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Of Blood and Sorrow: A Tamara Hayle Mystery    by Valerie Wilson Wesley Amazon.com order for
Of Blood and Sorrow
by Valerie Wilson Wesley
Order:  USA  Can
Ballantine, 2008 (2008)
Hardcover, e-Book

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* * *   Reviewed by Lisa Respers France

Boy am I happy to see that Tamara Hayle is back. It'’s been three years since her last outing, Dying in the Dark, and hardcore fans such as myself have been anxiously awaiting the eighth installment of the popular series.

This latest outing finds Tamara's private investigator firm thriving and she has built a fairly steady client base. Things are looking even further up as she stands on the precipice of landing a lucrative contract with Treyman Barnes II, one of Newark's most powerful businessmen. She's in a good relationship and the light of her life, her son Jamal, is growing into a fine young man. But as Tamara observes 'When things stir that easy, there's always something lumpy at the bottom of the pot.'

The wrinkle that shows up in this case is Lilah Love - those in the know will remember her from the explosive Where Evil Sleeps. After their last encounter, Lilah left Tamara thirty thousand dollars 'plus a little extra for my troubles' in a Cayman Islands bank account and now Lilah's back for repayment of the debt. Tamara knows she is nothing but trouble and against her better judgment, the P.I. becomes entangled in finding Lilah's missing child. But when Lilah turns up dead and Jamal becomes the prime suspect, Tamara must call on all her strength and skill to save her only child and deal with some unexpected twists and turns.

Even though it's been a while, Tamara hasn't missed a step. Her mix of street smarts, down home mother wit and take no prisoners style is still engaging. Not to mention, where Tamara is, her sexy-ex Basil Dupre is sure to follow and for readers it's a good thing. Of Blood and Sorrow will have Tamara Hayle admirers praying they'll get to spend more time with her more often.

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