The Step Between opens with Carole Ann and Jake accepting a case from the
city's richest man to find his missing daughter. After taking that case
things go awry for GGI. A routine surveillance job uncovers three corpses and
Jake's wife is kidnapped. Carole Ann and Jake are caught in a web of deceit,
lies, and murder and the only way out is through discovering the cause of the
problems.

The Step Between is action packed and will leave readers searching for the
rest of the Carole Ann Gibson mysteries.

Reviewed by Diane Marbury (HonestD)
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

DC wealthiest person, Richard Islington hires GGI to find his missing daughter, though every indication leads to the conclusion she voluntarily left on her own. At the same time, On Shore Manufacturing asks the team to make discreet inquiries into the company trying to take them over. On the surface, the two cases seem miles apart, but soon they merge in a way that leaves GGI under siege and its operatives in danger.

The first two Carole Ann Gibson mystery novels were enjoyable, well-written stories. However, the third entry, THE STEP BETWEEN, is such a superbly plotted tale, it makes its excellent predecessors seem pale by comparison. Penny Micklebury creates likable characters that will garner audience empathy and attention. The author fully develops the two prime subplots before merging them into a fabulous story line that seems to stay one step ahead of the reader. Ms. Micklebury is an artist who leaves her audience copiously satisfied yet salivating for more.

Harriet Klausner

However, once you got past the introductions, it picked up the pace with lightning speed. There was a lot of information about Louisiana culture, one that I hadn't realized was so different from the rest of the US.

An interesting read about a woman determined to find out who killed her husband, I endorse this book to anyone willing to trudge through the first few chapters.

Carole Ann Gibson is here to stay.

Candace...

"Where to Choose" could have been as good as "One Must Wait", but all of the kinks were not worked out. Nevertheless, I think that the characters in this series are so appealing and have so much potential that, as a result of my enjoyment of the first book, "One Must Wait", I look forward to reading the third installment of this series.

Two Americans (a Black and a Mexican) share a dream that they make happen when they build Southern California's Jacaranda Estates. The duo firmly believes that Blacks and Mexicans could not only harmoniously live together but that the sharing and understanding of the diversity of the two cultures will lead to a warm and lasting friendship. For the next five decades, twenty-five Black and twenty-five Mexican families share the beautiful dream.

However, even Eden had a serpent enter. Jacaranda Estates is no exception to the reptile invasion as a gang takes over the playground, turning it into their headquarters. They terrorize the entire community. A resident Grayce Gibson asks her daughter to learn why the police are ignoring their plight?

A widow for over a year, Carole Ann is excited to leave Washington DC after successfully uncovering her spouse's killers. Almost from the moment she arrives at her mother's home, Carole Ann begins to investigate the situation, concluding that law enforcement officials are either ignoring or condoning the gang's cowering of the community. Even though she places herself in danger several times, Carole searches for the truth.

The second Carole Ann Gibson mystery is a better tale than its wonderful predecessor was. Carole Ann is a genuine character, who is comfortable being a Black woman even as she is well aware of racism and sexism. She is a role model of female empowerment, not fearing to fight injustice no matter the personal cost or danger. The execution of the who-done-it is brilliant and the portrayal of race relations between Mexican-Americans and African-Americans is stunningly informative. Penny Micklebury is a talent worth reading by fans interested in a wonderful female amateur sleuth, starring in a fabulous series.

Harriet Klausner

Their latest customer is the Caribbean nation Isle de Paix, who recently had a bloodless coup that replaced its Communist leader with an individual friendly to the West. The island country wants to become a tourist haven to build up its fledgling economy and top rate security is a must. Upon first glimpse, Carol Ann thinks she entered Eden, but though feeling idyllic, she sets out to enforce security and insures roads are built so that an infrastructure can begin to form.

However even paradise can be interrupted when snakes are about, especially since the road will destroy the lucrative cash crop marijuana. Soon a man keeps popping up who may be a dangerous felon or part of the DEA. Pirates seem to sail freely on all sides of the island, leaving Carol Ann to wonder what is going on and the determination to learn who is interfering with paradise.

The fantastic heroine is a believable person who wants to make the world a better place. Her partner is a hunk and the support cast (on the isle and in the courtroom) helps readers understand what drives Carol. The dynamic story line relegates race to a minor bar of local politics even as the reader obtains a different taste then normally seen of an island paradise. As usual, Penny Mickelbury escorts her audience on a tour of Paradise with this superbly written mystery.

Harriet Klausner