Review of Derrick of Death

[Kibet Hillary]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Derrick of Death" by Malvina Lerma.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Karen Wells is a captivating but discontented woman, determined to never experience rejection like her mother, who suffered when her father abandoned their family. To fill the void left by her husband, Frank Wells, she embarks on her own adventures, but do they truly satisfy her yearning? Unbeknownst to her, this night will hold unexpected events.

On the other hand, Charlize, popularly known as Charlie, receives a call from Triple Play offering her a job; she is delighted, as she is out of work. Yet, she is soon forced into the role of a detective when lifeless bodies start turning up around the well she's working on. Will the killer be apprehended? What will happen to the well? And will they strike oil?

Derrick of Death: An Oilfield Cozy Mystery (Oilfield Mysteries Book 1) by Malvina Lerma is an absolute page-turner that had me hooked right from the prologue. Malvina's literary prowess is exceptional; she skillfully balances every element in the book. Unlike most novels that tend to bore one with irrelevant details, every aspect of this book serves to either reveal the characters and their motivations or advance the investigations. Furthermore, Charlie is a fully developed character, and the others are equally well-crafted. However, one standout feature of Derrick of Death is that, even with all the revelations, the eventual disclosure of the killer managed to surprise me — I couldn't have guessed it.

Derrick of Death: An Oilfield Cozy Mystery is a must-read for fans of crime and mystery. It immerses readers not only in the lives of the characters but also involves them in the investigation, prompting them to guess the identity of the killer based on the available evidence. From passively following the humdrum of a drilling site to witnessing it transform into a crime scene and being an active participant in the investigation, every reader will discover something to admire in this book. Due to the minor errors I encountered while reading, I rate it four out of five stars.

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Derrick of Death
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[NetMassimo]

A well-constructed murder mystery in an unusual setting such an oil rig with a woman as a manger seems interesting. Thank you for your great review!

[Stephen Christopher 1]

I just finished reading this, and like you, I was blindsided by the reveal of who the killer was. I really enjoyed this book, and yes, I found it a page-turner, too. I'm waiting for the next one in the series, let's hope the writer does a better proofread of book 2.