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Irene Kelly #3
Dear Irene
When a strange letter signed "Thanatos" -- the ancient Greek name for death -- lands on Irene Kelly's desk, the intrepid reporter doesn't think much of it; she gets crazy mail all the time. A less cryptic message is sent when a body turns up the next morning. As more letters roll in, the death toll mounts...and Irene fears that her mysterious pen pal has cast her in his own private Greek tragedy as Cassandra, the seer whom others refused to believe. It's the killer's dream to challenge Irene to follow his ancient blueprint for murder. It's his ultimate desire to make her face the inevitable -- that she is the next to die.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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409 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
March 20, 2022
What a perfect book to take on vacation! This one galloped along at a terrific pace, and I really loved all the bits of Greek mythology that got woven into it.
Some of the deaths in this one were pretty gruesome, but Irene herself didn't get tortured or anything, which made it easier to handle than the first couple books.
Some of the deaths in this one were pretty gruesome, but Irene herself didn't get tortured or anything, which made it easier to handle than the first couple books.
November 25, 2017
This book was recommended to me by a friend. I got to admit, I'm not a fan of thrillers. They are exciting and interesting to read but after finishing I always get a feeling of dissatisfaction. I guess I could say the same with "Dear Irene". It was exciting for sure but unfulfilling at the end unlike Cormoran Strike's series.
November 26, 2018
This series is sooo addicting I love it! I stayed up until 3:30 am reading this one so that should tell you something. I couldn’t put it down.
April 16, 2018
Good book. Though that I'm disliking Lieutenant Carlson more and more as I read about him. He is saying falling in love with a reporter is a no-no because reporter aren't people with feelings. They don't care if cops find criminals as long as they have something bad to write about.
I hope we find find that Carlson turns out to be dirty cop because it would explain his behavior toward Frank & Irene. Frank being a good cop & Irene a reporter that he can't manipulate.
I hope we find find that Carlson turns out to be dirty cop because it would explain his behavior toward Frank & Irene. Frank being a good cop & Irene a reporter that he can't manipulate.
May 20, 2020
No! Don’t do it! Light, weak, disappointing, and even so, still fizzles out.
December 3, 2022
The first letter appeared in Irene Kelly’s mailbox at the newspaper where she’s a reporter. It referred to her as Cassandra, a Trojan princess whom no one believed. The letter predicted the murder of a woman, and the writer signed it Thanatos. Irene initially ignores the letter, but when someone murders a sexy university professor in accord with clues left in the letter, Irene and her cop fiancé realize she must take the next one seriously when it comes.
Someone well versed in Greek mythology will love this book. The puzzles the serial killer sends that warn Irene of the next victim are fascinating and would be especially enjoyable to someone informed in mythology. But you don’t have to know anything about it to thoroughly enjoy the book. Burke takes great pains to ensure you have plenty of lovely writing style gems to make you smile and keep you entertained. Some of her analogies are original indeed.
No way did I guess the end, and the winding up scenes were suspenseful and memorable. I suppose it’s best if you can read the earlier books in order, but it’s not necessary at all with this one. Burke thoroughly explains just enough from previous books to make you feel perfectly at home with this one.
Someone well versed in Greek mythology will love this book. The puzzles the serial killer sends that warn Irene of the next victim are fascinating and would be especially enjoyable to someone informed in mythology. But you don’t have to know anything about it to thoroughly enjoy the book. Burke takes great pains to ensure you have plenty of lovely writing style gems to make you smile and keep you entertained. Some of her analogies are original indeed.
No way did I guess the end, and the winding up scenes were suspenseful and memorable. I suppose it’s best if you can read the earlier books in order, but it’s not necessary at all with this one. Burke thoroughly explains just enough from previous books to make you feel perfectly at home with this one.
September 21, 2024
The more I read in this series, the more I dislike Irene. I understand that, after surgery, you can be cranky and irritable (I remember how I felt last December when I was recovering from hand surgery), but Irene is over the top nasty to most of the people she comes in contact with.
My problem specifically about this book was the ridiculous numbers of different names and backgrounds I was expected to differentiate and remember.
My problem specifically about this book was the ridiculous numbers of different names and backgrounds I was expected to differentiate and remember.
April 8, 2018
Really enjoying Jan Burke. This is my second of the Irene series. Love the character. The plot is tense and it’s pace is fast to catch a killer.
April 18, 2018
This is a really good series with great characters and plots. You can sometimes figure out the bad guy but never the twists and turns these books take.
October 10, 2018
Ok.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2020
I really enjoy this series, but this one was just so-so.
October 14, 2020
Good book, but probably my least favorite in her series so far. Just seemed a little unlikely to have happened so quickly after her second book. But other than that it was decent
October 26, 2020
I'll continue the series
January 13, 2025
i love this series. this one didn’t have me as addicted as the last two books, but it was still good. kinda expected who the killer was at the end. will continue reading this series :)
March 6, 2025
Another great story/mystery in the life of Irene and Frank. A lot of moving parts and people in this one - had to keep on my toes to follow who was who, but great ending! Never saw it coming.
October 16, 2015
#3 in the Irene Kelly series.
Irene Kelly series - Nearly recovered from the wounds she received in Sweet Dreams (1994), feisty reporter Irene Kelly returns to her California newspaper office to be caught up in another intelligent tale of danger and vengeance. Among her accumulated mail is a letter from someone calling himself Thanatos, addressing her as Cassandra and promising that ``Clio will be the first to die.'' Dismissing the letter as the work of a kook, she nevertheless pursues the mythological references: Thanatos is Death; Cassandra, a woman cursed with telling the truth but not being believed; and Clio, the muse of history. That night the body of a college history professor is found, her skull battered, in the peacock enclosure of the zoo. The next day Irene is phoned by someone who identifies himself as Thanatos, claims responsibility for the crime and threatens another.
Irene Kelly series - Nearly recovered from the wounds she received in Sweet Dreams (1994), feisty reporter Irene Kelly returns to her California newspaper office to be caught up in another intelligent tale of danger and vengeance. Among her accumulated mail is a letter from someone calling himself Thanatos, addressing her as Cassandra and promising that ``Clio will be the first to die.'' Dismissing the letter as the work of a kook, she nevertheless pursues the mythological references: Thanatos is Death; Cassandra, a woman cursed with telling the truth but not being believed; and Clio, the muse of history. That night the body of a college history professor is found, her skull battered, in the peacock enclosure of the zoo. The next day Irene is phoned by someone who identifies himself as Thanatos, claims responsibility for the crime and threatens another.
January 18, 2016
Newspaper reporter Irene Kelly makes her way back to work in the newsroom after her last murder investigation left her with temporary injuries that are still healing. She receives letters in the mail threatening harm to mythological characters. Dead bodies relating to the myths begin turning up. Irene also receives phone calls from someone using a disguised voice. She reports all to her boss at the newspaper as well as her fiance, homicide detective Frank Harriman, who is obviously concerned that she is in the middle of another murder investigation. Irene tries to unravel the clues as the killer messes with her car and leaves clues in her own home. The killer is obviously watching every move Irene makes.
May 11, 2012
This is the third in the series of eleven (as of 2011). I read it years ago and am rereading the series.
This one was okay. Irene and Frank are now engaged and living together and expanding their family.
Irene is just getting back to work after the beating she had in the second book. Frank is very protective and its driving her crazy.
She starts getting cryptic letters giving her clues to murders. Working together with the police and other reporters, she goes down the path of solving the mystery.
The "whodunnit" was an interesting twist that came and ended quickly.
Blog review:
This one was okay. Irene and Frank are now engaged and living together and expanding their family.
Irene is just getting back to work after the beating she had in the second book. Frank is very protective and its driving her crazy.
She starts getting cryptic letters giving her clues to murders. Working together with the police and other reporters, she goes down the path of solving the mystery.
The "whodunnit" was an interesting twist that came and ended quickly.
Blog review:
January 27, 2011
Irene Kelly is finally able to return to work, but she has started receiving letters from someone who calls himself Thantos and calls her Cassandra. Then bodies start showing up. Thantos even breaks into her house that she shares with her fiance Frank Harriman a detective. The link between the bodies and Thantos is that of a death during WWII daycare run by an aircraft company. There are Greek and Roman mythology references. Makes me want to read my mythology books again.
January 26, 2008
Another in the Irene Kelly, Southern California newspaper reporter mysterys. In this story, a serial killer is passing on information to her regarding his killings. Plot line involves Greek mythology as Irene works to unravel who the killer is and why. As is usual for this series, Irene becomes a potential victim.
August 22, 2008
DEAR IRENE = VG+
Burke, Jan - 3rd in Irene Kelly series
Receiving a cryptic note that foretells a murder, newspaperwoman Irene Kelly realizes that she is being drawn into an inescapable labyrinth of terror and must track down a killer before she becomes the next victim.
This series is growing better with each book. Ms. Burke is a very good writer.
Burke, Jan - 3rd in Irene Kelly series
Receiving a cryptic note that foretells a murder, newspaperwoman Irene Kelly realizes that she is being drawn into an inescapable labyrinth of terror and must track down a killer before she becomes the next victim.
This series is growing better with each book. Ms. Burke is a very good writer.
August 10, 2014
It was okay.
Think Seven meets Y.A. meets rom-com battle-of-the-sexes.
The characters were contrived, the ending telegraphed, and the cat and mouse game a bit silly. Lacked the depth or compulsion in the conceit that makes baiting serial killers fun to read--the Mercury/Greek mythology connection is t-h-i-n.
Not recommended, unless you like the series.
Think Seven meets Y.A. meets rom-com battle-of-the-sexes.
The characters were contrived, the ending telegraphed, and the cat and mouse game a bit silly. Lacked the depth or compulsion in the conceit that makes baiting serial killers fun to read--the Mercury/Greek mythology connection is t-h-i-n.
Not recommended, unless you like the series.
June 6, 2015
This an earlier series that I had let lapse and am only now getting back to. Too long to be still sitting on my shelves. It's funny that I did do that, because the book was surprising good. A series that good would normally have drawn me back. Must have been a busy time or something...of course it was -- when wasn't I busy in the 90's?
August 21, 2015
Enjoying re-reading this series. It's been so long since I originally read them, that I don't really remember the details of them, just a sense of the overall plot arc, which is great - it's almost like having a new series to read. The plotting is good, and the characters are interesting. Looking forward to the rest of the series in the coming months.
June 9, 2016
I have to admit that I had forgotten how much I enjoy this series, though if all the killers in the little town keep coming after Irene, I'm sure it will eventually start getting old. But for now, the writing is excellent, the stories are believable and interesting, and the narration is excellent. So, I'll keep listening to them. <><
August 28, 2009
Very Good; Continuing character: Irene Kelly; reporter receives calls and other messages from a serial killer, who appears to be preying on children of mothers who worked in a munitions plant during WW II and who were involved in a playground incident where one of the children died.
Read
October 16, 2011Irene Kelly becomes involved with Greek mythology as part of a modern day murder mystery. Even though she is still recovering from her injuries received during the last tale, her spunkiness rebounds admirably!
June 2, 2013
It was good. I read it quickly, but it was kind of mind candy. I didn't find the characters compelling enough to want to read more in the series. Of course, it might have helped if I'd started with an earlier book in the series. But this is what I found at Half Price Books.
Read
June 6, 2010I can't believe I missed this one!
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