I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Love Songs Murders
in Paperback edition on August 15, 2011 and has 276 pages.
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Review source: Author
First in the Winston-Strom* mystery series revolving around two detectives with the Seattle Police Department: Nick Winston and Pat Strom.
* My own label as Marshall hasn’t named it yet.
My Take
I’m undecided between a “2.5” and a “3” for this story. Marshall actually has an interesting take on the partnership in this story between the definitely heterosexual Nick and the gay Pat and I would be curious to see where she takes this. However, there are some huge holes in the story and Marshall is badly in need of an editor and a style guide.
The summary on the back of the book is more sensationalist than anything else. Yes, Winston and Strom’s individual interest in the same person does create a problem, but that’s not the primary issue in this story.
I like both characters. They’re human with human weaknesses, and they both still rise above those shortcomings. I also enjoyed Jasmine’s character. She starts out as such a bitch and her ordeals cause her to re-evaluate the choices she’s made. Although, toward the end, one of those holes I mentioned opens up and makes me wonder just how sincere she is or if this is part of the plan to entice us onto the next in the series. Chief Flynn is another hole. I can’t imagine the police chief of a major metropolitan city acting the way she does and jeopardizing her own career. Is the chief really that much of a ball-breaker that she has to be referred to as “chief” in every aspect of her life??
I also enjoyed Marshall creating Jasmine’s Love Songs show and how she made use of the songs to set the scene, so to speak. Marshall, in general, writes dialog well.
This is Seattle and Nick has just recently told us that the Pacific Northwest breeds serial killers and then Carter turns around and is angry because they’ve had two dead bodies in one week. Sounds like that would be an improvement…
Okay, so part of the case is solved although the victim still isn’t recovered. Why is it that everything just stops for the night?? She’s missing in the woods after having been kidnapped and hurt. So everyone just goes home to bed?? Nor do I understand why Winston and Strom completely ignore a character who has demonstrated hatred for the victim.
Nick’s discussion with Hudson about how they determined commonality was lacking. Sure, we as the readers know how many of the dead listened to the same station, but Hudson doesn’t know and Nick doesn’t tell him. Another hole.
The Story
The bodies pile up with a few common clues: the same radio station playing at the time of death and the activity upon which the murder victim was engaged.
Someone has it in for KLOV radio station when one of their more popular radio show hosts is kidnapped. That, along with the murders, has people on edge.
None more so than Nick Winston who has fallen in love.
The Characters
Nick Winston and Pat Strom are both detectives in the Seattle Police Department. He likes women and so does she. What is important, however, is that both of them are good at what they do. John Carter is the Seattle medical examiner. Captain/Lieutenant Nelson seems to be Nick and Pat’s immediate superior.
Chief Sharon Flynn heads up the Seattle PD. Mayor Rick Fleming is under fire as the kidnapping and murders drag on. Detective Greenberg is with the Bellevue PD.
Jasmine James has gotten a little too caught up in her own celebrity status and uses it for everything she has ever wanted from satisfying her addictions to promoting her career. Felicita Hernandez is an ambitious woman with a huge chip on her shoulder. Jack Hudson is the disgusting KLOV general manager. Mike and Mandy have their own popular show with KLOV.
Jeff Owens is the nutjob with an obsession for Jasmine. Another reason why parents should be licensed to have children!
The Cover and Title
The cover is okay. The model doesn’t fit with how I imagine Jasmine James looks. No dark hair for one. She does hold a pair of headphones and that’s about the only concession to the story’s background. With all the emphasis on Love Songs and being set against a radio station with its emphasis on music, I’d have expected the dripping blood to form a musical note or a bar of music or a heart. Unless the existing shape is meant to be a microphone?
The title is accurate as Winston and Strom are investigating the Love Songs Murders inspired by Jasmine’s radio show. I have to confess it does not trip off the tongue.
