Customer Reviews

Killer in High Heels

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Since her brush with death last summer, when she got caught up in a scandal involving a slightly bizarre stabbing incident involving a breast implant and a sexy stiletto - not to mention a hunky detective named Ramirez - twenty-six-year-old Maddie Springer has wanted nothing more than to get back to her old life as an L.A. shoe designer, creating sketches of Spiderman flip-flops and Rainbow Brite jellies for her employer, Tot Trots Children's Shoes; avoid the hundreds of sit-ups that her health-obsessed best friend, Dana, has in store for her; and attempt to forget about Ramirez and the fact that he hasn't called her in over six weeks. Unfortunately, the constant calls from various tabloid reporters - namely Felix Dunn with the L.A. Informer - have made it quite impossible for her to forget her days as an amateur sleuth. And now, as she receives a crazy phone call from her estranged father, Larry, Maddie feels herself being dragged back in to the world of solving crimes. Maddie hasn't seen Larry since the day he took off for Las Vegas with a smoking redhead named Lola, and knows him only by his overly-hairy arms. However, when she gets the call, she grabs Dana and her "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"-wannabe pal, Marco, and heads for Sin City to search for her MIA dad. Within days, Maddie feels accomplished, for she has actually managed to locate her father. Unfortunately, accompanying her estranged dad is an organized crime ring working to smuggle fake Prada shoes into the country, along with a group of fashion forward drag queens looking to make some extra money on the side, and a killer obsessed with one very important thing...seeking revenge. As if that weren't enough, Maddie has just stumbled upon a dirty little secret involving her lover-to-be, Ramirez, and a little undercover moonlighting in Las Vegas. Now, as Maddie begins investigating the various crimes taking place around her, she begins to suspect whether or not she'll be able to keep her title of "Lady Luck," or kiss it goodbye along with one extremely substantial factor...her life.

I'll admit it, I'm not easily taken with chick lit novels that dabble in the crime world. However, Gemma Halliday reeled me in with her debut SPYING IN HIGH HEELS, and has managed to do the same thing with the sequel KILLER IN HIGH HEELS. As with the previous installment, Halliday has presented Maddie as a fun-loving struggling artist looking to make ends meat in a dead-end job that has her creating children's designs for Payless as opposed to styling stillettos for Prada. Her whiny personality, complaints about doing anything physical - namely sit-ups - and penchant for stopping at every drive-thru within a five-mile radius of her apartment for high-calorie shakes, fries, and burgers are entertaining, and make her stand out from the crowd. However, it's the slew of supporting characters who easily make Halliday's efforts memorable. From the 300-pound psychic, Mrs. Rosenblatt, who appears to accompany Maddie's aging mother everywhere; to the over-the-top femininity displayed by the flamboyant Marco; all the way to Maddie's best friend, and resident heat-packing tough girl, Dana; to her matronly-dressed mother who loves to nag. And, of course, we can't forget the irresistible Ramirez whose five o'clock shadow, and ability to swear non-stop in Spanish makes him humorous, as well as eye candy - or, rather, page candy - for the reader, as well as Maddie. Fans of Halliday's debut will love seeing these characters brought to life once more, and will undoubtedly enjoy the introduction of new quirky characters, from Maddie's estranged father, to a handful of his slightly strange Vegas friends. Once more, Halliday has created a can't-put-down tale that will have readers itching for the next installment. A sinful sequel!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

An urgent call punctuated by gunfire from her long missing father prompts Maddie Springer to break her vow to not call or think about Ramirez, who was last seen weeks ago and called away at a very inconvenient moment. When the handsome cop isn't overly helpful, Maddie takes matters into her own hands and packs up her two best friends for a road trip to Vegas to save Dad. Of course, things begin to go downhill fairly quickly, starting with finding out what her absent father's gotten up to; namely cross-dressing for fun and profit. Plus, there's the mob to worry about, a nosy reporter, and a murder charge. Maddie is up to her ears in alligators, and we aren't talking Prada shoes made of their skin!

**** With a breezy, fun style reminescent of Janet Evanovich, Ms. Halliday brings a grin to your face. If you love screwball comedy with a little bit of mystery thrown in, then you've found your book. ****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore, Freelance Reviewer.

High heels was some what interesting but nothing special. The story was far fetched but not to the point where I was annoyed. It was okay at best. Don't go into the book with high expectations and then you will not be let down.

Halliday's first book, Spying in High Heels, was enough fun to make me overlook the egregious lack of editing and the made-up words. Less than halfway through Book 2, I was bored. Bored with Maddie's unchanging bubble-headedness and the near sexual encounters. After awhile it gets tiring, just let them get to it. Worse yet was the complete lack of professional pride with the editing...no, I take that back. It was the lack of character development. Everyone stays exactly the same. It was too ridiculous to be fun. I only finished reading it because I had paid for it. Book 3 is waiting as a sample on my Nook for Android. At this point I am far from convinced that whatever comes next will be worth my $3.

Killer in High Heels was not nearly as funny as Gemma Halliday's first book Spying in High Heels. Maddie seemed to have alot more common sense in the first book. In "Killer in High Heels" she does so many things that aren't really funny. The story line drags on as Maddie goes from one "I love Lucy" moment to another. The only ones that save the book are Marco and Maddie's Mom. They are funny and add a reprieve from the othewise dim-witted actions of Maddie.

This book was definitely not as good as the first in the series. Although Maddie is a fun character, she is written as a compete ditz. She doesn't know the first thing about investigating crimes, she makes some really unintelligent choices, and her best friend is a borderline hooker. I'm not sure that writing about a ditzy blonde female is the way to win over readers. The plot was very loose - Maddie discovers her father is a cross dresser in Vegas and seems to have some connection to a crime she heard over the phone. The relationship between Maddie and her estranged father could have been developed furter, but Maddie really only has a few conversations with a father she hasn't known or seen her entire life. The only interesting part about the book is the cop - Jack Ramirez. I enjoyed the first book in the series, but after getting to know Maddie better I'm less inclinedto read any more of this fluffy mystery series.

I read Spying in Heels this past fall and anxiously awaited the release of Killer in High Heels - I was not disappointed. Killer in High Heels was just as fun as the first book, in some parts much funnier. I read this book on the beach (escaping the Chicago winter) and it was the perfect addition to my vacation.

If you are looking for a funny, entertaining mystery, I recommend first picking up Spying in Heels, then reading right through Killer in High Heels. I cannot wait for number three!

Targeted toward the younger generation, Killer in High Heels broaches high school/college verbiage. Too many clichés and overabundant comparisons; It was still an enjoyable read, you will laugh at the ripe sarcasm and comical situations the heroine creates.

Absolutely love this series by Gemma Halliday.
Great read, lots of laughs and Jack (Maddies cop boyfriend) is hot, however not sure how he keeps from strangling Maddie over her antics. Maddie always seems to be right in the middle of a mystery and is assisted by her actress friend Dana, they are an absolute hoot. You don't have to read series in order but extra good if read in sequence. If you love the Plum Mysteries by Janet Evanovich you will love these books.

This is a poorly written book. There are spelling and grammatical errors throughout. Frustrating to read as I had to stop to figure out what was being said. Annoying the way there was constant referral to the same theme or concept. I don't know how many times Maddie referred to her blond roots but it was too many!