Customer Reviews

Killer Summer (Red Dress Ink Novels)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In this novel, Lynda Curnyn takes us to Fire Island, where three friends named Zoe, Sage, and Nick are sharing a beach house with clothing magnate Tom. Early in the story, Zoe finds the mistress of the house dead in the water. The police department doesn't expend too much energy on her death, so kind-hearted Zoe, haunted by the incident, decides to explore it further.

I agree with the other customer reviewers who said that Sage and Nick were selfish and unlikable. Zoe is the only character who cares about anyone other than herself. Nick is particularly oafish and annoying, although he redeems himself a little by the end, and I'm not sure why his point of view was included.

The shifts in point of view - among Zoe, Nick, Sage, and the dead woman, Maggie - are confusing, although including a dead woman's voice is a neat trick. I would have eliminated a good 50-75 pages (including all the parts narrated by Nick) for a trimmer, leaner mystery, but the writing itself was light and enjoyable.

This is one of those books which I found hard to get involved in the book simply because the way the story was written. Each chapter is written from a different character's (first person) point of view, which gets confusing and impedes the flow of the storyline. Like other readers, I often would have to flip back to the beginning of the chapter to see which character was talking. Very confusing!

Other than Zoe, who is still has a personality of a wet noodle, none of the other characters are likeable (Sage is a trampy, self-centered character with no positive personality traits). How these three individuals became close friends is a mystery in itself, because of their own selfishness they make terrible friends.

I picked this up because I liked Curnyn's earlier books and I was not disappointed. This novel is more than a whodunit--it's an examination of the relationships of three lifelong friends. The book is written from the points of view of all three friends, as well as the dead woman. Though the characters are not always likeable, they are always engaging and I found myself laughing out loud in some places. Don't miss this one--if the intriquing murder doesn't hook you, the characters will.

Zoe, Sage and Nick look forward to sharing the beach house for the entire summer on Fire Island, New York as guests of documentary filmmaker Maggie Landon. However, even before they can use their first drops of suntan lotion, Maggie's naked corpse is found on the beach.

Maggie's spirit watches her friends and her spouse go on as if nothing happened to her. Her spouse Tom even has the audacity of throwing summer parties. No one mourns for her and in fact everyone seems happier without her. However, Zoe feels guilty about not seeming to care and wonders how Maggie's husband keeps partying when he should be grieving and wondering who killed his wife unless he knows. She also observes that Nick is not himself as if he struggles with secrets perhaps dealing with Maggie. Finally Sage acts as if Maggie possessed her soul trying to score as because any moment she might go to the great beyond. Zoe needs to learn the truth even if it means putting a damper on the summer including breaking her heart.

Ironically the unpopular Maggie in the afterlife is the best character of this chick lit amateur sleuth tale as her commentaries on the reactions to her murder are amusing and fun. Zoe runs a fine second as her conscience guides her and she could have carried the tale. Instead the alternating chapters between the cast jars the reader though providing differing perspective especially explicit descriptive that is not always needed. Still Zoe's investigation into her friends and Maggie's lament make for an overall humorous fun tale.

Harriet Klausner

Lifelong pals Zoe, Sage, and Nick buy into a Fire Island share with Sage's boss Tom and his wife Maggie. On a particularly grueling weekend for Zoe, she arrives late at the beach house only to stumble upon Maggie's nude and lifeless body washed ashore.

The police write it up as a suicide/accident, but Zoe is convinced there is foul play, and attempts to play amateur sleuth, particularly since husband Tom does not seem to be mourning her all that much in between his many beach parties and board meetings. She need look no further than her own backyard when she discovers that Nick is holding something back, and might have been involved with Maggie, and Sage had a lot to gain by Maggie's demise.

As she quizzes everyone on their whereabouts, she manages to alienate Nick because of his new relationship with Tom's daughter, and Sage because of her affair with a sexy older colleague. When more bodies and corporate intrigue surface, Zoe discovers that she just might be on to something.

Although I liked Killer Summer, I found the multiple points of view confusing. Occasionally, I had to back track to find out who was the narrator in the chapter I was reading (particularly as it popped between Sage and Zoe). Though I really liked the idea of letting Maggie have a say, even after she was murdered.

I loved this book! Zoe, Nick and Sage were great characters and I really liked that the book was told from each of their points of view. Even the dead woman has a say about her murder and her poignant, often funny, commentary, provides a unique perspective from the grave. Add to that the fact that Curnyn keeps you guessing about who the murderer is until the very end, and you get one hilarious whodunit. Highly recommended.

This was an awesome book. You got a little bit of everything in it; love,mystery,murder. I bought this book at a dicount rack at another store, but I just don't want people to pass this book up because they have never heard of the author before. Give this author a chance. She's really good,and has a interesting way of bringing the story together.

This book actually turned out better than I expected. From the cover alone I expected it to be a little cheesy, but it turned out to be pretty entertaining. It all begins with three friends, Zoe, Sage, and Nike, who decide to take up shares of a beach house on Fire Island with Sage's wealthy boss. At the very beginning of the summer, his wife, Maggie, turns up dead, floating in the tide. Most everyone, including the police, figure it was an accidental drowning. Although Maggie had an unusual amount of alcohol and vicodin in her system and seemed to be swimming alone and nude.

To Zoe, this situation seemed all too strange, and she put her documentary film making to use and began to investigate everyone in Maggie's life. After spending an entire summer upsetting everyone and blaming all the wrong people, she does eventually figure it all out.

It ends up being a little obvious, but it's still a fun summer book.

I picked this up expecting a fun beach read with a side of intrigue... All I succeeded in getting out of reading this book was frustrated.

There's not a single sympathetic character in the whole bunch and the actual plot of the mystery surrounding Maggie's death is bland and drawn out.

Don't waste your time or money on this one - Trust me!

I just finished reading this book and could not put it down, literally, in the last fifty pages. The story is a good one - one that isn't expected. The characters are wonderful and easy to relate to - especially Zoe. Each chapter is written from a different character's point of view, which makes it even more entertaining to read. It keeps it fresh and interesting. There are funny parts of the book and it's not a romance novel by any means. It has a good plot, great characters, and keeps your interest. This is the first of Lynda Curnyn's novels that I've read and I will definitely be looking for another.