Brilliant Disguise
by Mary Anne Edwards
Series: The Charlie McClung Mysteries, #1
Genre: Traditional Mystery
Cover Designer: Jasmine Woodworth
Release Date: January 20, 2014
Detective Charlie McClung no longer finds his job fulfilling and has given up finding that "someone" his granny promised he would find. So he leaves behind the big city and his close-knit family and takes a job in a small town police department in Georgia, resigned to live a quiet life in solitude.
Things change when he meets Marian Selby while investigating the mysterious death of her best friend. But Marian swore never to love again after the death of her husband 11 years ago. What seems to be a suicide turns into a tangled web of deceit, corruption, and complicated shadows.
Can the two of them come to grips with their feelings for each other before the killer closes in on them?
Perry’s eyes narrowed as he studied McClung’s movements. He could be bad news even though he seems okay. I still don’t trust the jerk. If he would quit, move on, die. He tilted his head side to side rolling around the idea. Hmmm, dying would be the ideal situation. Maybe a drug bust gone wrong could be arranged. The chief smiled.
It's nice when an author can bring love and mystery together. It's especially nice when it's done well. In Brilliant Disguise, the author has created a perfect scenario for romance. When a local woman of a small town is found dead with a gunshot wound, her friend, Marian, knows the death is more sinister than it appears. In order to prove it, she needs the help of the new investigator, Charlie. Working in close proximity of him, investigating together, these two find themselves discovering more than just clues to a mystery - they discover that they're actually falling for each other.
Of course, it's more than just a romance. The mystery is absolutely thrilling. It's so much so, that it will literally keep you guessing until the very last moment. The story is so well written, and the characters are well-developed - made even more possible through the charming romance that develops between Marian and Charlie.
After reading this book, I can honestly say that book number two can't come soon enough! What a fantastic read!
Rating: 5 stars
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All conclusions reached are my own.
I have been married for 33 years to the most practically perfect man, Jeff. We enjoy traveling and watching mysteries on TV. We are also a part of the drama team at our church. Funny thing, he writes all the skits, I just act. I am active in Sisters in Crime Atlanta Chapter and sit on the advisory board of Rockdale Cares, Inc., a non-profit advocacy group for the developmentally challenged.
I began writing in high school but not seriously until 1999. I write traditional mysteries and my biggest influences are Agatha Christie, Anne Perry, Caroline Graham, Elizabeth Peters, and my family. I have had short stories published in Evangel and The Associate Reformed Presbyterian magazines. I have published a collection of eclectic short stories titled, My Favorite Work of Art.
My first manuscript, Useless Beauty, is waiting for me to breathe life into it. It was put on hold because my second manuscript, Brilliant Disguise, was begging to be written. It is the first in the Detective Charlie McClung mysteries. “Brilliant Disguise” was released on January 21, 2014. The second book, “A Good Girl”, was released on September 23, 2014, and the third book, “Criminal Kind”, will be released in April, 2015. There are seven more to follow in the series.
.jpg)
