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Sofie Metropolis #1
Sofie Metropolis
Since canceling her wedding, Sofie Metropolis has a new career tracking down lost pets and cheating spouses. If you love My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Stephanie Plum, this is definitely for you!--New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2005
17 people are currently reading
3046 people want to read
About the author
Tori Carrington
185 books186 followersAuthor 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
February 17, 2010
2 1/2 stars
I really thought I would enjoy this book. It sounded good...I've enjoyed Stephanie Plum and I really liked My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Problem is that this book is like a million different recycled stories with barely any cohesion. Sofie is an okay character--not unlikeable, but also not too interesting. She seems to ramble on a lot, but never really thinks anything through.
There are plenty of Greek references...there isn't one moment in this book that you will forget that Sofie is Greek. It is repeated over and over until I wanted to yell, "I get it! She's Greek! She eats Greek food! Her mother nags her all the time!".
The "super sexy" (aka Ranger) in this book is Australian Jake Porter. I never really got a feel for him, though. Sofie mentions the first time she met him, but I never really got any feel for who he was or what he was doing, etc. None of it seemed to make sense.
Overall, I felt this was just a poorly put together story. There wasn't enough substance and I'm really not in the mood to wait out to find out if Stephanie, I mean Sofie, will end up with Ranger, I mean Jake. So, this is my first and last Sofie Metropolis book.
I really thought I would enjoy this book. It sounded good...I've enjoyed Stephanie Plum and I really liked My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Problem is that this book is like a million different recycled stories with barely any cohesion. Sofie is an okay character--not unlikeable, but also not too interesting. She seems to ramble on a lot, but never really thinks anything through.
There are plenty of Greek references...there isn't one moment in this book that you will forget that Sofie is Greek. It is repeated over and over until I wanted to yell, "I get it! She's Greek! She eats Greek food! Her mother nags her all the time!".
The "super sexy" (aka Ranger) in this book is Australian Jake Porter. I never really got a feel for him, though. Sofie mentions the first time she met him, but I never really got any feel for who he was or what he was doing, etc. None of it seemed to make sense.
Overall, I felt this was just a poorly put together story. There wasn't enough substance and I'm really not in the mood to wait out to find out if Stephanie, I mean Sofie, will end up with Ranger, I mean Jake. So, this is my first and last Sofie Metropolis book.
August 22, 2007
This book made me want to tear my eyes out. It was terrible. Terr-i-ble.
I thought it would be clever chick-lit.
But it wasn’t big and it wasn't clever. It was such a blatant rip-off of Stephanie Plum that I was appalled from the first page, then about half-way through the author actually mentioned both Janet Evanovich and Stephanie Plum. Like mentioning who you are ripping off makes it alright.
So. Very. Bad. It makes the Stephanie Plum novels look like ground breaking literature.
I thought it would be clever chick-lit.
But it wasn’t big and it wasn't clever. It was such a blatant rip-off of Stephanie Plum that I was appalled from the first page, then about half-way through the author actually mentioned both Janet Evanovich and Stephanie Plum. Like mentioning who you are ripping off makes it alright.
So. Very. Bad. It makes the Stephanie Plum novels look like ground breaking literature.
September 5, 2010
Sofie Metropolis was probably closer to 3.5 stars. I'm wondering if I'd read the printed version rather than listening to the audio, would I have spent less of my reading time comparing it to [Janet Evanovich] and Stephanie Plum.
Sofie's the same kind of fish out of water, stumbling into crazy situations. Except that she's trying to be a P.I. rather than a bounty hunter. And her wacky family is Greek, not Italian. And she caught her ex cheating at the church, rather than after they married.
The goofy dog is much smaller; the sidekicks aren't as full of personality (which isn't fair, since I've only read 1 of these books as opposed to 16 Stephanie Plum books, plus the between the numbers ones).
There's no love triangle yet, thank goodness. There is a mysterious, highly attractive guy that I thought would take the Ranger/mentor role, but that hasn't panned out so far.
As I said before, I know these comparisons aren't entirely fair. Evanovich didn't pioneer any of these elements, but she's just the most successful at turning them into a "thing", and that is where my mind went while listening to this book.
Sofie's the same kind of fish out of water, stumbling into crazy situations. Except that she's trying to be a P.I. rather than a bounty hunter. And her wacky family is Greek, not Italian. And she caught her ex cheating at the church, rather than after they married.
The goofy dog is much smaller; the sidekicks aren't as full of personality (which isn't fair, since I've only read 1 of these books as opposed to 16 Stephanie Plum books, plus the between the numbers ones).
There's no love triangle yet, thank goodness. There is a mysterious, highly attractive guy that I thought would take the Ranger/mentor role, but that hasn't panned out so far.
As I said before, I know these comparisons aren't entirely fair. Evanovich didn't pioneer any of these elements, but she's just the most successful at turning them into a "thing", and that is where my mind went while listening to this book.
May 13, 2008
This book is billed as a cross between "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (which I've never seen) and the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich. While the Greco-American culture was certainly well featured-- it was pretty darn close to a Stephanie Plum novel-- in fact, it was either a huge homage or a carefully plotted plagarism.
Similarities:
Stephanie is hot for a mysterious guy named Ranger who is like super-mercenary-bounty hunter- spy.
Sofie is hot for a mysterious guy named Porter who is like a super-mercenary, bounty hunter, spy.
Stephanie's family is kooky and weird and always griping at Stephanie to get a real life.
Sofie's family is kooky and weird and always griping at Stephanie to get a real life.
Stephanie works with people in her office who are social misfits and have weird quirky beliefs.
Sofie works with people in her office who are social misfits and have weird quirky beliefs.
Stephanie's mother is always trying to play matchmaker.
Sophie's mother is always trying to play matchmaker.
Stephanie's friends and family frequently offer Stephanie's professional services (for free) to their friends.
Sophie's friends and family frequently offer Sophie's professional services (for free) to their friends.
Stephanie is usually sexually frustrated and unhappy with her romantic relationships.
Sophis is sexually frustrated and unhappy with her ex-fiance (who she left at the altar after catching him fooling around with the maid of honor- at the church, five minutes before the wedding)...
The writers spend so much time trying to build this crazy and chaotic life for this Private Investigator that they fail to provide much of a mystery. Sure, the family conflicts are fun, but much more suited to a romance novel, which the authors (a husband and wife team writing under a psuedonym) have more experience writing.
Ill probably try another one in this series before giving up on Sofie. I like Stephanie, so why not enjoy her clone, Sofie Metropolis? But if the mysteries don't improve, I won't be hanging out in her Grandfather's Greek cafe.
Similarities:
Stephanie is hot for a mysterious guy named Ranger who is like super-mercenary-bounty hunter- spy.
Sofie is hot for a mysterious guy named Porter who is like a super-mercenary, bounty hunter, spy.
Stephanie's family is kooky and weird and always griping at Stephanie to get a real life.
Sofie's family is kooky and weird and always griping at Stephanie to get a real life.
Stephanie works with people in her office who are social misfits and have weird quirky beliefs.
Sofie works with people in her office who are social misfits and have weird quirky beliefs.
Stephanie's mother is always trying to play matchmaker.
Sophie's mother is always trying to play matchmaker.
Stephanie's friends and family frequently offer Stephanie's professional services (for free) to their friends.
Sophie's friends and family frequently offer Sophie's professional services (for free) to their friends.
Stephanie is usually sexually frustrated and unhappy with her romantic relationships.
Sophis is sexually frustrated and unhappy with her ex-fiance (who she left at the altar after catching him fooling around with the maid of honor- at the church, five minutes before the wedding)...
The writers spend so much time trying to build this crazy and chaotic life for this Private Investigator that they fail to provide much of a mystery. Sure, the family conflicts are fun, but much more suited to a romance novel, which the authors (a husband and wife team writing under a psuedonym) have more experience writing.
Ill probably try another one in this series before giving up on Sofie. I like Stephanie, so why not enjoy her clone, Sofie Metropolis? But if the mysteries don't improve, I won't be hanging out in her Grandfather's Greek cafe.
May 29, 2010
I will continue reading this book, but it is so much like Janet E's books that it isn't even funny. Not sure how an author gets away with that. I bought it so I will read it.
This is just too hard to finish. Not funny, not entertaining, not suspenseful, not anything. Too many really good books to read to spend anymore time on this one. I hate not finishing a book but I gave this one the old college try.
This is just too hard to finish. Not funny, not entertaining, not suspenseful, not anything. Too many really good books to read to spend anymore time on this one. I hate not finishing a book but I gave this one the old college try.
November 2, 2007
It's in a genre I've been reading lately...single girl detective/PI's/ bounty hunters. I guess the most disappointing thing is it's like an Evanovich novel, only she's Greek-American and a PI instead of a bounty hunter. They borrowed heavily from Evanovich, but they are entertaining nonetheless.
April 8, 2008
1/2 star. A poor [wo]man's Stephanie Plum meets "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". Disappointing both as mystery and as humor. Name check of Evanovich only highlights that the authors must have realized how much they were cannibalizing.
January 18, 2010
Terrible rip off of the Stephanie Plum series. I did not finish it.
March 31, 2019
A very funny mystery, this story sees Sofie working for her uncle's detective agency after she cancelled her wedding because of finding her groom in flagrante delicto with her maid of honor - at the church, just a few minutes before the ceremony. Sofie is still trying to recover from that trauma, and is trying hard to focus on the case at hand - a cheating spouse, who is in a hotel room with a dead man, when someone starts firing bullets at Sofie. There are lots of distractions, though, especially in the form of a mystery man who is somehow involved in the murder, and to whom Sofie inexplicably finds herself attracted, despite swearing off men forever. This is an entertaining mystery, and I look forward to reading more in this series.
March 23, 2024
This was a fun listen. I found Sofie to be charming with a decent amount of self-deprecation, Greek family, and love life humor. She reminds me of Mabel in Only Murders in the Building, but with a better sense of what she wants to do with her life and meddling parents.
March 20, 2014
When I started this, I wasn't impressed because it seemed as though it was going to be one of those chick-lit books where the author tries too hard to be funny and it doesn't really come together. But as the book went on, either she or I became more comfortable, and it all started to fall into place. Sofie is a self-deprecating amusing Greek woman who looks at life in a somewhat skewed but funny way. She has worked at various jobs and is currently a new PI working for her Uncle Spyros (who we didn't meet at all). Sofie ends up taking on lots of small PI jobs because her mother and her friends keep asking her for favors, such as finding a missing dog (or hound-from-hell as Sofie calls him) and looking for a missing potential vampire (ie, a creepy neighbor who never seems to come out in the daylight). An ongoing funny scene was Sofie dealing with a "new" rug she bought at a flea market. We meet and love to hate Thomas-the-Toad, Sofie's former fiance who was caught schtupping the maid of honor at the church on their wedding day. Loved the secondary character of Jake Porter, good-looking but mysterious Australian who often turns up unexpectedly. I also hope we get to know Sofie's sister Efi better, the teenager with all the piercings and tattoos.
Some of the clever commentary that kept me laughing:
"I realized I was doing the equivalent of mental babbling so I shut up and returned Romanoff's stare."
"I could swear I woke up this morning to the sound of my body humming. Humming. You know, like some kind of internal alarm clock had gone off denoting how many weeks had passed since I'd last had sex. It hadn't helped when I'd figured out I'd been lying on my vibrating cell phone and that the caller was a wrong number."
Advice from Grampa Kosmos: "There are three things you need to learn in life, Sofie. First, how to dance like you're alone. Second, to love like you mean it. And third, you need to learn to laugh at the rain. Learn how to do those three things, and you'll be happy, always."
A few recipes for Greek food mentioned in the book are included at the end.
Some of the clever commentary that kept me laughing:
"I realized I was doing the equivalent of mental babbling so I shut up and returned Romanoff's stare."
"I could swear I woke up this morning to the sound of my body humming. Humming. You know, like some kind of internal alarm clock had gone off denoting how many weeks had passed since I'd last had sex. It hadn't helped when I'd figured out I'd been lying on my vibrating cell phone and that the caller was a wrong number."
Advice from Grampa Kosmos: "There are three things you need to learn in life, Sofie. First, how to dance like you're alone. Second, to love like you mean it. And third, you need to learn to laugh at the rain. Learn how to do those three things, and you'll be happy, always."
A few recipes for Greek food mentioned in the book are included at the end.
March 20, 2017
nice story but very repetitive.
April 8, 2012
A single gal in her twenties, with no career ambitions other than to not be a waitress in the family business. She has her very own apartment and misfortune seems to follow her constantly. So, she goes to her uncle and tries to work for him as a PI. A handsome bounty hunter type is always around to take care of her. Her fridge is always empty, so she gets her meals at her Mom's house. She wears only jeans and tees despite her Mom trying to get her to dress nice, and her Mom is constantly trying to set her up with a new beau. And hold on wait a minute this is NOT Stephanie Plum, this is Sofie Metropolis, from either Jersey or New York,there are too many similarities!
The only difference is that Sophie is Greek. Otherwise, change the name and probably you will feel like you just read a Janet Evanovich--one that you have already read before...or so it seems.
The only difference is that Sophie is Greek. Otherwise, change the name and probably you will feel like you just read a Janet Evanovich--one that you have already read before...or so it seems.
March 6, 2011
I have read quite a few Janet Evanovich/Stephanie Plum knockoff novels/series to keep me laughing until the next Stephanie Plum in the series comes out. None of them have lived up to Stephanie Plum, Joe Morelli, and Ranger, but this series, which is obviously an attempt to capture the same humor, romance, and murder mystery that Evanovich includes in her Plum series, is actually satisfying. It is definitely a copycat of Evanovich's style and plot (the main character even reads the Stephanie Plum series!),but I found the story satisfying, cute,and funny. I will definitely read more in the series. Yes, Stephanie Plum has my loyalty, but a gal's got to find a few other books to read while she waits for June and the next Plum novel!
December 24, 2012
I hate giving bad reviews, but I honestly disliked this book so much that I couldn't even finish it. The story and the characters were so cliché! The main character is so sex starved that she sees something sexual in everything around her. I imagine this book is probably tame compared to the steamy novels the author usually writes, but I still thought it was ridiculous. A big part of what killed it for me was the narration. The voice actress they used was terrible. It would have been better if she had just read the story straight instead of trying to "get into character" with each character in the book. (I have to admit, however, that I am probably more picky than most when it comes to the narration issue since my son is a voice actor.)
February 2, 2015
If you read the Stephanie Plum series its the same thing...only sent in a Greek format. Uncle has a detective office, hot guy that she can't get, grandpa that is a helper/crazy person and mom whom worries about her and wants her to work in the family restaurant. I will say it was nice that at some point the main character sits down at the end of the night to have a hot bath and read her favorite book, which is a Stephanie Plum book. Came about the same time when I started thinking I liked the other books better. It made me giggle. :)
It was good if you never read the other books but honestly I just kept wishing i was reading the other author and never really cared for these characters.
It was good if you never read the other books but honestly I just kept wishing i was reading the other author and never really cared for these characters.
February 21, 2017
This is very much My Big, Fat, Greek ripoff of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels, but it is a cute story with likable characters. I don't know if I will read the next one, but this is a quick chick lit read.
May 19, 2012
Even though this book is the same formula as the Stephanie Plum series, it was well done and fun. Sophie is a PI just learning the game and gets herself into a few jams. Some fun characters and a Greek family round out the scenario.
March 8, 2012
3.5 stars. Very fun new to me cozy. Fans of Stephanie Plum will likely enjoy. Will def. read book two.
June 8, 2019
I loved this book the first time I read it and loved it all over again this reading.
I highly recommend this book.
I highly recommend this book.
November 13, 2019
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed it enough. Sort of a "fun romp." This is the first book in a multi-book series and I'm mildly intrigued. It doesn't end with a cliff hanger so you can sample the first book and not feel that you necessarily HAVE TO continue the series. I, however, have to continue any series I start no matter what, lol, so I'll be continuing this one. I also listened to this one on Overdrive and they have the second book so I'll be starting that right away. Then, happily going on to the next books in print edition because A. Overdrive doesn't have the rest and B. I really don't enjoy the narrator.
Sofie Metropolis is Greek-American. She's 26, and just broke off her engagement with Thomas, because she caught him having sex with her maid of honor at the church right before their wedding. Now, she finds herself living on her own for the first time, as landlord in an apartment building that her parents had gifted them for their wedding. She's trying out her hand at private detective work at her uncle's office, and takes on a job for a missing wife, only to get tangled up with the FBI, a dead body, and bullet wounds. It sounds like a crime novel, or a mystery, maybe a rom-com from the start, and really, it's all of these things. It's sort of a goofy and fun book but at the same time we're dodging bullets and running from the FBI.
Sofie is also on the hunt for the Jack Russel Terrier from hell, Muffy, that her neighbor owns, and trying to get the mysterious Australian Jake Porter into her bedroom. For just a couple months out from a broken engagement, Sofie has a lot on her hands. Surrounded by her big, loving but meddling Greek family, she's trying her to make it in the world, but also do what's right for the people she loves. While still trying to stay alive and figure out the missing wife/dead body scenario. Oh, and did I mention she's also investigating a possible vampire situation. There's quite a lot going on in her world, and in this book. You definitely won't get bored because there's so much subject matter that with the audiobook at least I felt a little confused sometimes because I wasn't paying attention enough to keep all the characters straight and link all the storylines. I still am not sure who Rosie is, the one who got Sofie investigating the vampire situation in the first place LOL. I'll try harder to pay attention on this next audiobook.
I enjoyed it enough. Sort of a "fun romp." This is the first book in a multi-book series and I'm mildly intrigued. It doesn't end with a cliff hanger so you can sample the first book and not feel that you necessarily HAVE TO continue the series. I, however, have to continue any series I start no matter what, lol, so I'll be continuing this one. I also listened to this one on Overdrive and they have the second book so I'll be starting that right away. Then, happily going on to the next books in print edition because A. Overdrive doesn't have the rest and B. I really don't enjoy the narrator.
Sofie Metropolis is Greek-American. She's 26, and just broke off her engagement with Thomas, because she caught him having sex with her maid of honor at the church right before their wedding. Now, she finds herself living on her own for the first time, as landlord in an apartment building that her parents had gifted them for their wedding. She's trying out her hand at private detective work at her uncle's office, and takes on a job for a missing wife, only to get tangled up with the FBI, a dead body, and bullet wounds. It sounds like a crime novel, or a mystery, maybe a rom-com from the start, and really, it's all of these things. It's sort of a goofy and fun book but at the same time we're dodging bullets and running from the FBI.
Sofie is also on the hunt for the Jack Russel Terrier from hell, Muffy, that her neighbor owns, and trying to get the mysterious Australian Jake Porter into her bedroom. For just a couple months out from a broken engagement, Sofie has a lot on her hands. Surrounded by her big, loving but meddling Greek family, she's trying her to make it in the world, but also do what's right for the people she loves. While still trying to stay alive and figure out the missing wife/dead body scenario. Oh, and did I mention she's also investigating a possible vampire situation. There's quite a lot going on in her world, and in this book. You definitely won't get bored because there's so much subject matter that with the audiobook at least I felt a little confused sometimes because I wasn't paying attention enough to keep all the characters straight and link all the storylines. I still am not sure who Rosie is, the one who got Sofie investigating the vampire situation in the first place LOL. I'll try harder to pay attention on this next audiobook.
October 19, 2018
Sofie Metropolis is a Greek gal who’s just trying to get her life back on track after calling off her wedding to her unfaithful ex-fiancé, Thomas (Thomas-the-Toad, to her). So, what better way than to take up a cool new job as a P.I?
But after three months at her new profession, she finds herself dying for a case that doesn’t involve cheating spouses or missing iguanas.
And she gets just what she wished for when she discovers a dead body.
Now Sofie is forced to investigate a murder, fend off her mother’s attempts to get her married in the next 24 hours, and resist Jake Porter, an Australian hunk who she wants more than she’d like to admit.
Before I begin, let me just say that this wasn’t a bad book. I enjoyed it as a brainless, fun read.
But it felt suspiciously similar to a Stephanie Plum novel.
If you’ve never read a book from that series (I have), you won’t pick up on it, but it’s very easy to connect the dots. I suspect that the author(s) are fans of Janet Evonovich, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But copying her writing probably isn’t the best thing to do.
Regardless, I’ll probably continue the series. I liked the Stephanie Plum novels, so this is an okay substitute. But because of the lack of originality, I’m not giving it anything above a 2.5.
But after three months at her new profession, she finds herself dying for a case that doesn’t involve cheating spouses or missing iguanas.
And she gets just what she wished for when she discovers a dead body.
Now Sofie is forced to investigate a murder, fend off her mother’s attempts to get her married in the next 24 hours, and resist Jake Porter, an Australian hunk who she wants more than she’d like to admit.
Before I begin, let me just say that this wasn’t a bad book. I enjoyed it as a brainless, fun read.
But it felt suspiciously similar to a Stephanie Plum novel.
If you’ve never read a book from that series (I have), you won’t pick up on it, but it’s very easy to connect the dots. I suspect that the author(s) are fans of Janet Evonovich, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But copying her writing probably isn’t the best thing to do.
Regardless, I’ll probably continue the series. I liked the Stephanie Plum novels, so this is an okay substitute. But because of the lack of originality, I’m not giving it anything above a 2.5.
July 17, 2023
I enjoyed this book and I’d probably read another, but it wasn’t one of my favorites. I initially thought it might be a little like “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and it was with the Greek family dynamics and tons of descriptions of Greek food (bonus for the recipes included in the back of the book!). The heroine was fun as were the characters. Sofia is recovering from leaving her fiancé after finding him in a delicate situation with her Made of Honor - in the church - ON her wedding day! She decides to work for her Uncle at his PI agency and hilarity ensues - bring on the hunky mystery Australian, a cheating spouse, missing dog & an FBI Agent or 2…and you’ve gotten an interesting mystery. I think I would’ve enjoyed it more had I been on the beach bc it is definitely a book I’d like to read with a fruity drink in hand (or a frappé which you’ll find Sofia addicted to & a recipe in the book as well;) The book is set-up for future mysteries (while many things were solved there are a few left unanswered) which allows the story to continue for Sofie:)
January 5, 2020
This is really a 3.5 star review.
Oh to be young and an aspiring PI in Astoria, New York.
Sofie is well liked in the neighborhood, and although she gets the worst jobs that come in to her Uncle's PI business, she has energy and initiative.
It is understandable that she focuses waayyy too much on her broken relationship with Thomas, and her desire to have one with Jake. That is the part I could easily just skip.
I did enjoy the solutions to the mysteries she is faced with: where is the dog from hell Muffy, what happened to the gent who never is seen except at night and is a Romanian blood bank delivery person, and in particular, who shot at her while she was on a stakeout getting pictures on the wandering wife. She is soon evading the FBI and/or that black SUV.
Sofie likes to buck the expectations her family has of her, and luckily she has some guardian angels covering her back.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
Oh to be young and an aspiring PI in Astoria, New York.
Sofie is well liked in the neighborhood, and although she gets the worst jobs that come in to her Uncle's PI business, she has energy and initiative.
It is understandable that she focuses waayyy too much on her broken relationship with Thomas, and her desire to have one with Jake. That is the part I could easily just skip.
I did enjoy the solutions to the mysteries she is faced with: where is the dog from hell Muffy, what happened to the gent who never is seen except at night and is a Romanian blood bank delivery person, and in particular, who shot at her while she was on a stakeout getting pictures on the wandering wife. She is soon evading the FBI and/or that black SUV.
Sofie likes to buck the expectations her family has of her, and luckily she has some guardian angels covering her back.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
April 14, 2024
I don’t know how to give half stars and if I did, I’d probably rate this two and a half stars. While I think this was supposed to be a humorous book, I didn’t find myself chuckling much. The first part of the book was a bit dull, although the story picked up a bit, as is often the case in books. Sofie is a PI in her uncle’s detective business. She’s Greek, so there are several references to Greek foods and customs and Greek culture. She ditched her would-be husband on the day of her wedding for a justified reason and she has a lust interest in the story. There are some interesting plot twists, but, I’m not sure that it’s enough to keep me reading this series. I read a few of Stephanie Plum’s stories, and then grew tired of them as they were pretty formulaic. But, at least I recall laughing at the first Stephanie Plum book. This one, not so much. The book was free, so I’ll pass it on.
November 27, 2023
Soooooo, I am an huge Stephanie Plum fan, been one for years. I am currently in between books and thought I would give the Sofie Metropolis book #1 a listen. In the beginning is started a little slow for me but as I went on a little further it picked up. However, I could not help but make comparisons to my girl Stephanie. The Plum Series is more of a mystery comedy whereas this is a bit more straightforward forward with some comedic undertones. With this being the first book in the series there is room for this to go either way. Sofie is a PI verses Bond enforcement so she takes more liberties. I plan to read the next book in the series and see if I get a better flow and vibe, but so far ok.
July 19, 2019
A bad copy of the well liked series of Stephanie Plum from Janet Evanovich. I've read several of these and actually laughed out loud.
This one tried way too hard to make a joke on every sentence and, much of the time, falling flat.
The story-line was all over the place, and, many of the characters were caricatures or stereo-typical.
I almost did not finish it. But I made it to the end and gave a generous 2 stars to this not so funny book.
This one tried way too hard to make a joke on every sentence and, much of the time, falling flat.
The story-line was all over the place, and, many of the characters were caricatures or stereo-typical.
I almost did not finish it. But I made it to the end and gave a generous 2 stars to this not so funny book.
Read
May 31, 2022I picked up this book after being annoyed with the narration on a book I'd been listening to for 6 hours. (the book could have been fab, but I'll never know because I couldn't hack it anymore) I just needed something less serious.
Well, this definitely fit the bill! Very tongue in cheek, much like a Stephanie Plum novel. Filled with crazy (but loving) family, lots of struggles and Greek foods I've never heard of. I must say, it was light and entertaining all the way thru.
Well, this definitely fit the bill! Very tongue in cheek, much like a Stephanie Plum novel. Filled with crazy (but loving) family, lots of struggles and Greek foods I've never heard of. I must say, it was light and entertaining all the way thru.
April 6, 2019
This book was fun and whimsical in some ways with the realness of the main character, Sofie, and the introduction into her Greek world turned upside down per her family. Murder, Mystery, and a groom gone bad, all with a biting dog to top it off. I'm looking forward to what more Ms. Sophie will get herself into with the rest of the series.
January 6, 2025
My search for a similar to Stephanie Plum series is over, the only downside is that there are only six books in this series. The blurb is spot on calling it a combo of My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Stephanie Plum, screwball characters that include a wise cracking sidekick in Rosie instead of Lula.
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