Thugs and Kisses: An Odelia Grey Mystery (The Odelia Grey Mysteries)

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This third entry in the series was a bit sillier than its predecessors, and relied quite heavily on what I'd call "convenient coincidences" in order to move the plot along. Still, there was a lot to like about the story. I love the way the author is developing the characters, especially the supporting cast.

In this book the focus is on Greg and Odelia's relationship, and the friction that's caused by Odelia's penchant for insinuating herself into police investigations and putting herself at risk. I think the author has the right formula for an engaging "cozy" series here: A unique, lovable protagonist that you want to root for, supporting characters that evolve as the series progresses, and a setting that feels realistic and natural. While I could find plenty to nitpick in the way this story unfolds, I won't. Because it really doesn't matter as it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.

A "cozy" is all about the characters, and I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent immersed in Odelia's world. If you're not familiar with the series, Odelia Grey is a middle-aged, plus-sized woman who doesn't have an insecure bone in her body. By day she's a paralegal, but on her own time she has a knack for solving crime. This is a charming series that doesn't take itself too seriously; there's always room for a laugh or two and Ms.

Grey is a winner. No explicit sexual content. This is book 3 in the series and probably not the place to start if you're new to the series. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase.

Though this was not my favorite Odelia Grey mystery, it doesn't disappoint! In this escapade, Odelia is involved in two mysteries, the death of a high school classmate and the disappearance of her boss. We get to learn more about Odelia's past and more about the infamous Mike Steele.

Again,Odelia is involved in the mayhem which to most is unbelievable but to those of us who have really come to adore the quirky amateur sleuth it's just fun! The two cases seem unrelated but as Odelia sticks her nose in deeper the two cases are starting to converge.

But what is the link? That is what makes this another page turner!

• Thugs and Kisses.
• On Jealousy and Envy (With Active Table of Contents).
• EASY MONEY ON A DIFFICULT ROAD.

Sue Jaffarian works her mystery magic and sucks the reader in just as Odelia seems to get sucked in. I'm on to book 4 in the series! Odelia is back and this time, it's a doozy. Her boyfriend Greg has a nasty cold and can't escort her to her 30th high school reunion, but Odelia goes with friend Detective Dev Frye. The reunion turns into a bust when, after riding into the auditorium on the shoulders of old friends and spitting venom at some old foes, the former quarterback is shot and killed.

When Odelia starts investigating the murder, her relationship with Greg takes a turn for the worst and they end up on a break. To top off a bad week, Mike Steele, Odelia's irascible but dependable boss disappears after something fishy happens with one of his cases. And who does Woobie turn to to find Steele? That's right - Odelia. Odelia is still her loveable, sarcastic, nosy self. This story again illustrates her loyalty to doing what's right rather than what's easy - even when it strains the relationships with those she's closest to.

I love that Odelia is snappy and humorous, but mostly it's at those times when she shouldn't be. I also appreciate that, as the character and books develop, it's less about her weight. Sure, she's still a size 20, but the storyline focuses less on her weight and more on her snooping ways.

I am, however, tired of Steele's offhand comments on her weight This story makes him into a slightly more sympathetic character, but I still find him distasteful. I'm hoping he's a bit more tolerable in the next book. The pace of this book was just right - fast enough to keep the reader engaged, but not so fast that the story urges you past clues that you really should have a little time to absorb. Overall, it's probably a 6 to 7 hour read. Despite having enough characters to rival a soap opera cast, the story was tight and I didn't have any trouble keeping the characters separate which is something I often have issues with.

The overall tone of the book felt sadder than the others, though maybe that's because you can sympathize more than ever with some of the things that happen to the characters.

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As for the mysteries, they seemed very well plotted though still as implausible as any other amateur sleuth story. There were tons of clues but not enough dots for me to connect things before Odelia did. In this book, there were plenty of pieces, but just not enough for me to put the puzzle together. There were a couple of unanswered questions for me, but that's life sometimes.

I was very pleased by the surprise ending. Overall, another great Odelia mystery. It's about a 4. See all 48 reviews. Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more about Amazon Giveaway. Set up a giveaway. There's a problem loading this menu right now. Learn more about Amazon Prime. Get fast, free shipping with Amazon Prime. Get to Know Us. English Choose a language for shopping. Explore the Home Gift Guide. Amazon Music Stream millions of songs.