Mary Beth Essary's angelic writing has something for everyone. First, there's autobiography. In this section, Mary Beth succinctly recalls her adult life, which has been and continues to be filled with struggles, challenges, and triumphs. Her honesty is refreshing in this day of self-promotion and the same generation while her infusion of Christian theology is commendable in our society that has seemed to have lost its way. In this part, she describes her battle with lupus, one shared by thousands across the world. While not all battle lupus, all of us have faced illness. Her revelations will comfort readers. Second, she confronts selected social issues such as abortion and violence. This open discussion is greatly needed in our society, not just by politicians, but also from Christians who should be informed of contemporary events and social issues. Too often Christians disdain difficult social issues, sometimes in the comfort of a pew. We need frank discussion; Jesus did not ignore social issues. Should we?
The third and last part of the work is a combination of prose and poetry. Particularly meaningful to me was 'A Lost Child.' Mary Beth certainly connects with parents here. In light of terrorism from Afghanistan to Columbine, parents should heed her words: 'Can you see the children, watch the children, save the children?' and 'Evil is lying, lurking, laying, and awaiting to snatch a child just outside the house or along the child's path out in the world. God save the children, angels please beware, parents pay special attention, and pray the human race will care!'
Woven throughout the piece is some of her Christian theology. Christians who read this book will be uplifted and encouraged emotionally while being challenged intellectually. For example, in the 'No More Masks,' she confesses: 'I think that God wants me to be honest and open about my illness. He has not healed me and may never heal me. But, Jesus is there beside me in those lonely hospital rooms. I must constantly keep my relationship with God fresh daily.' God does not heal everyone from illnesses. Death surrounds us. Illness is a part of our physical life. But, Mary Beth has worked through this tragic illness to inspire. All Christians need to hear her words about keeping our relationship up-to-date'we have no promise of health or tomorrow. But, in Mary Beth's writing, 'Another promise is that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are fresh and new every morning, great is the Lord's faithfulness.' These are powerful words for uncertain times. Read this book if you are searching for truth, for honesty, and for wisdom. As you read, you, too, will feel the brush of angel's wings.

I was excited when I first picked up this book. I was looking forward to beginning a new (to me) lesbian detective series and I even made sure that I had the first book in the saga so I can follow the characters in chronological order. Despite my intentions once I started reading my smile soon disappeared and I regretted my choice.

This book is written entirely in the first person, which may be fine for others but it is too one-dimensional for me. There were sections of the dialogue that I had to reread several times in order to understand what's happening which I attribute to poor writing. The plot failed to engage my attention about halfway through the book and I found myself laboring painfully to the finish. As the plot became increasingly more mediocre I gave up with only a few chapters to spare and never looked back. Sure the ending is a mystery but I really don't have any interest in knowing what happens to the characters.

It appears that the genre of lesbian mysteries is often a hit or miss and I judge this to be a miss. Maybe others will disagree with me but I personally won't pick up the next book in this series. There are too many good mysteries out there I would rather read.

Out of print and driving me crazy, thank god this one came back. I was given the third book (She Came By the Book) years ago, and collected the rest. Finally, I get to read the begining about how Emma wound up a PI. This book is a wonderful kick off for the series, and while the second book was dissapointing, I was thrilled to have gotten my hands on the start of it all.

Emma's in Boston, where she runs into a bevy of bewhildering circumstances that make her dig for the truth. I could do without the drugs, but Mary Wings sets up the groundwork for a great character and a wonderful world.

Finally back in print, Wings's first mystery featuring the witty Emma Victor is a noir thriller certain to keep the new reader at attention. Emma is called to meet a stranger one night, and finds her dead in an alley. She begins following the clues and finds the murder connected to previous crimes around Boston, including the clinic where Emma's new girlfriend works.

I got the third book (She Came By The Book) as a gift in '98 and spent the next three years hunting down the rest. I finally got my hands on this one and, sadly, I'm dissapointed. Maybe it's becuase I know how things end up, but I was expected a set up book to lead me from 'She Came Too Late' neatly into 'She Came By The Book'. All I got were more questions and confusion. Not enough character development and too many plot holes. In the end, I had to tell myself there was a mysterious 'missing' book that would explain all my confusion away. Read as a part of the series, it'll only perplex you. Read as a single story, it's pertty good. The mystery holds togeather enough that I kept turning the pages, but I could have done without the (poorly explained) imprisonment.

Mary Wings does get better, and I'd suggest skipping this one and going straight to 'She Came By The Book'.

I don't even know why I bothered to finish this book. The author seems to believe that short, terse sentences infuse the main character (a real bore of a heroine) with some sort of Chandleresque pithiness. Alas, she just comes across as rather obtuse and annoyingly abrupt. I like the thought of a lesbian P.I., and you can't get a better setting than San Francisco, but this slight and slightly ridiculous mystery was a waste of my time.

Emma Victor, a lesbian PI living in San Francisco (where else?), finds herself investigating a mysterious homicide. She herself is attacked: does the death have anything to do with the sealed papers she is guarding? Papers from an assassinated supervisor which are so dis-y and dishy that his will forbids their being opened for 60 years? Except for the novelty of a lesbian PI -- which is not so novel any more -- there's not much to recommend this book. It's a dull read (no sex, little violence) with an implausible climax.