False Profits

Tucker Sinclair #1

by Patricia Smiley

- Featuring a fresh new voice and cast of characters, False Profits will appeal to the same audience who made bestsellers of the novels by Janet Evanovich.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Chick Lit, Mystery Thriller

304 pages, Hardcover

First published November 2, 2004

About the author

Patricia Smiley is the author of four novels, featuring amateur sleuth Tucker Sinclair. PACIFIC HOMICIDE is the first in a new series about Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective Davie Richards and is based on her 15-year stint as a volunteer for the LAPD. The second book in the series OUTSIDE THE WIRE will debut on November 8, 2017.

Patty's short fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and Two of the Deadliest, an anthology edited by Elizabeth George. She has taught writing classes at various conferences in the U.S. and Canada and served as the vice president of the Southern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America and as president of Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles. Patty lives in Los Angeles where she is working on the third book in the Pacific Homicide series.

Reviews

[Danm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the cover, I didn't expect much. I had even regretted picking it up after a monthly visit to Goodwill when returning stuff we don't need. However, this was one of those rare cases where you really shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

Let me first clarify that this book won't be for everyone. It's not a definitely-recommend four-star book. I gave it four stars because it captures your attention from the beginning and never lets go. It's a fun read with a witty and humorous protagonist. The downsides are repetitiveness in regards to a certain file needing to be found and always describing characters by their age ranges. But, she's a better writer than me, so....

If you're looking for a page-turner that's fast and fun, then have at it, especially if you like business-type mysteries. If you're looking for something deep and memorable, then you might want to move on to the next option.

[Julle Comer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. I’m not really sure what my thoughts are. It’s an easy book to read but I’m not sure if it’s really that good or worth rereading

[Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I look at the other reviews on Goodreads for this book, I can’t help but smile. I get the strongest impression those reviewers may have had a difficult time reviewing this as I did. Not because it’s dense, but because … I don’t know. Maybe because it’s likable brain candy—fun, empty but harmless calories that won’t change your waistline or your mind.

Tucker Sinclair is immediately likable. She’s divorced at 30 with no kids, and she’s sharing her beach cottage with her hippy mother and her mother’s sometimes-annoying dog. She’s a business consultant in southern California, which means she advises sick companies on how to get well.

One of the sick companies who sought her help wanted to get well by fictitiously boosting its books and its bottom line. Naturally, Tucker vociferously objected to the owner’s desire to diddle the data and cook the books, and he seemed to cave and agree to do things her way—the honest way. Well, that’s what he told Tucker. Shady stuff happens that enables one of the investors to sue the company, and that puts Tucker’s firm on the ropes. It can’t afford the bad publicity. Worse still, the owner of the medical diagnostic equipment place had in fact diddled the data and destroyed all of Tucker’s original work. It looked like she was in on the skewed data, and soon, she loses her job. She fears her reputation and even personal freedom is in peril, and she determines to do something about that. Her conviction to solve the problem deepens when someone murders the company owner.

This was fun reading that kept me reading to the end and convinced me to press onto the next book in the series, but probably not until sometime in 2026 or extremely late 2025. It’s good, but not so compelling that I feel a need to drop everything and focus on the next book in the series.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so funny while, at the same time, having the heroin deal with a very serious subject of having to prove her innocence when she is accused of fraud. The heroin has a dry sense of humour, which I love. I'll definitely look for the next book in this series.

[Jerry King · Rating 3 out of 5]

2004

[Khanson919 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good start to a series I plan to read more of. I look forward to what Tucker Sinclair does next.

[Susan Moxley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tucker Sinclair has been put on leave from her job because of a bal deal. Now the one person who can help her is found dead. She must figure out who did it before it is too late.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid first novel. Smiley has a dry sense of humor. Good characters.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so fun! Think Stephanie Plum and Fortune Redding, but a whole different series. I look forward to seeing what happens next.

[Nefty123 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this first novel by Patricia Smiley. The characters were engaging and the plot was riveting.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK. I did not really finish this one. I: could not warm up to the protagonist, who claims to have full ethics but then also seems to do almost whatever it takes to keep a client and get partnership (though I do believe not what she was accused of - if nothing else then there would be no book); hated the setting in which she worked (the corporate 'jungle'), and I now feel the need to do an energy cleanse from reading about it; disliked her friends; dislike the impulsive self-destructive behaviours of the protagonist, who then turns around and pulls the 'poor me no one trusts me properly and/or understands' me number (I wonder why?). I think too that it is telling that I just closed the book and cannot actually remember the protagonist's name - I guess I did not care enough about her to remember it.

I got about 12% in and was already skimming to see if the book was going to go anywhere. I read bits and pieces in the middle and the ending then closed the book, realizing that I have better things to do than force myself to even skim through a book that I do not particularly wish to read.

I agree with another reviewer, anyone who compares this book to Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books has never read the Stephanie Plum books. Those ones give me a good laugh. This one gave me a need to take a shower, meditate, and (as mentioned above) do an energy cleanse. Idk! Who needs that?

[courtney duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished this book this morning, having started it the day before yesterday- so, YES, it's an easy read. I always try to trade off between books- heavy, light, heavy, light...so this one appeared to fall into the lighter category. I will say, though, this book is not as simple as if first appears- there is a lot of technical, business-type stuff in the beginning that I found a little off putting. Maybe it was just me and my head being too full of crap already, but I found myself not wanting to have to think that hard about what I was reading. Aside from all that, it was a fun story, reminiscent of...oh, any book with a plucky female detective heroine. Think Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, or even some of Charlaine Harris's OTHER series (as in, not so much Sookie Stackhouse). This was Patricia Smiley's first novel, so maybe she was just figuring it all out. I have a feeling she will be hitting her stride in number two (yes, it's a series, of course!), and I aim to let you know. I am looking at it right now. Good job, Ms. Smiley! Looking forward to "Covering Your Assets"! (did I mention, she is pretty clever? Well, she is. If I had more time, I'd quote some of her wittier observations, but I don't. Go read the book yourself.)

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok but I think I had built it up because it had been recommended by the author of the Stephanie Plum series. I was expecting something very similar to this.

Basically Tucker is a management consultant who is framed for something she didn't do and goes on the hunt to get her reputation back. Along the way someone gets murdered and she is suddenly investigating that.

There was a strong sassy female protagonist who seems to find herself in trouble all the time and a sexy cop. Having said that though, it lacked a lot of the humour that I found in the Stephanie Plum series.

It is a fun read and is very light. I found it enjoyable but not to the extent I have seen in other books of a similar type.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The hero, Tucker Sinclair, is a feisty management consultant who needs to solve a mysteries to clear her name. It seems like a good start to the series. My concern is that many of Tucker's actions are after a Nobody-thinks-this-is-a-good-idea-not-even-myself-but-I-am-going-to-do-it-away debate, which gets a little old. Overall, I good fun mystery with interesting characters and the making of a cute funny police sidekick. Look forward to reading the second book, Cover Your Assets.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Foul language in moments of duress in this book. Also, I figured out the killer's identity about 50 pages before the end and way before the main character did. Why do amateurs always figure that they can't tell the cops anything because they are too stupid or lazy to do real thinking? The cops were on their way to arrest the killer when she was getting into his boat (AND before she figured out he was the killer!).

[Mark Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Business consultant Tucker Sinclair finds her career in danger when a client substitutes a new business plan for the one she created. Then he turns up in the Pacific Ocean. Can she solve the murder and save her career? I loved the LA setting, but found the mystery a little slow going and the characters a little light.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[L8blmr · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am actually glad that I began reading this series with book #2 (nearly 2 years ago), because had my choice been based on this book, I might not have pursued this author any further. I do enjoy some of her writing; her main character speaks snarky sarcasm fluently, though she didn't always use it in the wisest manner. I have one book left to read before I have to decide whether to track down any more Tucker Sinclair stories.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in a three books so far series. Very Janet Evanovich/Stephanie Plum-ish just not quite up to that par. It's about a financial lady who solves a crime with some humor and quirky characters. Gotta love a heroine who feeds her dogs McDonald's, peanut butter,etc. Not the best story ever but it was enough for me to read the rest in the series and the books got better from here.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this author's sense of humor. She made me laugh out loud.
This wasn't the best edge-of-your seat detective/mystery, but I'm still interested in reading the 2nd book, Cover Your Assets, in the series.
The protagonist, Tucker Sinclair, is similar to Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, but she certainly doesn't take Sephanie's place for zany.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know Patty in passing from attending Sisters in Crime (where she is immediate past president of the L.A. chapter), and thought I would read some of her books. I enjoyed this one a lot. Good characters, original situations, a credible "wrong (wo)man" sort of plot, and good writing. What's not to like?

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose these books because of the comment on the front from author Janet Evanovich. I felt like it was a Janet Evanovich wannabe and didn't quite cut it. I read it anyway though and because it's summer...will read the others.

[Joe O'Connor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good; Continuing character: Tucker Sinclair (first in series); finance consultant is pulled into murder case after writing up business plan for victim; a bit convoluted and trying to be Evanovich-like; might be worth one more try.

[Frances Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read the whole Tucker Sinclair series. I love her backstory, her relationship with her mother, and her house on the beach. Really clever story lines and characters who come to feel like your old friends.

[colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

read 12.08.07
Tucker Sinclair Book 1

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute, funny read. Forgot it as soon as I finished it.

[Kathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it - look forward to more books from this author

[Carol Krout · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this murder mystery!!!!

[Roseanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read with many twists and turns. I liked the main character and her great comments.

[Mary MacKintosh · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fun to read a book by an old high school classmate. The book is set in the Los Angeles basin, so I knew the territory.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as it reminded me of the Grafton and Evanovich series of lady detectives. I see promise of more character development and antics in the books to follow.