Fat Chance [Paperback]

Rhonda Pollero (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 24, 2009

Finley becomes a homeowner in this new adventure when her mother sells her a little cottage on trendy Palm Beach that her mother and her late stepfather bought years ago. But odd things start happening at the new house, scaring Finley and forcing her to call sexy P.I. Liam McGarrity. To make matters worse, the law firm has hired Tony Caprelli to head up a criminal division, and he insists that Finley take continuing education courses so she can assist him. The only thing Finley hates more than work is school, but she goes along with the plan because Tony is primo dating material. Between the pressures of work and school, a creepy new house to renovate and decorate, and an attractive new attorney to think about, Finley investigates the murder.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An amusing, at times strident narrative voice drives Pollero's third Palm Beach puzzler (after 2008's Knock 'em Dead). Pert paralegal Finley Anderson Tanner is stunned when her divalicious mother, Cassidy Johnstone, sells her the beach-front house once owned by Finley's late beloved stepdad, Jonathan Tanner, for $25,000. Discouraged by the renovations needed on the property, Finley finds support from such friends as interior designer Sam and annoying if hunky PI Liam McGarrity. Nothing prepares her, however, for the literal skeleton in the closet—the remains of a girl clutching a medallion Finley gave Jonathan when she was a child. Finley's frantic efforts to stay romantic and fashion forward while seeking to identify a homicide victim and catch a nefarious killer make for a jittery mix that doesn't always jell. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Finley Anderson Tanner knew there had to be a catch when her mother offered to do her a “favor” by selling her an old cottage in Palm Beach for considerably less than market value. Of course, Finely thought the reason the deal was so great was because the house needs major renovation. Once Finley takes ownership, though, she discovers something that wasn’t in the contract: a skeleton in the closet. Finding out who put the unwanted addition in her new dream home will take some work, but fortunately for Finley, she has the help of annoyingly sexy private investigator Liam McGarrity and her new boss, the just-as-hot Tony Caprelli. Amateur detection and designer shopping on a discount play equally entertaining roles in the third installment in Pollero’s addictively acerbic chick-lit mystery hybrid series featuring Florida paralegal Tanner.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 309 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books; Original edition (March 24, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416589481
• ISBN-13: 978-1416589488
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #663,527 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I sold my first book in 1993 - huge thrill since it took me 10 years to get published. 30-something books later, I've switched from writing romantic suspense for Harlequin Intrigue to writing mysteries. The first release is Knock Off from Kensington, available in March, 2007.

I'm down in South Florda, dividing my time between my recently retired husband, my elementary school-aged child and writing.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take a "chance" on Fat Chance!, July 9, 2009

By 

Sharon Galligar Chance (Wichita Falls, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fat Chance (Paperback)

As you can imagine, having the last name of Chance for 26 years, I have heard every "chance" joke to come down the line. So I winced a little bit when the new novel by Rhonda Pollero crossed my desk. A book called "Fat Chance." Ok, I'll give it a shot.

Turns out, Pollero has produced a cute, well-written and intriguing suspense novel.

The Fat in "Fat Chance," actually stands for the heroine of the story, Finely Anderson Tanner. Finely is an estates and trusts paralegal for a prestigious law firm in Palm Beach, Florida. She is a sucker for fashion, a master at discovering fabulous EBay bargains, and much to her mother's chagrin, has solved a murder or two or three.

In an effort to give Finley some respectability, Finley's mother bequeaths her a less-than-stellar beach cottage that offers a little more than property value. And there happens to be a skeleton in the closet... a real skeleton!

Now, in addition to staging an Extreme Home Makeover Finley-style, F.A.T. takes on the task of finding out who the skeleton was, and how its untimely demise ultimately relates back to an acquaintance of Finley's beloved first stepfather. She recruits the help of hunky police detective Liam McGarrity, her new boss Tony Caprelli, and her bevy of fashion-loving friends to help her investigate the cold-case murder, and renovate and redecorate, in that order.

Confused? I was too, in the beginning, as "Fat Chance" is the third installment in the Finley Anderson Tanner series. (The other two books in this series are "Knock Em Dead" and "Knock Off.") But due to Pollero's polished writing style, it was easy to catch up on the cast of characters and the past situations that bring Finley to her present state of mayhem. According to Pollero's website [...]she has more Finley novels in the works, so I for one will be anxious to see what new mischief and what new bargains Finley comes up with.

So, in retrospect, this Chance was glad she took a chance on giving "Fat Chance" a slim chance of approval. It was well worth it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun read. I loved it!, February 12, 2011

By 

Jedi Master Yodachick - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fat Chance (Mass Market Paperback)

Wow, what a strong introduction into what I hope is more to come. Finley is a wonderful heroine, smart, funny with a flair for fashion, even at a discount. (Who can't relate to that?) Finley's world has the usual friends, disfunctional family and hot guys. All have wonderful chemstry. If you want a fun mystery with humor and characters you will really like don't hesitate to pick up this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIRD IN F.A.T. SERIES, January 20, 2011

By 

ITZME "JEANNE" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fat Chance (Mass Market Paperback)

This series is such fun!! The characters are very believable and I enjoy their interactions. Finley receives a beach front home from her mother with a lot of restrictions in the deal. The house is a Royal Mess - needs major rehab and there is a skeleton in one of the closets. Who is the skeleton and how did that person die? Finley and friends investigate and Sam (her decorator expert gay friend) helps to rehab the house. Of course, Liam the private investigator is in the action, too. Looking forward to reading the 4th installment: Slightly Irregular.