The Bathsheba Connection

Rating:
Summary: A real page-turner
Review: A well-paced enjoyable read. The characters come to life in a believable setting, with plenty of wit and suspense. A real page-turner! Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Not only delightful, but also authentic!
Review: The Bathsheba Connection by Ruth Walter is simply delightful to read. The pacing is just right as a retired American teacher is forced into the role of "detective" by the disappearance of a friend. Not only is the mystery juicy, but the details of life in Paris are right on mark, creating a wonderful contrast between down-to-earth Goldie Yampolsky with her wry sense of humor and a plethora of sophisticated chracters including Russian gangsters and call girls. A must read!

Rating:
Summary: The Bathsheba Connection to Parisian Underworld
Review: The mystery novel is evolving toward new forms and concerns as traditional themes and motivations are questioned in our sceptical age. The Bathsheba Connection, a first novel by Ruth Walter, may very well be seen as among those landmark works which break new ground, and set the pattern for future writers. It takes the amateur detective as a protagonist, a metaphor for everyman (in this case everywoman) facing the complexities of evil in a world with fewer and fewer ethical guidelines, and triggers a stunning series of thrilling and chilling encounters.

An innocent abroad in Paris, hoping for a peaceful retirement after a lifetime of teaching, is wrenched into the quagmire of Parisian lawlessness and bureacracy by the disappearance of a friend; resisting official indifference, she penetrates the underworld by offering herself as a hostage; terrified but determined, she perseveres until she successflly confronts the cave of darkness,but is changed forever by a new awareness of the mysteries of love and hate.

The snappy dialogue and wry sense of humor will propel you along a great read! Don't miss it!