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I am a retired professor of English, who specialized in teaching Shakespeare at Murray State University. (I still write reviews for THE SHAKESPEARE NEWSLETTER.) Upon retiring, I devoted myself to writing. I' written nonfiction books, one on Eliot Ness, one on Shakespeare. But my greatest love is writing novels. I have an unruly muse and confine myself to no one genre, My books generally fall into such categories as southern gothic, science fiction , humorous fantasy, horror, satire. I never thought I'd write a detective novel; the plot by definition had to be complicated. But since two of my novels THE MADONNA OF SHADOWS AND DARKNESS and THE PLAYER GODS use the hard-boiled format in supernatural and eerie genres, I former colleague and current galley reader, Helen Roulston challenged me to write a detective novel. Certian ideas began emerging in my mind; I playe around with them, NO MARRIAGES IN HEAVEN popped into my mind. I hope you enjoy it.
Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Readers' Favorite
Forty-eight-year-old Earl Hollo, a private investigator in Louisville, KY, had never recovered from a death that occurred five years earlier. The victim was his fiancée Maggie Middleton, and the death was determined to be an accidental shooting by a deer hunter. Earl’s mother, with whom he lived, frequently encouraged him to move on with his life. Maggie’s twin brother, Howie, the owner of a local cemetery, contacted Earl and asked him to come in later that day. Howie had received a mysterious letter so he hired Earl to follow the directions in the letter and solve the mystery of Maggie’s death. In No Marriages in Heaven by Kenneth Tucker, an intriguing story unfolds.
The story involves many compelling characters. Earl, a self-described gumshoe who’s usually hired to follow an unfaithful spouse, is a complex man. His recitation of literature and poetry expressed the depth of his emotions. The relationship with his mother and his wrestling with the complicated aspects of his and Maggie’s relationship lend depth to his personality. Likewise, the true nature of Howie, the unknown reasons for Dr. Feltham’s choices, the wily Velma, and other characters are carefully delineated throughout the plot. These introspective meanderings are well-balanced with action scenes such as organized crime threats and shootings. The book is fast-paced and engages the reader from the first page to the last. There are many twists and turns, with the whodunit reserved for the ending. Author Kenneth Tucker has crafted a gripping mystery in No Marriage in Heaven – a riveting read!
