Dead Man’s Watch by Kay DiBianca is what I’m blogging about on this week’s What I’m Reading post. I really enjoyed this story. First, the photo and verse. I don’t know how many times I’ve read Psalm 18. For some reason, when I read it again this week, these verses stood out for me. I immediately thought of the photo.
Now onto Kay DiBianca’s Dead Man’s Watch!
SAVING ONE LIFE IS LIKE SAVING THE WHOLE WORLD
Half-sisters Kathryn Frasier and Cece Goldman stumble into another mystery in this second book in the Watch series. When a former acquaintance of Kathryn’s is accused of murder, they go on a mission to prove his innocence by finding the real killer. But things are never what they seem in this tangled web. Kathryn’s spunky determination to solve the mystery pushes her closer and closer to a deadly climax.
Join the adventure as these two young women commit themselves to live up to the quote from the Jerusalem Talmud: “Whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world.”
My take on Dead Man’s Watch:
Dead Man’s Watch takes up where The Watch on Fencepost leaves off with half-sisters Kate and Cece spending time together and getting to know one another. And finding a body.
When the police focus on a friend of Kate’s as the murderer, a person she owes a great personal debt to, she feels she must clear his name. And this gets her into trouble as she follows the twists and turns of the mystery and she drags Cece right along with her.
Philip is back and I suspect he isn’t far from proposing, which is nice. Dead Man’s Watch brings in Ben Mullins who is very much attracted to Cece. It’s a case of opposites attracting–Cece is very much an indoor type whereas Ben with his ranch and horses and cowboy boots and hat is very outdoorsy. Whether he can overcome Cece’s reluctance to commitment remains to be seen. Regardless, the romance doesn’t get in the way of the mystery.
Kate is very good at figuring out the twisty puzzle of the murder, and Cece’s ability to disguise herself comes in handy when Kate promises to steer clear of the murder investigation. There are plenty of suspects with motive, means, and opportunity, and the story had me staying up late turning pages to the end!
The ending is surprising and satisfying. Mystery lovers will really enjoy Dead Man’s Watch. You don’t have to read The Watch on the Fencepost before reading Dead Man’s Watch as this is a stand-alone.
You can purchase Dead Man’s Watch on Amazon today for 99¢!
Both books in the Watch series deals with romance and murder and unsavory characters without resorting to foul or coarse language. Do you think authors can effectively portray the gritty underbelly of crime without using foul language? Leave a comment with your answer, and I’ll enter you in a February drawing for a book from my library!
January’s winner is Pearl!
Check out Dead Man's Watch by Kay DiBianca on my blog today and leave a comment. You might win a book from my library! Share on X
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Comments 46
I’ve never heard of this series. Thanks for introducing me to it and at 99 cents it’s a steal.
Author
It is definitely a steal, Terri! I really enjoyed the story! So glad you stopped by.
Pat, I’m so glad you introduced me to Kay’s work. I’ve read both books in this series, and loved them. Kay has a writing style that pulls you in, and you just can’t stop reading. I wrote a short review of it on the Barnes & Noble web site as train_guy a few months ago.
Love your photo and Scripture choice. That’s a Psalm I’m not that familiar with. I need to go back and read it again.
I started reading “Obsession” yesterday, and I can see I’m not going to get much sleep until I’ve completed it. You do get things off with a bang (or two, or three)!
Author
😀 I sure hate you’re missing sleep. Glad you like the photo and scripture verse! I love Psalm 18…well, I love all the psalms. lol. Yes, Kay’s books are great. Glad you enjoy them.
Must be getting old. I completely forgot to answer the question you posed :-).
Unfortunately, it’s not just criminals and unsavory characters who use foul language these days. Throughout all of my career (software engineering), hardly anyone used foul language in the work place. I still consider it a sign of a limited vocabulary, and I cringe when it’s used. I do think authors can write crime books and avoid having their characters use that language. Seeing it in print, or hearing it in other media, only serves to legitimize it. We hardly need that in our lives.
Author
I agree, Tim. Bad language is everywhere now.
I sure hope so! There are so many words in the English language, surely one would manage to explain what’s happening without having to use unsavory language! We all hear the language people use nowadays, but we really don’t want to have to read it in our books. I’ve read plenty of books where an antagonist uses expletives, but we’re not told exactly what is said. I’ve never felt like that stopped me understanding the story and it’s undercurrents and emotions in any way.
Yes, this is a bit of a big deal to me. I choose not to read books that have loads of coarse language, and same goes for movies. Philippians 4:8 talks about “Whatsoever is… pure… think on these things.” Obviously there’s a lot more in the verse, but yeah, that kinda makes my point, I think!
Author
Monique, I so agree. If I’m not familiar with an author, I’ll read the first couple of pages and if even one coarse word shows up, I don’t buy the book. I may not can always choose what I hear, but I can choose what I read! Thanks for stopping by!
I don’t think that foul language or too graphic scenes help any book. I won’t read any book that contains these.
Author
I won’t either, Mary. I think a writer can get their point across without it! Thanks for stopping by.
That is a book I now want to read and I totally love the photo and verse!
Author
Good, Delores! And I love the verse, too. Always good to see you here.
I read The Watch on the Fencepost quite some time ago. This one sounds interesting, although I may have to reread the first one before I read this. 🙂 Love the picture and the verse!
Author
Hi Betti. I know what you mean. If it’s been a while, I like to read the first book in a series before I read the 2nd one. 🙂 Although Dead Man’s Watch is a stand-alone. 🙂 Good to ‘see’ you here.
Patricia,
Thanks for the kind review of Dead Man’s Watch. I’m glad you liked it!
You ask a great question about coarse language in novels, and I was delighted to see the comments from you and your readers. Btw, both books will be on sale for at least one more week at 99 cents each.
I have your Shadows of the Past at the top of my TBR stack (after a couple of book club novels I have a commitment to read), and I’m looking forward to it!
Beautiful picture and verse. The book of Psalms is a gift to the soul.
thanks again!
Author
Hi Kay. I love to review books I wished I’d written. 🙂 Will there be a third Watch book? I hope you enjoy Shadows of the Past. It came out exactly 7 years ago this week. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Working on the third book now. (Actually, “wrestling with the third book” may be a better way to put it.)
Author
Oh, how well I know that struggle, Kay! Looking forward to the third book!
I don’t think foul language is necessary because there are better ways to get a point across without resorting to that. We have enough of that in this world today!
Thank you for the introduction of Kay DiBianca, she would be new to me and at a bargain price to boot. Her writing sounds intriguing!
I always enjoy your photos and a Psalm is always good to hear.
Author
Thanks, Perrianne. Be sure to pick up the first book at the bargain price of 99¢! And thanks for stopping by!
I read for entertainment and escape and prefer to not have bad language in a book. I have both of Kay’s books on my Kindle to read. The verse and picture work well together. Thanks.
Author
Thanks, Gloria, about the verse and photo! And I so agree that I don’t want that kind of language in a book I read!
Did you take the picture? It’s a great shot, regardless of who took it. The verse reminds me of the old hymn, “He Brought Me Out.”
I have read enough excellent books without foul language that I see no place for it in books. Any author who stoops to using foul language to supposedly make the story more realistic, hoping it will sell more books, is sadly deluded and only playing into the hands of the enemy. Some have mentioned foul language in the work place. I have worked with people who had filthy mouths but thankfully that was only the case for a small part of my career. Throughout most of my career, there were people who used curse words carelessly. Others would always preface certain words with: “Pardon my French.” What is the origin of that expression? The words they used were NOT French. I think as I got older, I may have told a person or two who used that expression that they needed to take it up with God, not me.
Author
I did take the photo, Edward. Love your answer to those who cursed and then apologized! And after you mentioned it, I had to look up the expression “Pardon my French.” Turns out it dates back to 1895 and no one really knows why it became a phrase and why it’s not “Pardon my German or Pardon my Spanish. ;–)
Hi, this book sounds very intriguing ! And yes, I think a writer can get away without having to use bad language, I wouldn’t think it would be too hard. We hear enough of it on TV and everywhere else. Have a Great weekend and stay safe . God Bless you and your family.
Author
That’s the truth, Alicia regarding hearing enough of it on TV! Well, I really don’t because I don’t watch much TV…in fact that may be a blog post one day.lol Been thinking about turning off my cable…except I’d miss Jeopardy and Antiques Road Show. 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
Yes, I think they can. This is a new author for me and I am interested in reading Dead Man’s Watch. I loved your review!
Author
Thanks, Mj! And thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting!
I think they can because in my opinion foul language is almost just filler. It depends on who the characters are and if that’s something they would say in real life. We can’t expect all non- Christians to not swear after all.
Author
That’s a good point, Megan. One I often forget. Thanks for stopping by and joining the conversation. 🙂
I think the author can if they are a christian. love the picture and verse.
Author
Thanks, Shelia! And it’s always good to ‘see’ you here.
There are plenty of words to use to show evil without foul language!
Author
Amen, Joan! Thanks so much for stopping by.
Thank you for sharing this new series to me.
Author
You are very welcome, Lucy! Always good to ‘see’ you here!
Love the scripture and photo! Kay DiBianca is a new author for me. Thank you for the recommendation.
Author
I think you’ll enjoy her books, Caryl! Thanks for always stopping by.
Beautiful photo. It sounds like a really interesting book. Yes, I think authors can write without using foul language. Thank you for sharing.
Author
I agree, Diana! And I’m glad you liked the photo. Dead Man’s Watch is really interesting! Thanks for stopping by.
I believe the storyline can be told without foul language. Most times, to me me it seems to be there to take up space. This sounds like a very interesting read.
Author
I think so, too, Lisa. I’ve never read a book where foul language made the story better! So glad you stopped by!
I absolutely think an author can effectively portray the gritty underbelly of crime without the use of foul language because I’ve read stories like this. Since I read Christian fiction, I never have to worry about bad words. I have several suspense authors I follow that write gritty, real life crime stories & I’ve enjoyed every one of them.
Author
I agree with you, Trixi, and everyone else who chimed in on the question. It takes more work to portray evil thoughts and words through action instead of one word. Curse words seem to be a lazy way out. Thanks so mu h for stopping by–always good to ‘see’ you here.
I think a good writer can write a great story without questionable language and actions by the characters, even if it is portraying an evil person. Good writing is good writing. Not sensationalism.
Good book review! I don’t think it’s necessary for thriller or suspense authors to use foul language. In fact, a bunch of four-letter words on the page distract me as I read (and I’m not a prude, honest). I’ve DNF’d books exactly for that reason. If a rotten character does cuss, it can be an author’s tool to drop the cuss word at strategic plot points, like one or two whole cuss words in the whole book, not one or two per page!