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Pepper Bibeau Mysteries #1
For Every Action: There Are Consequences
This book is printed in 12-font size for easy reading and the 354 page count reflects this. For the regular size font, see this edition.
Pepper Bibeau’s insurance investigations for a Wisconsin-based company sometimes involve a murder, but she never thought she would cause one. Days before the 1968 Democratic Convention, Pepper arrives in Chicago to settle questionable medical claims from an elusive doctor. Included in her assignment is a background check on a life insurance beneficiary who admits to stabbing his wife. When a close friend is killed, and Pepper is hospitalized after an unprovoked attack, a homicide detective decides someone wants to put a stop to her investigations. For her safety, he suggests she return to Wisconsin, but Pepper is determined to learn why her insurance investigation has stirred up a tragic chain of events. What she discovers are the devastating consequences of one person’s greed that she must expose before someone stops her, permanently.
This large-print edition of For Every Action: There Are Consequences is now out-of-print.
Pepper Bibeau’s insurance investigations for a Wisconsin-based company sometimes involve a murder, but she never thought she would cause one. Days before the 1968 Democratic Convention, Pepper arrives in Chicago to settle questionable medical claims from an elusive doctor. Included in her assignment is a background check on a life insurance beneficiary who admits to stabbing his wife. When a close friend is killed, and Pepper is hospitalized after an unprovoked attack, a homicide detective decides someone wants to put a stop to her investigations. For her safety, he suggests she return to Wisconsin, but Pepper is determined to learn why her insurance investigation has stirred up a tragic chain of events. What she discovers are the devastating consequences of one person’s greed that she must expose before someone stops her, permanently.
This large-print edition of For Every Action: There Are Consequences is now out-of-print.
354 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2011
1 person is currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Gail M. Baugniet
11 books180 followersOver the years, reading and writing were an integral part of my eclectic employment history as an Insurance Underwriter, Statistical Coder, and Claims Adjuster; as a Professional Realtor; as a Police Reservist and Part Time Peace Officer; and finally, as a Security Dispatcher. During this time, I also composed short stories and haiku poetry for private enjoyment.
Now that there is time to write novels, my lifetime experiences offer plenty of background material for a planned mystery series. My first Pepper Bibeau mystery, FOR EVERY ACTION There Are Consequences, is set in Chicago's Loop and introduces Hawaiian-born Pepper Bibeau as an Insurance Investigator whose assignments sometimes lead her into a mystery maze of murder! In the second novel, DEADLY AS NATURE, Pepper sticks closer to home in eastern Wisconsin.
Honolulu has been my home since 1992. I am a member and current president of Sisters in Crime/Hawaii, the local chapter of Sisters in Crime, Inc., and a member of The Makiki Community Library where our monthly meetings are held. I am also a member of the Ala Moana Toastmasters group.
In 2012, I accepted the National Novel Writers Month, NaNoWriMo, challenge to write 50,000 words in a month. The result of my efforts, WITH FIERY VENGEANCE, is set in Hawaii and was released in Winter, 2013. NESHOTO JUNCTION HOMICIDE followed in January, 2016.
Please visit me at: http://gail-baugniet.blogspot.com and at Twitter: @GailMBaugniet
Aloha!
Now that there is time to write novels, my lifetime experiences offer plenty of background material for a planned mystery series. My first Pepper Bibeau mystery, FOR EVERY ACTION There Are Consequences, is set in Chicago's Loop and introduces Hawaiian-born Pepper Bibeau as an Insurance Investigator whose assignments sometimes lead her into a mystery maze of murder! In the second novel, DEADLY AS NATURE, Pepper sticks closer to home in eastern Wisconsin.
Honolulu has been my home since 1992. I am a member and current president of Sisters in Crime/Hawaii, the local chapter of Sisters in Crime, Inc., and a member of The Makiki Community Library where our monthly meetings are held. I am also a member of the Ala Moana Toastmasters group.
In 2012, I accepted the National Novel Writers Month, NaNoWriMo, challenge to write 50,000 words in a month. The result of my efforts, WITH FIERY VENGEANCE, is set in Hawaii and was released in Winter, 2013. NESHOTO JUNCTION HOMICIDE followed in January, 2016.
Please visit me at: http://gail-baugniet.blogspot.com and at Twitter: @GailMBaugniet
Aloha!
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 23, 2011
If reading a book set in the not-too-distant past gives you pause (as it sometimes does me), don’t let it. Gail Baugniet’s mystery, set in Chicago just prior to the 1968 Democratic Convention, is a fantastic book. Everything you want in a mystery--an engaging lead character, a palpable sense of place, a twisty-turny plot that keeps you guessing until the end, and superb, original writing--is here.
The book’s protagonist, Pepper Bibeau, an insurance investigator based in Wisconsin, is a sympathetic yet complex character. And a private one. You instantly like her, but you must peel the layers of her character until you slowly get to know her better--which makes her all the more real, and definitely a character you want to read more about.
As in the best of mysteries, several plot threads run through this story--threads so different that you can’t imagine how they’re connected--but the threads meet at the end in a brilliant conclusion. I can’t recommend this book enough to lovers of mysteries, suspense, and detective stories--and I can’t wait for the next Pepper Bibeau book!
The book’s protagonist, Pepper Bibeau, an insurance investigator based in Wisconsin, is a sympathetic yet complex character. And a private one. You instantly like her, but you must peel the layers of her character until you slowly get to know her better--which makes her all the more real, and definitely a character you want to read more about.
As in the best of mysteries, several plot threads run through this story--threads so different that you can’t imagine how they’re connected--but the threads meet at the end in a brilliant conclusion. I can’t recommend this book enough to lovers of mysteries, suspense, and detective stories--and I can’t wait for the next Pepper Bibeau book!
March 3, 2021
For Every Action...is an incredibly clever mystery and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Set in late 1960s Chicago, a young insurance claims investigator from Wisconsin, Pepper Bibeau, is summoned to the Windy City to evaluate the merits of a life insurance policy held by a woman who appeared to be brutally stabbed by her husband. In addition to this, she is also in town to investigate questionable billings by a doctor treating 5 children who may or may not have sickle-cell anemia. What could these cases possibly have in common?
Almost from the moment Pepper arrives, the action meets her head on and from the most unlikely of sources. Over the course of her two investigations, Pepper is aided by a passionate old police detective whose ties to the myriad of players involved keep you somewhat suspicious of his nature. Together, they work through the clues to try to make sense of what is going on but never seem to be ahead of the game. The backdrop of the Vietnam War, racial tension and a growing domestic drug scene come wonderfully into play.
Unlike most of today's mysteries, this one, set in the 60's, involved old school policing and sleuthing. No cell phones, DNA or digital footprints to quickly and magically answer a question or tie up a loose end. Human interaction and social awareness are particularly important to this mystery and Baugniet writes it so well. You learn quickly that you need to pay attention because subtle clues are dropped and if you notice them, you'll feel rewarded later on.
A very complex plot that moves with great pace and coherence. The characters have intriguing back stories and common every-day struggles that make them relatable and sympathetic. The ending is most unexpected and highly enjoyable. I will most certainly be reading more of the Pepper Bibeau mysteries!
Almost from the moment Pepper arrives, the action meets her head on and from the most unlikely of sources. Over the course of her two investigations, Pepper is aided by a passionate old police detective whose ties to the myriad of players involved keep you somewhat suspicious of his nature. Together, they work through the clues to try to make sense of what is going on but never seem to be ahead of the game. The backdrop of the Vietnam War, racial tension and a growing domestic drug scene come wonderfully into play.
Unlike most of today's mysteries, this one, set in the 60's, involved old school policing and sleuthing. No cell phones, DNA or digital footprints to quickly and magically answer a question or tie up a loose end. Human interaction and social awareness are particularly important to this mystery and Baugniet writes it so well. You learn quickly that you need to pay attention because subtle clues are dropped and if you notice them, you'll feel rewarded later on.
A very complex plot that moves with great pace and coherence. The characters have intriguing back stories and common every-day struggles that make them relatable and sympathetic. The ending is most unexpected and highly enjoyable. I will most certainly be reading more of the Pepper Bibeau mysteries!
October 6, 2011
Pepper Bibeau’s insurance investigations for a Wisconsin-based company sometimes involve a murder, but she never thought she would cause one. Days before the 1968 Democratic Convention, Pepper arrives in Chicago to settle questionable medical claims from an elusive doctor. Her assignment also includes a background check on a life insurance beneficiary who admits to stabbing his wife. When a close friend is killed, and Pepper is hospitalized after an unprovoked attack, a homicide detective decides someone wants to put a stop to her investigations. For her safety, he suggests she return to Wisconsin, but Pepper is determined to learn why her insurance investigation has stirred up a tragic chain of events. What she discovers are the devastating consequences of one person’s greed that she must expose before someone stops her, permanently.
This is not the genre of book that I have been reading lately, I have been more into paranormal ones. However I really found this book a refreshing change, and in my opinion I would compare it to books by Tess Gerritsen and Karin Slaughter...maybe perhaps not as gory but definitely as good!
"For Every Action There Are Consequences" is a true statement that is reiterated throughout this novel and within the plot line and in many of it's characters too.
The plot is intricately interwoven as are all the characters. What initially begins as two totally separate Insurance Investigations soon become interlinked. Gail Baugniet writes so well that you truly do feel sorry for Pepper Bibeau, you feel her sadness and confusion at the apparent murder of her best friend. You contemplate the same questions that Pepper does..Who would murder her best friend? and Was her best friend the intended target or was it a case of mistaken identity? You literally go through all the suspects and possible scenarios. All this culminates in Pepper having a showdown, and during that showdown all the links reconnect to give us the full picture of what happened and why they happened.
Gail writes the book so well that she keeps you guessing about the various conclusions until the very end.
Its a really good mystery and it is a start to a series of books. I would definitely recommend this to others to read.
This is not the genre of book that I have been reading lately, I have been more into paranormal ones. However I really found this book a refreshing change, and in my opinion I would compare it to books by Tess Gerritsen and Karin Slaughter...maybe perhaps not as gory but definitely as good!
"For Every Action There Are Consequences" is a true statement that is reiterated throughout this novel and within the plot line and in many of it's characters too.
The plot is intricately interwoven as are all the characters. What initially begins as two totally separate Insurance Investigations soon become interlinked. Gail Baugniet writes so well that you truly do feel sorry for Pepper Bibeau, you feel her sadness and confusion at the apparent murder of her best friend. You contemplate the same questions that Pepper does..Who would murder her best friend? and Was her best friend the intended target or was it a case of mistaken identity? You literally go through all the suspects and possible scenarios. All this culminates in Pepper having a showdown, and during that showdown all the links reconnect to give us the full picture of what happened and why they happened.
Gail writes the book so well that she keeps you guessing about the various conclusions until the very end.
Its a really good mystery and it is a start to a series of books. I would definitely recommend this to others to read.
December 21, 2011
The year is 1968. The country is at war in Viet Nam and in turmoil over the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. Insurance investigator Pepper Bibeau is sent to Chicago to look into a couple of questionable insurance claims. After a fun evening out with her friend Ursula, Pepper loans Ursula her mackintosh. When Ursula is murdered, Pepper isn't sure if it was it a random mugging, a racial hate crime, or a case of mistaken identity. Pepper suffers nightmares, as well as flashbacks to time spent as a nurse in Viet Nam. The police detective investigating Ursula's killing is kicked off the case. An anonymous caller warns Pepper to mind her own business. More people begin to die. Pepper befriends the police detective and together they set out to make sense of the clues.
The protagonist is feisty and endearing. The descriptions of Chicago in the 60's are vivid. Anyone who loves a good whodunit will find this book hard to put down.
The protagonist is feisty and endearing. The descriptions of Chicago in the 60's are vivid. Anyone who loves a good whodunit will find this book hard to put down.
July 14, 2011
Gail Baugniet's book For Every Action There are Consequences has a protagionist in Pepper Bibeau who has a past which is with her every day. Now working in the insurance industry, Pepper's sent to Chicago to track down and report on some shady medical transactions. She's a strong woman, knows her stuff and heads into the investigation determined to see it through.
Baugniet paints an accurate picture of an America on the cusp of the 1970s and change, and her character is changing and challenging women's roles. It's a taut story with a couple of fatal red herrings that keep the pages turning.
Baugniet paints an accurate picture of an America on the cusp of the 1970s and change, and her character is changing and challenging women's roles. It's a taut story with a couple of fatal red herrings that keep the pages turning.
July 6, 2011
Finally I get to read a suspense novel of the good kind and I loved it. Here is
For Every Action: There are consequences by Gail M. Baugniet.
Here is the summary of the book:
Pepper Bibeau’s insurance investigations for a Wisconsin-based company sometimes involve a murder, but she never thought she would cause one. Days before the 1968 Democratic Convention, Pepper arrives in Chicago to settle questionable medical claims from an elusive doctor. Her assignment also includes a background check on a life insurance beneficiary who admits to stabbing his wife. When a close friend is killed, and Pepper is hospitalized after an unprovoked attack, a homicide detective decides someone wants to put a stop to her investigations. For her safety, he suggests she return to Wisconsin, but Pepper is determined to learn why her insurance investigation has stirred up a tragic chain of events. What she discovers are the devastating consequences of one person’s greed that she must expose before someone stops her, permanently.
There are few suspense/thrillers out there which are detailed and offer a plot which gradually escalates the tension at each step while also keeping it steady, For Every Action... does just that. Although I'm not very much in times with American History or the Vietnam War (come on its bad enough learning all those names and dates about all the wars fought here in India - so don't expect me to know about the history of every country in detail) but i'll try to straighten the facts and thoughts on this book.
Pepper Bibeau, our protagonist is an insurance investigator for a Wisconsin based company which sometimes handles murder cases but she would be the cause of a murder is hard to believe. Pepper arrives in Chicago to settle questionable medical claims for an elusive doctor. Her assignment also includes a background check on a life insurance beneficiary who admits to stabbing his wife. There in Chicago some unforeseen events leads to her friends murder and when Pepper herself is hospitalized after an attack, the homicide detective decides someone wants to put a stop to her investigations. For her safety, he suggests she return to Wisconsin, but Pepper is determined to learn why her insurance investigation has stirred up a tragic chain of events. What she discovers are the devastating consequences of one person's greed that she must expose before someone stops her, permanently. An interesting plot and along we go on the ride.
Pepper is a strong woman character dealing with her own personal demons while suffering from PTSD after a stint in Vietnam where she served a 12-month deployment in Vietnam. After she returned home, she took a job with an insurance company and now investigates insurance claims. The author has a feel for the times; her social references to the 1960s are on target. She travels to Chicago in time for the 1968 Democratic Convention to track down a shifty doctor who has some explaining to do to her firm. The story also has a Hawaiian connection; Pepper was born there and her son is now staying with relatives there, so the storyline moves between the three locations, making for an intriguing read.
Within these pages the author expresses a unique writing style and cadence to the story. The premise is plausible and the book's descriptions are very well done. There are many instances where minutest of details are provided where most authors would overlook doing it. The locations are described so well that I felt I was right there in the middle of it all. The book's pacing is a unique combination of story and character development delivering hypertensive action with a relaxed pace, which is not an easy task i'll tell you.
The book is interwoven with subtle nods to historical events and landmarks of Chicago. The corrosive elements of unchecked greed and drug use result in murder, leaving no one unaffected. Though set in 1968, this mystery is as timely as today's headlines. With its colorful characters, attention to detail, and plot twists, For Every Action....will string you along and keep you guessing right up to the end.
Here is the summary of the book:
Pepper Bibeau’s insurance investigations for a Wisconsin-based company sometimes involve a murder, but she never thought she would cause one. Days before the 1968 Democratic Convention, Pepper arrives in Chicago to settle questionable medical claims from an elusive doctor. Her assignment also includes a background check on a life insurance beneficiary who admits to stabbing his wife. When a close friend is killed, and Pepper is hospitalized after an unprovoked attack, a homicide detective decides someone wants to put a stop to her investigations. For her safety, he suggests she return to Wisconsin, but Pepper is determined to learn why her insurance investigation has stirred up a tragic chain of events. What she discovers are the devastating consequences of one person’s greed that she must expose before someone stops her, permanently.
There are few suspense/thrillers out there which are detailed and offer a plot which gradually escalates the tension at each step while also keeping it steady, For Every Action... does just that. Although I'm not very much in times with American History or the Vietnam War (come on its bad enough learning all those names and dates about all the wars fought here in India - so don't expect me to know about the history of every country in detail) but i'll try to straighten the facts and thoughts on this book.
Pepper Bibeau, our protagonist is an insurance investigator for a Wisconsin based company which sometimes handles murder cases but she would be the cause of a murder is hard to believe. Pepper arrives in Chicago to settle questionable medical claims for an elusive doctor. Her assignment also includes a background check on a life insurance beneficiary who admits to stabbing his wife. There in Chicago some unforeseen events leads to her friends murder and when Pepper herself is hospitalized after an attack, the homicide detective decides someone wants to put a stop to her investigations. For her safety, he suggests she return to Wisconsin, but Pepper is determined to learn why her insurance investigation has stirred up a tragic chain of events. What she discovers are the devastating consequences of one person's greed that she must expose before someone stops her, permanently. An interesting plot and along we go on the ride.
Pepper is a strong woman character dealing with her own personal demons while suffering from PTSD after a stint in Vietnam where she served a 12-month deployment in Vietnam. After she returned home, she took a job with an insurance company and now investigates insurance claims. The author has a feel for the times; her social references to the 1960s are on target. She travels to Chicago in time for the 1968 Democratic Convention to track down a shifty doctor who has some explaining to do to her firm. The story also has a Hawaiian connection; Pepper was born there and her son is now staying with relatives there, so the storyline moves between the three locations, making for an intriguing read.
Within these pages the author expresses a unique writing style and cadence to the story. The premise is plausible and the book's descriptions are very well done. There are many instances where minutest of details are provided where most authors would overlook doing it. The locations are described so well that I felt I was right there in the middle of it all. The book's pacing is a unique combination of story and character development delivering hypertensive action with a relaxed pace, which is not an easy task i'll tell you.
The book is interwoven with subtle nods to historical events and landmarks of Chicago. The corrosive elements of unchecked greed and drug use result in murder, leaving no one unaffected. Though set in 1968, this mystery is as timely as today's headlines. With its colorful characters, attention to detail, and plot twists, For Every Action....will string you along and keep you guessing right up to the end.
September 16, 2011
For Every Action There Are Consequences – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds – Desserts
‘Back in my office, I set Jed’s report aside and turned my attention to the witness statements. Neighbors had reported loud noises and shouts coming from the only bungalow in the cul-de-sac. According to a neighbor two houses down, everyone knew about the constant arguing. One statement quoted a woman at the top of the cul-de-sac as saying, “Liticia Tuarence often accused her husband of passing judgment on her. I saw the police arrive more than once when things got out of hand. We went out of our way to ignore the squabbles. This time was different, lots of banging and profanity.” I reread the remark about “passing judgment” and wondered if the woman had chosen the phrase herself or is she’d only repeated Liticia’s words. According to Jed, Wes Tuarence admitted he’d stabbed his wife multiple times though he offered no explanation for his actions and refused to make any further comment. The snapshots stapled to the file told me far more about the man than any written statement ever could. White borders around the photos drew my attention to the gruesome details of each knife wound, giving me a measure of the hatred this man must have harbored.’
Pepper Bibeau is an insurance investigator for Early Settlers Insurance Company. Her boss “Sully” Sullivan has just assigned her to not one but two cases that will take her to Chicago to hopefully solve. The first case is a claim filed by a Doctor Patel who has filed claims for five members of the same family. Due to the heredity of the children’s illness, sickle cell anemia, the probability was that the claim was correct. But due to the lack of blood and other lab work, it became Pepper’s job to check out the claim.
Her second assignment in Chicago came in the form of a favor to Sully. There had been an insurance policy taken out on Liticia that listed her husband as beneficiary and an orphanage as second in line. Sully’s hopes were that Pepper could turn up something, anything, that would help to convict Wes Tuarence of murder and not allow him to claim the proceeds. Sully personally wanted to see it go to the orphanage.
What should have been two simple cases taking just a few days to research ended up taking Pepper into the next week and almost getting her killed. But which case was the real threat? Were the insurance claims legitimate or was the doctor faking claims? Were Liticia and Wes Tuarence in over their heads in something illegal that caused them to flee Chicago or are they victims of the circumstances?
As the number of deaths increased, my list of suspects declined. At one point I really suspected it might be one of the “good guys” gone bad. Actually, I had that suspicion until the end. Was I right? You’ll have to read the book for yourself to find out.
2011
346 pages
CreateSpace
ISBN# 9781456522155
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘Back in my office, I set Jed’s report aside and turned my attention to the witness statements. Neighbors had reported loud noises and shouts coming from the only bungalow in the cul-de-sac. According to a neighbor two houses down, everyone knew about the constant arguing. One statement quoted a woman at the top of the cul-de-sac as saying, “Liticia Tuarence often accused her husband of passing judgment on her. I saw the police arrive more than once when things got out of hand. We went out of our way to ignore the squabbles. This time was different, lots of banging and profanity.” I reread the remark about “passing judgment” and wondered if the woman had chosen the phrase herself or is she’d only repeated Liticia’s words. According to Jed, Wes Tuarence admitted he’d stabbed his wife multiple times though he offered no explanation for his actions and refused to make any further comment. The snapshots stapled to the file told me far more about the man than any written statement ever could. White borders around the photos drew my attention to the gruesome details of each knife wound, giving me a measure of the hatred this man must have harbored.’
Pepper Bibeau is an insurance investigator for Early Settlers Insurance Company. Her boss “Sully” Sullivan has just assigned her to not one but two cases that will take her to Chicago to hopefully solve. The first case is a claim filed by a Doctor Patel who has filed claims for five members of the same family. Due to the heredity of the children’s illness, sickle cell anemia, the probability was that the claim was correct. But due to the lack of blood and other lab work, it became Pepper’s job to check out the claim.
Her second assignment in Chicago came in the form of a favor to Sully. There had been an insurance policy taken out on Liticia that listed her husband as beneficiary and an orphanage as second in line. Sully’s hopes were that Pepper could turn up something, anything, that would help to convict Wes Tuarence of murder and not allow him to claim the proceeds. Sully personally wanted to see it go to the orphanage.
What should have been two simple cases taking just a few days to research ended up taking Pepper into the next week and almost getting her killed. But which case was the real threat? Were the insurance claims legitimate or was the doctor faking claims? Were Liticia and Wes Tuarence in over their heads in something illegal that caused them to flee Chicago or are they victims of the circumstances?
As the number of deaths increased, my list of suspects declined. At one point I really suspected it might be one of the “good guys” gone bad. Actually, I had that suspicion until the end. Was I right? You’ll have to read the book for yourself to find out.
2011
346 pages
CreateSpace
ISBN# 9781456522155
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
October 28, 2011
Set in 1968, when the Vietnam War and Civil Rights were the top news of the day, this book takes you on a roller coaster ride that will amaze you! Pepper Bibeau resigns from the Army where she was a nurse. A year later she's doing less stressful work as a medical claims investigator for an insurance company. Pepper does suffer some nightmares of her time in Vietnam and therefore at times she's a little jumpy.
Going about her job trying to get information for some medical claims filed, Pepper stumbles into several situations leading to unsafe conditions. Just when you think you have the whole thing figured out... someone else pops into the mix and makes you rethink your approach. Pepper loves mysteries though and she'll do her best to find the answers to these.
I love this book! It's one I couldn't put down. Pepper is such a loving character and just imagining from what's written, what she went through in Vietnam makes you want to hold her. I enjoyed that Pepper didn't feel she had to be strong and independent all the time. I love the Hawaiian tie in because I lived in Hawaii for 2 years myself. I was enthralled and amazed by their customs and way of life.
The only sad part for me was that Pepper didn't have her son with her. As a mom I can't imagine making the decision she did, but I respect the writer and character for it.
Overall you are going to enjoy this book so much!! I know you'll find the characters well rounded, some like-able and some not. You have to read this book!! I, myself have read it twice already it was that good! Rarely do I read a book twice in a row.
Going about her job trying to get information for some medical claims filed, Pepper stumbles into several situations leading to unsafe conditions. Just when you think you have the whole thing figured out... someone else pops into the mix and makes you rethink your approach. Pepper loves mysteries though and she'll do her best to find the answers to these.
I love this book! It's one I couldn't put down. Pepper is such a loving character and just imagining from what's written, what she went through in Vietnam makes you want to hold her. I enjoyed that Pepper didn't feel she had to be strong and independent all the time. I love the Hawaiian tie in because I lived in Hawaii for 2 years myself. I was enthralled and amazed by their customs and way of life.
The only sad part for me was that Pepper didn't have her son with her. As a mom I can't imagine making the decision she did, but I respect the writer and character for it.
Overall you are going to enjoy this book so much!! I know you'll find the characters well rounded, some like-able and some not. You have to read this book!! I, myself have read it twice already it was that good! Rarely do I read a book twice in a row.
January 25, 2012
This is a great story about health policies and an insurance adjuster who investigates the people who submit claims. The story is not new, but the twists shown by Gail take a refreshing point of view. The tale is well presented and the writing is easy to follow. I would have to say it is pleasantly done, clean, and intriguing.
This book relates the story of Pepper Bibeau, a war veteran become insurance adjuster. She has seen first hand what war can do to young men’s lives and has dealt with her own war scars. She is sent to Chicago to investigate a possible fraud involving a doctor and the policy of a family he has treated. Pepper also needs to look into the background of the Tuarence couple. It is a case where the woman was killed by her husband and drugs may have played a big role.
Pretty soon, she is in the middle of a murder case in which her best friend died, that could have been Pepper. This case brings with it a great looking Police officer, who was close to the victim. After a week in Chicago she is no closer to her decision on the two policy cases she was send to fix, nor the murderer of her friend. What she does have is a great headache and bruises that must count for something, but she doesn’t know what.
The tale is intriguing and twisting all he way to the end. This is a very nice story for adult lovers of murder mysteries and intricate plots. I enjoyed the reading and presentation of this book. It has a few misspellings and misused words.
This book relates the story of Pepper Bibeau, a war veteran become insurance adjuster. She has seen first hand what war can do to young men’s lives and has dealt with her own war scars. She is sent to Chicago to investigate a possible fraud involving a doctor and the policy of a family he has treated. Pepper also needs to look into the background of the Tuarence couple. It is a case where the woman was killed by her husband and drugs may have played a big role.
Pretty soon, she is in the middle of a murder case in which her best friend died, that could have been Pepper. This case brings with it a great looking Police officer, who was close to the victim. After a week in Chicago she is no closer to her decision on the two policy cases she was send to fix, nor the murderer of her friend. What she does have is a great headache and bruises that must count for something, but she doesn’t know what.
The tale is intriguing and twisting all he way to the end. This is a very nice story for adult lovers of murder mysteries and intricate plots. I enjoyed the reading and presentation of this book. It has a few misspellings and misused words.
March 18, 2016
This is actually one of the books I had that I thought was lost forever during my Dark Tmes last summer... You can read more on that in my blog but lo and behold when I got my new Kindle and was going hrough my list of books (and there were waaaay more than I first thought) I recognized the title and dove right in. And I was not diappointed one bit. I «met» the author on Twitter and I loved her tweets and she offered her book in turn for a review.
When I finally got o sit down and read it, it only took like 2 sittings and I was done. The main characters personality and background intrigued me and I hope there are future books to come with her. I loved how she had multiple things in the story itself and how it all eventually comes together without it feelng rushed or too drawn out.
I also liked the time era it is,Vietnam War time in the late 60s I believe, where everyone has a raw nerve as it is over the war. And back then segregation is still new and prejudice is never far away.
If you like crime mystery with a lot going on then this is definitely for you
When I finally got o sit down and read it, it only took like 2 sittings and I was done. The main characters personality and background intrigued me and I hope there are future books to come with her. I loved how she had multiple things in the story itself and how it all eventually comes together without it feelng rushed or too drawn out.
I also liked the time era it is,Vietnam War time in the late 60s I believe, where everyone has a raw nerve as it is over the war. And back then segregation is still new and prejudice is never far away.
If you like crime mystery with a lot going on then this is definitely for you
January 6, 2012
I'M LOOKING FOR MORE PEPPER!
Gail Baugniet's mystery For Every Action whetted my appetite for more of Pepper Bibeau and her interesting situation. Elements that drew my attention, such as Pepper's Hawaiian heritage, piqued my interest and kept me turning the pages to find out more--both about her past, her character, and decisions like "hanai'ing" her son to relatives in Hawaii, and how she'd become caught up in a relatively routine insurance investigation that led to murder-- a murder that was almost hers.
This was a slower-paced mystery than I usually read--if I had any issue with it, it was the pacing--but I was engaged by Pepper's dogged persuit of her case, her obvious passion and loyalty for her murdered friend, and the tidbits of a fascinating backstory that beg to be expanded--all the stuff of strong characterization.
Baugniet's made a fan, and I am looking for more of Pepper!
Gail Baugniet's mystery For Every Action whetted my appetite for more of Pepper Bibeau and her interesting situation. Elements that drew my attention, such as Pepper's Hawaiian heritage, piqued my interest and kept me turning the pages to find out more--both about her past, her character, and decisions like "hanai'ing" her son to relatives in Hawaii, and how she'd become caught up in a relatively routine insurance investigation that led to murder-- a murder that was almost hers.
This was a slower-paced mystery than I usually read--if I had any issue with it, it was the pacing--but I was engaged by Pepper's dogged persuit of her case, her obvious passion and loyalty for her murdered friend, and the tidbits of a fascinating backstory that beg to be expanded--all the stuff of strong characterization.
Baugniet's made a fan, and I am looking for more of Pepper!
September 30, 2011
Received as a free copy for review.
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Reasonable book, writing was good as was the storyline, it just didn't grab my attention for no reason that I can put my finger on. They seemed an awful lot going on but quite slow moving at the same time. The characters were great but I can see this as a series of books where you learn more about them as it progresses, which I would have preferred or at least a "I need to know more about this person" feeling in the one book.
There was quite a lot of back story alluded to... for example time spent in Vietnam but as part of the main story it didn't seem to impact on me that this was in the 60s or a war vet except from the times it was explicitly stated.
A good read, it just didn't have me up till the small hours or struggling to put it down that I associate with a truly great book.
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Reasonable book, writing was good as was the storyline, it just didn't grab my attention for no reason that I can put my finger on. They seemed an awful lot going on but quite slow moving at the same time. The characters were great but I can see this as a series of books where you learn more about them as it progresses, which I would have preferred or at least a "I need to know more about this person" feeling in the one book.
There was quite a lot of back story alluded to... for example time spent in Vietnam but as part of the main story it didn't seem to impact on me that this was in the 60s or a war vet except from the times it was explicitly stated.
A good read, it just didn't have me up till the small hours or struggling to put it down that I associate with a truly great book.
September 14, 2011
Pepper Bibeau is an insurance investigator who unwittingly gets wrapped up in a murder mystery. This book is set in the sixties, before cell phones and computers took over our existence. Pepper has to do things the old fashioned way - by speaking to people in person and being available for landline phone calls. References are made to the political and social issues of the late sixties but not to the point where younger readers unfamiliar with the era would have difficulty understanding things.
We're introduced to many characters who initially don't seem to be connected. Also, there are various subplots woven through the entire story. Initially, I found the plotlines a little difficult to follow. But eventually it all comes together in a well-crafted, tangled mystery.
For Every Action is the first in a planned Pepper Bibeau series. I'm looking forward to the next one!
We're introduced to many characters who initially don't seem to be connected. Also, there are various subplots woven through the entire story. Initially, I found the plotlines a little difficult to follow. But eventually it all comes together in a well-crafted, tangled mystery.
For Every Action is the first in a planned Pepper Bibeau series. I'm looking forward to the next one!
December 12, 2011
I won this through the Goodreads First Reads program, and I really enjoyed it. The title of the novel, For Every Action: There Are Consequences, definitely applies to the novel itself. All of the charcters find that there are consequences to their actions, and even the plot itself has consequences. The book is extremely engrossing, as you find yourself living vicariously through Pepper Bibeau. I often found myself wondering the same things she did, and I couldn't put the book down until I found the answers. Well written, and definitely recommended! :)
November 25, 2011
It's different. I can't say I was entertained throughout but there were so many wonderful things I liked about the story. It takes place in the past and because I never lived in 1968, the descriptions of the past were fascinating. Also, I just loved the description of Chicago and the culture of Hawaii. While parts of the mystery confused me, the action sequences and the deaths were interesting parts in the book.
January 18, 2014
Revisiting the Late 60's
While I have good opinions about the book, it is dated and, therefore, nor for the general book reader. The mystery was well thought out, but the book lacked a good thrill or two to enliven the story. I recommend this book to baby boomers and older.
While I have good opinions about the book, it is dated and, therefore, nor for the general book reader. The mystery was well thought out, but the book lacked a good thrill or two to enliven the story. I recommend this book to baby boomers and older.
August 10, 2021
More than I expected.
This is a fun start to this series. A wonderfully fun main character, with incredible wit. The storyline was woven perfectly throughout to an amazing ending. Besides the others in this Piper Bibeau series I'll have to checkout her other books.
This is a fun start to this series. A wonderfully fun main character, with incredible wit. The storyline was woven perfectly throughout to an amazing ending. Besides the others in this Piper Bibeau series I'll have to checkout her other books.
May 22, 2017
A very straight forward mystery.
February 3, 2016
Pepper Bibeau's backstory:
Pepper was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1941 and moved to Wisconsin with her mother after her father was killed in an Air Force plane crash when she was 4 years old. Pepper joined the Army Nurse Corps for four years and served a 12-month deployment in Vietnam. After she returned home, she took a job with an insurance company and now investigates insurance claims.
This mystery novel, FOR EVERY ACTION There Are Consequences, is set in Chicago, 1968. Aside from the difficulties she encounters during her investigations, Pepper deals with personal issues that include undiagnosed PTSD (not a term used in 1968) and a decision she made at age 15 concerning her son.
Synopsis of Novel:
Pepper Bibeau's insurance investigations for a Wisconsin-based company sometimes involve a murder, but she never thought she would cause one.
Days before the 1968 Democratic Convention, Pepper arrives in Chicago to settle questionable medical claims for an elusive doctor. Her assignment also includes a background check on a life insurance beneficiary who admits to stabbing his wife.
When a close friend is killed, and Pepper is hospitalized after an unprovoked attack, a homicide detective decides someone wants to put a stop to her investigations. For her safety, he suggests she return to Wisconsin, but Pepper is determined to learn why her insurance investigation has stirred up a tragic chain of events. What she discovers are the devastating consequences of one person's greed that she must expose before someone stops her, permanently.
**Book printed in 12-font size for easy reading**
**Available in eBook at Amazon and Smashwords**
Pepper was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1941 and moved to Wisconsin with her mother after her father was killed in an Air Force plane crash when she was 4 years old. Pepper joined the Army Nurse Corps for four years and served a 12-month deployment in Vietnam. After she returned home, she took a job with an insurance company and now investigates insurance claims.
This mystery novel, FOR EVERY ACTION There Are Consequences, is set in Chicago, 1968. Aside from the difficulties she encounters during her investigations, Pepper deals with personal issues that include undiagnosed PTSD (not a term used in 1968) and a decision she made at age 15 concerning her son.
Synopsis of Novel:
Pepper Bibeau's insurance investigations for a Wisconsin-based company sometimes involve a murder, but she never thought she would cause one.
Days before the 1968 Democratic Convention, Pepper arrives in Chicago to settle questionable medical claims for an elusive doctor. Her assignment also includes a background check on a life insurance beneficiary who admits to stabbing his wife.
When a close friend is killed, and Pepper is hospitalized after an unprovoked attack, a homicide detective decides someone wants to put a stop to her investigations. For her safety, he suggests she return to Wisconsin, but Pepper is determined to learn why her insurance investigation has stirred up a tragic chain of events. What she discovers are the devastating consequences of one person's greed that she must expose before someone stops her, permanently.
**Book printed in 12-font size for easy reading**
**Available in eBook at Amazon and Smashwords**
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