Handbags and Homicide by Dorothy Howell

I was looking forward to reading back to back chick lit mysteries. After finishing up the Lacy Fields novels from Janice Kaplan, I moved on to the Haley Randolph series from Dorothy Howell. The first, Handbags and Homicide, sounded like it could provide enough entertainment, but it definitely fell flat with me. The heroine Haley reminded me of Sophie Kinsella’s shopaholic, Rebecca Bloomwood, but without the likeability. She’s in massive debt, has an addiction to designer handbags, and working at a minimum wage position in a low scale retail store. Instead of finding some sort of work ethic and paying off debts, she continues to slouch through life, racking up extreme credit card purchases and showing no sign of changing. That alone put me off, but then comes the mystery part. When Haley finds the retail store’s assistant manager dead in the stockroom, she becomes a suspect in the crime. She sets off her own half-assed investigation, which I found to be pointless and overly long-winded, and eventually the real killer was uncovered and I could finally stop reading this book. I knew right away I wasn’t going to like this story when Haley finds her deceased boss, then walks away from him and decides she needs to buy another purse. What?? The supporting characters were not well written, most times I couldn’t decipher between characters or couldn’t remember who they were and why they were being talked about. I couldn’t finish this novel fast enough, and have zero interest looking into any of the other Haley Randolph books.

Rating: 1/5

A Job to Kill For by Janice Kaplan

Lacy Fields is back in Janice Kaplan’s follow-up, A Job to Kill For. Lacy finds herself thrust in the middle of a murder once again when she is with trophy wife Cassie Crawford as she mysteriously dies. When police begin their investigation, Lacy is devastated to learn that her own best friend, Molly Archer, has been cast as the lead suspect. Molly’s prints are all over the bottle of tea that contained the poison killing Cassie, and Molly has been recently canoodling with Cassie’s uber-rich husband. Lacy knows that Molly couldn’t have possibly committed the crime, and sets out to clear her friend’s name. But while trying to track down the real killer, Lacy finds herself suddenly being the prime suspect. Now it’s not just about clearing Molly’s name- but also her own.

A Job to Kill For was as excellent as the first Lacy Fields mystery, Looks to Die For. The mystery tied in with the glamorous lives the heroine and her friends lead makes this a fun read for chick lit fans. Kaplan, a veteran in the entertainment industry, enjoys name dropping and showcasing designer brands along the way. Her writing is fast and witty, and each supporting character has a well constructed back story that makes them as memorable as the heroine. Once I hit just over the halfway mark and the mystery started to intensify, I had to keep reading to find out just who committed the crime.

Rating: 4/5

I Scream, You Scream by Wendy Lyn Watson

Tallulah Jones is a struggling entrepreneur, trying to keep her beloved ice cream parlor in business. Unfortunately for her, the biggest way to drive in customers is catering the big annual luau taking place in town- run by her cheating ex-husband. Wayne, a highly successful and egocentric entrepreneur, doesn’t have a problem flaunting his younger girlfriend, Brittanie, in front of Tallulah, further increasing her humiliation. But when Brittanie mysteriously dies after the luau, people are saying it was murder- and fingers are pointed at Tallulah.

Knowing full well she did not murder Brittanie, Tallulah is determined to clear her name. She sets out on her own investigation, quickly racking up names of people around town that held a grudge against the young woman who stole her husband. Along the way, she finds a love connection with an old flame- but could he be involved in the mysterious murder?

I Scream, You Scream by Wendy Lyn Watson is a deliciously written cozy mystery that will delight chick lit fans, especially those who like added suspense. There is enough humor and plots twists to keep the characters engaging, and the love story is nicely played with the “did he or didn’t he?” throw in. A fun, fast, and tasteful read.

Looks to Die For by Janice Kaplan

Lacy Fields is thriving in life. A great job as an interior designer, a successful and loving husband who works as a plastic surgeon in Hollywood, great family and friends. But when the cops explode into her house one night and arrest her husband Dan for murdering a wannabee actress, Lacy feels her life getting turned upside down. Convinced that Dan is not a murderer, but feeling like everyone- including Dan’s attorney- thinks he’s guilty, the mom who loves designer shoes and sparkling jewelry decides to launch her own investigation into the shady world of fame, money, and scandal. She certainly doesn’t expect what she finds- ex-cons, ransom notes, a dead body in her own trunk, being taken hostage. But determined to stand by her man, nothing will knock down this well-dressed amateur sleuth as she works feverishly to clear her husband’s name and put the pieces of her family back together.

Looks to Die For, the first of two Lacy Fields mysteries from well-known author Janice Kaplan, will give readers plenty of suspense along with the posh LA lifestyle the heroine is living. The mystery is puzzling, with enough plot twists and character assumptions that will keep you guessing until the end, and the celebrity name dropping is delightful for chick lit fans. Kaplan’s witty writing along with the pull of a love story will keep readers wanting more from Lacy Fields.

Rating: 3.5/5

Bulletproof Mascara by Bethany Maines

Nikki Lanier is in desperate need for a job, and her lone degree in linguistics is not helping her case any. When she gets an offer from Mrs. M, head of Carrie Mae Foundations (think Mary Kay or Avon) she gingerly agrees to learn about all things makeup. She quickly finds out that not only does Carrie Mae specialize in foundation and mascara, but they are also secret agents out to protect women around the world. Nikki soon finds herself attending target practice, learning which guns are used in which situations, and how to fight enemies with acid nail polish and flash grenade compacts.   

After Nikki successfully completes her training test, Mrs. M sends her on to her first mission- to Taiwan. Nikki, along with veteran agent Valerie, are to rescue Lawan Chinnawat, director of a woman’s clinic and a leader in protesting the sex trades that dominate Asia. Along the way, Nikki befriends a handsome stranger who she thinks may be a government agent in on the kidnapping, and learns of a traitor within the company, almost losing her own life because of it.

Bulletproof Mascara, the hilarious spy novel from Bethany Maines, will keep readers laughing throughout as innocent Nikki goes from her awkward unemployment stage to confident secret agent, figuring out missions. Nikki’s character is immediately likeable, someone who is a little unsure about themselves but willing to take on a new challenge. The plot line is fun and engaging, with the mystery not being revealed until the very end. I was a little skeptical at first when I read the synopsis, because cosmetics gals working as secret agents didn’t sound very believable, but Maines definitely makes it work. Bulletproof goes on my favorites list, and I cannot wait for the sequel to come out! The book even has its own website, www.bulletproofmascara.com, and there is plenty of fun to be found there. A must read for chick lit fans that enjoy a little mystery and suspense in their books.

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

Jacob Hunt isn’t the average teenager. Though he is seemingly quite smart- especially with forensics analysis, he is terrible at reading social cues and expressing emotions, causing him to be an outcast among his school. But Jacob suffers from Asperger’s syndrome- a form of autism. While he can function at a higher level than those with autism, it doesn’t help him make friends any easier. The only person who really seems to understand Jacob is his tutor- until she is found dead, and Jacob is the prime suspect. Suddenly, Jacob’s family- which includes his single struggling mother and younger teenage brother- are under the spotlight. Could Jacob really have committed murder?

House Rules is a gripping, suspenseful novel by best-selling author Jodi Picoult. By examining different character point of views, readers can get a deeper understanding of the murder mystery at play. The clues help lead the plot along, but are never too informative, so I kept trying to read faster to find out who was the real killer. I had tears in my eyes while reading what Jacob’s mother went through during her daily life- what she needed to do when Jacob has tantrums in public and how she was coping during the days he was in jail. The story is powerful until the end, and keeps you thinking about the characters long after you have finished.

 

Hot Pursuit by Christina Skye

When mystery writer Taylor O’Toole offers to help her friend Candace with an unfaithful boyfriend, she didn’t expect to get swept into her own mysterious world filled with mobsters, hit men, and death threats. But that is exactly what happens, starting with a mysterious climbing fall, a bouquet of black roses complete with a threat, then getting her own Navy SEAL assigned to watch after her every move. Taylor is confused- what could she possibly know about the disappearance of a Navy scientist and the threat of a deadly drug that international terrorists are after?

With SEAL Jack Broussard watching over her, Taylor begins to feel frustrated with the whole situation. She couldn’t be in any real danger, right? But a gruesome wakeup call and the death of an officer opens her eyes to the terrifying world she has stumbled into. Her love for the SEAL begins to cloud both their judgments, and their missteps almost get them both killed.  

Hot Pursuit by Christina Skye has some good elements to it- specifically the suspense and the mystery. I thought the plot dragged on in the beginning, and you have wait until the end to really get caught up in the story. I liked the mystery, though the whole terrorists and hiding drugs did seem a teeny far-fetched, and the coincidences seemed a little too, well coincidental. I enjoyed the fact that I could not figure out all the guilty players involved until the very end when the criminals are unveiled. That kept the suspense even higher for me, and made me want to keep reading. This wasn’t my favorite book, but still a fun read, and romantic thriller fans will be entertained.

Killer Riff by Sheryl J. Anderson

Molly Forrester has finally done it. No longer is she just an advice columnist, she has been promoted to a feature writer!  Her hard work and nose for investigating has been noticed by her publisher, giving her a well deserved advance on the career ladder.  Molly couldn’t be more thrilled, but wishes she had ex-boyfriend, NYPD homicide detective Kyle Edwards to share the joy with.

Her first assignment is keeping her more than busy. What seems like a simple article about the death of Russell Elliott, legendary rock producer and manger, turns out to be a much trickier case. The death is blamed on an accidental overdose, and nobody raises any red flags of suspicion, as overdoses are a common occurrence in the rock world. Except for one person- Elliott’s daughter, who has become convinced her father’s death was murder, and solicited Molly to help her find the killer.

 Molly has found herself stuck. Her job does not want her investigating a homicide; they want a simple, inside look at the life and career of Russell Elliott, not stirring up rumors of murder. But Molly’s sleuthing abilities and evidence of possible suspects makes it hard to resist, putting both her promotion and winning back Kyle at risk.

Killer Riff, the fourth book of Sheryl J. Anderson’s Molly Forrester series, delivers a powerful but still glamorous mystery, keeping the stylish and sexy characters alive with humor and wit. Readers will enjoy getting a behind the scene look at the powerful music industry, and the fast paced chick lit novel will keep you hooked until the end.

Killer Deal by Sheryl J. Anderson

The ‘Sleuth in the City’ is back for more. Molly Forrester, our fashionable gossip column writing heroine, Molly Forrester, is still determined to make it as an investigative crime reporter. She gets another crack at it after getting the opportunity to interview the wealthy Gwen Lincoln, widow to Garth Henderson, advertising executive that was murdered.  Molly is determined to find the killer: is it Gwen, the bitter ex wife? Or did the murder have something to do with the rumored buyout that Henderson was working on with a rival advertising company?

Killer Deal, the third novel in the Molly Forrester series by Sheryl J. Anderson, again brings the mystery, fashion, and a slew of colorful characters and suspects. Molly’s boyfriend, sexy NYPD homicide detective Kyle Edwards wants Molly to stay away from the crime scene to keep her out of danger. Molly struggles to make her boyfriend happy and keep herself happy and pushing towards what she wants to do for a career.

I have to say that I  didn’t find Killer Deal quite as exciting and titillating as the first two novels, but I enjoyed following Molly’s story as she tries to get her byline while juggling her boyfriend and personal life. Anderson gives readers another light-hearted read that does an excellent job of mixing mystery and chick lit.

Skinny-Dipping by Claire Matturro

Skinny-Dipping by Claire Matturro whips a frothy chick lit legal thriller, keeping readers on their toes while trying to sort out the crimes. Lilly Rose Cleary, junior partner to a Sarasota law firm, is working her usual malpractice cases- a whiplash case caused in a kayaking incident, and a “veggie baby case” passed along to her from a senior partner. Life seems to be going at normal for Lilly- until she is put in a choke hold on her way back to the office. This incident caps off a tailspin of unusual events. First, a doctor facing a malpractice suit comes to Lilly for advice- and is dead within hours. Next, Lilly is getting shot at, but even then the (sexy) detective working on the case can’t seem to decide if Lilly is a victim or a suspect.

Matturro gives readers a sexy, sassy, determined, and witty heroine, but mixes in just enough legal jargon to make this thriller truly suspenseful. I loved that the villain is not indentified until the very end, as with many mysteries readers can pinpoint them within a few chapters. This aspect ups the intensity and need to keep turning the pages. The plot zips by quickly with a mix of memorable characters, including a depressed Rottweiler and an albino ferret, and they add an ingredient of humor to this enjoyable first novel from Claire Matturro.

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