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Roger and Suzanne Mysteries #2
The Ambivalent Corpse
Parts of a dismembered corpse are found on a rocky stretch of beach in Montevideo, Uruguay, apportioned equally between the Memorial to a German cruiser sunk in World War II and the Memorial to Jews killed in the Holocaust. Because of the murder victim's strategic location shared between two antithetical monuments, the Uruguayan press names her “The Ambivalent Corpse”. Private detective Roger Bowman and his girlfriend, scientist Suzanne Foster, find themselves traveling through Uruguay, Southwest Brazil, and parts of Paraguay and Argentina to help solve the case. This fast paced mystery has plenty of action, atmosphere, and sense of place. While the novel is basically a hard-bitten mystery story, it bends the genre slightly so that it should also appeal to readers interested in travel, romance, and South American food and wine.
- GenresMystery
184 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 2011
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50 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 6, 2025
Suzanne, a scientist, and her partner Roger, a private/now-retired homicide detective are on a combined vacation/business (for Suzanne) trip to Uruguay. On their first morning, while taking a run along the Montevideo beach front, they come upon a dismembered corpse. Due to the way the dismembered corpse is arrayed around 2 separate monuments some distance from each other on the beach and the opposing politics involving Nazis that the two monuments represent, the newspapers take to calling it The Ambivalent Corpse. Next thing we know, Suzanne and Roger are combining assisting the police in solving the murder and finding the murderer with their vacation and business.
This barely eked out 2 stars from me. The title is fantastic as is the setting, but the writing is pedestrian at best, and the plotting requires more suspension of disbelief than even I can really get behind, though the plot in a better writer's hands could be quite good. I realized after I read it that this was a self-published book, one of a series, all of which feature these characters and fantastic locations in South America. In fact, the best part of this is that it reads like a personal travelogue into which a murder mystery plot was inserted. Here's an example of the setting writing throughout the book:
Currently this was the most elegant and luxurious tourist estancia ("Hotel de Campo") in Uruguay. Our $110 per day per person (the off-season rate) bought us luxurious accommodations, four excellent buffet-style meals per day, unlimited horseback riding with or without a guide, an evening "hayride" to see the local nightlife, and lots of other amenities on some 1,000 acres of parks and grounds we could explore on our own.
The book takes us from Montevideo through Uruguay to Brazil and Paraguay - a dude ranch, both sides of Iguazu Falls, an environmental park, and a couple of road trips through the countryside of Uruguay and the area where Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina meet. There's even a side jaunt by Ferry from Montevideo to Buenos Aires. It not only describes hotels, restaurants, sites of note, but also provides some excellent souvenir shopping tips! Author should ditch the plot and just write a travelogue.
This barely eked out 2 stars from me. The title is fantastic as is the setting, but the writing is pedestrian at best, and the plotting requires more suspension of disbelief than even I can really get behind, though the plot in a better writer's hands could be quite good. I realized after I read it that this was a self-published book, one of a series, all of which feature these characters and fantastic locations in South America. In fact, the best part of this is that it reads like a personal travelogue into which a murder mystery plot was inserted. Here's an example of the setting writing throughout the book:
Currently this was the most elegant and luxurious tourist estancia ("Hotel de Campo") in Uruguay. Our $110 per day per person (the off-season rate) bought us luxurious accommodations, four excellent buffet-style meals per day, unlimited horseback riding with or without a guide, an evening "hayride" to see the local nightlife, and lots of other amenities on some 1,000 acres of parks and grounds we could explore on our own.
The book takes us from Montevideo through Uruguay to Brazil and Paraguay - a dude ranch, both sides of Iguazu Falls, an environmental park, and a couple of road trips through the countryside of Uruguay and the area where Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina meet. There's even a side jaunt by Ferry from Montevideo to Buenos Aires. It not only describes hotels, restaurants, sites of note, but also provides some excellent souvenir shopping tips! Author should ditch the plot and just write a travelogue.
March 21, 2018
This was an odd book - for the mystery and dialogue I would rate it 2 but for the travelogue through South America and the things I learned about the countries they visited I would rate it 4. So I'm giving it a 3 overall and will probably read the next one since they plan to visit Machu Picchu.
March 27, 2012
I just finished this book and was surprised how much I really enjoyed it. I don't usually read this genre and wasn't sure I would like the book much less read the entire book.The story caught my attention right from the start and I wanted to follow Roger and Suzanne's visit every step of the way. I also enjoyed learning about the cultures of the countries. The vivid descriptions of the lands made me feel like I was right there with them. The investigation into the murder was also interesting and I believe this could happen even in today's times. Bravo to the author and I will be reading the other books in this series.
October 14, 2025
Roger, a former policeman turned private investigator is on vacation with Suzanne a UCLA Biochemistry professor who is in Uruguay for a grant for a research project. The first morning there they went for an early morning run. On the run, they came across deliberately placed pieces of a dead girl. They called the cops to report the found dismembered body.
After the usual questioning was over, they were asked a rather unusual question by the detective. Can you help us solve her murder?
Roger & Suzanne agreed to help, and off they set playing the part of tourists that just so happened to come across people the detective thought were of interest that could know about the murder.
My thoughts:
The author is either extremely well traveled or very good at research (or maybe a little of both) I also suspect he is a foodie ☺️
Everything was very well detailed, he did a good job at painting the picture of all the locations Roger & Suzanne visited, and what they ate….and it seemed like they ate a lot 🤣 I did think this was a bit of a double edged sword though. I knew nothing of any of the cities they visited or their culture, so I appreciated the detail, but at the same time I felt there may be a little too much detail and it distracted from the story.
His writing style was much different then I’m used too. A little simpler, long chapters but short paragraphs which made it easy to bop in and out and pick right up where you left off.
It was an easy quick read, and Roger & Suzanne are very likable characters, with a bit of a cheesy (in a cute way) relationship. I loved that every night Roger told Suzanne a horrible “dad joke” or pun right before going to sleep.
Overall I enjoyed the book, I give it 3 1/2 ⭐️’s. I liked it well enough that I already purchased and downloaded the second book of the series The Surreal Killer as I’m curious to see what adventures Roger & Suzanne stumble on next.
After the usual questioning was over, they were asked a rather unusual question by the detective. Can you help us solve her murder?
Roger & Suzanne agreed to help, and off they set playing the part of tourists that just so happened to come across people the detective thought were of interest that could know about the murder.
My thoughts:
The author is either extremely well traveled or very good at research (or maybe a little of both) I also suspect he is a foodie ☺️
Everything was very well detailed, he did a good job at painting the picture of all the locations Roger & Suzanne visited, and what they ate….and it seemed like they ate a lot 🤣 I did think this was a bit of a double edged sword though. I knew nothing of any of the cities they visited or their culture, so I appreciated the detail, but at the same time I felt there may be a little too much detail and it distracted from the story.
His writing style was much different then I’m used too. A little simpler, long chapters but short paragraphs which made it easy to bop in and out and pick right up where you left off.
It was an easy quick read, and Roger & Suzanne are very likable characters, with a bit of a cheesy (in a cute way) relationship. I loved that every night Roger told Suzanne a horrible “dad joke” or pun right before going to sleep.
Overall I enjoyed the book, I give it 3 1/2 ⭐️’s. I liked it well enough that I already purchased and downloaded the second book of the series The Surreal Killer as I’m curious to see what adventures Roger & Suzanne stumble on next.
October 14, 2025
a quick fun read
Roger, a former policeman turned private investigator is on vacation with Suzanne a UCLA Biochemistry professor who is in Uruguay for a grant for a research project. The first morning there they went for an early morning run. On the run, they came across deliberately placed pieces of a dead girl. They called the cops to report the found dismembered body.
After the usual questioning was over, they were asked a rather unusual question by the detective. Can you help us solve her murder?
Roger & Suzanne agreed to help, and off they set playing the part of tourists that just so happened to come across people the detective thought were of interest that could know about the murder.
My thoughts:
The author is either extremely well traveled or very good at research (or maybe a little of both) I also suspect he is a foodie ☺️
Everything was very well detailed, he did a good job at painting the picture of all the locations Roger & Suzanne visited, and what they ate….and it seemed like they are a lot 🤣 I did think this was a bit of a double edged sword though. I knew nothing of any of the cities they visited or their culture, so I appreciated the detail, but at the same time I felt there may be a little too much detail and it distracted from the story.
His writing style was much different then I’m used too. A little simpler, long chapters but short paragraphs which made it easy to bop in and out and pick right up where you left off.
It was an easy quick read, and Roger & Suzanne are very likable characters, with a bit of a cheesy (in a cute way) relationship. I loved that every night Roger told Suzanne a horrible “dad joke” or pun right before going to sleep.
Overall I enjoyed the book, I give it 3 1/2 ⭐️’s. I liked it well enough that I already purchased and downloaded the second book of the series The Surreal Killer as I’m curious to see what adventures Roger & Suzanne stumble on next.
Roger, a former policeman turned private investigator is on vacation with Suzanne a UCLA Biochemistry professor who is in Uruguay for a grant for a research project. The first morning there they went for an early morning run. On the run, they came across deliberately placed pieces of a dead girl. They called the cops to report the found dismembered body.
After the usual questioning was over, they were asked a rather unusual question by the detective. Can you help us solve her murder?
Roger & Suzanne agreed to help, and off they set playing the part of tourists that just so happened to come across people the detective thought were of interest that could know about the murder.
My thoughts:
The author is either extremely well traveled or very good at research (or maybe a little of both) I also suspect he is a foodie ☺️
Everything was very well detailed, he did a good job at painting the picture of all the locations Roger & Suzanne visited, and what they ate….and it seemed like they are a lot 🤣 I did think this was a bit of a double edged sword though. I knew nothing of any of the cities they visited or their culture, so I appreciated the detail, but at the same time I felt there may be a little too much detail and it distracted from the story.
His writing style was much different then I’m used too. A little simpler, long chapters but short paragraphs which made it easy to bop in and out and pick right up where you left off.
It was an easy quick read, and Roger & Suzanne are very likable characters, with a bit of a cheesy (in a cute way) relationship. I loved that every night Roger told Suzanne a horrible “dad joke” or pun right before going to sleep.
Overall I enjoyed the book, I give it 3 1/2 ⭐️’s. I liked it well enough that I already purchased and downloaded the second book of the series The Surreal Killer as I’m curious to see what adventures Roger & Suzanne stumble on next.
May 8, 2025
Such an unexpected hidden gem in this murder mystery as the main characters travel through South America on a working holiday. There’s some personal relationship growth and bad dad jokes, amongst the intrigue and political minefield in the area. Our couple delicately step through the minefield of nice and not so nice tourist guides, local law enforcement, friends and foe as they unofficially help with a murder investigation. Loved the descriptions of the places, people food, and climate, and the history.
October 4, 2017
Read for a challenge. More a travelogue than a mystery. Visit Urugauy and Paraguay as Roger and Suzanne struggle to find a killer and identify leaders of the Nazi party in Paraquay..
March 28, 2012
This is the story of a brutal murder and dismemberment. A female body is found in Montevideo, South America - in seven parts, carefully cut up and placed between two significant monuments. The police are tied up in red tape so ask the people who found the body, Roger Bowman (ex cop turned PI) and Suzanne Foster (Botanist Professor), to help them in their investigations. Can they find out who she is and why she was killed?
This was an interesting book. The pace was good and kept me turning the pages. At times it felt like I was reading a tourist guide to the best places to visit in South America and the murder aspect was secondary but it all seemed to come together in the end. Despite having the somewhat dubious subject matter of active nazism, it was handled well and it didn't seem offensive at all. The places were described vividly, particularly the Iguazu Falls, and I now know where I want to go on my next holiday! I also liked the addition of some fairly obtuse jokes and puns at the end of each chapter. It lightened up some pretty heavy subject matter. All in all I enjoyed this and it was a fairly quick read - I read it in about four hours. A good thriller that makes you feel like you are there with them.
This was an interesting book. The pace was good and kept me turning the pages. At times it felt like I was reading a tourist guide to the best places to visit in South America and the murder aspect was secondary but it all seemed to come together in the end. Despite having the somewhat dubious subject matter of active nazism, it was handled well and it didn't seem offensive at all. The places were described vividly, particularly the Iguazu Falls, and I now know where I want to go on my next holiday! I also liked the addition of some fairly obtuse jokes and puns at the end of each chapter. It lightened up some pretty heavy subject matter. All in all I enjoyed this and it was a fairly quick read - I read it in about four hours. A good thriller that makes you feel like you are there with them.
May 14, 2012
I've never read anything like this before. It's so packed full of information, a variety of foods (I found myself hungry many times throughout the book), mystery and puns. I loved the little bits of sexual innuendo Roger tossed out there to Suzanne and loved them as a couple! They were a great team solving the case of The Ambivalent Corpse.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews