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lucavarju's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
caitkom's review
5.0
If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would. As soon as I finished this one, I started on the second! Liz Talbot spends her day working as a private eye tracking down bad guys. When she finds out that her grandmother has been murdered she returns to her hometown island of Stella Maris hell bent on helping her sheriff brother, Blake find the killer. She moves into her grandmothers house and with the help of her long dead best friend and her zany family she sets off to find the killer before he finds her.
impybelle's review
4.0
Probably closer to a 3.5 but I rounded up because once I got into the book, I only stopped because I was falling asleep. I couldn't tell you too much about any of the characters but I think that's to be expected in a book 1. I'm not sure I'd agree with anyone calling this a cozy mystery either. I expected it to be one but it doesn't feel or read like one, though that's not necessarily a bad thing. I enjoyed the ride for the most part and really only had one quibble which might just be me and it might just be petty.
A running thing in the book is Nate trying desperately to get to Liz to be her backup and he keeps getting thwarted at every turn by pesky airlines and whatnot. Thing is, he makes it to Atlanta and then... hangs out for 24 hours or so until another flight can be lined up. I don't get why he didn't just rent a car and drive? Even factoring in the ferry not running overnight, he still would have gotten to Liz far faster. It's like a five hour drive if you hit traffic and he would've been doing it overnight(I think I've got my time worked out here) which we all know means he'd have made even better time.
A running thing in the book is Nate trying desperately to get to Liz to be her backup and he keeps getting thwarted at every turn by pesky airlines and whatnot. Thing is, he makes it to Atlanta and then... hangs out for 24 hours or so until another flight can be lined up. I don't get why he didn't just rent a car and drive? Even factoring in the ferry not running overnight, he still would have gotten to Liz far faster. It's like a five hour drive if you hit traffic and he would've been doing it overnight(I think I've got my time worked out here) which we all know means he'd have made even better time.
pinesreading's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
michaela2416's review
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
llkendrick's review
4.0
This was a really fun mystery to read! I love books set in the South because of the charm of both the setting and the people, and this one didn't disappoint. I really liked the characters and look forward to reading more of this series to see what happens to them. Overall it's a pretty light book but intriguing enough to want to not put it down.
iheartchickens's review
4.0
Didn't expect to like this book, thought it might be too cute and southern kitschy, but it wasn't. I liked it - there was a strong plot and action and the heroine (a woman) was mostly smart and strong. On the down side, no diversity at all - takes place in South Carolina with an all white (mostly) cast of characters.
P.I. Liz Talbot returns to her hometown after her grandmother dies. Is it murder? Investigation ensues.
P.I. Liz Talbot returns to her hometown after her grandmother dies. Is it murder? Investigation ensues.
mefairbanks11's review
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
rachel_abby_reads's review
3.0
Liz Talbot is from a small island off the coast of Carolina. She's divorced from a philandering jerk and pining for the man who married her wicked cousin. She works as a private investigator with her ex-husband's brother (a higher class of guy all the way). She returns to her island home when her grandmother dies, and stay when she inherits the family house and land - oh, and when her police chief brother says that Grandma was killed. Oh, yes, and she has a ghost as a sometimes partner.
Liz is one of those "smarter than everyone else types." She gives her brother just enough information to keep him from being a complete narrative non-entity, and no male comes to her rescue. The jerks are consistently jerks, there are plot lines and red herrings aplenty. It was a fairly enjoyable read, but I didn't love it.
Parenthetically: when did vulgar and profane language become so common and acceptable? I've seen it championed on Facebook and Pinterest as the medium of the honest and unfiltered. I know people who claim to be sexy, clever and intelligent who advocate the use of ugly language; but since I've worked at a jail, for me it is inextricably linked with pimps, junkies, prostitutes, child molesters, gang bangers & killers.
Well, it isn't honest or clever -and given the extent it's used, it isn't even shocking anymore. It's rude, unimaginative, and easy.
Liz is one of those "smarter than everyone else types." She gives her brother just enough information to keep him from being a complete narrative non-entity, and no male comes to her rescue. The jerks are consistently jerks, there are plot lines and red herrings aplenty. It was a fairly enjoyable read, but I didn't love it.
Parenthetically: when did vulgar and profane language become so common and acceptable? I've seen it championed on Facebook and Pinterest as the medium of the honest and unfiltered. I know people who claim to be sexy, clever and intelligent who advocate the use of ugly language; but since I've worked at a jail, for me it is inextricably linked with pimps, junkies, prostitutes, child molesters, gang bangers & killers.
Well, it isn't honest or clever -and given the extent it's used, it isn't even shocking anymore. It's rude, unimaginative, and easy.