Today’s team review is from Robbie.
Robbie blogs here https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/
Robbie has been reading Death by Jelly Bean by Susie Black.
Death by Jelly Beans is another humorous and entertain romp with Holly, her friends, and her dog, Sigmund. I enjoy Holly because she is a strong and sharp-witted female character with an interesting career and a fast mouth. The humour woven through this book entertains me, which is unusual, as I am not one for humour in books. I do enjoy the author’s use of nicknames, like Snip, for Holly’s medical examiner friend, and “Queen of Mean” for Sue Ellen, the abrasive swimsuit buyer. Of course, there are a few bodies as that is Holly’s specialty and there is also a bit of romance – on two fronts.
The premise for this story was clever and different. I haven’t read another book like it. On the whole, the story was fast moving and interesting. My only two criticisms, for which I deducted one star, are the information dumps about certain substances which are lethal in large doses, and the unnecessary inclusion of a minor paranormal element. I did not need to know the copious detail about how some substances can kill a person or an animal. I also didn’t think the paranormal element made much sense or added to the story.
However, these two points did not spoil the book for me, but constituted minor irritation so don’t let my comments put you off a good story. Just skip over the substance detail if it overwhelms or bores you.
All in, a good story that will give you a giggle.
Book description:
Mermaid Swimwear President Holly Schlivnik discovers the Bainbridge Department Store Easter Bunny slumped over dead and obnoxious swimwear buyer Sue Ellen Magee is arrested for the crime. Despite her differences with the nasty buyer, Holly is convinced the Queen of Mean didn’t do it. The wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth jumps into action to nail the real killer. But the trail has more twists than a pretzel and more turns than a rollercoaster. And nothing turns out the way Holly thinks it will as she tangles with a clever killer hellbent on revenge.
