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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
Marie Jones is an ex-social worker leading a double life as a private investigator named Luella van Horn. She’s hired to find a missing contestant on a sex driven reality show.
I actually ended up liking this more than I thought I would. I enjoyed the antics of Marie trying to keep her ‘Luella’ persona from being found out. Whether that was due to messy wigs or missing false teeth.
For much of the book, I didn’t feel like Luella was much of an investigator. However, at the end, she had a trick up her sleeve that showed how good she was. Also, I didn’t know who the murderer was until the reveal.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam and NetGalley for this ARC.
I actually ended up liking this more than I thought I would. I enjoyed the antics of Marie trying to keep her ‘Luella’ persona from being found out. Whether that was due to messy wigs or missing false teeth.
For much of the book, I didn’t feel like Luella was much of an investigator. However, at the end, she had a trick up her sleeve that showed how good she was. Also, I didn’t know who the murderer was until the reveal.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam and NetGalley for this ARC.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
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:
Yes
This was hilarious
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Good vacation read
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Marie Jones is a 29 year old divorcee with two cats: Meatloaf and Meatball. During the day she is Marie, a social worker, by night she is Luella van Horn an (unlicensed) private detective best known for finding lost pets. That is until she gets called in to find a missing cast member of the show "Sex Island". But, before she can find him he finds her...dead...in her bath tub. Now, she has to solve his murder and everyone on the cast and crew are suspects.
Not as a good thing or a bad thing, but you can tell this book was written by a comedian. It was funny without being too over the top, but as someone that loves murder mysteries because they're clever, this was not it. I also need to point out that even though "Sex Island" is in the title, this book is NOT spicy. If you are going into this expecting sexy comedy mystery, you are only going to get 1.5 of those things.
During the story (and even the synopsis on the back) they talk about her messing up a case and a letting a murderer get away. They referenced it so many times I was convinced this dude was going to come back into play. Maybe they were just setting up for more books in this series, but the mystery portion just fell flat. It was an enjoyable read, but I don't think it is going to be a book that I remember in a year.
Not as a good thing or a bad thing, but you can tell this book was written by a comedian. It was funny without being too over the top, but as someone that loves murder mysteries because they're clever, this was not it. I also need to point out that even though "Sex Island" is in the title, this book is NOT spicy. If you are going into this expecting sexy comedy mystery, you are only going to get 1.5 of those things.
During the story (and even the synopsis on the back) they talk about her messing up a case and a letting a murderer get away. They referenced it so many times I was convinced this dude was going to come back into play. Maybe they were just setting up for more books in this series, but the mystery portion just fell flat. It was an enjoyable read, but I don't think it is going to be a book that I remember in a year.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No