Revenge is Fun series. Millions of dollars are missing from the Venice Canals HOA and so are the Vice President and Treasurer. Were they kidnapped? Where is the money? Twists galore and a surprise ending with humor along the way.
Life in the upscale Los Angeles area community of the Venice Canals takes an ominous turn when retired doctor Al Shady and his wife Barbara Shady, Vice President and Treasurer of the Venice Canals HOA, disappear after a meeting. The cops are on it, but looking in all the wrong places. What appeared to be home invasion and kidnapping turns out to be so much more including murder. Get ready for characters from different books in this series to come together to dig the dirt. As fate would have it, advertising agency owner Cameron Harson from GETTING EVEN and RIPOFF-- the first and second book in this series--and former FBI agent turned author Danny Garrett from BUMPING OFF FAT VINNY, the fourth book, are neighbors who didn't know each other. A mutual friend introduces them at an HOA meeting where the main focus was to celebrate the settlement of a multi-million dollar suit for construction default against developers who built mini-mansions and polluted the canals in the process.
When the trio walks home together along Grand Canal, , something looks suspicious at the Shady home on the other side of the canal. They cross over the bridge to investigate and find the house door ajar, the house is in a shambles and the Shadys are missing. With their backgrounds in investigating crimes, they are tempted to see what they can uncover, but should they? With Cameron's friend Kate Steele, CEO of FraudBusters, who is visiting from San Francisco and Danny's friend, co-author and fellow sleuth Margaret Stanton, how can they resist? They delve into things that the cops won't, and they find plenty but in the process risk getting in the way of Federal agencies! Twists and turns make this a fun meeting of the minds with a surprise ending.
Excerpt
SCAMMED – EXCERPT
CAMERON CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT right before they reached one of the bridges that span the canals. She pointed across the water at an imposing three-story home with slabs of glass facing the charming view. The house was so large it covered most of the lot that had once been home to a little two-bedroom bungalow. There wasn’t even room for a courtyard. Just a small landscaped area not much bigger than a postage stamp.
The house appeared dark except for one lighted window on the second floor. An eerie chill swept over her making her feel a little foolish. But she’d had that feeling before so didn’t dismiss it lightly.
“That’s the Shady house over there. Something tells me we should go over and make sure everything is okay. Like you said, Danny, you never know. By the way, the Colonel said you’re a novelist and write thrillers. I’m curious, why thrillers?”
Garrett and the Colonel exchanged glances. “I don’t broadcast this, but I’m retired FBI. I guess that’s why the Colonel thought we would have some interesting stories to exchange.
Actually, he’s told me a little about you and how you and your friends have solved some crimes. Anyway, that was then, and this is now. Thrillers are as natural to me as those ducks floating in the canal liking water. So, why did you stop so suddenly?”
She didn’t answer right away. Cameron was often reluctant to tell people about her sixth sense, fearing they would think she was the ditzy blonde she played when she wanted to manipulate a situation. Not that long ago she and her friends Kim and Kate had been in terrible danger. The kind of danger that could have resulted in them knocking at the Pearly Gates. The feeling that washed over her a moment before was so similar to the beating heart and tingling sensation she experienced before she and her friends walked into what could have been their last living and breathing time together.
Professional Reviews A fun mystery set in California with great characters and a good mystery to solve.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2019 I loved the colorful characters that formed this little group of detectives. There was Cami who own an advertising agency, an author who use to be with the FBI, a retired Colonel, Cami’s friend, Kate who runs Fraudbusters, an actor, and a real estate agent. The author wrote the characters so convincing that I wanted to join them every night to try to solve the mystery behind the disappearances. The writing was good and the story kept my attention throughout. An interesting tidbit; the author mentions on her web sight that she waited years to find the right book to kill off an HOA President that she had issues with in real life.
Fun Read
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Read
Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2019 Cameron's boyfriend Milton has concerns for her safety. It seems that crime seems to follow her and her friends Kate and Kim, constantly putting them in harm's way. So, when the HOA vice president Al and his wife Barbara turn up missing, there is no doubt that the trio will find themselves trying to solve yet another mystery. But, this one hits home not only with Cameron but also with a few other members from the HOA. It turns out that Barbara was the treasurer and due to a settlement the HOA had recently received, they are afraid the money has something to do with the missing couple.
As always, Scammed kept me turning the pages. With each book in this series that I've read, I can't help but wish someone would pick them up for a TV series. They are an update and upgrade for the Murder She Wrote series. I love them and can't wait for more.
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