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.

Sheryl J. Anderson

Sheryl J. Anderson always wanted to write a novel. It just took her longer than most to get there. She now has four mystery novels in print, all revolving around Molly Forrester and the Killer series. The four titles are: Killer Heels, Killer Cocktail, Killer Deal, and Killer Riff. All follow a murder (or murders) with the stiletto wearing, cocktail sipping Molly Forrester hot on the trail in efforts to crack the case and write the best story. Each novel is written with the characters leaping from the pages and into your imagination, trying to solve the mystery before even Molly can.

Anderson got her start at the College of William & Mary, where she began as a playwright. After deciding writing was for her, she trekked her way onto Los Angeles, moving from several different screenwriting positions, working in both movies and television. One of the shows she wrote for, Charmed, happened to be a favorite of mine for many years, so it is no wonder I enjoy her books so much.

Anderson is married to husband Mark Parrott, and currently lives in Los Angeles with their two children, Sara and Sean.   

Official Website: http://sheryljanderson.com/

Killer Heels by Sheryl J. Anderson

Are you a Sex in the City fan? Of course I am, and the moment I began reading Killer Heels by Sheryl J. Anderson I felt that I was transported right onto the set. Our heroine, Molly Forrester, is a replica of Carrie Bradshaw, a sassy Manhattan journalist with an ambition to move up from her so-so advice columnist position (“You Can Tell Me”), two girlfriends with night and day personalities, and of course: a love of expensive designer shoes. The cover alone was enough to lure me to pick up this book, with nothing but legs and pink stilettos resting above the New York skyline.

The plot begins with Molly walking into (literally into) a crime scene involving her companies’ advertising director, Teddy Reynolds and his murdered body at the office.  Molly’s beautiful, brand new Jimmy Choos are ruined after inadvertently stepping in Teddy’s blood, but what’s more- Molly is now determined to solve this mystery, get a fabulous story, and finally become a real writer. It doesn’t take long for the wide array of characters to step up and get their hands messy as well. Molly’s two sidekicks- Cassady Lynch, a fierce lawyer, and Tricia Vincent, a sweet event planner, are loyal and loveable throughout. I enjoy how Anderson makes these characters come alive, giving reader’s knowledge and insight about their careers, love lives, and families. Peter Mulcahey, Molly’s ex-boyfriend who happens to be a rival reporter, enters the scene in hopes of getting the better story than Molly to move up in the writing world. And there is hottie Detective Kyle Edwards, who is assigned to the murder case. His piercing eyes and built body is enough to make Molly forget her words, but the no-nonsense attitude he portrays about the case derails Molly making any moves on him. 

The plot is well crafted to hold your attention throughout the book, and the suspense and mystery makes you want to flip to the back prematurely to solve the murder. Killer Heels is the first of four Molly Forrester novels, and the debut sparks the thrill-seeking, fashion obsessing, and even romance side out of all the chick lit lovers.