Take a slasher-movie actress, a Scottish circus clown, an FBI school dropout, a blind heiress, a junk-food-loving millionaire developer, and a Budd...
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reviews
Apr 29, 2008
Laura
rated it: 
In her fourth novel, N.M. Kelby takes a former B-movie actress, a Barry Manilow impersonator, a winged circus entertainer descended from the real Macbeth, a pet vulture, and fried snack cakes, mixes all them up with a whole bunch of stuff you probably wouldn't believe if I listed it, and throws them together into a Florida community with a mysterious past. If you think this sounds like a big fat mess, you haven't read this book, which will probably be the best summer read ever. It's great fun, s
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Dec 03, 2008
Lisa
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What do you get when you mix a little magic realism, some riotously funny dialogue that gives Carl Hiaasen a run for his money and characters you really care about and would love to see turn up in a whole bunch of sequels? You get the perfect winter read, a book that could serve as a substitute for a vacation in these troubled economic times, a great antidote to Seasonal Affective Disorder, and the absolutely best holiday gift for anyone you can think of - and I mean anyone. How’s that for dispa
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Mar 16, 2008
Ron
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The followup to Whale Season is just as delightfully screwy, and just when you think N.M. Kelby's never going to make that wacky plot element really fit in with the rest of the story, she goes ahead and does it.
May 14, 2011
Danielle
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I have to admit I picked this book up because the title jumped out at me, and then I was sold by the cover. I go against conventional wisdom and do, in fact, judge a book by its cover. At first this book was a little too kooky for me, I mean a guy with small wings on the base of his spine, really? It took me a while to actually get into the book, but once I did I got swept up in the story and actually starting caring about the main characters and what would become of them. I also couldn't help t
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Aug 02, 2008
Sheila
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Funny! We have a greedy development corporation (well, one member of the corporation) trying to get rid of Danni, a bar owner whose bar is in the way of future development of the retirement community built around her bar. She also knows a secret about the land that can keep the development of the land if she can find the evidence. The blind daughter of the developer lives in the community next door to the security guard of the development. Wilson, the guard, whose first name is Brian hums Be
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May 30, 2008
KyleeJ
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I have not read any of her other books so I cannot compare this to any of N.M. Kelby's other 3 books. This is one of the most refreshing mysteries that I have read in awhile. This is not one of the niche-cozies that seem to be everywhere (not that I don't enjoy those as well). Not that it doesn't have a food connection. Murder at the Bad Girl's Bar & Grill has it's own BBQ sauce. The characters are well written, the mystery is just that (she lets out just enough to keep you interested; keep you
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Aug 04, 2008
Jessica
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N.M. Kelby's latest comic mystery is not only charming and funny, but it offers pleasures that are greater than the sum of its (wacky and inventive) parts. Set in a coastal Florida community under development, intrigue among the corporate interests involved smacks up against a Tiki bar run by a former teen scream movie actress, with entertainment by a Barry Manilow impersonator and his dog, Mandy, a blind heiress, her pool-playing bodyguard and friend, a political puppet troupe modelled after Br
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Feb 28, 2011
Michelle
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This book was a little on the bizarre side, but a much better read than I expected when I picked it out at the library. I was looking for something fun and easy, and the title made it sound like a typical chick-lit type mystery. It most definitely was not that! What it was is still a little hard for me to pinpoint... a surreal yet well-written fun murder mystery, maybe? Just doesn't sound right, does it?!
Aug 31, 2011
Bonnie G
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Although there are similarities, she is no Carl Hiaasen! The characters are mildly funny, but too sad to be outrageous. They fall somewhere in between and as they are not really developed, they seem like the puppets in this story: just props. The mystery is confusing and not compelling. Sorry, to say all this because the author is from Minnesota and I love to support MN authors.
Jul 31, 2009
Rita
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This was a no brainer kind of read. Although, I really didn't know who did it at the end, I found I didn't care. It wasn't so bad that I put it down. But it really didn't grab me. Part of it was touted as a "FL" book and had a quote from Carl Hiaasen so I had some high hopes as I really enjoy his writing.
This was disappointing and I was glad when I finished it. Having said that there were a couple of cute parts in it. Not enough character development.
This was disappointing and I was glad when I finished it. Having said that there were a couple of cute parts in it. Not enough character development.
Dec 12, 2008
Jenny
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It started out fun and quirky, but didn't really progress. I thought it would eventually delve further into the characters but it stayed on the surface, like the depth of a hour long t.v. show. She did write for television...
Aug 06, 2008
Dy_goddess
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Yet another great book from NM Kelby. She is so clever and funny, you just get hooked from the first page. You get so interested in her quirky, awesome and one-of-a-kind characters you just can't stop turning the pages!
She's got everybody from a 70's Horror Film actress with the best scream in the business to a handsome, dangerous Scottish man who's the last living descendant of the genuine Macbeth... wow and WOW!
Jimmy Ray is back: smooth and peaceful as ever just rockin' the world More...
She's got everybody from a 70's Horror Film actress with the best scream in the business to a handsome, dangerous Scottish man who's the last living descendant of the genuine Macbeth... wow and WOW!
Jimmy Ray is back: smooth and peaceful as ever just rockin' the world More...
Aug 14, 2010
Betty
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Quoted from the review "irresistible tale that's part Carl Hiaasen and part Gabriel Garcia Marquez." NO...please don't associate those two authors with this drival. Enough said!
Jul 03, 2008
Jane
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Another weirdly wacky tale set in South Florida from the talented Ms. Kelby...(see Whale Season)....great fun & interesting plot twists & turns that keep you guessing until the end.....wonderful to read more about the elegant Jimmy Ray and of his engaging relationship with Whit ....Danni & Solas are beautifully drawn...the crones made me laugh out loud ..."Ta Da!"...the puppets are great fun....Sophie is a riddle in a mystery inside an enigma to me yet very empathetic...there are more
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Nov 28, 2009
Mary
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humorous in the exaggerated style, the way "Pushing Daisies" on TV was. not my usual cup of tea, but entertaining. i liked it more as it got going.
Dec 16, 2008
Vickie
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bad writing - doesn't track well - confusing disjointed you get the idea
Aug 03, 2009
Erin
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I loved this! I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for more from this author!
Jul 13, 2009
Roberta
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This had some quirky characters, but was not as funny as WHALE SEASON IMHO.
Aug 04, 2008
Jackie
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Another romp through the craziness of Florida courtesy of N. M. Kelby. This is the story of a South Florida retirement community whose quiet existence is rocked by two murders and the arrival of a wacky travelling puppet troupe. Throw in a winged Scottish puppeteer, a mysterious blues-singing hermit, a pool-playing security guard,a shih tzu that bears a striking resemblance to Barry Manilow,and a vulture named Poe, and you have the makings of an unforgettable read.
Nov 04, 2011
Kelli
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Had to quit reading this after 130 pages. The story did not draw me in and there was no flow to it whatsoever!
Oct 13, 2008
Patty
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Another "DNF" or Did Not Finish. Too many weird characters with no one in the entire book who was in any way sane or normal. I don't need a lot, but my logical soul does need at least one "normal" character, one who reacts to death as awful, not interesting, one who doesn't wander off on the beach, in the rain, when she's blind. Wasn't my style, which I might have known since it is compared to Carl Hiaasen, another author too weird for me.
Oct 14, 2011
Sandy
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This was an amazing book. It was full of puppets, murder, mayhem, bread, circuses, wild animals of Florida, senior citizens dressed as puppet animals. a small dog that looks amazingly like Barry Manilow, a pet vulture named Poe, dubious quotes from the Buddha, an amazing Baptist turned Buddhist, blues player, and so much more. It was so quirky and frivolous while at the same time being a story of connection and redemption! I totally loved it!
Jan 09, 2009
Amy
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Laguna Key is supposed to be a quiet retirement spot, but the dead bodies, vultures, Tasers and Barry Manilow impersonator make things complicated. And that's before the circus arrives. This novel is part mystery, part comedy, part family tragedy, and all good. Floridians who want people to think that their state is *not* full of endearing lunatics may not like it--everyone else will be captivated.
Aug 11, 2008
Patty
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What a funny book filled with wonderful and quacky characters! Characters such as the B slasher movie queen, Danni, who now is the owner of the Bad Girl's Bar and Grill and the circus owner Solas who was born with little wings on his back, and the ex-FBI agent Wilson, who has trouble solving the book's murder, and many more delightful characters makes this book a truly funny and interesting read.
Oct 30, 2008
Sara Diane
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I love Kelby and can't wait to read her latest offering!
Okay, done. As with Whale Season, this book was quirky and off-beat. I didn't get as into it as I did with WS, but part of that might have been that I'm reading two other books at the same time.
A fun read that includes murder and a little bit of romance as well as the sea and a Tiki bar. What's not to like?
Okay, done. As with Whale Season, this book was quirky and off-beat. I didn't get as into it as I did with WS, but part of that might have been that I'm reading two other books at the same time.
A fun read that includes murder and a little bit of romance as well as the sea and a Tiki bar. What's not to like?
Sep 27, 2008
Carrie
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Just posted my conversation with Nicole Kelby on Words To Mouth (http://www.WordsToMouth.com). Great book & neat lady...Nicole adds such light to "morbid life"--We talk about writing humor with a broken heart. Ellen Meister, author of The Smart One, also calls in and Nicole answers her question.
Oct 03, 2011
Margaret
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Not sure what to make of it, honestly. Quirky a la Hiasen, but nowhere near as mystery-like. Too confusing, too many vics and murderers. :P
