Nice Girls Finish Last (A Robin Hudson Mystery) [Paperback]

Sparkle Hayter (Author)

Book Description

Series: A Robin Hudson Mystery | Publication Date: May 30, 2002

It's not exactly encouraging for All News Network reporter Robin when the only man to have seen her naked in months, gynecologist Herman Kanengiser, is shot dead in his office, on the 27th floor of ANN's own building. But things rapidly get much worse. Soon after a matchbook found in Dr. Kanengiser's office takes Robin to the dungeon of Mistress Anya, head of the Marquis de Sade Society, several other ANN stalwarts manage to get themselves shot at shortly after spending quality time with Robin, and the police start to look at her as an S/M Calamity Jane. Worse still, her dreaded aunt Maureen, asteam with moral righteousness, is on her trail. Caught between the likes of Mistress Anya and Aunt Mo, Robin, who describes herself as "Jerry Lewis's nutty professor...in the body of Rita Hayworth," doesn't so much investigate as stumble over the untidy solution to the mystery. But if the killer is negligible, the tableau of Robin and Aunt Mo fleeing in bondage gear from a man glued to a sofa is one of the most memorable climaxes you'll ever be glad you're not a part of.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

It's not easy being a recently divorced 30-something woman in the Big Apple. But Robin Hudson, the sexy, flippant reporter for a nightly tabloid TV show who was last seen in What's a Girl Gotta Do?, has more reason to complain than most. Someone is undermining her social life by taking pot shots at her dates, who are hard enough to come by in the first place. And, as if that's not worrisome enough, her job's on the line, forcing her- a woman who grows poison ivy in her window boxes-to be unnaturally nice in the office. Her chirpy new persona is quickly put to the test when her gynecologist is found handcuffed in his office with a bullet hole in his head and a matchbook from a well-known S&M club by his side. Robin's sleazy boss wants her to investigate the story, with special emphasis on the S&M angle, even as she tries to avoid her bible-toting Aunt Maureen, who, in town for a church convention, hopes to place her niece on the straight and narrow permanently. Hayter, who has worked for CNN and WABC, has a splendid time spoofing egos on both sides of the camera. While readers will remember her giddy plot for about as long as a sound byte, her wry observations about the news world will resonate a bit longer.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Robin Hudson, the renegade, investigative reporter of What's a Girl Gotta Do? (LJ 1/94), has traded some of her flounce for a chance at job security. Her boss at the All News Network (ANN) orders her to investigate the alleged sadomasochistic connections of a gynecologist who was murdered in the ANN building. Instead, Robin concentrates on the murder itself. She rankles at suppressing her true nature, but succeeds in uncovering the perpetrator's treacherousness. Hayter's approach is ambitious, but the identity of the murderer is discovered too slowly. The crazy media characters in her subplots compensate for this weakness. Recommended.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: No Exit Press (May 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1842430505
• ISBN-13: 978-1842430507
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,137,643 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great read and character... I'll be reading the rest, June 15, 2004

By 

Thomas Duff "Duffbert" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nice Girls Finish Last (Hardcover)

Some time back, someone recommended Sparkle Hayter to me as an author. She writes in the female amateur detective genre, much like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I was low on recreational reading material, so I picked up Nice Girls Finish Last. I think I've found another favorite author...

The main protagonist in this series is Robin Hudson. She's a reporter for a large news network, and she's part of the "Special Reports" division. That would be the group that does stories on alien abductions and stuff. She's not thrilled with this assignment, but she's stuck with it. A doctor in her work building is found murdered, and it looks like there might be an element of S&M involved. The news editor wants Hudson to package the story as an S&M killing, even though she thinks it might have nothing to do with that. She starts investigating on her own, but unfortunately all the guys in her work and personal life are also getting shot at (she was supposed to have an appointment with the doctor that got killed later that evening). The police see her as the common thread, but she can't figure out why for the life of her. And it might be a short life if she can't get it solved quickly...

The character is single and cynical, loves the big city and her job, but hates her boss. A real modern woman. The dialogue and writing is sharp and witty, and I got into the story and the characters pretty easily. The book is pretty short, so it's not much of a time investment to read. Well worth picking up if you want to indulge your "guilty pleasures"... :-)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!, February 27, 2003

By 

Marion "[e-mail]" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Nice Girls Finish Last (Robin Hudson Mysteries #2) (Paperback)

I love Robin Hudson. She's beautiful, quirky and red-headed to boot. She's got an exciting life and has such original ideas...like planting poison ivy in all of her window boxes to make anyone who breaks in easy to identify or using a spray glue gun as a weapon of choice (not to mention the epilady!) Her family members are not unlike my own, particularly Aunt Mo.

I adored the fast-paced, unusual, hilarious S&M plot. Ms. Hayter's talent with wisecracks and word play is priceless. The description of Robin's evil neighbor's robe as 'looking like it was made from teddy bear pelts' had me rolling! What a fabulous description! It's worth buying this book just to get to know the unique characters. Thanks for a super read, Ms. Hayter. Keep 'em coming!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Funny Mystery, September 24, 1997

By 

E. Arthur (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nice Girls Finish Last (Robin Hudson Mysteries #2) (Paperback)

Every once in a blue moon an author like this comes around, and I'm thankful it is blue moon time. This is the first book by Sparkle Hayter (love the name) that I have laughed my way through, but it will not be the last.

Robin is the perfect woman of the 90's. She faces her problems with her new positive attitude and her weapons of choice - an epilady and poison ivy. The mystery is interesting, the humor superb and Sparkle a keeper.

Erma Arthur, Reading Forum Assistant, MSN