"Crystal Death"

Charles Kipps is the author of Hell’s Kitchen Homicide, the first novel in the Conor Bard Mystery series. He also has written two non-fiction books: Out of Focus and Cop Without A Badge.

As a writer/producer of television and film, Kipps has won an Emmy, a Peabody, and an Edgar Award. His television credits include Exiled: A Law & Order Movie, The Cosby Mysteries, Columbo, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. His film credits include Fat Albert, co-written with Bill Cosby.

He applied the Page 69 Test to Crystal Death, the second novel in the Conor Bard Mystery series, and reported the following:

While NYPD Detective Conor Bard is in the process of tracking the killer of a beautiful, Israeli diamond dealer, he is assigned a new partner: Rosita Rubio. On Page 69 of Crystal Death, they start their first day on the job together. Rosita arrives for work with a flower and a vase.

“A flower.” She touched the petals. “I was going to buy a whole arrangement but I didn’t want to freak you out.”

When they head to Trump Tower to interview the victim’s boyfriend, Conor learns that Rosita is just as capable of repartee as his previous male partners.

Conor and Rosita rode the elevator to the thirty-seventh floor of Trump Tower, inner sanctum of the ridiculously rich, and approached the door of Kenneth Madison’s apartment.

“I’m thinking of moving down from a Hundred and Tenth Street,” Rosita said in mock earnest. “I should check out an apartment in this building.”

Conor rang the doorbell. “The way the economy is going, you could probably pick one up for four or five million.”

Page 69 sets the tone of the relationship between Conor and Rosita. As Crystal Death wends its way to a conclusion, these early interactions form the basis of a growing camaraderie.

Watch the video for Crystal Death, and learn more about the book and author at Charles Kipps's website.

The Page 69 Test: Hell’s Kitchen Homicide.

Check out the complete list of books in the Page 69 Test Series.

--Marshal Zeringue