PI Claire DeNardo is afraid of many things, but she is determined to find who killed her attractive client's sister.
Claire DeNardo is scared of a lot of things. Ordinary objects like roller coasters and men's hairpieces make her knees knock loud enough to be a band's rhythm section. Unfortunately, the only job Claire can find is working for her Uncle Gino in his seedy detective agency. Until now, her cases have all been middle-aged men with trophy wives who needed watching. But when Gino retires and leaves her in charge, Claire gets swept up in a murder case despite her fears. Both the client who hired her and the handsome police detective want her off the case. When the wrong person is charged, it's up to the terrified detective to summon all the courage she can to find the true killer.
Excerpt
Michael Adler had no idea when he first walked into my cramped, West Side of Cleveland office that the only investigating I’d done involved getting the goods on cheating spouses. Working a criminal case went beyond my career goals. Besides, my Master’s degree in Mass Communications didn’t include any courses on fighting the underworld.
Still, I was thrilled with the potential of a new client, a rarity for my agency. Those who did employ me were for the most part paunchy, middle-aged men with unfaithful trophy wives. Something told me this guy, who was as tall and thin as a strand of spaghetti, wasn’t looking to find out some dirt on a cheating lover.
“Can I help you?”
My potential client’s eyes darted around the room. “My name is Michael Adler. Is this Gino Francini Investigations?”
I jumped up from my office chair, banging my knee against my desk. “Yes, and I’m Claire DeNardo, chief private investigator.” I stood as tall as my 5’2” frame allowed. “What can I do for you?”
I gestured to the worn chair by my desk and studied him. Pale face, mid-thirties, losing his hair but trying to disguise it. Black-rimmed glasses, fish-bowl thick. No wedding ring.
He pushed back an errant strand of hair. “My sister, Constance, is a manager at Triton Pharmaceuticals at W.115th and Detroit. She’s very accomplished, but she doesn’t exactly…” He cleared his throat. “Have good people skills.”
“Can you, um, be more specific?”
“She may have rubbed someone the wrong way.” He pulled a couple of wrinkled letters from his jacket. “These are the second and third threats she’s received.”
I read the top note aloud. “You’ll be sorry if you do the wrong thing.” The other had a similar theme. Both were blunt enough to give me an unpleasant worminess in my stomach. “Have you taken these to the police?”
He nodded. “The first letter. They said we should take it up with Triton’s human resources department.”
A headache crept from the back of my head to my temples. “Was the first letter along these same lines?”
“Yes. Except it told her to do the right thing before it was too late.” His Adam’s apple shifted on his long, Ichabod Crane neck. He pushed his glasses up with his index finger.
My potential client closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and folded his hands in his lap. His eyelids fluttered, and he picked up where he left off. “I’d have brought you the first letter as well, but I don’t know what she did with it.”
Professional Reviews
Gobbled it up. Tasty Fun
I enjoyed this cozy mystery. I liked meeting a different kind of detective, one who isn't so cock sure of themselves or has the situation under control. Claire is like a regular person with a healthy believable sense of self preservation.
I found some of Claire's thoughts entertaining and clever. It has a touch of noir in some of the lines - just a touch, enough to add to the fun. The plot is complex enough to keep me engaged, and that's saying something. I love a good puzzle, one where there are enough clues that I can solve it eventually, but not so many that it's obvious early. Kudos to the author.
I've read some of her other books--this is my favorite.
5 Stars for Me
Claire DeNardo is a delight! She's quick and witty and juggles her family life and stressful and sometimes dangerous job, with grace. Even though her knees are knocking, Claire forges onward and solves the crime taking her responsibilities very seriously. The characters are well defined and enjoyable to read about. The relationship between Claire and Corrigan is a real treat.
A wonderful New Sleuth
Carole Fowkes introduces a wonderful new sleuth in this fun cozy mystery. Claire is not your typical Private Investigator, the fact that she's afraid of almost anything and doesn't really do much more than trail suspected cheating husbands doesn't give her the faith in herself to solve a murder. I love the fact that she didn't quit even when filled with doubts. The fact that she couldn't pull off the tough gumshoe persona didn't make her appear pathetic to me she seemed more realistic because, let's face it, I can sympathize with the timid attitude and the lack of funds. Her relationship with her family is sweet and I loved the scene when her father meets the two men in her life. The two men of her semi-love triangle make for interesting characters and her reactions to both of them are definitely entertaining. The mystery itself wasn't too complicated and I cannot wait to see what her next case involves because I have not had nearly enough of her.
Revenge is Fun series. Publisher Vinny Vitali deserves to be whacked, but for some reason he's like a cat with 9 lives. He's holding a mob widow's memoir hostage and the authors want to kill him, but he won't die.
This cozy murder mystery takes place aboard luxury liner, Queen Elizabeth II, as wealthy couple celebrate their silver wedding anniversary with family and friends.
