Customer Reviews

Alibi in High Heels

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

O.K. I read two of Gemma Halliday's previous books. Frankly, I am not as impressed with Maddie as the rest of you seem to be. I do like comedy, and I do love a well-written, at least nominally well-researched book. Unfortunately, although this book is kind of funny, Maddie is more irritating and unbelievable than anything else. Gemma Halliday makes Ramirez more a lustful "father" figure to Maddie than a committed, in love and loving contemporary. He spends his time giving Maddie more "spankings" figurately speaking, than communicating with her outside of bed. She is the recalcitrant child to his finger shaking, teeth grinding parent, and this is not attractive to me in any couple.

The plot of this story should have resulted in a much better book, in my opinion, but we are working with an author who is mimicing the Desilu phenom, only this is a dizzy blonde instead of a dizzy redhead.Perhaps these books will translate better on television, where (I hope) better writers will make a better and more believable story.

For instance, Maddie was hit by Mrs.Rosenblatt. Why? How does this accident do anything for the book? Maddie could have taken her mother and Mrs. R with her to Paris without the accident and the resulting boot. How did the boot impact the story? It didn't really. She did everything she wanted to do, got not sympathy from Ramirez, in fact, there was never a scene where Ramirez was even informed of Maddie's accident, nor did he show up at the hospital like any other boyfriend would have. All of the good juicy emotional points where Gemma Halliday could convince me that Ramirez is actually in love, not just in lust, with Maddie are overlooked. Maybe this author doesn't know what true romance or true love really is, or at least what it should look and feel like. Maddie and Ramirez are on the same planet, sometimes in the same bed, but speak two different languages, and there is no Maddie to Ramirez dictionary for translation.

Not only that, but the scene (spoiler, but I don't care) leading up to the part where Maddie is caught kissing Felix by Ramirez was so pitifully unrealistic it got on my nerves. Maddie appears to be more a robot who is given emotions and told to act on the author's whim, rather than a person who feels any depth of emotion for anyone other than her mother. (And even that was suspect in this book when Maddie's mother and Mrs. Rosenblatt went missing for two days and Maddie just pretty much flipped them both off.) Back to Felix. So he is a good kisser. Okay. So what? She called Felix pond scum through every other book, but he's a good kisser, so now, Ramirez is what, pond scum? Any woman this light in the attic, and so emotionally stupid, couldn't find a stiletto in a heel factory.

Now, for the ending. I won't spoil this one, but, get real! After all that Maddie put Ramirez through, Ms. Halliday, Ramirez would have to be jacked up on drugs to do what he did. This is a pretty good example of an author manufacturing a plot point to fit the book, rather than the character. Get a new editor, please.

I like the idea of what Maddie could be, more than the reality of who she becomes under this author's pen. Sorry, Ms. Halliday.

I have read and enjoyed the previous books in this series, but this one was a complete letdown. The plot was just not the least bit plausible. Of all the people in LA who could have accidentally hit Maddie, it was her mother's psychic friend? Why couldn't it have been a random stranger? It did nothing for the plot for it to have been Mrs. R. And I agree with the reviewer who said the whole booted foot did nothing for the plot at all. And I just think it was ridiculous to have the whole gang of whacky characters go to Paris. Why Paris? Just so the Eiffel Tower could get worked into the story? And why force this love triangle with Ramirez and Felix? And it does seem forced and makes Maddie look terribly shallow emotionally. Is Ms. Halliday trying to make Maddie be like Stephanie Plum with her Morelli/Ranger triangle (which by the way is getting old)?
And when Maddie ditched Ramirez in her hotel room after he flew to Paris for her, I almost threw the book across the room. I put it down and didn't pick it up for a week. I didn't enjoy this one like I did the others. The others I read in a day, and I had to make myself finish this one.

When internationally renowned fashion designer Jean Luc Le Croix hires Madison "Maddie" Springer to design the shoes his models will wear during Fashion Week, the Californian screams with euphoria. However, she quickly learns the people rule of gravity in which she who goes up must crash down when psychic Mrs. Rosenblatt accidentally hits her because she could not figure out how to use her new stick shift car. Making matters worse, Maddie's mom and Mrs. Rosenblatt insist on accompanying her to Paris to help her get around since she now has broken leg.

Things turn darker in Paris when someone uses a Maddie shoe with a stiletto heel to kill the lead model Gisella. Maddie's best friend Dana arrives to replace Gisella as the show must go on. Soon after that Maddie's boyfriend, LA homicide detective Jack Ramirez comes to Paris to keep her out of further trouble, but more corpses follow all tied to Maddie's shoes, which makes her the prime suspect of the Gendarmes.

The fourth "High Heels' amateur sleuth tale ( see KILLER IN HIGH HEELS, SPYING IN HIGH HEELS and UNDERCOVER IN HIGH HEELS) is a fun entry as Maddie's chick lit big mouth sends her into trouble with the cops, the Paris fashion world, and the killer. Every time she speaks she gets deeper in trouble and someone from stateside shows up intending to rescue her; they are like the movement's motto of "we're here to help you". Readers will laugh with Maddie's dilemma as her ALIBI IN HIGH HEELS unravels leaving the audience to wonder if her next gig is a convict in high heels designing prison shoe wear.

Harriet Klausner

Shoe obsessed Maddie, the hot mess of Los Angeles, takes on Paris in the fourth book of Gemma Halliday's High Heels Mysteries. As always, the author's witty style sucked me in and did not let me go until I finished.

In her Fashion Week debut, Maddie finds herself embroiled in yet another mystery, can you believe it??? (Really wouldn't be much of a mystery series if she didn't). This time, she is suspect number one! Thus, the unruly, bumbling, Scooby gang of LA is unleashed on Paris.

Of course, as the mystery unravels, so, too does Maddie's love life. Interestingly, I felt more chemistry and compatibility between Maddie and a character other than her boyfriend. Uh oh? Love triangle? Do we see a shift in Maddie's love life? You will just have to find out on your own. I can't take the fun away by ruining it here.

If you've liked the other High Heels Mysteries, this one will not disappoint. Or maybe it will. But, not because of any writing deficiency on the part of Ms. Halliday. Maybe you were hoping something would turn out differently. Not that there is anything wrong with how things turn out . . . oh, crap, maybe I've been reading too much Maddie.

Realistic, light suspense, with humor, romance, and relationship issues thrown in. Just enough "steaminess" to get your heart pitter-pattering, without graphic wording. Downloaded the first book as a freebie and got hooked! On the fifth book in the series now and the quality hasn't wavered.

These are great books at reasonable prices, which seems to be unusual for quality electronic books. (Never have understood why electronic versions should be as expensive as hard copies. Hello!! Aren't we saving trees, ink, shipping, etc.? Apologies for the rant...)

Love these books and love the prices...they are also lendable, which is a plus. Keep 'em coming Gemma!

Maddie is up to her neck in murder and mayhem again! Dead models, Paris Fashion Week, hairbrained schemes, and chocolate croissoints! Not forgetting the HOT Ramirez and sexy Felix are both after her. A fabulously fun read! Go Maddie!

This is a series of "quirky" romantic mysteries that I have collected from the first one. I thought it was great....got the 2nd, 3rd and now the 4th. Each one is quite good....It's playful, funny and a very easy and fun read. Keep them coming!! Thanks!!

Loved this story! This was the first book I picked up out of the High Heels series and now I'm hooked! I'm reading the series backwards, but it's well worth it after reading this book! I cannot wait to see what happens next with Gemma's latest Maddie Springer adventure/Mystery/Romance! Like others had stated about this book, it's easy reading and a fun way to spend a quiet afternoon!

I liked this book and found it funny, but was surprised by the direction Halliday seems to be taking this story. Felix and Maddie have unresolved issues. Ramirez's actions at the end of the book were a complete surprise. I don't want to be a spoiler so I can't go into detail. I do like the tension created between Maddie/Felix/Ramirez, although I feel Maddie isn't handling this the way she should.

I'm can't wait to see where this story is going, and hope to see a little more maturity on Maddie's part.

ALIBI IN HIGH HEELS
GEMMA HALLIDAY

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Shoe designer Maddie Springer is back in another entertaining mystery!

When she's invited to show her creations in hot designer Jean Luc LeCroix's show at Paris Fashion Week, Maddie can't believe her luck. But things start going wrong even before she sets food on Parisian soil. Thanks to an unlucky accident, she can't sport her favorite heels on the trip. Instead, she's relegated to ballet flats and the wonder boot, an accessory she hadn't expected on needing, much like the crutches. Add in the fact her mother and Mrs. Rosenblatt are tagging along (to make sure she can handle herself) is chaotic enough, but when the top model of the show is found dead, stabbed with one of Maddie's stilettos, all fingers once again point at Maddie. Dubbed `The Couture Killer', she's forced to track down the real killer in the way only Maddie can in order to clear her own name.

Back again are Felix, with a bit of an interesting secret to reveal - aside from his crush on Maddie; Maddie's best friend Dana; and of course, sexy cop and Maddie's boyfriend, Jack Ramirez who has to yet again literally bail her out on a couple occasions. Can he handle all the trouble that comes with being Maddie Springer's boyfriend or this the final straw in their relationship?

ALIBI IN HIGH HEELS is a great addition to the High Heels Mysteries series. Maddie's once again found herself in familiar territory, accused of a crime and forced to prove her innocence, in ways only Maddie can come up with. This time her antics take her to London (including a stop at a rather interesting club) club and Milan, where there just might be another dead body in her future. I really enjoyed ALIBI IN HIGH HEELS, it's a great mystery with lots of surprising twists and turns, including surprising info on Felix.


Lisa
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
April 2008