Missing Mark - Julie Kramer

Title: Missing Mark

Author: Julie Kramer

Publisher: New York : Doubleday, c2009.

ISBN: 9780385524773
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 276
Quick Review: 4 stars (out of 5)

Why I Read It: After reading Stalking Susan I wanted to know how Riley was doing.

Where I Obtained the Book: Got it at my local library.

Synopsis: In this page-turning sequel to Stalking Susan, TV reporter Riley Spartz pursues a curious story of a bride left at the altar and finds herself caught in a dangerous missing-person case. When Riley Spartz sees a want ad reading "Wedding Dress for Sale: Never Worn," her news instincts tell her that the backstory might make an intriguing television sweeps piece. The groom, Mark, last seen at the rehearsal dinner, never showed up for the wedding, humiliating his bride, Madeline - and her high-strung, high-society mother - in front of 300 guests. His own mother, eager to spare him further embarrassment, waited weeks before filing a missing-person report and then learned how difficult it is to get police, or the media, interested in missing men. Now Riley is up against a boss who thinks that finding a famed missing fish will net the station higher ratings, a meth cartel trying to assassinate a K-9 dog because of his powerful nose for drugs, and a neighbor who holds perpetual garage sales that attract traffic at odd hours. When her missing-person case leads to a murder investigation, Riley discovers a startling motive for Mark's disappearance - and a TV exclusive guaranteed to win the ratings . . . if she lives to report it.

Review: I enjoyed this book, it furthered the story of the main character, Riley, and it opened a new mystery. The story caught me and the idea of face-blindness was fascinating. Riley gets into some hair raising ordeals while looking for Mark and writing a story for her investigative journalistic career. Minnesota’s the setting for her books and I love knowing I’ve been to many of the places she mentions. Kramer weaves a great tale and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Author Biography: Julie Kramer is a freelance news producer for NBC's Today show, Nightly News, and Dateline. Prior to that she was a national award-winning investigative producer for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis.

Julie grew up along the Minnesota-Iowa state line, fourth generation of a family who raised cattle and farmed corn for 130 years. Her favorite childhood days were spent waiting for the bookmobile to bring her another Phyllis A. Whitney novel. An avid reader, she tired of fictional TV reporters always being portrayed as obnoxious secondary characters who could be killed off whenever the plot started dragging. So her debut thriller,STALKING SUSAN, features a TV reporter as the heroine and takes readers inside the world of television news. She lives with her husband and sons in White Bear Lake, MN.

Other Reviews:
Mysterious Reviews
Powells