Mystery Book Review: Dishonored by J. R. Reardon

Dishonored
by J. R. Reardon
A Rebecca Tameron Mystery

Outskirts Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-4327-5080-1 (1432750801)
ISBN-13: 978-1-4327-5080-0 (9781432750800)
Publication Date: January 2010
List Price: $32.95

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Review: Vermont Federal Court Judge Rebecca Tameron gets caught up in the mysterious circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a Supreme Court Justice in Dishonored, the second mystery in this series by J. R. Reardon.

Justice McNaught has vanished, but his credit card is being used to purchase expensive items from stores in England and Ireland. It seems as if his identity may have been stolen, but the whereabouts of the justice are unknown, as is whether this is a kidnapping or terrorist plot. Rebecca, a close friend of the McNaught family, travels with her husband Joshua to Washington DC to assist in the investigation. While there, Joshua arranges for them to sharpen their weapon handling skills at a private shooting range at the academy of the US Postal Inspection Service. Inspector Tristan Banda escorts them to the facility, but is later found shot, apparently with the gun used by Rebecca. In trying to clear her of the shooting, she subsequently falls under suspicion of being involved with McNaught's disappearance. Is someone trying to frame her? And if so, why?

Dishonored is a very twisty thriller, but solidly grounded by the character of Rebecca Tameron. She's not naive -- as a judge, she's seen her fair share of the anger, greed, jealousy and hatred in her courtroom -- but still tries to see the positive in both people and situations. This trait is sorely tested when she's the center of a criminal investigation, yet her support group, friends and family, remain true to her. The kidnapping / stolen identity plot is well developed and progresses at a consistently steady pace, with an outcome that most readers won't see coming. Appealing characters, an absorbing story, and an unexpected conclusion are all elements of this remarkable novel.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Dishonored and to J. R. Reardon for providing a trade paperback edition (Outskirts Press, January 2010, 978-1-4327-5079-4) of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2010 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved

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Synopsis (from the publisher): Federal District Court Judge Rebecca Tameron seemed to have it all-a loving family, a prestigious career and the respect of her community ~ that is, until her world falls apart. Implicated in the disappearance of a Supreme Court Justice, and the shooting of a Federal agent, Tameron scrambles to uncover the truth. The problem is, each investigative leads she pursues only results in more questions, and every investigative avenue she takes leads back to her. How can she clear her name?

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