I received "Render Up the Body" as a birthday gift and I just finish reading it over the Thanksgiving holiday. I enjoyed reading the book and the characters created by Marianne Wesson. I love to read books in this genre, and I found this to be a well-written book. I look forward to reading other books by this author. My nineteen year old son is presently reading this book and he is enjoying it also.

As a black woman who lives in Colorado (and is daughter of and wife to attorneys), I loved this book. It's a page turner which doesn't require that you disable your intellectual and critical functions while you read it. I also found it one of the few books by a white author which deals with black characters who are not sterotypes, and naturally and gracefully portrays how well-meaning and educated people of different races and backgrounds negotiate interracial friendships. I liked the book so much that I want to meet the author--also unusual for me, since most of the authors whom I would love to meet are long dead.

I found this book on a friend's bookshelf and hijacked it while looking for something new to read. I was THRILLED from the moment I began reading and kept right on going to the end. In fact, I was SO impressed that I e-mailed the author to congratulate her on a job well done - I've never done that before.

Cinda Hayes becomes a new character full of personality and connected to friends covering all spectrums of life. Ms. Wesson's ability to bring these people to life during the course of the book astounded me. When I closed this one, I began searching for her next novel which I read just as quickly.

Her third in the series is due out in February, 2002 and I will be sitting on GO when the bookstore opens. This author is someone who will be around for a long, long time.

Mariah contacted Boulder attorney Cinda Hayes via a radio call-in show. Mariah claims her father, Colorado senatorial candidate Harrison McKay, sexually molested her as a child. However, the waif-like woman also admits that her memories of her relationship with her now estranged father are vague and seemingly repressed.

Mariah resides with a neo-Nazi militia group that leaves chills running up and down Cinda's spine. Still, she begins to investigate Mariah's claim. As Cinda makes her inquiries, she finds herself beguiled and repulsed by the militia's "Judge" Pike Sayers. However, the case turns dangerous when someone, perhaps the enigmatic Pike, will kill to insure Mariah's memories remain fragmented and other evidence remains buried.

A SUGGESTION OF DEATH is an excellent legal thriller that will propel Marianne Wesson soaring to the top of the bestseller lists. The astute story line focuses on the legal questions dealing with repressed memories while still pumping out action. Cinda retains her witty, self-deprecating vigorousness. However, her commons sense needs to be questioned when ugly incidents that should have sent her to the police, drive her to dig deeper. Cinda's partner Tory Meadows continues to be a spirited caring individual and Pike adds a sinister freshness. With this tale and RENDER UP THE BABY, Ms. Wesson has quickly proven she is an impressive writer.

Harriet Klausner

"A Suggestion of Death" is a very well written legal thriller dealing with contemporary social issues, such as rightwing militias, common-law vs. governmental courts, farm foreclosures and the problems created, how anger at the government can be used consciously and turned into racist ideology and actions against people of color, against affirmative action, against integration of the cities, and against immigration into the U.S. It does deal well with contemporary social and political questions. Also, the legal points and arguments are well posed and certainly caused me to think about the issues posed. The book is well written, well flushed-out, logical and it flows well. The main characters are interestingly portrayed and are people I'd like to meet. Recommend this to readers who require well-written mysteries, and lovers of legal thrillers, who like to ponder all sides of an issue or situation. Bravo to Marianne Wesson for writing such a good book which I read this Labor Day weekend and wish the next one is out soon.

Mariah contacted Boulder attorney Cinda Hayes via a radio call-in show. Mariah claims her father, Colorado senatorial candidate Harrison McKay, sexually molested her as a child. However, the waif-like woman also admits that her memories of her relationship with her now estranged father are vague and seemingly repressed.

Mariah resides with a neo-Nazi militia group that leaves chills running up and down Cinda's spine. Still, she begins to investigate Mariah's claim. As Cinda makes her inquiries, she finds herself beguiled and repulsed by the militia's "Judge" Pike Sayers. However, the case turns dangerous when someone, perhaps the enigmatic Pike, will kill to insure Mariah's memories remain fragmented and other evidence remains buried.

A SUGGESTION OF DEATH is an excellent legal thriller that will propel Marianne Wesson soaring to the top of the bestseller lists. The astute story line focuses on the legal questions dealing with repressed memories while still pumping out action. Cinda retains her witty, self-deprecating vigorousness. However, her commons sense needs to be questioned when ugly incidents that should have sent her to the police, drive her to dig deeper. Cinda's partner Tory Meadows continues to be a spirited caring individual and Pike adds a sinister freshness. With this tale and RENDER UP THE BABY, Ms. Wesson has quickly proven she is an impressive writer.

Harriet Klausner