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Reviewed by Valerie Rouse for Readers' Favorite
For the Love of Ellen is an entertaining novelette about three friends in their seventies. Blanche, Nellie and Ellen lived in the town of Cameron. They were extremely close and always looked forward to sharing each other’s company. Ellen advertised for a landscaper to take care of her lawn. She became infatuated with Miles, a smooth talking, handsome gentleman who responded to her ad. She hired Miles and they got closer. Eventually, she allowed Miles to move in with her. When Blanche and Nellie realized that Ellen was becoming scarce and also showed up at her door with unusual bruises and a black eye, they knew something was terribly wrong. They entered Ellen’s house but saw no sign of Ellen. They found her bloody bathrobe instead. They were privy to a conversation Miles was having where he admitted that he had only married Ellen for her money. He had killed Ellen as well. What would these devoted friends do to exact revenge?
For the Love of Ellen is a fast paced story. It begins with an aura of intrigue with the introduction of the first chapter. You wonder what these old ladies could have done to be in a court trial. The tone is semi-formal to reflect the serious nature of the predicament the elderly ladies found themselves in. I believe that the story is very realistic. I love the way in which author Carla Evans exposed the vulnerabilities of the main character. This allows the reader to identify with the persona. It also gives the story a humane touch as most persons at some point in their lives experience low moments. I appreciate the detailed account of the interaction between the ladies and the perpetrator. It is very a vivid and intense portrayal. This helps to intensify the suspense and encourages the reader to keep reading the story with more enthusiasm. The contrast between the ladies is also very entertaining. Overall, the book is a good read and I recommend it to all persons who appreciate a good suspense novel.
