wildflowerz76's review against another edition
2.0
Yeah, I don't know. It's been a bit since I read the first one. In the mean time, I read the first in another series that I didn't really like, but reminded me of this one, so I think I might be getting them mixed up. I don't remember the aunt (?) Ophie being quite so annoying in the past book. Sassy doesn't seem to really do a lot of sleuthing and in the end, the culprit really just fell into her lap. Also, how did they make any money? They're constantly giving food away to everyone who comes in. The cook kind of annoyed me too, to be honest. I don't know. The parts where Sassy and Bridgy are being silly felt really off. What they laughed about wasn't really funny in the least. And I get there are times when you're just kind of punch-drunk tired and dumb things seem funny, but this didn't come across that way. It was just odd. I think there's just one more in this series. I hate leaving things undone, so I'll probably read the last if I come across it, but I'm not in any hurry.
helenwhite83's review against another edition
5.0
The second instalment of the Read ‘em and Eat mystery series by Terrie Farley Moran sees Sassy Cabot and her best friend and business partner Bridgy Mayfield turning detective once more. When Tanya ‘Trouble’ Lipscome is found dead in the hot tub of her swanky mansion on the shore the evidence points towards Alan Mersky, a Vietnam veteran with PTSD. With Alan’s mental health in decline, and with corrupt lawyer Goddard Swerling demanding more money to fight his corner, it’s left to Sassy and Bridgy to uncover the real culprit.
A brilliant, easy, cozy read - perfect escapism during the current climate. Sassy, Bridgy and the residents of Fort Myers Beach are likeable characters. One of my favourite series.
A brilliant, easy, cozy read - perfect escapism during the current climate. Sassy, Bridgy and the residents of Fort Myers Beach are likeable characters. One of my favourite series.
thehodgenator's review against another edition
4.0
A fab second book in the "Read 'Em and Eat" series - more to come
marjolaine_lafreniere's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. It was all right, but it's never a good sign when I can put down a book for days, or even weeks, at a time. It just couldn't grab my attention.
angrygreycatreads's review against another edition
4.0
A bout of insomnia last night helped me to finish this, Caught Read-Handed, the second book in the A Read ‘Em and Eat Mystery Series. The mystery involves a local trophy wife who volunteers in the library amidst other extra-curricular activities. Sassy and Bridgy become involved in the case when the brother of Sassy’s ex-boss, a veteran with PTSD is accused of the crime. They track down clues, question suspects, and follow up on motives. While all this is going on they still have to run their bookshop cafe, run the book groups that meet there, host Sassy’s ex-boss who comes to town to help his brother, and deal with a wild life issue in the form of an anaconda on the loose.
A cozy slice of Florida life with murder and mystery!
A cozy slice of Florida life with murder and mystery!
krisrid's review against another edition
1.0
I liked some of the first book in this series, and had hoped that the parts that annoyed me might come down in the second. Nope. If anything, they increased and I was just too irritated to continue.
The busybody aspect is a cozy staple. I get that. But it can be done in a less "hit-you-over-the-head" manner than it is here. These people don't even try to pretend that they are anything other than the nosiest parkers in the history of the world. Nor do they care how inappropriate that nosiness may be in a given situation. It felt mean to me, especially when Sassy is supposed to be someone they care about. It just didn't work for me.
I also didn't like Sassy's continued putting up with the bossing her around that her supposed best friend delivers. If I were Sassy, I would tell these people off in 5 minutes. She certainly does not live up to her name.
This series just became too annoying to me, and this is only book 2. I'm done here and moving on to something else.
The busybody aspect is a cozy staple. I get that. But it can be done in a less "hit-you-over-the-head" manner than it is here. These people don't even try to pretend that they are anything other than the nosiest parkers in the history of the world. Nor do they care how inappropriate that nosiness may be in a given situation. It felt mean to me, especially when Sassy is supposed to be someone they care about. It just didn't work for me.
I also didn't like Sassy's continued putting up with the bossing her around that her supposed best friend delivers. If I were Sassy, I would tell these people off in 5 minutes. She certainly does not live up to her name.
This series just became too annoying to me, and this is only book 2. I'm done here and moving on to something else.
dollycas's review against another edition
5.0
Dollycas’s Thoughts
So excited to return to the Read ‘Em and Eat Café! Sassy, Bridgy, Ophie and Miguel are back! This time a library volunteer is killed and we quickly see she was not a very nice person so there should be plenty of suspects but the police quickly hone in on a homeless veteran with PTSD, a man that looks very much like Sassy’s old boss, George Mersky. Sassy contacts the man and finds out his brother, Alan is living in Florida. Sassy agrees to help the vet until his brother can get there to help. She enlists Bridgy to help her prove his innocence and find out who really killed “Tanya Trouble”.
Being back in Fort Myers Beach is like visiting old friends. Mary Sassafrass (“Sassy”) Cabot and Bridget (Bridgy) Mayfield are fabulous characters. They are girls after my own heart who love to read and eat and solve a mystery or two. Ophie is a hoot and now has her own consignment shop. Miguel is back where he belongs, in the kitchen creating such wonderful delights. Jocelyn Randall is the pastor’s wife is always putting her foot in her mouth and only on her best behavior when the dear pastor is nearby. Through Pastor John we meet a fantastic group of veterans that rally to help their friend who has been wrongly accused. There is also a huge character that truly gave me pause. It seems there is an anaconda on the loose and poor Miguel is terrified his beautiful cat Bow will become its lunch.
Terrie Farley Moran has written a fantastic story. The characters are engaging. I especially like the wide variety of interesting people from the vets, to the ones that make up the book groups to tourists and residents that just stop by for a book or a meal. She a created a wonderful place for them to gather and enveloped them in a mystery that is very entertaining and just pure fun to read.
As I stated in my review of Well Read, Then Dead, the Read ‘Em and Eat sounds like a perfect escape if you ask me. If it were a real place I would pack my bags and leave today!
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