Customer Reviews

Murder for Hire: The Peruvian Pigeon

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

MURDER FOR HIRE is like getting two books in one: the behind-the-scenes shenanigans of an acting troupe specializing in tough-guy detective stories and snappy patter, and on top of that, some actual murders to be solved, however inadvertantly. Hell, you can even get a drinking game out of it -- knock one back every time Daphne makes cocoa and you'll be feeling alright in no time (though be responsible, no reading and driving...)

This is a fun novel and you don't have to be a mystery maven to enjoy it. There's something here for everyone. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Maybe murder shouldn't be fun, but this book honestly is. Fredsti's frustrated actresses (and unwilling detectives) are surrounded by a surly but gorgeous stuntman, a wacky neighbor lady, obliviously blood-thirsty mystery fans, and a dragonlady socialite you'd love to see murdered. The suspense is all there, and the mystery unravels like a ball of yarn in the clutches of a leopard, but you'll get to the end laughing.

Well written, amazingly crafted, and basically just fun! Dana Fredsti's Murder For Hire team is made up of a group of people you'd want to find yourself hanging out with. A tongue in cheek nod at 40's film noir, along with a little murder and a little romance, what more could you ask of a mystery? Ms. Fredsti's attention to detail brings her audience right into the action. (I also blame her for my current cookie craving!) A great whodunit to the very end. Warning, this book is hard to put down...Clear your schedule, warm up some cocoa and put in a fresh batch of chocolate chips before you start!

I sure hope this will be the first of a series, because I loved this book! It exceeded my expectations, riffing on Agatha Christie, Dashiell Hammett and Nancy Drew with an effortless charm, and updating it with the modern twists and quirky characters. Dana Fredsti has a great eye for detail, which makes the book as rich as the hot cocoa the characters are always drinking (with vanilla bean or orange zest). I'll keep reading if she keeps writing!

I was attracted by the title, which I figured had to be a wry play on one of my favorite stories of all time, "The Maltese Falcon," but what I wasn't expecting, and found utterly delightful, was the kind of mystery/romantic-suspense that Elizabeth Peters used to write. Fredsti's leading lady harkens back to Peters' Vicky Bliss with her wit, pluck, and healthy appetite for all things chocolate. This book is smart, funny and fun. I highly recommend it!

This is a fun story. I got pulled in right away just from the opening chapter and couldn't put it down. The heroine/narrator has a great voice - funny, tough, personable, and smart. The story keeps you on your toes too, guessing what the next step is going to be. Thumbs up!

I've never been a big murder mystery fan but this book, recommended to me by a friend, kept me reading til the very end. I literally could not put it down! It's funny, well written and certainly stays in your mind long after having finished it. I can't wait for the sequel!

"Murder For Hire" features a murder mystery troupe - one of those groups that puts on murder mystery shows for dinners and special events - that gets tangled up in a real murder. I'm surprised that no one has thought of using this concept as a mystery vehicle before. But Dana Fredsti has, and the first in what I'm sure will be a series is a lot of fun, with much spoofing of the behaviors of actors as well as hard-boiled detective novels.

I first knew Dana as her alter ego, Inara La Vey, but I was delighted to discover that she also writes mysteries (and scripts and non-fiction...). The best thing about this book is the humour, which is really part of who Dana is: smart, sassy, funny. The attitude fills all her books. MURDER FOR HIRE is no exception, but it also has genuine suspense. You'll be guessing who's behind the murders -- and probably rooting for it to be at least one really unpleasant character, hee! The book also shows her aptitude for romance -- the entanglements add to the adventurous ambience. The dynamics of the struggling dramatic company also have the ring of reality, sometimes in painfully hilarious ways. Juggling crime solving and romance like a noir classic, Dana manages to make both work in a lively narrative that will pull you along eagerly. I devoured this in one sitting on a transcontinental flight. Highly recommended!

Q: What could be better than a murder mystery served with a side of sass--provided by main character Connie Garrett's wit--and a delectable dose of sweetness--provided by roommate Daphne Graves' experimental cocoa recipes? A: A mystery with sass, sweetness, AND a colorful secondary cast of characters.

If those elements don't provide enough of a temptation, add the ingedient of excellent writing to the mix that is Murder for Hire: The Puruvian Pigeon and readers are in for a real treat.