“The Root of All Evil” by Kim Carter

The Root of All Evil

Kim Carter
Raven South Publishing (2024)
ISBN: 978-1947140134
Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Reader Views (03/2024)

“The Root of All Evil: A Clara and Iris Mystery” A Clara and Iris Mystery Series by award-winning Kim Carter, takes murder investigation to a whole new level. Book 3 in the series finds the Atlanta Police Department approaching widowed private investigators Clara and Iris with a different kind of case. They are excited to have put their first year of investigating behind them, and now find themselves with a case that has been solved once.

It would have stayed solved and closed if not for the victims’ family members objecting to the jury’s findings. This challenging case is perfect for Clara and Iris and their team, as they are determined to prove that the two men behind bars for the crime were wrongly convicted of the double murder. The two women go undercover to dig into the gruesome crime, finding mystery and illusion at every turn. Worse, their lives are now in jeopardy because of the investigation.

Carter’s third book in the mystery series is a standout drama, for many reasons. One is that the plot is unpredictable. You really can’t guess what’s going on, but you definitely want to know, and find your own investigative instincts kicking in as you read along. I love the unique characters of Iris and Clara, two widows, completely different from a lot of PIs you may have encountered in murder mysteries. I like their tenacity and sharp wit. Once they sink their teeth into a case, they just won’t let go.

Carter’s style rings with authenticity, grit, and a healthy dose of humor, which holds you in suspense until the end. The fun part is that the novelist based these two lead characters after her mother and her mother’s best friend. Likewise, Carter’s life experiences inform her work, which I think adds so much to the story and characters, giving you an insider’s feel to the story. The dialogue is dynamic, and the pace is fluid.

This brief excerpt gives you an idea of the author’s succinct yet descriptive style, and provides a little insight into the characters: 

It was undeniable the two widows had decades of wisdom over Quita’s tender age of twenty-two, but she had something just as valuable to offer— something they’d never survive without. Street smarts and a young, techsavvy mind.

Together, the three made a valuable team, and they took advantage of every opportunity. Quita had quickly learned that nobody, not even a seasoned crook, would suspect two old women in a four-door sedan of being undercover.

If you like thoroughly entertaining, character-driven mystery novels, you will become an instant fan of the compelling “The Root of All Evil: A Clara and Iris Mystery” and its author, Kim Carter.