Review: Double Indemnity by Maggie Kavanagh

Author: Maggie Kavanaugh

Pages/Word Count: 214 Pages

At a Glance: I really enjoyed Double Indemnity and wouldn’t mind reading more from Maggie Kavanagh.

Reviewed By: Kim

Blurb: Sam Flynn dreamed of being a journalist until a car accident killed his parents and put his brother into a long-term coma. Now Sam spends his days as a landscaper toiling in the New England sun and his nights drunk in bed with the closest warm body. In his limited spare time, he writes about Stonebridge’s local crime and politics on his blog “Under the Bridge.”

Then Sam’s favorite client is found dead in her home—shortly after telling him someone has betrayed her trust. Sam can’t believe her grief-stricken husband Nathan would be a suspect, but the investigation hones in on him. Sam has always admired handsome Nathan from afar, but now he puts his libidinous feelings aside to help clear his name. However, the closer he gets to Nathan, the more he’s told to keep away from him and the investigation—by the fatherly police chief, by an officer on the case who’s hated him since school, and by Nathan himself.

Sam’s determined to expose the real reason his friend died and clear Nathan’s name—even if it’s the last thing he does. Which, considering how fast the death toll is increasing in Stonebridge… it might be.

Review: Maggie Kavanagh is a first timer for me and to be honest, I’ve been a little reluctant to try new authors lately. God, I’m glad I overcame that reluctance!

Double Indemnity grabbed me from the first page, and I didn’t let go of the story even when I finished the last page—I love a good mystery that keeps me guessing until all is about to be revealed. I did have my suspicions but was still surprised at the ending, and I rather enjoyed all the twists and turns Double Indemnity had to offer. This book is well written, and I didn’t get lost or feel confused as to what was happening throughout the story, especially when the body count started to rise.

Sam was someone I had to warm-up to; he’s a smart guy but really too young to handle the problems he was having, and I saw that he used his drinking to escape from them for awhile. Not to mention his sleeping with anything that moved while intoxicated. Very risky behavior that.

As for Nathan, that man had a heck of a lot of secrets he was keeping. It was like peeling an onion as I got to know him, but I really enjoyed Sam’s and Nathan’s interactions as the mystery deepened. Nothing was rushed between these two.

All in all, I really enjoyed Double Indemnity and wouldn’t mind reading more from Maggie Kavanagh. Ms. Kavanagh, I really would like a sequel starring Tim. You can’t just leave him like that…can you?