Reviews

Bad Housekeeping by Maia Chance

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sophyac's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This one is a simple mystery to listen to while you are doings chores or running errands. Cute and fun.

alice_horoshev's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

It is silly and preposterous, but the aunt character is so good and the dialogues are hilarious.

milenabates's review against another edition

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3.0

Not great literature, but it's not pretending to be and you probably weren't expecting it. Cheesy murder mystery that gives you a chuckle here and there. "But she didn't look sweet when she smiled like that. She looked like a cross between an antique doll and a crocodile handbag". What? It's ridiculous but still kinda funny.

bigotterbooks's review against another edition

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4.0

Great book! Let me start by saying this; you know how I am always whining about FORMULA BOOKS. If you want to write a book just Google and there are literally thousands of outlines that you can follow and write a book. Most of the time, I read one and it sticks so closely to a bad outline that it makes my eye twitch and I say nay, nay-1 star. But, sometimes, the outline is good and the author has some real talent and you get a book like Bad Housekeeping.

Let's count off the main points:
Unconventional heroine-check.
Eccentric family member with mysterious back story (Great Aunt Effie!)-check.
Dumped by boyfriend/moves back home where Dad is the Mayor-check.
Effie is trying to rebuild the town eyesore/old Stagecoach Inn into a boutique hotel-check.
Old flame shows up looking hotsie totsie-check.
Wacky cousin and fun friend-check.
Argues with random person later found MURDERED-check.
Agnes & Effie are now the number one suspects and team up to solve the murder before the cops fit them for matching handcuffs-check.

So, basically, we've all read this book before; but no, the twists and humor are so much fun in this one. I liked it and there were so many things going on and who names characters Agnes & Effie? Great names. And oh, my gosh, all the food! This is the hungriest main character I've read in a long time and I love it-finally, a heroine for the rest of us. The murder was fairly mysterious and the clues led all over the place. Car chases, people with guns!, interesting townsfolk characters to move things along and keep us guessing. Just when I thought it was over, bam, something else happened. And, yes, there is a cat. 4 big fat stars and I'm waiting for the next one to hit my library account.

harba's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

lize_barclay's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This is a reasonable Mc-Cozy, with the usual recipe of romance, quirky main character who is body obsessed, lots of food, quant town and a hint of murder on the side. It is somewhat infuriating to read as an academic and became of the scratchy nature of the hint of embedded judgement running through the novel. It describes just enough and at least as a non-American it was easy enough to follow.