Cheap First Lady (Book) (Michael Malone) Price

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Customer Reviews of First Lady

The Saga Continues.....
Hillston, North Carolina Police Chief, Cuddy Mangum has his hands full, and it looks like his beloved job is on the line. Just as he's being recognized, nationally, as an innovative crime fighter, and his department is ranked number one in small cities in the south, there appears to be a serial killer loose in Hillston, murdering and mutilating women. To make matters worse, this brazen killer seems to be taunting and challenging Cuddy and his best friend, Homicide Lieutenant, Justin Savile V, personally, leaving the two of them messages on the bodies, and clues in their offices, homes and cars. The entire police department is running in circles, and beginning to look both inept, and incapable of solving these crimes. As the body count rises, North Carolina politics come into play, and Cuddy and Justin are issued an ultimatum...solve these crimes, now, or turn in your resignations..... After ten years, Michael Malone is finally back with a new mystery starring his most memorable characters, Cuddy Mangum and Justin Savile V, from his critically acclaimed novels, Uncivil Seasons and Time's Witness. Unfortunately, First Lady is not nearly as good as the previous two books, and has some problems. Though the writing is crisp and eloquent, and the dialogue, wonderful, the plot is neither tight, suspenseful, nor all that compelling, and tends to ramble all over the place. Instead of being intriguing and intricate, the story line tends to be confusing and unbelievable and Mr Malone ties up the loose ends with a predictable and unsatisfying ending. That said, his characterizations are brilliant and unrivaled, and he brings Hillston and the New South to life with imagination, and great insight, wisdom and humor. If you're a Michael Malone fan, you probably won't want to miss the continuing saga of Mangum and Savile. For those new to this author, go back and read his much better previous works, and enjoy.

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great mystery
Michael Malone is a good writer. He has the ability to create diverse and complicated characters, and the intricate plot of 'First Lady' keeps the pages turning. He also has a brilliant insight into the modern South, at its best and worst.

In this particular story, detectives Justin Savile and Cuddy Magnum (the names are almost too good) race against the clock to find a serial killer who leaves clues that are so clever, they are even self-congradulatory. All the while, mega-pop star Mavis Mahar is causing riots in the town with her antics, seductions, and non-appearances. Note that the descriptions of violence and mutilation are very detailed and might be disturbing to some.

For me, the book falls only one star short of perfection because the story comes across as a little formulaic when compared with the other novels by Malone that I've read. In all of these books, a disenchanted but well-meaning white middle-aged guy falls for a glamorous beauty much younger and much less serious than he. I'm not offended, but I admit to a little boredom by now. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed First Lady and would recommend it to anyone looking for a well-written mystery.

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Finally
No, not finally did Malone write another book. Finally, I found another top notch, first rate mystery writer. They are few and hard to come by. Take everything good that has been said about this author and the Justin/Cuddy series and multiply it a few times. Start with the first book. Sadly, there are only three.