Just Desserts (Savannah Reid Mystery Series) [Paperback]

G. A. McKevett (Author)

Book Description

Series: Savannah Reid Mystery Series | Publication Date: May 1, 1995

Detective Sergeant Savannah Reid is in her element cruising for crime in Southern California. But when she's told she's too fat to stay on the force, Savannah opens up her own detective agency and soon finds herself investigating a murder. With suspects abounding, Savannah finds herslf sifting through the nasty mess of sex, adultery and down-and-dirty politics.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

McKevett's debut, set in San Carmelita, Calif., is an uneven mix of police procedural and gumshoe cliches. Georgia-born detective Savannah Reid and her staid partner, Dirk Coulter, are split up after the body of city councilwoman Beverly Winston's husband is found shotgunned. In an unprecedented move, Savannah is given the case alone and is told to concentrate on suspects other than Beverly. She learns why: Beverly and police chief Norman Hillquist are lovers. After refusing to abridge her investigation and discovering that Hillquist confiscated a piece of evidence, she is fired, ostensibly for being overweight. Then a prime suspect hires Savannah to find the real killer. In her private life, Savannah worries as her naive younger sister is wined and dined by a notorious pimp. An anonymous tipster, a gay detective couple and a computer nerd who finally breaks the case join Savannah and the ever-loyal Dirk as they careen from one implausible situation to the next, failing to settle into credible detecting.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This first-in-a-series starring police detective Savannah Reid proves once again that southern California is a world to itself. Savannah, a displaced Southern belle of buxom figure, heads an investigation into the murder of a prominent councilwoman's husband. When she refuses to go along with a police coverup, however, her boss fires her?for exceeding departmental weight regulations! Savannah proceeds, though, hampered only by her frequent dessert indulgences, her ingenuous 16-year-old sister, and her lust for a handsome bodyguard. The infectious heroine and self-deprecating humor override the predictable plot, exaggerated characters, and slick prose. Recommended.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (May 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758200617
• ISBN-13: 978-0758200617
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,339,096 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Since publication of her first novel in 1986, Sonja Massie has authored over fifty published works, including the highly popular and critically acclaimed SAVANNAH REID MYSTERIES under the pseudonym G. A. McKevett.

Sonja's novels range from Irish historicals to contemporary thrillers. Her earthy humor and fast-paced plots delight her fans, while critics applaud her offbeat characterizations and incisive observations on human nature.

Irish by ancestry, Sonja has authored two non-fiction books on the history of Ireland: THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO IRISH HISTORY AND CULTURE and IRISH PRIDE: 101 REASONS TO BE PROUD YOU'RE IRISH. Both books impart detailed knowledge of the complex and controversial Irish story with a light hand and plenty of humor. Her Irish novels include: DREAM CARVER, CAROUSEL, DAUGHTER OF IRELAND and the bestselling FAR AND AWAY - the novelization of the Ron Howard movie starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

On nationwide tours, Sonja lectures to published and "pre-published" authors in her workshop, "The Novel Approach," a seminar which covers such topics as: story structure, characterization, plotting, pacing, and marketing manuscripts.

Sonja has taught numerous courses at university and adult continuing education facilities including: general fiction, historical research, and mystery writing. She was managing editor at "Single Living" magazine and has functioned as a manuscript doctor and storyline editor for major publishers. Earlier in her career, she was a prolific ghostwriter, authoring both fictional and non-fictional books for celebrities and professionals.

Having lived in Los Angeles, Toronto, and County Kerry, Ireland, she now resides in New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And Her Real Name Is..., January 10, 2002

By 

mayfayre "mayfayre" (New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Just Desserts (Savannah Reid Mystery Series) (Paperback)

To answer the previous reviewers' question, the author's real name is Sonja Massie, and she's written other books under that name.

I really enjoyed this debut of the character Savannah Reid. In this book she's introduced as a police detective in her forties (a nice change of pace) who gets chosen to head up the investigation into a city councilwoman's husband's death. It is a powderkeg, and unfortunately for Savannah, she does her job too well, much to the dismay of the powers-that-be. The price she pays for her tenacity is the loss of her job on a trumped-up rules violation. Needless to say, when she is asked to continue investigating the case by the person who is the prime suspect, Savannah agrees. On top of all this, her very naive yet stubborn teenage sister arrives unexpectedly from Georgia, announces that she is going to stay with Savannah permanently, and promptly becomes involved with an older man well-known to the local police dept.

Savannah is interesting, independent character. She seems to be comfortable with herself, and isn't afraid to go after what she wants. Ms. McKevett has also created a nice assortment of secondary characters with their own quirks and flaws. The mystery had some nice twists and turns. I'm looking forward to the rest of the books in the series.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and fast read., August 29, 1998

By 

Nancy Joanne Bunn (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just Desserts (Paperback)

 

Savannah Reid is an intelligent, witty detective who will appeal to readers who enjoy realistic women protagonists in their novels. She is tough, but sensitive, and has a caustic sense of humor about her body and her life. The plot revolves around a murder of the estranged husband of a highly visible local politician. The ways in which Savannah solves the murder as well as the other dilemmas facing her in her life are original and satisfying. I highly recommend this book. (I just wish I knew the author's real name as G.A. McKevett is a pseudonym so that I could read her other works.)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Like dessert, delicious quick-read mystery, January 31, 2005

By 

M. C. Crammer (Decatur, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Just Desserts (Savannah Reid Mystery Series) (Paperback)

I withheld the fifth star because although I enjoyed reading it, the literary quality just isn't there and it lacked a certain something I can't quite put my finger on that five-star books have. Still, there are enjoyable characters and the pacing is quick. Great airplane or doctor's office reading, however. It will hold your attention and not require intense concentration.

The plot involves the murder of a designer who is married to a well-loved politician. Savannah Reid, California police detective, is assigned to this politically sensitive case, and from the beginning, gets put under pressure by her superiors to find the "right" solution without ruffling feathers. A subplot involves a visit from a strong-willed but naive teenage sister.

This is the first book I've read in the series, and I liked it enough that I intend to read more. However, I would also add that this probably isn't a book you'd send your grandmother or your pastor, although the sex and language issues are very minor.