Review of A Gathering Storm, courtesy of Midwest Book Review, California Booklist and Donovan's Literary Services:
A Gathering Storm is the second book in David E. Feldman's Dora Ellison Mystery Series. Dora is enrolled in the police academy, but is struggling with her experience, independent spirit, and the rigors of an instructional approach that would place her efforts and problem-solving skills in a routine police procedural box.
Her prior success in solving a local corruption case isn't helping her present milieu as a student who is supposed to be subservient to more experienced instructors. It also doesn't help that Dora is pulled into yet another mystery when Jesse Burrell, the brother of a city council member, vanishes hours after a family gathering and is found murdered.
As Dora's unofficial probe into the murder brings her into conflict with police department official procedures, she finds herself navigating a fine line between her convictions and standard operating procedures.
Complicating matters is the fact that the victim's brother-in-law Rudy may hold a clue to events that he doesn't even know he possesses.
David E. Feldman writes a fine mystery that revolves as much around family relationships and personal and professional clashes as it does around a murder puzzle that challenges Dora on many different levels.
There's an unusual romance, too many possible perps, and Jesse's own life, which also holds clues about what really happened. Developing all these threads in one mystery involves a dance between subplots and character-building—one that Feldman deftly performs as he leads readers to question not only Dora's modus operandi, but the victim's relationships and choices.
From instructors who reject Dora's abilities and consider her protests "backtalk" to Dora's penchant for refusing to give up when the going gets tough, readers will be immersed both in her personal revelations and trials and the professional conundrums she faces in pursuing the truth against all odds
Murder mystery readers interested in a full-flavored story that embraces not just a whodunit but the evolving trends of Dora's life will find A Gathering Storm both a worthy compliment to its predecessor and an excellent stand-alone read.
Dora's pursuit of her life purpose and passion is a draw that will attract beyond the usual genre audience, as well: "She loved police work. She loved solving crimes. In a way, she had always known that. She loved puzzles that manifested in real life, and she loved delivering justice where it was needed. Where she was needed."
—Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review, Editor, California Booklist
Reprinted courtesy, Donovan Literary Services.
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