Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Helpful Score: 2
Laura Bradford's new series set in St. Louis comes out of the gate strong. Animal lovers are going to enjoy the pet shop angle, and lovers of wit and words are going to enjoy the ad slogans Tobi comes up with. Fans of good mysteries are going to be tickled pink, too. The mystery in Death in Advertising is a good one-- I didn't have it figured out, but once the killer was revealed, I could see the trail of breadcrumbs that had been left for everyone to follow.
As with all good cozy series, the cast is the most important thing and these characters shine. I really liked Tobi's voice, even though I wasn't enamored of her slogan for the closet company. She's just the sort of character readers would choose as a friend. Smart, funny, compassionate, willing to help, and she has an excellent support system.
Sam is the teenage photographer that Tobi likes to work with for her ad agency clients, and she works with his mother in the pet shop. Ms. Rapple and her dog are the neighbors from hell, and closet king Andy Zander is mouthwatering as a possible love interest. Perhaps the best secondary character of all is Tobi's Grandpa Stu, although I wish he'd find another term of endearment for his granddaughter besides "Sugar Lump." He called her that so often that it began to grate on my nerves. My belief that being called a lump isn't a good thing is probably just a personal quirk. (All readers have them.)
Lumps or no, Bradford's first Tobi Tobias mystery is a winner, and I'm certainly looking forward to book two.
As with all good cozy series, the cast is the most important thing and these characters shine. I really liked Tobi's voice, even though I wasn't enamored of her slogan for the closet company. She's just the sort of character readers would choose as a friend. Smart, funny, compassionate, willing to help, and she has an excellent support system.
Sam is the teenage photographer that Tobi likes to work with for her ad agency clients, and she works with his mother in the pet shop. Ms. Rapple and her dog are the neighbors from hell, and closet king Andy Zander is mouthwatering as a possible love interest. Perhaps the best secondary character of all is Tobi's Grandpa Stu, although I wish he'd find another term of endearment for his granddaughter besides "Sugar Lump." He called her that so often that it began to grate on my nerves. My belief that being called a lump isn't a good thing is probably just a personal quirk. (All readers have them.)
Lumps or no, Bradford's first Tobi Tobias mystery is a winner, and I'm certainly looking forward to book two.
Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Helpful Score: 1
Death in Advertising is the first installment in the Tobi Tobias Mystery series featuring Tobi Tobias owner of the Tobias Ad Agency and part time pet shop worker. Tobi has left her job at Beckler and Stanley Ad Agency and is branching out with her own business, but with few clients and mounting bills she subsidizes her income by working part time at the To Know Them Is To Love Them pet store.
When brothers Andrew and Gary Zander come to Tobi for help designing a new ad campaign for Zander Closet Company, she thinks she has come up with winning slogan "when we're done, even your skeletons will have a place". Little did she know that the catchy phrase was about to come true when Zander client Preston Hohlbrook comes tumbling out of his newly designed closet.
Anxious to find the killer and salvage her reputation, Tobi sets out with the help of her friends and neighbors to investigate a murder. With plenty of suspects to choose from, she soon discovers that everyone involved has a skeleton in their closet.
A fun, fast paced storyline with well developed and engaging characters and a delightful pair of African Grey parrots. A terrific debut in this new cozy series from author Laura Bradford.
When brothers Andrew and Gary Zander come to Tobi for help designing a new ad campaign for Zander Closet Company, she thinks she has come up with winning slogan "when we're done, even your skeletons will have a place". Little did she know that the catchy phrase was about to come true when Zander client Preston Hohlbrook comes tumbling out of his newly designed closet.
Anxious to find the killer and salvage her reputation, Tobi sets out with the help of her friends and neighbors to investigate a murder. With plenty of suspects to choose from, she soon discovers that everyone involved has a skeleton in their closet.
A fun, fast paced storyline with well developed and engaging characters and a delightful pair of African Grey parrots. A terrific debut in this new cozy series from author Laura Bradford.
