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mbpartlow's review
4.0
I think this is one of the best premises I've read for opening a mystery novel. A stressed and frazzled woman picks up the wrong phone in the bustle and rush at a deli counter on her way home from work. When it rings, and she answers it, she hears what sounds like plans for an assassination.
You'd go to the police, right? Even if you had very good reasons for wanting to avoid the limelight. You'd go to the intended victim, right? Even though he knows your sordid past (as does everyone with a television or a newspaper) and has no reason to believe you.
I found myself caught up in Sydney's story, unable to put the book down. When you think she's getting a handle on things, something new blows up. Suspenseful and well plotted.
You'd go to the police, right? Even if you had very good reasons for wanting to avoid the limelight. You'd go to the intended victim, right? Even though he knows your sordid past (as does everyone with a television or a newspaper) and has no reason to believe you.
I found myself caught up in Sydney's story, unable to put the book down. When you think she's getting a handle on things, something new blows up. Suspenseful and well plotted.
nsingla3008's review
5.0
Great book. This is a tight knitted thriller and it never slows down. Read it in 2 days. Great story revolving around crime , politics, cheating and family.
beckmank's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve read many cozy mysteries by Ms. DiSilverio (The Charlie Swift Mysteries, Mall Cop Mysteries, and the first in The Readaholics series), but Close Call is very different. It’s fast paced and full of suspense.
The majority of the book alternates between Sydney’s perspective, and hired killer Paul’s. Even though you are getting information from the killer’s perspective, there is still plenty of mystery – who hired him and why? Sydney is frantically wondering the same thing – whose phone does she have, and ultimately, who hired him?
Another layer in the story is the relationship between each main character and their family. Sydney is reconnected with her estranged sister Reese, who seems to want to help her, but Sydney doesn’t trust Reese’s motives. Meanwhile, Paul is living a double life – his relationship with his sick father adds interesting pieces to his story.
Overall, a fun read. I’ve enjoyed Ms. DiSilverio’s writing in the past, and Close Call did not disappoint. I stayed up late at night to keep turning pages and see what would happen next.
From my review at Hidden Staircase.
The majority of the book alternates between Sydney’s perspective, and hired killer Paul’s. Even though you are getting information from the killer’s perspective, there is still plenty of mystery – who hired him and why? Sydney is frantically wondering the same thing – whose phone does she have, and ultimately, who hired him?
Another layer in the story is the relationship between each main character and their family. Sydney is reconnected with her estranged sister Reese, who seems to want to help her, but Sydney doesn’t trust Reese’s motives. Meanwhile, Paul is living a double life – his relationship with his sick father adds interesting pieces to his story.
Overall, a fun read. I’ve enjoyed Ms. DiSilverio’s writing in the past, and Close Call did not disappoint. I stayed up late at night to keep turning pages and see what would happen next.
From my review at Hidden Staircase.
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