Web of Intrigue

TEST

Web of Intrigue is being promoted as a “romantic inspirational suspense” (talk about your sub-genres). I took this to mean the story would center around a man and woman who are in (or are falling in) love, who combine their efforts to solve a crime of some sort, all within the general framework of basic Christian tenants. I also took this to mean the target audience was the general romance readership, i.e., single women, married women, mothers, career women, and all combinations of the former.

Well, you know what they say about assumptions . . .

As far as the “romance” went, it didn’t. There wasn’t one. Midpoint through the story, I still hadn’t figured out who the hero was, so I had to resort to reading the last page to see who ended up with whom. In a romance, if the reader doesn’t know who the hero of the story is, like, by about page one, we’re in trouble. The man and woman in question are rarely even shown together, and do not join forces in any way.

As far as the “inspiration” went, it didn’t. There wasn’t any. As far as the “suspense” went – well, it was about as suspenseful as wondering if the Jello you just made will solidify in time for dinner. Less. At least I can build up a little enthusiasm for lime Jello.

The story, in a nutshell is, Morgan Carruthers spent too much time building her career, so her boyfriend left her for a woman who apparently didn’t have to work for a living. Beth Woodsen, Morgan’s married sister, is being “stalked” or something by a cyber villain named Ara. Troy Woodsen is Beth’s husband but spends too much time building a successful business to notice his adored wife of 17 years is nervous about something. Jenny, the Woodsen’s teenage daughter is into chat rooms on the Internet and is being unwittingly drawn into a spider’s “Web” by Ara. Beth is murdered, and the remainder of the story meanders through Beth’s funeral and the ensuing investigation of her death, to the suspense-less culmination of the story where the “spiderlings” are apprehended.

The dialogue is poor, the writing style immature: “Troy was already into the rain. He flipped on the wipers and the rhythmic swish swish sound reminded him of a clock ticking away. Swish swish. Would he find them in time? Swish swish. Would time run out for Jenny and Morgan?” I don’t know, but my clocks had all better say tick-tock, or they’re in the shop the next day.

The writer apparently thought mentioning brand name products would add a touch of realism to the story, or perhaps she holds large quantities of stock in (to name a few): Dr. Pepper, Dodge, Cadillac, Jeep, Microsoft, Sweet & Low, Burger King, Visa, American Express, Texaco, Mobil, Chevrolet, Frito-Lay, and Motorola – “…but (the radio) still worked. An amazing testimony to Motorola.”

Beth had been not only Morgan’s sister, but also her best friend. Yet, this much-loved woman has been dead only a couple of weeks when Morgan realizes how tall and handsome her (suddenly available) brother-in-law is, especially with all that “dishwater blonde” hair. Dishwater blonde? And, yes, Troy, as it turns out, is the hero! Yet he does nothing heroic, except discourage Morgan from pursuing the “perps” on her own (“Let the police handle this, Morgan,” while he goes back to work, apparently unconcerned that his adored wife’s murderer is still at large). Well, I have to tell you, the thought of my sister and my husband taking up before I’m even cold in my grave is just too bizarre to think about!

This story could have – should have – been told in one sentence: As a good parent, you need to monitor what your kids do on the Internet (and everywhere else). The End.

Reviewed by Marianne Stillings

Grade: F

Sensuality: N/A

Review Date: 26/03/98

Publication Date: 1998

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Recent Comments …

  1. excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.

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