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A Kim Aldrich Mystery #1
Miscalculated Risk
Vintage children's book
211 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
About the author
Jinny McDonnell
5 books4 followersPen name used by Virginia B. McDonnell for this series, who also wrote books in the Nurses Three series from 1963 to 1965 and several of the books in the Trixie Belden series.
She is also the author of other books as Virginia McDonnell (without the middle initial), including volume six of The Waltons.
She is also the author of other books as Virginia McDonnell (without the middle initial), including volume six of The Waltons.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 9, 2022
Plot:
Kim Aldrich, the daughter of an FBI agent, is working as a secretary for WALCO insurance agency. One day commissioner Saunders of Neadham shows up to talk to the company about a lawsuit his town is undergoing.
It seems that down on the beach there is a large area of rocks where children like to play. The rocks are suppose to be sprayed weekly with a chemical to keep algae from growing and causing the rocks to be slippery and dangerous. But the rocks have not been sprayed for some time which resulted in a small boy named Peter Madden falling and getting seriously injured. The boy is in a wheelchair now and his parents are suing the town for $500,000. Since the towns insurance policy is only for $100,000 the commissioner desperately needs to win this case. However he refuses to try and reach a settlement with the Maddens. He insists doing so would cause others to falsely sue the town.
Kim, interested in the case, visits the beach location where she ends up meeting a handsome young man. His name is Andy Hill and he is the Maddens lawyer. Instantly drawn to each other the two start working on the case together to discover who is at fault for the accident.
All signs point to the town being liable as the rocks had not been sprayed. The chief life guard, Bill Jones, reportedly wrote in his work log that he had repeatedly requested for them to be sprayed but that his requests were denied and the money allotted for it went missing. This evidence would seal the case for Andy but unfortunately Bill, and his logs, are missing.
Strange things soon begin to happen such as Andy constantly being followed by a dark Sudan and Kim being offered a fabulously paying secretary job in Puerto Rico. After a visit to the Maddens Kim learns that Bill has been writing to Peter. She asks to see a letter so she can get his address to track him down. It is a general delivery address in Santa Elena, California and the letter reveals that Bill was suddenly offered a year long fellowship from the Dier Foundation, an alleged foundation for artists. But an investigation soon proves the foundation doesn't exist...
You can read the rest of this review on my blog: vintagegirlsbooks
Review:
- Kim and Andy instantly feel bonded over their upbringings; Kim grew up in Puerto Rico due to her father being stationed there for FBI work and Andy was born and raised in Hawaii. It doesn't say if Andy is pacific islander but I pictured him as so.
- I think Kim is a good feminist example. I know some people disagree but I think they are confused on what feminism is. Kim is able to take care of herself but she is also able to accept help from Andy if and when she needs it. After their car is crashed into in California Kim starts to change the flat tire when Andy takes over and tells her to rest. Kim was just unconscious and needed to rest. She thinks how she likes feeling protected by Andy but how if it was her brother, for example, she would be offended and furious.
Kim and Andy have a romantic relationship and therefor Andy can do and say things to Kim, such as calling her a little girl or joking about spanking her, that would be offensive if another man did it. Andy respects Kim and knows she is capable of taking care of herself. But he also cares and loves her which makes him worry about her wellbeing and want to protect her. It is because Kim knows he respects and loves her that she does not find these things offensive.
Kim is also very well balanced. She likes to look pretty and often acts silly but also is skilled in Taekwondo, sky diving, scuba diving, and is a sports car enthusiast.
- I did not like how Kim and Andy suddenly realize their romance was essentially trauma bonding. I liked them together and would have liked them to be a couple throughout the series, even tho I knew from experience that wouldn't happen. If I am being honest I must admit I think the ending did make the most sense as they really didn't know each other before falling for each other.
- When Kim phones her housekeeper at the airport she gives a description of what she is wearing since it would be useful information if she went missing and a search was made for her. I thought this was really smart.
Overall I enjoyed this book. I read it in one sitting which is something I have not been able to do in awhile. Lately it seems every book bores me so this was a nice change.
Kim Aldrich, the daughter of an FBI agent, is working as a secretary for WALCO insurance agency. One day commissioner Saunders of Neadham shows up to talk to the company about a lawsuit his town is undergoing.
It seems that down on the beach there is a large area of rocks where children like to play. The rocks are suppose to be sprayed weekly with a chemical to keep algae from growing and causing the rocks to be slippery and dangerous. But the rocks have not been sprayed for some time which resulted in a small boy named Peter Madden falling and getting seriously injured. The boy is in a wheelchair now and his parents are suing the town for $500,000. Since the towns insurance policy is only for $100,000 the commissioner desperately needs to win this case. However he refuses to try and reach a settlement with the Maddens. He insists doing so would cause others to falsely sue the town.
Kim, interested in the case, visits the beach location where she ends up meeting a handsome young man. His name is Andy Hill and he is the Maddens lawyer. Instantly drawn to each other the two start working on the case together to discover who is at fault for the accident.
All signs point to the town being liable as the rocks had not been sprayed. The chief life guard, Bill Jones, reportedly wrote in his work log that he had repeatedly requested for them to be sprayed but that his requests were denied and the money allotted for it went missing. This evidence would seal the case for Andy but unfortunately Bill, and his logs, are missing.
Strange things soon begin to happen such as Andy constantly being followed by a dark Sudan and Kim being offered a fabulously paying secretary job in Puerto Rico. After a visit to the Maddens Kim learns that Bill has been writing to Peter. She asks to see a letter so she can get his address to track him down. It is a general delivery address in Santa Elena, California and the letter reveals that Bill was suddenly offered a year long fellowship from the Dier Foundation, an alleged foundation for artists. But an investigation soon proves the foundation doesn't exist...
You can read the rest of this review on my blog: vintagegirlsbooks
Review:
- Kim and Andy instantly feel bonded over their upbringings; Kim grew up in Puerto Rico due to her father being stationed there for FBI work and Andy was born and raised in Hawaii. It doesn't say if Andy is pacific islander but I pictured him as so.
- I think Kim is a good feminist example. I know some people disagree but I think they are confused on what feminism is. Kim is able to take care of herself but she is also able to accept help from Andy if and when she needs it. After their car is crashed into in California Kim starts to change the flat tire when Andy takes over and tells her to rest. Kim was just unconscious and needed to rest. She thinks how she likes feeling protected by Andy but how if it was her brother, for example, she would be offended and furious.
Kim and Andy have a romantic relationship and therefor Andy can do and say things to Kim, such as calling her a little girl or joking about spanking her, that would be offensive if another man did it. Andy respects Kim and knows she is capable of taking care of herself. But he also cares and loves her which makes him worry about her wellbeing and want to protect her. It is because Kim knows he respects and loves her that she does not find these things offensive.
Kim is also very well balanced. She likes to look pretty and often acts silly but also is skilled in Taekwondo, sky diving, scuba diving, and is a sports car enthusiast.
- I did not like how Kim and Andy suddenly realize their romance was essentially trauma bonding. I liked them together and would have liked them to be a couple throughout the series, even tho I knew from experience that wouldn't happen. If I am being honest I must admit I think the ending did make the most sense as they really didn't know each other before falling for each other.
- When Kim phones her housekeeper at the airport she gives a description of what she is wearing since it would be useful information if she went missing and a search was made for her. I thought this was really smart.
Overall I enjoyed this book. I read it in one sitting which is something I have not been able to do in awhile. Lately it seems every book bores me so this was a nice change.
March 25, 2022
Vintage glasses *firmly* in place, this was a fun read. Kim is a very appealing character and — if the “romance” was thoroughly lackluster, the mystery resolution Dr. Evil style convoluted and the casual misogyny rampant and unquestioned — she earned every one of its four stars.
October 20, 2023
Kim Aldrich, is not the typic sleuth you read about, Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, Connie Blair, etc. all teenagers, although not directly mentioned, Kim does appear to be older, (20s?).
She’s lives with her widowed FBI agent father, along with her brother, (a Vietnam Vet/commercial pilot) and sister, (traveling nurse with the Red Cross. Kim is the youngest of the 3 Aldrich children and lives with them in their fathers luxurious Manhattan Apartment. Throughout the series, her family is frequently away and she is left to fend for herself.
In the first book, kim has just finished a secretarial course, and is employed by WALCO, or World At Large Insurance Co.mpany, she hopes one day to become an insurance investigator, but of course she must start at the bottom.
Her first case in the insurance world comes when her boss allows her to tag along on an injury claim. A 9 year old boy is playing on some rocks at a fictional seaside town, where his summer soon takes a turn for the worst. The little boy is injured, and the parents sue the town for more insurance money than they have. The town insured by Kim’s company and the plaintiff end up collaborating together to investigate the case.
The two have a hard time finding witnesses and in the end they find the city commissioner has been pocketing his fair share of the insurance money and not keeping the shore free from algae like he was supposed to. Which incidentally the algae is what caused the little boys accident. In the end Kim saves the day for the family along with the families lawyer. Kim has successfully solved a case, with one down and 3 more to go in the series.
As in all 4 books, Kim has a different love affair, none making it into the next book. Kim is quick to act without thinking, and while the book has some interesting twists and turns, it’s not the most realistic book, however, if you’re not an adult reading the book, you’ll find it more enjoyable. Would definitely recommend for teenagers.
Book one was an interesting introduction into the series.
She’s lives with her widowed FBI agent father, along with her brother, (a Vietnam Vet/commercial pilot) and sister, (traveling nurse with the Red Cross. Kim is the youngest of the 3 Aldrich children and lives with them in their fathers luxurious Manhattan Apartment. Throughout the series, her family is frequently away and she is left to fend for herself.
In the first book, kim has just finished a secretarial course, and is employed by WALCO, or World At Large Insurance Co.mpany, she hopes one day to become an insurance investigator, but of course she must start at the bottom.
Her first case in the insurance world comes when her boss allows her to tag along on an injury claim. A 9 year old boy is playing on some rocks at a fictional seaside town, where his summer soon takes a turn for the worst. The little boy is injured, and the parents sue the town for more insurance money than they have. The town insured by Kim’s company and the plaintiff end up collaborating together to investigate the case.
The two have a hard time finding witnesses and in the end they find the city commissioner has been pocketing his fair share of the insurance money and not keeping the shore free from algae like he was supposed to. Which incidentally the algae is what caused the little boys accident. In the end Kim saves the day for the family along with the families lawyer. Kim has successfully solved a case, with one down and 3 more to go in the series.
As in all 4 books, Kim has a different love affair, none making it into the next book. Kim is quick to act without thinking, and while the book has some interesting twists and turns, it’s not the most realistic book, however, if you’re not an adult reading the book, you’ll find it more enjoyable. Would definitely recommend for teenagers.
Book one was an interesting introduction into the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2018
This would have been better without the romance aspect. The series is similar to Nancy Drew but it's much more violent. It bugged me how the love interest kept referring to Kim as a little girl even though she was college-age. A male, even a teenage one, would never be a called a nosy little boy, or a little fool, or be told they should be put over someone's knee. That sort of thing made me turn my nose up at the book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews