★★★★¾
The second book in a series is usually dedicated to revealing more of a character than what we saw in the first book, however in "THE LIKENESS" Cassie Maddox has to go back to the undercover role that she played in the first book because that identity has been stolen and used by the victim in this book.
The case dubbed Operation Mirror is unusual because one would think that if the identity had been stolen, then Cassie would be unable to physically reclaim it, however, the victim is the spitting image of Cassie.
Frank Mackey, Cassie's undercover boss, borrows her from her everyday Domestic Violence team, and sets to work preparing her to undertake the impersonation of the victim to try and find the murderer. Frank drills her for a week on all the details hat he can find out about the dead Lexie and then reveals to her housemates that she will be coming home with memory loss of the attack and some of the time around then.
Frank sends her into Whitethorn House which Lexie had shared with 4 other students. Cassie/Lexie is bandaged as if she had survived the attack and underneath the bandage she is wired. But certain details were not in Cassie/Lexie's training and she has to tread lightly so as to not give up her secret.
Cassie/Lexie's appearance has the others rattled believing that she had been fatally wounded. But slowly Cassie becomes the friend that they lost and she works to undercover what really happened the night of Lexie Madison's murder.
Cassie is changed by the experience, at times wishing that she was Lexie because of the camaraderie of the group, and finding that times she wants to protect her "friends" from the police. The contrast of their closeness to her real life where she has few friends and currently a boyfriend who doesn't agree with her assignment, have Cassie putting herself in danger.
By the time I had read 12 pages, I was hooked. The story was so engaging that I literally couldn't put it down. It had to fall out of my hand before I would turn out the light to sleep. Yes, the book could have been edited down to fewer pages and still told the story, but then the reader would have missed out on the growth of the character and the complex interactions between all of the characters. A great follow-up on the first from the series!
GENRE: Mystery
SUBJECT: identity theft, friendship
Setting: Glenskehy, Ireland
CHARACTERS: Cassandra Maddox, Lexie Madison, Frank Mackey, Sam O'Neill, Daniel March, Justin Mannering, Rafe Hyland, Abby Stone
DATE READ: July 17 - July 30
NO. OF PAGES: 887
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,
SOURCE: Whisper1 gift
PLOT:....................................................................5.00
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................5.00
TOPICS: ...............................................................5.00
STYLE:..................................................................4.50
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................4.50
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................5.00
OWNERSHIP:......................................................4.50
Threshold Quality.................................................4.50
Average..............................................................................................4.75
Harry Hole hasn't been in favor at the police department for a while and so he is presented a case of a missing woman to investigate. His team's efforts become tangled when her body is found, and further investigation shows that there is a serial killer who always leaves a snowman at the scene.
The writing is crisp, the story captivating.
Usually I don't like books with serial killers but this story was riveting - well-written with great characters. I may have to investigate others in the series.
★★★¾
GENRE: Mystery
SUBJECT: serial killers,
Setting: Oslo, Norway
CHARACTERS: Harry Hole, Katrina Bratt, Mathias Lung-Heigesen, Arve Stop
DATE READ: July 20 - July 27
NO. OF PAGES: 609
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, GEOCAT, Euro
SOURCE: Audio Stockpile
★★★¾
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
SUBJECT: leadership, charity, trust
Setting: Crystal Cove, CA
CHARACTERS: Jenna Hart, Vera Hart, Pearl Thornton, Bingo Bedelia, Emma Wright, Maya Adaire, Greg Giuliani
DATE READ: July 12 - July 17
NO. OF PAGES: 268
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,
SOURCE: Signed copy from author
PLOT:....................................................................4.00
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.50
TOPICS: ...............................................................3.50
STYLE:..................................................................4.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................3.50
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.50
OWNERSHIP:......................................................4.00
Threshold Quality.................................................4.00
Average..............................................................................................3.75
The Winsome witches have gathered together to initiate their newest member and review their yearly fundraising project. Unfortunately, the High Priestess is found later that evening and Jenna seems to be a suspect.
Working to clear her name and keep her cookbook business afloat while preventing her aunt from getting her into too much trouble, has Jenna hopping. Thank goodness that the detective investigating the murder is very closely on her side.
This series is fast becoming one of my favorites - the mysteries have a touch of whimsy to go along with the touch of romance - real fun!
Thanks to Daryl Wood Gerber for a signed copy - love it!
★★★¼
GENRE: Fiction
SUBJECT: Hollywood infidelities
Setting: Porto Vergogna, Italy, Hollywood, CA, Sandpoint, ID
CHARACTERS: Pasquale Tursi, Dee Moray, Michhael Deane, Pat Bender, Alvis Bender, Richard Burton
DATE READ: July 10 - July 13
NO. OF PAGES: 511
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, LILIES
SOURCE: Audio Stockpile
PLOT:....................................................................4.50
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.00
TOPICS: ...............................................................3.50
STYLE:..................................................................3.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................3.50
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.00
OWNERSHIP:......................................................3.00
Threshold Quality.................................................3.00
Average..............................................................................................3.31
Dee Moray, a starlet from the Cleopatra filming, arrives Porto Vergogna being hidden away by the studio because of an unanticipated pregnancy resulting from a fling with the film's star. The hotel's owner, a starry-eyed young man, befriends Dee and tries to help her.
The story splits into a chronicle of Pasquale's troubles - his mother's death, his romance and finally his search for Dee - and the life that Dee finally made for herself and her son.
I have to admit that I was somewhat disappointed because I had heard so many good things about this book and it didn't live up to my expectations. It was okay, but not great.
★★★½
GENRE: Historical Mystery
SUBJECT: Child Pornography
Setting: London, England
CHARACTERS: William Monk, Hester Monk, Scuff, Oliver Rathbone, Arthur Ballinger, Rupert Cardew
DATE READ: July 1 - July 7
NO. OF PAGES: 535
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI
SOURCE: Public Library
PLOT:....................................................................3.50
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.50
TOPICS: ...............................................................3.50
STYLE:..................................................................3.50
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................3.50
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.50
OWNERSHIP:......................................................3.50
Threshold Quality.................................................3.50
Average..............................................................................................3.50
The River Police are contacted when a body is found. When identified as Mickey Parfitt, a local pimp of young boys, Monk sees it as a chance to shut down the local child pornography trade. After rescuing 14 young boys from Parfitt's boat, Monk determines that he needs to find the man in charge of the illegal trade. Following all the clues and the information that he can gather, Monk conduct tests which prove that it's possible for that Arthur Ballinger could have committed the murder.
When Ballinger is arrested, his son-in-law, Sir Oliver Rathbone prepares to defend him, but Oliver develops his own misgivings as to Ballinger's innocence.
The effects of the outcome of the trial on friendships and other relationship of the main characters will most likely continue for sometime.
Time for the next book will be soon!
