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Summary: A Gripping and Believeable Tale
Review: Irene Kelly is an intense and engaging character. The story line is superb and the mystery is detailed and intricate. This is destined to be a successful series of books. It was hard to put this one down!
Rating:
Summary: A knockout thriller!
Review: It's getting a bit difficult for me to find new mystery writers that write well as well as spin good plots and do a good job on character development. I guess I read too much too fast. Anyway, I think I read this in two nights. Considering I work, and I am finishing my doctorate...I think that is a good indication of how much I enjoyed Burke's tale. Plan on reading more in the near future of hers.....
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible Book
Review: OK, I like Irene Kelly. Like her feisty attitude and everything that goes with it. She solved the murder of her best friend. Have bought Liar and Bones. Looking forward to reading them both.
Rating: 
Summary: New author for me
Review: OK, I like Irene Kelly. Like her feisty attitude and everything that goes with it. She solved the murder of her best friend. Have bought Liar and Bones. Looking forward to reading them both.
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Summary: Goodnight Irene
Review: The Los Angeles Times called this book "Tense and Explosive." My question is "when?" This was one of the worst books I have ever read.The only thing that was explosive about this book was the explosion in the beginning and the end. The story consisted of dining with Frank at his house, the beach, the bar, etc. We know that he liked pastrami and bud. On page 213 when the tension should be at its peak. The scintillating conversation goes as follows. "So you want something cold to drink?" "Thanks water would be great." What is the point? How anyone can compare this "writer" to Sue Grafton is beyond me.
Rating: 
Summary: goodnight ,goodbye irene
Review: THE WRITING WAS AVERAGE AT BEST.EVERYTHING HAPPENS IN THE LAST 50 PAGES,AND IT ENDED VERY SUDDEN.JAN BURKE IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE GRAFTON'S,CORNWELL'S OR EVEN PATRICIA MACDONALD.SHE IS VERY AVERAGE.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth reading - not overly impressed
Review: This book was definately worth the time and money it took to read it, but I was not overly impressed. I have been worn out on all the typical mysteries - so I thought I would spend some time getting to know Irene. I did like the character and plan to read the next books in the series. Irene was well rounded and well written. If you're bored and need a new start - try this series out. It was enjoyable - just not breathtaking.
Rating:
Summary: I loved this book. It was the BEST!!*****
Review: This book was one of the best that I have ever read. I loned it to my friend and she loved it, too. this definitely deserves 5 stars!! this is one that you definitely should read!
Rating:
Summary: Medium boiled crime novel with much to praise
Review: This is a very proficient debut novel in what has gone on to become an established series about Californian newspaperwoman Irene Kelly.
The book has -quite literally -an explosive start ,when Irene's friend and mentor the veteran journalist O'Connor is blown to pieces by a parcel bomb .Soon afterwards she herself is shot at in her own home and her former brother in law Kenny ,a resident in O'Connor's home is savagely beaten up and hospitalised .
She begins digging into O'Connor's recent cases and one turns out to be the key to events -an unsolved "Jane Doe " murder from 30 years previously about which O,Connor had repeatedly written . He was getting close to revealing both the identity of the murdered girl and in the process uncovering facts which several prominemt local politcal and social figures would rather leave in obscurity .
By continuing where O,Connor left off Irene is placing herself and others in harm's way -and the body count is by no means over
with Irene the target of two attempted murders before the case is wrapped up
Along the way she re-ignites a previous relationship with the detective in charge of the case and finds time to act as matchmaker to her oldest friend as well as getting closer to her sister
The book is moderately violent but not in lip smackingly gloating way and it occups the mid ground betwen cosy and hard boiled styles .Good start to a series I will explore more deeply
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