Book Review: ‘Jury Rigged’ by Laurie Moore
2008 December 22
A review of member Laurie Moore’s latest book, Jury Rigged, ran in the Dallas Morning News on Sunday. Here are some excerpts:
“It’s a wonder Laurie Moore’s madcap mysteries haven’t hit the big screen. The former Fort Worth cop’s whodunits possess enough rowdy action, sex and rambunctious characters for a franchise.
Take the latest, Jury Rigged, third in her Cowtown police homicide series starring Cézanne Martin, a fiery, hard-driving detective with an attitude and law degree.
More Calamity Jane than Jane Marple, Cézanne has a big mouth, a badge and a Smith & Wesson five-shot just like her creator carried when she was on the job. She also has an unholstered libido.
Already the spunky sleuth has solved a couple of high-profile murders, one undercover involving the Dungeons of Decadence sex club in The Wild Orchid Society (2004). She also solved the murder of her captain’s daughter, who was the secret lover of Cézanne’s police partner, in The Lady Godiva Murder (2002).
On 90-day leave from the department to set up her law office, Cézanne gets a diamond ring from Sheriff Bobby Noah, who then disappears. Next, a murderess escaped from jail tries to kill her, and much to the detective’s surprise, she inherits a stately brownstone on University Drive from her long-estranged dad.
But with the legacy come grasping relatives she didn’t know she had, a missing brother (or is he?) and Deuteronomy Devilrow, her adolescent Voodoo-practicing ward with a harlequin Great Dane named Enigma…
Ms. Moore began writing crime fiction between classes at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law and sometimes played hooky to attend the DFW Writers Workshop, where members read and critique each other’s work. Her breakthrough came when a visiting agent heard the Texan read from one of her policewoman procedurals. Perhaps Hollywood should bend an ear, too.
Jury Rigged
Laurie Moore
(Five Star Publishing, $25.95) ”
