This book is full of calculatedly 'quirky' characters right from central casting, but with a little side trip to marketing to give them 'edge': the sexy but emotionally volatile girl PI. The outwardly tough but soft-hearted cop. The politically correct cast of supporting characters who exhibit all the right attributes of 'diversity' except any remotely interesting characterization.

The plot is predictable and overwrought.

Finally, Barnes insists on using her protagonist to spout off what are obviously her own ideological biases: just a hint, Linda -- intelligent readers find this boring and insulting.

Don't waste your time on this one.


A series that's growing on me   April 10, 2007
I wasn't so sure about Carlotta when I read the first book, but she's really starting to grow on me. I'm not reading them in any particular order - which might be helpful, but isn't really necessary because the focus of the book is really the mystery, not the side bits of fluff (though in this book, the side bits were really good). Barnes creates great characters, good plot lines and a nice pace - pretty much all you can ask for in a mystery. I would recommend her Carlotta Carlisle series to anyone who likes a laid back, good ole armchair mystery.