Citizen Insane (A Barbara Marr Murder Mystery #2) [Kindle Edition]

Karen Cantwell (Author)

Book Description

Book 2 in the popular Barbara Marr Murder Mystery Series

If you think PTA meetings are boring, then you haven’t attended one in Barbara Marr’s neighborhood, where MURDER is on the agenda. Always one to stumble into trouble, Barb learns the hard way that a seemingly innocent yearbook scandal is actually part of a more sinister and deadly plot. Join soccer mom and movie lover Barbara Marr in this second laugh-out-loud, chaotic mystery, where high-profile crime and suburban living collide in an unexpected fashion.
Books in the series: Take the Monkeys and Run (#1), Citizen Insane (#2), Silenced by the Yams (#3), and Saturday Night Cleaver (#4)

Product Details

• File Size: 287 KB
• Print Length: 186 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0983750254
• Publisher: Books on the Green; 1 edition (June 14, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00564HYTA
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,095 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 63 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Delightful June 16, 2011

By Nancy Fulda

Format:Kindle Edition

I came to this book cold, without having read the beginning of the series, and I LOVED it.

Barbara Marr is the wife of a movie-style FBI officer. She's also a dedicated soccer mom and perhaps the most hilarious amateur sleuth in literature. When her annoyingly beautiful neighbor shows up turning in demented circles on her front lawn, Barbara knows she's in for trouble -- and she's right. Within pages, Barbara is entangled in a top secret FBI investigation; a local yearbook scandal; a ruthless band of bank robbers; and an ex-mafia thug trying to make amends... all while trying to win back her estranged-yet-irresistable husband and get the kids to bed on time.

Cantwell handles her characters with flair and pizazz. There's no doubt about it; this book is utterly implausible. But it's a dang enjoyable read, blending page-turning action with those little tender moments that get you right in the gut. I particularly enjoyed the fact that the main romantic interest was Barbara's own husband.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys silliness, suspense, romance, or all three combined.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost Too Funny! July 9, 2011

By AKH2001

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I ruined a shirt reading this book and I almost ruined my Kindle too!

The fact is that Karen Cantwell writes the most sublimely hilarious stories. Implausible as all get out but she makes you believe it while you're reading because the stories are so fast-paced and rollicking that you get totally caught up.

My favorite part of reviewing The Mars series books is getting to use words I don't normally use like sublimely and rollicking.

Back to my poor shirt: I was reading Citizen Insane and came to a point so awesomely hysterical I bolted upright, spilling a cup of coffee all over myself and just narrowly avoiding anointing my Kindle with a hefty dose of the Coffee People's Donut Shop Decaf. My very cute previously white t-shirt is now a lost cause and although it was my favorite I'm not even mad. These books put me in too good of a mood.

Karen takes the most boring parts of suburbia (PTA meetings, waiting at the bus stop, picking up dry cleaning) and jolts them with high octane hilarity like monkeys, mobsters, minivan chases and crazed/quirky neighbors.

Please buy this book but read Take the Monkeys and Run first. That way you can truly appreciate the finer points of Citizen Insane. I say that in all seriousness. Yes, these are funny books but Karen packs a nice tight mystery into each one and you will find yourself thinking back, realizing she slipped clues right by you because you were too busy giggling. That's not an easy thing to do. And she's done it to me twice now!

So:
funny = check
good mystery = check
great price = check

What are you waiting for? This is a fantastic beach or poolside read as long as you don't mind people staring at you because you're laughing out loud so often.

Full disclosure: After Monkeys, I became friendly with the author over the internet. I did pay full price for this book and Take the Monkeys and Run and this is an honest review. Yes, I like Karen enormously but this review is based solely on the contents of her book and my enjoyment thereof. She did not ask me to write a review and had I disliked this book I wouldn't have written a review.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Priceless, just priceless--and only 99 cents!!!! June 22, 2011

By Annie B TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The giggles start with a bunny and then the LOLs start rolling in at the PTA. What a book! Cantrell unravels a mystery and makes the process a whole lot of fun for the reader. I won't say anymore, because the last thing I want to do is to give any of the story away. It's just too much fun to discover all on your own. It's a well written story that's perfect for anytime your spirits need a lift or you want to giggle. Just a completely delightful book. Well written and easy read.

And I can't believe this wonderful book is only 99 cents! What a steal! I mean it. Cantwell can write, folks. I'm glad to know there's another Marr on the way. I, for one, cannot wait! Overall, great, fun cozy mystery that's worth way, way more than the cost! Well done!!

More About the Author

Welcome!

I'm so glad and honored that you have visited my author page.

I have been writing plays and short stories for many years, some of which are published in short story collections.

My first novel, TAKE THE MONKEYS AND RUN, is a comedy-mystery, inspired, to some degree by a true monkey sighting in my own neighborhood. Because I love to laugh as well as make other people laugh, I have great fun writing the characters Barbara Marr, her friends and her adversaries. When I set out to write this book, I knew I wanted to write something that readers would say, "Now that was FUN." I HOPE I have achieved that goal. And if I did, please feel free to drop me a line at and let me know! I love to hear from readers. (especially if they LIKE the book!)

Books in the Barbara Marr series are: TAKE THE MONKEYS AND RUN (#1), CITIZEN INSANE (#2), AND SILENCED BY THE YAMS (#3). SATURDAY NIGHT CLEAVER (#4) will be released December of 2013. You can also enjoy a Barbara Marr short story collection, THE CHRONICLES OF MARR-NIA, as well a holiday short story, IT'S A DUNDER-BULL WIFE. All are available on Kindle.

Again, thank you for stopping by!

email: [e-mail]
www.KarenCantwell.com