Saturday, December 11, 2010

Book Review: Twisted Reason

 Twisted Reason is the fourth in Diane Fanning’s series starring Lucinda Pierce. Lucinda, a homicide detective, is dedicated to her job and to the people who need her help. She’s also used to the looks she often gets when people see her scarred face. Kirkus Reviews called Lucinda Pierce a “complex heroine” and I would agree. Because she has so many facets to her life, Lucinda comes across as three-dimensional and as the kind of detective you’d want on your side.

Here’s the cover blurb describing the case that Lucinda Pierce is working in Twisted Reason:
 When a missing elderly man shows up dead on his son’s front porch, homicide detective Lucinda Pierce isn’t certain if she’s investigating a murder or one of the strangest natural deaths she’s ever encountered. Then, the search for a missing five-year-old girl leads to the discovery of the bodies of two more senior citizens. The investigation brings Lucinda into contact with the adult children of missing persons with dementia. This then resurrects the trauma of the death of her own parents causing Lucinda to question her motivation for continuing to search for answers when there are no definitive indications of homicide. A failed abduction attempt leads Lucinda to a man who did all the wrong things for al the right reasons and to a strange little Wonderland build with little money and lots of imagination.
Twisted Reason starts with a report of a missing elderly person – someone with dementia. This doesn’t set off loud bells since those with Alzheimer’s often wander. Lucinda, however, soon uncovers more missing elderly, some recent reports, some old. She’s disturbed by this and begins putting the pieces together, trying to see how all of the cases could possibly be related and trying to determine what could be simply cases of lapses of memory or wandering and what could be something more sinister. As bodies are found, she realizes that the lives of the remaining missing elderly may very well depend on her finding them before it’s too late.

Diane Fanning is an accomplished writer. Her books flow and she covers all the bases and doesn’t leave threads hanging. In addition to her Lucinda Pierce mystery series, she writes the Molly Mullet mysteries, and is the author of bestselling true-crime books. She’s also an Edgar Award Finalist.

This is not the first Lucinda Pierce mystery I’ve read, and it won’t be the last. I like reading strong female leads who are multi-dimensional. I also like that as strong as Lucinda is, she still cares and can empathize with the families who need her help. Lucinda has flaws beyond her mangled face, but they are flaws like you and I have and we can, thus, identify with her.

Twisted Reason is available from Barnes and Noble and from Amazon.

I give Diane Fanning’s Twisted Reason a Hel-of-a-Writer.
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FTC Disclaimer: The author sent me this book, but that did not influence my review. One thing that did influence my reading is that Diane wrote on a topic that is not often used in fiction – Alzheimer’s. She delved into how the disease affects families and those suffering from it. In addition, she presents multiple sides. Most families are devastated when a father or mother go missing, but not all. Some Alzheimer’s patients are so lost in the tangles of the disease that they accept what has happened to them. Some remember and struggle to go home. Alzheimer’s is a heartbreaking disease and I’m glad Diane addressed it. I’m also glad that she did it in a mystery, a fiction book that is not preachy or sad. While there are parts of it that inform, those parts are subtle. I wrote about it here because Alzheimer’s runs in my family. Other reviewers, I’m sure, will focus on what a good read Twisted Reason is and what an interesting lead Lucinda is.

35 comments:

  1. Wonderful review. I love complex characters and a great mystery.

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  3. Complex and interesting plot. Lucinda sounds like a very 'real' and multi-dimensional protagonist - I like that in a story. Thanks for this review, I need to check this writer out.

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  4. Diane is a great writer who knows how to make even subjects like Alzheimer's interesting and who can weave a good story.

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  5. A very intriguing plot. Sounds like Lucinda touches on Alzheimer's with great deal of knowledge and understanding, while weaving a good mystery.

    Mason
    Thoughts in Progress

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  6. Sounds like a great story! Thanks for the review. I'm off to buy it.

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  7. Sometimes I am so impressed with the premises authors develop for their stories. This is one of those times.

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  8. I agree Liza. I wouldn't have thought to cover this subject in a mystery.

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  9. I love flawed protagonists and the plot sounds interesting, too. Thanks for the tip, Helen!

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  10. You're welcome Elizabeth. I hope you enjoy it.

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  11. Sounds like a series I would really enjoy - thanks for the tips!

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  12. Flawed protagonists have us rooting for them from the get-go. I like the premise of this story, and the author's way of bringing a very relevant subject to fiction, and in a smart way. Great review.

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  13. That is the most meaningful and thought provoking disclaimer you're created yet!

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  14. This just sounds like an amazing book. I love mysteries as much as I love fantasy. I will look for this series.
    Thanks for hosing Diane, Helen.
    Nancy
    N. R. Williams, fantasy author

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  15. Why thank you Alex. I did have a very personal connection to the theme of this book.

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  16. This sounds like an interesting mystery--thank you for the review!

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  17. Thanks for the review, I'm always on the lookout for new mysteries and new mystery authors. This one sound good. I can tell it touched you by your FTC disclaimer, usually so funny and outrageous, but not this time - this time serious and heart felt. Alzheimer’s runs in my family too, which makes this all the more interesting to me.
    ~jon

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  18. I don't think I would have thought about using Alzheimer's in a mystery. I'm glad Diane did.

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  19. Excellent plot. I love the idea of having the young and old involved in the mystery.

    Fire and Cross

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  20. Thanks for the great review. I have read a number of Diane's book, but have not read this series. This central character, as well as the topic of Alzheimer's resonates with me, so this is another book to add to my growing list of books I would like to get. I simply have to stop reading your reviews, Helen. LOL

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  21. Hi Helen and Diane .. I love these stories that link a real life challenge in with a fiction mystery .. because it does highlight the disease and the troubles that arise - as well as the fun that does happen.

    I know with my mother's strokes and other elderlies' illnesses - I now appreciate so much and understand so much more ..

    We need to learn and appreciate life more than we do .. thanks Hilary

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  22. I hear ya, Hilary. The older I get, the more I understand my parents. And the more I can empathize with them.

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  23. Sounds like a series I need to read. I'll put this on my TBR list.

    Thanks Helen.

    ......dhole

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  24. Thanks for sharing. I prefer crime works, and this one sounds like it has an interesting plot.

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  25. I've recently just started reading crime novels again (a coworker forced Michele Marie Tate's Blood, Money, Power into my bookbag) and now I can't get enough of them. Thanks for this review! I'll be checking this title out.

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  26. Sounds like an interesting premise, but, admittedly, I'm not quite sold. I don't know what it is? Purely subjective?

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  27. Sounds like a great read ... thanks for the review. The elderly concept is a new twists as you don't see this much in mysteries.

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  29. Ryan, if you like true crime, Diane has many books out in that genre.

    Probably is, Samantha. Some books I'm drawn to, some I'm not.

    Stephen, that was one of the things that drew me in.

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  30. Sounds like an interesting angle for a crime book. Living in Florida, there are often “silver” alerts here for Alzheimer’s patients who have gone wandering.

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  31. I've never heard of a "silver" alert, Jane. That's a very good idea!

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  32. I won a Diane Fanning book via Twitter some time ago but still haven't had a chance to read it. This review is a gentle push to jump into Diane's series -- it looks really good.

    Thanks, Helen, for this excellent review.

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  33. Hi Patricia. I hope you like her books.

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  34. Helen,

    I really want to read this book--but it's not available for the Kindle! I clicked the link on Amazon asking the publisher to make the book available in Kindle. Sure hope they do. Several months ago, I won a book on a blog that sounds wonderful, but it is in print, and I been looking at it for months and saying I'm going to read it. Also went to a booksigning of one of my favorite authors and bought her latest book more than a year ago. But I always end up reaching for the Kindle when I sit down to read. I know myself well enough to know it would be a lost cause for me to buy Diane's book in print.

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  35. Lillie, I understand what you're saying. I don't have an eReader, but my husband does. Since he got the iPad he has not read a printed book.

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