Sex, A Mystery [Paperback]

Fiona Quirina (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2005

But in the therapy biz, she's what's called a "sex surrogate." It's a job Lydia fell into after her recent position as Senior Vice President of a major conglomerate came to a resounding finale when she blew the whistle on some seriously unethical business practices.

At least Lydia is able to meet the rent on her Fifth Avenue duplex, keep her closet full of designer clothes, and support the homeless ministry of her roommate. Until one of her favorite clients is stabbed in the back with an ice pick in her very own bed.

Now, Lydia finds herself the prime suspect, and-to clear her name-she must step into what is probably the world's second oldest profession: detective.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Quirina's stylish debut combines a solid mystery, a refreshingly different heroine, a splendid supporting cast and enough sparkle to keep the pages turning. After a whistle-blowing episode derails her first career as a senior marketing vice-president for a major conglomerate, successful Harvard MBA Lydia Quess segues happily into the well-paid role of sexual surrogate (or "courtesan," as she prefers) under the tutelage of a former school chum who's now a sex therapist. Her new career allows her to maintain the Fifth Avenue duplex she shares with unorthodox priest Paddy Riordin in a strictly platonic way. Lydia shares her charms with a relatively steady stable of clients, until one of them is found murdered in her bed. Given the narrow window of opportunity for the murder, she, her wealthy and powerful clients and her way of life become suspect. Quirina handles Manhattan chic with assurance while treating the subjects of prostitution, sexual dysfunction and surrogacy with candor, humor and aplomb. Hopefully, Lydia will make many more appearances--and future entries in the series will have more imaginative titles.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Fiona Quirina is the author of four mysteries and three medical thrillers written under her real name. Fiona's own life has some remarkable similarities to that of the fictional character, Lydia Quess.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425200345
• ISBN-13: 978-0425200346
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,312,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Witty Fireworks, May 31, 2005

By 

P. Bradley "trellis9" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sex, A Mystery (Paperback)

I can't remember the last time I had so much fun reading a mystery! By her own definition, Lydia Quess is an MBA turned Whistleblower turned Courtesan turned Private Detective. (Her scathingly humorous analysis of Corporate America really hit home for me, a similarly shipwrecked survivor of 2, count 'em 2, international corporations that went under due to outrageously blatant executive malfeasance.) It was a champagne treat watching Lydia, my more elegant spiritual sister, navigate through the high society sharks infesting Manhattan to pull together the clues needed to solve the murder of her client and friend. Highly recommended, and I eagerly await a sequel.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sex is truly a mystery, March 3, 2005

By 

Daniel Halevi Bloom ([e-mail]) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sex, A Mystery (Paperback)

Hurray, Fiona, and thanks. Pure delight all the way through, and written by a master of the genre. I read it on a flight from Tokyo to Newark, wonderful story.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Originally Posted on Romance Junkies in 2005, May 13, 2007

By 

Jennifer Wardrip (Bloomington, Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sex, A Mystery (Paperback)

I have to say that chick lit mystery is a new genre for me. Actually, if anyone had voiced such a genre even a few months ago to me, I would have been hard-pressed to think of one book that fits the bill. With SEX, A MYSTERY, however, Ms. Quirina has hit the nail on the head. A delightful blend of humor, wisecracks, mystery, and an adorable amateur sleuth as a heroine-this book just plain works.

Lydia Quess is a Harvard graduate who believes she's found her niche as a corporate bigwig for a huge food conglomerate. That is, until she opens her mouth to blow the whistle on the company's baby food formula, which is less than nutritious and healthy for the babies. Now unemployed and unqualified for any job other than international marketing, Lydia finds herself on the wrong side of Manhattan's lifestyle chain.

Her good friend Dr. Sylvie Kahn, a renowned sex therapist, harbors the idea of Lydia becoming a "sex surrogate"-or, to Lydia's way of thinking-a courtesan of sorts. All is progressing quite well, with Lydia able to keep her Fifth Avenue duplex, stylish clothes on her back, and fashionable shoes on her feet, until one Michael Peabody Linscott III is found murdered-in Lydia's bed.

Suddenly, the former executive with the MBA turned surrogate sex professional is the prime suspect in a murder. What's a single woman at her peak to do? Turn in her therapeutic badge for one as a detective.

SEX, A MYSTERY is a real treat. Lydia's escapades are hilarious, the dialogue is funny and refreshing, and her quest to find out who murdered Michael Linscott is a hoot. Ms. Quirina has found a niche with this chick lit mystery, and I personally can't wait to see what she comes up with.