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A Delilah Percy Powers Mystery #1
The Seduction of Miriam Cross
Can Delilah Percy Powers figure out who killed Miriam Cross before she becomes the killer's next target?
Miriam Cross, author, feminist and philanthropist, disappears from her Philadelphia home. A year later, a lonely recluse named Emily Cray is brutally murdered in her bed in a small Pennsylvania town. Miriam and Emily are one and the same. As Delilah and her staff of female detectives - a militant homemaker, an ex-headmistress and a former stripper - delve into Miriam’s life, they become submerged in an underworld of unfathomable cruelty and greed with implications that go far beyond the gruesome death of one woman or the boundaries of one country. Eventually Miriam’s fight for justice becomes Delilah’s own...until Delilah’s obsession with finding the truth may prove just as deadly.
Miriam Cross, author, feminist and philanthropist, disappears from her Philadelphia home. A year later, a lonely recluse named Emily Cray is brutally murdered in her bed in a small Pennsylvania town. Miriam and Emily are one and the same. As Delilah and her staff of female detectives - a militant homemaker, an ex-headmistress and a former stripper - delve into Miriam’s life, they become submerged in an underworld of unfathomable cruelty and greed with implications that go far beyond the gruesome death of one woman or the boundaries of one country. Eventually Miriam’s fight for justice becomes Delilah’s own...until Delilah’s obsession with finding the truth may prove just as deadly.
358 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
374 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Tyson
24 books384 followersWendy Tyson is an author, lawyer, and former therapist whose background has inspired her thrillers and mysteries. As Liv Andersson, she writes thrillers, including Little Red House. As Wendy Tyson, she is the author of several mystery series, including the Amazon bestselling Greenhouse Mystery Series. Wendy’s short fiction has appeared in literary journals and crime anthologies, and she has written for The Big Thrill and The Thrill Begins, International Thriller Writers’ online magazines. Wendy is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime. She and her husband live in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont with their sons and three dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
February 28, 2014
The Seduction Of Miriam Cross by W A Tyson begins with a tense scene in which it is obvious something very bad is about to happen. This sets the stage for what becomes a murder mystery that leads to unexpected places, none of which I expected when I began reading. The book deals with issues in today's society that are addressed somewhat, but not nearly enough is being done to stop the illegal and horrific practices of human trafficking.
The central character, Delilah Percy Powers, owns a detective agency. She has three women working with her: a former Nun, a homemaker, and a former stripper/bartender/masseuse. These women form a team that works very well together, but they could use one more person with a knowledge the rest of them are lacking: someone who knows how to get information from the Internet that isn't common knowledge for everyone. As resistant as Delilah is to bringing another person into the group (she doesn't like change), she knows her agency cannot do the work they need without someone on staff to handle the computer end of detecting. This leads to her hiring Matthew Anderson, a former journalist, who has exactly the qualifications Percy Powers needs.
When Lucinda Mills, Delilah's first pro bono case, calls upon Delilah to help her find out more details about the death of her aunt, Miriam Cross. Miriam was murdered, but the police aren't doing very much to investigate the case, and a gag order has been placed on all information surrounding Miriam's mysterious death, so it hasn't received any news coverage. Lucinda stands to inherit from Miriam's estate, and she plans to use this money to pay Delilah for her work. Miriam Cross had been wealthy thanks to her successful career as an author mainly dealing with women's issues. Not all of her work was a commercial success, but Miriam had enough to fund her favorite women's charities as well as leaving enough for Lucinda to be free of financial worries. Delilah agrees to take on the case even though there doesn't seem to be much evidence to launch much of an investigation. However, Delilah's team is nothing if not creative and fearless when they set out to investigate a case. For this one they need all the creativity and fearlessness they can muster since nothing is as it appears to be, and everything seems shrouded in secrecy.
For me, this book was not a run-of-the-mill murder mystery. First, because Delilah is a complicated woman with a lifestyle atypical from most women her age. She's known great sadness in her past, and this haunts her in her present more than she'd like to admit. Her life seems very solitary, but that's the way she wants it because she believes this will bring her peace. She's very self-sufficient, and she surrounds herself with other women who fit that same category.
Second, the other women characters in the story are every bit as interesting and diverse as Delilah. Margo is a 72 year old Nun and former headmistress. Her age in no way hinders her from being a productive member of Delilah's team. Natasha has had her training at the School of Hard Knocks. She has an 8 year old son she wants to provide with a house complete with yard and puppy. She saves every cent she can get toward this end. Barb is the homemaker married to a cop who can sometimes be helpful in getting information for Barb's cases. Barb manages her job as well as her kids with calm and creativity. It takes a lot to ruffle her feathers. Together these four women would be interesting in any setting. As detectives they are all forces to be reckoned with.
Third, this mystery stood out for me because it is a multilayered story that has twists and turns often enough to hold my interest throughout the book. The subject matter was unfamiliar to me, and I always appreciate reading books that educate as well as entertain me. It seems to me that most women would be interested in the subject of human trafficking since most of the victims are other women. The details of this kind of activity are horrific, which is reason enough to make awareness of this crime a priority. Tyson has done an excellent job of exposing some of the ways in which this travesty takes place.
Just when I thought the mystery and Miriam Cross' murder was solved, there was one final twist I never expected. It was the perfect ending to a well plotted, well written mystery. I highly recommend this book to any mystery lover, or anyone who likes to read women's lit. This would make a perfect gift for someone with those reading inclinations.
The central character, Delilah Percy Powers, owns a detective agency. She has three women working with her: a former Nun, a homemaker, and a former stripper/bartender/masseuse. These women form a team that works very well together, but they could use one more person with a knowledge the rest of them are lacking: someone who knows how to get information from the Internet that isn't common knowledge for everyone. As resistant as Delilah is to bringing another person into the group (she doesn't like change), she knows her agency cannot do the work they need without someone on staff to handle the computer end of detecting. This leads to her hiring Matthew Anderson, a former journalist, who has exactly the qualifications Percy Powers needs.
When Lucinda Mills, Delilah's first pro bono case, calls upon Delilah to help her find out more details about the death of her aunt, Miriam Cross. Miriam was murdered, but the police aren't doing very much to investigate the case, and a gag order has been placed on all information surrounding Miriam's mysterious death, so it hasn't received any news coverage. Lucinda stands to inherit from Miriam's estate, and she plans to use this money to pay Delilah for her work. Miriam Cross had been wealthy thanks to her successful career as an author mainly dealing with women's issues. Not all of her work was a commercial success, but Miriam had enough to fund her favorite women's charities as well as leaving enough for Lucinda to be free of financial worries. Delilah agrees to take on the case even though there doesn't seem to be much evidence to launch much of an investigation. However, Delilah's team is nothing if not creative and fearless when they set out to investigate a case. For this one they need all the creativity and fearlessness they can muster since nothing is as it appears to be, and everything seems shrouded in secrecy.
For me, this book was not a run-of-the-mill murder mystery. First, because Delilah is a complicated woman with a lifestyle atypical from most women her age. She's known great sadness in her past, and this haunts her in her present more than she'd like to admit. Her life seems very solitary, but that's the way she wants it because she believes this will bring her peace. She's very self-sufficient, and she surrounds herself with other women who fit that same category.
Second, the other women characters in the story are every bit as interesting and diverse as Delilah. Margo is a 72 year old Nun and former headmistress. Her age in no way hinders her from being a productive member of Delilah's team. Natasha has had her training at the School of Hard Knocks. She has an 8 year old son she wants to provide with a house complete with yard and puppy. She saves every cent she can get toward this end. Barb is the homemaker married to a cop who can sometimes be helpful in getting information for Barb's cases. Barb manages her job as well as her kids with calm and creativity. It takes a lot to ruffle her feathers. Together these four women would be interesting in any setting. As detectives they are all forces to be reckoned with.
Third, this mystery stood out for me because it is a multilayered story that has twists and turns often enough to hold my interest throughout the book. The subject matter was unfamiliar to me, and I always appreciate reading books that educate as well as entertain me. It seems to me that most women would be interested in the subject of human trafficking since most of the victims are other women. The details of this kind of activity are horrific, which is reason enough to make awareness of this crime a priority. Tyson has done an excellent job of exposing some of the ways in which this travesty takes place.
Just when I thought the mystery and Miriam Cross' murder was solved, there was one final twist I never expected. It was the perfect ending to a well plotted, well written mystery. I highly recommend this book to any mystery lover, or anyone who likes to read women's lit. This would make a perfect gift for someone with those reading inclinations.
January 20, 2015
http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Valerie
It was such a joy to read Wendy Tyson’s novel! The Seduction of Miriam Cross is a mystery novel that brilliantly introduces Delilah, the protagonist, to the world. She is a detective with a staff including some interesting characters. I found the book to be intriguing, interesting, and impossible to put down!
Delilah is such a great character. She’s really smart and empathetic. Throughout the novel you see Delilah become a stronger character. I’m really glad she develops so much. I believe that if we should aspire to be a book character, we should aspire to be Miriam Cross! I’m so happy for her. Now, if only I could be her…
I can’t say much about the plot, but it sure is one great plot! Everything fits together so nicely. The explanation for the mystery will blow your mind! I get bored really easily, but I never got bored with Delilah and Miriam’s story. As Delilah got closer to the truth, I found it harder and harder to put this book down.
I truly recommend giving this wonderful novel by Wendy Tyson a try.
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Valerie
It was such a joy to read Wendy Tyson’s novel! The Seduction of Miriam Cross is a mystery novel that brilliantly introduces Delilah, the protagonist, to the world. She is a detective with a staff including some interesting characters. I found the book to be intriguing, interesting, and impossible to put down!
Delilah is such a great character. She’s really smart and empathetic. Throughout the novel you see Delilah become a stronger character. I’m really glad she develops so much. I believe that if we should aspire to be a book character, we should aspire to be Miriam Cross! I’m so happy for her. Now, if only I could be her…
I can’t say much about the plot, but it sure is one great plot! Everything fits together so nicely. The explanation for the mystery will blow your mind! I get bored really easily, but I never got bored with Delilah and Miriam’s story. As Delilah got closer to the truth, I found it harder and harder to put this book down.
I truly recommend giving this wonderful novel by Wendy Tyson a try.
January 8, 2014
It has only been within the last year that I've even given any thought to mystery series. Usually I find them too formulaic and I have it all figured out about a third of the way through. And then I wised up to how good mysteries could be. One of the authors that has seriously changed my mind is Wendy Tyson. I loved Killer Image but TSMC is a whole-other fantastic kettle of fish. Delilah and her all female detective agency are incredible. Each character is richly and full developed, so much so that even if the story was bland and formulaic I would've kept reading. Thankfully that is not the case. Delilah and her team have to delve into the world of international human trafficking, Wall Street businesses, the holy Catholic Church, and more. Tyson had me staying up late to see what happened next. Her twists are shocking and brilliant. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
October 25, 2013
This book was fabulous! It was dark, edgy, and the characters were beautifully crafted and developed. I was totally sucked into this story from the very first chapter (which was super creepy, in a good way!) If you liked Wendy's first book, Killer Image, you will definitely love The Seduction of Miriam Cross.
Tyson captured Philadelphia perfectly, and I loved that Delilah was originally a country girl. The juxtaposition of city life, her love for horses and her rugged nature/history was a nice touch to her character.
The dynamic between Delilah's team was great too -- and how could it not be with an ex-nun, an ex-stripper and a minivan driving, marching band mom. These characters added a welcomed element of humor to an overall dark story.
Can't wait for book 2!
Tyson captured Philadelphia perfectly, and I loved that Delilah was originally a country girl. The juxtaposition of city life, her love for horses and her rugged nature/history was a nice touch to her character.
The dynamic between Delilah's team was great too -- and how could it not be with an ex-nun, an ex-stripper and a minivan driving, marching band mom. These characters added a welcomed element of humor to an overall dark story.
Can't wait for book 2!
December 5, 2013
I had the opportunity to be on Wendy Tyson's TLC Blog Tour for her debut mystery novel, Killer Image, a few months ago. I really enjoyed her writing and the book, so when I was approached for the tour for her new series, I gladly accepted. The Seduction of Miriam Cross is rooted more in the thriller genre than Killer Image was while they both are well written mysteries, and I loved the all-women private detective agency headed by Delilah Percy Powers featured in the Wendy Tyson's newest series.
When the agency's first pro-bono client's aunt is brutally murdered after she'd been missing for nearly a year, the client approaches Delilah with the task of tracking down the killers. Even though the aunt was a well known author, little can be found out about the year she was off the grid, and Delilah is forced to bring in a new member onto her team that has computer expertise--someone who can dig for the digital things that are buried to most people. After much prodding from a member of her team, Delilah hires Matthew Anderson, a former investigative journalist looking for a change who has the needed computer experience the agency desperately needs for this case.
As Delilah, Anders, and the usual team consisting of a resourceful ex-nun, a tight-scheduled mom of three who's married to a cop, and a former stripper who's tough as nails with a young son to protect, dig their way through a twisting trail of aliases, shady dealings, and questionable characters as the find out who the real Miriam Cross actually was.
The characters in this book were strong and well developed. Delilah and the rest of the women detectives are strong, smart, and able-bodied, and they don't always get along, which is totally realistic and refreshing. Delilah is still single in her thirties because of a tragedy in her past that she can't seem to move past, choosing to live on a farm in the country with a few horses and dogs to keep her company. Each of the characters get their chance to shine since the book is written in the third person and you get into each of their heads, allowing you a peak at their motivations and hopes.
I give The Seduction of Miriam Cross a 4.5 out of 5. With strong, descriptive writing that moves at a great pace throughout, this dark and sometimes violent and gritty thriller had a
mystery that was hard to guess as the story progressed. Great character development and heart-pounding action sequences kept me turning the virtual pages of my Kindle copy as I tried to unravel the mystery. This book wrapped up nicely and I can't wait to see more of these characters in the next book, especially Delilah's private security firm ex-boyfriend.
(Also on Bewitched Bookworms)
When the agency's first pro-bono client's aunt is brutally murdered after she'd been missing for nearly a year, the client approaches Delilah with the task of tracking down the killers. Even though the aunt was a well known author, little can be found out about the year she was off the grid, and Delilah is forced to bring in a new member onto her team that has computer expertise--someone who can dig for the digital things that are buried to most people. After much prodding from a member of her team, Delilah hires Matthew Anderson, a former investigative journalist looking for a change who has the needed computer experience the agency desperately needs for this case.
As Delilah, Anders, and the usual team consisting of a resourceful ex-nun, a tight-scheduled mom of three who's married to a cop, and a former stripper who's tough as nails with a young son to protect, dig their way through a twisting trail of aliases, shady dealings, and questionable characters as the find out who the real Miriam Cross actually was.
The characters in this book were strong and well developed. Delilah and the rest of the women detectives are strong, smart, and able-bodied, and they don't always get along, which is totally realistic and refreshing. Delilah is still single in her thirties because of a tragedy in her past that she can't seem to move past, choosing to live on a farm in the country with a few horses and dogs to keep her company. Each of the characters get their chance to shine since the book is written in the third person and you get into each of their heads, allowing you a peak at their motivations and hopes.
I give The Seduction of Miriam Cross a 4.5 out of 5. With strong, descriptive writing that moves at a great pace throughout, this dark and sometimes violent and gritty thriller had a
mystery that was hard to guess as the story progressed. Great character development and heart-pounding action sequences kept me turning the virtual pages of my Kindle copy as I tried to unravel the mystery. This book wrapped up nicely and I can't wait to see more of these characters in the next book, especially Delilah's private security firm ex-boyfriend.
(Also on Bewitched Bookworms)
May 21, 2015
Well-written, fast-paced, heart-pounding mystery with a strong female lead.
Review excerpts:
Delilah Percy Powers is a Philadelphia-based private investigator with a female-staffed firm where "women can go to find justice." Delilah's all-woman team is eclectic--Barb, a suburban married mother of three, Margot, a 72-year-old ex-nun, and Natasha, a young single mother and ex-stripper. Although murders are not among Percy Powers LLC's usual cases, a former client dumps a doozy of one into Delilah's lap when she hires her to investigate the murder of her aunt, famous author Miriam Cross. Needing additional help in forensic surveillance, freelance journalist and Certified Ethical Hacker, Matthew "Anders" Anderson is hired as the first male Percy Powers employee and tension comes both in the feelings he raises in Delilah, and questions about where his interests in the case and his loyalties lie. Miriam's murder was particularly brutal and it doesn't take Delilah and her team long to realize that this case is more involved and farther reaching than expected, with ties to the Mob and human trafficking making it far more dangerous to them all
Mystery/thrillers with a strong female protagonist are among my favorite book genres and I like them to have good suspense and be a bit dark and edgy too. The Seduction of Miriam Cross delivers on all accounts.
Tyson did an excellent job of creating characters that feel real and that you want to learn more about, as well as keeping the action well-paced. This book had me turning pages long after I should have been asleep just to see what was going to happen next, and it inspired me to download Tyson's first book Killer Image (An Allison Campbell Mystery), to my Kindle to read.
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You can read my full review, see a recipe inspired by the book and enter a giveaway to win a copy of your own (enter by 12/19/13) on my blog post here:
http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/20...
Note: A ARC of "The Seduction of Miriam Cross" and a copy to give away to one of my blog readers were provided by the publisher and TLC Book Tours in return for a fair and honest review. I was not compensated for this review and as always my thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review excerpts:
Delilah Percy Powers is a Philadelphia-based private investigator with a female-staffed firm where "women can go to find justice." Delilah's all-woman team is eclectic--Barb, a suburban married mother of three, Margot, a 72-year-old ex-nun, and Natasha, a young single mother and ex-stripper. Although murders are not among Percy Powers LLC's usual cases, a former client dumps a doozy of one into Delilah's lap when she hires her to investigate the murder of her aunt, famous author Miriam Cross. Needing additional help in forensic surveillance, freelance journalist and Certified Ethical Hacker, Matthew "Anders" Anderson is hired as the first male Percy Powers employee and tension comes both in the feelings he raises in Delilah, and questions about where his interests in the case and his loyalties lie. Miriam's murder was particularly brutal and it doesn't take Delilah and her team long to realize that this case is more involved and farther reaching than expected, with ties to the Mob and human trafficking making it far more dangerous to them all
Mystery/thrillers with a strong female protagonist are among my favorite book genres and I like them to have good suspense and be a bit dark and edgy too. The Seduction of Miriam Cross delivers on all accounts.
Tyson did an excellent job of creating characters that feel real and that you want to learn more about, as well as keeping the action well-paced. This book had me turning pages long after I should have been asleep just to see what was going to happen next, and it inspired me to download Tyson's first book Killer Image (An Allison Campbell Mystery), to my Kindle to read.
----
You can read my full review, see a recipe inspired by the book and enter a giveaway to win a copy of your own (enter by 12/19/13) on my blog post here:
http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/20...
Note: A ARC of "The Seduction of Miriam Cross" and a copy to give away to one of my blog readers were provided by the publisher and TLC Book Tours in return for a fair and honest review. I was not compensated for this review and as always my thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 13, 2014
4.5 stars
The Seduction of Miriam Cross is a story about a (nearly) all-female private investigation team who takes on a very mysterious and heinous murder case. Their client is the niece of the victim. The victim is/was a famous author who was both reclusive and extremely private in her life, but it is discovered throughout the book that her private life was vastly different than her public persona. Not only was she into some rather kinky things sexually, she was also gathering information about the deadly, secretive world of human trafficking for a new book she was writing.
It is up to the P.I. team to figure out if the client (the niece) is in danger as well as who killed her aunt and why, but most importantly, what was the truth beneath the hornets nest she was uncovering that possibly led to her murder.
I loved all the female characters in the Percy Powers investigation team. Each of the women (Delilah, Natasha, Barb and Margot) were smart, strong-minded and capable and useful to the team in different ways. And the male newcomer to the team, Anders, had me raising my eyebrow at him throughout the book - I never really trusted him.
Wendy Tyson is such a skilled author and she certainly knows how to puzzle together a classy mystery in a way that delivers the readers just enough pieces at a time to keep them intrigued and guessing, combined with enough action to keep them on the edge of their seats during the entire ride.
This book, like Wendy's debut book "Killer Image", deals with very real, very serious and important modern-day issues. Where "Killer Image" highlighted the benefits of dog rescue, "TSoMC" focuses on the tragic loss and pain of human trafficking, both are very worthy causes to promote and support.
I received this personalized, signed edition from the author herself after winning a contest posted on her personal Facebook page. Thank you SO MUCH Wendy for another fantastic story. I'm now looking forward to sequels for both series'!
The Seduction of Miriam Cross is a story about a (nearly) all-female private investigation team who takes on a very mysterious and heinous murder case. Their client is the niece of the victim. The victim is/was a famous author who was both reclusive and extremely private in her life, but it is discovered throughout the book that her private life was vastly different than her public persona. Not only was she into some rather kinky things sexually, she was also gathering information about the deadly, secretive world of human trafficking for a new book she was writing.
It is up to the P.I. team to figure out if the client (the niece) is in danger as well as who killed her aunt and why, but most importantly, what was the truth beneath the hornets nest she was uncovering that possibly led to her murder.
I loved all the female characters in the Percy Powers investigation team. Each of the women (Delilah, Natasha, Barb and Margot) were smart, strong-minded and capable and useful to the team in different ways. And the male newcomer to the team, Anders, had me raising my eyebrow at him throughout the book - I never really trusted him.
Wendy Tyson is such a skilled author and she certainly knows how to puzzle together a classy mystery in a way that delivers the readers just enough pieces at a time to keep them intrigued and guessing, combined with enough action to keep them on the edge of their seats during the entire ride.
This book, like Wendy's debut book "Killer Image", deals with very real, very serious and important modern-day issues. Where "Killer Image" highlighted the benefits of dog rescue, "TSoMC" focuses on the tragic loss and pain of human trafficking, both are very worthy causes to promote and support.
I received this personalized, signed edition from the author herself after winning a contest posted on her personal Facebook page. Thank you SO MUCH Wendy for another fantastic story. I'm now looking forward to sequels for both series'!
November 14, 2013
Starts off good right away giving us the scene of the crime and opening into a murder mystery. After that it seems like facts are just given and it does take away a bit from the initial intrigue of the murder. There's also the introduction of the characters and I find Delilah a bit emotionless. She seems like a strong independent women but she's hard to relate to and I found my self not really into the character. I did like Barb and her no nonsense attitude and even Natasha being a great tough cookie.
Aside from the characters I was intrigued with the mystery and the murder investigation. I like the way all the pieces start coming together. The book was a little dark, edgy and graphic in certain topics but it was well written. I liked that it touched base on a very horrible issue that is very real and that does happen. The whole trafficking of people was sad and I really felt bad for the women Delilah meets. I was glad the way things ended, justice is served. The twist at then had me shaking my head at Enid to think all of it could have been avoided, that was a great throw in at the end.
Overall a good mystery book that will keep you guessing until the end. I honestly couldn't guess at it through most of the book which was great because it kept me intrigued. There was much going on and the characters were place in danger lets just say the suspense was great too. I recommend this book to those who like a good mystery and I'm sure it will keep them intrigued.
Aside from the characters I was intrigued with the mystery and the murder investigation. I like the way all the pieces start coming together. The book was a little dark, edgy and graphic in certain topics but it was well written. I liked that it touched base on a very horrible issue that is very real and that does happen. The whole trafficking of people was sad and I really felt bad for the women Delilah meets. I was glad the way things ended, justice is served. The twist at then had me shaking my head at Enid to think all of it could have been avoided, that was a great throw in at the end.
Overall a good mystery book that will keep you guessing until the end. I honestly couldn't guess at it through most of the book which was great because it kept me intrigued. There was much going on and the characters were place in danger lets just say the suspense was great too. I recommend this book to those who like a good mystery and I'm sure it will keep them intrigued.
November 19, 2013
Be prepared – once you start reading The Seduction of Miriam Cross you will not be able to put it down. This is a fast-pace page turner. The author makes you care about these characters so that you have an overwhelming need to keep reading to find out whodunit. So if you are looking for something a little different in your next mystery, then you should be reading The Seduction of Miriam Cross.
To read the entire review, please go to:http://www.amazon.com/review/R26ELETK...
To read the entire review, please go to:http://www.amazon.com/review/R26ELETK...
July 4, 2014
Awesome book!! Love mysteries and Wendy does an awesome job at keeping it a mystery.
December 16, 2013
Originally published at Reading Reality
Don’t let the title fool you, the seduction involved in this story is all about the reader getting seduced into following the mystery.
Miriam Cross’ seduction happened a long time ago, and it has already led to her death. It’s the mission of Delilah Percy Powers and her band of investigators to find the trail that led to her sensational murder. Also to discover why there hasn’t been a sensation regarding the murder of a best-selling author living under an assumed name in a small town.
Miriam Cross might not have been the big name she used to be, but former New York Times best selling authors don’t get beheaded every day. She should have been tabloid fodder for a couple of news cycles at least--not relegated to the back page and hushed up.
Someone important wants Miriam’s death swept under the rug. Which means that there is something still worth keeping secret. And when Delilah takes the case from Miriam’s niece, she discovers that the secret wasn’t just worth killing for, it is worth continuing to kill for--whatever Miriam died to protect isn’t over. Not by a long shot.
As Delilah and her multi-talented group of female sleuths dig into the private life of the late, lamented Miriam Cross, they unearth more alter-egos than just the one she was living under the year before she died. The celebrated feminist author penned erotic poetry under yet another pseudonym, and kept a video of herself in a BDSM scene. But her biggest secret involved her funding of a philanthropic organization that was either very illegal, or very dangerous.
Whatever Women NOW might have been, investigating even asking questions about it leads a trail of dead bodies and mobsters right to Delilah’s door. She knows she’s next, but only after she discovers something too dangerous not to see through to the end.
Escape Rating B: What drew me in (seduced me, if you will) was Delilah’s investigation and the way the case kept getting deeper and deeper. Also how she fit the personalities of each of her very unique investigators to the different facets of the case.
While on first glance, it might seem like a bit of a gimmick that all of Delilah’s teammates are female, this is far from a takeoff on “Charlie’s Angels” in spite of that cheesy cover picture. One woman might be an ex-stripper, but another is over 70 and an ex-nun. The third is a volleyball coach and a housewife when she’s not tailing suspects.
It’s fun to watch them work. It’s also neat to see them rub along together. There is no macho posturing, they just get the job done. They genuinely care about each other. Needless to say, this book passes the Bechdel Test with flying colors, and without being preachy about it. There’s work to be done.
But about the case itself. At first, Delilah is in this to bring closure to a former client. But then, she discovers that there’s something fishy going on, and she can’t stand not to discover what it’s all about. But the more she digs the bigger the case gets.
While it’s fascinating to watch her work, and her cause is very definitely just, the case feels like it gets to be a bit too big for the story. The ending is tied up too neatly and isn’t explained quite as well as it could have been. Or perhaps we don’t know enough about Delilah and her cohorts yet to understand why all these people owe her so many favors.
I did like Delilah and her band quite a bit. I hope to see them solve more mysteries in the future!
Don’t let the title fool you, the seduction involved in this story is all about the reader getting seduced into following the mystery.
Miriam Cross’ seduction happened a long time ago, and it has already led to her death. It’s the mission of Delilah Percy Powers and her band of investigators to find the trail that led to her sensational murder. Also to discover why there hasn’t been a sensation regarding the murder of a best-selling author living under an assumed name in a small town.
Miriam Cross might not have been the big name she used to be, but former New York Times best selling authors don’t get beheaded every day. She should have been tabloid fodder for a couple of news cycles at least--not relegated to the back page and hushed up.
Someone important wants Miriam’s death swept under the rug. Which means that there is something still worth keeping secret. And when Delilah takes the case from Miriam’s niece, she discovers that the secret wasn’t just worth killing for, it is worth continuing to kill for--whatever Miriam died to protect isn’t over. Not by a long shot.
As Delilah and her multi-talented group of female sleuths dig into the private life of the late, lamented Miriam Cross, they unearth more alter-egos than just the one she was living under the year before she died. The celebrated feminist author penned erotic poetry under yet another pseudonym, and kept a video of herself in a BDSM scene. But her biggest secret involved her funding of a philanthropic organization that was either very illegal, or very dangerous.
Whatever Women NOW might have been, investigating even asking questions about it leads a trail of dead bodies and mobsters right to Delilah’s door. She knows she’s next, but only after she discovers something too dangerous not to see through to the end.
Escape Rating B: What drew me in (seduced me, if you will) was Delilah’s investigation and the way the case kept getting deeper and deeper. Also how she fit the personalities of each of her very unique investigators to the different facets of the case.
While on first glance, it might seem like a bit of a gimmick that all of Delilah’s teammates are female, this is far from a takeoff on “Charlie’s Angels” in spite of that cheesy cover picture. One woman might be an ex-stripper, but another is over 70 and an ex-nun. The third is a volleyball coach and a housewife when she’s not tailing suspects.
It’s fun to watch them work. It’s also neat to see them rub along together. There is no macho posturing, they just get the job done. They genuinely care about each other. Needless to say, this book passes the Bechdel Test with flying colors, and without being preachy about it. There’s work to be done.
But about the case itself. At first, Delilah is in this to bring closure to a former client. But then, she discovers that there’s something fishy going on, and she can’t stand not to discover what it’s all about. But the more she digs the bigger the case gets.
While it’s fascinating to watch her work, and her cause is very definitely just, the case feels like it gets to be a bit too big for the story. The ending is tied up too neatly and isn’t explained quite as well as it could have been. Or perhaps we don’t know enough about Delilah and her cohorts yet to understand why all these people owe her so many favors.
I did like Delilah and her band quite a bit. I hope to see them solve more mysteries in the future!
December 10, 2013
http://www.simplystacie.net/2013/12/s...
The Seduction of Miriam Cross is the second book by new author, Wendy Tyson, which I have read this year. The Seduction of Miriam Cross is a seductive journey into a taboo world, filled with Lust, Crime and Secret societies. When Delilah, the owner of Percy Powers Private Investigators, receives a call from former client, Lucinda, she assumes that it may just involve her abusive husband. However, Lucinda’s case proves to be on a scale in which Delilah and her employees have never dealt with. Lucinda’s famous author Aunt, Miriam Cross, was recently brutally murdered, and she wants answers. Delilah reluctantly takes the case, which takes her into a world in which she has never before ventured. Putting not only Lucinda in jeopardy, but also her employees and herself, it is a case far bigger than Percy Powers, but Delilah is determined to solve it.
Delilah is a complex character. She is broken due to the loss of her father at a young age and her fiancé some years ago. She uses her work to mask the pain, but certain things are impossible to remain covered. The pain which Delilah is experiencing on a personal level is understandable, which makes her sometimes rudeness towards others forgivable. All of Percy Powers’ employees are female, and they all bring a level of expertise to the table which is important to the team’s success. The characters are all different, yet likeable. Margot is the elder of the group, who is meticulously by the books. Barb is Delilah’s good friend; she’s orderly, with an eye for details. Natasha is the wild child of the group; coming from a broken home and a rough life on the streets, she brings her much needed street sense to the team. Certainly they are all imperative to the team, but when Delilah needs help in another area, she is forced outside of her comfort zone. She must hire Anders, a former journalist and a computer expert—skills which are advantageous to the case. However, there is just one problem with Anders. He reminds Delilah of her dead fiancé.
Powers once more aces mystery writing with The Seduction of Miriam Cross. It is the sort of book which makes you turn off the TV and curl up with at night, or makes you want to sneak in a few chapters in between classes. Filled with action, a bit of romance and the perfect amount of mystery, The Seduction of Miriam Cross is a must read mystery and I look forward to reading more books in the Delilah Percy Powers Mystery series of books.
The Seduction of Miriam Cross is the second book by new author, Wendy Tyson, which I have read this year. The Seduction of Miriam Cross is a seductive journey into a taboo world, filled with Lust, Crime and Secret societies. When Delilah, the owner of Percy Powers Private Investigators, receives a call from former client, Lucinda, she assumes that it may just involve her abusive husband. However, Lucinda’s case proves to be on a scale in which Delilah and her employees have never dealt with. Lucinda’s famous author Aunt, Miriam Cross, was recently brutally murdered, and she wants answers. Delilah reluctantly takes the case, which takes her into a world in which she has never before ventured. Putting not only Lucinda in jeopardy, but also her employees and herself, it is a case far bigger than Percy Powers, but Delilah is determined to solve it.
Delilah is a complex character. She is broken due to the loss of her father at a young age and her fiancé some years ago. She uses her work to mask the pain, but certain things are impossible to remain covered. The pain which Delilah is experiencing on a personal level is understandable, which makes her sometimes rudeness towards others forgivable. All of Percy Powers’ employees are female, and they all bring a level of expertise to the table which is important to the team’s success. The characters are all different, yet likeable. Margot is the elder of the group, who is meticulously by the books. Barb is Delilah’s good friend; she’s orderly, with an eye for details. Natasha is the wild child of the group; coming from a broken home and a rough life on the streets, she brings her much needed street sense to the team. Certainly they are all imperative to the team, but when Delilah needs help in another area, she is forced outside of her comfort zone. She must hire Anders, a former journalist and a computer expert—skills which are advantageous to the case. However, there is just one problem with Anders. He reminds Delilah of her dead fiancé.
Powers once more aces mystery writing with The Seduction of Miriam Cross. It is the sort of book which makes you turn off the TV and curl up with at night, or makes you want to sneak in a few chapters in between classes. Filled with action, a bit of romance and the perfect amount of mystery, The Seduction of Miriam Cross is a must read mystery and I look forward to reading more books in the Delilah Percy Powers Mystery series of books.
November 3, 2014
Famed author Miriam Cross has been murdered but thus far there's been surprisingly little coverage. In fact, PI Delilah Percy Powers didn't even know of Miriam's death until the author's niece - a former Percy Powers client - hires her to look into it. It seems Miriam, who had a knack for rubbing people the wrong way with her books, had been living under an alias in the suburbs when she was brutally killed. The author's niece knows of no one who might have a motive but she's noticed something strange of late: lots of hang up calls and the sense that she and her sons are being followed. Delilah is concerned enough that she agrees to take the case and as they learn more about the mysterious Miriam Cross she and her team realize that the author was into some nasty business indeed.
This latest from Tyson - who also wrote KILLER IMAGE - is quite dark. You may recall that I did mention KILLER IMAGE was surprisingly darker than I'd expected, but even that didn't prepare me for THE SEDUCTION OF MIRIAM CROSS. I like dark so Tyson's latest was still on par with my personal taste but I like to give fair warning to readers out there who might have lighter preferences :)
Like KILLER IMAGE, THE SEDUCTION OF MIRIAM CROSS introduces a bevy of characters. Delilah runs a PI firm manned by three additional employees - Margot, a seventy-two-year-old former nun; Barb, a suburban mom who's married to a copy; and Natasha, a former working girl with a young son. All three offer up something different to the team and, as such, something different to the narrative. Delilah is forced to bring on a new hire as well, a former journalist and hacker named Matthew Anderson - or Anders.
The book starts light enough with Delilah turning down a case involving a former classmate and proposed entrapment of her husband. Tyson gives us a chance to settle in and get to know the Percy Powers ladies before getting down the dark and gritty parts of the Miriam Cross case. I rather liked the way it played out, all things considered. It did mean a slower development in the mystery but it also made the revelations about the case that much more unexpected. Tyson again did a great job of keeping me guessing until the very end.
Mystery fans, look out! Wendy Tyson should be on your radar if she isn't already.
This latest from Tyson - who also wrote KILLER IMAGE - is quite dark. You may recall that I did mention KILLER IMAGE was surprisingly darker than I'd expected, but even that didn't prepare me for THE SEDUCTION OF MIRIAM CROSS. I like dark so Tyson's latest was still on par with my personal taste but I like to give fair warning to readers out there who might have lighter preferences :)
Like KILLER IMAGE, THE SEDUCTION OF MIRIAM CROSS introduces a bevy of characters. Delilah runs a PI firm manned by three additional employees - Margot, a seventy-two-year-old former nun; Barb, a suburban mom who's married to a copy; and Natasha, a former working girl with a young son. All three offer up something different to the team and, as such, something different to the narrative. Delilah is forced to bring on a new hire as well, a former journalist and hacker named Matthew Anderson - or Anders.
The book starts light enough with Delilah turning down a case involving a former classmate and proposed entrapment of her husband. Tyson gives us a chance to settle in and get to know the Percy Powers ladies before getting down the dark and gritty parts of the Miriam Cross case. I rather liked the way it played out, all things considered. It did mean a slower development in the mystery but it also made the revelations about the case that much more unexpected. Tyson again did a great job of keeping me guessing until the very end.
Mystery fans, look out! Wendy Tyson should be on your radar if she isn't already.
December 31, 2013
Delilah Percy Powers operates a private investigation office in Philadelphia. One of the more interesting things about the office is that it is staffed by all women. Delilah was a week away from her marriage when her fiance was killed in a kayak accident. She mourns him still years later and his body was never found. Maybe that's why the PI business interests her so.
Margot is the office manager and an ex-nun possessed with "uncanny intuition". Barb is a sensible, resourceful stay-at-home mom married to a cop. She was looking for a job with flexible hours, and working for Delilah fit the bill. Natasha is a single mom of a three-year-old boy who lived on the streets for awhile and is tough as nails.
Their newest client wants Delilah to investigate her aunt's murder. Miriam Cross wrote feminist literary novels and she was found decapitated in a house she rented under an assumed name. Cross was not well liked by many people, her novels were controversial, but as the investigation proceeds, it becomes clear that she wasn't the quiet maiden aunt that her niece was led to believe.
The investigation uncovers links to white slavery, a financial institution's involvement, mob connections, an underground railroad system for abused women run by a nun, a hacker trying to get a job with Percy Powers, and Cross' kinky relationship with two men. I have to confess that I had trouble following the resolution of the convoluted mystery, but Tyson did keep me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen.
I became very invested in Percy Powers Investigations, and really enjoyed the scenes among all of the women in the agency. Tyson's strong suit is writing about these interesting women. I can see this as a series of books, and I would love to find out more about these women and how they came to this point in their lives. Tyson's strong suit is writing about these interesting women.
Margot is the office manager and an ex-nun possessed with "uncanny intuition". Barb is a sensible, resourceful stay-at-home mom married to a cop. She was looking for a job with flexible hours, and working for Delilah fit the bill. Natasha is a single mom of a three-year-old boy who lived on the streets for awhile and is tough as nails.
Their newest client wants Delilah to investigate her aunt's murder. Miriam Cross wrote feminist literary novels and she was found decapitated in a house she rented under an assumed name. Cross was not well liked by many people, her novels were controversial, but as the investigation proceeds, it becomes clear that she wasn't the quiet maiden aunt that her niece was led to believe.
The investigation uncovers links to white slavery, a financial institution's involvement, mob connections, an underground railroad system for abused women run by a nun, a hacker trying to get a job with Percy Powers, and Cross' kinky relationship with two men. I have to confess that I had trouble following the resolution of the convoluted mystery, but Tyson did keep me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen.
I became very invested in Percy Powers Investigations, and really enjoyed the scenes among all of the women in the agency. Tyson's strong suit is writing about these interesting women. I can see this as a series of books, and I would love to find out more about these women and how they came to this point in their lives. Tyson's strong suit is writing about these interesting women.
January 17, 2014
First I'd like to start off by saying I received this book through Goodreads as a giveaway.
I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this read. Mind you there were quite a few grammatical errors and there was a few times where things weren't explained quite enough such as, Delilah tells Lucinda that she will call and let her know if she will take the case, and then no call happens, they just automatically take the case and it's picked up as if the conversation never took place. I can over look all of this as being a new writer's first book.
Having said that, I adored the character's. The author was aptly able to set up 5 characters that absolutely make this book. You have Delilah, the owner of Delilah Percy Powers private investigating. A brokenhearted woman that stems from her fiance having died before their wedding many years back. Barb, who is the strict mother that is built like a tank and married to a cop. Margot who is a 72 yr. old ex-nun. Natasha, the young tough as nails mother who is an ex-stripper/prostitute who now has a girlfriend. And finally the newest member Anders. He has his own past to deal with and his own agenda he is running. All of these characters and their interactions make this book.
The storyline was interesting, and it was fun to see how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. It brings a light to human trafficking, even though it only just touched on it. My hope is that in later books of this series that this story will somewhat continue as there is so much that was left opened ended. There could be a lot more done with just this idea.
At any rate, it was great first book. With a few touch up and possibly a better publisher, these thing's would be corrected easily enough. In a genera that is so overwhelmed with authors, it is nice to find one that has a new and original idea. Great book Ms. Tyson! Thank You for sending it to me. :)
I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this read. Mind you there were quite a few grammatical errors and there was a few times where things weren't explained quite enough such as, Delilah tells Lucinda that she will call and let her know if she will take the case, and then no call happens, they just automatically take the case and it's picked up as if the conversation never took place. I can over look all of this as being a new writer's first book.
Having said that, I adored the character's. The author was aptly able to set up 5 characters that absolutely make this book. You have Delilah, the owner of Delilah Percy Powers private investigating. A brokenhearted woman that stems from her fiance having died before their wedding many years back. Barb, who is the strict mother that is built like a tank and married to a cop. Margot who is a 72 yr. old ex-nun. Natasha, the young tough as nails mother who is an ex-stripper/prostitute who now has a girlfriend. And finally the newest member Anders. He has his own past to deal with and his own agenda he is running. All of these characters and their interactions make this book.
The storyline was interesting, and it was fun to see how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. It brings a light to human trafficking, even though it only just touched on it. My hope is that in later books of this series that this story will somewhat continue as there is so much that was left opened ended. There could be a lot more done with just this idea.
At any rate, it was great first book. With a few touch up and possibly a better publisher, these thing's would be corrected easily enough. In a genera that is so overwhelmed with authors, it is nice to find one that has a new and original idea. Great book Ms. Tyson! Thank You for sending it to me. :)
April 4, 2014
I really enjoyed sinking my teeth into this mystery; Delilah Percy-Powers and her band of misfit lady detectives were more than just your average chick lit crime solving team. As the mystery unravelled, the seriousness of the underlying issues gave the book more depth than many other chick lit mysteries. Furthermore, the complex mystery kept me guessing until the very end, when all of the interwoven strands finally became clear.
While the book had some strange formatting, a few typos and no page numbers, they were easily overlooked (no easy feat with a grammar nazi like me doing the reading) in the face of the gripping mystery. The cover hadn’t revealed much about the style of the story, so I was pleasantly surprised to read a book that focused on the mystery, with the personal lives of the characters adding layers to the story but playing a clear second fiddle to the main plot.
I really appreciated that Tyson wove such serious current issues into the story in such a way that the reader was quietly educated as the mystery unfolded. Somewhat longer than an average chick lit novel, I was pleased to really sink my teeth into a detailed plot. Tyson kept the story moving forward at a good pace, and at no point did I feel like it was dragging – the extra pages were more than worth it.
I don’t want to give away anything about the plot, as you should analyse the clues for yourself as you progress through the book. However, I will say that for anyone looking for a slightly darker, more complex female-driven mystery, the first novel in the Delilah Percy-Powers mystery series could be perfect. If you want to check it out, you can find it here or here. I’ll be keeping my eye out for the next instalment!
While the book had some strange formatting, a few typos and no page numbers, they were easily overlooked (no easy feat with a grammar nazi like me doing the reading) in the face of the gripping mystery. The cover hadn’t revealed much about the style of the story, so I was pleasantly surprised to read a book that focused on the mystery, with the personal lives of the characters adding layers to the story but playing a clear second fiddle to the main plot.
I really appreciated that Tyson wove such serious current issues into the story in such a way that the reader was quietly educated as the mystery unfolded. Somewhat longer than an average chick lit novel, I was pleased to really sink my teeth into a detailed plot. Tyson kept the story moving forward at a good pace, and at no point did I feel like it was dragging – the extra pages were more than worth it.
I don’t want to give away anything about the plot, as you should analyse the clues for yourself as you progress through the book. However, I will say that for anyone looking for a slightly darker, more complex female-driven mystery, the first novel in the Delilah Percy-Powers mystery series could be perfect. If you want to check it out, you can find it here or here. I’ll be keeping my eye out for the next instalment!
December 2, 2013
I knew almost nothing about this book going into it. I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed The Seduction of Miriam Cross. It is a well written and planned out mystery. I was sucked in right away and read it in a day. There were a couple of things that I really enjoyed. First, I didn't really know who the killer was until the end. There were just enough suspects to keep me guessing, but not so many that I got annoyed or lost. In the end, I was happy to see that the solution made sense and didn't come out of left field.
The other thing that I liked was that the story was told through the perspective of not just Delilah but her staff as well. It allowed me to really get to know Nastasha and Barb's characters better than them being just peripheral characters relayed through Delilah. All of the women in the agency are strong women and each brings a unique talent and perspective to the group. I only wish that I had learned more about Margo, the ex-nun. Maybe in the next book?
As I said the mystery was enjoyable. It starts out as a true puzzle. What they learn in their investigation of the murder of Miriam Cross was just horrifying and disgusting. Human trafficking is a real problem in this world. It was nice to see some justice, even if it was in a fictitious story.
The only thing that I disliked about the book was the "romance" between Delilah and Anders. I just didn't see or feel it. It almost felt like and afterthought to the story and I think the book would have been fine without it. I do hope that it is explored more in the next book in the series. I highly recommned this book to mystery lovers. I don't think you will be disappointed!
The other thing that I liked was that the story was told through the perspective of not just Delilah but her staff as well. It allowed me to really get to know Nastasha and Barb's characters better than them being just peripheral characters relayed through Delilah. All of the women in the agency are strong women and each brings a unique talent and perspective to the group. I only wish that I had learned more about Margo, the ex-nun. Maybe in the next book?
As I said the mystery was enjoyable. It starts out as a true puzzle. What they learn in their investigation of the murder of Miriam Cross was just horrifying and disgusting. Human trafficking is a real problem in this world. It was nice to see some justice, even if it was in a fictitious story.
The only thing that I disliked about the book was the "romance" between Delilah and Anders. I just didn't see or feel it. It almost felt like and afterthought to the story and I think the book would have been fine without it. I do hope that it is explored more in the next book in the series. I highly recommned this book to mystery lovers. I don't think you will be disappointed!
December 20, 2013
This book is purported to be the first in a series about a women's detective agency headed by Delilah Percy Powers. I do so hope that is the case. Delilah and her co-workers, an ex-nun, ex-stripper and a supposedly simple housewife work together to solve the cases brought to them. This time a former client comes in with concerns regarding the murder of her aunt - Miriam Cross, a famous writer. As Delilah delves into the case we learn more about Miriam than perhaps we want to know. We also slowly get to know the histories of the women of the firm.
The story is a page turner full of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. In fact the last revelation caught me completely by surprise. You have to love that in a thriller/suspense novel. The characters are are well developed and while Ms. Tyson gave us a fair bit of their histories I feel there is still a lot more to learn and I WANT to learn it. I found myself completely immersed in this book and even though the topics covered were not always pleasant the writing was so good I was able to get passed the evil characters and focus on the good. For how can one have a thriller without bad people?
If you are looking for a really good mystery/thriller with a great cast of female characters (and a couple of strong men thrown in for good measure) this is definitely the book to pick up; it's thought provoking, entertaining, thrilling and just damn good.
The story is a page turner full of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. In fact the last revelation caught me completely by surprise. You have to love that in a thriller/suspense novel. The characters are are well developed and while Ms. Tyson gave us a fair bit of their histories I feel there is still a lot more to learn and I WANT to learn it. I found myself completely immersed in this book and even though the topics covered were not always pleasant the writing was so good I was able to get passed the evil characters and focus on the good. For how can one have a thriller without bad people?
If you are looking for a really good mystery/thriller with a great cast of female characters (and a couple of strong men thrown in for good measure) this is definitely the book to pick up; it's thought provoking, entertaining, thrilling and just damn good.
December 9, 2013
The Seduction of Miriam Cross is one mystery thriller that is guaranteed to keep you at the edge of your seat. An excellently written, fast paced murder mystery with a lot of twist and turns in the plot enough to keep you guessing in the end. Delilah Percy Powers, private investigator has been asked to help solve the murder of the famous novelist Miriam Cross. Its never as simple as that, as Delilah and her team investigates further, revelations lead them to a path more dangerous than they could have imagined. This was a great storyline with more than solving the crime, it also delves into the dark social issues of human trafficking and slavery. Delilah was a fantastic female lead, strong, vulnerable with a take-no prisoner attitude. She also has her own emotional and psychological issues that doesn't overtake the storyline. Other secondary characters are gradually introduced, credit to the author since there were no overwhelming feeling of too many characters, too many side stories that would tend to confuse the reader. Everything was tightly woven, seamlessly joined together making this a good, entertaining and engaging murder mystery thriller. Looking forward to more from Ms. Tyson and Ms. Delilah Percy Powers.
*The ARC was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review*
*The ARC was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review*
November 18, 2013
4 STARS
This is a more darker detective mystery than I have read lately. It deals with murders of women now and here in our country. So it is not a light subject but a important one. Miriam Cross was murdered and her niece hired Delilah's Detective Agency to find out who killed her.
I like Delilah detective agency. The women come from different background and skill set. One was a Nun, prostitute,
a teacher, and Delilah herself a lawyer. These women work well together. They are very interesting characters.
I like them.
Delilah goes beyond what she is hired to do. She cares about her co-workers, client and women she has met along the way. She is single with a tragic past. She owns horses and lives in a old house.
The suspense is good and you are not sure who all is involved with the murder till the end. Or the full motive of why she was killed. Their are plenty of suspects and motive as they try and unravel Miriam's life in hiding for the past year.
I would like to read more about Delilah detective agency in the future. Get to know her employees a little better and see what they are up too.
I was given this ebook to read for the purpose of reviewing and being part of the book tour.
This is a more darker detective mystery than I have read lately. It deals with murders of women now and here in our country. So it is not a light subject but a important one. Miriam Cross was murdered and her niece hired Delilah's Detective Agency to find out who killed her.
I like Delilah detective agency. The women come from different background and skill set. One was a Nun, prostitute,
a teacher, and Delilah herself a lawyer. These women work well together. They are very interesting characters.
I like them.
Delilah goes beyond what she is hired to do. She cares about her co-workers, client and women she has met along the way. She is single with a tragic past. She owns horses and lives in a old house.
The suspense is good and you are not sure who all is involved with the murder till the end. Or the full motive of why she was killed. Their are plenty of suspects and motive as they try and unravel Miriam's life in hiding for the past year.
I would like to read more about Delilah detective agency in the future. Get to know her employees a little better and see what they are up too.
I was given this ebook to read for the purpose of reviewing and being part of the book tour.
December 20, 2013
If you are a lover of a good mystery this is a book you won't want to miss. Delilah and her staff of female detectives kick some serious butt.
This is not a cozy mystery.
It is much too gritty for that moniker.
But it is a mystery that will have you craving more.
I loved the characters, Delilah, Barb and Natasha, and they are ultimately the reason why I'll check out the next book in the series, but it is really the mystery that is so fantastic.
Sex, human trafficking and exposes.
Miriam Cross is an author that appears to be one thing when she's really another, as the ladies from the Percy Powers Detective Agency figure out as they seek to find her killer.
The information they uncover about her will leave you shaking your head.
Again, I can't help but mention the grittiness of this book with a mixture of humanity. Each of the women that work for Delilah have a story of their own and they are very different. And then there's Anders, the new guy on the block and he has secrets.
Ms Tyson creates characters you want to know better and a story that will keep you turning the pages. I really had no idea who killed Miriam, and the twist at the end that involved how she was found was really a surprise.
Definitely a great first book in a new series.
This is not a cozy mystery.
It is much too gritty for that moniker.
But it is a mystery that will have you craving more.
I loved the characters, Delilah, Barb and Natasha, and they are ultimately the reason why I'll check out the next book in the series, but it is really the mystery that is so fantastic.
Sex, human trafficking and exposes.
Miriam Cross is an author that appears to be one thing when she's really another, as the ladies from the Percy Powers Detective Agency figure out as they seek to find her killer.
The information they uncover about her will leave you shaking your head.
Again, I can't help but mention the grittiness of this book with a mixture of humanity. Each of the women that work for Delilah have a story of their own and they are very different. And then there's Anders, the new guy on the block and he has secrets.
Ms Tyson creates characters you want to know better and a story that will keep you turning the pages. I really had no idea who killed Miriam, and the twist at the end that involved how she was found was really a surprise.
Definitely a great first book in a new series.
March 11, 2014
When an author is murdered a private detective takes the case in The Seduction of Miriam Cross by W A Tyson. Delilah Powers’ friend comes to her with a request, to find her aunt’s killer. When Delilah is informed on whom the aunt is she realizes this will be a difficult case. Will Delilah be able to solve the murder?
As Delilah jumps into the case she finds that the victim lived two different lives. The crew has to figure out what happened to Emily Cray in order to find out who killed Miriam Cross. The more Delilah and her crew investigate the more they see that Miriam’s secret life will have them in danger especially when her secrets are revealed.
What I Did Not Like: It took too long for the action or I’ll say the twist in the story to take place.
What I Did Like: This was a suspenseful book that kept me wanting to know what happened to Miriam. The story line keeps you on your toes after it is up and going. It has well-developed characters that bring the story to life. In taking this case it leads Delilah and her crew into some questionable territories which kept the story interesting. I recommend The Seduction of Miriam Cross to others.
This book was provided by the author for review purposes.
Teresa Beasley
A&RBC Reviews
4 Stars=Great Page Turner
As Delilah jumps into the case she finds that the victim lived two different lives. The crew has to figure out what happened to Emily Cray in order to find out who killed Miriam Cross. The more Delilah and her crew investigate the more they see that Miriam’s secret life will have them in danger especially when her secrets are revealed.
What I Did Not Like: It took too long for the action or I’ll say the twist in the story to take place.
What I Did Like: This was a suspenseful book that kept me wanting to know what happened to Miriam. The story line keeps you on your toes after it is up and going. It has well-developed characters that bring the story to life. In taking this case it leads Delilah and her crew into some questionable territories which kept the story interesting. I recommend The Seduction of Miriam Cross to others.
This book was provided by the author for review purposes.
Teresa Beasley
A&RBC Reviews
4 Stars=Great Page Turner
August 5, 2016
This appears to be the first in a series of books about Delilah Percy Powers investigative agency. One of Delilah's former clients comes back with another conundrum - she wants to know who killed her aunt, Miriam Cross, and why. Delilah and her team work together to do the job, which proves more dangerous than anticipated.
I am pleasantly surprised by this beginning of a new series by a new author. Her writing style is easy and comfortable to follow, with just enough plot twists and intrigue to keep the mystery buff interested. We are given the opportunity to anticipate things to come, but nothing is as transparent at it would seem. I notice everything I anticipated turned out not to go in the direction I expected. If you love mystery and suspense, you'll find it a worthwhile read. I am looking forward to seeing what Delilah will be looking into next!
I received my copy in a goodreads giveaway.
I am pleasantly surprised by this beginning of a new series by a new author. Her writing style is easy and comfortable to follow, with just enough plot twists and intrigue to keep the mystery buff interested. We are given the opportunity to anticipate things to come, but nothing is as transparent at it would seem. I notice everything I anticipated turned out not to go in the direction I expected. If you love mystery and suspense, you'll find it a worthwhile read. I am looking forward to seeing what Delilah will be looking into next!
I received my copy in a goodreads giveaway.
March 21, 2014
WA Tyson is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and The Seduction of Miriam Cross
I could tell from the first chapter that this book was for me. I didn’t even quite know what was happening or why or had gotten to know the characters real well, yet I couldn’t put the book down. I was just drawn in immediately, and it got to the point where I was working and writing emails like this – type a line, look down at Kindle. Type a line, look down at Kindle. I loved it! There is a complex story behind the mystery of Miriam Cross’s death, and hard-hitting PI at the helm trying to solve the case. While we mostly get the suspense, there is a touch of romance and some family angst thrown in there as well to give the book more depth, but I appreciated that WA Tyson didn’t turn this into a romance novel and really stuck to what the book was about – mystery. A story that I didn’t want to stop reading, I look forward to more in this series and give this 5 stars!
I could tell from the first chapter that this book was for me. I didn’t even quite know what was happening or why or had gotten to know the characters real well, yet I couldn’t put the book down. I was just drawn in immediately, and it got to the point where I was working and writing emails like this – type a line, look down at Kindle. Type a line, look down at Kindle. I loved it! There is a complex story behind the mystery of Miriam Cross’s death, and hard-hitting PI at the helm trying to solve the case. While we mostly get the suspense, there is a touch of romance and some family angst thrown in there as well to give the book more depth, but I appreciated that WA Tyson didn’t turn this into a romance novel and really stuck to what the book was about – mystery. A story that I didn’t want to stop reading, I look forward to more in this series and give this 5 stars!
December 11, 2013
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Delilah is a fantastic character that wants to get to the truth and expose the bad people for who and what they are. A former client approaches her to help with a recent murder that the police are not investigating at all. From the beginning Delilah and her team must do some very handiwork to get answers.
I loved the intricate puzzle that had to be figured out in order to find the killer and the reasoning, but it was hard to keep together. There were good guys and bad guys and guys who maybe played for both teams, it was a true mystery. The author did a fine job of slowly giving puzzle pieces to the reader, but I was still unsure of the killer(s) until the bitter end. Even at the end more things were unraveled and even more people were involved in the crime.
Delilah is a fantastic character that wants to get to the truth and expose the bad people for who and what they are. A former client approaches her to help with a recent murder that the police are not investigating at all. From the beginning Delilah and her team must do some very handiwork to get answers.
I loved the intricate puzzle that had to be figured out in order to find the killer and the reasoning, but it was hard to keep together. There were good guys and bad guys and guys who maybe played for both teams, it was a true mystery. The author did a fine job of slowly giving puzzle pieces to the reader, but I was still unsure of the killer(s) until the bitter end. Even at the end more things were unraveled and even more people were involved in the crime.
December 17, 2013
I was given an ARC to read and review. (Sorry it took me a while.) I found this story of the Delilah Percy Powers Agency to be quite interesting. It is a little different kind of book than what I usually read. It was a bit more graphic than what I really like but the storyline was very good. I really like the idea of the female detective agency and all the women are great!They are hired to figure out why Miriam Cross was so brutally murdered and why it was being kept quiet how she was murdered. It was hard to figure where the story was really going so I had to keep reading to discover the truth. There was danger along the way and there was an exciting climax at the end. It was a good story and I look forward to reading more about Delilah and Barb and Margot and Natasha and even Anders. Thank you so much for the introduction to the Delilah Percy Powers group!
October 28, 2013
If you cannot resist good mystery, go to your nearest bookstore or library and pull "The Seduction of Miriam Cross" from the shelf. Delilah Percy Powers is a strong-willed, independent minded detective with a staff of equally strong women: a very structured homemaker, a nun, and a former stripper. These women form an alliance (although it is sometimes a tenuous one) to unravel the mystery of who brutally murdered a local Philadelphia author, feminist and philanthropist, Miriam Cross. The investigation initially brings up more questions than answers as much of Ms. Cross's private life seems to directly contradict her public one.
December 5, 2013
Looking for a mystery with a bit of humor and edge? Check out The Seduction of Miriam Cross. W.A. Tyson is skilled at character development and you'll find yourself as interested in the supporting cast and their antics as you are in the primary storyline. This is the first in what will hopefully be a long series of Delilah Percy Powers Mysteries! This is an unusual storyline, delving into some seedy, non-traditional gender roles. I love that Miriam Cross has a "bad girl" side to her, something unexpected in a woman over a certain age. The character development is strong, the plot is unique, and the writing style of W. A. Tyson should be a breath of fresh air for avid readers
December 5, 2013
Looking for a mystery with a bit of humor and edge? Check out The Seduction of Miriam Cross. W.A. Tyson is skilled at character development and you'll find yourself as interested in the supporting cast and their antics as you are in the primary storyline. This is the first in what will hopefully be a long series of Delilah Percy Powers Mysteries! This is an unusual storyline, delving into some seedy, non-traditional gender roles. I love that Miriam Cross has a "bad girl" side to her, something unexpected in a woman over a certain age. The character development is strong, the plot is unique, and the writing style of W. A. Tyson should be a breath of fresh air for avid readers
November 3, 2013
WOW! not what I was expecting but really good. I had a feeling I knew what Miriam was involved with early on but it wasn't confirmed until later. I had a pretty good idea who was involved, but did not know how or why or how it all fit together. Kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat until the very end.
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