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Maggie O'Malley Mystery #1
Protocol
“A page-turner! Smart, fast-paced and surprising.” – Hank Phillippi Ryan, Mary Higgins Clark Award-Winner, Author of Say No More
Freshly minted college graduate Maggie O’Malley embarks on a career fueled by professional ambition and a desire to escape the past. As a pharmaceutical researcher, she’s determined to save lives from the shelter of her lab. But on her very first day she’s pulled into a world of uncertainty. Reminders appear on her phone for meetings she’s never scheduled with people she’s never met. People who end up dead.
With help from her best friend, Maggie discovers the victims on her phone are connected to each other and her new employer. She soon unearths a treacherous plot that threatens her mission—and her life. Maggie must unlock deadly secrets to stop horrific abuses of power before death comes calling for her.
Freshly minted college graduate Maggie O’Malley embarks on a career fueled by professional ambition and a desire to escape the past. As a pharmaceutical researcher, she’s determined to save lives from the shelter of her lab. But on her very first day she’s pulled into a world of uncertainty. Reminders appear on her phone for meetings she’s never scheduled with people she’s never met. People who end up dead.
With help from her best friend, Maggie discovers the victims on her phone are connected to each other and her new employer. She soon unearths a treacherous plot that threatens her mission—and her life. Maggie must unlock deadly secrets to stop horrific abuses of power before death comes calling for her.
300 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2017
26 people are currently reading
881 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Valenti
3 books214 followersKathleen Valenti has been writing for more than 20 years, first as a nationally award-winning copywriter and now as the author of the Maggie O'Malley Mystery Series. A firm believer that deadpan can be dead-on, she combines funny with frightening to craft page-turners of mystery and suspense.
In Kathleen's debut novel, Agatha and Lefty Award-nominated Protocol, Maggie O'Malley examines the flaws of technology and the depths of greed to uncover what happens when the invisible among us disappear. In her second book, 39 Winks, Maggie works to help her best friend's aunt, who discovered her husband's body during a sleepwalking episode. Her third book, As Directed, follows Maggie as she embarks on a new career in a small town drugstore where the specter of poisoning arises, conjuring old grudges, past sins, buried secrets, and new suspicions from which no one is immune.
When Kathleen isn't making nouns and verbs play nice, she reads, camps, snowmobiles, drinks far too much coffee, and pretends to enjoy running. Kathleen lives in Oregon with her family.
In Kathleen's debut novel, Agatha and Lefty Award-nominated Protocol, Maggie O'Malley examines the flaws of technology and the depths of greed to uncover what happens when the invisible among us disappear. In her second book, 39 Winks, Maggie works to help her best friend's aunt, who discovered her husband's body during a sleepwalking episode. Her third book, As Directed, follows Maggie as she embarks on a new career in a small town drugstore where the specter of poisoning arises, conjuring old grudges, past sins, buried secrets, and new suspicions from which no one is immune.
When Kathleen isn't making nouns and verbs play nice, she reads, camps, snowmobiles, drinks far too much coffee, and pretends to enjoy running. Kathleen lives in Oregon with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
September 17, 2017
Maggie O’Malley is thrilled when she lands her dream job as a pharmaceutical researcher at Rxcellance. Not only is this a great jump-start to her career, but she can monetarily contribute to her father’s failing restaurant. At her new job she meets quite a variety of different personalities. Some strange, some not so strange and one really hot guy. Maggie is determined not to let anything interfere in her work, though.
Then, a very strange thing happens. On her "new-to-her" cell phone she receives an appointment reminder, but the picture is with someone she doesn’t know and a meeting she never scheduled. The stranger ends up dead. It happens a couple more times. Each person meets the same fate as the first one.
She bought her phone second hand and figures these appointments belong to the previous owner. She tries to discover who that is, but to no avail. After a bit more digging, she learns that the victims are connected to her new company.
Along with her best friend, Constantine, Maggie sets out on a journey to learn what is really going on at Rxcellance. She is shocked to discover there is a deadly game going on and it could jeopardize everything Maggie holds dear to her heart.
I can’t believe this is the author’s debut novel. What a powerhouse of a novel! The authors descriptive writing style brings the story to life. She transports the reader right into the middle of the action with her close attention to detail.
Although this is fiction, it feels like a realistic and frightening look into the pharmaceutical world. I was at the edge-of-my-seat, scared to death for Maggie. The ending was a surprise to me. I never saw that coming. I wish I could think of another term for fast-paced, but that was what this was to the extreme.
I can’t even imagine how good the second book will be, but I’m already looking forward to more books by this author. She’s off to an amazing start.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Then, a very strange thing happens. On her "new-to-her" cell phone she receives an appointment reminder, but the picture is with someone she doesn’t know and a meeting she never scheduled. The stranger ends up dead. It happens a couple more times. Each person meets the same fate as the first one.
She bought her phone second hand and figures these appointments belong to the previous owner. She tries to discover who that is, but to no avail. After a bit more digging, she learns that the victims are connected to her new company.
Along with her best friend, Constantine, Maggie sets out on a journey to learn what is really going on at Rxcellance. She is shocked to discover there is a deadly game going on and it could jeopardize everything Maggie holds dear to her heart.
I can’t believe this is the author’s debut novel. What a powerhouse of a novel! The authors descriptive writing style brings the story to life. She transports the reader right into the middle of the action with her close attention to detail.
Although this is fiction, it feels like a realistic and frightening look into the pharmaceutical world. I was at the edge-of-my-seat, scared to death for Maggie. The ending was a surprise to me. I never saw that coming. I wish I could think of another term for fast-paced, but that was what this was to the extreme.
I can’t even imagine how good the second book will be, but I’m already looking forward to more books by this author. She’s off to an amazing start.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 23, 2017
Protocol started out slow with a character I thought was going to be like the girl who strolls in to the creepy house alone. UNEXPECTED writing skills developed and Maggie O'Malley evolved into a gutsy gal with a phone that announces the next to DIE! I read page after page in rapid succession to find out how Valenti planned to conclude this "Who did it?". First in a series with little clues to what will happen next. Plan to follow this author and her next O'Malley Mystery. "A copy of this book was provided to me by Henery Press via NetGalley with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read and my comments here are my honest opinion."
September 16, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This is one of those stories that sucks you right in and holds on tight.
Maggie O’Malley has landed a dream job as a pharmaceutical researcher. She wants to save lives and work on a team that could cure cancer or any of the other diseases the world faces. Her first day starts off well until she receives an alert on her cell phone about a meeting she didn’t set up with a person she doesn’t know. She later learns the person was killed at the time she was supposed to meet them. The alerts keep coming and people keep dying. The friend who gave her the phone tries to help her find out why she is receiving the messages but what they find puts them both in danger.
As if Big Pharma isn’t scary enough this book turns it inside out. Full of twists and turns our protagonist, Maggie O’Malley, has no idea who she can trust. Excited about her job and the fine salary she is thrilled to be able to subsidize her father’s business keeping him from filing bankruptcy. When the messages keep coming and her job starts to fall apart her close friend, Constantine tries to help. Neither one knew the enormity of the situation. We also see that Gus (Constantine) has feelings for Maggie that are more than just friendship. If they live to the end of this maybe he will share those feelings.
The plot is full of drama and suspense. As the book continues we see the PROTOCOL appears to be murder but how is it connected to Maggie and her job at Rxcellance. The pages keep flying at an extreme pace to an ending that totally caught me by off-guard, surprised, and chilled to the bone.
I read this book all in one sitting. It was absolutely impossible to put down. It will be a long time before I will look at a cell phone alert and not think of this about this story.
Kathleen Valenti has written an excellent suspense novel combining greed and medicine and the lengths people will go to for that almighty dollar. I am shocked this is her debut effort in the mystery realm. She hit it out of the park!
Just one question Ms. Valenti, where in the Midwest is Rxcellance? Hopefully not in my home state of Wisconsin……
This is one of those stories that sucks you right in and holds on tight.
Maggie O’Malley has landed a dream job as a pharmaceutical researcher. She wants to save lives and work on a team that could cure cancer or any of the other diseases the world faces. Her first day starts off well until she receives an alert on her cell phone about a meeting she didn’t set up with a person she doesn’t know. She later learns the person was killed at the time she was supposed to meet them. The alerts keep coming and people keep dying. The friend who gave her the phone tries to help her find out why she is receiving the messages but what they find puts them both in danger.
As if Big Pharma isn’t scary enough this book turns it inside out. Full of twists and turns our protagonist, Maggie O’Malley, has no idea who she can trust. Excited about her job and the fine salary she is thrilled to be able to subsidize her father’s business keeping him from filing bankruptcy. When the messages keep coming and her job starts to fall apart her close friend, Constantine tries to help. Neither one knew the enormity of the situation. We also see that Gus (Constantine) has feelings for Maggie that are more than just friendship. If they live to the end of this maybe he will share those feelings.
The plot is full of drama and suspense. As the book continues we see the PROTOCOL appears to be murder but how is it connected to Maggie and her job at Rxcellance. The pages keep flying at an extreme pace to an ending that totally caught me by off-guard, surprised, and chilled to the bone.
I read this book all in one sitting. It was absolutely impossible to put down. It will be a long time before I will look at a cell phone alert and not think of this about this story.
Kathleen Valenti has written an excellent suspense novel combining greed and medicine and the lengths people will go to for that almighty dollar. I am shocked this is her debut effort in the mystery realm. She hit it out of the park!
Just one question Ms. Valenti, where in the Midwest is Rxcellance? Hopefully not in my home state of Wisconsin……
September 13, 2017
4.5 stars
Buckle in for this thrilling ride! Kathleen Valenti’s debut novel is an edge-of-your-seat adventure from start to finish. Well-written, excellently plotted, sprinkled with humor and romance.
Maggie O’Malley just wants to save the world. Or at least fight the cancer that took her mother. But when she starts her new job – a job that is supposed to let her do just that – she quickly finds herself in a different kind of battle. A battle for her life. Twists and turns, wry humor, friendships and family all come along for the chilling chase and help set the stage for future books in the series.
In the middle of the suspense-filled uncertainty, a couple of things become clear: you may never again get another flu shot or a repurposed smart phone without pausing just a minute to remember this book.
Bottom Line: Protocol by Kathleen Valenti will keep your pulse racing and keep you on the edge of your seat. Carve out enough time to read this from beginning to end because you won’t want to stop once you start. This could easily be developed into a movie, the suspense notched high from start to finish. I love the romantic development too and look forward to reading more books to come in this series!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Reviewer’s Note: Readers may want to be aware that there is some crude language scattered throughout this novel.
Buckle in for this thrilling ride! Kathleen Valenti’s debut novel is an edge-of-your-seat adventure from start to finish. Well-written, excellently plotted, sprinkled with humor and romance.
Maggie O’Malley just wants to save the world. Or at least fight the cancer that took her mother. But when she starts her new job – a job that is supposed to let her do just that – she quickly finds herself in a different kind of battle. A battle for her life. Twists and turns, wry humor, friendships and family all come along for the chilling chase and help set the stage for future books in the series.
In the middle of the suspense-filled uncertainty, a couple of things become clear: you may never again get another flu shot or a repurposed smart phone without pausing just a minute to remember this book.
Bottom Line: Protocol by Kathleen Valenti will keep your pulse racing and keep you on the edge of your seat. Carve out enough time to read this from beginning to end because you won’t want to stop once you start. This could easily be developed into a movie, the suspense notched high from start to finish. I love the romantic development too and look forward to reading more books to come in this series!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Reviewer’s Note: Readers may want to be aware that there is some crude language scattered throughout this novel.
June 2, 2017
Maggie O'Malley's dream job might just be the death of her! Nail biting fast paced mystery set in the pharmaceutical industry.
25 yr. old Maggie O'Malley has landed a highly coveted first job at Rxcellance Pharmaceuticals. Leaving her family and BFF Constantine behind she is making new friends at work. When Maggie finds her world spinning out of control, it is Constantine to the rescue.
.
The page turning mystery is not a cozy. I stayed up late to finish it!
25 yr. old Maggie O'Malley has landed a highly coveted first job at Rxcellance Pharmaceuticals. Leaving her family and BFF Constantine behind she is making new friends at work. When Maggie finds her world spinning out of control, it is Constantine to the rescue.
.
The page turning mystery is not a cozy. I stayed up late to finish it!
September 23, 2017
Protocol
Maggie O’Malley Mystery, Book #1
Kathleen Valenti
5 Stars
Synopsis:
“A page-turner! Smart, fast-paced and surprising.” – Hank Phillippi Ryan, Mary Higgins Clark Award-Winner, Author of Say No More
Freshly minted college graduate Maggie O’Malley embarks on a career fueled by professional ambition and a desire to escape the past. As a pharmaceutical researcher, she’s determined to save lives from the shelter of her lab. But on her very first day she’s pulled into a world of uncertainty. Reminders appear on her phone for meetings she’s never scheduled with people she’s never met. People who end up dead.
With help from her best friend, Maggie discovers the victims on her phone are connected to each other and her new employer. She soon unearths a treacherous plot that threatens her mission—and her life. Maggie must unlock deadly secrets to stop horrific abuses of power before death comes calling for her. (Goodreads)
Review:
The author is very talented in creating tension and suspense with just the written word. She took modern day experiences (who does not have a cell phone) and a current issue (pharmaceutical companies and how they do business) and turned it into a first rate suspense read. You may never look at your cell phone the same way again. I was truly riveted to the pages, afraid to keep swiping because I was afraid of what would happen but having to know because of my curiosity.
The characters are well developed and well rounded. Maggie is a smart, hardworking curious woman. When the incidents involving her phone begin, she cannot help but get drawn into the mystery. I enjoyed her relationship with Gus, her best friend. I liked the bickering and bantering between the two and how much they genuinely liked each other. The secondary characters (mostly her coworkers) added quite a bit to the story.
The writing style flows smoothly and, although it was an intense read, it was an easy read. I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place around me. I thought I could hear the bing of her message reminder and I dreaded seeing what it said.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well plotted mystery suspense, especially a medical suspense. This is not really a cozy mystery because of some of the language, but nothing overly offensive. It is hard for me to believe this book is the debut for this author. She has a long career ahead of her as a suspense writer. I cannot wait to read the next book.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Henery Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Maggie O’Malley Mystery, Book #1
Kathleen Valenti
5 Stars
Synopsis:
“A page-turner! Smart, fast-paced and surprising.” – Hank Phillippi Ryan, Mary Higgins Clark Award-Winner, Author of Say No More
Freshly minted college graduate Maggie O’Malley embarks on a career fueled by professional ambition and a desire to escape the past. As a pharmaceutical researcher, she’s determined to save lives from the shelter of her lab. But on her very first day she’s pulled into a world of uncertainty. Reminders appear on her phone for meetings she’s never scheduled with people she’s never met. People who end up dead.
With help from her best friend, Maggie discovers the victims on her phone are connected to each other and her new employer. She soon unearths a treacherous plot that threatens her mission—and her life. Maggie must unlock deadly secrets to stop horrific abuses of power before death comes calling for her. (Goodreads)
Review:
The author is very talented in creating tension and suspense with just the written word. She took modern day experiences (who does not have a cell phone) and a current issue (pharmaceutical companies and how they do business) and turned it into a first rate suspense read. You may never look at your cell phone the same way again. I was truly riveted to the pages, afraid to keep swiping because I was afraid of what would happen but having to know because of my curiosity.
The characters are well developed and well rounded. Maggie is a smart, hardworking curious woman. When the incidents involving her phone begin, she cannot help but get drawn into the mystery. I enjoyed her relationship with Gus, her best friend. I liked the bickering and bantering between the two and how much they genuinely liked each other. The secondary characters (mostly her coworkers) added quite a bit to the story.
The writing style flows smoothly and, although it was an intense read, it was an easy read. I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place around me. I thought I could hear the bing of her message reminder and I dreaded seeing what it said.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well plotted mystery suspense, especially a medical suspense. This is not really a cozy mystery because of some of the language, but nothing overly offensive. It is hard for me to believe this book is the debut for this author. She has a long career ahead of her as a suspense writer. I cannot wait to read the next book.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Henery Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 1, 2017
I received this from NetGalley to read and review. This is a well written, thriller. Maggie O’Malley is a recent college grad who managed to snag a fantastic job at RXcellance, a pharmaceutical research company. Since this is her chosen career, Maggie is ecstatic at this opportunity and plans to give it her all while helping her father keep his restaurant in the middle of some financial difficulties. However, when she begins work, Maggie also begins receiving notification messages about meetings scheduled with people she does not even know or recognize—who later are found dead. Maggie is confused, worried and scared, turning to her best friend Constantine (Gus), a computer whiz, who also happened to have gotten and given her the phone. He decides the phone, which is refurbished, was not completely wiped clean after being sold by its former owner. However, that still leaves the question of who is sending the messages and why are they being sent. Together, Maggie and Gus delve into this mystery, while, at the same time, Maggie suspects something strange is going on at RXcellance. Little does she know that the two are related. Together, Maggie and Gus ferret out the clues needed to solve this unique mystery, while interrupting major criminal activity going on in the upper echelons of the business. Only through sheer persistence and will, the experience and knowledge of IT that Gus has, as well as Maggie’s sharp wits will the pair manage to reach a conclusion that takes many twists and turns to get to, while bringing them and many others to the brink of death.
I enjoyed reading the book. As it said, it is well written, with good character development, with a hint of romance, setting the stage for what looks to become a great Maggie O’Malley series. While the book moved along well enough, there were times when it did drag a bit, though not many. I enjoyed watching a strong female lead develop and mature as she and Gus worked through this mystery. It was obvious to me the author knows and understands the pharmaceutical research industry well, as I think she depicted a very realistic and plausible scenario for pharmaceutical research studies. I think anyone who enjoys a good mystery will enjoy this one, especially if they enjoy medical related mysteries.
I enjoyed reading the book. As it said, it is well written, with good character development, with a hint of romance, setting the stage for what looks to become a great Maggie O’Malley series. While the book moved along well enough, there were times when it did drag a bit, though not many. I enjoyed watching a strong female lead develop and mature as she and Gus worked through this mystery. It was obvious to me the author knows and understands the pharmaceutical research industry well, as I think she depicted a very realistic and plausible scenario for pharmaceutical research studies. I think anyone who enjoys a good mystery will enjoy this one, especially if they enjoy medical related mysteries.
September 6, 2017
PROTOCOL
A Maggie O'Malley Mystery
by Kathleen Valenti
Henery Press
General Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 05 Sep 2017
I am reviewing a copy of Protocol through Henery Press and Netgalley:
Maggie O'Malley has just graduated from college. Maggie is fueled by a professional ambition and the need to escape the past. Now as a pharmeucitical researcher she is going to save lives from the shelter of her lab. On her first day she is pulled into a dark world, reminders appear on her phone for meetings she didn't schedule with people she has never met, all of whom end up dying.
With help from her best friend Maggie discovers that all the victims are connected with her new employer. Will Maggie be able to stop these horrific abuses in power before she is the next victim? Find out in Protocol.
Five out of five stars.
Happy Reading!
September 4, 2017
Loved, Loved, loved it! Oh me, Oh my! I was at the edge of my seat with worry for our charters safety and whether or not she can solve this mystery before the next victim was revealed! Kathleen Valenti I can't wait to read Maggie's next adventure!
Read
July 27, 2017“A page-turner! Smart, fast-paced and surprising.” – Hank Phillippi Ryan, Mary Higgins Clark Award-Winner, Author of Say No More
September 15, 2017
Loved it! Protocol is an action packed book that you can't put down. Through the intrigue and mystery, Valenti provides great character development of the quirky, humorous and self-deprecating Maggie O'Malley.
September 8, 2017
I really love a good thriller with a plucky heroine and this book delivers on both counts. It is smart and set in a real world, which makes the action seem possible and thus scarier for the reader. We feel for Maggie, just trying to start her career, figure out her love life, and possibly make a new friend.
September 8, 2017
aka. SherleyB...
Wow, what a great storyride that was, talk about a fun ride with words,
throughly enjoyed reading this book 📚, great characters,
Loved Constantine and Maggie, O and not forgetting Sweet Vanilla...
Wow, what a great storyride that was, talk about a fun ride with words,
throughly enjoyed reading this book 📚, great characters,
Loved Constantine and Maggie, O and not forgetting Sweet Vanilla...
January 5, 2018
If you enjoy having your heart in your throat, white knuckles, holding your breath, this is a book for you.
What an imagination this author has, a phone wiped clean and resold, and then, oh my, unbelievable, but yes this is just one of the horrors that wait, and thus you are going to be page turning.
You become Maggie a young, talented, recent graduate, and walk with her as she begins her job, that seems to be a lifeline for her Dad. We never expect all that is about to happen, and why and who, and then when the answers start to come, you cringe even more.
There is a bit of romance here, but lots of grief, and we want it to end, but is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Fast paced and get ready to plunge right in, you won’t be disappointed and it doesn’t take very many page for your heat to start pounding.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Henery Press, and was not required to give a positive review.
What an imagination this author has, a phone wiped clean and resold, and then, oh my, unbelievable, but yes this is just one of the horrors that wait, and thus you are going to be page turning.
You become Maggie a young, talented, recent graduate, and walk with her as she begins her job, that seems to be a lifeline for her Dad. We never expect all that is about to happen, and why and who, and then when the answers start to come, you cringe even more.
There is a bit of romance here, but lots of grief, and we want it to end, but is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Fast paced and get ready to plunge right in, you won’t be disappointed and it doesn’t take very many page for your heat to start pounding.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Henery Press, and was not required to give a positive review.
August 22, 2017
Excellent! This book kept me guessing from start to finish! Kathleen Valenti has an amazing ability to find just the right words to make the book come alive, and her sharp wit makes it very fun to read! I cannot wait for the next Maggie O'Malley mystery!
August 18, 2017
A Big Pharma Great Mystery...The Suspense was Thrilling for me..Protocol felt So Current! Maggie as A Research Assistant,used her skills in a Most Surprising way/Track Down "What is Really Going on/Who is Setting her up! Saying too much will Definitely be Spoilers..I must say though Kathleen Valenti IMO was meticulous concerning her facts...With that said...Very Witty Moments as well...(Hope Your Dads Diner is Doing Well Maggie:)
August 13, 2017
This was one of the best novels I've read for years. It's fast-moving, with interesting characters, lots of subtle humor, and enough suspense to keep you fully involved. I hope to see more of Maggie O'Malley.
September 22, 2019
It's not you, it's me.
I totally expected to love this book. The reviews were wonderful, but I found it to be lighter fare than I was expecting. So many of the characters seemed clueless in their actions that I eventually found my desire for logic was winning out over my desire to just have fun with a book.
I totally expected to love this book. The reviews were wonderful, but I found it to be lighter fare than I was expecting. So many of the characters seemed clueless in their actions that I eventually found my desire for logic was winning out over my desire to just have fun with a book.
September 4, 2017
Protocol is an intriguing page-turner that I couldn't put down. The protagonist, Maggie, is likable, witty and smack dab in the middle of suspicious deaths and corporate conspiracy. Her bestie is the adorable Constantine. Together, they try to figure out why and how Maggie's phone predicts death. The author brilliantly developed each character and the dialog literally had me laughing out loud (you know, in between all the murdery scenes). The ending had my heart racing. Overall, I highly recommend this book to any mystery fan and I'm eagerly awaiting Valenti's next book!
April 21, 2020
This one was hard for me to review since I really hate saying negative things about books and authors. It wasn’t that this book was horrible, it was fine, and had some good strengths. But I just couldn’t overlook some things.
The good first! I really liked the premise of the story. People at drug companies doing bad things are not hard to accept since we’ve all seen and read reports about this. And I love when a big, bad company gets taken down by the little guys. John Grisham, anyone?!?
And the science was well written. You could look at it deeper if you understand it or enjoy that type of writing or you could just read it and get on with the rest of the story.
As for the things that I couldn’t overlook it came down to the tech, an intelligent woman not acting it (or not being written as such to somehow progress the story), and blindly trusting a guy you just met over someone you’ve known for years and years.
When it comes to the tech, I had to look at the release date of the book to make sure it wasn’t published in 1997 instead of 2017. Some of the examples; an old id badge that still works (it would have been deactivated, especially in this sort of company), people in high ranking positions not having their computer password protected, files that are restricted just being there for any employee to look at. Either this company is still using protocols from the early 1990’s or something went wrong in the editing process. I could overlook one thing, but all of these, plus more, was just too much.
As for Maggie being an intelligent woman, which I believe she was meant to be, she was constantly contradicting herself. And although in many cozies the main character can be scattered, how else can you read a 250 page book if the sleuth didn’t constantly have questions and change her thoughts, I felt like this was meant to be more of a suspense then cozy, especially with the swearing and graphic crime scenes. I think if it was more of a cozy or more of a suspense, instead of something in between, I would have enjoyed it.
And finally, the whole trust factor between a guy she just met and a guy she’s known for years and has done nothing but be by her side… I just can’t. I realize the reason why, but to me that was sloppy storytelling.
With so many books and series out there, I don’t think I’ll be continuing the Maggie O’Malley Mysteries.
The good first! I really liked the premise of the story. People at drug companies doing bad things are not hard to accept since we’ve all seen and read reports about this. And I love when a big, bad company gets taken down by the little guys. John Grisham, anyone?!?
And the science was well written. You could look at it deeper if you understand it or enjoy that type of writing or you could just read it and get on with the rest of the story.
As for the things that I couldn’t overlook it came down to the tech, an intelligent woman not acting it (or not being written as such to somehow progress the story), and blindly trusting a guy you just met over someone you’ve known for years and years.
When it comes to the tech, I had to look at the release date of the book to make sure it wasn’t published in 1997 instead of 2017. Some of the examples; an old id badge that still works (it would have been deactivated, especially in this sort of company), people in high ranking positions not having their computer password protected, files that are restricted just being there for any employee to look at. Either this company is still using protocols from the early 1990’s or something went wrong in the editing process. I could overlook one thing, but all of these, plus more, was just too much.
As for Maggie being an intelligent woman, which I believe she was meant to be, she was constantly contradicting herself. And although in many cozies the main character can be scattered, how else can you read a 250 page book if the sleuth didn’t constantly have questions and change her thoughts, I felt like this was meant to be more of a suspense then cozy, especially with the swearing and graphic crime scenes. I think if it was more of a cozy or more of a suspense, instead of something in between, I would have enjoyed it.
And finally, the whole trust factor between a guy she just met and a guy she’s known for years and has done nothing but be by her side… I just can’t. I realize the reason why, but to me that was sloppy storytelling.
With so many books and series out there, I don’t think I’ll be continuing the Maggie O’Malley Mysteries.
September 25, 2017
Beginning with a fantastic premise and appealing heroine, this new mystery really delivers. Great plot work and witty, well-paced writing kept me riveted from the first paragraph to the last. Brava! I can’t wait to see what the smart and plucky Maggie O’Malley gets up to next!
September 21, 2017
So fun to see this book materialize. An exciting read.
September 5, 2017
From the first sentence, I knew this was going to be a great read. I really enjoyed this book!
July 13, 2017
Protocol by Kathleen Valenti is a thriller with Maggie O’Malley as the main character. She is just beginning her new job with a pharmaceutical research company, RXcellance.
The story has bits of wry humor mixed in the banter between Maggie and her best friend Constantine, or Gus as she calls him.
I won’t post spoilers, but Maggie’s problems seem to begin with the “New”-Used cell phone that Gus gives to her when she moves to her new apartment. An app on this phone sends a meeting reminder with the picture of a person Maggie does not know. Later she will discover the person has been killed. Odd things happen at the office which she can not explain and can implicate her in leaking company secrets. And that phone… is it haunted or is this a psychological game someone is playing with Maggie?
Be ready for mystery, intrigue, and suspense as Maggie digs up answers to her problems at the new office. How far will the powerful and rich within RXcellance go to cover up the unapproved testing and trial protocols while trying to launch a new medicine to make them big money. Scary Stuff!
The story has bits of wry humor mixed in the banter between Maggie and her best friend Constantine, or Gus as she calls him.
I won’t post spoilers, but Maggie’s problems seem to begin with the “New”-Used cell phone that Gus gives to her when she moves to her new apartment. An app on this phone sends a meeting reminder with the picture of a person Maggie does not know. Later she will discover the person has been killed. Odd things happen at the office which she can not explain and can implicate her in leaking company secrets. And that phone… is it haunted or is this a psychological game someone is playing with Maggie?
Be ready for mystery, intrigue, and suspense as Maggie digs up answers to her problems at the new office. How far will the powerful and rich within RXcellance go to cover up the unapproved testing and trial protocols while trying to launch a new medicine to make them big money. Scary Stuff!
October 5, 2017
The tension that Maggie has as she starts her job is a little annoying...thus I couldn't really connect with her as a character. But the plot was progressive and interesting enough to keep me reading. A well thought out mystery and I would actually read more from the author to see how the character and story lines progress
August 9, 2017
Big pharma is a mystery. Entertaining repartee between BFFs. Exciting, page turner. The publisher provided a copy via NetGalley for my voluntary review.
July 15, 2019
5 Stars
This is the first book in the Maggie O’Malley mystery series.
To me this felt the least like a cozy mystery and more like a mystery thriller. It is the surprise book of the season for me. I was totally absorbed in all the action and craziness.
Maggie O’Malley is starting a job in a pharmaceutical company where she is one of the lowest rungs on the corporate ladder. The big boss’s son takes a quick liking to her and when she rebuffs him an angry onslaught of weird things start happening to her. In the midst of all that is going down she realizes that something fishy is happening in Rxcellence.
On top of that, she had a new phone. It is someone else’s old phone that was stripped clean and refurbished. Then she begins to get mysterious appointment reminders on her phone showing a time frame and a photo of someone. By the time she wakes up the next morning after getting the strange reminder, that person in the photo ends up dead. And it keeps happening. By the third time she reaches out to the police and the person in the photo is practically labeled a crazy lunatic.
This book keeps you on your toes. I had put aside a previous book because I had gotten too emotionally involved in the story for my heart’s liking. But this one brought on all the feels and more. I had stress reading this book. I was absorbed. I wondered of Maggie would get her head out of her butt long enough to realize that Constantine “Gus” her best friend and constant companion was in love with her.
Highly recommended. I already picked up the next two books in the series. I hope the author continues to write fiction because I truly like her style. All the one liners and quips between the leads made this such an entertaining experience.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the first book in the Maggie O’Malley mystery series.
To me this felt the least like a cozy mystery and more like a mystery thriller. It is the surprise book of the season for me. I was totally absorbed in all the action and craziness.
Maggie O’Malley is starting a job in a pharmaceutical company where she is one of the lowest rungs on the corporate ladder. The big boss’s son takes a quick liking to her and when she rebuffs him an angry onslaught of weird things start happening to her. In the midst of all that is going down she realizes that something fishy is happening in Rxcellence.
On top of that, she had a new phone. It is someone else’s old phone that was stripped clean and refurbished. Then she begins to get mysterious appointment reminders on her phone showing a time frame and a photo of someone. By the time she wakes up the next morning after getting the strange reminder, that person in the photo ends up dead. And it keeps happening. By the third time she reaches out to the police and the person in the photo is practically labeled a crazy lunatic.
This book keeps you on your toes. I had put aside a previous book because I had gotten too emotionally involved in the story for my heart’s liking. But this one brought on all the feels and more. I had stress reading this book. I was absorbed. I wondered of Maggie would get her head out of her butt long enough to realize that Constantine “Gus” her best friend and constant companion was in love with her.
Highly recommended. I already picked up the next two books in the series. I hope the author continues to write fiction because I truly like her style. All the one liners and quips between the leads made this such an entertaining experience.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
September 11, 2017
Princess Fuzzypants here:
This is a book that failed to grab me at first. I took some time to warm up to the protagonist but once I did and the subterfuge and conspiracies started to pile up with the bodies, I was hooked.. Maggie has just graduated and she has landed her dream job or so she thinks. She is determined to leave an unhappy past behind but seems incapable of getting beyond it.
Then her dream job turns into more of a nightmare and she is forced to dig deeper into herself and find the stamina and courage to uncover the misdeeds perpetrated by her bosses. She is going to need every ounce because it seems the further she gets, the more she becomes ensnared in the lies they are telling about her. She does not know who to trust. And those she trusts the most are the ones she should trust the least.
It is an exciting ride with some tense moments. By the last part of the book, the pages were turning at a rapid pace.
I give this four purrs and two paws up.
This is a book that failed to grab me at first. I took some time to warm up to the protagonist but once I did and the subterfuge and conspiracies started to pile up with the bodies, I was hooked.. Maggie has just graduated and she has landed her dream job or so she thinks. She is determined to leave an unhappy past behind but seems incapable of getting beyond it.
Then her dream job turns into more of a nightmare and she is forced to dig deeper into herself and find the stamina and courage to uncover the misdeeds perpetrated by her bosses. She is going to need every ounce because it seems the further she gets, the more she becomes ensnared in the lies they are telling about her. She does not know who to trust. And those she trusts the most are the ones she should trust the least.
It is an exciting ride with some tense moments. By the last part of the book, the pages were turning at a rapid pace.
I give this four purrs and two paws up.
November 17, 2017
Okay people...I wanna start this review by saying, I have never written a book review in my life. Secondly, Protocol is not the type of book I normally read. Normally? Sorry, I meant never. I'm a beach read kind of girl. But when this book was recommended to me, and I was in between beach reads, I thought "what the heck.". I seriously never thought I would make it through the first chapter. Fast forward to me waking up in the middle of the night, just to read more of it and then slowing it down because I didn't want it to end. I loved the lead character Maggie O'Malley. Like, I wanna hang with this girl. She is fiesty, smart and adorable. Her BFF Constantine was the comic relief that I needed and this author's smart and funny lines that he delivers had me laughing out loud throughout the book. As a kid who grew up with Scooby Doo and Murder She Wrote, I was shocked that I did not immediately pick out the "bad guy". So, good on this author for throwing me off and keeping me guessing! So here it is, my first book review. A few things: Every once in awhile, read a book outside of your genre. And if you do - make Protocol one of them! I understand there is going to be two more in the series and I can't wait! I'm hooked. I'm not sure yet if this is a genre I will continue to read...I'm still hesitant. I think for now, I will just stick to Kathleen Valenti books- but who knows!
September 18, 2017
This was the first book that I had read by this author. This book was a page turner and I could not click through my Kindle fast enough. The characters are well written, well developed and I could see the plot unfolding in front of me. There is some crude language that is sprinkled about - but overall this was a great cozy mystery.
*I received a copy of this book through the great escapes blog tours - all opionions are my own*
*I received a copy of this book through the great escapes blog tours - all opionions are my own*
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