Today I am reviewing The Seduction of Miriam Cross by W. A. Tyson for TLC Book Tours. As always, I am provided with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
About the Book (from the publisher):
A sordid sex tape.
A venture capital firm.
A secret society of women.
A Catholic nun.
Miriam Cross, author, feminist, and philanthropist, disappears from her Philadelphia home. A year later, a lonely recluse named Emily Cray is brutally murdered in her bed in a small Pennsylvania town.
The police discover that Emily Cray and Miriam Cross were one and the same, but if they know who killed Miriam, they’re not sharing. Miriam’s niece wants answers. She turns to the one woman she knows she can trust – private investigator Delilah Percy Powers.
As Delilah and her staff of female detectives – a militant homemaker, an ex-headmistress and a former stripper – delve into Miriam’s life, they become submerged in an underworld of unfathomable cruelty and greed with implications that go far beyond the gruesome death of one woman or the boundaries of one country. Eventually, Miriam’s fight for justice becomes Delilah’s own…and Delilah’s obsession with finding the truth may be just as deadly.
My review: I reviewed another of Wendy Tyson’s books a few months ago; Killer Image. I liked that book very much, so I was happy to have the opportunity to read another of Tyson’s mysteries. It does not disappoint. Tyson writes an intricate plot, one with all sorts of twists and turns that leaves the reader truly wondering how it will resolve in the end. Let’s face it, no one really wants to be able to figure out who the bad guy is before reaching the end of the novel – we want to be surprised.
This is the start of a series involving Delilah Percy Powers and her team of detectives. Each of them is complex, with a back story that we get hints of along the way. Not everything is revealed, however, and I’m sure that future books in this series will provide more details. I like it when everything about a character isn’t revealed at once – when the author decides when and where more will be revealed. Louise Penny does that. It makes you want to come back for more. That is far more interesting to me than characters who are fully fleshed out almost immediately. We all have secrets. We all have parts of ourselves that we are not willing to reveal.
The plot is fueled by the horrific murder of Miriam Cross and the search to discover what Miriam was hiding and the secrets she kept, secrets that ultimately led to her death. Like peeling an onion, layer upon layer is stripped away until the truth is finally discovered.
On a personal note, having lived in Philadelphia for five years, I am very familiar with the city and its environs, so I greatly enjoyed the settings Tyson uses. It was as if I was back in the city once again.
The cover is a little Charlie’s Angels-ish, but once you get past that, you’ll find that Tyson writes very well indeed. I think you’ll really enjoy this mystery/thriller.
About the author: W.A. Tyson’s background in law and psychology has provided inspiration for her mysteries and thrillers. The Seduction of Miriam Cross, to be published by E-Lit Books this fall, is the first in the Delilah Percy Powers mystery series. She has also authored Killer Image (Henery Press, October 2013) the first novel in the Allison Campbell mystery series.
Good news, my friends: one of you will be the lucky winner of a copy of The Seduction of Miriam Cross. Just leave a comment on this post and I will draw a winning name on Sunday evening.
If you’re interested in education and the benefits of going back to school, read my post about my personal story, sponsored by Kaplan and BlogHer.
Happy Friday.
Sounds very different, I’d like to give it a whirl!
Claudia, I just finished reading The Beautiful Mystery. Thanks for turning me on to Louise Penny! I hope to find another of her books at the library today.
Thank you for the give away. Sounds like a good book to read next year.
Would love to read a new series. Thank you for the chance at the giveaway.
Thanks for introducing me to “new to me authors”. I get stuck in a rut, and anxiously wait for the newest edition of some of my favorite authors…you’ve managed to take me out of my comfort zone with your reviews! ;)
Will give W.A. Tyson a try. Currently I am reading Stone Quarry by S.J. Rozan. I have read her other books and enjoyed them. What is with women authors just using initials? What comes to mind is T.S. Elliot.
I had to laugh at your description of the cover as Charlie Angel-ish lol ~ I admit when I’m browsing I tend to ignore the ones with covers like that, so it’s good to know some may be worth reading. I’ll have to make a note of this author ~ I’m always on the lookout for another good mystery/thriller writer.
If you haven’t ever read any Greg Iles, you might give his books a browse. I tend to like all the books you share so you might also enjoy his works. Mystery/thriller types. There are only three that really have an order to them….most people begin with Turning Angel.
I also wanted to say that I’m SO enjoying your simple Christmas. I subscribe to quite a few blogs and frankly, I’m about ‘decoratedl’ out ;-) Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful girl Scout! Don too of course :-)
Thanks for the chance to win Claudia!
Note to tracy: I, too, have holiday-burn-out. It was a relief to discover that today’s blog has nothing to do with Christmas. Well, with the media/Internet version of Christmas, which is an over-load of food, decoration and conspicuous consumption. I wonder how many others are feeling this way…..
Claudia, that review was fun to read, and the book sounds intriguing. How thoughtful of you to have a give-away. Thank you.
Also, I appreciate the suggestions from you and your readers regarding other titles and authors. Very helpful.
Sounds like a book I would like.
When you give a book review I always add it to my Amazon wish list. That way I know exactly where to look for it.
Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.
Pam.
Throw my name in the hat, Claudia, and thanks for the opportunity. I picked up How the Light Gets In at the library and hope to find some reading and crochet time next week. I’m experiencing extreme holiday burnout this year, while I was out shopping this afternoon my SO put the tree up. It’s not decorated yet and I just really don’t feel like messing with it.
I will put this book on my reading list. I am currently reading my way through Louise Penny’s books. I’m on # 6 currently. I would like to read more books by your recommended writer. Thank you.
Sounds like a fun read! I loved living in Philly in college so it would be great to see the setting s in this book!
hiya claudia… here in pa its kinda spring like.. rain and temps going into high 50s.. strange for almost christmas.. eh
this book sounds interesting.. actually most of the ones you share with us have been wonderful reads..
i would love to be i the hat for the drawing… count me in..
have a wonderful weekend and a blessed holiday.. and p.s. loved the pic of hubby… he is a cutie pie :)
big ladybughugs
lynnl
Sounds like my kind of book. Many thanks for the chance to win!
Hi Claudia. This sounds like a real page turner. May I say your Don looks very handsome in his latest pic. You’d be astonished to see how much my DH resembles him, they could easily be taken for brothers, so I suppose we shouldboth feel a wee bit smug. lol. Will you wish Scout a very happy birthday from me, and, a big hug and kiss. I hope that you, Don and Scout have a wonderful Ch ristmas and a peaceful and prosperous new year Blessings from a fan in the Uk.
I’m always looking for a new author and a good book. Thanks for the chance on the giveaway!
Linda
Thank you so much for hosting THE SEDUCTION OF MIRIAM CROSS on your blog — and for the well-written, thoughtful review. I love your site – it’s truly a feast for the senses. I’m thrilled you enjoyed the novel, and I’m happy I could bring a little bit of Philly back for you. Happy holidays to you and your readers!
Sounds Iike my type of book.