Book Review - Montooth 3

Montooth 3: Red Cross of Gold

By: Robert Jay
Illustrated By: Author Support, LaGrange, KY
Publisher: Cloverleaf Corporation
Publication Date: October 2013
ISBN: 978-0-9891171-0-4
Reviewed by: Kristi Benedict
Review Date: December 5, 2013

This book is the third installment of the Montooth series and continues to follow the main character of Carty Andersson and her close friends as they start college.

It does not take long before Carty is thrust into trouble as she becomes the main suspect in the murder of a Purdue University professor and she has no idea why. Unknowing to her another university employee, Leo Ledberry, has set his sights on Professor Donagle’s wife who claims to have a $4,000,000 trust fund available to her if her husband dies. Through scheming acts Ledberry learns of Carty’s efficiency with a bow and works to point all suspicion to her as the number one suspect. Before you know it Carty and her friends are trying desperately to prove her innocence and uncover the real killer. Mack uses his journalism skills to get to the bottom of important details and interviews everyone who could help clear Carty’s name. By working and standing together these friends work to unveil the true murderer but the crime holds a twist ending that no one sees coming. While all of this is going on in Indiana, Elena and her brother Roberto are helping in a Cuban revolution that has everyone worried but them.

There was so much going on in this book that at times I had to stop and remember what I was reading about to make sure I was not getting lost in the story. Aside from the main set of characters there are multiple supporting characters who had small but important parts in the plot. However, finding these clues and remembering small details and certain names had me feeling like a detective searching for the right answer and then being surprised and delighted when I was able to put clues together. This book combined a little bit of mystery and historical fiction in a way I found myself enjoying both aspects, as each one helped to develop the other. In addition, I thought having a quote at the beginning of each chapter was brilliant as it gave me a small look into what the next chapter would be about but in the most subtle way. I found myself enjoying each of these quotes as they kept me wanting to read chapter after chapter.

This is the only book I have read in this series and besides some background information on the characters and the experiences that brought them to where they currently are this is a story that can stand alone. Even without knowing the full background of these characters there were enough subtle details in this book for me to see why they were such good friends and the feats they had already conquered together. For me it was wonderful seeing a strong, independent protagonist in Carty and I took an instant liking to her strong but still caring disposition. It was easy for me to enjoy this book even without reading the first two installments in the series, but I do admit that now my interest has grown and the other two books may be on my list to read soon.

Quill says: Here is a book that grabs your interest if it’s the first one you read or the third you read in the series and will give mystery and historical fiction enthusiasts something to enjoy.