Deadly Interest

Alex St. James Mystery #2

by Julie Hyzy

Determined to untangle the web of duplicity spun by those around her, Alex is soon poised to expose the truth. That is, until she finds herself alone with the killer, a formidable foe with a deadly interest in her future.

Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary

390 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2006

About the author

New York Times bestselling author, Julie Hyzy, has won the Anthony, Barry, Phobos, and Derringer Awards for her fiction.

Novels include:
Virtual Sabotage
The White House Chef Mystery series
The Manor House Mysteries
Deadly Blessings
Deadly Interest
Dead Ringer
Artistic License
Playing With Matches


Visit:
www.juliehyzy.com

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Hyzy book! Thoroughly enjoyable, just like Hyzy's other Alex St. James book and much like her earlier work. The reader can enjoy some raw and unfiltered action. While using St. James as a television researcher, the story strays away from the lights and camera and uses the investigation prowess of the main character to piece things together. With twists and turns, they story develops nicely and ties in easily with the first book in the series, though is not the second piece of a larger puzzle (read: you need not read #1 to understand #2). Plot is decently developed and the characters are well-founded, leaving the reader with a pleasurable reading experience.

Having read some of Hyzy's later work, I am blown away by this writing style and wonder if she was trying to lure in a different genre of reader with her earlier work. This stuff is, as said above, a raw version of some of the later work she created. I thoroughly enjoy the White House Chef stuff and Mansfield Manor, but now, comparing the two, I'd take Alex St. James and her truer writing style. Not that you need swearing and more graphic descriptions to appease me, but it seems... more real, even in narration.

Oh, and the ending.... GREAT IDEA! You'll have to read it and do some Hyzy research to get it.

Great work, Madam Hyzy! What a great find I made in you!

[Debbie Heaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Hyzy’s mystery novel, cynical news researcher Alex St. James is ecstatic at what she hopes is her big break. The death of an elderly bank clerk is what she hopes is her ticket to a career upgrade at last. But what did her neighbor know that got her killed? Every clue points toward Evelyn’s son and a long list of family secrets as the motive. But as Alex begins to take a closer look at Chicago’s biggest banks, she finds herself up against a slew of powerful suspects with not-so-respectable motives. To achieve the promotion she craves, Alex will take on an elusive murderer if it’s the last thing she ever does.

A fast-paced, hard-to-put-down read and an excellent addition to the An Alex St. James Mystery series.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable but predictable and sometimes unbelievable. Alex goes through terrible things and really seems unaffected by them either physically or emotionally. A neighbor is killed right after Alex was with her; her special needs sister is supposedly at home with her but is actually living close by with an aunt and uncle since Alex is too busy; one guy she's been attracted to has moved on (or really back) and the other is a cold-blooded killer who nearly kills her and her assistant. Seems like a lot!

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy story to follow almost predictable. Loved how I was fooled into thinking Bart and Lawrence were responsible for Evelyn Vick’s murder while cozying up the real culprit David/Owen. Hated how even through down right traumatic situations Alex seemed at most shaken up and still manages to rave on about William. Loved Detective Lulinski.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love to voice of Alex St. James. This is book two and I can appreciate her abilities to assess and persevere 😁
Nicely done Juli Hyzy

[patricia cruse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Ms Hyzy's characters and story lines. I still miss Ollie the white House chef.

[Nancy]

Second in the Alex St. James series. Reeling from public humiliation by a former lover, Alex St. James comes home to find that her neighbor has been murdered. Drawn into the investigation, Alex uncovers a shocking secret buried long ago. Determined to untangle the web of duplicity spun by those around her, Alex must face down the killer, a formidable foe with a Deadly Interest in her future.

Alex is determined to help find Mrs. Vicks's killer. Mrs Vicks worked for a bank and the police detective in charge of the case asks for her help. In the mean time, while getting info at the bank, Alex is pursued by the bank president, David. In the end it is discovered that 1. Mrs. V's son is killed 2. Mrs. V's roommate is actually her granddaughter - her son's daughter - he never knew it 3. Mrs. V uncovered an embezzlement scam at the bank - that is why she was killed - and a young woman was set to take the fall for it 4. David and his partner were behind the scam and his partner killed Mrs. V and her son.

William is out of Alex's romantic life since he reconnected with a former girlfriend.

Alex and her sister Lucy spend some time together.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#2 in the Alex St. James series. Alex appears in a third effort in collaberation with Michael A. Black (Dead Ringer (2008)), therein apparently ending her run.

Alex St. James series - When Alex returns home after a humiliating evening with her former lover, she's dismayed to discover that Evelyn Vicks, her elderly neighbor, has been murdered. Evelyn, who worked at a bank, had earlier asked Alex's advice about some suspicious financial business involving the bank. Alex soon finds herself stalked by an ex-con and dealing with the victim's estranged son. New romantic interests and the care of her handicapped sister further complicate Alex's life as she puts her keen investigative skills to work for the police under the direction of the efficient, astute Detective Lulinski.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second (and last, unfortunately) of Julie Hyzy's first mystery series, DEADLY INTEREST is not a cozy. Ms. Hyzy writes with authority and strength as she leads her protagonist, Alex St. James, through a bewildering labyrinth of murder, romance and duplicity. Ms. St. James is a news researcher for a Chicago TV program, and, as such, must investigate stories of local interest. When a murder occurs in her own neighborhood, she finds herself in the killer's sights also. How she manages to figure it all out and escape with her life makes a dandy thriller!
I adore Julie Hyzy's current cozy series (esp. White House Chef and Manor of Murder Mysteries,) and I usually prefer cozies, but this book and its predecessor, Deadly Blessings, are just so darn good!

[CoffeeTimeRomance andMore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex has a knack for getting into situations that are way beyond her skill level, but that does not stop her from trying. Her tenaciousness and spunk is exciting, and it is obvious that Lulinski is just as impressed. I like that her conscience will not let her take the easy way out, no matter how much it puts her at risk. The next Ms. St. James mystery is one I definitely look forward to reading.
Lototy
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

Official Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More

[L Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty darn good

I enjoyed this book, but circumstances (traveling by Plane, bus, or simply on safari) required that I read it in bits and pieces which probably cut into my true enjoyment. However, I love this author's other works, enjoyed the first book in the series, and so I shall continue on to book 3.

[Avidreader Tiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I love Juile Hyzy. This book started out good, got a little slow for me about a quarter of the way in. But then soon sped up and caused me to stay up to finish it! Had some good twists in it. A few were predictable but not exactly.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Julie Hyzy's other mystery series, so I thought I'd try this one out as well. I wasn't disappointed. I really like Alex St. James, and enjoyed the story. Pretty well-written and mysterious enough to keep me interested.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Hyzy's White House Chef mysteries with Olivia Paras, so I gave these a try. Not as good as her Olivia books, but enjoyable and I wasn't entirely 100% certain I had the bad guy nailed...turns out I had...well, I won't spill the beans.

[Leslie Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. lots of nice tension. likeable characters.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE this series and can't wait for the next one!

[Glenn Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time TV news researcher Alex St. James investigates the murder of her elderly neighbor and finds herself in the middle of a bank scandal.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was as difficult to put down as the first. There were so many suspects that I kept changing my mind about how I thought it would end.

[Mary]

Better book all the way around than Deadly Blessings. I admire the heroine, Alex St. James and enjoy all the Chicago references.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: An Alex St. James Mystery

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[S.A. Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting mystery read.