Tag: humor

Posted in Book Review

Review of Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano

Posted on by writingkat95

The Hook:

Our favorite mystery writer Finlay is back again, getting into even more shenanigans in the seedy world of contract killers. This time, she must unearth the identity of the person who has taken out a hit on her ex-husband. Before long, she finds herself in a high stakes game of cat and mouse with the assassin stalking her ex, and she’ll have to dig deep to decide what to do about all the peril he’s in.

My Impressions:

I could literally talk for hours about the Finlay Donovan books, which are undoubtably some of my favorite books in the entire mystery genre. The protagonist is extremely likable and fun to root for, the side characters are all memorable and enjoyable to read about, and the suspense is balanced perfectly with humor. I laughed so hard at times while reading this that I’m told my shrieks could be easily heard from across the house.

In a time when so much media strives to be dark and broody and to “subvert audience expectations” by pulling out increasingly alienating plot twists and shocking character deaths, books like this are truly a breath of fresh air. Cosimano’s writing style feels welcoming, as if the book is meant to take the reader by the hand and lead them on a fun, suspenseful journey with beloved characters.

I honestly loved every minute of this book, and will be reading it again whenever I need a pick-me-up or a reminder of what excellent foreshadowing and tight plotting can accomplish. Every single delicious beat of this book is constructed with a love of the genre and a level of respect and affection for the readers that is in a league of it’s own.

If you’ve read this book already, feel free to leave a comment discussing it, as I’d love to hear what other readers liked most about the story.

Happy reading!

Posted in Book Review

Review: Dial A For Aunties, by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Posted on by writingkat95

The hook:

Meddelin Chan is no murderer, but there is a body in her car. When she panics and involves her family, her mother and aunties leap into action to protect her. What follows is a near-slapstick series of near misses as they try to hide the body while carrying on with their wedding planning business’s biggest event yet.

My impressions:

I wouldn’t have expected to laugh myself breathless while reading something so high stakes, but that’s exactly what happened. Full-blown, doubled over shrieking laughing. If you need an absolutely riotous dark comedy, this is the book for you.

Where I think this book shines the most is in the personalities of the characters. They were so fleshed out, they felt like real people. I couldn’t help but root for them all even as they spent most of the book lugging around and concealing a dead body. By the end, the main character and her family felt like old friends, in a way that most standalone books can’t quite achieve. This novel is without a doubt one of the best things I’ve read all year.

I highly recommend this as a fun beach read for the summer, and to anyone who needs a good hearty laugh. The author’s sense of humor and timing is truly impressive, and the sheer quality of the craft in this book make it a can’t-miss read.

Happy reading!