Fast-Paced Action in the Adirondacks, November 3, 2014
This review is from: Betrayal: A Tall Pines Mystery (Tall Pines Mysteries Book 4) (Kindle Edition)
Action-packed is the word for this novel by Aaron Lazar. It takes place in the Adirondacks, and begins when Marcella learns she cannot keep her adopted daughter. Quinn, her native American husband, fails to support her in getting the child back from a nearby Indian reservation, so she leaves for the Tall Pines mountains to regroup.
Upon arrival at the family cabin, she discovers three things: a serial killer, her continued attraction to a prior lover and a broken lock on the shed where firewood and tools used to be. The plot continually thickens as the serial killer claims new victims and the danger to Marcella morphs from foggy to visceral. All the while, Marcella is torn between her love for her husband and the magnetism of Sky. The pace is inexorable, the twists and turns pervasive and the context evocative.
Betrayal is part of Lazar’s Tall Pines series; the chill in the air, the steep, rocky terrain, the gentle rustle of pine needles and the babble of the Sacandaga River are all sensate and palpable in the story. The senses are further enriched by use of fragrant oils and sensual touching. Though the oils may have been used by more characters than would seem likely, they were an interesting extension of the author. Lazar did a stellar job of writing from the female point of view, though the collapse of the heroine in reaction to the cumulative weight of events was a bit too facile. She was in the hospital under tranquilizers until she popped up fine again.
That said, Lazar is a master story crafter and Betrayal fully exhibits his noteworthy skills. The book is recommended for readers who enjoy user-friendly prose and a fast paced, plot-driven novel. The ebook was provided to me free of charge for the purposes of providing an objective review without compensation. BTW, I’m a tough rater; four stars is thin but the system doesn’t allow fractions.
Viv Drewa - The Owl Lady 
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