REVIEWED BY BARRY GARDNER:


JAN BURKE – Sweet Dreams, Irene. Simon & Schuster, hardcover, March 1994. Reprint paperbacks: Avon, February 1995; Pocket, September 2002. Irene Kelly #2.

JAN BURKE Irene Kelly

   I thought Burke’s first novel, Good Night, Irene, was one of the better new voices this year, and Irene Kelly one of the better characters. The sophomore jinx seems to be a common thing with mystery novelists, though, so I kept my expectations under control.

   Things are going good and bad for intrepid reporter Irene Kelly. Good is her romance with the cop from the first book, and bad is that her paper has taken her off the police beat because of the relationship.

   She’s handling a race for DA as the book opens, and the son of one of the candidates comes to her for help. His father’s opponent is going to relase a picture that shows the kid as part of a Satanic cult; except it’s not, it’s a witches’ coven, and he’s not really part of it.

   Irene begins to dig around, but before she gets very far, the rich, elderly neighbor of her lover is murdered, with signs pointing toward satanic worship. The murdered woman sponsored a homeless shelter where some of the “witches” lived. Could there be a connection? Could, yes.

   I still like Burke’s writing. She has an easy, unforced style, and paces her story very well. As with her first book, the characters major and minor are clearly drawn and believable. The plot is complex, and in the end, I’m afraid it wasn’t very convincing. A villain was dragged in out of left field, or maybe from a neighboring ballpark.

   Burke did well telling the story of Irene and her lover, but despite a lot of bloody action the criminal plot just didn’t hang together for me. Good taste, but not enough calories.

— Reprinted from Ah, Sweet Mysteries #10, November 1993.


      The Irene Kelly Mysteries:

* Goodnight, Irene (1993)

JAN BURKE Irene Kelly

* Sweet Dreams, Irene (1994)
* Dear Irene (1995)
* Remember Me, Irene (1996)
* Hocus (1997)

JAN BURKE Irene Kelly

* Liar (1998)
* Bones (1999)    [Edgar winner, Best Novel]

JAN BURKE Irene Kelly

* Flight (2001) (from the POV of Frank Harriman)
* Bloodlines (2005)

JAN BURKE Irene Kelly

* Kidnapped (2006)

      Award Nominations —

Agatha Award Best Novel nominee (1997) : Hocus
Agatha Award Best Novel nominee (1998) : Liar
Macavity Awards Best Novel nominee (1998) : Hocus
Anthony Awards Best Novel nominee (2000) : Bones
Anthony Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Flight
Macavity Awards Best Novel nominee (2003) : Nine
Anthony Awards Best Novel nominee (2006) : Bloodlines
Anthony Awards Best Novel nominee (2007) : Kidnapped