Fast-Paced Crime, But Too Fast for Depth – A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH by Britt Lind
- Kim Bartosch
- 13 hours ago
- 5 min read
A Snappy Mystery with a Strong Female Lead — But It Leaves You Wanting More
In A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH, author Britt Lind introduces readers to a fierce and capable homicide detective named Rosemaria Baker. A mix of streetwise cop and emotionally scarred daughter, Rosemaria is a compelling character—at least, she has all the makings of one. Published by Bublish and part of a book tour with iRead Book Tours, this adult mystery/thriller clocks in at just 118 pages, and that’s where some of the book’s strengths and limitations show up.
First, I want to thank the author for the book and for my honest review. This book tour is sponsored by iRead Book Tours. Now, let’s break it down.
A Detective with Grit and History
Rosemaria is no rookie. Raised by a cop father and an actress mother, her childhood straddled fantasy and harsh reality. From a young age, she was drawn to the adrenaline-fueled world of law enforcement. That childhood fascination clearly shaped her future, as she became a homicide detective known for her tenacity and instincts.
The book gives us glimpses of that background—how a childhood tragedy sharpened her focus, how a college incident forced her to risk everything to save her father—but it often does so with a sense of brevity. Instead of feeling like we’re living inside Rosemaria’s head, it often feels like we’re watching her from a distance.
And for mystery readers who love to connect with the protagonist’s internal world (especially those who prefer books to screen for this very reason), that distance can be a little frustrating.
Fast-Paced but Almost Too Fast
With only 118 pages, Lind keeps the plot moving at a brisk pace. There’s no filler here—the story dives into Rosemaria’s world and pulls us through a whirlwind of crime-solving, family dynamics, and emotional beats. But as much as I appreciate a lean, action-driven mystery, I found myself wishing the author had given the story—and especially Rosemaria—more room to breathe.
The book touches on some emotionally rich content: family loyalty, loss, identity, duty—but just when you want to go deeper, the scene changes or the plot moves forward. It’s the kind of book where you turn the last page and think, “Wait, that’s it?”
Especially if you’re new to the series or haven’t read any of the previous Hollywood Mystery books, you might feel like you’ve walked into a story already in progress. While it’s not exactly disorienting, it does make you crave more character development than the pages allow.
Strong Concept, Solid Writing
Lind’s writing is clean and to the point. The dialogue feels authentic, and she brings just enough Hollywood flair to make the setting pop without overdoing it. The balance of mystery and personal backstory works well, and there are moments of real tension and emotion that show Lind’s skill in pacing and plotting.
Rosemaria’s upbringing—between an emotionally imaginative mother and a reality-grounded father—adds a unique angle to her worldview, and the book wisely uses that duality to shape her reactions and decision-making. I just wish we had spent more time in those moments instead of skimming past them.
What Worked:
✅ A smart, capable female detective with a rich backstory
✅ Fast pacing and a crime storyline that moves quickly
✅ Interesting blend of Hollywood glamor and gritty crime
✅ Clean writing with a professional tone and emotional beats
What Didn’t:
❌ Too short to fully develop Rosemaria or her inner life
❌ Lacks the immersive depth many mystery readers crave
❌ New readers may feel like they’ve missed an intro
Final Thoughts
A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH has the bones of a strong mystery thriller, and Rosemaria Baker is a character I’d love to spend more time with—preferably in a longer novel where her emotions, thoughts, and motivations can take center stage. If you're already familiar with Lind's work or the Hollywood Mystery series, this might feel like a satisfying continuation. But if you're a newcomer, be prepared to fill in some gaps and want more by the end.
Still, for readers who appreciate a quick read with high stakes and a smart, brave woman at the helm, this one might scratch that mystery itch.
📚 My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)
A solid setup with an intriguing detective, but the short length limits its emotional and narrative depth. Worth a read—but I wanted more.
About the book:
Publisher: Bublish
Pub. Date: August 2021
Genre: Adult Crime Mystery/Thriller
Synopsis:
As a homicide detective, Rosemaria Baker is known for her street smarts, her feisty personality and her ability to nail the bad guys.
Being the daughter of a cop and an actress gave little Rosemaria a dichotomous view of life. Her mother was inclined to get lost in her fantasies while her father had to face the harsh realities of a world filled with murder and mayhem. Nine-year-old Rosemaria loved both her parents and admired her mother’s talent but even at a young age she felt drawn to her father’s work as a detective, constantly begging him to share with her every detailed description of the dangerous criminals and close calls he survived while chasing the bad guys.
Whatever Rosemaria did she did it well; be it hitting baseballs, shooting baskets, writing school papers, she put her all into every endeavor. When tragedy invaded her world at the tender age of ten, she survived because of her innate ability to compartmentalize her feelings and move forward.
While still in college she was faced with a terrifying situation where she had to use all of her mental and physical capabilities in an effort to save her father’s life. Ignoring what would have been safe and expected of her and asking no one’s advice, she risked everything to find him and bring him home alive.
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Meet the Author:
Britt found out she had a passion for acting, singing, and writing as early as grade school. While attending junior college in Monterey she was discovered by Clint Eastwood when she was playing the lead in a dinner theatre play in Carmel and was cast in Clint's first directorial effort Play Misty for Me. A few years later, Britt headed for L.A. to attend UCLA and to start her acting career. She obtained featured roles in dramatic series and worked her way up to guest starring roles in shows like Vegas, Columbo, Crazy Like a Fox, the miniseries How the West Was Won and worked on the daytime dramas General Hospital, Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless. She moved to New York where she sang with a gospel group in venues such as Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, Town Hall, and Carnegie Hall. Family matters forced her to head back to her hometown of Seattle for what she thought was a temporary move and there was cast in an independent movie Family Hayes. She was also featured in a Showtime movie shot in Seattle, Nowheresville, played the lead in two Equity plays, Someone's Knocking, and The Good Doctor, and worked in Vancouver, BC on U.S. Productions, Sliders and For Hope. Her memoir Learning How to Fly recounts her journey from Norway to Hollywood and from animal lover to animal activist and anti-vivisectionist. She has written four Hollywood Mysteries: Deception, Malevolence, A Fate Worse Than Death, and Avarice.
Britt is president of the non-profit group Kindness and Science in Action. She can be reached at britt@kindnessandscience.org For animal lovers, Britt asks that you check out www.kindnessandscience.org and sign up for the mailing list. Her website is brittlind.com
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