Reviews

Cold and Pure and Very Dead by Joanne Dobson

nursenell's review

4.0

This is book 4 in a series but is the first book of the series I've read. I enjoyed it. Karen Pelletier is a PhD professor at a small New England college. When she is interviewed by a reporter from the New York Times she is asked what was the best book of the century. She names a long forgotten book, Oblivion Falls, published in the late 1950's. The book is along the lines of Peyton Place. The author disappears shortly after the book becomes a best seller and hasn't been heard from in 40 years. When the interview is published the book is reprinted and all of sudden the hunt is on for the missing author.

Interestingly the book has an adoption theme running through it. The author of Oblivion Falls gives up her baby for adoption, he grows up to become a best selling author. He is searching for his birthmother, with no clue she is the author of Oblivion Falls. Lots of secrets, lots of heartache, and a few deaths make this a very good book.

cdbellomy's review

3.0

I thought the idea of "murder-due-to-flippant-answer" was novel.