Life Without Parole: A Kate Conway Mystery (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
I received this through GoodReads Giveaway.I have not read the first book in this series, so I read this as a stand alone story.Kate is still recovering from the death of her husband who died just months after leaving her for his mistress. She is stuck in drudgery and has been content to live life on auto-pilot. However, she is starting to become annoyed with her stale life, current job as a tv producer for a budget makeover series when BAM! two things land in her lap to create some excitement. She has been tapped to produce a show for a prestigious network featuring the construction, start-up and opening of a ritzy restaurant AND to intervew two prisoners that are sentenced to life for a prisoner series. She accepts both never thinking that the two shows would somehow intertwine.Kate receives a rude awakening when she discovers one of the investors of the restaurant is the woman that her husband left her for, Vera. Vera continually tries to bond with Kate, and though Kate is reluctant to let her in, she admits Vera is really a decent person. It doesn't help that Kate's camera man and sound man both like Vera also. Kate decides to continue on with the show and meets Vera's new beau who is also an invester.In prison, Kate interviews two prisoners: one that seems to have accepted his fate and has made a life within the walls, the other who claims he can't remember his crime, but says he must have done it. As both series continue filming, Kate receives a call from Vera that she has found a dead body at the restaurant. Making the decision to call Kate first and waiting for her to arrive before calling the police is only the first of several mistakes. A little white lie to the cops starts a spiral of deceit and bad decisions, Kate talks to the prisoners about her dilemna, and one of the prisoner's reveals that he has info on another invester that has been linked to the mob. More intrigue ensues with double-dealing, not so surprising twists, and finally the conclusion.I wanted to like this book much more than I actually did because I started out really enjoying Kate. As the book progressed, she made so many dumb choices that I couldn't associate with the smart, scrappy Kate from the beginning of the book. This is a quick read, good for a day off or layover.And I'm sorry, but any woman that messes around with a married man has NO redeeming values. I like all Clare O'Donohues books. This was ok it dragged a little and I really didn't get the whole prisoner part of the story. The description said she used the inmates to help solve the crime I didn't feel like they provided any real insight at all. that being said it was an ok book. nothing earth shattering or memorable about it but it held my interest. yes I will buy the next book she puts out because I do enjoy her work.
What do You think about Life Without Parole: A Kate Conway Mystery (2012)?
I really enjoyed this book! Recommend it to anyone who likes mysteries!
—nicolelynn44
Ending does leave you hanging but she is moving toward living life!
—Ayp
This is one of my favorite new mystery series!
—tomboi1997
