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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Are Orchids Really That Romantic?, December 25, 2008
This review is from: White Offerings (Paperback)
I have read all, and enjoyed most, of Ann Roberts' books. My least favorite was `Paid in Full,' the prequel to `White Offerings.' It is my least favorite because it is a mystery, a type of story I don't usually like. However, I enjoy her work enough that I was willing to give this sequel a chance. In many ways, I'm glad I did.
Here, she brings us a convoluted cast of characters. First is Ari Adams, who is dating cop Molly and is an amateur sleuth in her own right. Ari and Molly are in love, but for their own reasons, neither is ready to share those feelings with the other. Molly is working on her own case when Ari's best friend - Jane - begins receiving mysterious orchids from an unknown entity. Ari works with Jane to identify the flowery romantic, but they eventually resort to hiring private investigator Biz Stone. Biz sets her sights on Ari and asks her to help solve the case. Ari resists her advances, especially since she has her own list of suspects - and Biz is on her list.
Molly's case takes a lot of unanticipated twists and turns as she works with FBI agents and local informants to bring a crime lord to justice. Her team includes a lovely FBI agent who is of the same persuasion. This makes Ari a little jealous, but not as jealous as Molly is about Ari's interactions with Biz.
Bottom Line -- Mix up these four characters and a colorful supporting cast (most of whom are suspects due to Jane's extensive love life), and Roberts has delivered a great pair of mysteries that open the door for another sequel. If you like a good mystery, this one will not disappoint. If you're not a big fan of mysteries, take a chance anyway. I liked it and you might, too.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
2nd book in the series, October 14, 2008
This review is from: White Offerings (Paperback)
Ari Adams promised her girlfriend Detective Molly Nelson that she wouldn't get involved with any more mysteries. After all, the first one nearly cost her life. When white orchids start arriving for her best friend, Jane Frank, though, Ari can't help but be curious and concerned. Jane is happily sleeping her way through most of the lesbians in Phoenix and insists she hasn't created an enemy in the bunch, but both women become worried as the messages with the flowers become more threatening. Jane hires private detective Elizabeth "Biz" Stone to find out what is going on, but it's Ari who is disturbed to feel an attraction to the woman. Ari is sure she loves Molly, but Molly isn't being very communicative about her feelings. As Ari battles with these feelings and the messages become more disturbing, an orchid arrives for Ari. Who is doing this? What are the intentions for Jane and how much danger is Ari in for being her friend? Worse yet, with so many suspects, including some close to them, who can the women trust?
White Offerings is the sequel to Roberts' previous book Paid in Full. It's a simple mystery with plenty of suspects thrown in to keep the reader guessing. The characters of Ari and Jane are well developed because they interact so much in the book and take up the majority of the story. Molly and "Biz" could have used some more attention, especially Molly. Her reluctance to commit to Ari isn't really explained and it's a tad curious that, while the woman she claims to love is threatened, she's more interested in a case she's working on with the FBI. The relationship between Ari and Molly is juxtaposed next to Jane's profligate behavior as a contrasting picture of how people live their lives. While the mystery is intriguing, the rest of the book is somewhat flat. It's difficult to develop any feeling for the characters. Ari is the most appealing, while Jane is somewhat humorous, although the reader may come to feel that she deserves the stalker she's acquired through her behavior. Molly is more involved when she's working her case than she is with Ari and "Biz" doesn't do that much to solve the case. The ending is rather abrupt and there is a set up in the final scene for what is obviously a third book in the series.
If you're looking for a mystery to pass the afternoon or evening, White Offerings will suit the bill.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
It was ok, October 19, 2008
This review is from: White Offerings (Paperback)
I thought this book compared to Paid in full was a bit boring. I wouldnt bother buying it.
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