Julie Kramer

No sophomore slump for Julie Kramer in the second novel in the series featuring relentless, clever Riley Spartz, a TV reporter for Minneapolis’ Channel 3.

In Missing Mark, Riley sees promise in a feature story when she sees a want ad that reads: “FOR SALE: WEDDING DRESS. NEVER WORN.” Turns out she’s found a much bigger story. Groom Mark Lefevre, a parking garage attendant by day and beginning stand-up comic by night, showed up to the rehearsal dinner but not the wedding the next day. show more Bride Madeline Post, an heiress to one of Minnesota’s richest families, fears that something terrible has befallen her fiancé, as he and his car have vanished without a trace. Police can’t find any credit-card purchases, ATM withdrawals, anything.

How did this whirlwind romance between two mismatched people — three months from meeting to the wedding date — even happen? Who was Mark Lefevre really? What could have happened to him? And why would anyone mess with a nobody like him? I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough toward the end! Congratulations to Ms. Kramer for writing a suspenseful whodunit as good as her first, Stalking Susan! show less

I had never heard of author Julie Kramer, but man! What a page-turner she’s written!

Being a TV reporter for Minneapolis’ Channel 3, Riley Spartz knows that, at 36, she’s lucky to look younger. Even so, Riley’s at a slump at work when a police pal points her to a series of rape/strangulations involving victims named Susan. Each happened on the same date Nov. 19. A serial killer? Riley and her cop whistleblower suspect it, and we readers are lucky enough to be along for the show more rollercoaster ride. Stayed up too late because I could not put it down. show less

Minneapolis investigative reporter Riley Spartz is intrigued by a want ad in local paper. Why do people try to sell unworn wedding gowns? With sweeps coming up and news director Noreen wants Riley to come up with a big hit for the hot female ad age group. Riley pursues Madeline's tale of being left at the alter six months earlier by her groom, Mark. I really enjoyed the twists and turns this mystery took and the insider view of the newsroom life. There is a lot of local flavor as well, I show more don't think it detracts from the tale any more than a book set in Chicago discusses the local papers and burbs. Luckily, the Mall of America is a big enough site to be known by all. show less

A television reporter is tipped off by a former cop that two women named Susan were murdered in a similar way exactly one year apart. As she digs into the story, she finds more dead Susans. Has a man been falsely imprisoned? Is the mayor, who has a history with one of the victims, a killer? Or could her tipster be involved himself? The insider view of the news business is interesting and authentic, and the heroine's competitiveness is oddly appealing but the author's tendency to give show more frequent infodumps about the business and about the Minnesota setting could have been better shown than told. show less