Rating: 
Summary: Social Crimes
Review: Jo Slater is a very wealthy, very powerful socialite. She serves on the board of one of New York's most prestigious museum, she owns one of the worlds most impressive collection of eighteenth century furniture, she throws the best parties and has friends in all of the right places. Jo worked very hard to get to where she was, as she was not born into this life. However, it the blink of an eye all that Jo had worked so hard to attain was ripped away from her upon her husbands death. That is thanks in part to the beautiful French Countess Monique de Passay who began an affair with Lucius Slater, Jo's husband of over twenty years, a little over a year before Lucius' death. Lucius' will leaves all of his assets split between the Countess and his son leaving Jo virtually penniless and in a lot of debt. After years of obsessing over revenge, Jo finally devises a plan to bring down the Countess and regain her standing in society.I thoroughly enjoyed this novel of New York's socially elite and how quickly it can all be taken away. "SOCIAL CRIMES" is a very enjoyable book that will have you rooting for Jo all the way.
Rating: 
Summary: Sex, lies, murder...The perfect beach read.
Review: Jo Slater is one of New York's elite. She runs in the social circles of the ultra rich, but life in the fast lane comes to an abrupt stop when her husband dies mysteriously and leaves all his money to Monique de
Passy, a French countess with more than her share of surprises up her sleeve. As Jo is left penniless, with no home or job she does what any other socialite would do...begin questioning everything you thought you knew about the man you married. Jo's search for answers will take her down a road filled with secrets, lies, and murder and at the end of the road is the countess. Determined to put her life back together, and destroy the woman who destroyed her, Jo sets out to uncover the shameful secrets lurking behind the glitz and glamour of New York high society, but what she discovers is that some people will stop at nothing...even murder if the price is right. 'Social Crimes' has it all; great plot, fast pace, sex, lies, secrets, and murder...what more could you want in a beach book. This highly readable expose of the ultra rich disguised as a murder mystery scores on all levels for not only being original, intelligent, and funny, but also very entertaining. Jane Stanton Hitchcock has written a wonderful novel of money, and murder, one that will have all of New York's upper crust wondering who the characters are based on. Dive into 'Social Crimes' you will not be disappointed. Nick Gonnella
Rating:
Summary: A page turner !!
Review: Loved the book - it was gripping - kept me wanting more like any good book should.
Even though i do not lead this kind of socialite life, this story put me there- very descriptive. There was a sense of energy that came from routing for this heroine. Jo's bad fortune is something we can all fear.
I was mostly satisfied with the finish , however one part left me wondering, Why Jo did not conclude with any reflection on her husbands need to have her not only financially but emotinally suffer?.There seemed to be no substantial foreshadowing to this.
Some deeper reflection on this would have given more depth to the story.
Rating: 
Summary: ugh
Review: Maybe I just don't get it. These people just don't exist and if they did I would have no interest in them or their doings. The plot is contrived the characters are sick and I only wasted my time on this book because it was chosen by our book group. The hardest thing to believe is the high percentage of the people that reviewed the book gave it high marks. Maybe I just don't get it!
Rating: 
Summary: This book provides quite a laugh for us "poor folks"
Review: Okay, I know that the extremely wealthy are not like the rest of us. This book was very humorous and has the makings for a Hollywood movie, complete with the perfect "Hollywood" ending. It was a good read, LOTS of characters though. Throughout the book, I really never did feel bad at all for the main character, Jo Slater. She lived in such a shallow, protected world, that when she had to face the real world, she still clung to her own ways. I mean, she's flat broke, but owns a necklace that belonged to Marie Antoniette. Okay, now I probably would have sold it ASAP and just moved to a new city and lived off the $250 million from the necklace. Oh no, not Jo Slater. She's got revenge on her mind. Can you just imagine being reduced to Hush Puppy shoes, having to work in a department store, and no place to wear your coture gowns? The horror!
It's an easy read but very far from a world I know. It is fun to see how the other half lives though.
Rating:
Summary: Not so sweet revenge
Review: One of the leaders of the New York social set, Jo Slater,is devastated when her philandering, millionaire husband dies and leaves his entire fortune to his mistress, young, beautiful French Countess Monique de Passy, who befriended Jo with the express purpose of ferreting out her closest secrets so that she might put together a huge swindle. Jo finds herself penniless after a lifetime of having nothing but the best and is hard put to raise enough money to eke out an existence. It's a fascinating tale which gives amazing insights to the lives of the VERY rich and famous and also to the workings of the mind of that most dangerous of creatures..a woman wronged who is out for revenge in a big way! It's a quick, funny and highly enjoyable short read.
Rating: 
Summary: Okay, okay, I get it...
Review: So the writer is well versed in Marie Antoinette and proceeds to use 300+ pages to beat this expertise into our heads. The book was just a little too precious with its cast of characters and their turns of phrase. I was not the least bit surprised who would be murdered and how it would take place, as the author chose to telegraph the method at least 100 pages beforehand. I believe there is something inauthentic in writing what you know when the first 250 pages speak in exquisite, never-ending detail of historical anecdote and the author glosses over the actual point of the plot. By now it's anticlimatic.
Rating:
Summary: Seems so real - it's almost scary!
Review: Social Crimes is the most fun, interesting book I have read in years! I would recommend it to anyone! I can't say enough about this book - yet i can't stop talking about it - and I'm not even finished with it yet! (2 more chapters to go! I don't want it to end!!!)
You would think the author herself went through this ordeal - the writing and story seems so real, with every detail and emotion spelled out. The reader almost feels as if she's sitting down with an old friend over coffee or vodka as she tells the story. Amazing.
Rating:
Summary: Social Crimes goes down like a glass of French champagne!
Review: Social Crimes was one of the best novels I have read in along while, the story was brisk and fun often lending itslef to old money cliches. It was truly the best book to read on a rainy day when going to the wonderful glamorous world of Social Crimes was the best escape!
Rating:
Summary: Revenge is always bittersweet
Review: The book is a quick read. It's very smart, sharp, funny, shocking, glamorous. It involves the reader greatly. Highly recommend this one.
| 
