Murder @ Work - #2 in the Christine Chamberlain series

 

Now on Kindle

Have you ever had a Boss From Hell? Not someone who's basically nice except on their off-peak days... we're talking about a Verbal Abuser who can't be sued or fired. Seduced by the heat of a South African summer, would you be tempted to tamper with his tea a little... just a little... ???

The Informationist

The Informationist by Taylor Stevens is a good thriller, full of quirky characters and exciting plot turns. The heroine has been described as a cross between Lisbeth Salander and Jason Bourne, and I really can't do better than that, except to add that she's less vulnerable and more lovable than Lisbeth.

For me, what made the book was the setting. There's just something about Africa that won't let go of my heart.

Does Yvonne Walus Like Brussel Sprouts?

Yvonne Walus, author of the South African murder mysteries "Murder @ Work" and "Murder @ Play" has eaten mopane worms. Find out what she wouldn't eat here.

Entertaining, short, interesting read about South Africa in the late 90s

My thanks go to Ursula Pieper for a wonderful review of "Murder @ Work". Read more.

Incidentally, I'm looking for 2 reviewers to write up something about "Murder @ Play". Hands up?

Don't want to review? Then read on: if you buy a copy of "Murder @ Play" (on Kindle, but you don't need Kindle to read it, any PC will do) and contact me before the end of July 2010, I'll send you an e-copy of "Murder @ Work".

Murder @ The Bling Bling Xmas Table

The Setting:
Exclusive Game Reserve “Bling-Bling Bush Lodge”, Christmas 2007

The Characters:
- Christine Chamberlain, a mathematician and our amateur detective who will help us solve the puzzle
- Tom Wodehouse, artist and Christine’s husband
- Alta Vermaak”, Christine’s best friend from school, owner of the “Bling-Bling Bush Lodge which, despite its glamorous name, is making a financial loss of bling-bling proportions
- Kenneth Vermaak, Alta’s husband, game ranger at his wife’s game reserve and begrudging the fact that this is the only job he could get in the new South Africa
- Sandra Vermaak, Alta’s twin sister from New Zealand, visiting after a 10-year absence, a stay-at-home mom who says she’s not bored and that she loves her children, but if so, then why did she leave them in New Zealand with the nanny?
- Connor Vermaak, Sandra’s husband and Kenneth’s older brother, self-made millionaire who is reluctant to talk about his money-making ventures

Back Story:
Alta Vermaak organised a xmas reunion for the immediate family. Aware of the undercurrents in the family members’ affairs, however (Kenneth is envious of Connor’s business success, Sandra had a crush on Kenneth but he chose Alta, Connor cannot forgive Kenneth that he was Sandra’s first choice, Alta is irritated by the way Sandra throws money around), she invited Christine and Tom to join them for Christmas.

(Thank you to those of you who attended “Set the Table for Murder” last Saturday. We had lots of fun, lots of praise and lots of sales!)

(In the next blog: review of Pratchett’s “Making Money”… watch this space.)

Wits' End Before Breakfast

I've just finished reading a book that doesn't exist. All right, I suppose it's not such an outrageous statement to make when you're a novelist. What's surprising is that the book is not written by me nor any of my friends.

It has an ISBN number and a publisher (Lothian Books, Australia). But look up Emma Robertson's "Wits' End Before Breakfast (Confessions of a Working Mum)" on Amazon, and you draw a big zero. And if it ain't listed on Amazon.... [see footnote].

Googling the book produces a link to macmillan.co.nz with a note "Out of stock", a link to one bookshop in Australia, a link to ebay and to a single review in an air force magazine. That's all.

(In contrast, if you were to google "Murder @ Work" for example, you'd get pages of relevant hits.)

Anyway, it's a good book and a fun, humorous read. Every mother should read it, if only to feel smug about the fact that others have it worse.

Far - faaaaaaaaaaaar - worse.

[Footnote: Everything you read on Amazon is true, of course. So have a look at my latest poetry collection, Erato, yours for a mere £1,096.99.]

Murder @ Work

Today's entry is a slice of shameless self-promotion. Enjoy!

(excerpt from a cosy murder mystery, "Murder @ Work" by Yvonne Eve Walus, Echelon Press 2004. Click here for more details.)

As usual, Christine longed for a swimming pool, and as usual, she knew that she and Tom could never afford it. It was something that belonged to the Old South Africa way of life.

"How was your day, honey?" she heard.

Tom was in the kitchen. Judging by the smell of fried chillies, he was preparing something deliciously Oriental. And deliciously fattening.

"Just great, thank you," she shouted back in a tone of voice that contradicted her words. "I'll tell you about it in a moment. I just want to make a phone call. The office phones are stuffed again. That's Africa for you."

The blouse was also too hot. She dialled her aromatherapist with one hand, tearing off the white cotton with the other. "Hi, it's your favourite customer," she said. "I need you. Desperately. Before I murder my boss. Can you give me an emergency massage tonight? Oh? Tomorrow before work then? Thanks. You're a star."

Wearing only her underwear, Christine ambled into the kitchen.

"Smells gorgeous. There goes my diet."

Tom looked up.

"Wow," he said. "A naked wife."

He dropped the knife onto the chopped pile of mushrooms and stepped toward her.

(excerpt from "Murder @ Work" by Yvonne Eve Walus, Echelon Press 2004. Click here for more details. Click here for reviews.)