Customer Reviews

Large Target: A Josephine Fuller Mystery

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

 

 

I liked this book a lot more than its prequel, "Larger Than Death," and I'm hopeful that the next title will be even better. Jo Fuller, the plus-sized heroine, has all the makings of a wonderful series sleuth, but her potential is not yet realized in this over plotted yet under-developed mystery.

Still reeling from the unexpected death of her best friend, Jo returns to work investigating and recommending grant recipients for her wealthy employer, Alicia Madrone. This time, however, Mrs. Madrone asks Jo to investigate the estranged daughter of an old family friend, Sally Rhymer. Sally is fearful that her daughter has fallen in with people who will take advantage of her (a "new age" group that provides grief counseling). Jo's investigation becomes complicated when Sally's ex-husband, the Admiral, is kidnapped.

A lot goes on in this book, and most of it holds together pretty well. A side plot involving a previous employee of Mrs. Madrone's is simply extraneous. The main problem is that the vast majority of the characters are under-developed stereotypes that border on campy. Mrs. Madrone is aged, eccentric, and in a wheelchair. Her devoted servant Ambrose is fastidious, red-haired, and gay. All the military characters (and there's a lot of them; the story is set in San Diego) are dangerous or sexist (or both). There's a foreign, lesbian artist habitually panting in her lover's ear. Even Jo, although confident and witty, seems sketchily drawn. Murray inadvertently makes Jo's weight her defining characteristic, even though the character herself would hate to be so defined.

Two things kept me from enjoying this book more. (1) As in the previous novel, Jo remains romantically involved with her dead best friend's lover (granted, he seems pretty conflicted about this). I think the point of their relationship is supposed to be that large people can be overtly sexual, but I find the relationship to be off-putting. The friend has been dead only one month. (2) Murray is unnecessarily disdainful of the "new age" group without providing sufficient cause. San Diego abounds with such groups, and it misrepresents the city to make them seem sneaky and shady for no good reason (i.e., a reason that has to do with the plot of the book).

Nevertheless, I enjoy reading mystery authors who are learning their craft and getting better all the time, as is Lynne Murray. I look forward to the next entry in this series.

Lynne Murray brings us the second Josephine Fuller mystery, the first being Larger Than Death. If you are wondering about the reoccurring word "Large" in the titles, there is a reason for it. Josephine Fuller is a plus size bombshell investigator of sorts, and all through the mystery the subject of her weight is acknowledged, in both Josephine's spoken thoughts and by others. I have read other plus size mysteries and this one is a little more serious about the weight issue than those I have read. Anyway, back to the mystery, Josephine is back in sunny San Diego and ready to go to work. She is doing some investigating for Alicia Madrone, a rich woman who gives out charitable grants, but before she does, she wants to know everything about beneficiary. In this case the beneficiary is a group that Mrs. Madrone's friend's daughter is helping. In fact the mother, Sally, feels her married daughter is spending too much time at the hospital with dying patients and not enough with her husband and daughter. Josephine is introduced to this well to do, slightly snobbish family at a party, and a memorable party it is. Later two of the people Josephine has met, meet up with murder and kidnapping. After a close call, Josephine decides to further her field of investigation and find out why someone wants her to give up this family and go home. During the mystery she has an out-of-town visitor, has to deal with some personal issues, and worries about the permanence of her job.

During the party scene, Josephine's defensiveness and quick wit revealed. It's also where I met many characters at once and found myself confused, and later even more characters are introduced, which made me back track and reread the ones already mentioned. The mystery was pretty good. I started putting two and two together quite a ways into the story line, but Lynne's skill at creating doubt is very professional. The characters were well written, but it was hard to remember everything about each one of them so, like I said there was some backtracking. I do like Josephine. She is independent, smart and sassy. She's very up front, calls it as she sees it, and makes no apologies. Large Target is a great mystery with an impressive story line that takes a quick mind to keep up with it.

Josephine Fuller is a philanthropic troubleshooter who judges the worthiness of candidates to receive a charitable grant from wealthy society matron Alicia Medrone. Josephine knows that her being big sized makes much of the population uncomfortable so they try to ignore her presence. This enables her efficiently and effectively to perform her job. She also considers her boss a friend and never hesitates when Alicia asks for a favor. The daughter of Alicia's best friend is spending a lot of time away from her husband and daughter while caring for dying people. Josephine is to determine whether Amy is behaving rationally.

From almost the start, Josephine realizes that Amy and her family don't even approach what most people would consider normal behavior. While meeting with Amy at the Feather Heart Project, a non-profit organization helping dying people and their families, Josephine learns that someone kidnapped Amy's father, a lecherous and retired admiral, and is demanding a million-dollar ransom. Later, the two women find the murdered corpse of the admiral's friend and business partner. Josephine begins to make inquiries in order to protect Amy and ease Alicia's mind even though that means becoming involved in another situation that will put her in deadly danger.

Lynn Murray has created a fascinating lead character that maintains a positive self-image despite society's disapproval of oversized individuals. It is Josephine's healthy confidence that hooks the audience especially when the amateur sleuth helps other people. The mystery is a winner because Josephine turns LARGE TARGET into a fast-paced, exciting and believable story line filled with heart. This is only the second installment in what looks to be another delightful amateur sleuth series that will have a long-term run.

After"Larger Than Death," I was really looking forward to "Large Target" and involving myself in the exploits of Josephine Fuller. Somewhere along the line, her exploits became lost in a maze of over-plotting and so many extra characters, I couldn't keep track of them. It yanked me out of the story everytime I had to stop and think who Ivor was married to, who Dwight was (and why he had problems), etc. etc. Mulligan puts in a less-than-interesting appearance. Although the writing was good, the mystery itself was just so-so

I think Jo should get back to Seattle as soon as possible. She was out of her element in San Diego, surrounded by people I cared nothing about. I really *did* care about her Seattle friends.

This is the second book in what promises to be a wonderfulworld of amateur sleuths.Josephine Fuller is goodlooking,tall,overweight,educated, and capable of outwitting mostanybody.She works for a wealthy lady investigating charities and she is asked to help her employer's friend.She dislikes this skinny lady immediately but meets the womens ex-husband and children. She is trying to find out if Amy,the daughter,is nuts. It turns out that Amy is overweight,but happily married. It's the rest of the family thats nuts... Both this story and the previous Josephine Fuller mystery are warm,exciting,cozy with an attitude, and at times laugh out loud funny. I can hardly wait for the next one to be written.

Lynne Murray's LARGE TARGET is a delight. Her newest novel combines wit, suspense and poignancy. I laughed and I cried and the book became a part of me. I feel like Josephine Fuller is my friend. This is definitely a book worth reading...maybe even more than once. Jaqueline Girdner

I really enjoyed Ms. Murray's first book, *Larger Than Death,* and was looking forward to reading this one. But this book could be an example of "What Not To Do" in Fiction Writing 101 - if there is such a class (?). Within the first few pages, the author keeps adding more and more characters into the mix without giving much "fleshing out." Indeed, she might as well be just listing them, as on a playbill. I can make a passable family tree for intestate succession purposes, and that's what I had to do - start a family tree/character chart at the beginning. But then I just gave up as she continued to pile on the list of people. I've got enough challenges in my life without having to "work at" leisure time reading. My advice is to pass this one up.
reviewed by mbmlaw

I read Larger Than Death and immediately got my hands on Large Target - I wasn't disappointed. I'm eagerly awaiting more books about Jo Fuller!

I think these are the first books I've ever read featuring a character who is into size acceptance, and the dialogue between the Jo and those pushing diets at her really rang true for me.

The books are certainly of interest to any mystery fan, not just those of us who are fat - they're good stories and very entertaining for anyone.

In Large Target by Lynne Murray, Josephine Fuller returns, this time with an even bigger problem to handle. Jo is under a tremendous amount of stress, doing research to renew a grant that was set in place by the person who held her job with Alicia Mudrone. As if the stress from the grant research is not enough Alicia, Jo's boss, has asked her to research The Feather Heart Profject, the foundation that the daughter of a friend Stephanie works for. All hell breaks loose when Stephanie's father is kidnapped. Jo is sucked into the kidnapping mystery but still must find a way to keep up with the duties of her new job. Will Jo be able to do it all or is the former employee going to get the job when she comes back to reclaim it?

Josephine is so great. She is getting more confident in this new job. Finding herself in new situations is helping her to realize who she really is. She still doesn't take crap from anyone and is very independent. Jo is a lady with a real compassionate heart and it comes out even more so in this book. She is really developing along and she evolves with each new situation.

Stephanie is a one of my favorite character in this Josephine Fuller Mystery. As a plus size teen, Stephanie was treated poorly for her looks. She could never live up to her mother's standards. As an adult, she works with a foundation to help people who are dying. Jo helps her to see that it doesn't matter what she looks like as long as she is happy. Stephanie's character shows great growth eventually becoming more confident in her looks.

This book in general left me with the same feelings as the first book Larger than Death. The women in this story had self-esteem issues and Jo was always there to help. I have the other two books in the series and I hope more comes out of it. So far I am finding all of the Josephine Fuller mysteries hard to put down. Jo's character is easy to relate to no matter what your size. These are the best books books I have read in a long time.

Reviewed by Krista
for BBW Reviews

I love books. I read most anything I can get my hands on, and the premise of this book is what interested me. There aren't many good books with larger ladies in them. Unfortunately, this is one of those books that isn't very good.
The characters are shallow. I disliked Jo a little from the beginning because of her attraction to her dead friend's lover. Ew. THe friend had been dead for so short of a time, neither of them should have even THOUGHT of getting together.
THere are too many characters, that you just don't care about. I had a hard time keeping them straight. My favorite character in the book is the cat. The rest just aren't very interesting. I had a hard time finishing the book at all.
Very disappointing.