Customer Reviews

Knock Off (A Finley Anderson Tanner Mystery)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Paralegal Finley Tanner takes long lunch hours, arrives at her office late, and is always happy to get a high-limit, no questions credit card. What she doesn't get is interesting cases, which is why she knows there's something wrong when the managing partner assigns her to work with an important client. Sure enough, the client doesn't want help with her estate, she wants Finley to investigate a murder. That would be bad enough if a murder had actually happened, but the police are convinced that the woman's elderly husband fell asleep at the wheel.

Finley starts by going through the motions--in between long lunches with her girlfriends and sexy fantasies about the investigator she brings in to help with the case. Gradually, though, she comes to realize that the crazy client just might be right. How likely is it that three men from a jury just happen to die of accidents?

Author Rhonda Pollero writes a fast-paced mystery with a chick-lit feel and plenty of romantic tension between Finley and investigator Liam McGarrity (when Finley isn't making time with perfect boyfriend Patrick.) At times I thought Pollero tried a bit too hard to make Finley fit into the chick-lit conventions (do we really need the shoe moments?) but Pollero definitely sustained my both in the mystery and in Finley.

If you're looking for a sassy sleuth with attitude, a well-written story, and romantic tension that doesn't unfold too quickly, KNOCK OFF is a definite winner.

"If I could find a way to deep-fry chocolate, my life would be whole." This first sentence sets the tone for the book. The heroine, Finley Anderson Tanner (nickname 'Fat'), is a para-legal with an eye for cut-price fashion and accessories - she's building her own Rolex from parts bought on e-Bay - and a nose for an investigation. She works for the Estates and Trusts Department of a prestigious law firm, but her safely dull routine is up-ended when a distraught widow is determined to prove that her husband has been murdered. Finley gets pushed into investigating what has happened, then the death threats start...

There are shades of Janet Evanovich and Sarah Strohmeyer here, with the slightly ditsy but spunky and good-hearted heroine surrounded by loyal girlfriends and a confused love-life. What I most enjoyed was the dry humour and the way we get to hear Finley's wry unspoken thoughts - especially when she was dealing with her snobbish mother. Lots of puzzled glances came my way on the train as I laughed out loud in mid-page!

I'm happy that further books in this series are planned; can't wait for the next one, 'Knock 'em Dead', and I thoroughly recommend this one if you're into the comedy-murder genre.

"Knock Off" was a great read. It is exactly what I look for in this kind of book. Likeable characters, a clever mystery, not too much "romance novel" emotional blather and a sense of fun. Finley is a paralegal who is more interested in shopping online at work than climbing the corporate ladder until she is drawn into solving the death of the husband of one of her probate clients. The only gripe I have with the story is that the motive of the culprit is weak (or weakly developed). Finley's character and attitude definitely make up for it though.

Rhonda Pollero writes a book thats really a great read. If you love Evanovich's Stephanie Plum you will love Finley. I found myself laughing out loud many times with Finleys adventures. I hope she never stops writing. This an enjoyable read

I loved KNOCK OFF. And before anyone jumps in to point out the obvious, Rhonda is a friend of mine. But I have dozens of friends who write, and I assure you, I don't always love what they write, no matter how much I love *them*. KNOCK OF is clever, fast paced and frequently laugh out loud funny. Finley is so unashamedly unambitious and fun that I find her refreshing in this day of kick-butt heroines who can leap buildings in a single bound. Her smart mouth, her quick repartee, her hellacious mother, her relationship with her girlfriends, and her sizzle with Liam all make for a fun, entertaining read. I highly recommend KNOCK OFF.

In West Palm Beach paralegal assistant Finley Anderson Tanner, known as FAT to her adversaries, works in the Estates and trusts Department of Dane, Lieberman and Zarnowski law firm. She does enough at work to not get fired by her boss Mr. "Vain" Dane. Instead of handling estates and trusts as expected, she prefers extended lunches, coffee by the gallon, and shopping for designer clothing in discount or consignment stores especially on the lookout for irregulars.

Dane dumps a particular pain in the butt client on Finley. Mrs. Evans believes her spouse Marcus was murdered though officially he had a heart attack that led to his death in a car accident. To quiet the nuisance client, Finley plans to do just enough to affirm it was an accident. However, with the help of private investigator Liam McGarrity, she begins to uncover strange happenings. Three members of a medical malpractice jury including Marcus have died in accidents in a short time. Could the accused Dr. Kent Hall be killing those who exonerated him though no motive seems apparent? In between coffee, shopping and ogling Liam's butt, Finley plans to prove Dr. Hall is a killer, but must be careful that the surgeon does not KNOCK OFF a suddenly active underachiever.

Finley is a fascinating protagonist whose efforts to keep up appearances will have the audience shaking their heads in amusement. Though at first she seems inane leaving fans to wonder what her friends see in her; she soon display an inner strength to uncover the truth as much for herself as her client. Readers will appreciate the impatient Finley as she, while hiding the nasty spot on her designer bag outlook, shakes up the legal, medical, and private investigative worlds of West Palm Beach in this lighthearted chick lit mystery.

Harriet Klausner

I'm happy I discovered this mystery series. Interesting characters you can like and root for and an attractive guy with a bit of mystery who keeps the main character on her toes as she deals with problems at work, a series of murders, and a mommy dearest. The plot lines of work in a law office, some romance, some murder, and some fun scenes with girlfriends keep the story moving along at a good clip.

It's a little bit Nancy Drew and a little Legally Blonde. It was funny and a great mystery. I had no idea "who did it" until the end. Great series and I can't wait for the next installment!

I had such a great time reading "Knock Off." If you are familiar with any of Janet Evanovich's novels, you could compare this book to her Stephanie Plum series.

It was a surprise to me that this is Janet Pollero's first book. She writes like an old pro. The characters and dialogue were fun and easy to identify with. There is plenty of humor, and I caught myself laughing out loud a few times throughout this book.

Bravo, Ms. Pollero! You have a new fan.

Finley is a coffee-guzzling, designer bargains-hunting Estates and Trusts paralegal who does the bare minimum to earn her paycheck until a grieving widow convinced her husband didn't die in an accident is passed off to her. To top it off she finds having to work closely with a sexy Irish PI gives her hot flashes and makes it hard to remember her pilot boyfriend.

I truly enjoyed this new heroine on the scene. The plot moves quickly and I found myself laughing at loud at times.
Here's hoping Finley will be around for many more installments to come!