This novel offers what every good mystery should – fine writing, engaging characters, an unsolved murder, and a sleuth
driven to determine what happened. All of Braun's novels deserve this
recipe. Unfortunately, not all of her books provide it. Braun clearly
knows how to apply tension, intrigue, and suspense. For that reason, I can't understand why
so many of her books often lack these winning elements. It's as if she's
merely stumbling on these devices blindly. Which I refuse to
believe. Yet in some cases the contrast appears too great to be
otherwise.
Some of her novels convince you this is a mystery writer
to follow. Others make you wonder whether this is the same author. I
mean, how do you go from a well-plotted novel with engaging,
intriguing characters, tension, an unfolding of events and clues and
sleuth-work to a satisfying finale in one novel, such as this one or
her novel The Cat Who Saw Red
(which is also excellent) and then on to the next novel that
chronicles (stress free), irrelevant conversations, summaries of
menus and luncheons, soirees, benefits, charities, and just about
anything else that would serve a personal diary, as her novel The
Cat Who Smelled a Rat does? I acknowledge
that not everything a given author writes can be a masterpiece. But
with Braun, the difference between the two, the contrast from a
keeper to a throw away, is staggering.
Still, ...Talked to Ghosts is good. Four out of five stars. PG
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