispute over what should be taught as part of a public school science curriculum. Harriet Klausner