Hide and Snake Murder

A Shay O'Hanlon Caper #2

by Jessie Chandler

Book two in the riotous caper series starring Shay O'Hanlon and her trouble-prone pals
When Shay O'Hanlon's ill-mannered friend Baz steals a stuffed snake from a wealthy businessman, he wasn't expecting it to be filled with money. Nor was he expecting his aunt Agnes to take it with her on vacation to the Big Easy.
With trigger-happy thugs in hot pursuit, Shay leads her friends on a rowdy rescue mission from Minneapolis to New Orleans and back. Along the way, a bungled burglary puts the gang in a drug cartel's cross hairs, and a beautiful professor offers the only way out. But can Shay and the gang trust her with their lives?
Hide and Snake Murder won a 2013 IPPY (Independent Publisher's Book Award) and a 2013 Golden Crown Literary Society Goldie Award
 
"The entourage of loveable and multigenerational characters is just right for those looking for a madcap romp."
-- LIBRARY JOURNAL
"A rip-roaring sequel. Fans of comic cozies are in for a wild, enjoyable ride."
-- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Fiction

261 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

Jessie Chandler is the award-winning author of the Shay O'Hanlon Caper series, the Operation Series, and the Art Thief Series.

Chandler lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her wife and two mutts, Fozzy Bear and Ollie. In the fall and winter, Jessie writes, and spends her summers selling T-shirts and other assorted trinkets to unsuspecting conference and festival goers. You can visit her at www.jessiechandler.com

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this follow-up caper to Bingo Barge Murder, coffee shop co-owner Shay 'O Hanlon runs into Baz, an old school acquaintance, who has two goons hot on his trail. Seems like they are after a plush snake Baz has stolen from a Minneapolis toy factory. Only problem is, his aunt Agnes may have taken the snake to New Orleans during a quick jaunt with Shay's landlord, Eddy, and their friend, Rocky, who has developed an attachment to the snake and won't give it up. Soon Shay's best friend Nick Cooper (known more intimately as Coop), joins Shay and Baz on a trip to the Big Easy to find the snake. Soon they find out why that snake was so important and a series of wild adventures ensues. Shay soon wonders whether to get her lover and detective, J.T., involved. Shay does not really want to pull her out of training for the FBI in Quantico, but when a possible Mexican cartel may be in the Twin Cities area, J.T. may not have a choice.

This book turned out to be a wild ride that's lots of fun. Janet Evanovich fans who like to go on a wild goose chase will like this quick and breezy read.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lesbian coffee-house owner Shay O'Hanlon really needs her police officer girlfriend, but JT is away on a training mission, so Shay must cope with danger alone. Her schoolmate Baz has pilfered something that puts his aunt, Shay's landlady and close friend, and their friend Rocky in danger. When Shay and company go down to New Orleans to join them, all of the party are kidnapped by some seriously bad guys, who are not satisfied by getting back what Baz stole, but who want to eliminate all the witnesses, too. Back in Minnesota, there's still more danger.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great madcap caper with Shay and the gang. I think this one is even more madcap than the first, which is awesome, but I did miss JT. But being that I have an inside scoop, she'll be in full force in the next book!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite series. I can't wait for the next one. I loved the Denny Hecker reference. Seriously wacky fun.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

very entertaining, hope to hear more about Nick and Luz.

[Megan]

Okay, Shay and Coop are back at it again, dealing with criminals and kidnappers without asking for help from the police—one of whom Shay has the hots for. But whatever silly, crazy, stupid thing they do, they never leave home without the big Hootch-type mutt that Shay stole in the last book. His name is Dawg, a name I kind of like, and he was named by the criminal Shay stole him from. But that’s about all I like about him. The huge pooch—and its salivations and pawings—are virtually everywhere. I’ve seen this in other books and didn’t like it; don’t like it here. She also introduces another of her “friends,” a man so gross that I cringed when he appeared on a page.

In fact, after reading the first book and getting a taste for what this series is about, I could stomach only about five chapters of this one. Maybe “capers” are not my style. Certainly the characters, their antics, and their pets in Bingo Barge Murder and Hide and Snake Murder are not.

Final Rating: Did not finish

Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 930 other lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.

[Salma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of fun but my issue is that it doesn’t really feel like they’re solving anything, more like they keep stumbling into people who have answers for them. But still fun

[Ameliah Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can you help but love this motley crew?

My favourite trouble magnet is back and she brought the whole clan with her as well as a few new faces. These books are just so much fun! Shay's quirky sense of humor, Coop's geeky nerdiness, Rocky's sweet, gentle nature, Dawg.. Boxer of my Heart is just as wonderful as can be and of course Eddy....lets just say she is still in fine form!

This is the second installment of the Shay O'Hanlon series. Ms. Chandler writes a great mystery with just the right balance of cloak and dagger interlaced with humor, sass and crazy old ladies. This is such a winning combination she has found for herself and I enjoy it immensely.

Unfortunately for me, it is too late to start the next in the series, The good news for you is that you do not have to wait to get all four, you really won't regret it!!

[Judie · Rating 1 out of 5]

A friend of Shay O'Hanlon is known to be a petty thief. A plush snake he took from one home where he had worked leads to murder. Shay sets out to find the missing object and prevent futher murders in the process. Her search takes her from Minneapolis to New Orleans.

I hoped that having a lesbian "detective" would be a break from the stereotypical "amateur detective/police detective romance" set up. It did, but instead I found too many eccentric characters, some of whom seemed to be mentally challenged and portrayed both unrealistically and cruelly: They were the constant butt of jokes which I didn't find funny.

I usually plow through a book even if I don't like it in hopes that it will improve. I gave up on this one after 100 pages.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Occasionally, I come across an author who I just adore but I don't necessarily like their work. I wish I had started with the first in this series and I might feel differently.

This slightly bizarre mystery revolves around a stuffed snake that is stolen by a character who isn't firing on all cylinders. The action moves to New Orleans as friends of the thief try desperately to find him and keep him safe.

What doesn't work centers on the never-answered question: why did he steal the snake in the first place? And why should we care about his safety?

Chandler relies too heavily on readers having read the series in order - I suspect the big holes in her characterizations come from that assumption.

I'll give the first in the series a try...and then, perhaps, try this book again.

[Autaum · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Goodreads for this win! However, as much as I hate to say it, this book really didn't do it for me. I tried to finish this book, and picked it up on several occasions but just never made it through. I always hate giving books a poor review because its obvious that so much work goes into writing a novel. I'm sure though, that there is an audience that would definitely enjoy this novel.

[Jazminn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel bad for Shay, getting herself involved with these idiots. It's frustrating because she's with a cop, but it seems useless. I want her and JT to be happy, so I'm going to continue on. I hope the next one doesn't involve another Baz like character.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title caught my eye and the characters and story line kept me reading. This is a lighthearted mystery with quirky twists and turns and characters that are very likable. I found myself smiling and laughing as I read. I definitely will read more from this author.

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much going on; still fun to read, though.

[Jane · Rating 1 out of 5]

reading the blurb on back was most fun i had reading this book.

[Lori S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one took me longer than it should have and was not as rollicking as promised, but still, not a bad read over all.

[Sheila White · Rating 5 out of 5]

second book in the series. Funny right from the start.

[Rita K · Rating 2 out of 5]

I borrowed it at the same time as the first one of the series so read it despite this author's unrealistic plots.

[Jean]

Ok for first book

[Amber Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good book in this series.