Death on Deadline
By: Diane Majeske
ISBN: 2940000821206
Published February 2, 2010
Available Format: ebook
My Rating: ★★★★☆
America Miles is a Midwestern small town newspaper journalist with not much to report aside from middle school and homeless shelter expansions. When her less-than-friendly editor suddenly dies of unnatural causes, everyone in the newspaper office becomes a suspect. America takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of this story, but what she doesn’t bargain for is the danger that comes along with her little investigation.
I received a copy of Death on Deadline for review.
Majeske deals with the mundane and murderous with a refreshing lightheartedness. The main character is ordinarily flawed yet funny, and that makes her so much more relatable. She’s a real human woman, with a normal job, normal friends, and a normal libido. Through her charming and witty narration, the reader cannot help but be drawn into her life and all the surrounding events.
America is very much someone I would want to be friends with, if I couldn’t be exactly like her. She is strong, clever, intelligent, entertaining, and resourceful—all characteristics that undoubtedly make her a great reporter. The cast of interesting and kooky supporting characters adds even greater dimension to an already charming story. I loved America’s little interpretations and quips about the people that she comes in contact with on a daily basis. I was also pleased that the “love triangle” wasn’t the entire focus of the plot. It is nice to read about something other than someone’s angsty love life for a change.
As I was reading, I was reminded quite a bit of the writing of Charlaine Harris (The Southern Vampire Series). America Miles is a lot like Sookie Stackhouse in her mannerisms and inner dialogue. Of course, Death on Deadline does not have any mainstreaming vampires or other supernatural beings, which is actually a nice departure sometimes, and it is rated more PG-13 than the definite R that Harris’ books carry. But the overall feel of the story, the amusing protagonist transporting the reader through the day-to-day of her crazy life, is very similar—and I truly enjoyed it!
I encourage everyone to grab a copy of Death on Deadline and check out the fun for yourselves!!
