RESOLUTE DEATH – REVIEWS
“A little like Fargo meets The Name of the Rose, and yet entirely unlike both of those. It’s a murder mystery, but it’s also about the extremely petty politics that thrive in academia. It’s a whole vibe.”
~ E.H. Lupton (Author of the Wisconsin Gothic series)
“Compelling and nuanced academic mystery with a superb cast of characters. A brilliant debut.”
~ Ali Bacon (author of In the Blink of an Eye and The Absent Heart)
“The morning after the Founders Day parade – cue a chorus of Dancing Queen – a colourful music professor is found dead in the carillon tower (love that word: carillon). What follows blends gothic flourishes, strands of darkness, and flashes of deadpan humour, and mixes in a dash of Midwestern Noir….an ensemble cast of curious characters come vividly to life in a tightly plotted tale, with moments of pathos as well as twists and surprises – though the gossip and intrigue of university politics will come as no surprise to readers familiar with such settings! But the particular forms here will amuse and entertain.”
~Andrew Wille (of the Andrew Wille Writing Studio)
“While the mystery is carefully plotted and propelled me through the book, the extensive background work Jablonski has put into character creation is unmissable. It’s what truly makes this book a novel.“
~ Goodreads review excerpt
“A particular highlight is poetry composed by Jablonski in the voice of Osley’s ‘poet laureate,’ James North. It’s absolutely believable as modern literary work, and beautifully done.”
~ Goodreads review excerpt
“I was struck repeatedly by the care the author used in making choices. Characters are deeply considered and researched—nothing feels haphazard or convenient. You can sense that the author has lived and breathed these characters for years, and their appearance on the page was more summoning than invention.”
~ Barnes & Noble reader review
“…a warm and thoughtful read, not warm in a ‘cozy mystery’ sense, but warm in that the characters, with few exceptions, truly care for each other.”
~ A reader’s review
“The writing in Resolute Death is fantastic, letting readers come to know the characters well. I love it!”
~ An ARC reader