annieb123's review
5.0
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
A Perilous Pal is the second Friend For Hire cozy mystery by Laura Bradford. Released 5th July 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley Prime Crime imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. Library binding available in third quarter 2022. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
Protagonist Kim is a friend for hire and will, for a fee, attend whatever function/wedding/concert/or event her clients need. When her new client's ex-husband winds up dead and the evidence points directly back at client Kim, Emma channels her inner amateur sleuth yet again.
The characterizations are well done and believable. I enjoyed the bantering dialogue which is never overwrought or clunky. The pacing is maybe a trifle slow in places, but the author has an above average facility with description and the mystery and resolution are well controlled and satisfying. The clues are well presented and the entire "whodunit" is fair play and cleverly constructed.
The language is squeaky clean and the violence occurs off-scene. Four and a half stars. This is definitely one for fans of modern cozies with cute dogs and plucky female protagonists.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
A Perilous Pal is the second Friend For Hire cozy mystery by Laura Bradford. Released 5th July 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley Prime Crime imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. Library binding available in third quarter 2022. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
Protagonist Kim is a friend for hire and will, for a fee, attend whatever function/wedding/concert/or event her clients need. When her new client's ex-husband winds up dead and the evidence points directly back at client Kim, Emma channels her inner amateur sleuth yet again.
The characterizations are well done and believable. I enjoyed the bantering dialogue which is never overwrought or clunky. The pacing is maybe a trifle slow in places, but the author has an above average facility with description and the mystery and resolution are well controlled and satisfying. The clues are well presented and the entire "whodunit" is fair play and cleverly constructed.
The language is squeaky clean and the violence occurs off-scene. Four and a half stars. This is definitely one for fans of modern cozies with cute dogs and plucky female protagonists.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
notbrhymes's review against another edition
2.5
so over cops as love interests in cozies.
Especially tired of whiny little cops that shut down or get angry at any level of questioning.
also this main character is actually clueless and inept. she just got told something FOUR times before she was able to put it together. dear god.
Also, imagine crying over a man who is so fragile he cancels plans on vou and stonewalls vou bc vou say he has the wrong person LMAO
Would’ve been a 2 star but the ending was sweet so I bumped it
Especially tired of whiny little cops that shut down or get angry at any level of questioning.
also this main character is actually clueless and inept. she just got told something FOUR times before she was able to put it together. dear god.
Also, imagine crying over a man who is so fragile he cancels plans on vou and stonewalls vou bc vou say he has the wrong person LMAO
Would’ve been a 2 star but the ending was sweet so I bumped it
cj_mo_2222's review
4.0
I love the "friend for hire" premise of this series. I enjoyed getting to know Emma's new client Kim, who quickly gecomes a murder suspect. I also liked catching up with Emma's other clients who have become real friends to her now. The friendships are the highlight of the book.
Emma does a lot of investigating, but I was ablel to figure out who the killer was way before she did. There were two sweet developments unrelated to the murder that were revealed at the end, and I had already figured out one of these as well. However, because I like the rapport between all the characters, I am still interested in reading the next book in the series.
Emma does a lot of investigating, but I was ablel to figure out who the killer was way before she did. There were two sweet developments unrelated to the murder that were revealed at the end, and I had already figured out one of these as well. However, because I like the rapport between all the characters, I am still interested in reading the next book in the series.
readthisandsteep's review
5.0
A Perilous Pal is the second book in Laura Bradford's Friend for Hire mystery series. I was so excited for the chance to review this, as I really liked the first book in this series. So happy to say, this installment is as strong as the first!
Emma Westlake's business is called A Friend for Hire, and she works as a paid companion. Once again, Emma finds herself wrapped up in an investigation as her newest client is suspected of murder. Encouraged by her cozy mystery-loving friend, Dottie, Emma turns reluctant sleuth to get to the truth.
I read this in an afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed it. The pacing was good, and there were enough red herrings to keep a reader guessing. There's also a sweet romance brewing and an adorable dog, everything you could want in a cozy mystery!
Bradford takes the unique concept of a paid companion and makes it work both in terms of the plot and as a commentary on loneliness in modern life. A charming aspect of this series is that while Emma might be a friend for hire, there are genuine connections between Emma and her clients and the group as a whole. And these characters are quirky and vivid. From the first page, it felt like I was back among friends. Fun little coincidences among the characters and easter eggs from Bradford's other mystery series are starting to spring up too. I am already looking forward to book three! Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to review this ARC. I enjoyed it!
Emma Westlake's business is called A Friend for Hire, and she works as a paid companion. Once again, Emma finds herself wrapped up in an investigation as her newest client is suspected of murder. Encouraged by her cozy mystery-loving friend, Dottie, Emma turns reluctant sleuth to get to the truth.
I read this in an afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed it. The pacing was good, and there were enough red herrings to keep a reader guessing. There's also a sweet romance brewing and an adorable dog, everything you could want in a cozy mystery!
Bradford takes the unique concept of a paid companion and makes it work both in terms of the plot and as a commentary on loneliness in modern life. A charming aspect of this series is that while Emma might be a friend for hire, there are genuine connections between Emma and her clients and the group as a whole. And these characters are quirky and vivid. From the first page, it felt like I was back among friends. Fun little coincidences among the characters and easter eggs from Bradford's other mystery series are starting to spring up too. I am already looking forward to book three! Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to review this ARC. I enjoyed it!
thebashfulbookworm's review
4.0
Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
A Perilous Pal by Laura Bradford is the second book in her popular Friend for Hire Mystery series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone. This cozy mystery had everything I want in a cozy mystery to include a delightful Golden Retriever named Scout.
Emma Westlake has started her own company called A Friend for Hire. She helps lonely people by being their friend and spending time with them. When she meets a new client Kim Felder, they make a list of activities to help Kim recover from her sudden divorce. Kim makes some jokes about hurting her ex-husband, so when he turns up murdered the next day, all fingers point toward Kim. But Emma knows she couldn’t have done it, so she goes and investigates herself.
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. The pacing was good, and I enjoyed the mystery. I didn’t figure it out until our sleuth, Emma did. Scout, the golden retriever really stole the show for me, and I adored Emma and Scout together. The book is full of quirky characters in a charming small town. It’s the perfect escape mystery.
I highly recommend A Perilous Pal to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A Perilous Pal by Laura Bradford is the second book in her popular Friend for Hire Mystery series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone. This cozy mystery had everything I want in a cozy mystery to include a delightful Golden Retriever named Scout.
Emma Westlake has started her own company called A Friend for Hire. She helps lonely people by being their friend and spending time with them. When she meets a new client Kim Felder, they make a list of activities to help Kim recover from her sudden divorce. Kim makes some jokes about hurting her ex-husband, so when he turns up murdered the next day, all fingers point toward Kim. But Emma knows she couldn’t have done it, so she goes and investigates herself.
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. The pacing was good, and I enjoyed the mystery. I didn’t figure it out until our sleuth, Emma did. Scout, the golden retriever really stole the show for me, and I adored Emma and Scout together. The book is full of quirky characters in a charming small town. It’s the perfect escape mystery.
I highly recommend A Perilous Pal to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
sarahthereader's review against another edition
4.0
It was so much fun to listen to A Perilous Pal, book 2 in Laura Bradford’s Friend for Hire cozy mystery series. I’m such a fan of Bradford’s writing and I enjoyed being back with Emma Westlake and her friends.
When Emma’s new client, Kim is accused of murder, Emma along with her golden retriever Scout, friends Dottie and Stephanie, decide to work to clear Kim’s name and find the real murderer.
It’s a great cast of characters and I did not guess the ending. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, add this series to your stack!
When Emma’s new client, Kim is accused of murder, Emma along with her golden retriever Scout, friends Dottie and Stephanie, decide to work to clear Kim’s name and find the real murderer.
It’s a great cast of characters and I did not guess the ending. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, add this series to your stack!
kmpuzzled's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
The main character is nice but not too bright and it gets aggravating.
meganguzman's review
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jbrooxd's review against another edition
4.0
[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
4 stars = Great! Might re-read.
Book two in this series extends the fun. The premise of Emma's business - friend for hire - is clever and has drawn together a fantastic group of characters. The mystery was terrific, with a nice twist. There's no big confrontation in the end (something that is unusual compared to other cozies), and another little thread from the book gets a nice reveal/confirmation. I'll have to wait for book 3 to get the payoff for that little bit, and that makes me excited to get book 3 asap.
Observant readers will catch references to some of the author's other series, which is a great way to pass the time while you wait for the next book here. Highly recommend this series for cozy fans.
4 stars = Great! Might re-read.
Book two in this series extends the fun. The premise of Emma's business - friend for hire - is clever and has drawn together a fantastic group of characters. The mystery was terrific, with a nice twist. There's no big confrontation in the end (something that is unusual compared to other cozies), and another little thread from the book gets a nice reveal/confirmation. I'll have to wait for book 3 to get the payoff for that little bit, and that makes me excited to get book 3 asap.
Observant readers will catch references to some of the author's other series, which is a great way to pass the time while you wait for the next book here. Highly recommend this series for cozy fans.