The second “Rapid Read” in Gail Bowen’s Charlie D series, this one gives us more obsessive love, as a clinical psychologist with fascinated with death is threatened on air by a lover scorned. Charlie continues to be suave and well-spoken, as indeed behooves a late-night call in counselor type, and his burgeoning relationship with his producer (and recent single mom) Nova is very well-drawn in very few words.
One thing I find particularly engaging about this series is the call-in show nature of it. For a start, these stories are (so far) somewhat like locked room mysteries, except Charlie D and Nova are the ones locked in the room and all the investigation is done either over the phone, and on the air, or by off-screen police doing the hard work.
The other thing is just… call-in shows. Especially ones where people call for advice or counsel. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard one, outside of Frasier and Sleepless and Seattle. Oh, and that time that one of the Heathers call in in, well, Heathers. But presumably they are a thing, and in this series, sure, love it. These people are completely fascinating.
In real life — no. Ugh. Those people are real, and in pain, and strangers to me, and their difficulties are honestly none of my business. So, in their rapidly read pages, the books of this series have brought to my awareness yet another thing I quite love in fiction, but would heartily dislike in reality.
Like marriage. And zombies.
Huh.
SCORECARD
TBR DAY 38: One Fine Day You’re Gonna Die (Charlie D #2) by Gail Bowen
GENRE: Mystery
PUBLISHED: 2010
TIME ON THE TBR: 3 years.
PURCHASED FROM: Garage sale.
KEEP: No, I’ll pass these books on to another mystery fan, I think.