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Working Stiff (Sofie Metropolis #4)

by Tori Carrington

3.67 · rating details · 199 ratings · 21 reviews

Sofie Metropolis's PI business is so successful at finding missing spouses and lost pets and at proving insurance fraud that she's hired new staff, including her (formerly) layabout cousin.

There are two men in Sofie's life: sexy Greek baker Dino, who found a place in her heart--and bed--in Foul Play, and man-of-mystery Jake Porter, whose Australian accent is guarant

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Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages

Published March 2nd 2010 by Tor Books (first published January 1st 2008)

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Nov 25, 2008

Sara rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, humor

Another winner from this husband and wife writing team. Lots of laughs, but fun to see Sofie developing a bit more as a character in the series. This time she's hot on the trail of a missing corpse and the real murderer of a society girl who's boyfriend is on trial for the crime. Of course, she solves the mysteries, but also gets to deal with the touchy personal issues.

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Jun 13, 2010

Janet rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller

As more characters become fleshed out in the Sophie Metro universe, the books have gotten more interesting.

Various plot lines may not weave together seamlessly, but the authors are getting better at changing from one story to another.

There was a lacking of "Greekness" as compared to previous books in the series. As I am of Greek descent, I always look forward to this part of the book. It is what keeps me reading the series. Hopefully the next installment will satisfy my love of be...more

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May 29, 2010

Kathryn rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: plum-picks

Great main mystery with lots of little subplots to keep you entertained along the way. Definitely my favorite Sophie Metropolis book so far.

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Apr 30, 2011

Hannah M. rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-read, fiction

I came across Working Stiff when I was browsing at the library the other day. I saw the author’s name, recognized it, skimmed the blurb, and said ‘what the hell.’ Go figure that I find out after I start reading that this is actually the fourth book in the Sofie Metropolis series. Even so, I still read and enjoyed this one.

Sofie Metropolis is a P.I. out of Queens who takes on a case of a missing body - a missing dead body – for her aunt, and a case to try and find the real killer of a t...more

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Jan 05, 2009

Zinta rated it

· review of another edition

As soon as I opened the covers of my advanced review copy of Working Stiff, fourth in the Sofie Metropolis detective series by husband and wife writing team, Lori and Tony Karayianni as the combo name Tori Carrington, I was reminded of those long ago days of reading Nancy Drew mysteries by Carolyne Keene. I was, fair to say, obsessed with sharp and sassy girl-detective Nancy Drew as a young girl. Gee, that was long ago. I'm not sure why, but I have steered clear of mysteries ever since. Go figur...moreAs soon as I opened the covers of my advanced review copy of Working Stiff, fourth in the Sofie Metropolis detective series by husband and wife writing team, Lori and Tony Karayianni as the combo name Tori Carrington, I was reminded of those long ago days of reading Nancy Drew mysteries by Carolyne Keene. I was, fair to say, obsessed with sharp and sassy girl-detective Nancy Drew as a young girl. Gee, that was long ago. I'm not sure why, but I have steered clear of mysteries ever since. Go figure. Why avoid a genre that I liked so much as an avid adolescent reader?

Because I am no longer an adolescent? I'd be hard pressed to explain why there are two genres of writing that I avoid in the bookstore: mysteries and science fiction. If I have read a spotty few in either genre over my adult years, it is usually because there is some overriding personal reason to do so. Perhaps I know the author. Perhaps a fellow reader whose literary opinions I respect has given a particular title a high recommendation. Those few times that I have crossed the line and dipped a reluctant toe into the detective and/or science fiction waters, well, it wasn't too bad a dip. Sometimes even enjoyable. And yet. Next time I am in a bookstore? You got it. I avoid those sections.

I could be very wrong, but I would guess that women, who dominate today's book buying clientele, tend away from the hard-boiled detective tome, and may not be the keenest sci fi fans, either. (That said, I have met some women who would argue that they love these types of books, so consider this my personal observation only, completely unscientific.)

Okay, so what all that means is that when I sat down to read my first Sofie Metropolis book, the decks were stacked against the authors. And it stayed that way through several of the first few chapters. Sofie's voice, in my mind, was too distinctly male. She spoke, moved, behaved, thought, too much like those by now cliche Bogey types, the Mike Hammer PIs, the fedora-wearing, minus the hat, cool dudes who were tough and cool and impossibly (annoyingly) sauve. Yeah, now I remember why I bypass the mysteries. The main characters make me cringe. Sofie even has a version of her own girl Friday, the sidekick who is ever faithful and efficient, voluptuously shaped, with seemingly little to no life outside of the PI office. And, Sofie even expressed what smacked of a male perspective of sleeping habits. The nice guy in one bed, the bad cowboy in the other, meenie minie mo. Huh. Not working for me.

But then, page by page, a metamorphosis started to happen. I realized a few hours had gone by and I had yet to put the book down. Each chapter tended to end on a teaser, and it worked to keep me reading. And, I had to admit, Sofie was kind of growing on me. She could be fun. She could have a bit of that wacky Bridget Jones quality that made chic lit big. A little goofy. More than somewhat confused about her bed partners. Vulnerable and a little bruised. Even her cranky pup, Muffy, was winning me over.

Two days later, I had finished the book. I read through it like I used to read through those Nancy Drew mysteries. Couple of big bites and done. Not exactly the literary tomes I love, the type of writing that moves me to tears or shakes up the ground I stand on, but a bit of good, lighthanded fun. I liked her ethnic background (and the Greek recipes at book's end are a nice touch). The dialogue between characters was strong and convincing.

Yeah, so the murder mystery was a bit weak in its construction, and the revelation of what happened to the stolen corpse made me wince aloud. (The adolescent reader me would say, eeuuww! gross!) And I had to wonder, with this duo of authors writing, which author set up the scene where Sofie lingers too long to watch her girl Friday getting ready to shower, admiring her perfect nude breasts ... and which author remarked with disdain, "Dogs, I was coming to understand, were a lot like men. In the heat of the moment, they didn't have two brain cells to rub together." Who knows. I might be surprised.

But here's the thing. I had a lot of fun spending a couple days with Sofie Metro. Not a bad break between my more serious reading. I realized I'd kind of missed ol' Nancy Drew and the fun of watching her solve another light mystery. I could even be convinced to read the previous three Sofie books ...

Four stars for fun.

~ Zinta Aistars for The Smoking Poet, summer 2008 issue
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Aug 30, 2009

Photojim rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-reads

Sofie is back for book four. This time she has sex. As Sofie is becoming more of a real PI, she has been taking on bigger cases and actually hiring a staff. Kidnappings, murders, body stealing, and more are all in this one. Not only is the book more serious, but so are the consequences. Sofie and Dino? Sofie and Jake? Where will she finally end up? She has a serious problem with her choices in my opinion which makes it hard for me to really like her. Still better than the last. (6.5/10...more

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Jan 07, 2010

Quenta rated it

· review of another edition

I gave up after a few chapters. Tori Carrington is one of those authors who can't make it through a situation or conversation without 10 or twelve side line introverted monologues of the main character. Like, "I saw the cat. I remembered when I was 12 and a cat lived next door. . ." Who cares!! It drives me crazy. And then there was the language. I was so hopeful for a fun new series.

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May 31, 2011

Sonia Ashby rated it

· review of another edition

Sofie Metro gets her guy both in solving her cases and in her love life,but then she loses the sexy, Australian bounty hunter,Jake, after giving up the cute, Greek baker, Dino. A fun read with an exciting ending. Muffy the dog saves the day. Well Sofie does her part too, but I liked that it wasn't a sexy man to save the day. Sofie used her own resources and smarts to get things done.

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Nov 18, 2008

Melis rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: adult-fiction

This series to me is kind of like the poor man's version of the Stephanie Plum books. Instead of Stephanie Plum, we have Sophie Metropolis, private investigator who happens into this job after her wedding gets called off. Anyway, this is the fourth book in the series and Sophie has a few cases to solve, a missing dead body case and trying to prove another guy innocent of killing his girlfriend. Of course, there is the Greek guy that she is secretly seeing as well as the mysterious Australian P...more

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Sep 21, 2010

Terry rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-humorous

Make a note that the Sofie Metropolis series has potential read-alike value for Janet Evanovich or Charlaine Harris readers. Spunky heroine, bounty hunter, a touch of vampire--leans toward more romance than mystery. Easy reading and just fun.

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May 20, 2009

MaryJane rated it

· review of another edition

A good light mystery read. I will be checking for more titles in this series. Not as fluffy as Janet Evonovich. Tori Carrington is actually the pen name of two people working together to write the Sofie Metropolis books.

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May 31, 2009

Donna rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

It's was a little slow in the beginning but picked up toward the end. One of the weaker ones in the series. But still a quick read.

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Oct 09, 2011

Lisa rated it

· review of another edition

another enjoyable investigation with Sofie!

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Jul 13, 2009

Sue rated it

· review of another edition

Similar to a Stephanie Plum novel. More serious than zany but with some humor.

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Jul 08, 2009

Julie rated it

· review of another edition

Great series!

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Nov 08, 2008

Susan rated it

· review of another edition

Sofie Metropolis is still on the private investigation beat in Astoria, Queens when her aunt asks her to find out why a body is missing from the family funeral home. Then she's hired to clear a man on trial for killing his girlfriend. Both of these are considerably more complicated than Sofie's usual lost pet cases, but she finds a way to crack them all the same.

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Jun 15, 2010

Lemonitsa rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, my-own, audio

June 08/10 -- Chapter 2 --
June 14/10 -- Chapter 19 --
June 15/10 -- Finished --

I have loads of fun with these books because the mystery is enjoyable, the quirky Greek characters and other friends remind me of many people in my own life and everything makes me smile.

· see review

Mar 22, 2011

Jenn rated it

· review of another edition

Not my favourite in the series. Although I can't quite put my finger on why. Maybe because she blows off Dino in favour of Jake. Maybe because her cases seemed a little farfetched. Who knows?

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Jun 01, 2009

Carrie Harnick rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: screwball-mystery

I really liked this installment, not everything works out perfectly, but the important things come out okay. Kind of missed Grampa Kosmos.

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Jan 19, 2009

Janna rated it

· review of another edition

I still feel like Sofie is trying to be a Greek Stephanie Plum. I wanted to slap her sometimes - I never want to slap Stephanie.

· see review

Jun 16, 2010

Charlene rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: no one

I gave up on this book. it dragged and just generally annoyed me-there's no sense reading something I don't care for when there is plenty of other stuff out there!

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Feb 10, 2012

Leora rated it

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Feb 08, 2012

Priscilla rated it

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Feb 07, 2012

Helen rated it

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Feb 05, 2012

Readergirl77 marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: own

Feb 05, 2012

Lyn rated it

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Feb 02, 2012

Heidi added it · review of another edition

Feb 01, 2012

Krista rated it

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Jan 31, 2012

Susan Schultz marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Jan 31, 2012

Grace rated it

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About Tori Carrington

Author Tori Carrington is the penname of husband and wife writing team Lori and Tony Karayianni.

Hands down, penning a bio is always the most difficult writing challenge we take on. What do we say? What do we keep a secret? Considering we've been writing together for over twenty-two years...well, that reveals more about us than anything you'll likely read here. We're fiction writers sim...moreAuthor Tori Carrington is the penname of husband and wife writing team Lori and Tony Karayianni.

Hands down, penning a bio is always the most difficult writing challenge we take on. What do we say? What do we keep a secret? Considering we've been writing together for over twenty-two years...well, that reveals more about us than anything you'll likely read here. We're fiction writers simply because we enjoy escaping into an exciting, colorful, fictional world of our own making. Take great, shameless pleasure in delving into the lives of others. Revel in living vicariously through our characters, trying on career hats we'd never otherwise put on, stretching muscles we'd probably be better off excercising in reality. We won't even discuss how our writing allows us to voice opinions on society, romance and human sexuality that aren't subject to public ridicule but rather presented as entertainment. To go there, well, we'd be revealing a little too much, now, wouldn't we?

So we'll stick to just the facts, ma'am -- or sir, depending on your preference, which may or may not have anything to do with your sex. Should you desire more information, feel free to e-mail us and we'll provide you with our phone number, or -- our preference -- arrange to meet with you one-on-one where we can learn as much, or perhaps more, about you as you will about us. Depending on our mood, we may spill everything we'd prefer to keep a secret, like which traits we would change about the other if given half a chance. Likewise, we may wisecrack our way through the interview, sprinkle our responses with what we find exciting about our latest book, and blissfully skate over personal details that might bare a little too much.

Trust us, this is not an attempt to create an aura of mystery. We're not quite that saavy. No, we're just very protective of our evolving selves and consider ourselves open-minded, known to change an opinion the moment we voice it or are presented with further information, so we're hesitant to commit any to writing. Guess we're very Socrates-like (as opposed to Socratic) in that way, which isn't altogether a bad thing..

So rather than dictate to you here, we'll lay out the basic facts, then provide a number of links to others who have interviewed us.

I'm (Lori Schlachter Karayianni) a Holy Toledo, Ohio, native, having attended Central Catholic but ultimately graduating from Macomber-Whitney with certification in computer science. After working in the computer industry for a number of years -- and after Tony and I endeavored to write our first novel -- I switched to temp work which ultimately led to a four-year stint as a secretary/sales clerk in the engineering and international sales departments of Owens-Illinois, the international container company that put the "glass" into The Glass City. I put the brakes on before I reached the five-year mark, however, the point of no return for most dreamers who get caught in the corporate trap (more vacation time? Better benefits? Probably I should stay until retirement).

Tony's background couldn't be more different from mine, but thankfully it led him to me. Born in Smila, a small hillside village in the area of Ancient Olympia outside Pyrgos, Greece, (where his family has deep roots and an older brother still maintains the family olive groves) he was raised in Athens during a time of political and cultural upheaval, although neither stopped him from becoming a drummer in a successful pop band that often played with Greek singer Teris Chrysos. He immigrated to the U.S. in late 1976 and with the help of the Greek community achieved the American Dream. Only the hunger for something more, the restless searching that originally compelled him to turn his back on his successful music career and brought him here, remained. It wasn't until after we'd become a couple, and he turned to me and suggested that we try our hand at writing, that both of us discovered the true meaning of th(less)

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Working Stiff (Sofie Metropolis #4)

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