Sex, Lies, and Online Dating (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "Lucy Rothschild pulled her BMW into the parking slot closest to the Starbucks entrance and shoved the vehicle into park..." (more)
Key Phrases: stun pen, coffee date, gaze stared, Women of Mystery, Lucy Rothschild, Sergeant Mitchell (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

What's a homicide detective to do when tracking down a female serial killer who targets her victims via online dating sites? In Gibson's breezy, formulaic new romance set in Boise, Idaho, said detective—handsome Quinn McIntyre—logs online and goes out on numerous first dates until he pinpoints the woman wacko enough to have committed the crimes. So begins the relationship between Quinn and Lucy Rothschild, a well-educated, 30-something professional who fits the killer's profile. Quinn isn't the only one with an agenda, however. Lucy, a mystery writer, is doing research for her next novel, which coincidentally features a female serial killer and Internet dating. Mutual lust impedes both Quinn and Lucy's plans, and miscommunication and the real serial killer serve as speed bumps on their path to love. While Gibson's fast-paced romp is mildly entertaining, her flimsy plot doesn't hold up to scrutiny, and her protagonists—the capable detective who's married to his work and the smart female who's been burned by a parade of Mr. Wrongs—never grow beyond their prescribed roles. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Lucy Rothschild has come up with a daring way of doing research for her newest mystery novel. Since her female serial killer meets her victims online, Lucy does the same. The men who respond to her e-mails and meet her in the Boise Starbucks provide excellent fodder, as well as verisimilitude. Finally Lucy only needs one more victim. Unbeknownst to her, Quinn McIntyre is actually an undercover detective trying to stop a serial killer. One thing the victims all have in common is that they are part of the online dating scene. As Quinn chats with Lucy, it becomes apparent that she is lying and that she knows way too much about police procedure. Lucy begins to fall for him, and Quinn falls for her, believing all the while that she's the killer. How Lucy's novel reads and how the serial killer's MO are so alike is just one of the fascinating aspects of Gibson's latest delightful page-turner. The others are her truly appealing and convincing characters. Maria Hatton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (January 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060772913
• ISBN-13: 978-0060772918
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #80,754 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, February 1, 2006

By	D. Joubert (Tennessee Valley) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Rachel Gibson writes funny romances, and in my opinion, she's written a few of the best...and a few of the worst.

So I buy her books, but sometimes throw them at the wall.

My copy of Sex, Lies, and Online Dating isn't dented - neither is the wall or the cat - it's not great, but it's fun, and it has great characters. My major criticism is that in too many respects it's a one idea story - crime writer and cop meet online both doing 'research' and pretending to be someone they're not.

I'm also getting very tired of books that spend too much time trying to sell the author's next book; the epilogue of this one is primarily devoted to the major character of book two in the 'series.' It feels more like a sales pitch than literature.

That said, I found the book to be entertaining. The characters are well-drawn, the action moves along fast enough, and the suspense element works. And if you're looking for hot love scenes and fetching pets, Gibson does them equally well.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another great story from Gibson, February 20, 2006

By	Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

Lucy Rothschild is a famous mystery novelist. As research for a book she is writing about a killer who chooses her victims from on-line dating services, Lucy jumps into the dating pool, pretending to be a nurse. Little does she realize that there is a real serial killer wreaking havoc and mayhem in Boise. Her latest date is with a sexy plumber named Quinn McIntyre. Actually Quinn is really a homicide detective and he thinks Lucy fits the profile of serial killer perfectly. When they initially meet, sparks fly, and when one of Lucy's other on-line paramours starts choking, she realizes Quinn will realize she's not a nurse, since she panics and he has to come to the rescue. So it surprises her when she receives a sappy email from him inviting her out. The two share many passionate kisses and a couple dates before they find themselves back at his place. While in a passionate clinch, Quinn is so worked up and attracted to Lucy that he announces he'll get her help, just before discovring that victim #4 has been found. Realizing Lucy isn't the culprit, he comes clean with her, and she's humiliated and flees. When she suddenly becomes the pen pal of the real serial killer, she is forced to work with Quinn to catch the killer.

While it doesn't take a rocket scientist to guess the identity of the femme fatale, it sure is a fun ride! Gibson uses her trademark humor and sizzle to tell a funny and sexy story capturing the dilemmas of dating in the new millennium.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rachel Gibson's lastest is a hit, March 25, 2006

By	J. Kopala "avid reader" (AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Online dating has become dangerous. Three men have died, possibly at the hands of someone they connected with online. Quinn McIntyre, aka hardluvinman, is the detective on the job. He thinks he has a suspect in one n2u, better known as Lucy Rothschild. Since Lucy is a mystery writer, she is very coversant with police methods, which Quinn finds interesting as he has told her he is a plumber. As Lucy looks more and more like the murderer, Quinn begins to realize he really likes her, she is smart funny and fiesty. He doesn't want to believe he is falling for his main suspect. A sting set up to prove conslusively that Lucy is the murderer falls apart when the real murderer strikes again. When Lucy discovers she's been considered a murderer by the man she is beginning to fall in love with, her world falls apart. She is forced to contact Quinn when she receives threatening letters.

Gibson has constructed a clever plot, with enough romance and intrigue to keep your attention, her characters are likeable and ever so slightly flawed, making them a joy to read about.