Review of Looks Can Kill
Posted: 12 Apr 2023, 10:25
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Looks Can Kill" by Sylvia Mulholland.]
Looks Can Kill by Sylvia Mulholland is listed in the C/T/M/H category. While it meets the requirements for that genre, it is predominantly a contemporary mystery. The plot does involve a murder and a mutilated body, but the humorous events overshadow the horror of that situation. In addition, the protagonist, Kate Clark, keeps readers guessing about her love interest, which earns the novel a spot as a romance novel as well.
Readers who enjoy the exploits of Stephanie Plum as a bounty hunter in the Evanovich novels will also love Kate Clark's escapades as an attorney working at a prestigious law firm in Los Angeles, California. There are enough twists and turns in this story to please all puzzle lovers. Both the mystery of the murder and the romantic outcomes have unexpected conclusions.
I admire the author's ability to keep the suspense alive. One of my favorite parts was the fictitious newspaper headlines that were shown when the young attorney imagined the results of one of her fiascoes. The realistic dialogue added to the development of the characters and made them relatable. Even minor characters such as the maid had distinct personalities.
Although this might be considered a humorous mystery, it was still hard to overlook some of the unbelievable coincidences. This negative aspect kept me shaking my head, but it didn't keep me from continuing to read. There were also some plot holes and unresolved scenarios. Those issues and some grammar errors necessitated a star deduction.
I don’t want to include any spoilers, but the title, Looks Can Kill, will have a different meaning once readers have finished reading this book. If you enjoy reading about strange murders, confusing court scenes, improbable courtships, and workplace drama, you need to add this book to your list. Due to the negatives mentioned above, my rating is four out of five.
******
Looks Can Kill
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Looks Can Kill by Sylvia Mulholland is listed in the C/T/M/H category. While it meets the requirements for that genre, it is predominantly a contemporary mystery. The plot does involve a murder and a mutilated body, but the humorous events overshadow the horror of that situation. In addition, the protagonist, Kate Clark, keeps readers guessing about her love interest, which earns the novel a spot as a romance novel as well.
Readers who enjoy the exploits of Stephanie Plum as a bounty hunter in the Evanovich novels will also love Kate Clark's escapades as an attorney working at a prestigious law firm in Los Angeles, California. There are enough twists and turns in this story to please all puzzle lovers. Both the mystery of the murder and the romantic outcomes have unexpected conclusions.
I admire the author's ability to keep the suspense alive. One of my favorite parts was the fictitious newspaper headlines that were shown when the young attorney imagined the results of one of her fiascoes. The realistic dialogue added to the development of the characters and made them relatable. Even minor characters such as the maid had distinct personalities.
Although this might be considered a humorous mystery, it was still hard to overlook some of the unbelievable coincidences. This negative aspect kept me shaking my head, but it didn't keep me from continuing to read. There were also some plot holes and unresolved scenarios. Those issues and some grammar errors necessitated a star deduction.
I don’t want to include any spoilers, but the title, Looks Can Kill, will have a different meaning once readers have finished reading this book. If you enjoy reading about strange murders, confusing court scenes, improbable courtships, and workplace drama, you need to add this book to your list. Due to the negatives mentioned above, my rating is four out of five.
******
Looks Can Kill
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon