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Girls Night Out
When the man who date-raped a friend is found not guilty, the women in her book group decide to take matters into their own hands.
Mystery and true crime writer Kate Clark Flora’s fascination with people’s criminal tendencies began in the Maine attorney general’s office. Deadbeat dads, people who hurt their kids, and employers’ acts of discrimination aroused her curiosity about human behavior. Her books include seven “strong woman” Thea Kozak mysteries and three gritty police procedurals in her star-reviewed Joe Burgess series. Redemption was the 2013 Maine Literary Award winner for Crime Fiction. Her Edgar-nominated true crime story, Finding Amy, has been optioned for a movie. Flora has also published 15 crime stories in various anthologies.
When she’s not writing or teaching at Grub Street in Boston, Flora is in her garden, waging a constant battle against critters, pests, and her husband’s lawn mower. She’s been married for 35 years to a man who still makes her laugh. She has two wonderful sons, a movie editor and a scientist, two lovely daughters-in-law, and four rescue “granddogs,” Frances, Otis, Harvey, and Daisy. You can follow her on Twitter @kateflora or at Facebook.com/kate.flora.92.
This is a short e-book published by Shebooks--high quality fiction, memoir, and journalism for women, by women
Mystery and true crime writer Kate Clark Flora’s fascination with people’s criminal tendencies began in the Maine attorney general’s office. Deadbeat dads, people who hurt their kids, and employers’ acts of discrimination aroused her curiosity about human behavior. Her books include seven “strong woman” Thea Kozak mysteries and three gritty police procedurals in her star-reviewed Joe Burgess series. Redemption was the 2013 Maine Literary Award winner for Crime Fiction. Her Edgar-nominated true crime story, Finding Amy, has been optioned for a movie. Flora has also published 15 crime stories in various anthologies.
When she’s not writing or teaching at Grub Street in Boston, Flora is in her garden, waging a constant battle against critters, pests, and her husband’s lawn mower. She’s been married for 35 years to a man who still makes her laugh. She has two wonderful sons, a movie editor and a scientist, two lovely daughters-in-law, and four rescue “granddogs,” Frances, Otis, Harvey, and Daisy. You can follow her on Twitter @kateflora or at Facebook.com/kate.flora.92.
This is a short e-book published by Shebooks--high quality fiction, memoir, and journalism for women, by women
32 pages, ebook
First published July 6, 2014
About the author
Kate Flora
54 books107 followersKate Flora grew up on a chicken farm in Maine where the Friday afternoon trip to the library was the high point of her week. She dreamed of being able to create the kind of compelling, enchanting worlds of the books she disappeared into every week, but growing up in the era when “help wanted” ads were still sex-segregated, she felt her calling was to go to law school and get the job they told her she couldn’t have.
After law school, Kate worked in the Maine attorney general’s office, protecting battered kids, chasing deadbeat dads, and representing the Human Rights Commission. Those years taught her all a crime writer needs to know about the human propensity to commit horrible acts. After some years in private practice, she decided to give writing a serious try when she quit the law to stay at home for a few years with her young sons. That ‘serious try’ led to ten tenacious and hellacious years in the unpublished writer’s corner, followed, finally, by the sale of her Thea Kozak series.
Kate’s eighteen books will include eight Thea Kozak mysteries, five gritty Joe Burgess police procedurals, a suspense thriller (written under the name Katharine Clark), two true crime books, Death Dealer and Finding Amy (co-written with Joseph Loughlin, a Portland, Maine Deputy Police Chief), a Maine game warden's memoir, A Good Man with a Dog, co-written with Roger Guay, and a book about police shootings from the police point of view, Shots Fired: The misunderstandings, misconceptions, and myths about police shootings, co-written with Joseph K. Loughlin. Finding Amy was a 2007 Edgar nominee as well as a Maine Literary Award finalist, and has been optioned for a movie. Kate’s award-winning short stories have been widely anthologized and Redemption and And Grant You Peace, her third and fourth Joe Burgess mysteries, won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction.
Flora's fiction, nonfiction, and short fiction have been finalists for the Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, and Derringer Awards.
She is a founding member of the New England Crime Bake, the region's annual mystery conference, and the Maine Crime Wave. With two other crime writers, she started founded Level Best Books, where she worked as an editor and publisher for seven years. She served a term as international president of Sisters in Crime, an organization founded to promote awareness of women writers’ contributions to the mystery field. Currently, she teaches writing and does manuscript critiques for Grub Street in Boston.
She has two sons (one into film and the other into photovoltaics) two lovely daughters-in-law, an adorable eight-year-old grandson and five granddogs, Frances, Otis, Harvey, Oscar, and Daisy. When not conducting research for her novels and nonfiction—research that includes riding an ATV through the Canadian woods or hiding in a tick-infested field waiting to be found by search and rescue dogs—Kate can often be found in her garden, waging war against the woodchucks and her husband’s lawnmower, or in the kitchen, devising clever and devious ways to get the men in her life to eat their vegetables.
After law school, Kate worked in the Maine attorney general’s office, protecting battered kids, chasing deadbeat dads, and representing the Human Rights Commission. Those years taught her all a crime writer needs to know about the human propensity to commit horrible acts. After some years in private practice, she decided to give writing a serious try when she quit the law to stay at home for a few years with her young sons. That ‘serious try’ led to ten tenacious and hellacious years in the unpublished writer’s corner, followed, finally, by the sale of her Thea Kozak series.
Kate’s eighteen books will include eight Thea Kozak mysteries, five gritty Joe Burgess police procedurals, a suspense thriller (written under the name Katharine Clark), two true crime books, Death Dealer and Finding Amy (co-written with Joseph Loughlin, a Portland, Maine Deputy Police Chief), a Maine game warden's memoir, A Good Man with a Dog, co-written with Roger Guay, and a book about police shootings from the police point of view, Shots Fired: The misunderstandings, misconceptions, and myths about police shootings, co-written with Joseph K. Loughlin. Finding Amy was a 2007 Edgar nominee as well as a Maine Literary Award finalist, and has been optioned for a movie. Kate’s award-winning short stories have been widely anthologized and Redemption and And Grant You Peace, her third and fourth Joe Burgess mysteries, won the Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction.
Flora's fiction, nonfiction, and short fiction have been finalists for the Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, and Derringer Awards.
She is a founding member of the New England Crime Bake, the region's annual mystery conference, and the Maine Crime Wave. With two other crime writers, she started founded Level Best Books, where she worked as an editor and publisher for seven years. She served a term as international president of Sisters in Crime, an organization founded to promote awareness of women writers’ contributions to the mystery field. Currently, she teaches writing and does manuscript critiques for Grub Street in Boston.
She has two sons (one into film and the other into photovoltaics) two lovely daughters-in-law, an adorable eight-year-old grandson and five granddogs, Frances, Otis, Harvey, Oscar, and Daisy. When not conducting research for her novels and nonfiction—research that includes riding an ATV through the Canadian woods or hiding in a tick-infested field waiting to be found by search and rescue dogs—Kate can often be found in her garden, waging war against the woodchucks and her husband’s lawnmower, or in the kitchen, devising clever and devious ways to get the men in her life to eat their vegetables.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 7, 2014
Vengeance is ours say the friends of a misused woman. That is the premise of this vaguely satirical but also angry short work by mystery writer Kate Flora. What does a woman do when a man abuses a woman she knows? And gets away with it. Well...this is one possible scenario.
To say much more would be to say entirely too much.
This is cleverly written and will have you thinking, wincing, and probably other things too.
An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
To say much more would be to say entirely too much.
This is cleverly written and will have you thinking, wincing, and probably other things too.
An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
August 25, 2014
The blurb for the novelette is simple and enticing: When the man who date-raped a friend is found not guilty, the women in her book group decide to take matters into their own hands. The story opens with the friends moving a body, letting the reader know the plan has gone wrong.
I selected "Girls' Night Out" because the blurb reminded me of Fern Michael's Sisterhood series. I must have good instincts, because that is exactly what I was reminded of. Local district attorney Jay Hanrahan date raped Ellen Corso - and was found innocent. Ellen's book club decides to take matters into their own hands and give Jay a taste of his own medicine.
"Girls' Night Out" is a fun bit of black comedy. It's pretty slight, but it is a fun bit of comeuppance. I'd certainly try a full-length novel by Kate Flora based on this work. She's got a nice, wry humor.
I selected "Girls' Night Out" because the blurb reminded me of Fern Michael's Sisterhood series. I must have good instincts, because that is exactly what I was reminded of. Local district attorney Jay Hanrahan date raped Ellen Corso - and was found innocent. Ellen's book club decides to take matters into their own hands and give Jay a taste of his own medicine.
"Girls' Night Out" is a fun bit of black comedy. It's pretty slight, but it is a fun bit of comeuppance. I'd certainly try a full-length novel by Kate Flora based on this work. She's got a nice, wry humor.
January 31, 2015
Did I enjoy this book: Yes. It was phenomenal.
This story opened with the best first line ever. I’d love to quote it here for you, but I don’t have permission from the author, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.
I was hooked by the first sentence, and I didn’t put the book down until the final scene. The entire story was fast paced, unpredictable, dark, and wonderfully entertaining.
I really enjoy the short e-books that are gaining popularity. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities when writers aren’t limited by the confines of traditional publishing. Flora takes this opportunity to create something special to a whole new level.
Would I recommend it: Whatever your preferred genre, a good story is a good story. Girls’ Night Out smacks it right out of the ballpark. So yes! I recommend it.
As reviewed by Belinda at Every Free Chance Books.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://everyfreechance.com/2014/08/be...
This story opened with the best first line ever. I’d love to quote it here for you, but I don’t have permission from the author, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.
I was hooked by the first sentence, and I didn’t put the book down until the final scene. The entire story was fast paced, unpredictable, dark, and wonderfully entertaining.
I really enjoy the short e-books that are gaining popularity. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities when writers aren’t limited by the confines of traditional publishing. Flora takes this opportunity to create something special to a whole new level.
Would I recommend it: Whatever your preferred genre, a good story is a good story. Girls’ Night Out smacks it right out of the ballpark. So yes! I recommend it.
As reviewed by Belinda at Every Free Chance Books.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://everyfreechance.com/2014/08/be...
August 28, 2014
3 stars ***
This was provided to me by netgalley for a honest review
This was a pretty good quickie read. Read it in less than a hour. It felt like a sample of maybe something bigger in the future. Nice story about women getting revenge on a serial rapist something I am sure many would like to do for real. Would have loved to get to know the women more I had trouble really connecting with them. Hope maybe there will be more in the future.
This was provided to me by netgalley for a honest review
This was a pretty good quickie read. Read it in less than a hour. It felt like a sample of maybe something bigger in the future. Nice story about women getting revenge on a serial rapist something I am sure many would like to do for real. Would have loved to get to know the women more I had trouble really connecting with them. Hope maybe there will be more in the future.
December 8, 2016
Not what I was expecting as I found it by searching for "Cozy Mystery", but I really enjoyed the writing and the story.
August 9, 2014
A special thank you to SheBooks and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT by Kate Flora is novella of delicious revenge, crime, payback, and full of chick-lit humor!
Boston jury has just found local attorney Jay Hanrahan, not guilty, in a date rape case that grabbed headlines throughout the region.
Ellen happened to be the victim and the BFFs are out for revenge and develop a scandalous plan of attack, when the legal system did not work--they are taking matters into their own hands.
Callie, Georgia, Suzan, Tess, and Ellen are BFFs, having met in college and have remained friends, now all professionals, from lawyer, doctor, social worker, artist, and finance with the IRS. All beautiful and smart. They are tired of abuse from men and want to take matters in their own hands. (Hillary Clinton, Marilyn Monroe, Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Ford, and Queen Elizabeth).
They have a book club and meet to enjoy discussing books, eating great food, sipping wine, and catching up. Tonight is the night of developing the plan to get payback – girls’ night out at the bar where Jay does his dirty deed to get sexy gals in the sack by drugging them.
I loved everything about this e-short story, from the stunning front cover with the sexy and delicious martini, to the razor sharp humor! What a fun novella! We all have been there, as you get to the point, you do not trust anyone preparing your drink, as this happens more than you may know.
Loved GIRLS' NIGHT OUT, beautifully packaged and cannot wait to read more from this talented author!
http://www.judithdcollinsconsulting.c...
GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT by Kate Flora is novella of delicious revenge, crime, payback, and full of chick-lit humor!
Boston jury has just found local attorney Jay Hanrahan, not guilty, in a date rape case that grabbed headlines throughout the region.
Ellen happened to be the victim and the BFFs are out for revenge and develop a scandalous plan of attack, when the legal system did not work--they are taking matters into their own hands.
Callie, Georgia, Suzan, Tess, and Ellen are BFFs, having met in college and have remained friends, now all professionals, from lawyer, doctor, social worker, artist, and finance with the IRS. All beautiful and smart. They are tired of abuse from men and want to take matters in their own hands. (Hillary Clinton, Marilyn Monroe, Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Ford, and Queen Elizabeth).
They have a book club and meet to enjoy discussing books, eating great food, sipping wine, and catching up. Tonight is the night of developing the plan to get payback – girls’ night out at the bar where Jay does his dirty deed to get sexy gals in the sack by drugging them.
I loved everything about this e-short story, from the stunning front cover with the sexy and delicious martini, to the razor sharp humor! What a fun novella! We all have been there, as you get to the point, you do not trust anyone preparing your drink, as this happens more than you may know.
Loved GIRLS' NIGHT OUT, beautifully packaged and cannot wait to read more from this talented author!
http://www.judithdcollinsconsulting.c...
November 20, 2014
Girls night out.
4/5
A Great story of revenge.
I think it is really difficult to imagine what you would do in a situation similar to this. I think that unless you have actually been the victim of a crime, it is really difficult to imagine it at all.
Although maybe most people would not do what the girls in this book have done, I can truly believe that most victims of assault could possible dream of doing this to there abuser.
I think the story covered the revenge very well, and enjoyed it, A quick easy read, that kept my interest right through it.
A couple of *hold your breath moments* made the book all the better.
4/5
A Great story of revenge.
I think it is really difficult to imagine what you would do in a situation similar to this. I think that unless you have actually been the victim of a crime, it is really difficult to imagine it at all.
Although maybe most people would not do what the girls in this book have done, I can truly believe that most victims of assault could possible dream of doing this to there abuser.
I think the story covered the revenge very well, and enjoyed it, A quick easy read, that kept my interest right through it.
A couple of *hold your breath moments* made the book all the better.
April 13, 2016
It was great!! Very entertaining short story. Has some language but it was appropriate. Funny and shocking in places. I might read it again soon. A great escape. Perfect read for women who know what's it's like to be in a close knit group of friends. You'll understand. 4 stars because I really got a kick out of it
I am adding that it has some vulgarity that some may find offensive. An R rating for language and subject matter. I don't read much with this type of language, but did find myself amused while running errands today, listening to this intense story of justice.
I am adding that it has some vulgarity that some may find offensive. An R rating for language and subject matter. I don't read much with this type of language, but did find myself amused while running errands today, listening to this intense story of justice.
August 11, 2014
What a girl's night out this book was! Since it was a very short story I don't want to say too much.
I will say though, wow, what a well deserved payback! This is a hard book to describe, crime, kind of chick lit, contemporary women...but definitely an interesting read!
If you like short stories with strong women, I'd recommend this one. I know I'm going to be looking for others by this author.
* ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I will say though, wow, what a well deserved payback! This is a hard book to describe, crime, kind of chick lit, contemporary women...but definitely an interesting read!
If you like short stories with strong women, I'd recommend this one. I know I'm going to be looking for others by this author.
* ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2014
Strong women who can take care of themselves. Friendship. Interesting read. Full review here www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com
August 14, 2022
Revenge against a date rapist by a books club group
April 1, 2016
Like the description, the book is also very short and left me expecting more at the end than the abrupt ending I got. I really enjoyed the premise of women looking out for each other. They take matters into their own hands to dispense justice on the man who rapes their friend and gets acquitted for the crime. I liked their plan but, of course, it does not end the way they hoped. When the police get involved, I thought it was going to get interesting, but the story just…ends…loose ends hanging all over the place.
My Final Verdict: If you are looking for a quick read with strong female characters and don’t mind abrupt endings or loose ends, give this one a look. I would have enjoyed this story a lot more if there had been a little bit more.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Girls Night Out from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Final Verdict: If you are looking for a quick read with strong female characters and don’t mind abrupt endings or loose ends, give this one a look. I would have enjoyed this story a lot more if there had been a little bit more.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Girls Night Out from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2016
This short story was well written and I was impressed that the author had a career in Main's Attorney General's office. I would definitely read more of her work.
I wished this story was a little longer - I liked the characters, even though it was a little raunchy in places. It was satisfying to see that jerk get what he deserved, but I feel a little guilty enjoying it!
I wished this story was a little longer - I liked the characters, even though it was a little raunchy in places. It was satisfying to see that jerk get what he deserved, but I feel a little guilty enjoying it!
Want to read
July 5, 2017Not at HCPL
June 22, 2015
This was a highly entertaining quick read by an author I'm becoming quite taken with...will definitely read more!
October 13, 2015
so good! book clubs get a new meaning!
July 14, 2016
Can't wait to share with MY book club
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews