Black Widow Agency (The Black Widow Agency) [Paperback]

Felicia Donovan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 8, 2007 | Series: The Black Widow Agency (Book 1)

Strong, sexy, smart, and stealthy! The ladies at the Black Widow Agency aim to bring justice to wronged women like themselves, using a lethal blend of computer forensics, surveillance technology, and women's intuition. The owner is ex-cop Katie Mahoney, a natural at undercover work. Her competent staff includes Alexandria, the mysterious, black-clad cybergoddess who keeps a pet tarantula; Margot, the crafty office manager, who's not afraid to don a leather bustier for the cause; and Jane, who crunches numbers amid hot flashes. The four Black Widows form a tight sisterhood-depending on each other for emotional support, laughter, and frequent doses of chocolate. When the Black Widows hear Amber Gordon's heartbreaking story of sexual harassment, ending in a ruined career and lost custody of her daughter, they vow to spin a trap for the sexist automotive company run by Amber's former father-in-law.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Donovan's sharp series debut introduces the Spider Women of New Hampshire's Black Widow Agency, who right the wrongs done to innocent women by dastardly men. Katie Mahoney founded BWA after her ex-husband pulled strings and got her kicked off the police force. Young computer forensics expert Alexandria Axelrod, witty office manager Margo Norton and financial whiz Jane Landers all have their own stories of male mistreatment. The Spider Women don't hate all men, though: those who are sympathetic (like local cop Joe Kennedy) and gay (like Margo's brother, Marcus, and his partner, Antoine, who own the shop next door) are considered tolerable. The latest BWA client is automotive designer Amber Gordon, whose ex-husband gained custody of their daughter through nefarious means. Donovan, who has assisted the FBI with her own computer forensics expertise, leavens this tale of female vigilante justice with humor and insider details. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Felicia Donovan (New Hampshire) is a recognized expert in the field of law enforcement technology and currently works at a New England-based police department as a civilian Information Systems Manager. Swearing by the adage “every keystroke is recoverable,” she has worked on the forensic recovery of computer crime files and has assisted the FBI on cases related to digital photography.

Donovan is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the New Hampshire Police Association. She also founded CLEAT (Communications, Law Enforcement and Technology), an organization of law enforcement professionals in the New England region.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: MIDNIGHT INK; 1St Edition edition (October 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738710822
• ISBN-13: 978-0738710822
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,037,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Felicia Donovan developed an early reputation for telling tales, particularly about her three older siblings. She apologizes profusely for any harm this may have caused and was subsequently encouraged by her mother, a freelance writer, to put her overly active imagination to better use.

Felicia began writing stories and poems early on and completed her first novel by the time she graduated from high school. She subsequently joined her college paper and won the prestigious Scripps-Howard Foundation Journalism Scholarship based on her writing submissions.

After obtaining her Degree, Felicia went on to become a teacher. Always willing to try new things, she left teaching to join a New England Police Department where she was first introduced to the fascinating world of digital crime.

Always compelled to write, Felicia wrote the first in THE BLACK WIDOW AGENCY series of comedy-mysteries based on her experiences in law enforcement (mostly the comedy). Her writing always reflects her hope that justice will be served, the underdog will rise, and everyone will be treated equally and respectfully with tolerance (at minimum) and acceptance (at best). She believes very much in happy endings.

Felicia resides in the bucolic countryside of New England with an old, blind dog who sheds, and her Partner, who does not.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun and refreshing new read!, September 12, 2007

By 

Anne Bennett "anne bennett" (boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Widow Agency (The Black Widow Agency) (Paperback)

This novel is a fun and intelligent read that women of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy. It teams up women and technology in seeking justice for those wronged in a smart, realistic and humorous way. A really fun book that portrays women in an empowering light. Can't wait for the sequel!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I wanted to like this book, December 20, 2007

By 

A. S. Frank (New Hampshire USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Black Widow Agency (The Black Widow Agency) (Paperback)

I live near Portsmouth NH where the author has been a police officer. I really wanted to like it, but as good as the technology was, I couldn't warm up to the characters. Her writing style is good and if the characters had had more depth I think I would have really liked this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't finish, June 21, 2009

By 

Cheryl A. Reynolds "Spuddie" (Minneapolis, MN, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Black Widow Agency (The Black Widow Agency) (Paperback)

I had been wanting this book for a long time, having read about the premise for it some months ago and thought it sounded great. Having been burned many times before by books that 'sounded good' I've taken to checking out untried authors from the library first, and in this case was glad I did. I have to say, I could not finish this book, and don't typically even review books I don't finish. But I feel like someone ought to warn others who are planning to pay good money for it. The character development was nil, with very stereotypical, two-dimensional characters that I couldn't feel anything about one way or another. The writing style was also choppy and dry; rather than weaving a tale together in an interesting way, it felt like a textbook recitation of each of the histories of the women and how they came to be in business together. I give the author points for the idea, but the execution of that idea was just not well done.