The Rich Die Young by Carolyn G. Hart

Ann Farrell goes back to her old school to teach. She needs to do something to take her mind off things. She finds a horrible threatening note in her desk and is shocked. Then she comes across the body of a student at the bottom of a barranca. She cannot believe that he was the one who wrote the notes but has no proof either way. She decides to ask some questions. Along the way she finds herself attracted to the policeman on case Alonzo Fox. Before she can answer all the questions, she will face a deadly killer.

Ms. Hart has vastly improved between this book and the last one I read. Mind you there was not much of a happy ending but I didn’t feel quite so confused and stunned at the ending. Her writing is getting better and I know these are older books so I am curious to see what her writing looks like now. I’ll get there. I am glad I picked up a second book by this author. It was well worth my time.

Ann is someone who is nosey and I liked that about her. She wanted the truth to be told and clear the student’s name. Alonzo Fox was a sweetheart. It was fun to read about the two of them. The relationship was only in the beginning stages when the book ended but that was okay with me. The other teachers had their issues but then that made it more interesting. The reasons for all the pink notes were intriguing. I felt bad that they might have come out but you’d think people would be more careful.

This was a good mystery and the outcome surprised me. I didn’t see it coming. Definitely a good author and one I want to read more by her. Yeah, there were loose ends but nearly as many as the last book. They just keep getting better thank goodness!

Carolyn G. Hart/Mystery/ 179 pages/ 4 out of 5

I am off to read couple more reivew books and then back to my own pile. lol

A Settling of Accounts by Carolyn G. Hart

Kay has to take the place for her partner Melissa when she falls and gets hurt. Kay does not want to go back to London where her past as a secret agent took place during World War 2. Once she arrives, she feels like she is being watched and cannot figure out whom it could be that would do such a thing. But going to the auction is what really sets her on her toes; she sees a face from the past. And there seems to be an account that needs to be settled but what will it take?

Ms. Hart really knows how to keep you in suspense. This book was published in the 1970’s but it falls flat some times. There were some things in this book that didn't make sense even though they were clearly explained. Sometimes the characters just went too far and told everything. Yet the ending was what bothered me the most. I never knew how the last situation turned out. It was very frustrating. I don’t like it when strings are not wrapped up. Well at least not one or two of them because I am not looking for a happily ever after just to understand who survived and who didn’t. Maybe I am asking for too much.

Kay had a privileged life and she didn’t understand that the friendships she made could be harmful for her. Her niece Julie had a better understanding of that and she was the one who came to look for her aunt. I liked the young Angus who was in this book because he understood the extreme situation that Kay and Julie were in. Yet it never seemed to be enough though, the police didn’t want to do anything. That was believable but yet not enough.

I hate giving bad reviews but this book just flopped for me. All the facts presented made sense and they fit together. Yet the ending was what made me so upset. Oh, well. I have another book coming from this author and ironically it was written after this one. So I am hoping it will go better than this one.
Carolyn G. Hart/ New Author/ Author of the Month/ 185 pages/ 2 out of 5