Publish and Perish (Ben Reese Mystery)

Sally Wright's Publish and Perish is the first in the Ben Reese mystery series, and is a book any lover of well written mysteries should purchase. I emphasize "well written;" if you're a fan of over-hyped Hollywood action movies and graphic (and lurid) mystery novels, you probably wouldn't appreciate the beauty of this book. However, if you're a fan of such mystery writers as Georges Simenon (the Inspector Maigret series) and P. D. James (the Inspector Dalgleish series), buy this book and settle back for an enjoyable time. Well crafted characters, a hint of mystery (a professor with a shadowy-but-heroic past in the OSS, precursor to the CIA, during World War II), and a steadily quickening pace to a surprise ending, make this a first-rate book.

Other reviewers have denigrated Wright's writing. It's true: If you're a fan of the modern, hard-hitting, and action-packed mysteries that now abound, this may not be the series for you.Whereas many of the newer writers resort to Hollywood-style scenes and cardboard characters, Sally Wright turns her eye to the struggles of the human soul. She writes about believable characters, taking us into their thoughts and motivations with skill. The dialogue is sharp and attuned to its setting and era; the atmosphere is palpable; the faith issues are real, yet never preachy.Okay, I'll admit that the book did not "grab" me. It didn't take off like a rocket, with this reader hanging on for dear life. It did draw me in, however. I found myself looking forward to these treasured forays into the world of academia. I was left hoping for more insight into the past and future of dear Ben Reese.Wright's stories require investment. For those so inclined, it's an investment worth making.

One of the best new mystery series out there. A must read for fans of mysteries! It seems that most of the 'mysteries' on the market today rely heavily on sex, blood, and gore, to keep the pages turning, rather than on the mystery itself. This one, however, doesn't--the mystery and the characters involved in the mystery are the central part of the book. It's a refreshing read.

To my mind there are two kinds of mystery writers. Those who like characters, plot, details, language, science, society, etc. And those who write a book simply to keep the reader turning pages in suspense, waiting to find out whodunnit. Sally is of the first type (not that I was inclined to put the book down as the plot developed). Her characters are round, her plot is intriguing, her prose is enjoyable to read. She is also a classic mystery writer in that she gives the reader the clues so they can solve the mystery along with (or possibly before) the hero does. I found myself going back and rereading passages for clues that had escaped me the first time I had read them.From an interview I read, I know that Ms. Wright is a Christian. This book, however, is not a tract or simple morality play. I am a Christian, and I frequently hesitate to buy books by many Christian authors precisely because they often turn out to be not much more than tracts or morality plays. Ms. Wright is a good writer AND a Christian: her faith necessarily informs her vision as an author. But Ms. Wright also knows that novels are STORIES that are meant to delight and inform; Ms. Wright doesn't use her novel as a pulpit. I'm sure, however, that some people will find it offensive that she allows Christian characters into the world of novel, and that she allows them to be real, developed and "human." Her non-Christian characters are real, developed and "human" as well, but non-Christian characters don't seem to offend so many sensibilities these days (and that is a sad commentary on modern sensibilities!).Her book was a delightful, engaging, informative novel. I know more about the universe after having read it. I "met" people that were real and interesting. I am a richer person for having read her book, and that is the way I ought to feel after reading a book.I will be purchasing more by this author!

The author really weaves some good suspense into this book and it is an excellent mystery.