Life Without Parole by Clare O’Donohue
Life Without Parole by Clare O’Donohue is the second book (April 2012 release) of her Kate Conway series. In the first book, Missing Persons, we met Kate, who is a television producer, and her crew. In Missing Persons, Kate solved the mystery of her soon to be divorced husband’s death, as well as finding who the murderer was in the missing person case she was filming.
Life Without Parole picks up a few months later, with some of the characters from the previous book, which includes her two camera/audio friends, and her ex husband’s mistress, who wants to be friends with Kate. Kate is still not totally over the death of her husband. Though they were in the middle of divorce at the time of his death, she still thinks about their years together, even knowing he left her for another woman. But Kate is alone, feeling sorry for herself, and her friends and family have become concerned for her lack of motivation to move on.
Kate receives two job offers. To do a documentary of about Life Without Parole at the local prison. This offer excites Kate, and she accepts it. But then she receives another offer, something she does not want, but accepts that one due to the double pay. This one is a reality show about a new restaurant opening. Life for Kate gets hectic, as one of the owners of the restaurant is murdered, and once again Kate becomes involved in trying to solve the murder. Of course Vera, her husbands mistress, who has befriended her and whom Kate can’t seem to get rid of, is the prime suspect. Despite her reluctance to get involved, Kate feels the need to help Vera, whom Kate sees as too trusting and vulnerable.
Kate and crew, Andres and Victor, make their weekly visits to Dugan prison, to meet with two life time prisoners. This is a very interesting aspect of the story. No real mystery here, but both men during the visits will make suggestions to Kate on her ongoing murder investigation. She learns to relax and be open with both of them, and a sort of trust develops. We get to learn about Brick, a hardened criminal, who accepts his fate of dying at the prison. Tim is the other life time prisoner, who killed his wife, and later tells Kate he was innocent, and under the influence of drugs. Kate takes on Tim’s case to try to see if she can help him. This storyline of filming the documentary of the prisoners in their every day life was interesting, and nothing dangerous. However, nearer to the end, there is a change of events that takes a chilling turn, which may prove to be dangerous to Kate. But a friendship made will be crucial in eliminating any threats.
The main storyline is the murder mystery at the restaurant and how Kate and her crew work to help Vera, whom the lead detective is convinced is the murderer. It seems throughout, almost all the investors in the restaurant are suspects.
This is a murder mystery that has you baffled, especially with so many new twists along the way. Kate Conway is an excellent character, and I enjoyed her sense of humor, her friendships with her crew, especially her unusual friendship with Vera, which is fun.
Clare O’Donohue has created a wonderful and different character in Kate. O’Donohue gives us a lot of humor and wittiness, into this interesting story, and the characters are very real, with normal real flawed people, which is a pleasure to watch. Missing Persons had two ongoing storylines, as does Life Without Parole. O’Donohue has shown she knows what she writes, creates a real and detailed storyline, and flawlessy presents this mystery. If you enjoy mysteries well done, then Life Without Parole is for you.
Reviewed by Barb
Book provided by Publisher
