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book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Digital audio book narrated by Hillary Huber.
From the book jacket: In this fourth installment of the Callahan Garrity series, the South’s favorite cleaning lady/sleuth immerses herself in the world of sixties girl groups and nineties rap groups to hunt the killer of a suave, self-serving record producer.
My reactions:
I like this mystery series. It’s a little edgier than a traditional cozy, because Callahan is a former Atlanta Police Officer, but it has many of the classic elements of a cozy: an “amateur” sleuth, a regular cast of characters surrounding the main character’s life/business (in this case, her mother and the other maids of her house-cleaning business), and murder that happens (mostly) off the page. We also have a love interest that is getting complicated. Callahan, however is NOT an amateur – she’s a licensed private investigator, and can carry a gun (and sho0t it). She’s also intelligent, determined and usually gets herself out of a jam rather than wait around for help.
I really enjoyed the premise in this installment, especially as I was a teenager in the era of the sixties girl groups. There were plenty of references to that era that kept me entertained and enough plot twists and red herrings to keep me interested. And … I did NOT guess the perpetrator until the reveal.
Hilary Huber does a fine job of narrating the audio version. She has good pacing, clear diction, and the skill to give the many characters distinct voices, making it easy for the listener to distinguish who is speaking. I particularly love how she voices the elderly Easterbrooks: Baby and Sister.
From the book jacket: In this fourth installment of the Callahan Garrity series, the South’s favorite cleaning lady/sleuth immerses herself in the world of sixties girl groups and nineties rap groups to hunt the killer of a suave, self-serving record producer.
My reactions:
I like this mystery series. It’s a little edgier than a traditional cozy, because Callahan is a former Atlanta Police Officer, but it has many of the classic elements of a cozy: an “amateur” sleuth, a regular cast of characters surrounding the main character’s life/business (in this case, her mother and the other maids of her house-cleaning business), and murder that happens (mostly) off the page. We also have a love interest that is getting complicated. Callahan, however is NOT an amateur – she’s a licensed private investigator, and can carry a gun (and sho0t it). She’s also intelligent, determined and usually gets herself out of a jam rather than wait around for help.
I really enjoyed the premise in this installment, especially as I was a teenager in the era of the sixties girl groups. There were plenty of references to that era that kept me entertained and enough plot twists and red herrings to keep me interested. And … I did NOT guess the perpetrator until the reveal.
Hilary Huber does a fine job of narrating the audio version. She has good pacing, clear diction, and the skill to give the many characters distinct voices, making it easy for the listener to distinguish who is speaking. I particularly love how she voices the elderly Easterbrooks: Baby and Sister.
stacy837's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Alcohol
Moderate: Racism, Cursing, Classism, and Grief
Minor: Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Xenophobia, Blood, Drug use, Cancer, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
mschrock8's review against another edition
3.0
"The Young and the Breathless" made me laugh, and I appreciated the Jeopardy! references.
grandmommimi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-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
3.75
judithdcollins's review against another edition
3.0
I am in the process of reading the Callahan Garrity Mystery Series-- not entirely in order; however, each can be a standalone, as these are being released this year. This was #4 and Kathy Hogan Trocheck (Mary Kay Andrews) always adds spice and humor with her sassy southern belles.
With the housekeeping business (House Mouse) and her detective work, the array of colorful characters (quite eccentric) are always into some sort of mischief. This time, Callahan is trying to track down a missing member of the popular 60’s group the Velvet Teens.
It will take you back in time if you were from this era (which I was) with lots of laughs before all the new technology – entertaining – looking forward to reading them all since I have read all Mary Kay’s books (one of my favorite authors)– picking up Trocheck’s mysteries.
With the housekeeping business (House Mouse) and her detective work, the array of colorful characters (quite eccentric) are always into some sort of mischief. This time, Callahan is trying to track down a missing member of the popular 60’s group the Velvet Teens.
It will take you back in time if you were from this era (which I was) with lots of laughs before all the new technology – entertaining – looking forward to reading them all since I have read all Mary Kay’s books (one of my favorite authors)– picking up Trocheck’s mysteries.
chartsh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
reneesmith's review against another edition
4.0
*I'm a teacher & have the summer off from official work hours. So July has been my binge reading month! Often, I listen to audiobooks with my earbuds as I clean, walk on the treadmill, etc. (I increase the narrator's speed to flow as quickly as I read myself.) I've read some wonderful stories and am enjoying summer '21 so much!
leedigesu's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this story.
I don't know why I hesitated on reading this one. It was really good.
I don't know why I hesitated on reading this one. It was really good.