Cold, Hard Fax

This book seemed to me like a satirical take on the stereotypical mystery novel. The unlikely amateur sleuth, the convoluted plot twists, an abundance of red herrings, colorful suspects--exaggerated for comic effect. Not unlike Molly's cartoons. I nearly tossed this book aside after reading the first few pages. The soccer mom-ish protagonist and corny exchange between her and the former homeowner didn't make much of an impression, but after a few eye-rolls I decided to press on. I had nothing better to read at the time, after all. So it is to my surprise and chagrin that I actually laugh-out-loud enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Molly is endearingly zanny, the red herrings are funny in a really obvious way, the plot twists are suitably unpredictable and ridiculously numerous, the family is appropriately kooky and charming, and the over-the-top characters are straight out of a game of Clue. To top it off, Ms. O'Kane turns a phrase as well as she turns over a new leaf in her cartoon drawing. It was her deftness with words that lulled me into continuing the story. If you take it for what it is, you'll have fun. ***WARNING: The first review, dated March 22, 1998, is full of spoilers! They practically give away the entire story, for crying out loud.***

This is my second Molly Masters novel by Leslie O'Kane and I'm glad to have discovered her books. I love the underlying wit that is interjected here and there, adding a little levity to the macabre happenings in Molly's environs. You do need to keep track of the characters in this one, though, so pay attention. It's a good read and I'm on my way to the library for some more adventures of Molly and Ms. O'Kane's other protagonists.

Freelance fax-cartoonist Molly Masters and her family have moved into a new house, only to find that the previous owner keeps harassing them when they try to dig up the garden. Then he is shot dead on the property, the garden gets dug up rather more thoroughly than planned (killing the children's pet pumpkin in the process) and someone starts faxing Molly threats. Certainly not the way to make a good first impression on the neighborhood! A light, silly dark comedy, this book might seem shallow, but it is also humorous and entertaining. Definitely worth the effort.

Another delightful adventure with Molly Masters, who creates fax greetings for a living. Her mother and kids are funny, but not intrusive, and the plot is more substantial than most light mysteries. I liked the suspects and the wisecracks from Molly -- she's amusing, but not mean spirited. I highly recommend this book.

While on the phone in her home in Carlton, a suburb of Albany, New York, Molly Masters hears a shot and watches a body fall to the ground just outside her window. She races outside to see that her neighbor Helen Raleigh is dead. She notices that the deceased was digging a hole in her yard. Later on she learns from the police that Helen was actually Frank Worschem, a criminal allegedly involved in a $2 million jewel robbery. Molly begins to investigate when a second neighbor is killed. She notices that another neighbor, Sheila Lillydale, is wearing a diamond bracelet that probably came from the heist. Though Sheila is arrested for murder, Molly knows that a second killer still is free. She worries that the second killer thinks that Molly has found the loot from the jewelry job and will come after her or her family, seeking the stash. THE COLD, HARD FAX is a breezy pick me up filled with eccentric characters trying to perform incomprehensible deeds. Readers will especially enjoy the heroine for her bravery and wit. Leslie O'Kane has written an intriguing who-done-it that should garner her a wider audience.