Candy-Ann Little

Crossing TV's Dallas with Agatha Christie, Candy Ann Little’s Murder of an Oil Heiress combines the sensual seductions of HBO with the classic twists of Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot. Evil temptress Mallory has her claws in everyone, shares her body with whoever can offer her power, and loves no one but herself. Sensual details and seductively gorgeous people flow through her life to fill the first half of this novel. But a downfall is coming, and by the time it arrives, the reader is probably as eager as everyone else to see murder committed. The question is, who will die? And who will do the deed?

The second half of the novel fulfills all my Agatha Christie mystery needs, as alibis twist and bend, while a plethora of suspects points fingers in different directions. I guessed, toward the end, what might have happened. But the clues are well-drawn, well-placed, and nicely followed. There’s a pleasing logic to the story’s resolution, and a satisfying sense of recovery.

The dialog is great, equally convincing in bedroom seduction, boardroom plot, and cop car argument. The betrayals are annoying, but maintain a logical conviction. And the end result is a novel that draws you in and keeps you turning pages, like a soap opera with the promise of more—a promise it amply fulfills.

Disclosure: I was given a copy and I offer my honest review. I enjoyed the read.… (más)

The title gives one of the plot points away and when she dies the reader is cheering and fist pumping in the air. In a lot of ways “Murder of an Oil Heiress” is a classic mystery. Everyone is a suspect and everyone had good reason to want the heinous Miss. Dillingham dead. “Murder of an Oil Heiress” is like the television show “Dallas” at its most delicious. If nothing else, Mallory leaves destruction, confusion and dysfunction in her wake and in the time we have to get to know the character we know that she would be delighted. Little relies heavily on stereotypes but they are stereotypes that are exceptionally well done. I do cringe a bit at the angel or whore roles for women but Little manages to round the characters out so that they don’t grate on the reader. In Joseph Barnes, Little gives us a man at the mercy of women. Mallory’s brother-in-law makes poor choices that contribute to Mallory’s character in a way that makes the story more interesting. None of these characters are people with whom I’d want a cup of coffee but I’d read them all day.

Often when reading mystery, I am able to figure out the eventual end. A side benefit of the number of books that I read. In “Murder of a Heiress” the murderer was unexpected and yet quite logical which isn’t such an easy thing to pull off. Little gives the reader a well-put together story that maintains a believable intensity and the anticipation that there’s always something even more interesting around the corner… (más)

After suffering a personal tragedy Megan flees Illinois and heads to California to escape her memories. She finds employment as a cook for a wealthy family who take a personal interest in her well being. But as always her past catches up with her and throws her life into turmoil. She is faced with a difficult decision, one that will effect more lives than just her own.
I enjoyed this book very much. It had enough mystery to keep turning the pages and enough love to keep a person smiling. The language is clean and there are no explicit sexual encounters described. It is a book good for all ages and, while it has a Christian message worked into the story line, it's not preachy. This is a book that should be in every church library.
I received this book for free in exchange for this honest review.… (más)