Past Perfect - Softcover

Irwin, Ruth

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1418451142 ISBN 13: 9781418451141

Publisher: AuthorHouse, 2004

Synopsis

Henie pushing forty, never married, and wanting a fresh start, arrives at the door of Sylvia Blum. She rents the guest cottage from the widow and former socialite, a pleasant twist of fate for both. In spite of the age gap, they become close friends and confidants, though neither is given to discussing personal or unpleasant matters. Sam Bradley is a happily divorced man. The successful attorney and Henie find the greatest love in their September years when they have enough experience behind them to know the difference. They are meant for each other. Things begin to unravel when two unrelated events occur. First, Sam and his old friend, Brian Flarhety, are attacked outside of Brian's apartment by a raging schizophrenic. Second, the arrival of a rogue cop, Deputy Bentley Bowman, newly assigned to the beach community where Henie and Sylvia Blum reside. Bowman snoops around looking for a "mark." An innocent bit of gossip from a fellow cop who is about to retire, gets his full attention. The death of Sylvia Blum's husband was listed as accidental. This hard on the heels of another accident just down the road, a fatal shooting, within a year, stretches Bowman's idea of credibility. He decides blackmail is his path to early retirement. There is yet another accident, payoff, a trip to Mexico, and payback. To further complicate matters, a new will on which the ink is barely dry. Don't expect tidy and predictable. Nobody ever told you that life is like that. The characters are so natural, they leap from the pages. Their interaction and dialog will tug at your heart and expose the vulnerable side you keep carefully concealed.

About this title

Synopsis

Sam Bradley and his assistant, Mrs. Wooten, have become lovers. An attack on Sam and his long time friend, Brian Flarhety, by a rampaging schizophrenic and the events directly before and after have made the September of their lives the best time of their lives. Things begin to unravel with the arrival of a rogue cop, Deputy Bentley Bowman, recently assigned to the small beach community where Wooten rents the guest cottage behind the estate of Sylvia Blum. Sylvia is pleased to be a confidant to Wooten, living a new life vicariously, a welcome replacement for the quiet, desperate, isolation of her former existence. What better facade to conceal the true nature of Bowman than as an officer of the law? He hatches a plot to blackmail Sylvia when he discovers that Mr. Blum drowned in his swimming pool nearly twenty years ago. Sylvia elects to pay him off; not because she killed her husband, but because she doesn't want the past dredged up. The pay off is more than Bowman bargained for! He escapes with his life on the day of the money exchange, only after his dupe convinces him in a manner that leaves no doubt of the consequences of coming near her again.In the evening of the same day, Wooten finds her friend dead.

Her subsequent activities seem peculiar, add to that, the total disarray of the house, and Sylvia's sudden death becomes a police matter. The aura of suspicion becomes a dark cloud with the discovery of the new will that Sam, pledged to secrecy, drew up for Sylvia. Wooten is suspected of murder. Sam is her "shoulder", legal advisor, and loving support. Brian Flarhety is on backup and standby. They present a solid front; a triumvirate to be reckoned with. Deputy Bowman flees to Mexico. His abrupt departure from there is worth the price of the ticket. The supporting characters, Marva, Tony, Kim Kim, Dr. Carpenter, fill the pages with character, humor, and insight.

About the Author

Ms Irwin claims no special credits for writing fiction. Her keen interest in psychology and life long avocation, people watching, are the components which enable her. After years of crisscrossing the country, she is settled in California and has the precious time to write. She is a sports enthusiast, loves good music, good company and considers each new day a gift. "Past Perfect" is her first published work. It was written in five months time to fulfill a promise; and originally ran over six hundred pages. She is currently at work on two new projects in a different genre.

Edition details

• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1418451142
• ISBN 13: 9781418451141
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 392