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Book 52, 2016
Jul. 22nd, 2016 11:00 pmLast night, I finished reading an ebook A Charming Crime, by Tonya Kappes. It's the first installment in her "Magical Cures" mystery series.
I love the author's "Ghostly Southern" mysteries, and I was eager to branch into another series of hers. I was sorely disappointed. The writing in this story lacked any sophistication, to the point it seemed to have been a student's creative writing assignment. It wasn't a bad book, but it certainly wasn't good, either.
When June Heal's shed burns down as she's trying to mix up another homeopathic remedy, she is at a loss as to what her future holds. In steps her childhood friend and local cop Oscar Parks to encourage June to move with him to a neighboring town, Whispering Falls. There, June learns her parents were spiritualists and that she's one, too. Unfortunately, soon after her arrival, June argues with another resident who is later found dead. Now that she's the number one suspect, June is determined to find out the real culprit and clear her name. Along with her cat, Mr Prince Charming, she begins to acquaint herself with the other spiritualists in town to learn who may have had a motive to kill Anne.
The premise was interesting, but the execution fell flat. It simply wasn't up to par with other books I've read from this author. Characters aren't fleshed out, the action jumps around, and not much makes sense. June has a weakness for Ding Dongs, which is sort of cute and funny, but all we ever see her eating throughout the entire story are Ding Dongs! The author didn't mention much about June's physical appearance, but based on her eating habits, she must be at least plus-sized. That's fine, but if you're going to write a plus-size heroine, own it! Another thing that annoyed me was the way the author wrote about the cat. "Mewl mewl" meowed the cat? Hiss hiss? Is the author eight? And, if I had a cat named Mr Prince Charming, I wouldn't go around calling him 'Mr Prince Charming' this and 'Mr Prince Charming' that. I'd shorten that damned name to Prince or something else! Sheesh.
Favorite line: Hearing an evil spirit was after me definitely qualified as an emergency.
Overall, a disappointing read. I may try more in the series, in hopes they can't get any worse.
Two of five:
**
I love the author's "Ghostly Southern" mysteries, and I was eager to branch into another series of hers. I was sorely disappointed. The writing in this story lacked any sophistication, to the point it seemed to have been a student's creative writing assignment. It wasn't a bad book, but it certainly wasn't good, either.
When June Heal's shed burns down as she's trying to mix up another homeopathic remedy, she is at a loss as to what her future holds. In steps her childhood friend and local cop Oscar Parks to encourage June to move with him to a neighboring town, Whispering Falls. There, June learns her parents were spiritualists and that she's one, too. Unfortunately, soon after her arrival, June argues with another resident who is later found dead. Now that she's the number one suspect, June is determined to find out the real culprit and clear her name. Along with her cat, Mr Prince Charming, she begins to acquaint herself with the other spiritualists in town to learn who may have had a motive to kill Anne.
The premise was interesting, but the execution fell flat. It simply wasn't up to par with other books I've read from this author. Characters aren't fleshed out, the action jumps around, and not much makes sense. June has a weakness for Ding Dongs, which is sort of cute and funny, but all we ever see her eating throughout the entire story are Ding Dongs! The author didn't mention much about June's physical appearance, but based on her eating habits, she must be at least plus-sized. That's fine, but if you're going to write a plus-size heroine, own it! Another thing that annoyed me was the way the author wrote about the cat. "Mewl mewl" meowed the cat? Hiss hiss? Is the author eight? And, if I had a cat named Mr Prince Charming, I wouldn't go around calling him 'Mr Prince Charming' this and 'Mr Prince Charming' that. I'd shorten that damned name to Prince or something else! Sheesh.
Favorite line: Hearing an evil spirit was after me definitely qualified as an emergency.
Overall, a disappointing read. I may try more in the series, in hopes they can't get any worse.
Two of five:
**
