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Final Cut
Book by Haddock, Lisa
189 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1995
12 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Haddock
8 books8 followersLisa Haddock was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1960. In 1983, she graduated from the University of Tulsa with a bachelor's degree in mass media news. In 1986, she earned a master's in modern letters, also at the University of Tulsa.
She spent more than 20 years as an editor and writer for newspapers and other publications. Haddock, a three-time published author, has lived in the New York metro area since 1989. She lives with her wife and cats in northern New Jersey.
She spent more than 20 years as an editor and writer for newspapers and other publications. Haddock, a three-time published author, has lived in the New York metro area since 1989. She lives with her wife and cats in northern New Jersey.
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June 18, 2020Two years have passed since Carmen Ramirez hooked up with college student Julia Nichols, and when Edited Out begins, they are living together along with Carmen’s old friend Charles, who is conducting research at the local university. Carmen is still a copyeditor at the paper; Julia, now a graduate student, is a member of a gay and lesbian support group. Their lives are proceeding in a kind of ho hum fashion until the day Carmen comes home to a meeting of Julia’s group and finds an old flame in attendance.
The woman’s name is Toni, and the flashback story between her and Carmen is both unique and exquisite—and there is a lot of unfinished business between them. It isn't often in lesbian mysteries that the protagonist is tempted to dally with someone else, but Carmen is sorely tempted. ”I longed for the day when I could see this woman with indifference.” Again, I can’t help comparing Julia Nichols with Aimee Grant in Katherine V. Forrest’s Kate Delafield mysteries. They talk alike, act alike, and are in similar situations. Kate is even tempted (in Sleeping Bones) to have an affair. Does Carmen succumb to Toni’s wiley ways? Well, that’s for me to know and you to find out.
Meanwhile the body of a young woman is found in a wooded area of Timber City. When an outspoken member of Julia’s LGBT group is arrested for the murder, Carmen decides to act in his behalf. There’s a ton of stuff I’m leaving out here, but suffice it to say that Carmen’s investigation is incredibly painful for her—and we believe every second of her suffering.
Like Edited Out this book is written extremely well. Carmen is an intriguing character, and a flawed one. Her friendship with Toni—and Toni herself—are major plusses in a book filled with them. The ending—maybe a little over the top, maybe not—is worth the build up. Carmen’s workplace, and her job as copy editor, maybe a little toned down from the first book, but still informative, and she uses her contacts and status at the paper to good effect.
I found the ending, despite its implausibility, to be totally unexpected, yet satisfying. Good books have to be more than just words strung out on a page. It needs a good story line, pleasing characters, and some kind of an agenda. Edited Out has that. It is not just a mystery novel, it is a novel of friendship and love and lost opportunities.
Another 4.
Note: I read what appears to be the first printing of the Naiad edition of this novel.
Another Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 930 other lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.
The woman’s name is Toni, and the flashback story between her and Carmen is both unique and exquisite—and there is a lot of unfinished business between them. It isn't often in lesbian mysteries that the protagonist is tempted to dally with someone else, but Carmen is sorely tempted. ”I longed for the day when I could see this woman with indifference.” Again, I can’t help comparing Julia Nichols with Aimee Grant in Katherine V. Forrest’s Kate Delafield mysteries. They talk alike, act alike, and are in similar situations. Kate is even tempted (in Sleeping Bones) to have an affair. Does Carmen succumb to Toni’s wiley ways? Well, that’s for me to know and you to find out.
Meanwhile the body of a young woman is found in a wooded area of Timber City. When an outspoken member of Julia’s LGBT group is arrested for the murder, Carmen decides to act in his behalf. There’s a ton of stuff I’m leaving out here, but suffice it to say that Carmen’s investigation is incredibly painful for her—and we believe every second of her suffering.
Like Edited Out this book is written extremely well. Carmen is an intriguing character, and a flawed one. Her friendship with Toni—and Toni herself—are major plusses in a book filled with them. The ending—maybe a little over the top, maybe not—is worth the build up. Carmen’s workplace, and her job as copy editor, maybe a little toned down from the first book, but still informative, and she uses her contacts and status at the paper to good effect.
I found the ending, despite its implausibility, to be totally unexpected, yet satisfying. Good books have to be more than just words strung out on a page. It needs a good story line, pleasing characters, and some kind of an agenda. Edited Out has that. It is not just a mystery novel, it is a novel of friendship and love and lost opportunities.
Another 4.
Note: I read what appears to be the first printing of the Naiad edition of this novel.
Another Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 930 other lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.
Displaying 1 of 1 review