Turn Key Condition by M.L. Ortega

[kio]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Turn Key Condition" by M.L. Ortega.]

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Murder, mayhem, scams, and model homes are just a few problems Maggie is dealing with in M.L. Ortega’s Turn Key Condition.

Maggie, a divorcee with three sons, has trouble making ends meet. In addition to her job working in a school, she also helps her friend, Jane clean model homes as well as stage them. She also moonlights as a professional dumpster diver.
One day, while helping Jane clean a model home, Maggie discovers a murdered body with a donut lock around its private parts. Too convenient for coincidence, her ex-husband rolls into town and things start to get dicey. With the help of an unscrupulous realtor, her ex is trying to sell the house Maggie got in the divorce settlement. Not long after, the murderer starts targeting her sons.

With the help of a hottie patrol officer named Rocha, Maggie and her friend, Jane begin looking for clues. As the clues unfold, the dead man’s shady life and what’s been going on behind closed doors is starting to make Maggie uncomfortable. With time running out and a murderer to stop, can Maggie and her friends piece the clues together in time to save her sons, herself, and the house? Could her ex be the murderer?

A witty mystery with a bit of romance, readers will easily relate to Maggie and her single parent plight. Although some of the motives are a little thing, the characters’ personalities are well-developed and engaging. The dynamic between characters adds a lot of humor to an otherwise suspense novel.

The chapters are short and leave the reader in enough of a hook at the end of each one in order to keep them wanting to read. Although the guy gets murdered in the first chapter, the plot is really slow to start. Once it starts, it’s impossible to put down. Dropping clue throughout the book, the reader starts to see who the murderer is well before the main character, but is easily drawn into Maggie’s world and plight with her sense of humor.

The mixture of mystery, humor, and suspense was my favorite part of this story. The author masterfully combines all the different elements while still keeping the mood of the story going strong. I also found how Maggie solves the mystery (stumbling upon clues) a little more believable as well. Although I would have loved to see a little more of the romance, I was grateful that the romance didn’t overpower the mystery as in the cases of some stories.

Overall, I’d give it 3 out of 4 stars. Although there were a few problems with the plot and characters, I had a hard time putting this book down. Readers who like mystery with a little bit of romance will enjoy reading this book.

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[Kappy]

Good review. Short chapters go a long way in improving a novel's readability. Mystery + humor + suspense is certainly a winning combination. This sounds like a promising author.

[kio]

thanks, I hope Kappy you get a chance to read it.