Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate [Paperback]

Kyra Davis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2007

Mind her own business? Leave it to the experts? Not a chance.

. . . especially when asked to spy on her friend's strangely behaving husband, Eugene, at one of San Francisco's hottest nightclubs. When Sophie shows up in a short red cocktail dress and the potentially two-timing hubby shows up dead, the would-be sleuth launches a full investigation.

Without warning, Sophie plunges into a world of political mudslinging and campaign cover-ups. She uncovers some pretty dirty secrets, including a certain conservative congressional hopeful's involvement in the "Furry" community -- a group with a fetish for mascot sized animal costumes. Sex and politics, wouldn't you know?

Sophie knows she needs help, and turns to P.I. (and ex-boyfriend) Anatoly Darinsky. Together they set out to discover who killed Eugene and why. Their professional relationship may be repaired, but what will this very unusual case do for their personal one?

In the hilarious third book of the Sophie Katz series, Davis offers plenty of obsession, a healthy dose of deceit and a generous serving of really dark chocolate!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sophie Katz flirts with dirty politics and a certain Russian PI in Davis's cool but sometimes overcaffeinated third chick lit cozy (after 2006's Passion, Betrayal and Killer Highlights). A simple favor for Sophie's college mentor Melanie O'Reilly turns into an investigation after Melanie's husband, former FBI agent Eugene, is killed in a drive-by shooting. Sophie teams with ex-lover boy Anatoly Darinsky, a licensed San Francisco PI, to crack the case. Eugene had been working as a crackerjack researcher for Flynn Fitzgerald, a conservative Republican running against liberal Democrat Anne Brooke in a hotly contested congressional race. As the killer begins stalking Sophie, she discovers one of the candidates is connected to the dark underbelly of the furry world inhabited by fetishists who dress up in animal costumes and get it on with stuffed toys. Wry sociopolitical commentary, the playful romantic negotiations between Anatoly and Sophie and plenty of Starbucks coffee keep this steamy series chugging along. (Sept.)
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About the Author

Novelist Kyra Davis has spent her life in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area, where she currently lives with her young son. Now a full-time parent and writer, Davis previously divided her time between a career in the fashion industry and various artistic endeavors such as acting, singing and creative writing.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Red Dress Ink; Original edition (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373895534
• ISBN-13: 978-0373895533
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kyra Davis is the internationally published author of the critically acclaimed Sophie Katz Mystery Series and So Much For My Happy Ending. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and is currently living in Southern California with her son and his charming albeit moody leopard gecko. You can learn more about Kyra Davis and her books by visiting her website: www.kyradavis.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars #3 hits the mark, September 11, 2007

By 

Maryasha - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate (Paperback)

I've read all of Kyra Davis' books and have enjoyed them all. This is the third in the Sophie Katz series and Davis is not letting us down. She keeps the fun as well as the mystery, romance and the adreneline going. It's a well written and quite a delightful page turner with Davis' signature quirky characters. This one has an interesting and funny quasy political plot and a facinating look into a what might be called by some an alternative life style and by others a devient and rather unusual one. Check it out.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Laugh Out Loud Funny - Yet Again, April 27, 2008

By 

Tanya L. Schaub "TSchlaack" (Livermore, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate (Paperback)

Sophie Katz is back at it again. Doing all she can to annoy Anatoli, solve a murder, and make it through a day in her life. She will meet new friends and even deal with some of her past in this book. All the favorite characters are back in this one and it does not dissapoint. I have to say I am with her in the addiction to Starbucks Frappachino and I love how Anatoli discribes one that he gets her. She is as head strong and full steam ahead, ignoring threats etc., as usual. If you like a murder mystery, laughting out loud, a little romance and a bit of the odd then this is the book for you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate-A Joyfully Recommended Title!!, June 11, 2008

By 

M. Nix - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate (Paperback)

Sophie Katz is a bit of an original. She is half Eastern European White Jewish and half African American, which leads to some interesting hair. She is a famous author and a divorcee who has no desire to ever see her ex, unless it is under a truck somewhere. She has a cast of friends from sex toy shop owner Deena, to former college professor Melanie. It is Melanie who calls Sophie for help when she thinks her husband is cheating. Since Melanie knows that Sophie hasn't met her husband she is the perfect woman to see if she can entice her husband. Sophie reluctantly agrees. After meeting him and determining that he may be concerned about something but cheating on his wife isn't it. Unfortunately for Sophie, this is when the troubles begin. He is killed in a drive by attack seconds after leaving her.

Now she is going to figure out what the real story was behind his death for Melanie. She reluctantly agrees to have Anatoly work with her (ok she decides to use him and his PI skills) so that she can keep an eye on him. When Melanie turns up dead and Sophie starts to get phone calls and threatening notes from characters (pink panthers, koala bears etc.) suddenly they both believe Melanie's husband might not be the victim of a drive by shooting anymore.

In the spirit of Stephanie Plum (by Janet Evanovich) or Sophie Metropolis (by Tori Carrington), Sophie Katz is a character you will come to love.

I love Sophie Katz and in Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate I have to say Ms. Davis has outdone herself. Not only is Sophie again in the middle of a murder mystery but also the sexy, dark Anatoly is back. Will she be able to explain that when she said she wanted a boyfriend that she meant a "Tim Robbins to her Susan Sarandon" not marriage? This will play out throughout the story. I absolutely loved the scene where Deena has to explain "plushies" and "furries" to Sophie. Add to the story the hot interactions between Anatoly and Sophie and you have a winner. I am a recent discoverer of Ms. Davis's talents and this will not be the last I read by her. If you don't want to pick up Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate just due to the title then take my recommendation as it is one of my June Joyfully Recommended reads. I only have one question now, when is the next one?

Tanya
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed