Too Sharp

Tara Sharp #3

by Marianne Delacourt

Too Sharp , the third novel in the Tara Sharp series has all the humour, action and paranormal flavour we've come to expect. Tara Sharp’s new case brings her to Brisbane, where she is placed in charge of Slim Sledge, a high-maintenance rock star. Tara’s a sucker for a backstage pass, and it'll provide some much-needed distance between herself and her mother's not-so-subtle hints about getting a “real” job, not to mention crime lord Johnny Viaspa, the only man on the planet who wants her dead. She expected the music industry to be cut-throat, but Tara soon uncovers more problems than just Slim Sledge's demands and his rabid fans. Everywhere she turns, the grudges run deeper and the danger ramps up. Has Tara finally pushed her luck too far? Too Sharp was originally released under the title Stage Fright . This re-working by Deadlines press offers new and revised material for fans of Tara's escapades.

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Chick Lit

372 pages, Paperback

Published April 13, 2017

About the author

Marianne Delacourt is the alter ego of internationally published SF writer Marianne de Pierres.

Marianne Delacourt writes humorous crime about Tara Sharp psychic investigator who can read auras.

You can read about Marianne's books at www.mariannedepierres.com and www.burnbright.com.au and www.tarasharp.com.au

Reviews

[Emily Craven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another fun installment of the Tara Sharp series. I love that each of the books has gotten more and more character driven and less skimmy in the sceens, I really felt like I was diving into the thick of things rather than feeling like an observer as I did in the first book.

I also love that this is a chicklit book where the main female character has a life and obsession outside boys. Those that have the women obsessing over their beaus with no other identity driving factors in their life, drive me crazy.

Tara has really started to come into her own as a character and a levelheaded PI, her ability to handle the often crazy situations that come up is brilliant. While I did miss Wal as a frequent character, others (such as bikies) came up to the plate and added to the entertainment.

Can't wait to see what is in store for the next one.

[Lauren Keegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stage Fright is the third explosive installment in the Tara Sharp P.I series by Australian author, Marianne Delacourt. Stage Fright may stray from the bright fun covers of the former two titles but it does not disappoint with the aura reading Tara Sharp getting up to more ridiculous antics and getting on the radar of Australia’s most powerful men.

In an attempt to escape the attention of Viaspa (who tried to have Tara killed in the last book) in Perth, Tara accepts an investigative job in Brisbane (“BrisVegas”) consulting for a music promoter who is hosting Slim Sledge- a big U.S rapper. She befriends a bikie on the plane and manages to dodge Viaspa at the airport just in time- he just happens to be on the same flight to Brisbane!

Tozzi isn’t far from her mind, the married man she’s had her eye on in the first two books but vows he is dedicated to his marriage to his coke-addicted wife- Tara hopes to stay out of his way for a while- Brisbane is the perfect excuse. Plus, her young on again off again model boyfriend Ed is working in the sunny state and Tara has to decide whether to move their relationship forward or not.

In classic Tara Sharp fashion she ends up in the most ridiculous situations in Brisbane- boarding with a clairescent (a clairvoyant whose skill is reading smells), getting beat up while holding a skinned duck in her hand, taking a job as a hostess in a strip club, befriending an emotionally fragile rapper- plus avoiding the one of a list long of enemies that want her out of the way, permanently.

I really enjoyed Stage Fright, despite the outrageous situations Tara ends up in she always pulls through and shows everyone she’s not as flippant as she seems. I like that Delacourt mixed up the setting a bit by jetting Tara off to Brisbane and it was fun seeing the differences between her lifestyle in Perth and that of Brisbane. Though I do hope Tara is back in Perth for the next book as I’d like to see more of Cass and Wal and Tozzi.

I think her romance with Ed is sweet, but I do feel sorry for him at times because Tara’s heart isn’t really in it (it’s with Tozzi) and she always seems to leave Ed hanging. The cliffhanger ending pertaining to Tara’s love life was just plain mean… because now I can’t wait for the next book to find out what happens next!

A fast-paced, laugh out loud Australian mystery series that will appeal to fans of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series.

[Maree Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 3rd installment in the Tara Sharp is a fun read from start to finish.

Tara Sharp is not your average private detective. She's tough, street smart, psychic and, at times, just a little bit of a klutz.

In this adventure she leaves her home ground of Perth and heads to Brisbane. Her job: to take on minding a slightly psychotic rapper from the USA who's looking to kick-start his flagging career.

From the bikie she meets on board her flight to Brisbane to the rabid rapper fans who have all sorts of sneaky ways to get to their man, Tara always seems to have her hands full. Add a hot younger man into the mix, and the action gets even more complicated!

This is a fast-paced, rollicking read with a definite Aussie sense of humour that will appeal to all lovers of tough, trouble-finding chick crime fighters.

If you're looking for a fast-paced read with plenty of thrills, spills and quirky characters, definitely add Stage Fright to the top of your list.

[Jacq · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Chick Lit Crime aficionados we all pay homage to the leader in her field, Evanovich, and this was tipped to be the Aussie version so expectations started out quite high.
…And…? And…?
Bloody brilliant! Here is a chick lit novel without too much schmaltz that flows well, leaves no gaps in the telling and, has an interesting storyline. Set around the familiar streets in Bris-Vegas, it held my attention from start to finish. A slightly psychic detective who can read auras, break jaws, and not fuss too much about what she’s wearing!

[Juanita Kees · Rating 4 out of 5]

To say I was excited when this book dropped onto my review desk, would be an understatement. I love Tara Sharp's adventures. She's witty, she's quirky and she has Nick Tozzi - need I say more?

Read more at:
http://www.kees2create.com.au/the-oth...

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable Tara Sharp adventure. Patiently waiting for the next book to be released.

[Crazy for Books (Stephanie)]

DNF... Got bored with the storyline and realized the series ended without her choosing which of the guys she was going to end up being with.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

With it’s blend of humour, action, mystery and romance Marianne Delacourt's lighthearted crime series is always a fun read. Stage Fright is the third novel in the series featuring quasi professional sleuth and aura reader, Tara Sharp and begins a short time after the events of Sharp Turn.

When Wal asks Tara to help out a mate in Queensland, she is happy to escape Perth for a while, looking forward to a break from her complicated lack of love life, her mother and Johnny Viaspa's murderous attention. The job seems straight forward enough, find out who is sabotaging Stuart Cooper's music promotion business and put a stop to it to ensure the successful tour of US rapper, Slim Sledge. But Tara ends up fitting in her investigative work around body guarding her client's neurotic celebrity with the help of a bikie she met on the plane, ducking Viaspa who turns up in Brissie, and hooking up with Ed, who is in town for a music video shoot.

Tara is proving to be a savvy investigator, able to talk herself into, and out of, almost any situation. She works hard for her client though still manages to find herself in the midst of absurd situations including wielding a Peking duck as a weapon and cooling the ardour of a young man during his first lap dance. Tara's blend of smarts and wit ensures she is an appealing character and I appreciate that Delacourt is really allowing Tara to mature and gain skills without losing her amusing quirks.

As always Tara is supported by a cast of great characters. Smitty is certain Henny is cheating on her, Aunt Liv is hysterical when Wal goes missing and Nick Tozzi is in a strange mood. In Brisbane, Tara contends with the bizarre behaviour of Slim, the odd appearance of Harvey, hippy dippy Inigo and bikie Sergeant-of-Arms Bon Jovi (Big Nuts) Ames.

Stage Fright is an entertaining, fast paced crime caper and this sharp (pun intended) series is a favourite of mine. Fans will definitely be intrigued by the romantic cliffhanger and I am already looking forward to the release of Sharp Edge in 2013.

[Kelly Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. What a fantastic story, and being set in Australia, using Aussie terminology made it seem that much more real. Tara getting dragged through some of Australia's worst kind of underbelly experiences, makes for a fascinating and often amusing read.
Tara's character is fun and quirky and relateable and I love the relationships she has with her "friends". I love how she can see auras so she can also tell well people are being dishonest or hiding things and it really helps with her line of work.
Tara is such a real down to earth character, everything she does is just like anyone else, complete with misfortune in love and all sorts of misshaps in her job.
I love the different types of people involved in making this story work so well, Bon Ames the big scarey biker, Johnny Viaspa and even Smitty and Ed. I love them all.
The story weaves a tangled web through the dark belly of Australian organised crime and the 6 degrees of gangs and mobsters, it is so believable for a story of fiction. I would definitely recommend the book to all my friends I loved it that much. I can't wait to read more from Tara Sharp.

[Amy Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Marianne has hit it out of the park. ^_^

Stage Fright is a fantastic novel, and continues the ongoing story of Tara's gangland nemesis as well as introducing a whole new cast of characters. And of course, the almost-romance she has going on with sexy Nick Tozzi. ;)

I have to say my favourite new character was Slim, the neurotic rap star. One thing I've always loved about Marianne's work, under both pseudonyms, is her willingness to subvert a stereotype, and having an OCD rapper who screams and cries if his fans touch him is such a great way to do it - because who would think a posturing rapper would ever do such a thing, based on the image rappers try to project?

I like that Tara is still sceptical about psychic stuff, even though she has her own psychic powers. Her interactions with a more eccentric psychic are hilarious to read.

Nothing springs to mind in terms of criticism - all is good and nothing seemed jarring!

The Tara Sharp series is still going strong, and I can't wait for the fourth instalment. Especially with the personal-life cliffhanger at the end!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stage Fright, was definitely something I've never read before! The story has so many characters and so much going on, that at times I felt over whelmed, and at other times I had tears in my eyes from laughing to hard.

Tara Sharp is not only a expert sleuth and aura reader, but she also gets beat up with a skinned duck in hand, took a job as a strip club hostess, befriended an American rapper, and avoided all the many people that wanted to kill her for one reason or another.

But Tara's main job was in Brisbane (leaving Perth wasn't the hardest decision, she was actually glad to leave her "love life", her mother, and Viaspa (a guy who wanted to kill her). The job included, that Tara would become an undercover body guard for Slim Sledge the rapper, and also to find out who was sabotaging Stuart Cooper's music promotion business, and stop it.

Even though it did take me a while to catch up with the story in the first few chapters, and slow down and reread a few pages, I did enjoy myself, and I'm excited to read more about Tara Sharp, and more from Marianne Delacourt!

[MELISSA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Tara leads an complicated life so much going on .I love that Tara`s adventure starts in Perth and ends up in Brisvegas !. Funny quick moving adventure that me want to go out for a caramel milkshake !i loved reading this third instalment of tara Sharp !

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've owned a copy of stage Fright for quite some time, I don't think I've ever read it before..though it was fun to see an Aussie author amongst my physical TBR and a book set between Perth and Brisbane.

I'll adimit I started reading this book after i had spent the day working in the rain.

What I didn't realise was Stage Fright is part of a series and this isn't book one.

Hold up. I've never flown from Perth to Brisbane, I've done Brisbane to Sydney and Brisbane to Canberra, in those times I've flown I don't ever remember a alcohol trolley. Coffee, tea and snacks, yes but booze? I wouldn't think a local flight would be long enough for alcohol. A conversation? Sure. Being annoyed by seat buddies? Sure.

For a PI, Tara does a pretty sucky at hiding it. I was always under the assumption that PIs lie about their profession when randoms ask about their career.

By page 51 I started to realise how simple this book reads. It's easy to compare it to a wattpad story, with the way characters need to say full names or convenient moments quickly written in between a characters dialogue/thoughts.

I know as an Aussie, we have a million and one slangs that outsiders don't know but in my 30 years. I've never heard the word "fag" or "fagging" be used for something that isn't a cigarette. Mind you, I've never heard of "fagging." That just sounds like a coded word for sex.

The minute the story takes place in The Valley (Fortitude Valley) I kinda got excited cause most of the places still exists in its current state. Which is surprising considering the book was released nearly 13 years ago.

Though unfortunately the more I read Stage Fright, the more I started to question who this book was written for. Aussie readers or non aussie readers? I know the author page states that she's from Australia (Perth raised and lives in Brisbane) but it felt as if an outsider wrote about Australians and assumed our stereotypical ways rather than how the average Aussie lived through 2012.

Reading the synopsis and the title, you'd assume it was about a woman becoming a music promoter or at least working in the music scene but there's barely a mention of music, unless you count the endless list of real life music name drops.

Stage Fright is more about a piss poor PI, who clearly sucks at her job and doesn't know how to keep secrets, who ends up baby sitting an American rapper, she also gets mixed up in real estate schemes that feel as if it has no true importance to the story.

Honestly? Like I said before Stage Fright is a wattpad story...

[Bette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tara sees auras and is sure she is going nuts, so she goes to a family friend who is also a psychiatrist for help. The help she is given is the name and address of Mr. Hara who can help her understand the auras. With his help she no longer thinks she is crazy but she also starts a fledgling business of detection.
Clients are beginning to contact her, but for now she is off to Brisbane to help Wal’s mate who is getting blocked out of venues for acts he is promoting in Brisbane.

This is book 3 in the series and I found it as interesting, delightful and fun as the 1st.

[Jana Gundy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down!

I love Tara and all of the trouble she gets into. This time it was a big complicated mess and she's matured a lot since the first book. Her love life is a mess but it's always interesting.

[Maureen Hetzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series! A PI who sees auras and reads body movement, action packed from beginning to end and well drawn secondary personalities to keep the pot boiling. A fast read as the reader can’t
Put the book down. On to book four...

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love me a lil bit of Tara Sharp - the mixture of romance, action, mystery and a good dosage of supernatural makes for a enjoyable and bumpy ride! Also love the rag tag bunch of side characters as well!

[Millie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series

This is an excellent series. The characters and plot are well developed and the writing is excellent. The humor is well place and not forced. Looking forward to reading the next book.

[wittbirds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun trip

I enjoyed this book just as much as the first two. Love the characters. Love the pace and storytelling. I'm already ready for book four right now!

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable read. If you like Stephanie Plum, Tara Sharp will give you some good laughs.

[Lois Mecord · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was again another romp. I enjoy fun scenarios. I will continue with Tara.

[Barbara Dunbar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brisbane

Another blockbuster read! Tara leaps from one crisis to another while keeping her client safe and becoming a security chief.

[Katie Lavers · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny - this series keeps getting better!

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful. Fast paced.

Tara Sharpe continues to grow as an investigator, person and the kind of friend you'd want in your corner. Plot is tight, well paced and complicated.

[Lori Rousseau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok series. Tara knows how to get herself in trouble.

[Steven Paulsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book even more than the first two. It’s build on the plots and characters, and injects even more fun and suspense. Great stuff!

[Zoey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5★

[Mick McMahon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read and the main character is wonderful.

[Mandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharp Turn by Marianne Delacourt is the third book in the Tara Sharp series about a Private Investigator with an unusual gift – she can see people’s auras.
This time Tara takes on a case as a favour to her security guard Wal that sees her leave her usual stomping ground of Perth and fly to Brisbane to work for a music promoter. This is not the sort of case that she usually takes on but needs must and the money is good… the chance to escape her mother’s watchful eye is an added bonus.
When she gets there she soon realises that the case is not quite straightforward as she has to deal with the odd habits of the talent she is hired to look after and his even stranger fans who will stop at absolutely nothing to get close to their idol. Without Wal (who seems to have gone missing) to help her she ends up relying on Bon Ames a local Biker for hire she met on the flight to Brisbane to help with security and protection. As the assignment progresses it looks like once again Tara is going to go head to head with Johnny Viaspa.
Then there is the drama she left behind… best friend Smitty thinks her husband is having an affair and wanted Tara to follow him to find out what was going on and her Aunt Liv is badgering her to find out what has happened to Wal.
I have to say that this series is definitely growing on me and I read the whole book in just over a day. Taking Tara out of her comfort zone of Perth and her usual entourage gave this book a bit of an edge. Once again she gets in some hilarious situations and the scene where she beats up her attacker with a dead duck really did make me chuckle. This time you get to learn a bit more about Wal’s back story and it would seem that his links with Johnny Viaspa go back quite some time.
On/Off boyfriend Ed is on the scene as he has a job that also sees him in Brisbane, but once again the timing is not good as the job keeps getting in the way. I do feel sorry for Ed as he genuinely seems to have feelings for Tara but she seems unwilling to commit to him, partly due to her very chaotic life but mainly due to her feelings for Nick Tozzi although she knows that that will go nowhere while he is still married.
You do get the sense that Tara is a very loyal person and will put the job before her own safety, but as a couple of instances show, she is more than capable of taking care of herself and quite good at thinking on her feet.
The introduction of new characters such as the neurotic rapper who has screaming fits if a fan gets too close allowed for some fun moments although I was not a fan of him constantly calling Tara “bitch” especially after she had seen him at his worst. Its one thing for him to be like that to his fans after all they may come to expect it but I can’t believe for one minute even the most hardened rapper is like that with those closest to them in real life especially those who are employed to protect them. Then there is her temporary Landlady – a clairescent (a clairvoyant who can read smells)… now I was sceptical of Tara’s ability to read auras but this one is on a whole different level and I am really not sure that this is an actual thing or if it really is just the author finding a way to help the plot along.
This time there is a bit of a cliff hanger that centres on her tangled love life that means surely there will be a book four, as I for one want to find out what happens next. I am also hoping that the next book is set back in her usual stomping ground for as much as it was good to explore Tara’s character away from her crew I am still holding out hope that more will be made of Mr Hara and his disapproving wife.
Once again Marianne Delacourt manages to produce a fast paced book that is more chic lit than hard core detective novel but I would recommend it to anyone who wants a good holiday read that will make them chuckle in places. Too Sharp can be read as a stand-alone book as you can work out where everyone fits in without having to have read Sharp Shooter and Sharp Turn however you will miss out on the fun if you do.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The HK Monaro wormed it's way into my heart in 1968. Bathurst, Bruce McPhee, Hardie-Ferodo, pole position and the race lap record at that time. A life-long love of those cars was started on the lino of the kitchen in South-West Victoria, shouting at a dodgy TV telecast, enthralled. Sure, my teenage years saw a shift in preference to the HG model, and I would always opt for the dark purple HG with the sidewinder stripes and, of course, the GTS 350, with the stiffened suspension and the power front disc brakes. Alas I suspect that passion is about the only thing that Tara Sharp and I would ever share. As far as STAGE FRIGHT was concerned, the Monaro had me at the very first book. The aura reading, the sense of humour and the madcap "antics" not so much.

STAGE FRIGHT fits right into that sub-genre of crime fiction that includes the Stephanie Plum books, and my particular favourite, the Grace Smith series. Whilst the best of that sub-genre can be hilarious and hugely entertaining, the worst is a tad too forced, often times a little overtly twee and predictable for my liking. They are undoubtedly books for readers who prefer their crime delivered with a hefty dose of dressing up. Chick lit with bodies and a bit of high camp fem-jep.

The Tara Sharp series is going to have it's fans, and if you happen to like the Plum books in particular, something that's got a similar feeling and tone set locally is a very good thing. You will have to have a tolerance for a lot of aura reading, and not mind the occasional bit of romantic tension and heavy-handed humour, but if that's you, then you really should give the local product a go.

STAGE FRIGHT is the third book in the Tara Sharp series. SHARP SHOOTER is the first, SHARP TURN the second.


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