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.
Death in Advertising by Laura Bradford is the first book in A Tobi Tobias Mystery series. Tobi Tobias started her own advertising agency in St. Louis and called it Tobias Ad Agency. If she does not get a new client soon, though, she need to close up shop. Tobi is even working at the local pet store to help supplement her income (I am curious how she pays for the receptionist). Tobi gets her miracle when Andrew and Gary Zander walk into her office. They own and run the Zander Closet Company. They need a catchy slogan for a radio campaign that begins three days. Tobi comes up with the perfect slogan and it is an instant hit. The radio spot ties in with the Annual Home Showcase Weekend in Chesterfield. The Zander Closet Company has installed a premium closet system into Preston and Mitzi Hohlbrook's house (they are a part of the tour). They are going to take photographs of the closet system for the website and new pamphlets. Andrew is opening a special compartment to show Tobi when Preston Hohlbrook falls out. Someone took Tobi's slogan literally. The press have a field day using Tobi's slogan, and Tobi's agency is now persona non-grata. Tobi starts investigating the murder so she can clear her agencies name (or she will no longer have an agency). It is not going to be easy since the only witness to the crime is Baboo, Preston's African grey parrot. Tobi needs to work quickly before the wrongdoer flies away (I just had to do it)!
Death in Advertising is easy to read and has some interesting characters. I found the book to be more cozy than mystery. The book focused on Tobi and her life (written in the first person). I felt the author put too many quirky characters into the book. It felt like we were introduced to all of Tobi's neighbors (and anyone she meets while walking to work) and their pets. There is, of course, the requisite annoying neighbor (seems to be a common attribute in books I have read recently). I did like Grandpa Stu and Tobi's neighbor, Carter (I thought he was entertaining). I give Death in Advertising 3 out of 5 stars. The mystery was not the main focus of the book. I believe more time was devoted to Tobi eating her cocoa puffs cereal (she should buy it in bulk) than the murder. There are one or two clues early in the book, but the main hints are right before the reveal. I did appreciate the authors use of misdirection. The mystery can be solved before the reveal (do not fall for the diversion). I wish there had been less time devoted to Tobi's thinking (or spacing out in front of people) and her interest in Andrew as a romantic prospect. One scene had Tobi more interested in a rogue chocolate chip than the questioning of the suspect (I wanted to yell at her to just ask for some chips from the cook instead of trying to swipe the lone chip that fell on the counter). Death in Advertising is just not the right book for me (I prefer the mystery to be more prevalent).
Death in Advertising is easy to read and has some interesting characters. I found the book to be more cozy than mystery. The book focused on Tobi and her life (written in the first person). I felt the author put too many quirky characters into the book. It felt like we were introduced to all of Tobi's neighbors (and anyone she meets while walking to work) and their pets. There is, of course, the requisite annoying neighbor (seems to be a common attribute in books I have read recently). I did like Grandpa Stu and Tobi's neighbor, Carter (I thought he was entertaining). I give Death in Advertising 3 out of 5 stars. The mystery was not the main focus of the book. I believe more time was devoted to Tobi eating her cocoa puffs cereal (she should buy it in bulk) than the murder. There are one or two clues early in the book, but the main hints are right before the reveal. I did appreciate the authors use of misdirection. The mystery can be solved before the reveal (do not fall for the diversion). I wish there had been less time devoted to Tobi's thinking (or spacing out in front of people) and her interest in Andrew as a romantic prospect. One scene had Tobi more interested in a rogue chocolate chip than the questioning of the suspect (I wanted to yell at her to just ask for some chips from the cook instead of trying to swipe the lone chip that fell on the counter). Death in Advertising is just not the right book for me (I prefer the mystery to be more prevalent).
