After reading two of the later Brady Coyne novels (click for my reviews of Cutters Run and Muscle Memory) I finally made my way back to the beginning, Death at Charity’s Point. Written in 1984, this is Tapply’s first Brady Coyne story.
Brady, Boston lawyer to the rich and elderly, is asked by his client Florence Gresham to investigate the apparent suicide of her younger son, George. She has already lost her husband and older son and can’t believe that mild-mannered, soft spoke George would just jump of a cliff. To peak Brady’s interest (after all, he is a lawyer, not an investigator) she offers him 10% of George’s life insurance policy, which has a clause rendering it non-payable in the event of a suicide. The lure of $100,000 tempts Brady, and his feelings of obligation to a client that has already lost everyone else she loves, is enough to push him over the edge (bad pun on my part) and accept the job.
Brady meets with local police, the medical examiner and fellow teachers at the private school where George worked. At the beginning, all signs pointed to suicide, but as Brady delves a little deeper and gets involved with one of George’s co-workers he starts questioning the real cause of death. Can he solve the mystery before he himself takes a leap off of Charity’s Point?
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Brady Coyne, the early years. I did not find Death at Charity’s Point quite as full of twists and turns as the later novels by Tapply, but this was a darn good first novel. I highly suggest reading the Brady Coyne novels in order to get a good feel for their main character. Thanks to the Auburn Public Library in Maine for helping me get my hands on a copy of this book!
My Rating: 
Ratings Scale
Excellent.. a MUST READ Pretty Darn Good
Good (read it if you can’t get your hands on something better)
Not So Good (bring the No-Doze)
Not worth my time (or yours)
Book Reviews from an Avid Reader 