Aaron Paul Lazar Reviews

Page One

Added July 18, 2005

Upstaged

A Gus LeGarde Mystery

Author: Aaron Paul Lazar
Publisher: Publish America
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: Late August 2005
Genre: Mystery
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $21.95
ISBN: 1-4137-7258-7
Author Email/Website: www.legardemysteries.com
Reviewer: Joyce Hanzo
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

Upstaged is outstanding! Gus LeGarde is back to solve a drama-filled mystery with an intriguing cast of characters. When Gus agrees to help his fiancée, Camille, with the production of a high school play, someone on the set seeks to bring the curtain down with a crash. A series of accidents escalates to murderous proportions and leaves everyone with more than a bad case of stage fright.

Readers will be thrilled to return to the world of Gus LeGarde in this second book of the series! The mystery was well thought out and the spotlight of suspicion hovered over several of the characters, which kept the interest level high. The author masterfully describes the settings, which allowed the story to unfold with many realistic details. All of the characters were drawn with a purpose and each had a vital role in the novel.

Most interesting was the story within the story. The script and the music in the play provided an appropriate backdrop for the continuing action of the mystery. The scenes in the school auditorium offered readers a chance to observe the characters and look for clues.

There is a gentleness and charm within these pages. The author has a true talent for creating characters that touch the reader's heart. The descriptions of everything from flowers to a family dinner are filled with a genuine appreciation of life. This makes a remarkable contrast to the murderous desires of the saboteur, but also makes for an ending that leaves readers perfectly satisfied.

Upstaged left this reviewer applauding!

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Added June 2, 2005

Double Forté

A Gus LeGarde Mystery

Author: Aaron Paul Lazar
Publisher: Publish America
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: November 2004
Genre: Mystery
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $18.95
ISBN: 1-4137-2838-3
Author Email/Website: www.legardemysteries.com
Reviewer: Joyce Hanzo
Rating: 8 Gargoyles

Double Forté is a symphony for the senses! This clever mystery involves the entire reader, as vibrant descriptions blend with appropriate dialogue and action-filled scenes.

Gus LeGarde could be anyone's next-door neighbor, and readers will instantly connect with this character. When he finds out about a child who may have been kidnapped, his grandfatherly concern steps in with a plan of action. Although he was able to rescue the child, the kidnapper escaped, which leaves a cloud of uncertainty over Gus and his own family. Will they become targets for the kidnapper's revenge?

This book takes readers from breathless chase scenes to the sighs of quiet romantic moments. First and foremost, Gus is a family man. A widower, he lives with his married daughter and her young son. These pages take an intimate and endearing look into their home, allowing readers to see inside the heart of Gus. He has a deep appreciation and talent for music, which enters into the story and provides a subtle beauty. The author's descriptive details of upstate New York, as well as some special family dinners, will give readers a feast for the mind.

This reviewer also appreciated the gentle love and care the animals received. The opening pages involve a touching rescue of a golden retriever, who had been caught in an iron-jawed trap. These first few moments of the story set the mood for the determined helpfulness of the main characters.

Double Forté gets a well-deserved "Bravo!" from this reviewer.

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