Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Helpful Score: 2
First Line: The man heaved himself out of the driver's seat of a Mercedes C350 sedan, holding on to the doorframe until his feet were settled on the asphalt.
Paige Sorenson is young, beautiful, and the widow of a rich, much older man. Her older stepchildren loathe her and want to prove that Paige forged their father's signature on the will that leaves everything to her-- including the Sorenson Academy for Girls.
Forensic handwriting expert Claudia Rose admits that this real-life episode of Jerry Springer intrigues her, and she winds up breaking one of her cardinal rules: do NOT get personally involved. But involved she becomes, to the tune of befriending Paige and one of the troubled students at the Academy. It doesn't take long for disaster to strike.
The latest book in this series (Last Writes) was published last month, so I knew I had to make an effort to get caught up. I like learning about handwriting analysis, and I certainly enjoy the feistiness of Claudia's character. Claudia knows how to say no (although she doesn't do enough of it in this book), and she knows how to stand up for herself.
Particularly enjoyable was a courtroom scene in which an attorney and Claudia expose the inflated credentials of a fellow handwriting "expert", and I really liked the interaction between Claudia and the troubled teenager throughout the book. Claudia even has romance in her life, although they're both workaholics who need to learn how to make time for each other.
Although there was a plot point or two that didn't surprise me, Claudia and her network of friends and associates create such a real world for me that I wasn't bothered by it. After all, there are more than a few things here in the real world that don't surprise me either. Sometimes it's all about surrounding oneself with the right characters.
I'm really looking forward to reading the next chapter in the life of Claudia Rose and her friends... and learning more about handwriting analysis!
Paige Sorenson is young, beautiful, and the widow of a rich, much older man. Her older stepchildren loathe her and want to prove that Paige forged their father's signature on the will that leaves everything to her-- including the Sorenson Academy for Girls.
Forensic handwriting expert Claudia Rose admits that this real-life episode of Jerry Springer intrigues her, and she winds up breaking one of her cardinal rules: do NOT get personally involved. But involved she becomes, to the tune of befriending Paige and one of the troubled students at the Academy. It doesn't take long for disaster to strike.
The latest book in this series (Last Writes) was published last month, so I knew I had to make an effort to get caught up. I like learning about handwriting analysis, and I certainly enjoy the feistiness of Claudia's character. Claudia knows how to say no (although she doesn't do enough of it in this book), and she knows how to stand up for herself.
Particularly enjoyable was a courtroom scene in which an attorney and Claudia expose the inflated credentials of a fellow handwriting "expert", and I really liked the interaction between Claudia and the troubled teenager throughout the book. Claudia even has romance in her life, although they're both workaholics who need to learn how to make time for each other.
Although there was a plot point or two that didn't surprise me, Claudia and her network of friends and associates create such a real world for me that I wasn't bothered by it. After all, there are more than a few things here in the real world that don't surprise me either. Sometimes it's all about surrounding oneself with the right characters.
I'm really looking forward to reading the next chapter in the life of Claudia Rose and her friends... and learning more about handwriting analysis!
Deborah H. (littlepine) -
Helpful Score: 2
An excellent well written book in the series about a forensic handwritting expert name Claudia Rose who sets out to prove that no matter what words it forms, a pen will always write the truth.... It was fast pace and grabbed my attention from the beginning and held it all the way through. I would highly recommended it.
