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Did the
architect/engineer of a new high-rise beachfront condo shoot himself
over remorse when a balcony fell, killing two people? Or did someone
else pull the trigger to solve a bigger problem? That's the dilemma
retired Air Force OSI agent Greg McKenzie and his wife, Jill, face at Perdido Key, FL. When a couple of hoods beat him up and warn him to butt
out, Greg knows its time to put a face on a murderer.
Jill takes advantage of the opportunity to
make a difference as she digs for answers in places where Greg's penchant for
shaking the bushes leaves tempers smoldering. Working together as a
team, they follow the serpentine trail that leads to a fateful
confrontation.
Read a few reviews...
"Mr.
Campbell's wealth of experience and military background give him an eye for
detail, which is crucial in any mystery. There is a full array of colorful
characters, many of whom the reader would not care to meet in real life. The
relationship between Greg and Jill lends a special tenderness and it's
uplifting to see a love story between a long married couple. The plotting,
pace and dialog are perfect in Designed to Kill. This is a perfect read for
the beach or a long winter afternoon."
Murder & Mayhem Book Club
"Greg and Jill are well-written characters;
their relationship is loving without being cloying and seems right for a
long-married couple. Greg is very sharp and by the end of this case it looks
like private-eye-dom is in their future plans. This is the second book in
the series. The author is a former journalist and intelligence officer in
the Air Force. The locale of the book is well described and the reader gets
lots of local color as well as thrills and suspense."
Reviewing the Evidence
"Chester D. Campbell has done it again! That is,
he's written a thoroughly entertaining whodunit which incorporates his
military knowledge and, in this case, architectural design. He manages to
hang the specter of the wrongfully murdered young architect over a plot that
moves along at a rapid clip with plenty of cliffhangers and well-defined
characters."
Midwest Book Review
"We often hear that
crime fictions are nothing more than clever escapist puzzles. We start with
a crime and then we proceed to find out who did it, why etc. To a certain
extent this may be true, however, what differentiates one from the other is
the author's ability to provide ample plot twists that effectively sustain
the narrative tension until the last chapter. Here is where DESIGNED TO
KILL shines, and perhaps Campbell has carved out his own unique literary
niche to be followed by more of the McKenzie's adventures into the world of
crime investigations."
The Best Reviews
"When an
author’s second work comes along, the first question that’s bound to
be asked – is whether it is in anyway similar to the first
work?...(The first) one is a historical thriller, while the new one
is a whodunit simpliciter...So is Designed to Kill as good as
Secret of the Scroll. Nope...it’s much, much better...I
enjoyed the book, rather relished the work. Looking forward to a
lot, lot more from this author."
New Mystery Reader
"Boomers in particular are going to enjoy this book, simply because Greg
and Jill are fellow travelers whose life experiences we can share because we
were there. That, however, needn’t preclude younger readers from enjoying
the book, which is filled with vivid and creative imagery as well as
demonstrating superb writing skills. Meet the McKenzies—you’ll be better for
the experience."
Blue Iris Journal
"Retired Air Force investigator Greg and wife Jill look into the alleged
suicide of their best friends' son in Pensacola, FL. Tim, a design engineer,
died the night a structural defect accidentally killed two people at his
latest project, a luxury condominium development on Perdido Key. Greg's
suspicions of murder are reinforced by faulty rebar use, stolen plans,
erased files, a missing key, a hot-tempered builder, a slow-to-pay
developer, and a God's-gift-to-women inspector. And then two guys beat Greg
up. Plenty of domestic details ground the homey narration. For larger
collections. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
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