CLAMMING UP

​Review by John R Paterson

Clamming Up was a totally enjoyable mystery/romance/adventure experience. I couldn’t put down. The main characters, Kate, Pearl and Colin are larger than Life, deliciously quirky, and seriously endearing. Even Dicky and the twins end up with some redeeming qualities; alas poor Cheryl. Author Lee-Anne Stack does such a good job with her totally despicable character that I was feeling sorry for the sharks; but it’s often the fate of lawyers of either gender to fall prey to the writer’s pen.
Stack does a masterful job of developing the romances – drawing them out, keeping the tension high, and she skilfully weaves in the clues to the mysterious disappearance of Uncle Bill – like the mystery of where the keys were found, Kate not seeing the underwater pictures that she took and the red handkerchief to mention a few. The author uses many clever turns of phrase, descriptive language, and great descriptions that conjure up strong visuals. Set on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, Stack uses the physical surroundings – both above and below the water to great effect.
Every time I see a spider – and I have many of them on my deck and I give them their space – I’ll think of Muerte. Excellent characterization and wonderful compassion.
The only distractions were when Kate and Pearl were dining at Yvette’s. I found myself heading to the fridge or pouring a glass of wine – talk about getting right into the story. A thoroughly enjoyable read.