Sharp Shooter by Marianne Delacourt
TaraSharp is a super hero. Her super power? Well, that she’s highly attuned topeople’s auras and can actually see their moods. Okay, that sounds a bit hippydippy and you can see why Marvel hasn’t turned her adventures into a big budget movieyet. But Delacourt here takes Tara’s talent and uses it to create a crackingcomic suspense story, that’s as convoluted and twisty as the best hard-boilednoir.
Hiredby a shady lawyer to look into the handsome owner of a local sports team, Tarasoon finds herself involved with gangsters, house breakers, hired muscle,jealous wives and car vandals. All the while trying to keep her parents out ofher business, look after two demanding galahs, juggle her love life and even getready for a big race.
The setting of Perth, Australia gives the book a fairly unusual quality all by itself. (I must confess that I have never read any Australian crime fiction before), but what really sets it apart is that even when it’s fun – and the jokes are piling on top of each other – the book never loses its sense of peril. That’s no small thing. Books of this kind tend to be funny and low stakes, or not that funny and dangerous. To manage to pull off both really is an achievement to be treasured.
My debut novel, THE WANNABES – which has been out of print for a little while – is now available for free. A supernatural thriller of beautiful actresses and deadly ambition in London town, it’s well worth your time. You can get your copy here!.
