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A Figure Skating Mystery #3
Axel of Evil: Enhanced Multimedia Edition
Book #3 in the Figure Skating Mystery Series
Bex Levy is a researcher for TV network 24/7. And murder appears to follow her around…. This time she has to find out who killed an ice skating coach during the run-up to a competition in Moscow. Igor Marchenko defected from the USSR to the States in 1977 and this is the first time he's been able to return home. But he soon turns up dead, poisoned by a pair of gloves. And once Bex does the rounds, she finds out that plenty of people had reason to bump him off.
AXEL OF EVIL is a pleasant, good-humored book. Bex has some sharp lines, and I laughed aloud at the scene in the commentary box where she's sitting between feuding husband and wife presenters.
- ReviewingTheEvidence.com
In this third skating mystery for Bex Levy, the researcher for the 24/7 TV network is on location in Moscow. Skating champion Igor Marchenko first shot to fame when he won the only American gold figure skating medal at the 1982 Winter Olympics. Resident in the States since he defected there in 1977, he has returned to Mother Russia as coach to the 2005 U.S. Ladies' Silver Medalist, Jordan Ares, who is competing in the "U.S. vs. Russia: A Figure Skating Challenge" event. But when he collapses during a practice and is discovered to be dead, Bex has to find out whodunit and why before an international incident is caused... even though the reasons, once uncovered, might well be big enough to cause one...
Alina Adams certainly knows her stuff (being a real-life TV researcher just like her heroine) and this shows, always a good thing…. There is some fine satire in here, and Alina Adams is adept at portraying typical skating types and typical skating fans. Perhaps what I enjoyed the most here was the delineation of modern Russia, and the vast difference between the country today and how it was back when Igor defected to the US…. The whole (plus the fairly intricate plot) makes for a good tale to please a skating fan who enjoys a good whodunit too.
- MyShelf.com
As always, the author puts her insider knowledge of the skating world to good use, filling in the background and participants with very realistic details. A new Bex Levy mystery is a real treat; so settle in for an evening of skating, murder, and entertainment.
- TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
“Axel of Evil: Enhanced Multimedia Edition” features all the content of the original 2006 Berkley Prime Crime paperback release, plus additional, professional skating footage by The Ice Theatre of New York embedded alongside the text as part of the story! (An Internet connection is required to view the footage. The book itself may be read on any device, including a regular Kindle or eReader, but the complete “Axel of Evil: Enhanced Multimedia Edition” is best experienced via Kindle Fire, iPad, phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop.)
Also available as an enhanced e-book: “Murder on Ice: Enhanced Multimedia Edition,” and “On Thin Ice: Enhanced Multimedia Edition.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Alina Adams worked as a figure skating researcher for ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBC, an experience which inspired the complete Figure Skating Mystery series, including "Murder on Ice," "On Thin Ice," "Axel of Evil," "Death Drop" and "Skate Crime." Her other enhanced titles include the contemporary romance, "When a Man Loves a Woman: Enhanced Multimedia Edition," and "Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama's Greatest Moments.
Bex Levy is a researcher for TV network 24/7. And murder appears to follow her around…. This time she has to find out who killed an ice skating coach during the run-up to a competition in Moscow. Igor Marchenko defected from the USSR to the States in 1977 and this is the first time he's been able to return home. But he soon turns up dead, poisoned by a pair of gloves. And once Bex does the rounds, she finds out that plenty of people had reason to bump him off.
AXEL OF EVIL is a pleasant, good-humored book. Bex has some sharp lines, and I laughed aloud at the scene in the commentary box where she's sitting between feuding husband and wife presenters.
- ReviewingTheEvidence.com
In this third skating mystery for Bex Levy, the researcher for the 24/7 TV network is on location in Moscow. Skating champion Igor Marchenko first shot to fame when he won the only American gold figure skating medal at the 1982 Winter Olympics. Resident in the States since he defected there in 1977, he has returned to Mother Russia as coach to the 2005 U.S. Ladies' Silver Medalist, Jordan Ares, who is competing in the "U.S. vs. Russia: A Figure Skating Challenge" event. But when he collapses during a practice and is discovered to be dead, Bex has to find out whodunit and why before an international incident is caused... even though the reasons, once uncovered, might well be big enough to cause one...
Alina Adams certainly knows her stuff (being a real-life TV researcher just like her heroine) and this shows, always a good thing…. There is some fine satire in here, and Alina Adams is adept at portraying typical skating types and typical skating fans. Perhaps what I enjoyed the most here was the delineation of modern Russia, and the vast difference between the country today and how it was back when Igor defected to the US…. The whole (plus the fairly intricate plot) makes for a good tale to please a skating fan who enjoys a good whodunit too.
- MyShelf.com
As always, the author puts her insider knowledge of the skating world to good use, filling in the background and participants with very realistic details. A new Bex Levy mystery is a real treat; so settle in for an evening of skating, murder, and entertainment.
- TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
“Axel of Evil: Enhanced Multimedia Edition” features all the content of the original 2006 Berkley Prime Crime paperback release, plus additional, professional skating footage by The Ice Theatre of New York embedded alongside the text as part of the story! (An Internet connection is required to view the footage. The book itself may be read on any device, including a regular Kindle or eReader, but the complete “Axel of Evil: Enhanced Multimedia Edition” is best experienced via Kindle Fire, iPad, phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop.)
Also available as an enhanced e-book: “Murder on Ice: Enhanced Multimedia Edition,” and “On Thin Ice: Enhanced Multimedia Edition.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Alina Adams worked as a figure skating researcher for ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBC, an experience which inspired the complete Figure Skating Mystery series, including "Murder on Ice," "On Thin Ice," "Axel of Evil," "Death Drop" and "Skate Crime." Her other enhanced titles include the contemporary romance, "When a Man Loves a Woman: Enhanced Multimedia Edition," and "Soap Opera 451: A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama's Greatest Moments.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 3, 2006
133 people want to read
About the author
Alina Adams
28 books117 followersAlina Adams is Jewish, lives on the East Coast, married with two kids and is the author of Berkley Prime Crime's "Figure Skating Mysteries," including "Murder on Ice," "On Thin Ice," and coming in January 2006 "Axel of Evil!"
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 3, 2023
It’s been a long time since I read a book in this series. This was fun to read and different with the ice skating theme. It would be lots of fun to read during the Olympics. The story kept me guessing and the characters were interesting.
February 5, 2023
A fun ride and a fascinating glimpse back at Russia's figure skating scene and post-Soviet life in the 1990s, with incomparable details of grime and intensity of everyday life. A particular kudos to the writer for having so much fun building mystery using all the nickname versions for "Alexander" -- this had to be done!
August 3, 2022
This was my favorite so far!! I loved that it was set in Russia. I now fully love Bex as a heroine and can’t wait to read the next one.
January 18, 2009
The third book in the series and I think it has improved - but I don't know if I would really recommend it to anyone. It's ok - but really not that compelling. I think if you are REALLY into ice skating it would probably be a good book for you - but I just feel like - as a whole - it's kind of milk toast.
January 5, 2011
As someone who was always fascinated by the USSR, I found this story to be very interesting. The writing was witty and the characters interesting enough to keep me reading. I haven't read the previous books in the series and not once felt like I was missing out on anything. Overall a very enjoyable read.
February 17, 2011
This series has improved since the first book. It was a quick read with an interesting murder mystery. I like that the focus of the story was mainly on the mystery and suspects and not so much on Bex.
August 31, 2012
This mystery keeps you guessing. Bex is in Russia as a coach has been murdered. She has a helper named Sasha who looks 18 but is her age, 24.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews