Mystery Book Review: Dead Copy by Kit Frazier

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, has written a review of Dead Copy by Kit Frazier. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Dead Copy by Kit Frazier
A Cauley MacKinnon Mystery

Midnight Ink (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-7387-0959-X (073870959X)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7387-0959-8 (9780738709598)
Publication Date: May 2007
List Price: $13.95

Synopsis (from the publisher): Twentysomething Cauley MacKinnon is dying to escape the obituary beat and become a real reporter for the Austin Sentinel. Her best chance at a front-page scoop disappeared when she got too close to a case and almost got killed. Cauley also managed to fall for the smoking-hot FBI agent assigned to protect her.

When Special Agent Tom Logan shows up asking for a fake obituary to make a key trial witness disappear, Cauley jumps at the chance to help. After all, she's still watching his dog Tahoe although maybe its the other way around.

Caught in the crossfire on the courthouse steps, Cauley sees the murder of the man whose death she already helped fake.

Now someone is making it clear that they don't want Cauley getting any closer to the case unless she wants to wind up on the obituary page herself.

Review: Dead Copy is the second mystery by Kit Frazier to feature spirited obituary writer Cauley MacKinnon who's looking for any chance to prove she can be a credible journalist.

An opportunity to do just that comes by way of FBI agent Tom Logan who asks her to write an obituary for an informant who is still alive. They want him to disappear until the trial at which time he can give his testimony regarding two mob gangs, one in Austin and one just south of the border in Mexico. The day of the trial, and before he can testify, the "dead" man is gunned down between two US marshals on the steps of the courthouse. Cauley witnesses the murder and sees the shooters leave. Knowing she identify the killers, she is sent a canary stabbed to death with one of her own knives. The note in the box makes it perfectly clear what would happen to her if she sings. Someone out there wants Cauley to know they are watching and stay away from this case. Cauley, being the impetuous person she is, decides to press forward to find the person or persons who want her dead. At her side is her adopted search-and-rescue dog, Marlowe.

Frazier does a terrific job of allowing the reader to connect with Cauley MacKinnon. She is not a wonder woman and knows her own limitations. When there's a job to be done, she ponders over it for a few minutes then seeks out the most suitable friends or co-workers to help her. Dead Copy is written with a light touch, melding several touching scenes with others that include lively banter between Cauley and her friends and enemies. It's a good mystery wrapped around an exciting love story. Or maybe the other way around.

And then there's Marlowe. What a sweet, talented dog he is!

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Dead Copy and to Midnight Ink for providing a copy of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

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