Cooked Goose [Paperback]

G. A. McKevett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2005

A sexy, Southern-born private detective Savannah Reid is back, keeping the streets of exclusive San Carmelita, California, safe while indulging both her passion for food and her appetite for solving crime.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Savannah Reid is a large woman--with appetites, emotions, and attitudes to match. She loves to cook, eat, fight, and catch criminals. In G.A. McKevett's fourth book about her, Reid is working as a private investigator after being fired from the police force in the fictional California seaside town of San Carmelita. She's hired by a shopping mall to catch the "Santa Rapist," a man wearing a fake white beard who has attacked several women in the mall's parking lot. The first suspect who she disables with a hard kick to the Christmas ornaments turns out to be a legitimate store Santa helping out one of Reid's associates. The investigation goes downhill from there.

Margie Bloss, the teenaged daughter of the obnoxious police chief who fired Reid, is a student in a self-defense class that Savannah teaches. When Margie is herself attacked and some of the town's cops begin to die, the focus of Reid's investigation switches to someone involved in law enforcement. The solution is no big surprise, but Reid herself is a colorful enough character to carry us along--especially when she adds tasty recipes to her bag of tricks. Other Reid stories in paperback include Just Desserts and Killer Calories. --Dick Adler --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

It's hard not to like Savannah Reid, a large woman with appetites, emotions and attitudes to match. The pseudonymous McKevett's fourth book about Savannah (after Killer Calories) raises some serious issues about the crime of rape and its victims?but the mix of this theme with Savannah's winsome character and the recipes included at the back of the book is uneasy. Savannah, working as a PI after being fired from the police force in the fictional California seaside town of San Carmelita, is hired by a shopping mall to catch the "Santa Rapist," a man wearing a fake white beard who has attacked six women in the mall's parking lot. The first man she disables with a hard kick to the ornaments turns out to be a legitimate store Santa, and the investigation goes downhill from there. Margie Bloss, the teenaged daughter of the odious police chief who fired Savannah, is a student in a self-defense class that Savannah teaches; when Margie is herself attacked and some of the town's cops begin to die, the identity of the rapist/killer becomes so obvious that readers may lose interest in a hurry. McKevitt has done better before and, hopefully, will again. Author tour.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758213697
• ISBN-13: 978-0758213693
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,424,588 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Since publication of her first novel in 1986, Sonja Massie has authored over fifty published works, including the highly popular and critically acclaimed SAVANNAH REID MYSTERIES under the pseudonym G. A. McKevett.

Sonja's novels range from Irish historicals to contemporary thrillers. Her earthy humor and fast-paced plots delight her fans, while critics applaud her offbeat characterizations and incisive observations on human nature.

Irish by ancestry, Sonja has authored two non-fiction books on the history of Ireland: THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO IRISH HISTORY AND CULTURE and IRISH PRIDE: 101 REASONS TO BE PROUD YOU'RE IRISH. Both books impart detailed knowledge of the complex and controversial Irish story with a light hand and plenty of humor. Her Irish novels include: DREAM CARVER, CAROUSEL, DAUGHTER OF IRELAND and the bestselling FAR AND AWAY - the novelization of the Ron Howard movie starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

On nationwide tours, Sonja lectures to published and "pre-published" authors in her workshop, "The Novel Approach," a seminar which covers such topics as: story structure, characterization, plotting, pacing, and marketing manuscripts.

Sonja has taught numerous courses at university and adult continuing education facilities including: general fiction, historical research, and mystery writing. She was managing editor at "Single Living" magazine and has functioned as a manuscript doctor and storyline editor for major publishers. Earlier in her career, she was a prolific ghostwriter, authoring both fictional and non-fictional books for celebrities and professionals.

Having lived in Los Angeles, Toronto, and County Kerry, Ireland, she now resides in New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Savannah Reid feast yet, October 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Cooked Goose (Hardcover)

Savannah Reid was a Georgia Peach who became a San Carmelita police officer. However, her tangy mouth led to her removal from the job. Instead, Savannah opened up a private office as an investigator, who relishes giving a hard time to her former employers. Her favorite target is Captain Blass, who mutually loathes the transplanted Southeasterner. To make matters even worse, Blass has a fit when circumstances forces his daughter Margie to move in with Savannah.

In the parking lot of a department store, there have been a rash of rapes perpetrated by a man wearing a Santa Claus suit. The culprit's MO changes when he abducts Margie at Blass' home. Marge escapes and calls Savannah, who has been there for the teen before. Blass asks Savannah to keep his daughter with her until they catch the psychopath. However, the rapes stop and cop killings begin, making the sleepy town unsafe for anyone.

The fifth novel in the Savannah Reid mysteries is by far the best entry in a well-written series. The exciting police procedural includes a delightful female protagonist, who takes pleasure in being bigger and stronger than most males. However, what turns THE COOKED GOOSE into a major winner is the disinct development of the personalities of the support ensemble. Readers will not feel empty after perusing this novel.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not What I Was Expecting, But Good Anyway, December 16, 2003

By 

Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cooked Goose (Savannah Reid Mysteries) (Paperback)

The town of San Carmelita is trying to get into the holiday spirit, but someone has taken things too far. The mall parking lots are being stalked by the Santa Rapist. PI Savannah Reid has been asked by her friend, detective Dirk Coulter, to help nab this jerk before he ruins the town's Christmas celebration. There are very few leads to go on until one smart kid manages to get away. Now Savannah is asked to keep the girl safe, getting her mixed up in a family she'd rather avoid. The stakes are raised when a shooting occurs. But is it connected with the case?

Normally, I read series in order, but a friend had sent me this book and I thought it'd be fun to read a mystery set around Christmas time this month. This book wasn't quite what I was expecting. From the title of this and others in the series, I was expecting a light, cozy type book. Obviously, I hadn't read the back cover. This book is much darker then what I normally read. In fact, I almost quite when I realized what I'd gotten myself into. I hate to quit on books, however, and I'm glad I persevered.

The story works on several different levels, with sub-plots to keep you entertained. Even so, the mystery developed nicely, with plenty of red herrings that kept me guessing until the end. Savannah and her friends and family are interesting characters, and I enjoyed spending time with them, even if the reason why wasn't pleasant.

I don't know if this book was abnormally dark for the series of if this is normal. All I do know is that I enjoyed it and think I'll be spending more time in San Carmelita. I just won't do it until I'm ready for a book that's a bit darker then normal.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this series!!!, January 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Cooked Goose: A Savanna Reid Mystery (Savannah Reid Mysteries) (Paperback)

I love this series and can't believe it took me so long to find this author. This is the first series in a long time that has me laughing and sometimes crying thru the book. The warmth of the characters, their faults - they seem like real people and it didn't take long for the author to make you care about them. I love Dirk and his relationship with Savannah. Savannah is a tough but soft female and her side comments are what have you laughing and smiling. This is a series that I hope is long run. This author - with her first book grabbed a fan and with each book to her latest has moved herself up to the top of my list of favorite authors. If you like Kathleen Taylor, Caroline Haynes, Rhett MacPherson, even Susan Cooper Rogers - you will like this author. If you haven't read any of McKevett's books, start with Just Desserts. After that they can really be read in any order. But for shock value, read Just Desserts first. Don't miss out on this wonderful and talented author!