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Kat Stone #1
The Red Chameleon
[Read by Rachel Dulude]
Kathleen Stone's past may have finally caught up to her. - - As a private investigator, Kathleen Stone relies on her ability to blend into the background. Aided by her street-smart drag queen friend and the best wigmaker in New York City, she feels confident that her camouflage is up to snuff. But when a cheating spouse she's been trailing ends up dead under suspicious circumstances, she fears that someone she angered in her past job - busting gangs and drug dealers as an undercover cop - has seen through her disguises. Now she must work with her former colleagues in the NYPD to solve the case before she's the next victim.
Kathleen Stone's past may have finally caught up to her. - - As a private investigator, Kathleen Stone relies on her ability to blend into the background. Aided by her street-smart drag queen friend and the best wigmaker in New York City, she feels confident that her camouflage is up to snuff. But when a cheating spouse she's been trailing ends up dead under suspicious circumstances, she fears that someone she angered in her past job - busting gangs and drug dealers as an undercover cop - has seen through her disguises. Now she must work with her former colleagues in the NYPD to solve the case before she's the next victim.
1 pages, MP3 CD
First published June 8, 2014
15 people are currently reading
1589 people want to read
About the author
Erica Wright
18 books193 followersErica Wright is a poet and novelist. Her latest mystery
Hollow Bones
was called "an incredibly rich work of literature" in the Nashville Scene. Her essay collection
Snake
is part of Bloomsbury's Object Lessons series and was one of LitReactor 's Best Books of 2020. She’s over the moon to be releasing two books in 2026: the poetry collection
A Buyer's Guide to the Afterlife
and the mystery
The Museum of Unusual Occurrence.
She was the poetry editor at
Guernica Magazine
for more than a decade and currently teaches at Bellevue University. She lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
July 16, 2014
You know a book is good when you're sad it ends, and you know a character is good when you can imagine what she's doing when she's not IN the book. It might seem odd for a poet to write a crime mystery novel, but Erica's poems are always precise and underscored with danger just out of sight, which makes her the perfect person to write noir. The Red Chameleon is tight, funny, and thrilling. I had to stop myself from finishing it in one travel day, reading half on the plane to vacation, and the other half on the way home. And now I want the next installment in what I hope is a series!
July 23, 2017
I love Kat Stone and it was great to go back and discover her origins (I read The Granite Moth first). An original, interesting female P.I. and one that I will definitely be following!
August 1, 2020
"The Red Chameleon" is a debut novel about an ex-cop turned PI that entertained but needed a little more focus and a different narrator.
There were a lot of things that worked well in this book and a couple of things that disappointed.
The premise of the book, which kicks off a series that currently stands at three books, is that, at twenty-seven, Kat Stone is already an ex-cop having resigned following a traumatic under-cover tour virtually straight out of the academy. Now she works as a PI, mostly doing divorce work. She's pushed out of her recently assembled comfort zone and back to confronting her old life when the suspected-of-cheating man she's following is killed and she looks like the prime suspect.
I liked how well-thought-through Kat Stone's character was. In the present day, she hides behind a series of characters, each with its own wig and look, who she uses to do her investigations but which also prevent her from having to come to terms with who she is now that she's not under-cover and what being under-cover did to her. This allows Kat to be a little flippant and faux-sassy one the surface and troubled underneath.
This duality is reflected in the plot in which Kat tries to untangle the murder she's associated with while flashing back along the way to give us the history of her life under-cover, sharing the bad things that happened to her there and showing the frightening possibility of links between her past and the current murder.
The humour in the present-day investigation worked well. The comments and descriptions had me snorting a few times but some of the humour seemed to me to make Kat too much like Stephanie Plumb for an ex-under-cover cop.
The flashbacks were the most intense parts of the book. The transitions were handled well and the pace at which Kat's past was shared was well judged to add to tension and character development.
The present-day plot worked until the very end when it all collapsed a bit. The final scene at the Amusement Park wasn't quite tense enough and the wrap-up that followed felt a little tacked on.
I listened to the audiobook version of "The Red Chameleon", narrated by Rachel Dulude who, to me, didn't seem a good fit for this book. Rachel Dulude handled the humorous dialogue very well and came up with distinctive voices for the characters but she seemed to stumble over some of the text as if reading it for the first time and didn't seem able to adjust her tone to deal with the serious violence and threat in the book.
I recommend going with a text version of the book.
Check out the narration for yourself by clicking on the SoundCloud link below:
https://soundcloud.com/caroline-sharp...
There were a lot of things that worked well in this book and a couple of things that disappointed.
The premise of the book, which kicks off a series that currently stands at three books, is that, at twenty-seven, Kat Stone is already an ex-cop having resigned following a traumatic under-cover tour virtually straight out of the academy. Now she works as a PI, mostly doing divorce work. She's pushed out of her recently assembled comfort zone and back to confronting her old life when the suspected-of-cheating man she's following is killed and she looks like the prime suspect.
I liked how well-thought-through Kat Stone's character was. In the present day, she hides behind a series of characters, each with its own wig and look, who she uses to do her investigations but which also prevent her from having to come to terms with who she is now that she's not under-cover and what being under-cover did to her. This allows Kat to be a little flippant and faux-sassy one the surface and troubled underneath.
This duality is reflected in the plot in which Kat tries to untangle the murder she's associated with while flashing back along the way to give us the history of her life under-cover, sharing the bad things that happened to her there and showing the frightening possibility of links between her past and the current murder.
The humour in the present-day investigation worked well. The comments and descriptions had me snorting a few times but some of the humour seemed to me to make Kat too much like Stephanie Plumb for an ex-under-cover cop.
The flashbacks were the most intense parts of the book. The transitions were handled well and the pace at which Kat's past was shared was well judged to add to tension and character development.
The present-day plot worked until the very end when it all collapsed a bit. The final scene at the Amusement Park wasn't quite tense enough and the wrap-up that followed felt a little tacked on.
I listened to the audiobook version of "The Red Chameleon", narrated by Rachel Dulude who, to me, didn't seem a good fit for this book. Rachel Dulude handled the humorous dialogue very well and came up with distinctive voices for the characters but she seemed to stumble over some of the text as if reading it for the first time and didn't seem able to adjust her tone to deal with the serious violence and threat in the book.
I recommend going with a text version of the book.
Check out the narration for yourself by clicking on the SoundCloud link below:
https://soundcloud.com/caroline-sharp...
July 19, 2014
Hard to believe that a former NYC undercover cop could make SO many stupid decisions, and have things miraculously work out. Told from perspective of heroine Katherine Stone, we follow her around. The highlight is her ability to play many roles, with an impressive collection of wigs and outfits, her friend Dolly, and occasional humor. Reminiscent, but not as good as Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, Kat even has dual love interests, but a failure to launch. The downside is this book lacks thrills, any real mystery, and a clear ending. Also, the attempt to integrate her back story was choppy and distracting. Skip it.
June 3, 2021
Don't pay for this book if you can help it.
The story wraps up neatly enough, there's a cute little thing where Kathleen's protective personas get winnowed away as her wigs get destroyed. She's also very, uh, empowered I guess? Due to being attracted to a majority of the men in power she meets, you see. If you aren't from NY, I bet it's a lot more exciting to read a very neutered description of Central Park than it was for me. Honestly, the book would get 3 stars from me if the Black and brown characters didn't read like caricatures.
It's too bad that a book written in 2014 has a black character named "Mamma Burstyn" (she's fat, get it?) who owns a gay bar, another bar that is probably also a gay bar, and a hotel where clients take sex workers. No one wants to cross her, because she has an otherworldly and inhuman power over others called "being mean sometimes." Super disappointing from an author who, per the dust jacket bio, grew up in Atlanta. The only Latino characters used and sold drugs (cocaine) or were aggressive and overly sexual (one of Kathleen's love interests). The ambiguously-racialized drag queen's whole personality was that he was a drag performer; he shows up often to save Kathleen's sorry butt, but he's called Dolly the whole time, and he's never out of drag. He's unflappable and perfect. Yawn. I could nitpick further, but if that's not enough to deter you, you might actually enjoy this book perfectly well.
Lastly, I'm not clear on whether the main character is supposed to be bad at her job or not, since she seems to think she is imperceptible but is constantly being noticed while in costume, spotted while hiding, etc. It's enjoyable if you just pretend it's a little joke from the author to the reader that she thinks she's super skilled when she's actually mediocre. I think better writing would have conveyed this more clearly.
The story wraps up neatly enough, there's a cute little thing where Kathleen's protective personas get winnowed away as her wigs get destroyed. She's also very, uh, empowered I guess? Due to being attracted to a majority of the men in power she meets, you see. If you aren't from NY, I bet it's a lot more exciting to read a very neutered description of Central Park than it was for me. Honestly, the book would get 3 stars from me if the Black and brown characters didn't read like caricatures.
It's too bad that a book written in 2014 has a black character named "Mamma Burstyn" (she's fat, get it?) who owns a gay bar, another bar that is probably also a gay bar, and a hotel where clients take sex workers. No one wants to cross her, because she has an otherworldly and inhuman power over others called "being mean sometimes." Super disappointing from an author who, per the dust jacket bio, grew up in Atlanta. The only Latino characters used and sold drugs (cocaine) or were aggressive and overly sexual (one of Kathleen's love interests). The ambiguously-racialized drag queen's whole personality was that he was a drag performer; he shows up often to save Kathleen's sorry butt, but he's called Dolly the whole time, and he's never out of drag. He's unflappable and perfect. Yawn. I could nitpick further, but if that's not enough to deter you, you might actually enjoy this book perfectly well.
Lastly, I'm not clear on whether the main character is supposed to be bad at her job or not, since she seems to think she is imperceptible but is constantly being noticed while in costume, spotted while hiding, etc. It's enjoyable if you just pretend it's a little joke from the author to the reader that she thinks she's super skilled when she's actually mediocre. I think better writing would have conveyed this more clearly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2014
The Red Chameleon is full of verve and intrigue, humor and lots of wig changes. The plot keeps you on the edge of your seat, not able to put the book down, but what's most exciting is the quality of the writing. It's no surprise that Erica Wright is also an award-winning poet. This book offers a rare delight: a thriller that cares much about plot as it does language. Kathleen Stone is a nuanced and complex protagonist, a joy to accompany on the twists and turns of The Red Chameleon. This is a summer must-read.
February 7, 2017
I believe I have found a new author for my reading reservoir. Erica Wright drew me into the story after the first few pages. I wanted to know how the story would unravel and reach that peak.
Through every reminisce of romantic escapades, work, and personal setbacks, I didn't get lost nor side-tracked as to what the main idea of the story was about. At every turn, I was trying to piece together the significance of the term "the red chameleon"--the power of appearance. The use of hair was a nice twist as the foundation for this mystery story. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
Through every reminisce of romantic escapades, work, and personal setbacks, I didn't get lost nor side-tracked as to what the main idea of the story was about. At every turn, I was trying to piece together the significance of the term "the red chameleon"--the power of appearance. The use of hair was a nice twist as the foundation for this mystery story. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
January 20, 2022
I'm torn on how to rate this. It could easily be a 4+ star but I'm giving it slightly over a 3.
My biggest issue is it reads as if it was number two or three in the series without the benefit of fleshed out characters. I understand wanting to tease out the MC's backstory throughout the book but a little more information here and there would have cleared up a lot of confusion. Occasionally it felt as though certain scenes or passages needed an extra word, paragraph, or even a He said at the end of a sentence of dialog so you knew exactly what was going on.
I'm a sucker for a story where two guys are interested and the woman gets to make the choice. Unfortunately I don't know why she is attracted to either one, other than hormones. Plus she seems to have made her decision about one unless he is going to show up later in the series?
I'm also still confused about why the police department treats her like a piranha or she can't get a license to carry a weapon?
I think there is a lot to work with here and I'm willing to give book two a go.
My biggest issue is it reads as if it was number two or three in the series without the benefit of fleshed out characters. I understand wanting to tease out the MC's backstory throughout the book but a little more information here and there would have cleared up a lot of confusion. Occasionally it felt as though certain scenes or passages needed an extra word, paragraph, or even a He said at the end of a sentence of dialog so you knew exactly what was going on.
I'm a sucker for a story where two guys are interested and the woman gets to make the choice. Unfortunately I don't know why she is attracted to either one, other than hormones. Plus she seems to have made her decision about one unless he is going to show up later in the series?
I'm also still confused about why the police department treats her like a piranha or she can't get a license to carry a weapon?
I think there is a lot to work with here and I'm willing to give book two a go.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2022
The Red Chameleon by Erica Wright is a thriller, murder-mystery, detective story that follows the story of protagonist and narrator, Kathleen Stone, ex-NYPD undercover detective. The book was fast-paced and a quick read. I loved the flashbacks to Kathleen's undercover days, which helped build in her background and demonstrated how the trauma she had experienced undercover was still affecting her several years down the road. Nevertheless, I wish there had more character development with Kathleen, particularly in respect to her undercover days and the two love interests vying for her attention. I also felt the book ended rather suddenly and without much conclusion. There are more books in the Kathleen Stone detective series, but this book does not seem to set the stage for The Granite Moth (book #2) in anyway. While I immensely enjoyed the read and am planning on reading the next book, I was still left with a lot of unanswered questions and a want for more character development.
April 8, 2022
An ex-undercover cop still being hunted by criminals works as PI, using disguises to blend into whatever situation she investigates. Not bad, but plenty of coincidences. Hard to believe fake IDs, a few wigs and change of clothes keeps her safe from pursuers. Two exes for romantic interest but didn't add much to plot, and she wasn't too clever at identifying the murderer until almost the end of the book.
December 20, 2021
the heroine is a former cop-turned-private investigator. she has a couple of amusing side-kicks. the story has flashes of humor to go along with the murder mystery.
what the story does not have is a coherent plot. i re-read the ending twice trying to figure out who did what, and why are there still so many holes in the plot?
what the story does not have is a coherent plot. i re-read the ending twice trying to figure out who did what, and why are there still so many holes in the plot?
June 3, 2018
Not the best narration. Sometimes strange words or syllables accented, like it's the first time she's reading a phrase, such as: "I'd have to wait for the parking lot to get a couple shot" making it sound like she was planning to shoot them with a gun rather than a camera.
August 19, 2019
Audible
November 26, 2020
Cynical protagonist. Murder. Dead body. City dwellers. All the elements you want in a Neo noir.
July 17, 2023
Fun read.
January 11, 2026
didn't age too badly.
August 28, 2015
Find this review and more fantastical things at The Leaning Tower of Tomes.
Source: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Iris and Pegasus Books!
The review:
Kathleen Stone is a Private Investigator and ex-NYPD undercover cop. Her current job has her tailing a potentially cheating husband… until the man ends up murdered and Kat finds herself trying to solve a “whodunit?” case. The mystery, while a pretty standard plot, does have many layers that get uncovered and explored. This is both a good and a not so good thing. Good, because the mystery is actually pretty complex at times, but not always so good because I found myself forgetting various things brought up and mentioned. The plot sprawled a bit too much for my taste.
There are some great aspects of the book, don’t get me wrong. Perhaps one of my favorite parts is the setting: New York City, almost exclusively Manhattan. This book was written by a New Yorker, poet Erica Wright, and this book was read by a New Yorker — me! It was very cool following Kathleen around my crib. All the locations were explained accurately and in detail. Rest assured that the author isn’t making assumptions about the setting!
Kat Stone was an interesting protagonist. Despite making some seemingly amateur decisions for an ex-undercover cop, she felt very real. Her voice sounded current; she appeared like any young woman her age living in today’s world, complete with the appropriate snark. (I love snark and snarky characters. Kat’s not an overly snarky person, but her quips are well used and placed.)
Kathleen’s also a chameleon — she has many identities and different wigs to accompany them. Going into the book I was skeptical that her multiple personas would be a gimmick, but they, thankfully, are not. I never had too much trouble keeping her different identities straight, but I found that each and every one of her characters didn’t act a whole lot different. It was still Kathleen Stone under it all. Which I actually prefer; I want to get attached to a protagonist instead of having them be five different people at the same time.
The supporting characters make up a good cast, but I wish they’d all been fleshed out some more. I’m sure we’ll get to know them better in future books, though. Meeza was definitely my favorite. She had a great energy to her and really complemented Kat’s personality. Plus, she cracked me up. I liked Dolly, but I wanted him to have more page time, and play a more prominent role in everything. Then there were the two guys Kathleen has histories with: Detective Ellis Dekker and undercover agent Marco Medina. Both men are very different, and it’s obvious Kat still has deep feelings for both of them (and for each of them, vice versa with her). I liked Ellis for his patience and dedication, and for his faith in Kat, and I liked Marco for his raw edges and air of mystery. Ellis is a much more prominent character than Marco in the book, but I thought that Kathleen and Marco had more chemistry together.
The Red Chameleon is a good mystery with solid writing that flows well and is upbeat. The pacing, however, while never slow, didn’t always entice me. It took me a while to motivate myself to read more than just a chapter or two at a time. A reason for this is probably the plot, which, while perfectly fine, isn’t wholly original. There are no surprising or unique spins. The case wasn’t rich or funky enough to completely hook me in, but I did mostly enjoy The Red Chameleon. It was entertaining to see where Kathleen was snooping around, and I think she is a compelling character with much room to grow. ♦
So tell me…
Have you read The Red Chameleon? If you haven’t, would you be interested to? What was the last crime/mystery book you read? What is a book you’ve read that is set in New York City? Comment below letting me know! And, as always, happy reading!
Follow me @ toweroftomes on Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | and Bloglovin’!
Source: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Iris and Pegasus Books!
The review:
Kathleen Stone is a Private Investigator and ex-NYPD undercover cop. Her current job has her tailing a potentially cheating husband… until the man ends up murdered and Kat finds herself trying to solve a “whodunit?” case. The mystery, while a pretty standard plot, does have many layers that get uncovered and explored. This is both a good and a not so good thing. Good, because the mystery is actually pretty complex at times, but not always so good because I found myself forgetting various things brought up and mentioned. The plot sprawled a bit too much for my taste.
There are some great aspects of the book, don’t get me wrong. Perhaps one of my favorite parts is the setting: New York City, almost exclusively Manhattan. This book was written by a New Yorker, poet Erica Wright, and this book was read by a New Yorker — me! It was very cool following Kathleen around my crib. All the locations were explained accurately and in detail. Rest assured that the author isn’t making assumptions about the setting!
Kat Stone was an interesting protagonist. Despite making some seemingly amateur decisions for an ex-undercover cop, she felt very real. Her voice sounded current; she appeared like any young woman her age living in today’s world, complete with the appropriate snark. (I love snark and snarky characters. Kat’s not an overly snarky person, but her quips are well used and placed.)
Kathleen’s also a chameleon — she has many identities and different wigs to accompany them. Going into the book I was skeptical that her multiple personas would be a gimmick, but they, thankfully, are not. I never had too much trouble keeping her different identities straight, but I found that each and every one of her characters didn’t act a whole lot different. It was still Kathleen Stone under it all. Which I actually prefer; I want to get attached to a protagonist instead of having them be five different people at the same time.
The supporting characters make up a good cast, but I wish they’d all been fleshed out some more. I’m sure we’ll get to know them better in future books, though. Meeza was definitely my favorite. She had a great energy to her and really complemented Kat’s personality. Plus, she cracked me up. I liked Dolly, but I wanted him to have more page time, and play a more prominent role in everything. Then there were the two guys Kathleen has histories with: Detective Ellis Dekker and undercover agent Marco Medina. Both men are very different, and it’s obvious Kat still has deep feelings for both of them (and for each of them, vice versa with her). I liked Ellis for his patience and dedication, and for his faith in Kat, and I liked Marco for his raw edges and air of mystery. Ellis is a much more prominent character than Marco in the book, but I thought that Kathleen and Marco had more chemistry together.
The Red Chameleon is a good mystery with solid writing that flows well and is upbeat. The pacing, however, while never slow, didn’t always entice me. It took me a while to motivate myself to read more than just a chapter or two at a time. A reason for this is probably the plot, which, while perfectly fine, isn’t wholly original. There are no surprising or unique spins. The case wasn’t rich or funky enough to completely hook me in, but I did mostly enjoy The Red Chameleon. It was entertaining to see where Kathleen was snooping around, and I think she is a compelling character with much room to grow. ♦
So tell me…
Have you read The Red Chameleon? If you haven’t, would you be interested to? What was the last crime/mystery book you read? What is a book you’ve read that is set in New York City? Comment below letting me know! And, as always, happy reading!
Follow me @ toweroftomes on Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | and Bloglovin’!
April 13, 2016
Ah, the first novel by a new author. I bought this novel because I am a bit OCD when it comes to authors. Erica Wright has asked me to review her second novel. Since it involves the same characters, i felt, yes, compelled to read this predecessor to "The Granite Moth," her second novel, which I am now nearly finished reading.
But to the task at hand. First novels are a achievement, even in this day when self-publishing is so easy. Having the guts to put one's work out there and say, 'there it is. I believe this is worth your time." In this case, I am happy to say, it is well worth the time. Erica Wright writes as if she was born to it. Her prose flows easily. I did not find this novel to be a "page turner", but the characters and the story line held my interest such that, despite losing no sleep, I read quickly and with enjoyment.
One of my requirements in any protagonist is a snarky attitude. Ms Wright's lead character, whose given name is Kathleen Stone, goes by more names than I can count, mostly female names and personae, with the one exception of Keith, her one male persona. Kat is a former undercover police person, whose "big" case ended with a cloud of doubt hanging over her head. She was so worn out from the assignment that she took a break from policework that became permanent. Like so many other protagonists in mystery novels, she is a former cop now working in the private sector. As to snark, she is very snarky but tends to keep it to herself, in her first person narrative.
That is the challenge, how to take a (sorry) tired premise and draw the reader in. She does this with skill and aplomb. I found myself fascinated by the cast of characters (and characters they are) with whom she surrounds herself. Her best friend is Dolly, a drag queen who is the star at the city's leading drag club. They met at the workplace of the wigmaker they have in common, who working out of Brighton beach is, of course, a character herself. Dolly and Kat agree on one thing for sure, their wigmaker is the best in town. She can handle the needs of Dolly, which are, of course, outrageous, as well as she meets the needs of Kat, who is a master of disguise, with identities ranging from her cover as a real estate agent to soccer mom, and so forth.
Another character to whom we are introduced is Meeza, who moves from being a secretary for all the tenants on the floor to taking a job as Kat's personal assistant, and whom starts to become a P.I. in her own right.
The plot involves something typically mundane for a run of the mill P.I., which quickly becomes more complicated and draws Kat into a possible brush with "the one that got away" from her undercover case. He is a mobster and he is a danger to Kat and her loved ones.
The story unfolds with some lovely twists and turns and ends in a way that is mostly satisfying but clearly sets up a sequel. It's all good.
If I have one criticism, there are times when, as the text flows, I felt that Ms Wright was struggling for the right word, and I believe sometimes did not come up with the word she wanted. That is a minor thing, believe me, as it does not interfere with the story in any way.
In truth, given that this is a first novel, I would have given it 4.5 stars but the ratings systems don't allow for that. Here is why I found it a cut above most first novels. Ms Wright's prose flows easily as I have said. To her credit, despite the sometimes seamy settings and characters, her language is spot on without indulging in trying to demonstrate her "street creds" by utilizing foul languange, graphic violence or drawn out, overly detailed sex scenes.
This is a very good novel by an up and coming author. I recommend "The Red Chameleon" highly and look forward to her next book.
But to the task at hand. First novels are a achievement, even in this day when self-publishing is so easy. Having the guts to put one's work out there and say, 'there it is. I believe this is worth your time." In this case, I am happy to say, it is well worth the time. Erica Wright writes as if she was born to it. Her prose flows easily. I did not find this novel to be a "page turner", but the characters and the story line held my interest such that, despite losing no sleep, I read quickly and with enjoyment.
One of my requirements in any protagonist is a snarky attitude. Ms Wright's lead character, whose given name is Kathleen Stone, goes by more names than I can count, mostly female names and personae, with the one exception of Keith, her one male persona. Kat is a former undercover police person, whose "big" case ended with a cloud of doubt hanging over her head. She was so worn out from the assignment that she took a break from policework that became permanent. Like so many other protagonists in mystery novels, she is a former cop now working in the private sector. As to snark, she is very snarky but tends to keep it to herself, in her first person narrative.
That is the challenge, how to take a (sorry) tired premise and draw the reader in. She does this with skill and aplomb. I found myself fascinated by the cast of characters (and characters they are) with whom she surrounds herself. Her best friend is Dolly, a drag queen who is the star at the city's leading drag club. They met at the workplace of the wigmaker they have in common, who working out of Brighton beach is, of course, a character herself. Dolly and Kat agree on one thing for sure, their wigmaker is the best in town. She can handle the needs of Dolly, which are, of course, outrageous, as well as she meets the needs of Kat, who is a master of disguise, with identities ranging from her cover as a real estate agent to soccer mom, and so forth.
Another character to whom we are introduced is Meeza, who moves from being a secretary for all the tenants on the floor to taking a job as Kat's personal assistant, and whom starts to become a P.I. in her own right.
The plot involves something typically mundane for a run of the mill P.I., which quickly becomes more complicated and draws Kat into a possible brush with "the one that got away" from her undercover case. He is a mobster and he is a danger to Kat and her loved ones.
The story unfolds with some lovely twists and turns and ends in a way that is mostly satisfying but clearly sets up a sequel. It's all good.
If I have one criticism, there are times when, as the text flows, I felt that Ms Wright was struggling for the right word, and I believe sometimes did not come up with the word she wanted. That is a minor thing, believe me, as it does not interfere with the story in any way.
In truth, given that this is a first novel, I would have given it 4.5 stars but the ratings systems don't allow for that. Here is why I found it a cut above most first novels. Ms Wright's prose flows easily as I have said. To her credit, despite the sometimes seamy settings and characters, her language is spot on without indulging in trying to demonstrate her "street creds" by utilizing foul languange, graphic violence or drawn out, overly detailed sex scenes.
This is a very good novel by an up and coming author. I recommend "The Red Chameleon" highly and look forward to her next book.
January 11, 2017
I picked up A Red Chameleon before the holidays, and only managed to read the first chapter before work and Christmas overwhelmed me, and I was forced to put the book down. Once the holidays were over, and work became a bit more manageable, I resumed reading, which I’ve been itching to do, and almost finished the book in one sitting (If I could pull all-nighters like I used to, I could have finished it in one sitting.) Erica Wright did everything that I love in a series — she created a cool, complicated, kick-ass female protagonist with Kathleen Stone, a solid mystery that I could not figure out until the killer was revealed at the end, and, oh, yeah, a couple of hot guys that had me speculating over a possible romance for the heroine.
Ms. Wright deftly balanced the tension in the book (which involved Kathleen’s past as an undercover detective and her present as a P.I., hunting for the murderer of the man she’d been hired to tail) with a wonderful dry wit that had me smiling and laughing. One snippet: a character at a country retreat who struggles to express her concern through her Botox. Still makes me smile.
Next up on my reading agenda is the sequel, The Granite Moth. I only hope that there will be more Kathleen Stone. The character deserves her place with other beloved female detectives like Sara Paretsky’s V.I. Warshawski and even Janet Evanovich’s more lighthearted Stephanie Plum.
February 7, 2017
"The Red Chameleon" tells the story of Kathleen Stone who escapes her life into her work as a PI, with lots of different personalities/disguises. Her past is quickly catching up to her after the man she is tailing to examine for cheating ends up shot at the bar where she had followed him. Investigating his death takes her into her past and finds her confronting the people she used to know when she was with the police.
The book is pretty slow at first with in-depth descriptions of wigs and costumes, making the story a little scattered at first. It picks up halfway through and becomes really interesting as we get into solving the murder. There's a bit of a forced love triangle with two of Kathleen's former colleagues and I think we could have done without one of them, as it felt a little forced.
It's a relatively short and thus quick book overall, but I kept putting it down during the first part, as I found it a little hard to follow/less interesting. The ending was worth it, and I really liked the character as we got to know her better and her quirks started to make more sense. I am curious to see where this series will go/if the next one will be more focused/fast-paced.
Please note that I received this book through a goodreads giveaway. All opinions are my own.
The book is pretty slow at first with in-depth descriptions of wigs and costumes, making the story a little scattered at first. It picks up halfway through and becomes really interesting as we get into solving the murder. There's a bit of a forced love triangle with two of Kathleen's former colleagues and I think we could have done without one of them, as it felt a little forced.
It's a relatively short and thus quick book overall, but I kept putting it down during the first part, as I found it a little hard to follow/less interesting. The ending was worth it, and I really liked the character as we got to know her better and her quirks started to make more sense. I am curious to see where this series will go/if the next one will be more focused/fast-paced.
Please note that I received this book through a goodreads giveaway. All opinions are my own.
August 7, 2016
This was a fun book. It's clearly the beginning of a series, establishing characters that will run through it, and a love triangle that has our main character flummoxed. As far as love triangles go, though, it's a lot better than what one generally finds on the market, with believable reasons why characters may be vying for the main character's attention.
The mystery was interesting, and I suppose, as a person who knows nothing about the police, really, or PIs in general, the reasons for our main character to be involved in the investigation seem legit enough.
I'll be moving on to the next book and looking forward to finding out what happens next with the unanswered questions at the end of the first :o)
The mystery was interesting, and I suppose, as a person who knows nothing about the police, really, or PIs in general, the reasons for our main character to be involved in the investigation seem legit enough.
I'll be moving on to the next book and looking forward to finding out what happens next with the unanswered questions at the end of the first :o)
July 1, 2014
This was a fun, quick read. However, I had a hard time understanding how a former NYPD detective could make such amateur mistakes. Unfortunately, I notice this a lot in mystery books with a female lead. It would be much more appealing to have an intelligent, competent female lead than one who bumbles through situations. I enjoyed the Kathleen/Marco/Ellis dynamic, although I wish that the author had developed these relationships a bit more. Meeza was also an enjoyable character. Perhaps this is the start of a series and that is why things were left so open? If so, I like these characters enough to read the next installment in the series.
December 27, 2014
A young ex-undercover cop starts her own PI firm investigating cheating spouses only to find herself embroiled in a murder investigation. My favorite part about this book was the main character who's smart, a go-getter, funny, and at times immature. But I found her immaturity to be one of the most intriguing things about her. She lost sight of who she was during her stint as an undercover cop and she's trying to find herself again. The plot was a simple who-dun-it mystery (at times a little too simple) with a hard-boiled detective novel feel to it that I liked. The ending, however, felt rushed and didn't do justice to the rest of the novel.
February 6, 2016
The Red Chameleon is the first of at least two Kathleen Stone mysteries, and I hope there are many, many more. To this reader, what makes Stone a unique detective in the genre is her vulnerability, a quality often suppressed in female sleuths, lest we mistrust their competence. Erica Wright, an acclaimed poet, infuses her sentences with plenty of concise power, but the twisting, satisfying plot, with its many, often amusing pit stops in the seedy underworld, betrays no evidence that the author wasn’t born to write mysteries.
July 6, 2016
I think this author and series have potential although they were not fully developed in this particular book. It was hard for me to understand a trained police detective making as many sloppy mistakes as Kathleen did, and I would like to have seen the secondary characters fleshed out a little more. Still, I think this has great series potential and I look forward to seeing what the author does next.
June 13, 2014
The Red Chameleon by Erica Wright
Goodreads Author
Kathleen Stone went from NYPD to private investigator. She would follow and report to her clients
on cheating spouses. She used many names, wigs and mode of dress to fit the special case.
When following one that ends up dead, she fears someone from her past is out to get her.
I loved the humor the author put into the character's personality. Looking forward to more of
her books. This is a must read story. I loved it.
Goodreads Author
Kathleen Stone went from NYPD to private investigator. She would follow and report to her clients
on cheating spouses. She used many names, wigs and mode of dress to fit the special case.
When following one that ends up dead, she fears someone from her past is out to get her.
I loved the humor the author put into the character's personality. Looking forward to more of
her books. This is a must read story. I loved it.
June 18, 2014
This debut mystery from poet Wright centers on Private Investigator Kat Stone who is following an unfaithful husband who ends up shoot to death. As a former NYPD undercover detective, she has friends in the department who bring her into the investigation. This novel funny and engaging. I love the idea that Stone is great with disguises and gets help from her best friends, a drag queen and a gifted wig maker, to make the disguises even better. Good fun.
July 20, 2014
Good, basic fun. I read these books when I'm overwhelmed by the realities of my world. The lead character in this crime novel is an interesting girl, the prose is solid, and I look forward to reading more books by Wright who is an established American poet and an editor of a prominent poetry magazine. For those of you who are native New Yorkers, the sights and sounds of the city are a pleasure as are the discomforts of the ex-policewoman who has become a not-so-hard-boiled detective. Fun.
July 22, 2014
This is a first attempt at mystery writing by an author who had already had a volume of her poems published. Don't know about the poems but if she sticks with mysteries she'll probably make it into 4 star territory fairly quickly. The book was quick and fun--enough so that I'd be willing to try a second attempt.
August 14, 2014
This is a really interesting little book. Kathleen Stone wears lots of hats, or at least wigs, and she is very human and also pretty damn vulnerable. But she is also funny, smart and survival oriented. This doesn't feel read like your ordinary mystery story. The formula is there but the way it flows is enough out of the box to make it worth your while. A nice effort.
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