Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Helpful Score: 1
First Line: "Let's get a move on, Neverall," Sean Jacobs, the crew foreman, said as he gestured toward the muddy bottom of the trench.
As this second book of the series opens, apprentice plumber Georgiana Neverall finds herself building a moat-- part of a state-of-the-art castle for a retired Microsoft engineer. Almost before she can blink an eye, her ex-boyfriend has shown up to take care of the security system for the property. Since this is the same ex-boyfriend who sold her company out from under her, his body being discovered at the bottom of the moat doesn't bode well for Georgiana. When the law seems to be eyeballing her a lot-- and moving very slowly at the same time-- what's an apprentice plumber to do but set out to prove her own innocence?
Just as important as the whodunit in this book are the evolving relationships between Georgiana and her family and friends. Her mother's boyfriend is acting strangely, and Georgiana has to decide if she should tell her mother what she knows.
In addition, this murder has opened a whole can of worms. When Georgiana was sold down the river, she left San Francisco vowing never to look back and to make a completely new and different life for herself. She is making a lot of progress on that new life, but at the cost of a lot of secrecy. Another decision facing her: does she want to continue to keep her friends in the dark to salve her pride, or does she want to place her trust in them?
As ever, the mystery and the plumbing tips are first-rate, but what really makes this series shine is its main character and the small select group of people she is gathering around her.
The third in the series, Drip Dead, has just been published, and I look forward to reading it. Do these books stand alone well? Yes, they do, but (as always) in the case of a series that depends so much upon characterization, I recommend that you read the series in order.
As this second book of the series opens, apprentice plumber Georgiana Neverall finds herself building a moat-- part of a state-of-the-art castle for a retired Microsoft engineer. Almost before she can blink an eye, her ex-boyfriend has shown up to take care of the security system for the property. Since this is the same ex-boyfriend who sold her company out from under her, his body being discovered at the bottom of the moat doesn't bode well for Georgiana. When the law seems to be eyeballing her a lot-- and moving very slowly at the same time-- what's an apprentice plumber to do but set out to prove her own innocence?
Just as important as the whodunit in this book are the evolving relationships between Georgiana and her family and friends. Her mother's boyfriend is acting strangely, and Georgiana has to decide if she should tell her mother what she knows.
In addition, this murder has opened a whole can of worms. When Georgiana was sold down the river, she left San Francisco vowing never to look back and to make a completely new and different life for herself. She is making a lot of progress on that new life, but at the cost of a lot of secrecy. Another decision facing her: does she want to continue to keep her friends in the dark to salve her pride, or does she want to place her trust in them?
As ever, the mystery and the plumbing tips are first-rate, but what really makes this series shine is its main character and the small select group of people she is gathering around her.
The third in the series, Drip Dead, has just been published, and I look forward to reading it. Do these books stand alone well? Yes, they do, but (as always) in the case of a series that depends so much upon characterization, I recommend that you read the series in order.
Helpful Score: 1
Hmmf... Im not sure this will be a good review, as I had a few beefs with this book.
Although I like the premise of the book, (a plumbers apprentice) this book just felt to "cozy" for me. Georgiana spent over 70% of the book worried about her secret of getting booted out of her old computer business "Samarai Security" Im guessing she felt a lot of shame over this, which is what, IMO dragged the book downward. She seemed overly obsessed with keeping her secret, which she is afraid would be revealed because her ex-partner, Blake shows up in town to do work on the house that Georgie is working in. After Blake turns up dead in the moat Georgie is digging, her past comes back to haunt her.
It takes about 150 pages in before the police start to "suspect" Georgie, and she starts to panic so she decides to find out the real killer. Theres not alot of action in this book, just a lot of moping and groaning over her lost buisness. All the character ever seem to do is go to diners to eat and discuss theor thoughts. Georgie has only one person of intrest that she investigates, and it was the same person she strongly disliked in the first book. At least in this installment, Georgies nagging mother has shown some character improvement.
There were too many holes in the plot line. The first being how she was booted out of her business. It made no sence. The other being why she dislikes her mothers boyfriend so much. The third being why the killer made the kill to begin with. It was briefly explained, but didnt go into too much detail. Also georgie spends some time using her computer hacking skills to dig up information on people. She didnt do this in the last book, but if she is this smart, she could have figured out the mystery a lot sooner.
Im not very sure how likely Id run right out to get the next book in this series. Id give the author one more chance with the 3rd book, and if it doesnt improve, I think it will be the end for me.
Although I like the premise of the book, (a plumbers apprentice) this book just felt to "cozy" for me. Georgiana spent over 70% of the book worried about her secret of getting booted out of her old computer business "Samarai Security" Im guessing she felt a lot of shame over this, which is what, IMO dragged the book downward. She seemed overly obsessed with keeping her secret, which she is afraid would be revealed because her ex-partner, Blake shows up in town to do work on the house that Georgie is working in. After Blake turns up dead in the moat Georgie is digging, her past comes back to haunt her.
It takes about 150 pages in before the police start to "suspect" Georgie, and she starts to panic so she decides to find out the real killer. Theres not alot of action in this book, just a lot of moping and groaning over her lost buisness. All the character ever seem to do is go to diners to eat and discuss theor thoughts. Georgie has only one person of intrest that she investigates, and it was the same person she strongly disliked in the first book. At least in this installment, Georgies nagging mother has shown some character improvement.
There were too many holes in the plot line. The first being how she was booted out of her business. It made no sence. The other being why she dislikes her mothers boyfriend so much. The third being why the killer made the kill to begin with. It was briefly explained, but didnt go into too much detail. Also georgie spends some time using her computer hacking skills to dig up information on people. She didnt do this in the last book, but if she is this smart, she could have figured out the mystery a lot sooner.
Im not very sure how likely Id run right out to get the next book in this series. Id give the author one more chance with the 3rd book, and if it doesnt improve, I think it will be the end for me.
