Author: Melissa Senate
Publisher: Red Dress Ink
Publication Date: January, 2007
Genre: Chick-Lit
Description: When did Abby Foote's life become an episode of "Law and Order?" First, a former boyfriend (who dumped Abby in the most humiliating way imaginable) is found murdered the day his engagement is announced.
Then two other ex-boyfriends report attempts made on their lives right after breaking up with her. Coincidence? Detective Benjamin Orr, of the Portland Police Department (and Very Probing Questions and Incredibly Delicious Face), doesn't think so. Neither do Abby's friends, family, coworkers and other exes--who are suddenly shaking in their shoes. Soon everyone is sucking up to her as though the Abby they know and supposedly love to death is capable of poisoning their drinks....
Is someone trying to frame her?
Who? And why? She has to find out fast. Because by-the-book Ben is bound to break her heart.
Which makes him next on someone's list...
My Thoughts: Could Abby Foote’s day get any worse? She already has the worst luck with men and discovers that her ex-boyfriend has been found murdered. The cop investigating the murder happens to be the guy she had a major crush on in high school. She soon learns that attempts were made on two other exes and she is the prime suspect for all three crimes. It’s bad enough that you’re being investigated by your high school crush for crimes you did not commit, but adding insult to injury, he doesn’t even remember you! Your family claims they believe in your innocence but they start acting strange, don’t want you around your newborn nephew and even insist you be accompanied by a police escort to your bridesmaid’s dress fitting for your sister’s wedding!
I completely understand that Ben is just doing his job, but I started to get annoyed at his insistence that she “could” have done it and “it’s possible” instead of not appearing to look at anyone else as the suspect. Even when there’s evidence that someone Abby knows is committing the crimes, Ben still asks Abby if she planted it! If it wouldn’t have made her situation worse, I would have cheered Abby slapping him a good one!
The list of possible suspects is large. It could be anyone starting with the dead ex-boyfriend’s new fiancée, to Abby’s family, to her co-workers and even her friends. Sadly, everyone seems to believe it’s Abby and people are walking around on eggshells around her, which I found highly insulting, but there isn’t much to be done to help the situation except prove her innocence. It was next to impossible for me to figure out who did it as I was likely to believe any of the people in Abby’s life were capable. When the culprit is revealed, I was surprised and a little disappointed that I didn’t pick up on it sooner.
The story moved very slowly for me until Ben starts to entertain the possibility that someone close to Abby could be responsible for the crimes. By then I was pretty frustrated at Abby’s insistence of innocence falling on deaf ears and more agitated that there were no signs of interest in Abby coming from Ben, except as a perp. Probably a good thing as there is a killer watching and Ben could have ended up on the killer’s list of targets.
My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a good book. I really enjoy the mix of chick-lit and mystery. As frustrating and annoyed I as I was at the lack of passion in this story, I have to applaud Ben’s ethics and integrity. Fortunately, he steps up when Abby finds herself face to face with the killer so all ends well. I recommend this to fans of both the chick-lit and cozy mystery genre that are looking for something light to read and don’t mind the lack of passion and romance for our heroine.
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