Joan Donaldson-Yarmey's "Illegally Dead"

Title: Traveling with Murder

“IllegallyDead” by Joan Donaldson-Yarmey

Reviewed by Camie Keets

07/31/2015

2:48 p.m.

Travel writer, Elizabeth Oliver, tends to run into mystery wherever she goes. One, short year after discovering a body along a wooded path, Elizabeth gets pulled into another murder. When being shown to her bed & breakfast, she runs across a man who has newly discovered a bunch of bones in a septic tank; leading to an investigation. Can Elizabeth keep her goal in mind and complete the research for her first commissioned article?

The way that Donaldson-Yarmey sets up the novel is intriguing. In the beginning, the novel seems as if it will be told in a simple third person point-of-view. However, after the first four pages, she switches it up and tells the novel in a third-person unlimited omniscience point-of-view. For the entire first chapter, Donaldson-Yarmey bounces back and forth between two characters. Just when the reader gets into the groove, she switches it up again and throws in another character. This is where things started to get confusing. But, once every character’s backstory and part in the novel is established, switching from character to character becomes much easier and makes more sense. It helps the reader put the pieces together and keeps them on their toes. However, I believe that providing as many characters and backstories as she does, leads the reader on too much and leaves them no room to wonder.

Donaldson-Yarmey’s novel is not as similar to other mystery novels. It is more playful, and the point-of-view is interesting. And, the main character, Elizabeth, is not a central player in this mystery. She is on the outside looking in and attempting to piece it together herself, along with the readers.

In improvements, there is always room for the readers to discover more on their own. However, if you are looking for an interestingly mysterious yet playful read, Illegally Dead is a good place to start.

I give Illegally Dead 3 out of 5 stars.

Thank you for this new and different read.

Camie Keets