A Dose of Murder (Pauline Sokol Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Lori Avocato (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 2004 | Series: Pauline Sokol Mysteries

This completely delightful and funny debut of a promising new mass market mystery series features a sassy 30–something ex–nurse turned medical insurance fraud investigator.

Nurse Pauline Sokol has overdosed on sneezing, coughing, and chasing around little munchkins with tongue depressors. To salvage her sanity, Pauline must find a new line of work䠮d fast! Unfortunately, there's no time to find her true calling since rent is due, so she follows a hot job tip. Soon she is interviewing with the smarmy head of a medical insurance fraud investigation firm. Hired on the spot, with no qualifications except for her ability to impress the boss with her inspiring legs, she is thrown in headfirst with no clue about the biz. Pauline soon realizes that she can use her nursing skills to solve her first case, and with the help of hunky and mysterious fellow investigator Jagger, she learns the ropes––and the fact that this job is more dangerous than she ever imagined! But with the help of Goldie (the 6 foot tall transvestite with a heart of gold), Jagger, and her completely whacky, but totally loveable Polish family, Pauline discovers the tricks of the trade. And as she hits just about every bump in the road along the way, laughs and chaos ensue even as the investigation leads straight to murder!

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A fresh, new voice in mystery . . . great fun and a diverting escape.” (Laura Van Wormer )

“A wacky and outright hilarious new mystery series...great sparring dialogue, well-defined characters and comedy galore.” (Curled up with a Good Book Reviews )

“A wonderful debut mystery . . . a solid who-done-it, chick lit style.” (Harriet Klausner )

“Sexy and sassy . . . a sure prescription for outrageous sleuthing.” (Carolyn Hart )

“A hilarious roller coaster ride.” (Merline Lovelace, USA Today Bestselling Author )

About the Author

After serving in the Air Force as a registered nurse, Lori Avocato decided to give up nursing to write fiction. She lives in New England and is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, PASIC, NINC, Romance Writers of America, the Author's Guild, and Sisters in Crime. She's raising two teenage sons (heaven help her!), and one darling dog, Spanky. Lori is the author of six novels featuring Pauline Sokol: A Dose of Murder; The Stiff and the Dead; One Dead Under the Cuckoo's Nest; Deep Sea Dead; Nip, Tuck, Dead; and Dead on Arrival.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Avon (September 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060731656
• ISBN-13: 978-0060731656
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #900,246 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After completing four years in the Air Force as a registered nurse, I began writing novels with medial/military themes. The winnner of several writing contests, I have completed fifteen novels and now write the humorous mystery series, The Pauline Sokol Mysteries.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Insurance Fraud Investigator, May 25, 2005

By 

Dawn Dowdle "Mystery Lovers Corner reviewer" (Lynchburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Dose of Murder (Pauline Sokol Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Pauline Sokol decides she is burned out from being a nurse for so many years. So, she quits her job. Then she realizes she has no job and thus no money to pay her many bills. Her best friend and roommate, Miles, sets her up with an interview with his uncle. Thinking she'd be doing office work, she soon finds out she will be an insurance fraud investigator. Something she knows nothing about. Since she doesn't get paid unless she completes an investigation, she sets out to quickly learns how.

After almost being caught, Goldie begins to give her some instruction. She also gets some direction when she ties up with Jagger in a "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" type of situation. This takes her undercover in a local clinic, one her boyfriend just joined.

Can she do her surveillance work as well as help Jagger out with his case, through her undercover work, without wearing herself out, getting caught, or getting herself killed. As she stumbles on a body and tries to keep a level head when around hot Jagger, she finds herself in many hilarious situations.

I found myself laughing out loud so many times while reading this book. It is a quick, easy cozy to read. The characters are so much fun, the situations believable, and the plot well-written. I especially like the interaction of Pauline and Jagger, but Goldie is also a hoot. Her parents and uncle really add to the story as well. Her lack of experience does not detract from her ability to help solve this crime. I found it to be believable.

I look forward to reading many more Pauline Sokol books. I highly recommend this book.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Substitute if You're Waiting for the next Stephanie Plum, July 30, 2006

By 

Lisa B. (Sewickley, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Dose of Murder (Pauline Sokol Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

The similarities between Pauline Sokol and Stephanie Plum have already been discussed by other reviewers. The book on the whole wasn't bad although I did get tired of the constant stupidity of Pauline -- she was a nurse for years, she can't be that dumb. What eventually annoyed me the most though was the constant (and I mean CONSTANT) inner monologue about Jagger (Ranger) and how she could neither function or utter an intelligent sentence in his presence.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and fast paced, October 7, 2004

By 

Deborah L. Kepler "Deb Kepler" (Carthage, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Dose of Murder (Pauline Sokol Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Lori Avocato brings us a funny, charming story of a burnt-out nurse turned Insurance Fraud Investigator turned Under-Cover Detective. Pauline Sokol hates her job as a nurse and feels that she needs a career change. When her roommate lands her a job as an Insurance Fraud Investigator, she wonders if she's bitten off more than she can chew. One thing leads to another and she actually starts to get the hang of spying on people, getting caught in rain storms, then staking out houses in sub-zero temps, while dressed in high heels and her parka. When Jagger (we never do learn his last name) shows up all-mysterious and asks her to go undercover to help his investigation, Pauline is convinced that he's with the FBI. Working with Jagger is a little unsettling on Pauline's nerves. Not only is he drop-dead gorgeous, he's also over-bearing, bossy and stubborn; just the kind of guy she tries to stay away from. But the bad thing is, she can't seem to stop fantasizing about Jagger.

If you're looking for a fun, easy read then this is the story for you. The characters are fresh, believable and full bodied. Throw in a cast of hilarious secondary characters and you have the perfect story of murder, intrigue and humor. Ms. Avocato is definitely an author to watch-out for!