Rating: 
Summary: An enjoyable romp though upscale L.A.
Review: This is a particularly well-plotted mystery -- complex but not so complex you need charts to keep track of timelines and characters. There are several subplots that manage to come together in one way or another, and a few red herrings to distract the reader.
Madeline Bean, caterer to the wealthy of Los Angeles, is the "detective" of this story. If I had to say what the book is about, it would be hard to know where to begin, because of all the subplots. Would I begin with the private papers she finds on her driveway? With the catered event where a saxaphone gets stolen? With the owner of the private papers (who is at the event) getting so upset when she tries to tell him she's found these papers? With a wild car ride with a very angry man? Or with the corpse found at her house?
The action never stops in this book. It will keep you up late for sure. And I was genuinely surprised by the killer, although it all made sense.
Rating:
Summary: Perfectly Delightful
Review: Wes and Holly are celebrating the conclusion of another outstanding party. They're a little concerned since Madeline had left for home a little earlier then normal dog tired, but they think she'll be fine tomorrow. Then they hear the news bulletin. Someone has been murdered in Madeline's bed.Twelve hours earlier, Madeline and her employees and co-workers are getting ready for the Jazz Ball, a huge event to raise money for the Woodburn School for Music. Madeline runs out to get something from her car, only to find trash all over the place. On closer examination, she finds it's personal papers belonging to a neighbor. She's shock when her offer to return the papers is met with hostility and the offer of a blackmail payment. If that weren't enough, the prize item from the charity auction at the ball, a rare saxophone, vanishes without a trace. What could have happened to it? Throw in the return of Chuck Honnett and a new love interest, and Madeline's life may be more complicated then she knows what to do with. Especially if she doesn't know whom to trust. It's no secret that this series has been a favorite since I first found it a couple years ago. This entry finds Madeline, and her author, in top form. The plot weaves all over the place before we reach a heart pounding climax. The characters spring off the page, especially Madeline, Wes, and Holly. And the two sidekicks get plenty of "page" time this go around. They really do make a great trio. Jerrilyn Farmer has such a fun, breezy writing style that it's easy to be sucked into the book and hard to put it down. This is a series to savor. Best read in order; start with SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL. I already can't wait for Madeline's next wild and fun adventure.
Rating:
Summary: Perfectly Delightful
Review: Wes and Holly are celebrating the conclusion of another outstanding party. They're a little concerned since Madeline had left for home a little earlier then normal dog tired, but they think she'll be fine tomorrow. Then they hear the news bulletin. Someone has been murdered in Madeline's bed. Twelve hours earlier, Madeline and her employees and co-workers are getting ready for the Jazz Ball, a huge event to raise money for the Woodburn School for Music. Madeline runs out to get something from her car, only to find trash all over the place. On closer examination, she finds it's personal papers belonging to a neighbor. She's shock when her offer to return the papers is met with hostility and the offer of a blackmail payment. If that weren't enough, the prize item from the charity auction at the ball, a rare saxophone, vanishes without a trace. What could have happened to it? Throw in the return of Chuck Honnett and a new love interest, and Madeline's life may be more complicated then she knows what to do with. Especially if she doesn't know whom to trust. It's no secret that this series has been a favorite since I first found it a couple years ago. This entry finds Madeline, and her author, in top form. The plot weaves all over the place before we reach a heart pounding climax. The characters spring off the page, especially Madeline, Wes, and Holly. And the two sidekicks get plenty of "page" time this go around. They really do make a great trio. Jerrilyn Farmer has such a fun, breezy writing style that it's easy to be sucked into the book and hard to put it down. This is a series to savor. Best read in order; start with SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL. I already can't wait for Madeline's next wild and fun adventure.
Rating:
Summary: Jerrilyn Farmer's the BEST!
Review: you see an unfinished book sitting there, waiting to be picked up, and you start something else instead. More than once. That was my experience here.
We start with an omniscient "narrator", although the series' point-of-view is Maddie's first person. This was rather jarring.
The opening scene involves a madman confronting Maddie, as well as a rather over-the-top fistfight. We move on to a rather harrowing car chase scene before Maddie arrives home to find the police ahead of her and a dead body in her very own bed.
Sorry, but that was all too much for me to take in - along with a Jag-driving independently wealthy new "love interest" for Maddie; he appears JUST as Honnett tries to win her back.
I gave up when the "decompression" session at Wesley's place failed to do more than carry me along in a state of confusion.
Speaking of Wes ... the author has hinted time and again that he's gay. If they are SO very close, wouldn't he have come out to her already? This dancing around his sexuality has been the most annoying feature of the otherwise interesting series: total nonsense!
I give two stars here because I want to give Ms. Farmer another chance. I really do. I'd even try the next book - but not the rest of this one.
Rating: 
Summary: You know you're in trouble when ...
Review: you see an unfinished book sitting there, waiting to be picked up, and you start something else instead. More than once. That was my experience here.
We start with an omniscient "narrator", although the series' point-of-view is Maddie's first person. This was rather jarring.
The opening scene involves a madman confronting Maddie, as well as a rather over-the-top fistfight. We move on to a rather harrowing car chase scene before Maddie arrives home to find the police ahead of her and a dead body in her very own bed.
Sorry, but that was all too much for me to take in - along with a Jag-driving independently wealthy new "love interest" for Maddie; he appears JUST as Honnett tries to win her back.
I gave up when the "decompression" session at Wesley's place failed to do more than carry me along in a state of confusion.
Speaking of Wes ... the author has hinted time and again that he's gay. If they are SO very close, wouldn't he have come out to her already? This dancing around his sexuality has been the most annoying feature of the otherwise interesting series: total nonsense!
I give two stars here because I want to give Ms. Farmer another chance. I really do. I'd even try the next book - but not the rest of this one.
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