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Tamara Hayle #1
When Death Comes Stealing
A tough and savvy Newark cop-turned-P.I., Tamara Hoyleis a sister with a mission: to raise her kid right in a mean town. But now the post has come knocking -- bringing trouble to her door in the person of her "dog" of a former husband, DeWayne.
Suspicious "accidents" have claimed the lives of two ofDeWayne's sons from different marriages. And though goodsense warns Tamara to steer clear of her charming, lowdown ex, she has little choice but to offer him her investigative expertise -- because a killer may now be drawing fatally close to home -- to Tamara's only son.
Suspicious "accidents" have claimed the lives of two ofDeWayne's sons from different marriages. And though goodsense warns Tamara to steer clear of her charming, lowdown ex, she has little choice but to offer him her investigative expertise -- because a killer may now be drawing fatally close to home -- to Tamara's only son.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 13, 1994
43 people are currently reading
2454 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Wilson Wesley
47 books438 followersValerie Wilson Wesley is an African-American author of mysteries, adult-theme novels, and children's books,[1] and a former executive editor of Essence magazine. She is the author of the Tamara Hayle mystery series. Her writings, both fiction and non-fiction, have also appeared in numerous publications, including Essence, Family Circle, TV Guide, Ms., The New York Times, and the Swiss weekly magazine Die Weltwoche.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
March 22, 2022
My Year of (Mostly) Mysterious Women continues with series fiction featuring women detectives. I’m avoiding police procedurals and standalone “women in peril'' thrillers to focus on ladies who are amateur sleuths. When Death Comes Stealing is my introduction to author Valerie Wilson Wesley and her series featuring Tamara Hayle. Published in 1994, I found the first half of the book to be wonderful, with a Black private eye investigating a case on behalf of her son's father that gets closer and closer to home. Wilson sets the story in Newark, which sets the book apart even more, but neglects putting her detective in enough jeopardy to be fully satisfying.
Tamara Hayle is in her thirties, an ex-cop raising her fourteen-year-old son Jamal and operating a private detective agency upstairs from a beauty parlor. She receives a call from her ex-husband DeWayne Curtis, Jamal's father and a good-looking smooth-talker. He drives a silver Lexus and makes some of his money as a club owner and silent partner in a few local businesses. DeWayne notifies her that Terrence, one of his other sons, has been found dead. Police suspect a drug overdose. This comes a year to the day after another son he never told Tamara about was shot in Salem, Virginia. DeWayne doesn't believe it to be a coincidence and asks her to look into it.
The case throws Hayle into the domestic affairs of her ex, who now has five sons that she knows about, three of which are alive in the Newark area. His current wife Carlotta Lee Curtis is only 22 and rumored to fuck anything in britches. Carlotta's aunt is the owner of the boarding house where Terrence was found dead. A Jamaican named Basil Dupre rumored to be a money launderer disrupts Terrence's funeral to smack the hell out of DeWayne over some beef. Hayle talks Carlotta's aunt to letting her have a look in Terrence's room and determines the police are wrong about the boy being a dope fiend.
There are things you learn on the beat in five years that always stay with you. A second sense, knowing the scent of something that doesn't smell just right, and I smelled it now. Some lazy cop, tired at the end of the day or late for lunch, had proclaimed that Terrence Curtis had lived and died a junkie, and there was no more to be said about it. But I knew different now. If he'd died of crack, he hadn't been an addict, and I was hot for a minute, angry again at the bullshit so many cops put down when it comes to black folks--the official incompetence, the easy way out.
Junkies don't have shit. They can't afford it. They eat crap. They don't have sex. Their lives are nothing but junk, and whoever Terrence was, he hadn't been like that when he died. I knew that as surely as I knew my name.
This room, filled with half-dead flowers, half-eaten food, Trane playing in the empty space, condoms stacked like candied mints, told me what I needed to know as surely as if he had been sitting here whispering the secret of his life and death in my ear.
While there's nothing extraordinary about Tamara Hayle's abilities, the situations she gets caught up in or her past (she quit the force after Jamal and his friends were harassed by some of her co-workers in a traffic stop), When Death Comes Stealing is mostly compelling because of how grounded it is. Wilson Wesley bases her story in Newark, New Jersey, whose Black community I'd never seen portrayed in TV, film or other mystery novels. Along with the descriptions of the place and its characters, I liked how the author bewitched her detective with a case that hits close to home and gets closer to her own son. The descriptions are quite good.
Terrence's mother, Delores, sat next to DeWayne in the front pew. Her shoulders trembled as she wept. She'd been DeWayne's first wife; he'd married her in 1971 right after coming up north, long before marrying me. Although I'd seen Terrence from time to time, I hadn't seen Delores in years, and those years hadn't been kind to her. She'd been pretty once. A light-skinned woman with reddish-brown hair and freckles dotting her oval face. The kind the old folks used to call a redbone. Tonight she was wearing a black cotton dress that drained her face of color. She'd been a bank teller a couple of years ago, and I'd heard she'd lately been promoted to assistant bank manager. Up until he married me and his last and present wife Carlotta, DeWayne had often been drawn to "respectable," Goody Two-Shoes sisters--the kind who make their own pie crusts and never gave their lovers head. Delroes fit the bill. But despite her straitlaced appearance, I'd heard she had a cruel streak that could whip out like a razor and cut a man--or boy--to shreds.
I stepped away from the book for the weekend and found I had little interest in finishing it, though I did. While Hayle's son is increasingly placed in danger, she isn't. The thorny relationships in the neighborhood were interesting and there were stakes involved, but Hayle is a victim of her own success. She's an attentive but not smothering single parent (the story takes place in 1992 or '93), runs a moderately successful business with intelligence and keeps drama out of her life. She makes good decisions. She's boring. I understand why fictional detectives have substance abuse issues or financial trouble. One, it's plausible. Two, it's compelling to watch protagonists climb out of a well they've fallen in. This novel is okay but I doubt I'll continue with the series.
While reading, I imagined Janelle Monae as Tamara Hayle.
Tamara Hayle is in her thirties, an ex-cop raising her fourteen-year-old son Jamal and operating a private detective agency upstairs from a beauty parlor. She receives a call from her ex-husband DeWayne Curtis, Jamal's father and a good-looking smooth-talker. He drives a silver Lexus and makes some of his money as a club owner and silent partner in a few local businesses. DeWayne notifies her that Terrence, one of his other sons, has been found dead. Police suspect a drug overdose. This comes a year to the day after another son he never told Tamara about was shot in Salem, Virginia. DeWayne doesn't believe it to be a coincidence and asks her to look into it.
The case throws Hayle into the domestic affairs of her ex, who now has five sons that she knows about, three of which are alive in the Newark area. His current wife Carlotta Lee Curtis is only 22 and rumored to fuck anything in britches. Carlotta's aunt is the owner of the boarding house where Terrence was found dead. A Jamaican named Basil Dupre rumored to be a money launderer disrupts Terrence's funeral to smack the hell out of DeWayne over some beef. Hayle talks Carlotta's aunt to letting her have a look in Terrence's room and determines the police are wrong about the boy being a dope fiend.
There are things you learn on the beat in five years that always stay with you. A second sense, knowing the scent of something that doesn't smell just right, and I smelled it now. Some lazy cop, tired at the end of the day or late for lunch, had proclaimed that Terrence Curtis had lived and died a junkie, and there was no more to be said about it. But I knew different now. If he'd died of crack, he hadn't been an addict, and I was hot for a minute, angry again at the bullshit so many cops put down when it comes to black folks--the official incompetence, the easy way out.
Junkies don't have shit. They can't afford it. They eat crap. They don't have sex. Their lives are nothing but junk, and whoever Terrence was, he hadn't been like that when he died. I knew that as surely as I knew my name.
This room, filled with half-dead flowers, half-eaten food, Trane playing in the empty space, condoms stacked like candied mints, told me what I needed to know as surely as if he had been sitting here whispering the secret of his life and death in my ear.
While there's nothing extraordinary about Tamara Hayle's abilities, the situations she gets caught up in or her past (she quit the force after Jamal and his friends were harassed by some of her co-workers in a traffic stop), When Death Comes Stealing is mostly compelling because of how grounded it is. Wilson Wesley bases her story in Newark, New Jersey, whose Black community I'd never seen portrayed in TV, film or other mystery novels. Along with the descriptions of the place and its characters, I liked how the author bewitched her detective with a case that hits close to home and gets closer to her own son. The descriptions are quite good.
Terrence's mother, Delores, sat next to DeWayne in the front pew. Her shoulders trembled as she wept. She'd been DeWayne's first wife; he'd married her in 1971 right after coming up north, long before marrying me. Although I'd seen Terrence from time to time, I hadn't seen Delores in years, and those years hadn't been kind to her. She'd been pretty once. A light-skinned woman with reddish-brown hair and freckles dotting her oval face. The kind the old folks used to call a redbone. Tonight she was wearing a black cotton dress that drained her face of color. She'd been a bank teller a couple of years ago, and I'd heard she'd lately been promoted to assistant bank manager. Up until he married me and his last and present wife Carlotta, DeWayne had often been drawn to "respectable," Goody Two-Shoes sisters--the kind who make their own pie crusts and never gave their lovers head. Delroes fit the bill. But despite her straitlaced appearance, I'd heard she had a cruel streak that could whip out like a razor and cut a man--or boy--to shreds.
I stepped away from the book for the weekend and found I had little interest in finishing it, though I did. While Hayle's son is increasingly placed in danger, she isn't. The thorny relationships in the neighborhood were interesting and there were stakes involved, but Hayle is a victim of her own success. She's an attentive but not smothering single parent (the story takes place in 1992 or '93), runs a moderately successful business with intelligence and keeps drama out of her life. She makes good decisions. She's boring. I understand why fictional detectives have substance abuse issues or financial trouble. One, it's plausible. Two, it's compelling to watch protagonists climb out of a well they've fallen in. This novel is okay but I doubt I'll continue with the series.
While reading, I imagined Janelle Monae as Tamara Hayle.
March 10, 2022
Though his dubious charms escaped me, DeWayne Curtis certainly has a way with the ladies. He's had a whole lotta women, a bunch of wives, and a big passel of sons. He's also made quite a few enemies along the way. Now someone is knocking off his boys one at a time, and it has become the unfortunate task of Tamara Hayle, ex-cop, now a private investigator, to find out who's doing the killing. Tamara is intimately acquainted with more than a few of the players here, as she is one of DeWayne's ex-wives, and the proud mother of one of DeWayne's newly-targeted sons.
This was a fine crime drama, well paced and plotted, and a blast to read. I love how the author lays bare Tamara's thoughts so the reader can be in on her sleuthing process. I took a stab at guessing the killer pretty early on, and I was right, but didn't know the motive until the end of the book. This was a fun time, and I've already ordered the next book in the series.
I found out about this novel when I read this article - http://greglevin.com/scrawl-space-blo...
Check it out. You may discover a new favorite author.
This was a fine crime drama, well paced and plotted, and a blast to read. I love how the author lays bare Tamara's thoughts so the reader can be in on her sleuthing process. I took a stab at guessing the killer pretty early on, and I was right, but didn't know the motive until the end of the book. This was a fun time, and I've already ordered the next book in the series.
I found out about this novel when I read this article - http://greglevin.com/scrawl-space-blo...
Check it out. You may discover a new favorite author.
April 20, 2017
Ah-ha! A new series discovery... well, new to me. If you enjoy Sue Grafton (A is for Alibi), Marsha Muller (Edwin of the Iron Shoes), or Rachel Howzell Hall (Land of Shadows).
Tamara Hayle is believable, human, smart, flawed, mostly-head-on-straight female PI who has the complicated personal life of almost-ordinary people.
Tamara Hayle is believable, human, smart, flawed, mostly-head-on-straight female PI who has the complicated personal life of almost-ordinary people.
February 16, 2021
4.5 stars. #Diverse Detectives
August 19, 2019
Great beginning to a series that I want to continue.
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
April 1, 2024
Tamara Hayle ist Privatdetektivin in Newark und wird von ihrem Ex DeWayne engagiert. Sein Sohn Terrence ist ums Leben gekommen, angeblich an einer Überdosis. Doch DeWayne erzählt Tamara, dass bereits vor einem Jahr ein weiterer Sohn aus früherer Ehe erschossen wurde. Er glaubt nicht an einen Zufall, sondern fürchtet sich um seine weiteren Kinder, unter anderem Tamaras Sohn Jamal. Sie ist war äußerst skeptisch, doch wird im weiteren Verlauf eines besseren belehrt.
Dies ist der 1994 erschienene Auftakt zu einer erfolgreichen Reihe um Tamara Hayle und spielt im afroamerikanischen (vor)städtischen Milieu. Das Ganze wird von Tamara als Ich-Erzählerin vorgetragen. Keine schlechte Geschichte, aber irgendwie hat es mich auch nicht gepackt. Die Autorin deutet zwar das raue Leben in Newark an, aber so richtig Gangsterattitüde wird nicht erzeugt. Tamara konzentriert sich schnell auf DeWaynes Lebenswandel mit fünf Kindern von fünf Frauen, was für mich zwar solide literarisch umgesetzt war, mich aber nicht auf weitere Bände der Reihe eingeschworen hat.
Dies ist der 1994 erschienene Auftakt zu einer erfolgreichen Reihe um Tamara Hayle und spielt im afroamerikanischen (vor)städtischen Milieu. Das Ganze wird von Tamara als Ich-Erzählerin vorgetragen. Keine schlechte Geschichte, aber irgendwie hat es mich auch nicht gepackt. Die Autorin deutet zwar das raue Leben in Newark an, aber so richtig Gangsterattitüde wird nicht erzeugt. Tamara konzentriert sich schnell auf DeWaynes Lebenswandel mit fünf Kindern von fünf Frauen, was für mich zwar solide literarisch umgesetzt war, mich aber nicht auf weitere Bände der Reihe eingeschworen hat.
June 30, 2023
This was well done with a few dated elements.
I don't like cops and I'm not sure if I'll continue thus series or not.
This was better than I expected.
I don't like cops and I'm not sure if I'll continue thus series or not.
This was better than I expected.
February 28, 2020
THIS IS SUCH A GOOD SERIES! Swift movement, strong language, quirky and love able details. This book is such a refreshing take on the detective novel and keeps things human. I feel like I’m talking with one of my girls while reading. Very conversational, light, but not afraid to get serious. Doesn’t drag on like many other crime novels are prone to do (oh, Galbraith). Just finished this first one (very satisfying / surprise ending) and ready for more!
February 15, 2016
This was a really good book, I was very surprised how fast I had went through it, but it was so good. It's a sad novel about death and revenge and it's connection to the past and present, but it's a great way to introduce Tamara Hayle as a P.I. and I will definitely be reading the rest of the 8 book series.
April 14, 2013
One of the best mystery authors. She writes with depth and respect with a keen eye of the African-American experience.
I love the lyrical and raw experience that she captures with her writing. When I find a writer with her abilities, I get greedy and want to read everything that was ever written.
I love the lyrical and raw experience that she captures with her writing. When I find a writer with her abilities, I get greedy and want to read everything that was ever written.
March 27, 2022
3.5 stars for this first in the series. I do plan to read the next one, and see if there is more character development.
December 3, 2022
I really liked the main character, PI Tamara Hayle, and I hope to read the next in the series. This is a solid start to the series, with a good amount of humor scattered about tragedy.
December 11, 2015
This was a surprise find. A man has five sons by five different women. Someone is murdering them. Tamara, the mother of one of the children, is trying to find out why. It's nicely paced and a real page turner. I sorta figured out who was doing the killing but I was shocked to find out why. I found out that it's one in a series so I will definitely be reading the other books.
October 15, 2008
WHEN DEATH COMES STEALING - Okay
Wesley, Valerie Wilson - 1st in Tamara Hayle series
Former policewoman Tamara Hayle is a single mother trying to raise her son while carving out a new career as a private investigator in the urban jungle. Her ex-husband shows up in serious trouble--someone is killing his sons, one-by-one. The police believe the deaths are accidental. With her own son's life in jeopardy, Tamara investigates before the killer strikes again.
It was okay but I probably won't read any more. Protagonist's ex-husband had 5 children by 5 different women.
Wesley, Valerie Wilson - 1st in Tamara Hayle series
Former policewoman Tamara Hayle is a single mother trying to raise her son while carving out a new career as a private investigator in the urban jungle. Her ex-husband shows up in serious trouble--someone is killing his sons, one-by-one. The police believe the deaths are accidental. With her own son's life in jeopardy, Tamara investigates before the killer strikes again.
It was okay but I probably won't read any more. Protagonist's ex-husband had 5 children by 5 different women.
April 7, 2019
Beautiful, dark murder mystery filled with suspense.
To my murder mystery fans: Tamara is a funny, clever mother, woman and detective. The murders kick in at the first pages and you are quickly taken away in a vibrant quest for a cruel murderer. Great story !
To my romance fans: There is a little tease here and there, but it's mostly forbidden desires and some kisses, nothing major.
I had a great time ! :)
To my murder mystery fans: Tamara is a funny, clever mother, woman and detective. The murders kick in at the first pages and you are quickly taken away in a vibrant quest for a cruel murderer. Great story !
To my romance fans: There is a little tease here and there, but it's mostly forbidden desires and some kisses, nothing major.
I had a great time ! :)
Want to read
July 3, 2025Synopsis: P.I. Tamara Hayle is trying to make it on Newark's mean streets. Someone is trying to kill the sons of her dog-of-an-ex-husband.
June 21, 2020
Who knew that a book written 26 years ago would be so relevant now?!? Racism... police violence against Black men (and kid)... police inaction because the victim is Black.
The story follows the main character, Tamara Hayle, a Black woman who is a former cop turned PI in an area outside of Newark.
I gave it 3 stars because the writing is easy. The story pulls you in but I figured out the who done it pretty early in the book. I feel like it is as entertaining as Janet Evanovich's Newark but way more real.
If you are looking for a new (to you), entertaining mystery series, I would give this one a try.
You can read my whole review here: http://charlotteonbooks.com/2020/06/2...
The story follows the main character, Tamara Hayle, a Black woman who is a former cop turned PI in an area outside of Newark.
I gave it 3 stars because the writing is easy. The story pulls you in but I figured out the who done it pretty early in the book. I feel like it is as entertaining as Janet Evanovich's Newark but way more real.
If you are looking for a new (to you), entertaining mystery series, I would give this one a try.
You can read my whole review here: http://charlotteonbooks.com/2020/06/2...
April 19, 2021
Ein guter Mord, mit einer unerwarteten Aufklärung. Die Übersetzung stört mich etwas da man Wörter wie Brother und Sister im englischen gelassen hat, aber sie typisch amerikanisch englische Aussage von Girl wurde immer wieder mit Mädchen übersetzt. Dies stimmt zwar, hat aber nicht die gleiche Bedeutung wie wenn ich eine Freundin girl nenne. Es wäre meiner Meinung nach besser gewesen das auch beim englischen zu belassen. Nach wie vor finde ich immer noch nicht sollte Bücher in der original Sprache lesen, wenn man sie beherrscht.
Allerdings habe ich diese authorin gefunden weil sie auf einer coyz mystery Liste stand, und sehr cozy fand ich es eigentlich nicht. Daher zwei Sterne Abzug insgesamt.
Allerdings habe ich diese authorin gefunden weil sie auf einer coyz mystery Liste stand, und sehr cozy fand ich es eigentlich nicht. Daher zwei Sterne Abzug insgesamt.
January 4, 2022
Perfect Title
"When Death Comes Stealing" is the perfect title to this latest Tamara Hayle mystery by Valerie Wilson Wesley. Part Walter Mosley and part Robert K. Tanenbaum, Wesley weaves a tale with old school charm and amazing scholastic artistry. The numerous characters offer bits and pieces to the unfolding of the mystery, but Tamara finally uncovers the culprit--almost too late. The climax is edge-of-chair riveting, as all comes out in the wash. All of her Tamara Hayle mysteries, including this one, leave Wesley's readers eagerly awaiting her next edition.
"When Death Comes Stealing" is the perfect title to this latest Tamara Hayle mystery by Valerie Wilson Wesley. Part Walter Mosley and part Robert K. Tanenbaum, Wesley weaves a tale with old school charm and amazing scholastic artistry. The numerous characters offer bits and pieces to the unfolding of the mystery, but Tamara finally uncovers the culprit--almost too late. The climax is edge-of-chair riveting, as all comes out in the wash. All of her Tamara Hayle mysteries, including this one, leave Wesley's readers eagerly awaiting her next edition.
February 26, 2021
Can't remember who recommended this to me (what group), but I am certainly glad I added it to my TBR. The first in a series. I am a sucker for detective novels that don't involve cellphones. This was fantastic. Sure there are lots of ex wives and kids to keep up with, but nothing too hard to do. Tamara is a character I can relate to. From page 1, sentence 1, I was invested. Up until the final word, this book kept me interested. I loved it. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
August 21, 2021
ওয়াও! ২০২১ এ আমার পড়া অন্যতম সেরা বই।
চমৎকার একটা সাসপেন্স-রিভেঞ্জ থ্রিলার। ভ্যালেরি উইলসনের লেখা এই প্রথম পড়লাম। একই সাথে প্রোটাগনিস্ট আর অ্যান্টাগনিস্ট হিসেবে একদম ভিন্ন ক্যারেক্টার এনেছেন। ক্লু দিলে সেটা স্পয়লার হয়ে যাবে।
এক মায়ের নিজ সন্তানকে সিরিয়াল কিলারের হাত থেকে বাঁচানো এবং একই সাথে সিরিয়াল কিলারকে ধরার এক ইঁদুর-বিড়াল খেলা। সেই সাথে বর্ণবাদের এক করুণ চিত্রও দেখা যাবে এই গল্পে
ভ্যালেরি উইলসনের অন্যান্য বইয়ের সন্ধানে আছি এখন।
চমৎকার একটা সাসপেন্স-রিভেঞ্জ থ্রিলার। ভ্যালেরি উইলসনের লেখা এই প্রথম পড়লাম। একই সাথে প্রোটাগনিস্ট আর অ্যান্টাগনিস্ট হিসেবে একদম ভিন্ন ক্যারেক্টার এনেছেন। ক্লু দিলে সেটা স্পয়লার হয়ে যাবে।
এক মায়ের নিজ সন্তানকে সিরিয়াল কিলারের হাত থেকে বাঁচানো এবং একই সাথে সিরিয়াল কিলারকে ধরার এক ইঁদুর-বিড়াল খেলা। সেই সাথে বর্ণবাদের এক করুণ চিত্রও দেখা যাবে এই গল্পে
ভ্যালেরি উইলসনের অন্যান্য বইয়ের সন্ধানে আছি এখন।
June 24, 2022
This book moved at a fast pace and I loved it. The character Tamara Hayle is written naturally, actually all the characters are multi-dimensional. I even felt sympathy for the all involved at the end. I docked a star because the numerous typos were kind of distracting in the Kindle edition. I don't usually care but I had to reread some sentences to get the meaning. I loved Wesley's writing otherwise and have already brought the next book in the series.
July 4, 2018
The writing style was great and the characters interesting but the plot was really weak. By chapter three I realized I could easily sum up what had happened so far in one sentence. Plus I knew who did it at the halfway Mark but continued in case I was wrong. Still I enjoyed aspects of the book a lot.
May 25, 2021
This author was recommended by Kellye Garrett, unfortunately Valerie's current selection is not available in my library. I'm not sure about this writer, it will take a few more books before I can make a decision.
The location is local and the storyline is realatable, it kept me reading till the end. Sometimes the story line was slow and it took a while to get to the point.
The location is local and the storyline is realatable, it kept me reading till the end. Sometimes the story line was slow and it took a while to get to the point.
February 28, 2022
light reading
Light and contrived, but this is the first one and I’m thinking they will improve. One thing that I found very annoying was the many errors of spelling and/or grammar. I read the Kindle version. A simple copy reading job would have caught the errors. It was irritating.
Light and contrived, but this is the first one and I’m thinking they will improve. One thing that I found very annoying was the many errors of spelling and/or grammar. I read the Kindle version. A simple copy reading job would have caught the errors. It was irritating.
September 26, 2022
*4.5/5 stars—9/10 stars.
this book was incredible and it tore my soul to pieces. I absolutely loved Tamara and Jamal. DeWayne and Basil were also very interesting. the mother/son dynamics pained me so much. seeing Jamal, who wanted to grow up and be seen as an adult go through very adult trauma (attempting to process it all) made me emotionally burst. I loved this book so much.
this book was incredible and it tore my soul to pieces. I absolutely loved Tamara and Jamal. DeWayne and Basil were also very interesting. the mother/son dynamics pained me so much. seeing Jamal, who wanted to grow up and be seen as an adult go through very adult trauma (attempting to process it all) made me emotionally burst. I loved this book so much.
July 4, 2023
When Death Comes Stealing
A very good mystery didn’t see that coming. Valerie had me guessing all wrong. Tamara showed what mother love could do. Mysteries are the hardest to review because you can’t comment on nothing for fear of giving the story away. Very good writing Valerie!!!
A very good mystery didn’t see that coming. Valerie had me guessing all wrong. Tamara showed what mother love could do. Mysteries are the hardest to review because you can’t comment on nothing for fear of giving the story away. Very good writing Valerie!!!
September 17, 2023
When Death Comes Stealing is the start of a detective series featuring Tamara Hayle. Tamara is a ex cop raising her son, Jamal, and running a detective agency on top of a beauty parlor. She is flawed, relatable and realistic to a tee. Her ex husband comes to her because two other children of his are killed and Jamal might be next. It was a faced paused whodunit and brilliant.
December 27, 2017
Who is murdering Dwayne’s sons
One by one so one was murdering Dwayne’s sons. The only person who could figure out who and why was Tamara, Dwayne’s ex-wife and a detective. It’s easy reading and compelling enough on a Saturday morning with a cup of tea.
One by one so one was murdering Dwayne’s sons. The only person who could figure out who and why was Tamara, Dwayne’s ex-wife and a detective. It’s easy reading and compelling enough on a Saturday morning with a cup of tea.
March 19, 2018
This book feels like the setting is a small town, although it's a New Jersey city. The protagonist moves through the story in a very connected circle, punctured only by her past job as a police officer. I guessed who the murderer is fairly early on, but not the motive.
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