Silicone Solution: A Novel of Mystery and Suspense

Rating:
Summary: An extremely entertaining and crisp mystery
Review: Originally a lawyer, Silicone Solution is M. Diane Vogt's first mystery. She is a resident of Tampa, Florida where the book is set.

Judge Wilhelmina "Willa" Carson is among the elite of Tampa. She is a woman judge, and is also a rescuer of her lifelong pseudo sibling and fellow lawyer, Carly. When Carly suddenly appears, Willa knows that she has to rescue her from some fix she has gotten herself into. But this time she drops a bombshell into Willa's lap:

"'Did you see the story on the body they found out by the Skyway?' I nodded. Frank Bendler had the report. He'd said pieces of a body were pulled out of Tampa Bay in the morning hours just before dawn. Hands and feet were bound together by clothesline and tied to small slabs of cement. The largest portion of the body, the part the fish hadn't eaten, was found banging up against the pilings of the Sunshine Skyway bridge over in Penellas County. It was completely unrecognizable."

Vogt takes the reader into a world of wealth, privilege, vanity, and yes...silicone. In fact, silicone and its safety constitute a major part of this extremely entertaining and crisp mystery. Vogt leads the reader by the nose as Willa journeys through her years of Tampa society friendships, when she finds that what appears on the surface is far different from the truth about people she's known for years. Everything is high stakes, and Willa's position becomes more precarious as she unravels the truth. Carey disappears and reappears at inopportune moments, while Willa struggles with her position, her suspicions, and tradition.

Ms. Vogt has written a good time mystery that uncovers what we all knew all along...the rich have their foibles too. Only they play for higher stakes. The higher they are; the further they fall. M. Diane Vogt makes it enjoyable and also manages to convince us of the tragedies that vanity produces. Alone the way she gives the reader some excellent information about just what the silicone legal wrangling is about. As she points out, if an older woman looks too good, there is probably a plastic surgeon close by. A rip-roaring good time!

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer

Rating:
Summary: An extremely entertaining and crisp mystery
Review: Originally a lawyer, Silicone Solution is M. Diane Vogt's first mystery. She is a resident of Tampa, Florida where the book is set.

Judge Wilhelmina "Willa" Carson is among the elite of Tampa. She is a woman judge, and is also a rescuer of her lifelong pseudo sibling and fellow lawyer, Carly. When Carly suddenly appears, Willa knows that she has to rescue her from some fix she has gotten herself into. But this time she drops a bombshell into Willa's lap:

"`Did you see the story on the body they found out by the Skyway?' I nodded. Frank Bendler had the report. He'd said pieces of a body were pulled out of Tampa Bay in the morning hours just before dawn. Hands and feet were bound together by clothesline and tied to small slabs of cement. The largest portion of the body, the part the fish hadn't eaten, was found banging up against the pilings of the Sunshine Skyway bridge over in Penellas County. It was completely unrecognizable."

Vogt takes the reader into a world of wealth, privilege, vanity, and yes...silicone. In fact, silicone and its safety constitute a major part of this extremely entertaining and crisp mystery. Vogt leads the reader by the nose as Willa journeys through her years of Tampa society friendships, when she finds that what appears on the surface is far different from the truth about people she's known for years. Everything is high stakes, and Willa's position becomes more precarious as she unravels the truth. Carey disappears and reappears at inopportune moments, while Willa struggles with her position, her suspicions, and tradition.

Ms. Vogt has written a good time mystery that uncovers what we all knew all along...the rich have their foibles too. Only they play for higher stakes. The higher they are; the further they fall. M. Diane Vogt makes it enjoyable and also manages to convince us of the tragedies that vanity produces. Alone the way she gives the reader some excellent information about just what the silicone legal wrangling is about. As she points out, if an older woman looks too good, there is probably a plastic surgeon close by. A rip-roaring good time!

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer

Rating:
Summary: A juicy mystery
Review: Plant Key is a private island that lies off the coast of Tampa. On the island is the Minaut mansion that now is a home and restaurant of Greg and Wilhelmina "Willie" Carson. Willie is a federal judge, who enjoys her job, which is hers for life unless she's impeached.

She almost crosses the impeachment line when her "surrogate" sister Carly tells her she knows the identity of a man found in the water with a bullet in his head. By taking her information to Willie instead of the police, Carly jeopardizes both their careers. When Carly vanishes, Willie, fearing an obstruction of justice charge, goes to the police. Carly is now the prime suspect in the murder. Though it could cost her job and perhaps her life, Willie begins an investigation to keep her sister out of jail.

Willie is one of the nicest, likable, yet believable amateur sleuths to come along in years. She errs and takes too many wrong turns, which make her seem so real. The story line centers on breast implants and will keep reader attention throughout the tale. As a bonus, the audience journeys into the haunts of the rich and famous of Tampa making M. Diane Vogt's terrific tale that much better. This author has a bright future ahead of her.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Highly enjoyable who-done-it
Review: When Carly tells Judge Wilhelmina (Willa) Carson she knowswhose body was discovered in Tampa Bay and she believes that the victim was murdered, Willa finds herself facing an ethical dilemma. If she informs the police, she could be offering up her sister as a prime suspect for a murder she may not have committed; if she does not, as a Federal District Court Judge she could be accused of withholding evidence or being an accessory to the obstruction of justice and face impeachment. As she stalls for time, Willa investigates everyone who may have had a reason to kill prominent plastic surgeon Dr. Mike Morgan. The long list she compiles includes a fascinating mix of suspects from breast implant litigators to medical colleagues to Tampa society matrons. First time novelist, Diane Vogt writes with the authentic voice of someone who has practiced law for over 18 years. Cigar- smoking Judge Carson is a mature, happily-married woman with connections to the highest levels of Tampa powerbrokers. This makes her a most unusual amateur sleuth and Silicone Solution, a highly enjoyable who-done-it. I'm eagerly awaiting whatever intrigue the good Judge encounters her next time out.

Rating:
Summary: A fun Florida mystery with memorable characters!
Review: Willa Carson is Kay Scarpetta, Kinsey Milhone and Archie McNally rolled into one! This is a story with humor, suspense as well as being very informative - it is a fast paced mystery with very well defined characters. Can't wait for the next one!