Genre: Mystery
Mass Market Paperback
ISBN #: 9780425194881
Berkley Publishing
198 Pages
Various Prices Amazon
September 10, 2004
⭐
Nestled between fast track Ft. Lauderdale and nouveau riche Boca Raton, the once sleepy beach town of Palmetto is plagued by progress. The latest news has Ocean Vista condo board president Stella Sajak and other residents in an uproar. Developers plan to raze the property and put up a glitzy resort. But when Stella says she'll go to City Hall and fight this to the death, no one thinks to take her statement literally.
And when Kate begins to investigate the murder, she discovers that this little corner of the sunshine state is cursed with corruption, unsavory characters, and a very dark cloud overhead...
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Kate Kennedy moved to Palmetto, Florida, because her husband wanted to live there. But he died within twenty-four hours of the move, and since they sold their old home, she's pretty much stuck. He's been gone a mere six months, and she misses him. However, she's decided to try and make the best of it.
When it's discovered that a developer wants to buy out their condo community and put up a resort, the board president isn't going to give up without a fight. But unfortunately, she doesn't last the night after a scheduled meeting, and now Kate wonders who hated Stella Sajak enough to kill her...
This is an older book, but I really wished it would have been better. I was a bit thrown after finding out that Kate hadn't shaved her legs since her husband died. Six months? Through an entire Florida summer? While she must have worn slacks all summer (or people would have definitely noticed), I can't imagine that it wouldn't have been extremely uncomfortable, not to mention quite a sight to behold. One I'd rather not see. (Personal opinion, but hey...)
Then, Kate sees a couple of residents walking along the beach, hears one of them yell, "Stella!" (Shades of Stanley Kowalski), and calls 911. Fair enough. But how did she know she should call 911? How did she know that Stella was dead if she couldn't see the body from her window? Does she always call 911 if she hears a resident yelling a name?
Then, the police seem as if they don't believe what she's telling them in her statement and want her to come to the police station the next day to give it again. Why? She was standing on her balcony, couldn't see anything, and only heard the man say, 'Stella'. She didn't actually see a body or have anything to do with it, so why would the police need her to come to the station? She had no other information to give, wasn't a suspect, and basically only heard the man say a name. How is this relevant in any way that she needs to go to a police station?
Also, in the beginning of the story Kate mentions as how Stella has a great body and is wearing a swimsuit with a halter top and skirt bottom while walking around, but when she sees a friend wearing a midriff-showing outfit to a costume party she thinks it's scandalous. Say what? Isn't this Florida? Don't seniors ever go swimming? Showing your stomach is scandalous? What. A. Prude.
But the kicker was an ex-nun pours a can of Coke over another resident because said resident asks the woman if she murdered Stella. Asks. A. Question. Probably even tongue-in-cheek. Was this supposed to be funny? It wasn't. It was over the top, and if someone did that to me because I merely asked them a question, there would be consequences. Trust me.
I couldn't even read the book after this. I'd had enough of Kate's judging people and self-righteousness, her boring personality and resentfulness of anything and anyone she didn't like. Kate is truly unlikable, and I'm sorry I have the rest in this series. They'll be donated to the library. Maybe someone else will find the humor in these books. I sure didn't.
https://www.amazon.com/Death-Ocean-View-Nora-Charles/dp/0425194884/ref
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2999999309
More on Nora Charles's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/nora-charles/
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