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subplotkudzu's review against another edition
5.0
This one just jumped unexpectedly off the library shelves into my hands due to the title and cover art and insisted I bring it home for the holidays based on the dustjacket copy. Ended up keeping me awake all night in a dusky, smoky, film noir haze, and I've already pushed it on to at least one friend and possibly to the book club. The narrative voice just crackles along and the central conceit is a joy. Hop on board to watch the Distaff Nero Wolf & Artie Shaw vs. Professor Moriarity begin.
MORE PLEASE!
MORE PLEASE!
theperfecthour's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Such a fun read! The author needs a better editor though, there are quite a few misplaced or missing words
enielson's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sankitch87's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
notmychelle's review
4.0
Bought this book on a whim while traveling, barely even read the back so I started it almost blind. Pleasantly surprised that it’s not cutesy-cozy, and has adult themes that aren’t overshadowing the actual mystery story. Got hooked on it and finished in a few days which is as fast as a book ever goes in my world.
pleforge's review against another edition
Even not knowing that this book won the Nero Award, it’s hard not to make the connection between this series and Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe mysteries. Willowjean (Will) Parker functions as Lillian Pentecost’s Archie Goodwin. Like the Stout characters, they live in a luxurious brownstone apartment in New York in the 1940s. Will does much of the interviewing, later relating in detail what she has learned. Although Lillian is not a housebound orchid breeder like Wolfe, an advancing case of Multiple Sclerosis hampers her ability to travel. There are other similarities as well.
The first book in the series is a locked-room mystery. A woman is found murdered in her late husband’s study—bludgeoned to death with a crystal ball recently used in a séance. All windows are barred and the door can only be locked from the inside. The woman’s family hires famous detective Lillian Pentecost to solve the case. Is the murderer one of the family who stands to inherit her money? Or someone at the company that she was the major stockholder in? Will hopes it isn’t the woman’s daughter, Becca: she’s cute as hell, but has secrets.
Will’s POV voice reminds me a little more of Erik Schubach’s Finn May than Rex Stout’s Archie Goodwin, but all three are interesting narrators that move the story along. The plot of the novel is intricate, the investigation interesting, and the solution fairly unexpected with a couple of twists along the way.
High marks for twisting Rex Stout’s iconic Nero Wolfe series into a Sapphic, feminist one. But maybe take some tenths off for the same reason—original characters are more commendable than characters obviously based on others, no matter how small or subtle the transformation. But although this book doesn’t seem to break any new ground, I would recommend it to just about any lesbian mystery reader as a fast-paced, easy, and likable read.
Note: I listened to an audiobook version of this novel read by Kirsten Potter.
Another Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 1000 other lesbian mysteries by over 330 authors.
The first book in the series is a locked-room mystery. A woman is found murdered in her late husband’s study—bludgeoned to death with a crystal ball recently used in a séance. All windows are barred and the door can only be locked from the inside. The woman’s family hires famous detective Lillian Pentecost to solve the case. Is the murderer one of the family who stands to inherit her money? Or someone at the company that she was the major stockholder in? Will hopes it isn’t the woman’s daughter, Becca: she’s cute as hell, but has secrets.
Will’s POV voice reminds me a little more of Erik Schubach’s Finn May than Rex Stout’s Archie Goodwin, but all three are interesting narrators that move the story along. The plot of the novel is intricate, the investigation interesting, and the solution fairly unexpected with a couple of twists along the way.
High marks for twisting Rex Stout’s iconic Nero Wolfe series into a Sapphic, feminist one. But maybe take some tenths off for the same reason—original characters are more commendable than characters obviously based on others, no matter how small or subtle the transformation. But although this book doesn’t seem to break any new ground, I would recommend it to just about any lesbian mystery reader as a fast-paced, easy, and likable read.
Note: I listened to an audiobook version of this novel read by Kirsten Potter.
Another Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 1000 other lesbian mysteries by over 330 authors.
azaliahandre's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
What a fun read! I thoroughly enjoyed the ride this author took on, as we follow our main characters through the twists and turns of this mystery. While you could deduce some of the twists prior to the reveal, it did not make this book any less engaging. I will be keeping up with the rest of this series!
dorothy's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
nannamoo's review against another edition
5.0
Great addition to the detective fiction genre. Loved this book. Great characters and story