MURDER AND MYSTERY IN LA JOLLA

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NAKED ADDICTION – CAITLIN ROTHER (Wildblue Press, Evergreen, Colorado, 2014, 415 pages).

Book Review by Jacqueline Carr

January 27, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - The story takes place in the wealthy La Jolla California area.  It’s a story that holds your interest from start to finish.  Ms Rother is a superb story teller who writes fluidly, and vividly.  She has a canny way of introducing her characters into the story line so one gets a vivid description of the person. The use of imagery helps the reader relate to the role each character plays in the story.

This story is riveting; there is never a dull moment whilst reading this novel.  It’s a case of who done it – who murdered three people from the same area, who were all friends with one another and the murders all happening within a space of less than a week? The novel is a page turner, you don’t want to put it down for a minute, you want to keep reading to solve the murder mysteries, and when you think you know for sure who done it …. then here comes another twist.

Naked Addiction tells a story about sex, drugs, addiction, wealth, mental illness, and to a lesser extent dysfunctional families and “broken people” some of whom keep looking for outside pleasure to fulfill inner needs. For example, in one instance of her description of the mentally ill Ms. Rother wrote...… “She’d never really  found a way to be happy, at least not since she was a little girl when she played with dolls and had them talk to each other in different voices. But ever since she was in junior high school, the voices seemed so much more real to her, as if they came  from somewhere outside of herself.”

Naked Addiction is well worth the read. Ms. Rother’s experience as a reporter clearly shows in this novel which is quite detailed and descriptive.  For example, the diary of one of the decedents read like this...…”Of course stripping is just a fantasy for me, but I feel like this girl I wrote about for my creative writing class.  Pretty and clean on the outside and dirty on the inside. Daddy would die if he knew some of my thoughts…….” Additionally, her usage of words in describing certain imagery is captivating, in another instance she says …” he felt paralyzed with helplessness…”, and in showing how a person with low self-esteem thinks about what others thought about her she wrote questionably….” Who is this underdressed nobody?” In reading some of these descriptions, one can empathize with the personalities in the story, and as a result understand what he/she is going through.

Naked Addiction will leave you in a state of awe. It will make you think about some of the issues that rich kids go through when they have everything material possible then resort to drugs to fulfill the non material needs such as  happiness.  This novel also addresses the reality and the effects as well as the affects of child molestation, issues that the mentally ill face, and the sickness of alcohol addiction.

Naked Addiction addresses a number of social ills whilst still delivering a captivating and riveting story. I enjoyed reading it.

Jacqueline Carr, Author of A Selected Few Just For You, is also an Adjunct Instructor at York College (CUNY), and literary enthusiast.


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Comments

Re: Jacqueline Carr

Very nice review Jacqueline! Your description of the book makes me want to inquire more about this page turner. I really enjoy reading mysteries and thrillers. The issues that the characters deal with will definitely hit home with many people. The imagery used for emotions, will also be felt by those who experience such issues and life circumstances. I can not wait to get my hands on this book. Caitlin, sounds like you did a superb job on the novel. Much success to you, and I wish you a very abundant year of prosperity!!! Cortina Jackson Author of "On Earth As It Is In Hell"

Naked Addiction

Thanks very much, Cortina. I hope you like the book! It's available at wildbluepress.com/qs2p or if you'd like to get an autographed copy, you can contact me directly at crother@flash.net.

Naked Addiction - Murder and Mystery in La Jolla

Cortina, Thank you kindly for your comments. If you like murder mysteries this book is for you. It's indeed a page turner. Jacqueline Carr Author/Poet - A Selected Few Just For You.

"Naked Addiction" by Caitlin Rother

Good review by Jacqueline Carr of another great true crime story by New York Times Bestselling Author Caitlin Rother. I am looking forward to the next review by Jackie.