Customer Reviews

One Dead Under the Cuckoo's Nest: A Pauline Sokol Mystery

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Lori Avocato's new release, ONE DEAD UNDER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, is a fun and sassy addition to the mystery genre. This third foray into the strange and wonderful world of Pauline Sokol, registered nurse turned fraud investigator, takes Pauline to the other side of the needle. Locked up against her will in a mental institution is nearly enough to drive her insane, especially when it's with the full knowledge of her supposed partner, the mysterious but oh-so-sexy Jagger. But with patients disappearing into the mysterious Ward 200B and then leaving covered by a sheet, Pauline realizes that there's more at stake than a few minor inconveniences --- like shackles on her bed and the occasional shock therapy.

In addition to tight pacing and a well developed plot, Avocato has done a wonderful job of creating believable, lovable, secondary characters. The flamboyant Goldie, along with his devoted boyfriend Miles, are truly endearing. They're both tough and compassionate and give the book extra zing. And for all you Jagger fans from Avocato's first two books, never fear --- he's back at his snarky but seductive best!

I'm looking forward to the next offering from this rising star on the mystery shelves!

The writing is getting better. I don't think Pauline said "Ack" once in this book. A plus in my book. I actually stayed up to finish this one. Yes, Jagger betrayed Pauline in the beginning, but I got over it. She could have fallen into character a little quicker in my opinion, but I enjoyed the story. I think I'm over the similarities to Stephanie Plum and am eager to read the next book. Thanks to my friend who insisted I keep reading.

Pauline Sokol is a burned-out registered nurse. [In the first book of this series] Pauline leaves nursing and becomes an insurance fraud investigator for Scarpello & Tonelli Insurance Company.

Pauline should have known something was up when Jagger shows up at her parents' house for her birthday party. Jagger says all he needs her to do is help him escort a lady to the Cortona Institute of Life, a mental institution run by nuns. By coincidence, her boss has given her a third case. This one is for psychiatric fraud. So Pauline now has two psychiatric cases at the same time.

It all goes down hill and Pauline is the one committed, unwillingly, to the institution. Even her attractive sometime-cohort Jagger refuses to help get her out. No one believes that she really sane and a mistake has been made. Since she is there anyway, Pauline begins doing what she does best, snooping. Turns out that she is not the only one that has been kidnapped and committed. A huge scam is going on and she is in WAY over her head.

When the first body shows up, Jagger wants Pauline out. However, Pauline now refuses to leave. Other innocents are depending on her. With a little help from Jagger, her own kooky family, and a few "sanity-challenged" friends, Pauline just may survive this case.

***** This is Pauline's most serious case yet! There is more romance, more time spent with her interesting family, and the secondary characters (in and out of the institution) are even more colorful than before. The Sokol's extended family members have carved a place for themselves within my heart.

If the book has Lori Avocato's name on the front, buy it! Don't even bother reading the synopsis on the back cover. You won't be disappointed! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Former nurse Pauline Sokol is enjoying her birthday party with her parents when the mysterious Jagger, who she has worked with before, shows up claiming he needs her help. He wants Pauline, a Scarpello & Tonelli insurance fraud investigator, to assist him in escorting Mary Louise Huntington to the Cortona Institute of Life mental institution near Hartford, a facility run by nuns; Jagger insist that the escort must be a nurse.

At the same time her sleazy boss Fabio dumps a psychiatric fraud case on her lap while he goes to gamble at the Mohegan Sun Casino. The two simple cases collapse when the nuns take Pauline in as their patient. No one including Jagger bails her out and she fails to prove to the Sisters that's she is sane. So rather than mope, she begins sleuthing only to learn other patients have been abducted and committed to this institution. However, the fraud turns ugly when murder occurs, but Pauline refuses to walk away as she has befriended some of the innocent victims.

The third Sokol insurance fraud mystery (see A DOSE OF MURDER, THE STIFF AND THE DEAD), ONE DEAD UNDER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, is a terrific tale. Pauline is not only at her courageous best, but her family, the mental institution patients, others and especially Jagger add depth and to a degree eccentricity to the exciting story line. Lori Avocato writes a fabulous mystery starring a delightful protagonist and a horde of supporting players who together provide a fine who-done-it reading experience.

Harriet Klausner

If you enjoy Stephanie Plum, Myron Bolitar and other smartly written, part time investigators with quirky friends, families, impersonality's, you will enjoy this series as well.

Fans of Janet Evanovich's books will love this one. A wacky mystery with a slightly wacky heroine. I mean who would let themselves to be committed to the locked unit of a mental institution voluntarily?? But you have to give the heroine points for dedication to her job. I'm looking forward to reading more about the sparks that are definitely there between Pauline and Jagger.

It isn't easy to write a critical review of an up and coming author whose first 2 books were thoroughly enjoyed. The third would have fallen into the enjoyable category too, however, I could not get passed nor could I find the humor in Jagger's major deception at the beginning of the book.

Jagger's mysterious past has been alluded to in the first two books. It has also been hinted that he became the man of mystery due to his falling out with Nick and something to do with his exwife. Whether they are related we readers don't know. But,Jagger has been lauded as an trust worthy cohort, a man's man, an individual you can depend on. Pauline has been delightfully portrayed as a quirky, independent, intelligent, attractive woman so, what happened in book three?

The premise of having Jagger betray Pauline and getting her locked up in a mental hospital,well, that bit did it for me. Why couldn't the author have used Jagger's powers of heated persuation to get Pauline inside the institution? Jagger seems to have a strong enough effect on her that he can talk her into all kinds of off-beat situations. Then the story would have worked for me. I find no cute comedy in a woman being drugged and betrayed by her so-called mentor/companion. I'm surprised that Ms Avocato would forget an honor code that military, active and former, are to live by.

If my disappointment in that wasn't enough you have Pauline. Yes, I know about hormones and phermones but as the plucky heroine would say Yikes! She can so easily dismiss Jagger's lies and deceit because he's hot?! I gave her character more credit. For those who have read the first 2 books remember Pauline's panic attack in an elevator? Now imagine waking up in a drug haze in a small room shackled to a bed, remembering how the person you trusted and for whom you were doing a favor had set you up. It's neither funny nor a very good recommendation of a "hero". It doesn't matter that Pauline's curiousity eventually keeps her in. Would Jagger have done the same to one of his brothers in arms?

As I said before this book could have worked but, betrayal is not comic and making Pauline such a twit to her hormones doesn't do justice to the character that was being so delightfully developed.

This is the 3rd book in the Pauline Sokol series.It is a cute, funny series and the 1st 2 books were very delightful.This book has way too many characters and it is sometimes confusing who is who.Jaggar is in this book more and he and Pauline finally kiss.But, the mystery of Jaggar is getting old.The 4th installment needs to shed some light on Jaggar or risk loosing its edge.Also,all the cross-dressing/gay thing is way over the top.The author must live in a large gay population.You just don't see that many gay/cross-dressers in most cities.Also,if Goldie is so gay how did he make it in army intelligence? Don't think so.