My 5 feather #bookreview of SAM’S SONG
by Hannah Howe
Publisher: Goylake Publishing (November 5, 2014)
Pages: 258
Genre: Mystery/Thriller – Women Sleuths
BLURB:
Love Hurts. For Derwena de Caro, songstress, female icon, teenage dream, success brought drugs, alcohol and a philandering boyfriend. It also brought wealth, fame and a stalker, or so she claimed. And that’s where I came in, to investigate the identity of the stalker, little realising that the trail would lead to murder and a scandal that would make the newspaper headlines for months on end.
Love Hurts. For me, Samantha Smith, Enquiry Agent, love arrived at the end of a fist. First, I had to contend with an alcoholic mother, who took her frustrations out on me throughout my childhood, then my husband, Dan, who regarded domestic violence as an integral part of marriage. But I survived. I obtained a divorce, kept my sense of humour and retained an air of optimism. I established my business and gained the respect of my peers. However, I was not prepared for Dan when he re-entered my life, or for the affection showered on me by Dr Alan Storey, a compassionate and rather handsome psychologist.
Sam’s Song. This is the story of a week that changed my life forever.
MY REVIEW:
This is the first book I’ve read by Hannah Howe, and it won’t be my last. I stumbled across this book in a small reading group I belong to. First off, the book covers more than just a great murder mystery.
Samantha Smith, enquiry agent, is hired by Milton Vaughan-Urquhart, manager of pop star Derwenda de Caro. Her job? To find the person slaking his client. When the story starts off, we see Sam as a tough capable woman. But as she starts her investigation, finding herself thrown into the crazy world of music stars, and a sex-crazed Woody, we see her weakness emerge.
Sam has a damaged personality. She won’t let herself trust or get close to anyone again. Of course you would expect that after being raised by an alcoholic mother, then being stuck in an abusive marriage. Dan is the typical abuser. They tear you down, to make you dependent on them, but they still love you. Howe did an awesome job portraying an abusive relationship. But during her investigation, Sam runs across Alan, and suddenly she’s confronted with choices. To love, or not to love?
I really enjoyed this story. There wasn’t anything I could find wrong. The plot was well-developed and advanced at a good pace. The characters were complex and three-dimensional. I related to Sam and even though Woody was a woman’s worst nightmare, when it came to the other sex, I couldn’t help but like him. And I can’t forget Sweets, DI MacArthur. I rolled my eyes a few times at his attempt at humor. I look forward to seeing him in the next book. The ending wasn’t a surprise, per se, but some of the events leading up to the end were. I was satisfied with how the book ended, and I’m looking forward to reading more about Sam, Alan and Sweets.
If you love a good murder mystery, with a dash of humor, you need to read this book. I give it my 5 feathers.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
