About
Reviews
Search
Submit
Home

Mystery Books for Sale

[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]


  

FINAL FORE
by Roberta Isleib
Berkley, March 2006
288 pages
$6.99
ISBN: 0425208966


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Cassie Burdette is a golfer who seems to spend more time tracking down murderers and moaning to her shrink that she does actually playing golf. But in FINAL FORE it looks like she might actually get to play a round or four.

It's the US Women's Open, the most prestigious event on the circuit, and Cassie has even qualified, despite a fair amount of angst -- and a panic attack. So when it gets to the big event, being played at a picturesque college campus, she's a bag of nerves.

The arrival of her thoroughly dysfunctional extended family doesn't help. And there's her unresolved relationship with Joe. Oh, and she can't decide what to do about an invitation to play in a men's event, which is polarising the opinions of those around her.

It looks like it can't get any worse once Cassie's caddie Laura has to rush to the bedside of her sick father. But naturally, when Cassie's around, someone isn't going to get out of it all alive. A rival is poisoned, and someone is sending our heroine threatening emails.

Isleib, a clinical psychologist and keen golfer, writes fluently, has a nice line in dry humour and provides enough information about golf to think you have all the background without being force-fed too much. The problem for me, though, with the series has always been the over-reliance on the shrink angle. At times you just want Cassie to go out there and get on with it, instead of whining on the phone to Dr Baxter or to Joe (yes, he's a psychologist as well -- there's a lot of it about!)

The plot is a bit thin and the resolution a little too neat and quick (hey, even I spotted whodunit!) I also had difficulty believing Cassie would really be invited to appear in the men's event, given she's clearly not in the top flight as a player.

FINAL FORE is the fifth and final book in what has been a pleasant and enjoyable cosy series, and Isleib might well be getting out at the right time before she outstays her welcome.

Reviewed by Sharon Wheeler, March 2006

[ Top ]


QUICK SEARCH:

 

Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]