Ready for a "fantastic" Crime Thriller? Try THE RISE OF THE RED QUEEN

Ready for a mystery to surprise and delight? Our Ashleigh Compton reviewed The Rise of the Red Queen by Bourne Morris.

The Red Queen returns, and she's better than ever. Red Solaris is one of three candidates for the permanent position, Dean of Journalism. She worries about competing with the two male candidates, who seem to be favored by the hiring committee. Her partner, Detective Joe Morgan, is reluctant to take the next step and move in with her. And on top of it all, one of her students has disappeared. As she assists with the investigation, Red's feelings will be stretched to the limit. When the student's life hangs in the balance, can Red solve the crime on her own or will she find herself in over her head?

I absolutely love THE RISE OF THE RED QUEEN. Bourne Morris has once again used her own experience to create a unique mystery novel with complex characters. Red is just as delightful and relatable as before. She's the aunt we've all always wanted: caring, intelligent, and a real action hero. I really felt everything she was going through, especially when the problems started with Joe. The wonderful voice in which Red speaks to her reader is probably my favorite part of the novel. The characterization is wonderful: the victim speaks to us in her own unique voice, Joe Morgan is so real I feel him standing next to me, and even the criminal has his good elements as well as his clear evil.

Another thing which really makes this character work is the struggles as a teacher and as an applicant actually seem real. When a disagreement between teachers turns violent, it is handled exactly as a real school might handle it. The characters are never overly dramatic out of context. Everything is very nicely balanced and polished. At no point in this novel did I feel like I was being taken out of the action. It is a non-stop thrill ride with cleverness in every step.

THE RISE OF THE RED QUEEN is a fun novel that brings a new light to the plight of journalism professors who moonlight as detectives. If you're very interested in detective novels where the hero is active and thoughtful, give Red Solaris a try. The realism in this novel is intense, and so is the action. Suspension of disbelief is not a great requirement for this book. If you are a critical reader, reading just for fun, or really need something to inspire your own actions, THE RISE OF THE RED QUEEN could be exactly what you need.

Reviewed by Ashleigh Compton

Mystery

About Bourne Morris

Bourne Morris began writing at Bennington College where she studied under the late poet laureate, Howard Nemerov. After college, she worked at McCall’s Magazine and then went to Ogilvy & Mather, New York during the “Mad Men” era. David Ogilvy and his colleagues treated her wonderfully, promoted her several times and then sent her west to become head of their agency in Los Angeles. She had a splendid run in advertising.

In 1983, she joined the University of Nevada Reno as a full professor in Journalism where she taught until 2009. She learned about campus politics when she served as chair of the faculty senate. She retired to write mysteries in 2009 after an equally wonderful teaching career.

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About THE RISE OF THE RED QUEEN

A beautiful student is missing. Did she leave on impulse, or was it something more sinister? When the young woman’s grandfather pleads for help, journalism dean Meredith “Red” Solaris agrees to help search for the student, but doesn’t know she may have to risk everything to find her.

Worse yet, without solid evidence, Red and Detective Joe Morgan have little basis for investigation. Murky university politics—and Red’s own struggle to keep her job—thwart efforts to find a girl held captive by a man willing to steal what he cannot win.

Red Solaris Mystery #2

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