January 22, 2007
How to Succeed in Murder
by Margaret Dumas
The second book in the series. Whipped through this one even faster than the first, and was ecstatic to see the return of my favorite character, Flank. Flank is a bodyguard and is representative of everything I like about these books: He's a bit of a stereotype (bodyguard, super-hairy, built like a tank, mafioso-looking) but he's just plain fun. He can only speak clearly when he's holding a gun (or something equally macho and phallic, like the gearshift of a Hummer). He's nigh-unstoppable when the person he's supposed to be protecting (usually Charley, the series heroine) is in danger. He's a source of much tension-relieving comedy, and generally a lot of fun to have in a scene. Yay.
Book 2 in 2007
Speak Now
by Margaret Dumas
This is the first published novel by Margaret Dumas, and although at times it seems a bit first-novel-ish, once I got into it, I didn't care anymore. The characters are fun and engaging, the plot is straightforward and a solidly well-written mystery, and I had an absolute blast reading it. Honestly. (I do work for Margaret at our day job, but I'm not just sucking up here. It's a good book!) I whipped through it and tore through the second one in the series even faster. Now I just have to wait for her to write another.
Book 1 in 2007.