Following Polly: A Novel [Hardcover]

Karen Bergreen (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 22, 2010

Would you call Alice Teakle a stalker?  Or just someone with an, um, healthy obsession with golden girl Polly Linley Dawson?  No one much notices Alice: not her boss, not the neighbors, not even her Mother.

Besides, everyone follows Polly: her business selling high-end lingerie you can imagine only her elegant self wearing, her all-over-the-social-pages marriage to movie director Humphrey Dawson, her chic looks, her wardrobe. Alice just follows her a little more….closely.

And when she loses her job and starts to follow Polly Dawson one Manhattan autumn afternoon, Alice stumbles on the object of her attention sprawled dead on the floor of a boutique.  Alice is forced to become truly beneath anyone’s notice. Invisible, in fact. Because she’s accused of murder.

But can another obsession help save Alice with the fallout?  Charlie is Alice’s longtime unattainable crush.  He might be able to help her out of the mess she’s in…in return for a favor or two, that is.    And how will Alice find out if Charlie is really the man Alice thinks he is?

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; First Edition edition (June 22, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312571097
• ISBN-13: 978-0312571092
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,219,728 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

It's like Comedy Central picked up Law & Order for an episode in standup comic and ex-lawyer Bergreen's breezy debut about a rootless, jobless, and loveless snoop in search of her lifelong dream. Fired from a crappy job with a selfish, nasty casting director, Alice Teakle begins obsessively stalking Harvard frenemy Polly—and winds up the top suspect in her murder. But that's where the fun begins: slipping out of police custody, Alice begins stalking Charlie, her college-days romantic fantasy who she hopes can save her from prison. Charlie takes her in, forging a deal that he'll help get her off the murder hook if she helps out with a problem his father's having. But Charlie and Alice sweetly discover a far deeper need of each other. Bergreen makes good use of her comedic skills and varied professional background to create a sharp whodunit that combines edgy thrills with a wicked sense of humor and an endearing heart of gold. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Bergreen's lighthearted mystery follows the unfortunate Alice Teakle as she attempts to put her life back together after being fired from her job at a New York City casting agency. At loose ends, Alice runs into an old Harvard classmate, Polly Dawson, and decides to tail her on her daily errands. Alice grows more and more intrigued by Polly's escapades and apparent love affairs, and becomes determined to learn more about the woman who rejected her friendship in college. As luck (or dedicated stalking) would have it, Alice is the first person to stumble upon Polly Dawson's bloody corpse and immediately becomes the police's number-one suspect. While being questioned at the precinct, Alice slips out the door, and suddenly is on the run. She bumps into Charlie, an old college flame, and appeals to him for help. As the police continue their pursuit of Alice, she tries to discover the identity of the real killer in order to clear her name. But she'll need to work quickly. The police—and the killer—are closing in. --Katherine Boyle

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; First Edition edition (June 22, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312571097
• ISBN-13: 978-0312571092
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,219,728 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Karen is a stand up comedian and a former lawyer. She lives in New York City with her husband and two sons.

Still curious? Or just not ready to get back to work?

Go to her website at www.karenbergreen.com.

Or better yet visit her on Facebook @followingpolly. She needs the distraction from her kids.

You can try Twitter @karenbergreen, but Karen finds that annoying.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Brilliant Comic Debut by a Gifted New Author June 22, 2010

By Susan Eisenberg

Format:Hardcover

I loved FOLLOWING POLLY from page one. Debut novelist Karen Bergreen creates a daffy protagonist with a heart of gold who made me laugh...and cry. An accidental stalker, Alice Teakle seeks to understand the wiles of a former nemesis, only to be accused of murder and malice. The book's shining charm is Alice's evolution as a confused young woman who comes to terms with her strengths. It's a coming of age novel in the classic sense of the genre, and I plan to recommend it to readers of various ages.

I'm Susan Dormady Eisenberg, arts journalist and aspiring novelist.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT SUMMER READ! June 23, 2010

By S. Shepherd

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you are looking for a fun summer read "Following Polly" is definitely it. I loved this book! I thought it was much better than "The Nanny Diaries". I just kept following Alice Teakle from one page to the next...I couldn't put this book down. It is a unique and amusing thrill of a read. Kudos to Ms. Bergreen, I can't wait for the movie!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW I ADORED THIS BOOK !!! A FUNNY PAGER TURNER ... June 22, 2010

By D. Solomon

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

WOW I ADORED THIS BOOK !!! A FUNNY PAGER TURNER ...

that i could not put down. Ms. Bergreen has created a cast of great characters that you will be sad to say good bye too at the end of the novel.

Besides being quirky and hilarious the mystery really grabs you as her main character Alice sinks deeper into murder mystery that threatens to

ruin her life- if she doesn't do that herself first ... Ms Bergreen is clearly New York's female Woody Allen and I hope she is just as prolific .

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, New Yorky, and heartwarming September 26, 2010

By infl8here

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Karen's characters are very real and she uses humor to make an otherwise preposterous situation seem like all is right with the world. As a native New Yorker, I especially appreciate the accuracy of her descriptions of NYC. Not only did I know someone just like Polly's mother, but I also knew all the locations that Polly was following. I was able to "follow" Polly perfectly in my mind.

This book can appeal to all ages because of it's great writing and humor but I imagine that it would be especially popular with the 16-25 age group. I wish I had it to read when I was that age. I am recommending it to all my friends in that age group (as well as my fellow native New Yorkers).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book...Who would you cast for the movie version? April 12, 2012

By Anp123

Format:Kindle Edition

I commute to New York City by bus weekly and this was a great read for my trip. The characters were so interesting. I actually have a little crush on the Charlie character and it really got me thinking about who I would cast for the movie version of this book. I think John Krasinski from The Office would be perfect to play Charlie. I would have Zoey Deschanel play Alice and Patricia Clarkson play her mother. As for Polly, I would probably have Kate Bosworth play her. Tell me what you think.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars HILARIOUS! January 14, 2012

By AV

Format:Hardcover

It's been so long since I've wanted to give a Chick Lit five stars! If 'Following Polly' doesn't deserve the five stars, I don't know which one does!

Alice Teakle has issues. Sure, she's totally sane, but add a dysfunctional childhood to the picture, it's no surprise that she has developed a not-so-healthy obsession - Stalking.

Alice has recently lost her job for being honest and she's not worried. Probably because she's as fickle as they get but anyway, her mother sends her to therapy, hoping it'd do her some good. Things start looking good till the day Alice runs into Polly, her classmate from Harvard who had it all.

Alice's obsession returns.

Alice reminded me of an adult version of Mia Thermopolis (from the Princess Diaries) - she was funny, funny, funny! Karen Bergreen had me eating up every word and I was unable to remove my eyes from the pages! Amusing, entertaining and extremely humorous, Alice's priceless!

Humor, Mystery, Love - this book has it all! 'Following Polly' isn't emotional or serious, not really. It is however, a thoroughly enjoyable, light and delightful read! I don't know what more to say except that if you're a happy person who likes a unique character, just go out and get this. You will love it!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read! Excited to find a new Author to Follow. November 29, 2010

By K. Hatch

Format:Hardcover

I'm always sad when I finish a newly discovered series featuring a quirky sleuth. They are my 'no brain necessary' reads which are enjoyable, light, and fun. And I need that every once in a while. When I'm in the mood and I can't find something I haven't already read, it kinda sucks.

Well, wasn't I happy when I picked up this book on a whim (based on the cover and spine design - i'm really deep) and I loved it. I read the first 180 pages in one sitting - which is always a sign of a nicely engrossing read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Truly Wonderful Book September 27, 2010

By njmom223

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is the kind of book i spend hours on Amazon looking for - something different, funny, touching, and entertaining. This is one of the most original books that I've ever read. It's not your typical mystery, love story or growing up story. It's unique and magical. This is one of my favorite books and everyone should read it. And tell me what other books like this exist!!! They are hard to find....