My old blog

 

My old blog disappeared. However, you can still see old posts by clicking this link 

http://murdermysteryblogofjoie.blogspot.com/

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Death Row by Frieda McFadden

 

Talia Kemper is in death row for murdering her husband. While insisting on her innocence and presenting a clear cut alibi, her lawyer,Clarence Bowman, doubts the death sentence would be commuted. While in jail she starts a frienship with correctional officer, Rhea Clark,who also dismisses for declaration of innocence.Then one day she is shocked to see a visitor in jail who looks exactly like her husband! According to Officer Clark, he is the pastor who ministers to prisoners who were also given a death sentence.
Typical of Frieda's novels (a novella or short novel in this case), the storyline alternates between the past and the present. The past details the very sweet and romantic relationship between Talia and her husband until more responsibilities involving his job has required him to work a lot of overtime. What makes it worse is that when he comes home late, she smells a certain type of perfume wafting from his clothes!

Back to jail. She insists that Officer Clark introduce her to the pastor because she is adamant that he is the husband she was accused of murdering. While talking to the pastor, he strangely moves close to her and tells her he loves her.

Now the story reverts to the past wherein Talia meets her friend who happens to be her alibi. Before leaving she rigs the oven so that it would explode when her husband puts it on. While she was having lunch with her friend an old woman approaches her and introduces herself as her husband's assistant. She goes telling how upset he was on working overtime and how much he loves Talia. Worse was that she was wearing the same pefume Talia always smells from her husband's clothes!

Now her execution. As the guy was moving towards her to inject the death serum she then insists she is innocent! Then the executioner leans towards her and says "I know."

Talia wakes up and she is now in the hospital. She then notices that her lawyer is her doctor! Officer Clark turns out to be the assisting nurse. Her husband argues with the doctor (her lawyer in her alternate time) on not pulling the plug. However the doctor mentions she is aleardy brain dead and that it was best just to pull the plug.Then the orderly (her executioner) comes near and pulls the plug.

What really happened: When Talia realized her husband never cheated on her, she desperately rushes home to stop him from putting the oven on. In her haste she was hit by a semi -truck and was in the hospital for quite awhile. However the doctor deemed it useless to extend her pain and decided it was best to pull the plug.

How sad!