Unforced Error

Rep and Melissa Pennyworth #2

by Michael Bowen

"A modern-day Nick and Nora, the quick-witted Rep and the literature-loving Melissa trade sophisticated quips that may make readers wish they had paid more attention in English class. Good fun."― Booklist Intellectual property attorneys, romance publishers, and librarians―the very last people you'd expect to be mixed up in murder! Add a pinch of authentic Civil War re-enactors and a sparkling tour of Kansas City, and voilà, a classic yet up-to-the-minute crime. Rep and Melissa Pennyworth head west from Indiana to a re-enactment on a Civil War battle in Kansas City, Missouri. Rep is really in quest on a cutting-edge copyright case connected with romance publishing house Jackrabbit Press. He finds a corpse instead....

Genres: Mystery

275 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2004

About the author

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another really fun book by Michael Bowen, with the same main characters, Rep and Melissa Pennyworth, from the earlier book "Screenscam". The plot in "Unforced Error" involves a murder that occurs at the site of a Civil War re-enactment. As with "Screenscam" I enjoyed the dialogue between Rep and Melissa, and Bowen's descriptions of the other characters. The ending surprised me. I want to read the next Pennyworth book now, but have books by other authors saved in my Kindle app queue that I should read first. I will definitely read more books by Michael Bowen, soon.

[Carl Brookins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rep Penneworth’s excellent Civil War adventure.

Here is a witty mystery replete with insider comments, informed humor, serio-cynical comments all combine for a rollicking good time with an intellectual property lawyer at a Civil War Reenactment in Kansas City.

The tone of this novel, the author’s attitude toward murder and mystery fiction, is immediately encapsulated in the prologue. “First degree murder is punishable by death in Missouri, even if the victim is an editor of romance novels.” Reppert G. Penneworth, top copyright lawyer and his wife, Melissa, one of the smartest amateur detectives to grace the pages of mystery fiction in a long time, journey to Kansas City to see old friends and to examine what might be an opportunity for Rep to make his mark in fashioning landmark intellectual property law. Now, that may sound a bit dull, but be assured, it isn’t, not in the deft hands of this author.

The books starts out with a swipe at television and romps from there to a clever, grisly, murder that ultimately requires a wide range of clever research, astute lawyering, chicanery, double dealing and several unusual and fascinating characters to solve. It’s a complicated plot with unusual twists but Bowen, with great care, insures logical realistic solutions for everything that happens. Along the way he’s able to comment on several modern social phenomena in ways that will both delight and possibly raise the hackles of some readers. The dialogue is crisp and sparkling so that the relationships are clearly delineated and we become an instant cheering section for Rep and his wife as they sort out the good guys from the bad. This is a detecting couple readers will be delighted to accompany on a number of adventures. I found the violence, although logical for the resolution, to be not quite in keeping with the tone of the rest of this excellent novel.

Nevertheless, “Unforced Error” is a fine effort and the blending of history, publishing peccadilloes and some very modern nastiness makes for a delightful entertainment with excellent characters.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

UNFORCED ERROR (Amateur Sleuths-Kansas-Cont) – G-
Michael Bowen – 2nd in series
Poisoned Pen Press, 2004- Hardcover
Copyright attorney Rep Pennyworth and his wife, Melissa, become embroiled in trying to clear their friend Peter or the murder of a man with whom his wife had just been unfaithful.
*** The fun of this book is the main characters of Rep and Melissa and the itinerary references. The weakness is and that, at times, the literary references occasionally seem forced and get in the way of the story, and the complete implausibility of the plot. But it's worth a look if you're in the mood for something light that will test your memory of literature.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oops!! Should have read this first! Not quite as well-developed as #3. I do love the Nick and Nora vibes and the literary hints used. Historical facts embedded in the storyline always are winners for me, and these particularly because they were just down the road from where I live. Who knew a Harvestore silo would be an important plot device!! (Actually, I didn't know all the details--even as a farmer's daughter. Harvestores were too expensive for our size of farming.)

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up in an area that hosts "Civil War Encampment Days" every summer. I think that's why I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series. I like his sense of humor and enjoy the many literary references, even though I'm sure quite a few go over my head.

[Lois Baron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Erudite.

Dumb title, since it's much more a baseball term than anything else (as far as I'm concerned, and the story has a Civil War theme.

Rep and Melissa remain a flippant, witty couple I'll spend more time reading about.