Customer Reviews

Elementary, My Dear Watkins (Smart Chick Mysteries, Book 3)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The third book in the Smart Chick Mystery series, Elementary, My Dear Watkins,finds Jo Tulip once again dispensing household advice in her newspaper column, solving a mystery, and pursuing her love interest.

All three converge when she receives anonymous messages through her advice column warning of danger. Her ex-fiance informs Jo that it is her life in danger right before he takes a fall in front of a New York train. All the while, her present boyfriend who is working in Europe, must confront the reaches of Jo's powerful and wealthy family.

Jo Tulip's family is wealthy and dysfunctional--from a grandmother who has taken in a teenage girl, an aunt whose life revolves around the garden, parents who have tried to manipulate Jo's life, an uncle and cousin warring with her father in business, and the business itself. Her family may have some unusual members, but who would want her dead?

Will Jo be able to keep both herself and her long distance romance with Danny Watkins alive? Has her faith been tested beyond what it can take? Can she solve the mystery in time?

Armchair Interviews says: The story is humorous, multi-layered, faced-paced mystery, and slower-paced love story.

It hasn't even quite been two months since Jo Tulip was almost killed by a maniac. She's almost recovered when she gets an anonymous e-mail telling her that her life is in danger. The police just aren't taking it very seriously.

Then her ex-fiance comes back into her life. Bradford has a bomb shell of his own. He finally explains why he left her at the alter six months before. But then he, too, warns her that her life is in danger. Before he can explain any more, someone tries to kill Jo, but Bradford winds up hurt instead.

Meanwhile, half a world away, Danny Watkins' internship is going extremely well. In fact, he's just gotten the opportunity to work for one of his professional heroes on a photo shoot. He happily heads out, unaware of the problems Jo is facing back home and just how they might affect his future.

Once again, Mindy Starns Clark has written a wonderful novel. It takes quite a while to figure out how Danny's storyline ties in with the rest of the book, but it does eventually do so. And that's the only complaint. Jo's plot is riveting, and actually ties things together nicely from the first book. Jo and Danny are wonderful characters to spend time with, and it's so easy to root for them to win. In stead of being preachy, this novel weaves the Christian elements expertly into the story.

You really do need to read this trilogy in order, but they are great reads. Be sure to set aside plenty of time because these books will draw you in and not let you go until the final page.

While her boyfriend Danny is in Paris on Scene It magazine business, Jo "Tips from the Tulip" remains home in New York recuperating from some injuries. Jo looks forward to Danny's return because the couple plans to marry soon afterward. However, not wanting to worry Danny or worse have him abort his photography internship work in France to come home, Jo hides from her fiancé her simple assertion that someone wants her dead.

Resolute and having solved some recent mysteries, Jo decides to investigate with the help of her grandmother, who she believes is somehow involved; at least the amateur sleuth thinks so. As Jo begins to uncover clues to motive and hopefully the identity, Danny has some difficult decisions to make that affect both of them.

The third Smart Chick mystery is like its predecessors (see BLIND DATES CAN BE MURDER and TROUBLE WITH TULIP) a delightful suspense thriller starring an intrepid heroine with health and household issues even before someone threatens her. The story line is fast-paced as Jo deals with her life threatening problems while across the ocean Danny struggles with his life choices. With plenty of suspects even family members, red herrings, and wit, chick lit mystery fans will immensely enjoy this entertaining amateur sleuth tale.

Harriet Klausner

This was my favorite of the 3rd in the series of A Smart Chick Mystery. I have read all of Mindy Starns Clark's books and enjoy them immensely. I give these books 5 stars!

Marilyn Fitzgerald
Carlsbad, CA

The third book and finale to the Smart Chick Mystery series, Elementary, My Dear Watkins was a disappointment. Though, it was a faster-paced read than the previous two, the mystery was odd. Jo has been receiving emails from someone warning her that her life is in danger and then asking how to clean a toaster. Danny is in France, interning with Scene It! magazine for three months. I missed Danny not being in Mulberry Glen with Jo. It didn't seem right for them to be apart now that they're finally together. Jo came off as more annoying than usual- she isn't very tactful about giving people tips. I'm sure it's that she's being helpful but it comes off as nosy, underminding, and rude- that she is a bossy know-it-all. She is stupid when it comes to her own well-being and welfare- careless about going into possibly dangerous situations. There is an odd scene where she's fighting with her father but still calls him 'Daddy'- a term of endearment. There were lots of little things that I found to be annoying and awkward. There is a lot of talk about ADD/ADHD and curing it that seemed preachy- like some kind of message was supposed to be heard from all the ramblings about drugs to treat and cure it.

Overall an okay wrap-up to the series. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more had Danny been around more. It does have a happy ending. The mystery angle was more far-fetched and random than the previous two. Seeing the other reviews, it looks like my opinion is the minority but oh,well. It was a disppointment after just reading Blind Dates Can Be Murder- which I found a more interesting mystery and better story. It is sad though to see the series come to an end, especially with a mediocre finale.

Jo Tulip, home hints heroine, is back in the final instalment of Mindy Starns Clark's Smart Chick Mysteries, Elementary, My Dear Watkins.
Jo finds herself at the heart of another puzzle but one more deadly as she is pushed in front of a train by an unknown assailant, fleeing to her grandmother's mansion who has her flanked with bodyguards.
Danny Watkins, Jo's dearest friend and now true love, is living his dream of pursuing a photography career in Paris. When a further opportunity arises with a salary and benefits he can't begin to fathom, Danny ponders his future.
A mysterious young genius, a life changing drug and a betrayal that strips Jo's heart bare are all connected but can Jo join the dots before a successful attempt on her life is made?
Mindy Starns Clark has created lovable and quirky characters in this series and their appeal continues throughout this final book. Jo and Danny also have depth which is drawn out through Jo's struggle with her parents and extended family who have never accepted her life choices and Danny's desire to pursue his career dreams. The mystery is detailed and keeps the reader guessing and you just might find out how to clean that cheese encrusted toaster oven!
I eagerly anticipate this author's future offerings. Ms Clark's previous series, Million Dollar Mysteries are also well worth the investment!

I love Mindy Starns Clark's book. I have read ALL of her books and I love everyone of them. I hope that she writes more books. Lets keep our fingers crossed.

This is the final book in the Smart Chick series starring Jo Tulip. I truly enjoyed seeing the main characters, Jo and Danny, evolve over the course of the three books. This final book carried a little more urgency with me as I read due to the fact that Jo is the target this time, and she and Danny are on different continents. It was satisfying as well to finally have an explanation of Bradford's bad behavior from book 1. The fact that, in the end, everything in Jo's life doesn't go from complicated to all rainbows and roses made me like the series even more. Although the series was wrapped up nicely, it was also realistic in that all Jo's realtionships don't suddenly become perfect and without conflict. One thing I found disconcerting when I began reading Elementary was how quickly Clark went from one character to another to another and then back to the first, almost making you dizzy with the story line. I was, however, able to get over it a little ways into the book and got into the groove of things. Well worth the read, but I do recommend reading books 1 and 2 first (The Trouble with Tulip and Blind Dates Can Be Murder).

I love this book. All of her books are amazing. IF you like this series you should read Under the Cajun moon.

I highly recommend this book and the others in this series. It moved fast and was interesting. I enjoyed the story and the characters. I am always excited to find an author that can deliver a good story without making it offensive.