Gail Bowen
A Colder Kind of Death (1994)
Author: Gail Bowen
Genre: Mystery (Amateur Detective)
Plot Summary:
Six years after the murder of her politician husband, Ian, university professor
and single mother Joanne Kilbourn finds herself drawn back into those dark days by the mysterious murder
of her husband's killer, followed by the death of the killer's wife, Maureen--seemingly at Joanne's hands.
As she searches for the answers that will clear her name and illuminate the past, Joanne uncovers a shocking
secret involving not only her husband, but also some of her closest friends. SPOILER: Joanne's adopted
daughter's best friend Jess, the son of Joanne's friends Gary and Sylvie, turns out to be adopted himself,
and his birth parents were the sociopathic Maureen's husband and best friend. Maureen, who spent her entire
life manipulating those around her and punishing them if they crossed her, orchestrated her best friend's
death with the unwitting help of Gary, who then tried to cover the whole thing up. When Ian found out and
threatened to go to the police, it was only a matter of time before Maureen struck again.
Geographical Setting: Saskatchewan, Canada
Time Period: Present Day (1994)
Series: Joanne Kilbourn Mysteries (#4)
Appeal Characteristics:
Although Bowen's emotionally dark tale hinges on her heroine's determination to find out the truth, she also spends a lot of time exploring how ordinary people handle sudden interruptions in their everyday lives. Joanne's relationships with her family and friends often take center stage and contribute to the reader's sense of unease about the impact Joanne's investigations will have. Some time is taken to set the stage, but after that the plot twists become almost dizzying. The glimpses into the political life of provincial Canada are well-balanced with the personal struggles and triumphs of the strong but deeply human Joanne Kilbourn.
Read-alikes: Readers who find themselves drawn to the figure of Joanne Kilbourn herself should try one
of the other nine books in the series--the first is Deadly Appearances, in which Joanne deals with her
husband's recent death by working on a friend's campaign until he, too, is murdered. Those who like Joanne's
down-to-earth attitude and professor day job might be interested in Joanne Dobson's Karen Pelletier, whose most recent adventure is The Maltese Manuscript, which has Karen investigate the theft of Dashiell Hammett manuscripts in a rather humorous homage to film noir. Fans of the detailed Canadian setting could enjoy Louise Penny's debut novel Still Life, which takes place in small town Quebec and draws on themes of friendship and tragedy as it follows Chief Inspector Armand Gamache's investigation of a woman's suspicious death. If you especially enjoyed the story of an ordinary woman who turns to crime-solving in order to clear her own name, you should try Gillian Roberts' Caught Dead in Philadelphia, which introduces teacher/sleuth Amanda Pepper. Readers looking for something a little darker might like Lynn Hightower's Flashpoint, which has Cincinnati homicide cop and single mother Sonora Blair investigating a female serial killer who begins to stalk her.
Red Flags: some language, suicide, murder
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