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lacytelles's review against another edition
4.0
Super fun and funny mystery with a great new detective/former actress. Recommend for anyone looking for a light and fun mystery. I also recommend if you are tired of old, grizzly white man detectives running the show.
kshawby's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
dennisfischman's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Author Kellye Garrett spent years writing TV crime dramas like Cold Case, and it shows. As a book, this is a good script for something visual. As an unconventional cozy (where instead of a yarn shop, the milieu is the close-knit circle of would-be actors in LA), it's mildly entertaining.
Whether the series goes anywhere will depend on how the characters develop. In the debut, they are too conventional: our plucky heroine is a girl with a problem to solve, her best friend is ditzy but loyal, and her love interest is a hunk but a complete zero as a character.
Whether the series goes anywhere will depend on how the characters develop. In the debut, they are too conventional: our plucky heroine is a girl with a problem to solve, her best friend is ditzy but loyal, and her love interest is a hunk but a complete zero as a character.
cskybluesoar45's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
liainpages's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
loriraderday's review against another edition
5.0
I loved the humor in this book! Kellye Garrett is a heck of a writer, and this is a charming and fun mystery.
jessmarie_2015's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book had so much potential, but it really fell flat for me due to the constant body shaming of practically every character but the guy-best-friend love interest. It didn't matter if a character was larger, super skinny, or had a completely average body type.
Dayna would find something to judge about their appearance, doesn't matter if it's some random person on the street or her best girlfriends. Oh, and in case you forget, you'll be reminded multiple times that Dayna has had a boob job.
The story itself, however, did have potential. I really liked the idea of the plot and the added stakes of Dayna being on a time crunch to save her parents' home. As far as that went, it was a pretty good story with an exciting plot.
Granted there were some stretches at the end, such as there is no way a journalist is getting in to do an exclusive interview with someone awaiting indictment. They'd be laughed right out of the jail for even trying. And unless the time-skip was longer than I thought, the process of an arrest to a murder sentence does not happen that fast.
If it weren't for Dayna's judgemental attitude making her so unlikeable, I'd consider continuing the series.
Dayna would find something to judge about their appearance, doesn't matter if it's some random person on the street or her best girlfriends. Oh, and in case you forget, you'll be reminded multiple times that Dayna has had a boob job.
The story itself, however, did have potential. I really liked the idea of the plot and the added stakes of Dayna being on a time crunch to save her parents' home. As far as that went, it was a pretty good story with an exciting plot.
Granted there were some stretches at the end, such as there is no way a journalist is getting in to do an exclusive interview with someone awaiting indictment. They'd be laughed right out of the jail for even trying. And unless the time-skip was longer than I thought, the process of an arrest to a murder sentence does not happen that fast.
If it weren't for Dayna's judgemental attitude making her so unlikeable, I'd consider continuing the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Car accident, and Murder
Minor: Addiction
postcardfromash's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
thecoffeegridreads's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Very entertaining and amusing with laugh out loud moments
This book has been sitting on my shelf for a long time. And I finally read it. I read this book as part of a reading challenge on StoryGraph.
Just want to start off and say that I enjoyed this book. There were several moments where I had to pause reading because I was laughing at either Dayna’s thoughts or what she actually said. The characters are great — Emme is probably my favorite — and there were some good surprise twist. I liked that Dayna has no investigating experience which makes for interesting confrontations with suspects — and tensions with friends.
It was a nice cozy mystery that is also hilarious. Can’t wait to read the next book, Hollywood Ending!