The Brutal Heart

A Joanne Kilbourn Mystery #11

by Gail Bowen

The bestselling Gail Bowen returns with a gripping story of marriage, politics, sex, and murder.

With a general election just weeks away, Joanne Kilbourn is following the campaign of Ginny Monaghan, a woman who has her eyes set on the leadership of the federal Conservative Party and whose success depends, not so much on the election-day poll, but on the outcome of a custody battle she’s fighting with her ex. Joanne thinks this is perfect material for a TV program she’s putting together on women and party politics. Happy to be back in the political fray that used to be her life during her first marriage, Joanne is soon also glad of the distraction it provides. A local call girl has been murdered — a woman whose regular clientele included several of Regina’s most prominent lawyers, including — until he met Joanne — her own husband, Zach Shreve.

Her new marriage creaking under the strain of this revelation, Joanne throws herself into her project — and into finding out why the dead woman had started to threaten her clients with blackmail, an investigation that leads to the truth — and to death.

In The Brutal Heart , Bowen expertly mixes the ingredients of marriage, family, politics, and murder into a constantly surprising and compulsively readable story.

Genres: Mystery, Canada, Fiction, Crime

336 pages, Hardcover

First published August 12, 2008

About the author

Gail Dianne Bowen (née Bartholomew) is a Canadian playwright and writer of mystery novels. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Bowen was educated at the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo and the University of Saskatchewan. She subsequently taught English in Saskatchewan, and is currently a professor of English at First Nations University of Canada. Bowen's mystery novels feature Joanne Kilbourn, a widowed mother, political analyst and university professor who finds herself occasionally involved in criminal investigations in various parts of Saskatchewan. Many have been adapted as Canadian television movies by Shaftesbury Films.

Series:
* Joanne Kilbourn Mystery

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Novel (1995): A Colder Kind of Death

Reviews

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Expect me to burn through the remaining 11 books in this series pretty quick because they are perfect for reading at 3am while up feeding my daughter!

I don't have a whole lot new to say but the dialogue in this series is rather hilarious in that everyone talks like an English professor. From three year olds to meth heads they are all quoting literature and poetry and using phrases like "that's a noble aim".

Also I don't quite get the reasoning for Meika and Greg's new situation? Greg always seemed like a very involved dad and was the one who didn't want to get divorced but somehow Meika has full custody of the kids and Greg moved to Montreal and no longer has involvement in his daughters' lives? Does not track, v confusing.

Who will get murdered in Regina next time???

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

11th book in series. Joanne Kilbourn - heroine. Politician, teacher, wife, mother. Joanne is married now and even tho I like this series, this book was a bit sickening sweet for me as the author was a bit over the top re their love life (husband is confied to a wheel chair). The murder of a prostitute; a political campaign of a woman running for prime minister; the involvement of her husband with the prostitute; the battle over custody of their children -- a lot going on. The mystery was good, and I'll read the next book in series.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this installment more than the last one. I think reading them back to back has created some difficulties; the author tends to use the same words and phrases over and over, which has become a little irritating and tired.

I wasn't sure about the relationship between Joanne and Zach at first, but they are growing on me as a couple and I like that the author isn't afraid to show a "real" relationship, difficult times and all.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read. Although I figured out who committed the murder fairly early, I continued to read because the information about Canada's federal elections was new to me; was also curious about the changes in the lives of her children as they tackle single parenthood, new careers and growing up. Having read all of the books in this series, I'm pretty invested in Joanne and some of the other characters. (Not so much Zach ....)

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This mystery was most interesting to me for its coverage of a Canadian federal election, and the techniques candidates use to manipulate the media and present a positive image. I was suspicious of who the murderer was early on, but enjoyed the Saskatchewan setting and the continuing story of Joanne Kilbourn's family, although they do seem a little too perfect.

[Shannon Latour · Rating 2 out of 5]

A struggle. This goes on the shelf of - 'oh, did my mind just wander again while I was reading? How far back do I need to go this time?' Ugh.

Bowen is an excellent writer. I just wish she created likable characters, in a interesting story, with a modicum of suspense. Mysteries should be like carnival rides...unexpected twists and turns, exhilarating climaxes and drops - I didn't get any of that from 'the Brutal Heart'. It was like a kiddie-train at a playground...interminable and flat.

This is the second Joanne Kilbourn mystery I've read and I noticed I didn't give the other one a very good rating either. Perhaps politics, dry humor and sarcastic, but forgiving, protagonists are not my thing. I can appreciate the one or two good quips from the main character - but it's like stumbling upon a drop of water in the desert. It's hard to get enough sustenance from a drop of liquid in an environment so dry.

[Renata · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable book, but not outstanding. Reads more like a family drama than a mystery with lots of description of houses, clothes, etc. This is certainly about the wealthier side of Regina, SK. I had read some of Bowen's earlier works years ago. Obviously, the main character, Joanne, had changed many times over in terms of relationships and jobs since my last reading. I could not keep up with the names of her charachers -- children, friends, ex-husbands, lawyers, someone named Keith who may be a brother or an ex. I couldn't place him. All this to say, a book which is part of a series should stand on its own. In my view, one would need to read all the series in order to get the most of Bowen's books.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a Federal Election only weeks away, Joanne Kilbourn is following the campaign of Ginny Monaghan who wants to lead the Federal Conservative Party. But Ginny, is in a custody battle with her ex-husband Jason. A local prostitute is found murdered outside her condo, many high profiled men were her clients including Joanne’s husband Zack before he met her. A second person is found stabbed and Ginny Monaghan becomes a suspect. A riveting story of desperation and how lies slowly tear people apart.

[Cybercrone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one actually had one part that brought tears to my eyes.
Best one yet.

[Francis Quimby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this entire series

No other series I've found is as comforting yet also a solid mystery. I have truly enjoyed reading about Joanne's life from the first book till the last.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery and excellent storytelling.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books, but particularly the ones where Canadian politics are as front and centre as the mystery. A nice switch from the JD Robb books I’ve been reading lately.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one.

[Craig M · Rating 1 out of 5]

A prostitute, used by some prominent men in Regina, is murdered. Zach is aware of her. The political life of Ginny Monaghan is involved, and Joanne works closely with her.

This is one of the older Kilbourne books, and I just wanted to read it so that I was up to date. I need not have bothered. In my opinion, this series has "lost it". The marriage of Zach and Joanna is just not an interesting relationship, and it really feels like a "fairy tale" marriage. It is hard to ignore and get involved in the rest of the plot in the novels.

I have not read the latest book in the series, and I won't.

[Wendell Hennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well crafted story. Joanne gets involved in a political campaign after the candidate's chances crater when her ex husband takes her to court in a custody battle for their twin daughters. The campaign is back on track when he withdraws but days later he is murdered. One of Zack's co workers is instrumental in the custody battle and becomes romantically involved with Joanne's daughter and at first is passed over at becoming a partner. After his role in the case he makes partner. So enjoyable to spend a day again with Joanne and Zack and their family.

[rabbitprincess · Rating 2 out of 5]

After 61 pages, I am abandoning this book. I was seeking an undemanding read, and it is certainly not as grim as some other mystery series, but it also features a narrator whose voice grated on me right from the start and characters I did not really care about very much. There was also a sex scene right in the first chapter, which is a bit fast, and I do have to say that first-person-narrated sex scenes are pretty much always cringe-worthy. At least third person has some measure of distance from the action. First-person is just a little too personal for me when it comes to that kind of scene, especially when it's a character I've only just met.

I did know going in that this was an established series (actually, according to Wikipedia, it's the most recent Joanne Kilbourn) and that I'd have to pay attention to the characters being introduced so that I could keep them all straight. To her credit, Bowen does do this well -- I was able to pick up on who was who right away without needing the other books. And I did like the Canadian political angle that this series has. However, I shall not be likely to try other books in the series, and would suggest that only established Joanne Kilbourn fans read this book.

This book came to my attention through the CBC program Words at Large, which featured an interview with the author on March 14, 2009.

[Twyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave it four stars based solely on what I would term the epilogue. Definitely wanted more Francesca involvement and less Keith, I just find him creepy. Definitely a good involving read, definitely too much politics. Lots of people seemed very cold, emotionless, depthless maybe, IM not sure of the right words. I hate the effing spellchecker on this thing, I wish I could turn it off so it just picks the letters I type and not try to make any inferences on word choices. Samsung hello, fix it. The "bad" guy was obvious from fairly early on, it read like TV. Oh the season of may (yes season) seemed a bit misrepresentedly mild ... Or maybe I was jaundiced after this spring with there still being snow in may and nothing turning green til just the past couple weeks.

[Joanne]

-Zach tells Joanne that a prostitute, recently found murdered, was someone whose services he'd paid for before they met
-many of the lawyers that Zack knew were also clients of hers
-Ginny & Jason Brodnitz and their twins Chloe and Em
-election campaigning
-Sean Barton, made junior partner in Zach's firm: found guilty of 2 counts of murder and assault on Joanne

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet again I am going to say that these books are good. Well written. Don't like most of the main characters and the author does a 180 turn with some of her character's personalities. I figured out the murderer in the first 50 pages. That said, it entertains.

[Maureen Ulrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Gail's books! Once again she has combined a great mystery with believable characters and complex social issues.

[Eunira · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, this is one of the best books by Bowen. Even though I guessed early on who the "bad guy" was I was in anxious suspense to get to the end of the book and see he would be dealt with.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of my least favorite of the series. Too simplistic and contrived. Disappointing after Bowen's earlier books.

[Hella Comat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nice to see the Canadian political background as a setting. Hard to join into the Joanne Kilbourn series with this book, though. It seems the assumption is made that you have read previous books.

[Arlene Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the Globe and Mail review "Political mystery that slips along with grace and style.

[Leah Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't read a Gail Bowen in ages and it was nice to delve into this in the middle of the Canadian elections - felt very apropos.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good addition to the series.

[Margaret Pillay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the Joanne Killburn series. A good read.