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mongoose_1's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
sparklingreader's review against another edition
4.0
Murder and laughter - what more could you wish for
Maggie is a stay-at-home mom, married to a former SEAL who gets shanghaied into being a cleaning lady. She’s got two boys, a dead-beat brother, and in-laws who are definitely not her favorite people. It’s after her first job that the murders start happening.
What I liked: Maggie and her family are a hoot. The author’s sense of humor makes the book come alive. And the ending - for once, I had no clue. Very well done.
What I didn’t like: there are some minor editorial issues that disturbed the reading for me, making it hard for me to really get into the story, but once I did, I enjoyed it immensely.
Recommendation: If you can overlook some minor flaws in the writing, and are looking for a quirky cozy with witty characters, pick this one up.
Maggie is a stay-at-home mom, married to a former SEAL who gets shanghaied into being a cleaning lady. She’s got two boys, a dead-beat brother, and in-laws who are definitely not her favorite people. It’s after her first job that the murders start happening.
What I liked: Maggie and her family are a hoot. The author’s sense of humor makes the book come alive. And the ending - for once, I had no clue. Very well done.
What I didn’t like: there are some minor editorial issues that disturbed the reading for me, making it hard for me to really get into the story, but once I did, I enjoyed it immensely.
Recommendation: If you can overlook some minor flaws in the writing, and are looking for a quirky cozy with witty characters, pick this one up.
samantha92901's review
3.0
Not bad
It was an ok book. I personally didn’t like some of her out dated beliefs that made them into the book.
It was an ok book. I personally didn’t like some of her out dated beliefs that made them into the book.
slferg's review
4.0
fun book
Rather a fun book. She gets upset over all sorts of stuff - and her go to relaxation and unwinding is cleaning. Then someone murders a neighbor and she is the alibi for the husband because she went to pick up her cellphone that she left over there while cleaning. Her mother-in-law wants to hold Thanksgiving for friends and clients at her house because of renovations and has a emails her a time schedule and menu with recipes. As if. Then her ne’er do well brother turns up for Thanksgiving and wants to borrow money for some kind of get rich scheme. And the police are still unconvinced she had nothing to do with the murder(s).
Rather a fun book. She gets upset over all sorts of stuff - and her go to relaxation and unwinding is cleaning. Then someone murders a neighbor and she is the alibi for the husband because she went to pick up her cellphone that she left over there while cleaning. Her mother-in-law wants to hold Thanksgiving for friends and clients at her house because of renovations and has a emails her a time schedule and menu with recipes. As if. Then her ne’er do well brother turns up for Thanksgiving and wants to borrow money for some kind of get rich scheme. And the police are still unconvinced she had nothing to do with the murder(s).
setaian's review
5.0
Maggie is married to a retired Navy SEAL, she's a full time mom who loves clipping out coupons and is a definite fan of bulk toilet paper from Walmart if it will save her a dollar. When her one friend volunteers her to work as a cleaning lady for her snooty neighbors she's none too happy. But she dutifully turns up for the job mop and bucket in hand.
Unfortunately for her the job lands her right in the middle of a murder mystery. The wife has turned up dead and the husband would be the main suspect except Maggie is his alibi.
I really don't know what to say. I was expecting to be mildly entertained, not to find a book that I just can't fault. I was expecting your stereotypical klutzy neurotic heroine, not a smart and snarky woman who is comfortable in her skin and will unapologetically stick up for her friends. I was expecting a husband who treats his wife like a disobedient child, not a guy who is genuinely in love with his woman, who trusts her judgement and will back her come what may.
Nine out of ten murder mysteries I will have picked the bad guy in the first 25%. This book I was still wondering right up to the last chapter.
So all of that adds up to five stars...and I haven't even considered the clever and witty writing which had me laughing and madly highlighting some of the great expressions and turns of phrase. If you hear me say something cool in the next few weeks, there's a good chance I stole it from this book.
Unfortunately for her the job lands her right in the middle of a murder mystery. The wife has turned up dead and the husband would be the main suspect except Maggie is his alibi.
I really don't know what to say. I was expecting to be mildly entertained, not to find a book that I just can't fault. I was expecting your stereotypical klutzy neurotic heroine, not a smart and snarky woman who is comfortable in her skin and will unapologetically stick up for her friends. I was expecting a husband who treats his wife like a disobedient child, not a guy who is genuinely in love with his woman, who trusts her judgement and will back her come what may.
Nine out of ten murder mysteries I will have picked the bad guy in the first 25%. This book I was still wondering right up to the last chapter.
So all of that adds up to five stars...and I haven't even considered the clever and witty writing which had me laughing and madly highlighting some of the great expressions and turns of phrase. If you hear me say something cool in the next few weeks, there's a good chance I stole it from this book.
magickislife's review
5.0
This book was great fun, I really loved all the sweet pet names that Neil has for Maggie. Fantastic!
ruth_in_calif's review
1.0
This book is a WASTE OF TIME. I usually enjoy "cozy mysteries". They take me out of the real world and don't require me to think much. But this one really bugged me. Don't have a character tell you how she is ALWAYS late and keeps her husband waiting to go to an event, and then, not much farther into the book have that same character tell you how she is "always on time"!! Also, the plot at the end got very "muddy" and I couldn't tell what had happened. The characters weren't that well drawn or interesting. All in all, don't bother to read this. There are many more interesting and satisfying "mindless" books out there.
briarfairchild's review
1.0
With underdeveloped characters, a plot with as many holes as a colander and not a single attempt at humour that's actually funny, this is not worth reading. Also, it contains repeated offensive use of the word 'spastic'. To top everything off, it's poorly written and edited.