Murder in Times Square ( A Deirdre Mystery 1) by William Baer-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 3, 2023

When a young woman in a red designer dress falls twenty-five stories from the roof of Times Square One, the well-known New York fashion model known as Deirdre resolves to unravel the mystery. Capable and determined, Deirdre is relentless in her drive to unravel the mystery and find justice for the victim, while protecting those she loves from looming threats.

Baer, who has worked in the New York City’s fashion district, showcases not only his depth of knowledge of the fashion industry, but also of New York City and its landmarks and history. He weaves an intricate, fast-paced, and spellbinding narrative that takes us through New York City, Atlantic City, the Jersey Shore, and the Caribbean. In Murder in Times Square, Baer once again proves he is a master of suspense and intrigue.

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REVIEW: MURDER IN TIMES SQUARE is the first instalment in William Baer’s contemporary, adult A DEIRDRE MYSTERY murder, mystery, thriller series focusing on nineteen year old Deirdre Flanagan.

Told from first person perspective using present day and memories from the past MURDER IN TIMES SQUARE follows in the wake of the murder of a senator’s son, and the death of his ‘date’ from atop a high rise building in NYC. Deirdre Flanagan, known only as Dierdre in the world of supermodel fashion, is the nineteen year old daughter of former super middleweight boxing champion Sean Flanagan, and the niece of NYPD captain Pat Flanagan. At eleven years of age, having spent most of her time alongside her uncle as he investigates the crime riddled city of New York, Deirdre was licensed as a NY investigator, and eventually registered as a legal gun owner. Fast forward to present day Deirdre is caught in a vicious cycle of endless murders and gun fights all seemingly connected to the murder of the senator’s son but clues and evidence begin to reveal a path that leads back to our story line heroine, a path mired in betrayal and vengeance, madness and murder.

Deirdre Flanagan is a nineteen year old super model, at the top of her profession, and everyone and everybody is in love with our story line heroine. From Detective Rick Dempsey, to body guard Carlos Menendez, there are no limits to the number of men and women who want to be a part of the world that belongs to Deirdre Flanagan but Deirdre has always been led to believe she is different, and it is this belief that has controlled a large part of our heroine’s life. An atypical life, with an unconventional upbringing, Deirdre is much older and wiser than most people twice her age.

We are introduced to Deirdre’s father former super middleweight boxing champion Sean Flanagan, and his brother/her uncle NYPD captain Pat Flanagan; ‘bodyguard’ Carlos Menendez, and Detective Rick Dempsey. There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and questionable secondary and supporting characters many of whom will be caught in a web of murder and vengeance.

MURDER IN TIMES SQUARE is awash in the name dropping of the famous and infamous; fashion brands and models; sports icons and NY landmarks, as well as the history surrounding many of the important monuments and benchmarks that may or may not have affected the history of one of the busiest and most populace cities in the world.

MURDER IN TIMES SQUARE is a detailed, complex and intricate story of betrayal, obsession, vengeance and murder. The premise is intriguing and thorough but I question the reality of a young child endorsed to own a gun and authorized to investigate some of the most heinous crimes but this is fiction, and meant to entertain. The characters are colorful, energetic, and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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William Baer, a recent Guggenheim fellow, is the award-winning author of twenty-two books, and his various plays have been produced at over thirty American theaters.  He grew up in the Bronx and Wayne, New Jersey, where his family was actively involved in “little theater.”  A graduate of Rutgers (B.A.) and New York University (M.A.), he completed his dissertation in creative writing at the University of South Carolina under the direction of James Dickey.  After attending the Johns Hopkins’ Writing Seminars (M.A.), he served as a Fulbright at the University of Coimbra in Portugal.  He then attended the University of Southern California’s Graduate School of Cinema (M.A.), where he received the Jack Nicholson Screenwriting Award.  The recipient of a Creative Writing Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, he currently lives in North Jersey.