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Strictly Murder
(Verity Long #1)
by
The estate agent's details listed two reception rooms, kitchen and bath. What they failed to mention was the dead celebrity in the master bedroom. Personal assistant Verity Long's house hunt is about to turn into a hunt for a killer. It will take some fancy footwork to navigate the bitchy world of dance shows, television studios, and dangerously gorgeous male co-stars. Whe
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Start your review of Strictly Murder (Verity Long Mysteries #1)
Working as PA for Kathleen Davenport, writer of crime fiction featuring Detective Agnes Merryweather, had been thoroughly enjoyable for Verity Long since she began six months previously, so when she was on the hunt for somewhere new to live, little did she realize her “skills” would enable her to find herself at the wrong end of a killer’s sights. After the dreadful shock when viewing a prospective house had eased, Verity decided her curiosity would indeed help KD with a future book – after all
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First time reading this author. It got off to a great start but wasn’t long before it became very uninteresting. Verity is good character but lacked a bit more gisto to her investigating. Other characters weren’t compelling at all and her boss KD 🤨🤨 story prattles around with producing possible multiple outcomes. 🤦♀️🤦♀️ This adds to the long windedness of various parts. Sorry for those who love it for me a dud.
It's taken me ages to read this, however that doesn't actually reflect on what I thought of it. The book is in first person, which isn't a perspective I often read. The last one I recall was The Hypnotist I'll be honest that was pretty grim. Think 'Game of Thrones' but in a detective story. This, thankfully was much more lighthearted and easy reading.
The story centres on a likeable character, 'Verity' who is the researcher for a crime writer, who calls herself 'KD' I think it's Kathleen Davenpo ...more
The story centres on a likeable character, 'Verity' who is the researcher for a crime writer, who calls herself 'KD' I think it's Kathleen Davenpo ...more
Feb 08, 2013
✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans)
rated it
did not like it
Shelves:
mysteries-thrillers-suspense,
2013
This was a quick read but it could have been made even quicker by cutting through dozens of unnecessary paragraphs and uninteresting passages. The heroine comes across as very immature, the plot is quite boring and lacks originality. I won't be reading the rest of this series.
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I read this in a day - it's a good easy read. But does that mean that it isn't full of substance - heck no...
The characters are all well fleshed out and all the main players had me caught one way or another - love 'em, hate 'em, love 'em and hate 'em... The story had twists and turns like most whodoneits but all within the realms of credibility as Verity goes on her way through working out what happened and why...
Verity - O she's great! She has lists and notes and more lists - I love lists - can ...more
The characters are all well fleshed out and all the main players had me caught one way or another - love 'em, hate 'em, love 'em and hate 'em... The story had twists and turns like most whodoneits but all within the realms of credibility as Verity goes on her way through working out what happened and why...
Verity - O she's great! She has lists and notes and more lists - I love lists - can ...more
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Would have been good, but MC was a pain.
This sounded like a sure bet. The plot was interesting, and I was itching to dive right on on... and then we met Verity. Yeah... I really didn’t like her. She was arrogant, snide, and a complete hypocrite regarding Jerry and his intentions. I get she had a bad relationship prior to this, but her attitude was off putting and I just wasn’t that engaged with the story after that.
I did like the mystery itself, and had guessed the identity of the killer early o ...more
This sounded like a sure bet. The plot was interesting, and I was itching to dive right on on... and then we met Verity. Yeah... I really didn’t like her. She was arrogant, snide, and a complete hypocrite regarding Jerry and his intentions. I get she had a bad relationship prior to this, but her attitude was off putting and I just wasn’t that engaged with the story after that.
I did like the mystery itself, and had guessed the identity of the killer early o ...more
After completing a book in a series and painfully awaiting the next book that would be out in a few days I began a hunt for a novel. I had started one and grunged to almost 40% of the book and was still scratching my head and rubbing my temples. Which tells me it is too much of a mind of a philosophical book for me. Which then brings me to this little gem. It was offered as one of my free books and I thought. Cool I like mysteries and if I like the series I can get the others.
Man I loved this bo ...more
Man I loved this bo ...more
I had a pretty good idea of who, but wasn't entirely clear on why until quite late in the game.
But the one thing that was clear from reading this book was... I need a PA!
Pay is potentially quite good - at least it might be in a few years! (right now I can only offer coffee in lieu of...) Apply ℅ the usual places. ...more
But the one thing that was clear from reading this book was... I need a PA!
Pay is potentially quite good - at least it might be in a few years! (right now I can only offer coffee in lieu of...) Apply ℅ the usual places. ...more
Neither a compelling plot, nor characters, nor writing. Didn't care about any of the victims or the female lead or the murderer. No complexity in the story, the final reveal felt trite and superficial. Really wasn't drawn into this read. Disappointing...
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I really loved this book, the way things kept you second guessing and Verity was such a likeable heroine and her boss KD was fantastic. Totally loved it
This was an interesting case involving the murder of a dancing competition TV show. Verity, the main character, worked as a PA for a crime fiction writer and had another case she was thinking about as well as the main murder. Verity had a very interesting job and an amazingly generous boss who was like a second mother to her. Verity had been the one to find the murdered TV star and felt like she needed closure on finding the killer.
I liked the book, but it didn't really hold my interest the way ...more
I liked the book, but it didn't really hold my interest the way ...more
Why is that some books grab your attention right from the first chapter? Why do some leading characters seem more interesting than others? I liked this book!!! The typos as always drove me crazy but the book was delightful. I did figure out the murderer but that was because I chose the least obvious person and followed the clues. That comes from having read so many cozy mysteries but it didn't make the story any less interesting. If I had anything to complain about it would be why did the killer
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This is an interesting and amazing story. The characters are engaging and bring you straight into the center of the story. It’s theme is interesting as you consider the book is a story about a crime writer writing a story about fighting crime. Her assistant gets very involved in the research for the books her boss writes. Then the assistant finds a body while looking at a house she might be interested in moving into. The story is excellently written and wonderful to read.
Interesting characters and a storyline that encompasses quite a few disparate strands mean this is an easy enjoyable read.
Verity Long works as a PA and her job is trawling through old crimes finding ideas for her boss’s detective novels. She then comes across body and through a sense of compassion decides to do a little detective work of her own.
Despite the cover looking a bit naff, I enjoyed the story, not just the crimes but Verity’s personal life too. I’d look to read more about Verity.
Verity Long works as a PA and her job is trawling through old crimes finding ideas for her boss’s detective novels. She then comes across body and through a sense of compassion decides to do a little detective work of her own.
Despite the cover looking a bit naff, I enjoyed the story, not just the crimes but Verity’s personal life too. I’d look to read more about Verity.
2.5
I was really intrigued in the beginning but it just seemed to drag on (especially for how short it is). Verity is kind of a blah character. Her boss KD is an author so the writer did use some new words to me (which I always enjoy learning. Ew words). I barely wanted to finish it and won’t read more.
I was really intrigued in the beginning but it just seemed to drag on (especially for how short it is). Verity is kind of a blah character. Her boss KD is an author so the writer did use some new words to me (which I always enjoy learning. Ew words). I barely wanted to finish it and won’t read more.
Strictly Murder
I really enjoyed this mystery. I kept reading until my kindle lost its charge and I had to go to bed. Lynda Wilcox can put together a great mystery with great characters. I liked everyone except that snotty cow Verity Long! She was sooo unlikable! Pretending to be above others doesn't mean one is. I may read another mystery, but not for awhile. ...more
I really enjoyed this mystery. I kept reading until my kindle lost its charge and I had to go to bed. Lynda Wilcox can put together a great mystery with great characters. I liked everyone except that snotty cow Verity Long! She was sooo unlikable! Pretending to be above others doesn't mean one is. I may read another mystery, but not for awhile. ...more
Good start to series
Strictly Murder is a good start to the Verity Long Mysteries. This is another book I've had on my kindle for 7 years and I thought It was high time I read it. I'm glad I did as it was genuinely laugh out loud in places and I'll definitely read more of the series! ...more
Strictly Murder is a good start to the Verity Long Mysteries. This is another book I've had on my kindle for 7 years and I thought It was high time I read it. I'm glad I did as it was genuinely laugh out loud in places and I'll definitely read more of the series! ...more
I enjoyed this book very much. I found it occasionally hard to follow due to the author 's use of English terminology. The book held my interest & I didn't want to put it down. I will recommend this book to all mystery lovers.
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Personal Assistant looks at a house to let, and finds a celebrity dead in the master bedroom. N ow she decides she must investigate the death, even if it means stepping on the toes of the police. I enjoyed it, kept me guessing. Good= 3 stars.
A cozy mystery
Light reading with a predictable culprit. Verity, the main character, and her employer, are nicely developed, fun, intelligent and interesting.. I look forward to their future adventures.
Light reading with a predictable culprit. Verity, the main character, and her employer, are nicely developed, fun, intelligent and interesting.. I look forward to their future adventures.
Very English mystery
A fun and very well written Cozy Mystery. Verity Long is a strong character and a determined amateur sleuth. Written in a very English style and set in an English village the reader is transported to the countryside while helping Verity solve the mysteries.
A fun and very well written Cozy Mystery. Verity Long is a strong character and a determined amateur sleuth. Written in a very English style and set in an English village the reader is transported to the countryside while helping Verity solve the mysteries.
Cute story. Not a lot of suspense but enough mystery to make the reader think about the possibility. While I did figure out who-dun-it, it wasn't till near the end of the book. Sometimes I just need to read a book like this: interesting but relaxing.
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this was a quick read only took 2 nights. It was quite interesting, I liked the descriptions of what a P.A. does now it has me thinking this would be a really fun job. If only I could do it from home. Minus the murder of course. I would be interested to read more from this author.
Really cute! Clean too.
Its really good to read a mystery these days that is well thought out, well written and efited, that doesn't try to make the word count by including tasteless porn! ...more
Its really good to read a mystery these days that is well thought out, well written and efited, that doesn't try to make the word count by including tasteless porn! ...more
You need to add more SEX scenes in your books and describe what is going on in LOTS of detail
You need to have SEX in your books because then they will become more interesting for the reader.e.g,Me,Myself and I
You need to have SEX in your books because then they will become more interesting for the reader.e.g,Me,Myself and I
Good plot and engaging characters
If you like an easy read this is the book for you. Characters were well described and likeable and the storyline well crafted. An old fashioned, enjoyable book providing the twist towards the end.
If you like an easy read this is the book for you. Characters were well described and likeable and the storyline well crafted. An old fashioned, enjoyable book providing the twist towards the end.
Good read
I enjoyed the book, though it was a bit confusing in places. I would try the author again. She has a deft hand with a plot, though the red herring was superfluous to requirements.
I enjoyed the book, though it was a bit confusing in places. I would try the author again. She has a deft hand with a plot, though the red herring was superfluous to requirements.
I really liked the main character of this novel. She is smart, independent and has a great sense of humor . I figured out the mystery but still was keen to read on to get to know this character better. looking forward to more books !
Cozy mysteries are not really my genre but I enjoyed this one. Would have been four stars but yet again there was too much information about what she was eating, drinking and cooking which is my bug bear. Overall enjoyed it for being free book.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Amazon Kindle ...: Strictly Murder by Lynda Wilcox | 23 | 112 | Nov 11, 2016 03:35AM | |
| Madison Mega-Mara...: #116 - Strictly Murder | 1 | 3 | Jul 28, 2015 12:11PM |
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Lynda Wilcox's first piece of published writing was a poem in the school magazine. In her twenties she wrote Pantomime scripts for Amateur Dramatic groups and was a founder member of The Facts of Life, a foursome who wrote and performed comedy sketches for radio. Now she concocts fantasy stories for older children (10-13) and writes funny whodunits for adults.
Lynda lives in a small town in England ...more
Lynda lives in a small town in England ...more
Other books in the series
Verity Long
(7 books)
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