Reviewer: Allie
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
Cathy is riding high in her brand-new job at a (surprisingly bitchy) top London advertising agency working with best friend Rosa. But when Rosa’s pregnancy goes amiss and enemies sabotage her new career, she finds herself leading a chaotic double life of lies and deception, hiding a shameful secret from all, especially husband Declan who appears in the throes of a nervous breakdown. Meanwhile she’s agreed to unmask the notorious Crouch End Creeper, a burglar terrorizing their neighbourhood. Little does she know that her meddling, assisted by fellow mothers (the Wednesday Once Weeklies) and the Neighbourhood Watch, will lead their dangerous opponent to murder. And that it’s not only the tall elegant transvestite who is placing herself at risk…
Review:
To Catch a Creeper by Ellie Campbell is the sequel to Looking for La La. Most of the crazy gang from the original story are back. Cathy, after being applauded for the Looking For La La campaign, is now an account executive at a London advertising firm. She’s trying to get her footing as a career woman, while also juggling the care of her family and household. To add to her complications, she’s also agreed to find the “Creeper”/burglar who’s terrorizing the neighborhood. Throw in a pregnant best friend, a depressed and out of work husband, difficult neighbors and a couple of transvestites and you’ve got yourself a unique mystery. Fasten your seatbelts.
This is the third Ellie Campbell book I’ve read in the last year and the author is consistent with her writing style. The book has very interesting characters who at first don’t seem real, yet by the end of the story, you actually begin to relate to them. The plot is very convoluted, but again, at the end of the story, everything falls into place. The dialogue is sharp and witty. All the elements of a good book are there, so I’m not sure why this one didn’t resonate with me like the others. In the first book, Cathy stumbled into the mystery and had a personal stake in the outcome – but this time around, a friend asked Cathy to investigate. Then it seemed as if everyone was involved and although entertaining, it required quite a bit of suspended belief. That said, it’s a fun ride and I do recommend the book to readers who enjoy British humor, zany people and a good mystery.
