Bonnie Hearn Hill Off the Record

Off the Record

Bonnie Hearn Hill

Mira, Nov 2006, $6.99

ISBN 0778323579

The murder of Kathleen Fowler, Half Moon Blooms landscaping founder, should have been covered by San Francisco reporter Geri LaRue, but she snuck out early and missed the call. Instead columnist Doug Blanchard covered the story. Her editor Marie is upset with her, but not for running off with the reporter Steffen Kim for a Christmas drink though that was unprofessional; she is upset because Kathleen Fowler named Geri her sole beneficiary and she never said a word to her boss especially since the murder. Geri insists she never met or even heard the name Kathleen Fowler until Steffen read her Doug's article.

Marie gives Geri time to learn why a stranger changed her trust fund three weeks ago naming the journalist as the person inheriting a fortune. Geri, whose mother is missing, plans to do more than just learn why; she will seek out her mom and also investigate the homicide as she feels she owes it to Kathleen to uncover the identity of her killer. Though Marie insists Doug interview her, Geri refuses; instead she heads to Half Moon Bay seeking the truth, not realizing the animosity she will receive from family members and the danger she has placed herself in from a killer who will target her for murder.

The third journalistic investigation (see IF IT BLEEDS) returns Geri LaRue in the spotlight (star of the first novel, CUTLINE) as she inquires into why a total stranger left her a fortune and who murdered her. The fast-paced story line switches perspectives with Geri being the first person lead in most chapters, but others mostly Half Moon Bay locals at times providing a different perspective. On the record, Bonnie Hearn Hill makes it three for three with this strong character driven thriller.

Harriet Klausner