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Executive Times |
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2008 Book Reviews |
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The
Bordeaux Betrayal by Ellen Crosby |
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Rating: |
** |
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(Mildly Recommended) |
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Click
on title or picture to buy from amazon.com |
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Thirsty The
latest of Ellen Crosby’s wine country mysteries is titled, The
Bordeaux Betrayal. Protagonist Lucie Montgomery uncovers scandal as she
investigates a murder. Like the earlier books in this series, The
Bordeaux Betrayal is heavy on formula, and is easy and comforting to
read. The characters continue to be more one-dimensional than most readers
would prefer. Here’s an excerpt, from the beginning of Chapter 2, pp. 17-18: I didn't expect the water to be
so cold, nor the current so strong. Fortunately the creek was only knee-deep
where her car had gone in and I could use my cane to keep steady against the
swiftly flowing water. I called her name as I looked
through the passenger window, but she didn't stir. The car was full of water
as high as the creek level. The noise as it rushed through the open windows
roared in my ears. Near Valerie's body it was a pale shade of pink and my
stomach churned some more. I guessed that her car must
have rolled like a barrel down the embankment head first because the roof was
crushed in at the windshield and her airbag had been deployed, meaning the
front end had struck something solid. A faint gunpowder odor still permeated
the air inside the car. So far Valerie's face was above water but the
caved-in roof—which looked like it was responsible for her injuries—had
diminished the interior headroom, leaving little clearance between Valerie
and the water level. The ends of her blonde hair, which she'd worn loose,
skimmed the surface of the eddying water as did both hands since her arms
were now thrown above her head like a supplicant. I
sloshed around to the front of the car, hanging on so I wouldn't slip. At one
point the chassis rocked crazily and I let go in a panic. Had it landed on a
tree limb or something else that made it so unsteady? Whatever it was, I had
to get Valerie out of here—release her from her seat belt and get her to the
bank of the creek. I hung my cane on the side
mirror and fought the urge to throw up as I looked through the driver's side
window. Valerie's face and hair were blood-soaked and it looked like she'd
sustained some injuries on the left side of her chest. Her eyes were closed
and she didn't appear to be breathing. I tried to find her carotid artery and
my hand came away bloody. She was dead. "Oh, God, Valerie," I
said to her. "I'm so sorry. I'm getting you out of here, honey. They
shouldn't find you looking like a trussed fish." The collapsed roof had crushed
both front doors making them impossible to open. The back doors were locked.
I found the unlock button and heard the click releasing all four doors. Once I undid her seat belt
Valerie would drop like a stone straight into the water. I'd have to grab her
before she did, then try to pull her out of the car. She was taller than I,
and probably weighed about ten pounds more—maybe a hundred and thirty, give
or take. Hopefully I'd be able to carry her, but I wouldn't be able to use
my cane. If worse came to worse, I'd have to drag her. It no longer mattered if her
injuries worsened. The only way to get into the
car was through one of the back doors. The frame between the doors on the
driver's side was also bent, but not so badly that I couldn't open the back
door. I tugged hard on the handle and the car rocked back and forth again. "Oh, God," I said
under my breath. "Please stay where you are." I jerked the door and
the motion caused my cane to jump and slip off the side mirror. It dropped in
the creek with a graceful plop and immediately caught the current, floating
downstream. I started to go after it, then let it go. I'd never catch it. By now the water in the car was
a darker shade of pink, almost cherry-colored. I squeezed between the front
seats. If I could get Valerie's seat to recline fully, I could pull her
straight back once I released her seat belt, though it meant I needed to do
both actions nearly simultaneously and somehow keep my balance in the cramped
space. In
some respects, The
Bordeaux Betrayal seemed to go down easier than the earlier books, but I still
found myself thirsty for better character development and improved dialogue. If
you’re looking to read a mystery that doesn’t tax your mind too much, and
with a likeable female protagonist, The
Bordeaux Betrayal is a good choice to consider. Steve
Hopkins, October 20, 2008 |
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Go to Executive Times Archives |
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The recommendation rating for
this book appeared in the November 2008 issue of Executive Times URL for this review: http://www.hopkinsandcompany.com/Books/The Bordeaux Betrayal.htm For Reprint Permission,
Contact: Hopkins & Company, LLC • E-mail: books@hopkinsandcompany.com |
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