The author’s passion for the topics covered shines through in the vivid descriptions and precise attention to detail regarding the setting, interior design, and golf. That many of these details were pulled from personal experience is delightful and evident. Brightly drawn characters provide a brilliant pop of color in their relatability and diversity, with their occasionally irreverent and pointed commentary providing a welcome counterpoint to the murder, greed, racism, and other darkness that resides in the hearts of men (and women).
The multiple-perspective narration offers wonderful insights into characters’ motivation, though uneven transitions between perspectives may distract some readers. While the dialogue is snappy at times, at others it breaks the cadence of the writing with stilted phrasing. And while the salient plot points are all in place, sometimes too much is revealed at once, rather than being teased out over the course of the story. But that won’t stop readers from having wild fun following the crimes and misdemeanors of this wealthy crew.
Takeaway: This is a fun, if somewhat dark, cozy mystery set in the country club world.
Great for fans of: Stephanie Bond’s Body Movers, Cleo Coyle’s On What Grounds, Diane Mott Davidson’s Dying for Chocolate.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A
A delightful break from conventional who-done-it mysteries, “Teed up for Terror” delivers both on the edge-of-your-seat, suspense (I carried the book everywhere, stealing a few pages whenever I could), sprinkled with smart, laugh-out-loud anecdotes which offer readers comic relief as well as intelligent revelations into the characters.
With a fond nod to the Pacific Northwest, new author, Ted Mulcahey delivers fresh, intelligent, fast-paced story-telling. The characters are well developed and quite fascinating, often reflective of their regional and political backgrounds. They carry along the plot in a wonderful overlapping way, offering multiple perspectives and voyeuristic peeks into some unlikely worlds—all with a sense of humor.
‘Teed up for Terror” is a delight! A must read, breath-of-fresh-air!
