Description
RECOMMENDED by the US Review
‘Set in contemporary Australia, this foray into the oft-examined world of serial killings manages to set itself apart from the majority of such thrillers. Corben is a skillful storyteller who intricately weaves police procedure, individual angst, and ongoing suspense into a compelling drama. The author’s dialogue is crisp and has the sound of real conversation. Her premeditated reveal of pertinent information doesn’t impede the tale’s pace. Rather, it motivates the reader to expand his or her list of potential suspects even as the principal characters are whittling theirs down. For a debut novel, Corben is off to a first-rate start.’
– Joe Kilgore, The US Review.
‘Gaylene B. Corben has created characters the reader can identify and empathize with, a tantalizing mystery with red herrings and false trails, and complex, three-dimensional antagonists. After building a logical case from the ground up, our heroes—and you, dear reader—are hit between the eyes with a surprise that will leave you breathless. Ms. Corben is a mystery writer to keep an eye on.’
– Charles Ray, author.
Reiz –
A character driven murder investigation story? Sign me up!
I was sooo sure I knew who the killer was but nope. (To be fair I was never good at guessing who the killer is in movies and books but the reveal in A Date to Die for was *chef’s kiss* so natural like it doesn’t feel forced)
If you like shows like Criminal Minds and character driven stories you might want to check this out!
Charles Ray –
Gaylene B. Corben’s A Date to Die For is a well crafted mystery about two police detectives, Joe Patterson and Tessa Mariani, on the trail of a serial killer who is using a dating site to lure his victims, young, attractive women, to their doom. The killer leaves a taunting note and a white rose with each victim, and our two detectives find themselves racing the clock after three kills and one near kill, while at the same time dealing with the demons in their own lives.
Corben has crafted a near-perfect mystery, with plenty of red herrings and false trails to keep the reader guessing, but a story line that leads unerringly to the killer in one of those ‘my goodness, why didn’t I think of that’ moments.
The author sets the perfect tempo in this, her debut book, like a heartbeat, speeding up when the tension level rises and then slowing down when things seem to be getting quiet. With characters you can’t help but empathize with and care about and enough surprises to keep you on the edge of the chair, this is one you don’t want to miss.
I received a pre-publication copy of this book for review and my advice is go to your nearest book selling site and pre-order it so you don’t miss out. An author to keep an eye on, I give Corben five stars for her first effort.
Barbara Scott Emmett –
A well-written crime novel with a sparky relationship and dialogue between two protagonists Detectives Joe Paterson and Tessa Mariani. Young women are being murdered and Joe and Tessa are working against the clock to find a connection between them before the killer strikes again.
Both detectives have their own worries and secrets to contend with and these are well-drawn with the investigation set against them. Another detective, Paul Shipway, has problems of his own and must come to terms with a criminal he hoped to put away being found not guilty. The relationships – actual and potential – of Joe and Tessa also feature as a backdrop.
Add in numerous cultural references – songs, books, films etc – and this makes for a rich mix and a compelling read.
Diane Helentjaris –
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the characters in Gaylene Corben’s book and hope they’re coming back with more adventures. Well-written and organized with the secrets coming out in an engaging way and at a nice pace. As an American reader, liked the Australian setting as it gives an extra layer of complexity. (No American cop would kiss a co-worker on the head in a “just friends” gesture, for instance.) I could read a whole string of tales about this crew. Thank you.
Pete Trewin –
This is a well-written murder investigation/police procedural story. It’s a competitive genre, and a skim through Amazon brings up book after book with ‘A Detective Inspector blah-de-blah investigation’ on the front. And they always have a sidekick who they can bounce back story and progress with the investigation off. So, what’s different about this one? The answer is a deftly described setting – Sydney, Australia – and a character driven story with interesting protagonists and villains. The author also has complete control of the story with red herrings and false trails galore. I found myself at one point thinking ‘It’s got to be x, but is the author leading me down (up?) the garden path here?’ There were some interesting cross currents such as the rise of internet dating, the problems associated with being gay in a police environment, cops being emotionally involved in cases were the villain hires a slick lawyer and escapes justice, and getting down to the nitty gritty details of narcissism and psychopathy. Yes, a good read.
Any niggles? Only that everyone seems to be drinking coffee all the time. I mean, Aussies are a kind of Pom. What’s wrong with a nice cup of tea?
I received a review copy from AIA Publishing, and this is my honest opinion.