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Max and Michelle Mystery Novel #2
Built To Order
Amber and Brandy are thirty-year-old identical twins with opposite personalities. Undisciplined Brandy uses responsible Amber's identity as she looks for excitement and finds trouble at every turn. One of the twins is tragically murdered in Amber's new home in quiet Blessington, Illinois. Could the murder be related to the twin's parents' eight-year-old unsolved murder? Their estranged uncle was denied his inheritance. Maybe Brandy's self-serving seductions and shady business dealings have turned deadly?
Count on creative, crime solving Max and Michelle as they reassess their ever-evolving relationship, deal with quirky family and friends, and, yes, risk their lives as they sift through scenarios in search of the killer.
"...This is a top notch tale of whodunits..." - Joan Adamak, author
"...well-plotted exciting mystery..." - Tracy Roberts Write Field Services
Count on creative, crime solving Max and Michelle as they reassess their ever-evolving relationship, deal with quirky family and friends, and, yes, risk their lives as they sift through scenarios in search of the killer.
"...This is a top notch tale of whodunits..." - Joan Adamak, author
"...well-plotted exciting mystery..." - Tracy Roberts Write Field Services
329 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2012
About the author
L.A. Noble
3 books1 followerL. A. NOBLE is the author of the Max and Michelle mystery novels ABOUT TIME ALREADY and BUILT TO ORDER.
Born in Iowa, Lou Ann Noble raised her two children in Central Illinois after graduating from Illinois State University with degrees in Mathematics and Psychology.
Series crime-solving duo Max and Michelle are from fictional Blessington, Illinois. They use their common sense and computer analysis skills to solve crimes. Lou Ann understands them well. She spent nearly 35 years working for a Bloomington, Illinois insurance company in various computer departments.
ABOUT TIME ALREADY character Jenny Masters is from New Attica, a fictional small town. Lou Ann grew up in Iowa where most towns are small towns.
BUILT TO ORDER character Amber McMillan is from a fictional farming family. Lou Ann is proud to be a member of real Iowa farm families.
Born in Iowa, Lou Ann Noble raised her two children in Central Illinois after graduating from Illinois State University with degrees in Mathematics and Psychology.
Series crime-solving duo Max and Michelle are from fictional Blessington, Illinois. They use their common sense and computer analysis skills to solve crimes. Lou Ann understands them well. She spent nearly 35 years working for a Bloomington, Illinois insurance company in various computer departments.
ABOUT TIME ALREADY character Jenny Masters is from New Attica, a fictional small town. Lou Ann grew up in Iowa where most towns are small towns.
BUILT TO ORDER character Amber McMillan is from a fictional farming family. Lou Ann is proud to be a member of real Iowa farm families.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 13, 2020
I need to begin this review with a note that I probably should have read the first book prior to reading this one. I wasn't aware it was the second book of a series at the time I purchased it. Much of the character development was missing for me as it was likely built in the first book.
The read was a complex with many streams of characters moving toward an intersecting point. The premise was good and the plot twists began coming together toward the middle of the book.
I was caught slightly off guard as many characters would discuss serious situations before having sex at what seemed inappropriate times. The way the story was flowing up to those points, it seemed the more natural progression, of the story, would have been for the characters to attempt to resolve the situation at hand. Instead, they would go from concerned and urgent to engaging playfully forgetting about the discussion they were having.
I have nothing against a playful romp, however it seems some of the situations were stuck in with little regard to the characters personalities or emotional situations at the time.
All that aside, this book has many high points as well. It is an intriguing mystery that keeps you guessing well toward the end of the book. The pace is quick and many of the characters are interesting, dramatic and funny. Some are all three.
The read was a complex with many streams of characters moving toward an intersecting point. The premise was good and the plot twists began coming together toward the middle of the book.
I was caught slightly off guard as many characters would discuss serious situations before having sex at what seemed inappropriate times. The way the story was flowing up to those points, it seemed the more natural progression, of the story, would have been for the characters to attempt to resolve the situation at hand. Instead, they would go from concerned and urgent to engaging playfully forgetting about the discussion they were having.
I have nothing against a playful romp, however it seems some of the situations were stuck in with little regard to the characters personalities or emotional situations at the time.
All that aside, this book has many high points as well. It is an intriguing mystery that keeps you guessing well toward the end of the book. The pace is quick and many of the characters are interesting, dramatic and funny. Some are all three.
December 5, 2012
More Who Dunits Than One Can Count
Amber and Brandy were identical twins, the children of Richard and Mary who died by being shot and then the house burned the night of Amber’s high school graduation in Blessington. Amber was studious, quiet, helpful and responsible. Brandy hated school, quit and just was interested in attracting men, having a good time and getting rich. After Amber graduated, she went to Chicago and worked in a real estate office for Sam Clark and decided to move back to Blessington when she was thirty. Sam moved his real estate office there also and Amber continued working for him. In the past ten years many people in town were not aware that Amber was an identical twin and she contracted with Jack Montgomery, whose wife was Jill, to build her a new house. But Brandy quite often wanted to go incognito and convinced Amber to lend her some of her I.D. plus a photo. When Brandy came to town, Amber laid low so no one would be aware that they were identical twins. But Brandy took advantage and seduced most every man she was around. She seduced Sam, whose woman was Eva, who was also very seductive but mean and didn’t intend to give up Sam so she and Jill became best friends in their hating Amber because of Brandi’s game of catching every man she could, whether married or not. One day Brandi was found dead at the foot of the stairs in Amber’s new house and, of course, everyone thought it was Amber.
From there on, the plot was just one murder, death or attempted murder after another involving many colorful characters in the story, with everyone trying to solve these mysteries. Two of the most amusing characters in the story are two old ladies who were identical twins and when they wanted their way, they responded as if they didn’t understand what was going on and the irony of their ideas and conclusions were so hilarious, they keep the reader laughing. This is a top notch tale of whodunits, wit and continuous twists in the plot. I heartily recommend it as a page turner and for sheer enjoyment.
This book was given to me free in order to review it.
Amber and Brandy were identical twins, the children of Richard and Mary who died by being shot and then the house burned the night of Amber’s high school graduation in Blessington. Amber was studious, quiet, helpful and responsible. Brandy hated school, quit and just was interested in attracting men, having a good time and getting rich. After Amber graduated, she went to Chicago and worked in a real estate office for Sam Clark and decided to move back to Blessington when she was thirty. Sam moved his real estate office there also and Amber continued working for him. In the past ten years many people in town were not aware that Amber was an identical twin and she contracted with Jack Montgomery, whose wife was Jill, to build her a new house. But Brandy quite often wanted to go incognito and convinced Amber to lend her some of her I.D. plus a photo. When Brandy came to town, Amber laid low so no one would be aware that they were identical twins. But Brandy took advantage and seduced most every man she was around. She seduced Sam, whose woman was Eva, who was also very seductive but mean and didn’t intend to give up Sam so she and Jill became best friends in their hating Amber because of Brandi’s game of catching every man she could, whether married or not. One day Brandi was found dead at the foot of the stairs in Amber’s new house and, of course, everyone thought it was Amber.
From there on, the plot was just one murder, death or attempted murder after another involving many colorful characters in the story, with everyone trying to solve these mysteries. Two of the most amusing characters in the story are two old ladies who were identical twins and when they wanted their way, they responded as if they didn’t understand what was going on and the irony of their ideas and conclusions were so hilarious, they keep the reader laughing. This is a top notch tale of whodunits, wit and continuous twists in the plot. I heartily recommend it as a page turner and for sheer enjoyment.
This book was given to me free in order to review it.
June 4, 2014
This is a well-written, highly entertaining, often funny mystery with a large cast of eccentric characters. It includes murder, arson, disappearance, infidelity, impersonation, seduction, gold digging, and other suspect behaviors. Its protagonists are Max and Michelle, couple and amateur sleuths. They share the stage with many other characters of varied backgrounds, quirks, and personal motivations. The novel unfolds in short chapters and multiple viewpoints. At first, I found the shifting viewpoints confusing, but the characters and their relationships eventually fell into place. The plot concerns the murder of an attractive and reckless young woman named Brandy. Amber, her twin, fearing she is also in danger, goes into hiding. Max and Michelle investigate Brandy’s personal history for clues, identify other suspects, and through various twists and turns, solve the murder. There are also subplots. Reading this novel is like visiting a small community and meeting interesting people. While the novel is about a murder, readers may find the characters encountered along the way as interesting as the crime.
April 11, 2014
Better than the first
The first book had to many characters, so this one is better and had more deception. But if your going to read this one read the other book first. It wasn't too bad, I give that one three stars.
The first book had to many characters, so this one is better and had more deception. But if your going to read this one read the other book first. It wasn't too bad, I give that one three stars.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews