Customer Reviews

Foul Play: A Sofie Metropolis Novel (Sofie Metropolis Novels)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sofie Metropolis is getting herself on more solid ground as a private detective, but seems to lost a bit of her life. This book is not as humorous nor is the story as good as in Dirty Laundry. Still, it has its moments and it was not a drudge to get through, just not on par with husband/wife team's last effort.

Big fan of Janet Evanovich, so I really did like this book, and love Sofie Metropolis. This is well written, and very informative about Greek culture, sometimes to the point where I had to laugh out loud at the characterizations...and there are some real characters in this book. I think those of you who like Stephanie Plum will find this to be equally enjoyable.

love this series and enjoy having it on audiobook; do I really need twenty more non-repeated words for this because that is a waste of my time

The book kept me interested the entire time. It's funny and I could relate to the characters.

Foul Play is the third Sofie Metropolis mystery (after Dirty Laundry and Sofie Metropolis). Tori Carrington -- the husband and wife team of Lori and Tony Karayianni -- made their mark on the publishing world writing Harlequin romance. For the Metropolis books they've combined the romance formula with that of the mystery genre and come up with something, if not quite original, then at least sure to appeal to readers of mysteries and romances alike. References to what has gone before are made in Foul Play, but in such a way that it is not necessary to have read the first two novels.

The romance comes in the form of Dino, a young Greek owner of a chocolate shop, whom Sofie's parents endeavor to match to her younger sister, Efi. But it's Sofie on whom Dino has his eye. Although Sofie describes Dino as delicious as one of his shop's confections with his suggestive grin, single dimple, great body and dark eyes (is it merely the romance genre in which women are allowed the freedom to be as visual as men, or are women in general dishonest when they purport that looks aren't important?), her heart is taken by Jake Porter. Porter, who, the text alludes, played a much larger role in one of the previous books in the series, makes an all too brief appearance in Foul Play, but his showing does little to further the story or his (past or future) relationship with Sofie.

The mystery comes in the form of Reni Venezuela, the Mets' newest pitching sensation whose strange behavior inspires his wife to hire Sofie, herself a Mets fan, to uncover the truth behind her husband's uncharacteristic behavior as of late. As the Mets' post season hopes rest on Venezuela's arm, what Sofie at first thinks a simple case of marital infidelity is anything but as she notes the normally ambidextrous Reni has pitched the last four games left-handed. (As an aside, several major leaguers have delivered the baseball with both arms; however, the only major league pitcher in the modern era to pitch from both sides of the slab was Greg Harris. A natural right-hander, by 1986 Harris threw well enough with his left hand that he felt capable of pitching with either hand in a game, although he wasn't allowed to throw left-handed in a regular-season game until September 28, 1995, the next-to-last game of his career, when he was pitching for the Montreal Expos.)

In addition to the Venezuela case are a couple of other minor cases, one involving a series of missing pets from the Astoria neighborhood in which Sofie lives as well as a couple suing the owner of a neighborhood diner for serving soup that purportedly contained a portion of a human ear.

Where James Garner as Jim Rockford typically got his a-- kicked for snooping around where he didn't belong, he used well-honed PI skills (as well as his connections with nefarious ne'er-do-wells such as Angel) to solve his cases, Sofie, a self-proclaimed novice in her grandfather's business, often trusts her gut and, in her own words, "luck" in putting together pieces of the proverbial puzzle.

The narrative is deftly written in Sofie's own first person, a tip of the creative cap perhaps to those who blazed the trail -- Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Mickey Spillane and Rex Stout -- and while the uninitiated may find appealing her snappy repartee and self-depracating humor, it pales somewhat beside the brilliance of the aforementioned masters (consider Chandler's prose from The Big Sleep: "The gentle-eyed, horse-faced maid let me into the long gray and white upstairs sitting room with the ivory drapes tumbled extravagantly on the floor and the white carpet from wall to wall. A screen star's boudoir, a place of charm and seduction, artificial as a wooden leg."). Still, readers of this genre will find Sofie a likeable protagonist and the narrative fast-paced, a fun summer read.

Although the denouement is a trifle over the top, it sets the stage nicely for Working Stiff, scheduled for release in September 2008.

J. Conrad Guest for The Smoking Poet, Summer 2008 Issue

Sophie is my 2nd favorite PI. (1st is Stephanie Plum) This series rocks. They need to write more fast. Love the greek theme. Makes me hungry too. Sophie is fabulous. Hope she picks the Australian guy.

The Sophie Metropolis books keep getting better. I look forward to more in this series.

Sofie Metropolis has been a private investigator for six months and her success has given her confidence. Her Uncle Spyros, who owns the private investigation firm, still hasn't shown back up in town. Sofie's high profile cases have garnered "missing pet" requests, but she thinks they shouldn't take them on because she's looking for that next big case. Finally, she gets one, and Sofie hopes this job will prove to her uncle, once and for all, that she is indeed fit to wear the PI title and be a partner in the agency. The wife of a superstar baseball player with the New York Mets is suspicious as to why her husband suddenly seems to have changed. Is he cheating on her with another woman? All Sofie needs to do is follow the guy around and dig into what he's up to. Being a big time Mets fan, Sofie can't help but hope the wife is wrong, especially since there is a hot pennant race going on. Now all Sofie has to do is be discreet. Ha! Easier said than done, when you're Sofie Metropolis!

I swear that the Sofie Metropolis series by Tori Carrington is getting better and better. Sofie is still the same street smart but vulnerable woman we first met in SOFIE METROPOLIS PI and continued in DIRTY LAUNDRY. No job is too hard for her to do. Sofie loves her Greek family and friends, but some days she wishes they'd leave her alone. Well, for only a day or two anyway. Sofie still has her cute dog, Muffy, as well as her assorted neighbors and nuisances from the previous books. Her grandfather is about to go on trial for his (well meaning) assault on Sofie's scumbag ex-fiancé. Without giving it away, there's a new development in Sofie's life that will have readers talking. Nope, I'm not going to tell. You'll just have to read to find out. ;-)

Sofie still wonders about Jake Porter, the mysterious Aussie who always seems to pop up when she least expects him to, but right now he's rather scarce. Sofie (and readers) just know he's soon destined to make an appearance. Office secretary Rosie is still as ditsy as ever, but she provides valuable support for Sofie. Also assisting are Eugene Waters and George Fowler, two interesting characters, both of whom Sofie wishes she didn't have to rely on for their unique expertise. Even if you're not a baseball fan, you'll enjoy the adventures in FOUL PLAY. I guarantee that you'll be laughing, crying all the while you're trying to solve Sofie's cases. Sofie is now showing more of a take-charge attitude with her job and even manages to nail her elusive uncle on the phone to agree to some changes at work.

The Sofie Metropolis series is a lot of fun to read and there are always a few minor subplots going right along with the main mystery. FOUL PLAY is an action-packed fun read that will leave readers guessing what will happen next. If you haven't picked up the first two in the series, then what are you waiting for? For a laugh-filled, enjoyable time all wrapped around a superb mystery, don't miss the continuing adventures of Sofie Metropolis in FOUL PLAY.

Patti Fischer
for Romance Reviews Today

I am finally a Sophie Metropolis fan. This book got everything right - good plot, good chemistry, everything came together. A Mets player's wife hires Sophie to see what's going on with her husband - he's not himself, and she wants to know why - and hands Sophie an envelope of $1000's. Although the 'mystery' is very easily solved by the reader, it is good to see Sophie establishing herself in business, in her family, and her lovelife. She comes to terms with herself as a person and a Greek American who seems to have this wonderful man in her life. And I really like that..
OK I am officially a fan of Sophie Metropolis. This book was more enjoyable to me than the current Stephanie Plum. And the Greekness of Foul Play was really nice - Brought me to my childhood where on your nameday you got visitors and served sweets to the people and it was open house - The recipes at the end of the book were good, although the recipes tend to vary from area to area of Greece. Good Greek coffee was one of my first things to make when I was a kid - strong, sweet Greek coffee served in demitasse cups.
A celebrated day not only to go to Church but to have company and visit. Fun memories.
Yiassas Carringtons! Look forward to #4!
While I have to pay for my books, I am always glad to find new things to read, and am glad to have found this series and it is getting all things into place to be a great series.

The Sophie Metropolis series is really hitting its stride with the third installment. The first book was pretty good, the second was excellent, and Foul Play continues where the second one left off, this time with Sophie solving the mystery of a split personality Mets pitcher. Sophie is honing her detective skills (though she still excels when looking for missing pets), the self-depracating humor is still there, and she is beginning to embrace her Greek heritage (not to mention Dino, the hunky Greek proprietor of a pastry store - ah, chocolate and sex, a match made in heaven!). The witty dialogue, the fast-moving plot, and the quirky Greek characters will keep the reader turning the pages and wanting more.

A very satisfying read -- keep them coming!