Last Call

by Diane Dean-Epps

New Mystery novel from author of Maternal Meanderings.

200 pages, Paperback

First published March 6, 2003

About the author

After a diverse and rewarding career in television broadcasting, Diane wended her way toward both a teaching credential, and a Master of Arts in English, earning several publishing credits in the process, including her master’s thesis highlighting the work of author, Langston Hughes entitled, Changing the Exchange. Diane lives and works in northern California, where she’s often found performing in both scheduled and unscheduled productions in front of mostly attentive audiences. Her “sit-down standup” style of writing is featured in JUST BECAUSE I'M NOT EFFIN' FAMOUS, DOESN'T MEAN I'M NOT EFFIN' FUNNY, which is Diane’s fifth published book. Her other books, in no particular order include: Maternal Meanderings (Humor), Last Call (Humorous Mystery), KILL-TV (Humorous Mystery). Other publishing credits also include numerous essays that have appeared in a variety of periodicals, including MORE magazine, NPR’s This I Believe, The San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento magazine, Bigger Law Firm magazine, and the Sacramento Business Journal.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time: schoolteacher Marisa Danielson witnesses what she believes is a murder in the parking lot of a favorite hangout, only to find the body missing when she alerts her boyfriend Jimmy. The late news reveals something different, however, upsetting Marisa when Jimmy takes her panic a bit too lightly.

This doubt is short-lived when Marisa's roommate informs her of a mysterious visitor - a mysterious, leather-clad visitor with unpleasant manners (is there any other kind?) - skulking around the apartment and asking questions. That Marisa is soon fielding threatening phone calls and hints from a police officer that she is a suspect in the demise of "Scarecrow" is unsettling, more so than her attraction to FBI undercover agent John Brown, whom she insists on helping. Marisa's is a search that takes her into the through several hospital trips (following attempts on her life) and through the abandoned mineshafts of Nevada City searching for clues before her own life is snuffed.

Author Dean-Epps serves up a clever mystery in LAST CALL, enhanced by a harried amateur sleuth and clever dialogue.

[Maurean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, funny and engaging little whodunit!! A really enjoyable read - the characters were likable, the plot was intriguing, and the dialogue was witty and "real".
A good book, all the way around