Rating: 
Summary: Well-crafted plot, witty pageturner
Review: This book took me 25 pages or so to get into, but once I reached a certain point, my interest grew and eventually it was a "couldn't put it down and no, you can't sneak a peak at the ending" book. I really loved Compromising Positions so I was happy to see how life had turned out for the engaging and witty "detective," Judith, who is widowed now and an adjunct history professor. The plot involves life in upper middle class Long Island, and the disappearance of a "mom" who is found months later in the swimming pool (which had been covered all winter). The dead woman's husband, the son of gangster Fancy Phil, is the obvious suspect -- too obvious. Judith offers her services to him to help "research" who really committed the murder; he declines but Fancy Phil accepts her offer. She refuses to take money from Phil but otherwise he has made her an offer she can't refuse. Complicating all of this is her reconnection with a former lover Nelson -- a police detective who is supposed to be investigating Fancy Phil. Judith pursues her investigation into the murdered woman's past -- with Nelson's simultaneous help and opposition. I was genuinely surprised at the twist the plot took but found the "solution" to the mystery believable. Isaacs' mysteries always seem to me to be like watching a good movie -- they are very visual in their descriptions and the characters come alive. Her humorous take on affluent suburban life will be particularly amusing for those who have been there (which I haven't -- but perhaps that makes the sly commentary even funnier for me.)
Rating: 
Summary: Book OK, audio edition terrible
Review: This is the first Susan Isaacs book I have read. I listened to the abridged audio CD version of the book. Ms. Isaacs is the narrator herself. It is terrible. I am unable to concentrate on the story - I am so distracted by her voice. She tries to do "accents" of some of the characters - all the accents turn out to be caricatures - of southern accents, of Eastern European, of Brooklyn, etc. It is almost unlistenable. Do yourself a favor, Ms. Isaacs - save the narration for the professionals!
| 
