Sunday, June 2, 2013

BOOK REVIEW: THE TEMPORARY DETECTIVE by JOANNE SYDNEY LESSNER




 The Temporary Detective
by
Joanne Sydney Lessner

  • Paperback: 280 pages
  • Publisher: Dulcet Press (April 12, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0615605818
  • ISBN-13: 978-0615605814
About the book . . . 

Phones, light typing...and murder. 

Think breaking into show business is hard? Try landing a temp job without office skills. That's the challenge facing aspiring actress Isobel Spice when she arrives in New York City, fresh out of college and deficient in PowerPoint. After being rejected by seven temp agencies for her lack of experience, Isobel sweet-talks recruiter James Cooke into letting her cover a last-minute vacancy at a bank. New to his own job, and recently sober, James takes a chance on Isobel, despite his suspicion that she's a trouble-magnet. His misgivings are borne out by lunchtime, when she stumbles across a dead secretary in a bathroom stall. With her fingerprints on the murder weapon, Isobel sets out to prove her innocence by investigating the crime herself. While learning to juggle phone lines and auditions, she discovers an untapped talent for detective work--a qualification few other office temps, let alone actresses, can claim.

Please note: this is a cozy mystery with an edge; contains some adult language and situations.
 


Author Bio:                                      


Joanne Sydney Lessner is the author of PANDORA'S BOTTLE, a novel inspired by the true story of the world's most expensive bottle of wine (Flint Mine Press, 2010), which Paperback Dolls named one of the top five books of 2010. THE TEMPORARY DETECTIVE (Dulcet Press, April 2012) introduces Isobel Spice, aspiring actress and resourceful office temp turned amateur sleuth. Isobel's adventures continue in BAD PUBLICITY. No stranger to the theatrical world, Joanne enjoys an active performing career, and with her husband, composer/conductor Joshua Rosenblum, has co-authored several musicals, including the cult hit FERMAT'S LAST TANGO and EINSTEIN'S DREAMS, based on the celebrated novel by Alan Lightman. For more information, please visit http://joannelessner.com.


Reader review . . . 

Recent college grad Isobel Spice has just arrived in NYC with dreams of stardom dancing in her head.  Realizing that she can't live on dreams, Isobel seeks employment through temp agencies.  Although she has no real office experience, James Cooke takes a chance and sends her to an assignment at Interbank Switzerland.  A full bladder is Isobel's undoing; during an emergency drill she makes a mad dash to the ladies' room, only to find a dead body in a stall.  Isobel just won't let sleeping dogs lie and embarks on her own investigation to find the killer.

Once again, I have done things bass-ackward and read the second novel first.  Didn't matter; I enjoyed reading them anyway.  This is a fun, light series for fans of the cozy mystery genre who don't mind a little edge to the story.  I enjoyed catching up on James' story and seeing how Isobel, Sayil, and Delphi first met.  Being a small-town girl, the behind-the-scenes look at the acting world and NYC living was a plus.  

If you're looking for beach or poolside reading material this summer, look no farther.  Isobel and her friends will keep you entertained.

5 stars

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Cozy Mystery book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” 

  

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