Now, twenty-five years and two husbands later, Louisa is in big trouble. Her second husband, Herb, is missing. Fifteen years Louisa’s senior, Herb now operates in a totally different sphere than his younger and more energetic wife. She is still the life of the party socialite while he would much rather be out on the water sailing his precious Carolina Girl. Their sex life isn’t so wonderful either, but they are coexisting. When Herb is discovered dead in the bay, his much younger wife is an obvious suspect. She had little use for him socially or emotionally, but she is passionately attached to the money he provides. His death benefits would go a long way toward fulfilling her desires.

Marty, as Louisa’s attorney, is obligated to represent her to the best of her ability regardless of her opinion of her guilt or innocence. Despite her aversion to the Southern girl who obviously still has Harry’s undivided attention and insists on calling Marty darlin’, she has a gut feeling that her client is innocent. The evidence that ties Louisa to the crime is circumstantial, and screams of being a setup. Harry and their young legal assistant, Kevin Cody, are so besotted by Louisa that they can provide no objectivity in the case. Marty is on her own to come up with the identity of the true murderer which seems the only way around the mounting pile of evidence pointing toward her client.

Though some readers may disagree, I feel Maximum Security is too folksy and colloquial to project the image of a substantial legal mystery. The phrase “Well, of course it (or she, he) is” is repeatedly used after an obvious revelation. The first time the author employs this device it is somewhat amusing, but after the sixth or seventh repetition , it is downright annoying. The author does not make much effort to explain or have her characters explain or carry out correct legal procedure making one wonder what sort of legal representation is available in that part of Massachusetts.

The puzzle of who killed Herb Rawlings is equivalent to a jigsaw puzzle constructed for a toddler. There are not many pieces to start with, and it is obvious how they fit together. The list of possible suspects is pitifully short, especially if the reader believes, as Marty does, that Louisa has been framed. The problem of how the crime was committed provides a little more fodder for contemplation but it does not take a gigantic leap of imagination to properly ascertain the specifics of these circumstances either. The why part of the equation is completely unsatisfying.

A few issues which come up during the story are never resolved and, because they are specific to this case, not likely to become the subject of later books. Herb’s alleged “suicide note” is presented as a potential problem because Louisa has found it but does not show it or disclose its contents to the police. (Remember Louisa herself is an attorney) The note is never discussed at the end of the story. Of what significance was this document? Why did Herb write it in the first place? Why is Louisa a suspect in the first place? She seems to have no trouble attracting any man. Surely she could divorce Herb and marry someone equally as wealthy who could meet her other needs as well. Remember Herb is her second husband.

The author’s use of the first person, present tense narrative style does not work well. Assuming Marty is relating the events as they are happening, she cannot be aware of anything yet to occur. She seems a bit too knowledgeable of future events than she should be. In addition, the author doesn't make the reader work very hard to figure things out for himself. There is too much tell and not enough show.

The final scenes of the book detail Marty’s confrontation with Herb’s killer. Though meant to elicit excitement, tension, and foreboding, I felt none of these emotions. It was altogether clear that Marty would triumph and the murderer would be subdued, providing a totally lackluster ending.

--Andy Plonka