While I read this book, there is some delay in my writing my review and as sad as it is to admit, this book was very forgettable for me. I remember not being impressed with America Burke and at the same time also the plot was just ok. The main reason I finished this book was the length, it was a short one and I was determined to at least find out how it would all end.

Misprints of America Burke
by Adonia Holden-Dunivan

Description
America Burke is no stranger to disappointment. Resigned to a somewhat dull life as a wife, mother, and now grandmother instead of the exciting life she’d planned as an agent of the FBI due to a problem with her fingerprint card, she never expected that someone would want to frame her for murder.

But when the inevitable happens, not everyone agrees with how America handles the situation. In fact, no one does. But wily America Burke, determined to prove her own innocence, continually puts her hands in the path of trouble. She expects the truth will set her free. But what if it doesn’t?

his ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Adonia Holden-Dunivan, and #NetGalley. I did indeed enjoy Misprinnts of America. Very interesting, and a new kind of mystery. It starts slow but, just hang in there, Justice for America. I loved the cover as well.

Misprints of America Burke is a novella by Adonia Holden-Dunivan. Some four decades after a classmate was brutally attacked in the dormitory of the Seminary, someone is trying to frame America Burke for his murder. The case has been reopened with new evidence at the same time as America receives an anonymous note warning her that she “will never escape the wrath of vengeance”.

When she presents herself (and the note) at the police station, Detective Lance Graves interviews her. This is the young man’s first case, and it seems his influential grandfather, Hamilton Graves pulled some strings to put him in charge. Hamilton shares with Lance his (quite derogatory) opinions about America Burke and gives his grandson advice on how to handle the case.

Lance becomes aware that his actions are being monitored, and reported back to Hamilton. He begins to wonder why he was chosen to lead the investigation, but is determined to remain impartial, to resist outside influence, to find the truth and see justice done.

America, meanwhile, finds herself surrounded by well-meaning family, all of whom have theories on who might be trying to frame her and why. Her second husband believes that sexism forms the basis of motive: someone resented America’s being granted a place at the Seminary. Her mother, Hazel Forbes, with 37 years’ experience in the DEA, is convinced that jealousy of her daughter and her Angolan classmate prompted one of the rich, young white students to try to get rid of them.

But as America unsuccessfully racks her brain for possible perpetrators and potential motives, she still feels that truth will prevail and prove her innocence. She has little confidence in Lance Graves, though, and soon gets into bother as she acts to learn more about the crime.

America is pleased when her other friend and classmate from that time, Denholm Xander arrives to offer his support, encouragement and opinion during her ordeal. But together they also fall foul of the law, and both are shocked at the underhand tactics the police employ to get America to incriminate herself. And then America goes missing…

Before the dramatic climax and the final reveal, there’s fund raising dinner during which Hazel, America and Lance all pick up important snippets of information; an attempt is made to run their vehicle off the road, and both Denholm and America are falsely arrested.

America is a quirky protagonist and the plot is clever, but the back cover blurb is a little misleading: while the information about America’s lack of fingerprints is interesting, it doesn’t play a significant part in the story. The ARC is plagued with quite a few continuity issues and plot holes which have, hopefully, been rectified in the final version. A fairly enjoyable cosy mystery.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Adonia Holden-Dunivan and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Interesting, nice concept, intriguing MC.

This is a fun book with a quirky protagonist named America. An unusual name for an unusual woman...her family and friends have no idea what to expect from her. What will she do next? Why? When? The characters are mostly likable and intriguing...sometimes not so much...that just lends interest to the book. The story moves somewhat slowly at times, but it does come to a resounding conclusion. This is a book for a rainy afternoon, cuddled in a comfy chair. Enjoy. The book was sent to me from Netgalley electronically for review.

Take a moment to turn your hands palm side up. See all those whirls, loops and arches at the tips of your fingers? When was the last time you looked at them? Really looked at them? We take them for granted, don’t we? They are the world’s most collected biometric data because they carve a natural identity for each of us. Without the key identification marker of fingerprints, our life would get difficult.

What if someone was born without fingerprints? How would authorities identify them? What if the printless person used this anomaly to their advantage? Could they “commit the perfect crime, even without gloves?” These questions are the focus of exploration for debut author Adonia Holden-Dunivan in ‘The Misprints of America Burke.”

Thirty years ago America Burke’s friend was murdered and his case was never solved. With the modern reliance on DNA, the case has been reopened and new evidence has come to light. It seems that someone has framed America for murder. Can she rely on the truth to set her free?

I love it when a book drives me to Google to investigate something I’ve read! I found myself digging my way out of a rabbit hole when I uncovered America’s fingerprint flaw. My response quickly changed from “Now, this is cool” to “Argh, this would be frustrating.” As I got deeper into the mystery, I realized that America Burke fought this frustration her whole life. You’ll have to read to discover America’s fate and find out if she was able to prove her own innocence and involvement in this 30 year old homicide case.

This was an interesting and compelling read. Although it lacked some of the tension and emotion that I anticipated, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment. It’s obvious that the author has poured her heart and soul into this book. I see amazing potential.

I was gifted this copy by Adonia Holden-Dunivan and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.