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Cat DeLuca Mysteries #2
Some Like it Hot: A Cat DeLuca Mystery
What does a woman do when she discovers her husband is an incurable cheater? If she’s Cat DeLuca she launches the Pants On Fire Detective Agency. Now Cat does what two years of unholy matrimony taught her. She catches cheaters.When a client (Cleo Jones) shoots her cheating husband’s bum full of buckshot, he disappears, taking her money, dog, and sister with him. Private Investigator Cat DeLuca promises to return the dog and money if her client stops shooting at Walter. Cleo agrees. The detective finds the dog and a mysterious bag chuck-full of cash. And then she finds Walter. His very dead body is still warm. The case is a slam dunk for the cops who arrest Cleo for the murder of her husband. She had motive and opportunity and a dozen witnesses heard her scream bloody murder. One made a video. Cat DeLuca is determined to prove her client’s innocence and it’s not an easy sell. Walter was an unsavory character with enemies. To find his killer, Cat will have to sift through the ones who didn’t pull the trigger. Her investigation leads to four players with secrets: a childhood friend, a gambler, a construction tycoon, and a legendary Chicago designer. When forensic evidence suggests the detective knows more about the murder than she’s telling, Cat faces the certain loss of her agency. Cat DeLuca is smart and charming. She’s an unlikely heroine and her partner, a beagle named Inga, is quite likely to eat the evidence. Sticks and Stones delivers steamy romance, intrigue and laugh out loud humor for a wickedly delicious read.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
34 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
K.J. Larsen
7 books76 followersSisters Kari, Julianne, and Kristen write under the pen name, K.J. Larsen.
Writing a novel together was second nature for the three sisters who created their own Nancy Drew mysteries as kids. “We live very different lives,” Kari says. “What brings us together is a voracious love of mystery, a wicked sense of humor, and the thrill of victory.”
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Kari Larsen lives at the foothills of Mt. Rainier and loves hiking, stand-up comedy, and the Blues. She’s written a column for a local paper as well as numerous plays and children’s stories. She’s a mean baker and a bit like Cat’s crazy Mama. Her canolli will drop you to your knees.
Julianne is the youngest of the six Larsen girls and spoiled as God intended. She teaches classes in organic gardening and is a gifted artist and poet. She lives on a farm with her horses, her beagle, and more four legged children than any person with good sense. Like Cat, she prefers jeans and a sweater but she cleans up nice.
Kristen is a gifted writer, weaver and actress and has appeared in plays off off Broadway. Her eyes are green like Cat’s and she’s a shoe-in for the role in the blockbuster movie to come. She lives in the Chicago area and was recently spotted dancing in Bridgeport with Chance Savino. Kristen’s shitzu, Buster, and Cat DeLuca’s beagle, Inga, are rumored to be dating.
Writing a novel together was second nature for the three sisters who created their own Nancy Drew mysteries as kids. “We live very different lives,” Kari says. “What brings us together is a voracious love of mystery, a wicked sense of humor, and the thrill of victory.”
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kari Larsen lives at the foothills of Mt. Rainier and loves hiking, stand-up comedy, and the Blues. She’s written a column for a local paper as well as numerous plays and children’s stories. She’s a mean baker and a bit like Cat’s crazy Mama. Her canolli will drop you to your knees.
Julianne is the youngest of the six Larsen girls and spoiled as God intended. She teaches classes in organic gardening and is a gifted artist and poet. She lives on a farm with her horses, her beagle, and more four legged children than any person with good sense. Like Cat, she prefers jeans and a sweater but she cleans up nice.
Kristen is a gifted writer, weaver and actress and has appeared in plays off off Broadway. Her eyes are green like Cat’s and she’s a shoe-in for the role in the blockbuster movie to come. She lives in the Chicago area and was recently spotted dancing in Bridgeport with Chance Savino. Kristen’s shitzu, Buster, and Cat DeLuca’s beagle, Inga, are rumored to be dating.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
January 23, 2012
This is light cozy, which reminds me of the Evanovich series - Italian family, canoli, dogs, hunky men, and a spunky heroine. Cat deLuca is the owner of Pants on Fire, a detective agency focused on catching cheating husband (she starts the business catching her own husband!!!).
When a client (Cat´s assistant Cleo Jones) shoots her cheating husband’s backside with buckshot, he disappears, taking her money, dog, and sister with him. Cat agrees to find Walter and in return makes Cleo promise not to shoot him anymore. When they go back to Cleo´s house to get at least her dog back, they find Walter, still warm but dead. The cops arrest Cleo for the murder of her husband, as she had motive and opportunity and many witnesses, one of whom has made a video of Cleo threatening to kill her husband.
Though the plot is nothing new, Cat´s efforts to clear Cleo and to find the real killer make for a laugh out loud story, which is why I gave it four stars.
This book was kindly downloaded by NetGalley, courtesy of Poisoned Pen Press.
When a client (Cat´s assistant Cleo Jones) shoots her cheating husband’s backside with buckshot, he disappears, taking her money, dog, and sister with him. Cat agrees to find Walter and in return makes Cleo promise not to shoot him anymore. When they go back to Cleo´s house to get at least her dog back, they find Walter, still warm but dead. The cops arrest Cleo for the murder of her husband, as she had motive and opportunity and many witnesses, one of whom has made a video of Cleo threatening to kill her husband.
Though the plot is nothing new, Cat´s efforts to clear Cleo and to find the real killer make for a laugh out loud story, which is why I gave it four stars.
This book was kindly downloaded by NetGalley, courtesy of Poisoned Pen Press.
April 18, 2021
Stephanie Plum meet Cat DeLuca. Same light hearted vibe.
February 6, 2014
This is the 2nd book in the Cat DeLuca series and I really enjoyed this one, it was laugh out loud funny. I'm looking forward to continuing with this series.
December 21, 2022
Setting: Chicago
Cat was too scattered for me as was the plot.
Not interested in reading any more in this series.
Cat was too scattered for me as was the plot.
Not interested in reading any more in this series.
November 3, 2012
Like Stephanie Plum on steroids. Catarina “Cat” DeLuca is on a wild and funny ride from the opening sentence. After a short lived marriage to a serial cheater Cat establishes Pants On Fire Detective Agency where she specializes in getting the goods on wayward spouses. Or, as her momma puts it, she’s a “hoochie stalker”. And she is good at it. She scales balconies, and teeters out side hotel windows to capture the Kodak Moment.
In Sticks and Stones, the follow up to Liar, Liar: A Cat DeLuca Mystery, Cat has just solved the case of the cheating husband of Cleo Jones who has become a de facto partner. Losing Walter was no loss, and Cleo had the satisfaction of filling his butt full of buck shot when they parted. But Cleo has her eyes on more than divorce court when it comes to Walter who has skipped out with Cleo’s treasured dog, her money , her clothes and worst of all Cleo’s sister, “the Ho”.
When Cleo shows up at the office driving Walter’s Corvette, Cat reluctantly agrees to help Cleo pack up some of her furniture and belongings while Walter and The Ho sister are out. Once they arrive at Walters hide out apartment, Cleo grabs her dog, her clothes, a prized Tiffany Lamp, and a designer bag full of money. Switching back to Cleo’s Camry, because it’ll carry more swag than the Vette, Cat and Cleo discover that the dog is coated in blood. Back inside they find Walter, dead.
When Cat calls the cops, they naturally suspect Cleo, and Cleo obligingly was caught on surveillance tape detailing how she was going to murder his cheating ‘heart’. And as if to aid their case, Cleo can’t keep her mouth shut and almost gets Cat arrested along with herself. Fortunately, Cat’s family are Chicago cops going back numerous generations and Cat sets off to find the real killer. Unfortunately, Walter has screwed over everybody he has ever met, or so it seems. Among, the people he owes or has cheated or black mailed money from are loan sharks, gamblers and low life businessman.
With a cast of zany characters that are oddly believable, non stop one liners and a pace that is unrelenting, plus a plot that, convoluted as it is, is easy to believe and follow, this is a winner. K.J. Larsen (or maybe I should say K.J. Larsens as the author is three sisters, two in Seattle and one in Chicago) has avoided the sophomore jinx with this second novel in the series. She (they) have also justified any doubters when Larsen won 2010’s Best Mystery award from Library Journal.
Readers will be hard put not to recognize the similarities between Cat DeLuca and her zany family and friends and Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, but Larsen fearlessly writes so well that the reader soon forgets that and goes along for the ride of their life. The only weakness I could find was Cat, when over her head, is all to predictably rescued by her shady FBI man lover, Chance, or her equally shady muscle man , Max. But the action is great, the dialog hardboiled, quirky and funny as hell. It’s a talent, indeed that can maintain such a high degree of one liners and comebacks, such funny, yet pertinent dialog and make it seem so real and fit the characters.
If you are new to this author, then jump on the train now while there are still seats available to fall out of laughing. Cat DeLuca, Cleo jones and the crew are setup for a long, long ride in the world of great mysteries.
The Dirty Lowdown
Copyright © 2012 Robert Carraher All Rights Reserved
In Sticks and Stones, the follow up to Liar, Liar: A Cat DeLuca Mystery, Cat has just solved the case of the cheating husband of Cleo Jones who has become a de facto partner. Losing Walter was no loss, and Cleo had the satisfaction of filling his butt full of buck shot when they parted. But Cleo has her eyes on more than divorce court when it comes to Walter who has skipped out with Cleo’s treasured dog, her money , her clothes and worst of all Cleo’s sister, “the Ho”.
When Cleo shows up at the office driving Walter’s Corvette, Cat reluctantly agrees to help Cleo pack up some of her furniture and belongings while Walter and The Ho sister are out. Once they arrive at Walters hide out apartment, Cleo grabs her dog, her clothes, a prized Tiffany Lamp, and a designer bag full of money. Switching back to Cleo’s Camry, because it’ll carry more swag than the Vette, Cat and Cleo discover that the dog is coated in blood. Back inside they find Walter, dead.
When Cat calls the cops, they naturally suspect Cleo, and Cleo obligingly was caught on surveillance tape detailing how she was going to murder his cheating ‘heart’. And as if to aid their case, Cleo can’t keep her mouth shut and almost gets Cat arrested along with herself. Fortunately, Cat’s family are Chicago cops going back numerous generations and Cat sets off to find the real killer. Unfortunately, Walter has screwed over everybody he has ever met, or so it seems. Among, the people he owes or has cheated or black mailed money from are loan sharks, gamblers and low life businessman.
With a cast of zany characters that are oddly believable, non stop one liners and a pace that is unrelenting, plus a plot that, convoluted as it is, is easy to believe and follow, this is a winner. K.J. Larsen (or maybe I should say K.J. Larsens as the author is three sisters, two in Seattle and one in Chicago) has avoided the sophomore jinx with this second novel in the series. She (they) have also justified any doubters when Larsen won 2010’s Best Mystery award from Library Journal.
Readers will be hard put not to recognize the similarities between Cat DeLuca and her zany family and friends and Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, but Larsen fearlessly writes so well that the reader soon forgets that and goes along for the ride of their life. The only weakness I could find was Cat, when over her head, is all to predictably rescued by her shady FBI man lover, Chance, or her equally shady muscle man , Max. But the action is great, the dialog hardboiled, quirky and funny as hell. It’s a talent, indeed that can maintain such a high degree of one liners and comebacks, such funny, yet pertinent dialog and make it seem so real and fit the characters.
If you are new to this author, then jump on the train now while there are still seats available to fall out of laughing. Cat DeLuca, Cleo jones and the crew are setup for a long, long ride in the world of great mysteries.
The Dirty Lowdown
Copyright © 2012 Robert Carraher All Rights Reserved
February 9, 2012
The similarities between K.J Larson's Cat DeLuca Mysteries and Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series are impossible to deny. Though Cat may be a PI instead of a bounty hunter, she has her very own Ranger (Max) and Morelli (Chance), a colleague who wears inordinate amounts of lycra (though Cleo cooks instead of eats), a family of gun toting crazies and a mother who laments her daughter's choice in career and marital status. Cat even has a tendency to destroy cars and her targets are often nude.
Don't get me wrong though, the similarities are not a bad thing, Sticks and Stones is fast paced, funny and entertaining caper. Cat DeLuca is a fun character, the owner of Pants on Fire Detective Agency dealing mainly with suspicious wives and cheating husbands but has the uncanny knack of ending up in the middle of murder cases. In Sticks and Stones it is her assistant, once a former client, Cleo who is accused of murdering her husband and it's up to Cat to prove her innocent. Luckily Cat has lots of back up, her father, brothers and various uncles are cops, her boyfriend is an FBI Agent, she is connected to a current and ex-spy and then there are a few family friends on the wrong side of the law. Keeping Cleo out of jail is more complicated that Cat expects even though there are plenty of people with the motive to have wanted Walter dead, and if she is not careful she will wind up in the frame as well. In between investigating Walter's past, Cat has cheaters to chase, a bridal shower to throw and a wedding to attend.
I enjoyed Sticks and Stones, it's a lighthearted cozy mystery with a solid plot, appealing characters and a great sense of humour. Though the second in the series, it works as a stand alone. The first book, Liar, Liar was named one of 2010’s best mysteries by Library Journal though, so it's worth picking up as well.
Don't get me wrong though, the similarities are not a bad thing, Sticks and Stones is fast paced, funny and entertaining caper. Cat DeLuca is a fun character, the owner of Pants on Fire Detective Agency dealing mainly with suspicious wives and cheating husbands but has the uncanny knack of ending up in the middle of murder cases. In Sticks and Stones it is her assistant, once a former client, Cleo who is accused of murdering her husband and it's up to Cat to prove her innocent. Luckily Cat has lots of back up, her father, brothers and various uncles are cops, her boyfriend is an FBI Agent, she is connected to a current and ex-spy and then there are a few family friends on the wrong side of the law. Keeping Cleo out of jail is more complicated that Cat expects even though there are plenty of people with the motive to have wanted Walter dead, and if she is not careful she will wind up in the frame as well. In between investigating Walter's past, Cat has cheaters to chase, a bridal shower to throw and a wedding to attend.
I enjoyed Sticks and Stones, it's a lighthearted cozy mystery with a solid plot, appealing characters and a great sense of humour. Though the second in the series, it works as a stand alone. The first book, Liar, Liar was named one of 2010’s best mysteries by Library Journal though, so it's worth picking up as well.
March 7, 2014
"I'm a private investigator, dammit"
"No, you investigate people's privates. Big difference"
This quote from the book sums up what Cat Decluca's family thinks of her job. She is from a family of cops and although they are supportive they do give her a rough time. Cat does take photos of people cheating on their partners, her business is named 'Pants on Fire'.
At the end of the first book Cat takes on a helper, her name is Cleo and when her ex husband Walter turns up dead they blame Cleo, of course she did shoot Walter in the bottom and he did leave her to hook up with her sister. So when Cleo is arrested for the murder Cat is convinced Cleo is innocent. So Cat is off to solve the murder.
I like these books they are funny and every time she talks about her sister, she says her swapped at birth sister, who hasn't had trouble with there sister. Cat solves the case, puts up with her crazy family and has a yummy boyfriend. What more could you ask for.
Looking forward to the next book, which comes out soon.
"No, you investigate people's privates. Big difference"
This quote from the book sums up what Cat Decluca's family thinks of her job. She is from a family of cops and although they are supportive they do give her a rough time. Cat does take photos of people cheating on their partners, her business is named 'Pants on Fire'.
At the end of the first book Cat takes on a helper, her name is Cleo and when her ex husband Walter turns up dead they blame Cleo, of course she did shoot Walter in the bottom and he did leave her to hook up with her sister. So when Cleo is arrested for the murder Cat is convinced Cleo is innocent. So Cat is off to solve the murder.
I like these books they are funny and every time she talks about her sister, she says her swapped at birth sister, who hasn't had trouble with there sister. Cat solves the case, puts up with her crazy family and has a yummy boyfriend. What more could you ask for.
Looking forward to the next book, which comes out soon.
February 21, 2012
This is the second book in the Cat DeLuca Mystery series by K.J.Larsen. It is not necessary to have read the first to enjoy this one. The book is rather a zany ride that has been compared to Janet Evanovich's series however in many ways this book is better. The Stefanie Plum series has become nothing less than reworked babble whereas Cat DeLuca is fresh and interesting.
Cat DeLuca has a huge Italian family filled with police officers which comes in very handy. She has two very fascinating and helpful men in her life. The book is populated with interesting characters galore. The Chicago setting is dead on.
A quick fun read! Great story! I'm looking forward to the next Cat DeLuca Mystery!
Cat DeLuca has a huge Italian family filled with police officers which comes in very handy. She has two very fascinating and helpful men in her life. The book is populated with interesting characters galore. The Chicago setting is dead on.
A quick fun read! Great story! I'm looking forward to the next Cat DeLuca Mystery!
February 1, 2022
I truly enjoy Kat DeLuca mysteries. They are amusing with lots lovable (and not so lovable) characters. Lots of Italian food 😋, big Italian family, cop brothers and hunky fed boyfriend. The mysteries are entertaining. Kat's partner (aka associate) Cleo is a hoot. Cousin Frankie is a whacko. Kat who is now 30 has parents that are constantly pushing her to get married and stop taking "dirty pictures".
I recommend this audio recording. 👌
I recommend this audio recording. 👌
July 24, 2017
Fun read
This series isn't high literature, but it's darn good fun, much like, say, Sandra Brown. It's light easy reading and the humor is truly funny. I look forward to continuing the saga of Cat DeLuca.
This series isn't high literature, but it's darn good fun, much like, say, Sandra Brown. It's light easy reading and the humor is truly funny. I look forward to continuing the saga of Cat DeLuca.
July 14, 2024
Put the Cat DeLuca series on you to be read list
Anyone who loves Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, will enjoy K.J. Laden's Cat DeLuca series. Lots of action, well defined characters, love interests and plot twists. Very enjoyable reads.
Anyone who loves Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, will enjoy K.J. Laden's Cat DeLuca series. Lots of action, well defined characters, love interests and plot twists. Very enjoyable reads.
July 2, 2025
Family dynamics and lots crazy relatives
a very good beach read ;fun Italian family antics
Romance
If you e joy the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich you will like this series
a very good beach read ;fun Italian family antics
Romance
If you e joy the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich you will like this series
September 10, 2017
More guilty pleasure reading. This book combined with 18 hours of straight sleep did wonders for my brain and soul. Now the choice is either to continue reading or wait until I need the break again.
March 7, 2019
Really enjoyed this new character. Very little down time, lots of action
April 26, 2019
Cat DeLuca PI
My second book read in the series, awesome reading! I love the storyline, characters and humor in these books. Highly entertaining!
My second book read in the series, awesome reading! I love the storyline, characters and humor in these books. Highly entertaining!
May 29, 2019
Very funny and surprise ending.
June 8, 2019
I like this series.
July 27, 2020
Pretty good, although I would have preferred to read it!!
May 28, 2023
A fun read!
December 16, 2024
Cute short story.
March 25, 2017
VERY similar to Janet Evanovich's books.
March 20, 2017
This is still a fun read. I'm enjoying all the different colorful supporting characters.
May 1, 2012
another in the cat series she is a italian detective, her family members are all cops. she is in love with a fbi agent. she goes after cheating spouses. this one her 'assistant' is accused of killing her husband, but she was with cat at teh time so she couldnt have but no law enforcement will believe her. she is trying to find the real murdered. i really like this series, like a italian stephanie plum!
this was really good i enjoyed it. at teh end there were too many people for me to keep track of, but i enjoyed the characters and the story was ok. she went to a wedding, her fbi boyfriend stood her up, he had to take someone out of state, but the 'max' guy who is like 'ranger' in the stephanie plum books went with her. only she doesnt sleep with him, he found a date there. she only is with her fbi boyfriend.
she goes through a lot of cars too!
she got her assistant off the hook for the killing of her soon to be x husband. they pinned the murder on someone who didnt kill him, but they had killed someone else they couldnt prove so it all worked out. i think the guys x boss who he stole from killed him, but he donated money to the church so somehow that worked out for them too, im not too sure about that, the end was kind of confusing for me.
she has a dog and so does her assistant.
this was really good i enjoyed it. at teh end there were too many people for me to keep track of, but i enjoyed the characters and the story was ok. she went to a wedding, her fbi boyfriend stood her up, he had to take someone out of state, but the 'max' guy who is like 'ranger' in the stephanie plum books went with her. only she doesnt sleep with him, he found a date there. she only is with her fbi boyfriend.
she goes through a lot of cars too!
she got her assistant off the hook for the killing of her soon to be x husband. they pinned the murder on someone who didnt kill him, but they had killed someone else they couldnt prove so it all worked out. i think the guys x boss who he stole from killed him, but he donated money to the church so somehow that worked out for them too, im not too sure about that, the end was kind of confusing for me.
she has a dog and so does her assistant.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2012
Cat DeLuca is a private detective who runs the Pants on Fire Detective Agency. Her mission: to catch cheating husbands. Sticks and Stones is the second book in this series, following on from Liar Liar- which I have not read but did not really seem to make a difference to the reading experience- in the typical style of Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum humour/ crime series.
Cat’s job requires her to ‘stalk’ men and take happy snaps of them in compromising positions and then to break the news to their already suspicious wives. This time around, Cat winds up in the midst of a murder investigation when Cat’s new partner Cleo’s ex-husband is found murdered. Cat wants to clear Cleo’s name, but do so they need to find his killer. Cat comes from a large, intrusive Italian family and there is plenty of inane relational drama to keep Cat on her toes.
Cat is a likeable character who ends up in some ridiculous situations and has a similar flighty impulsive nature to Stephanie Plum. Then there’s the love triangle with her mate Max and lover Chance with plenty of drama to add to the hilarity of Cat’s life.
Sticks and Stones is a fast-paced action-crime novel with witty one-liners and eccentric characters.
Cat’s job requires her to ‘stalk’ men and take happy snaps of them in compromising positions and then to break the news to their already suspicious wives. This time around, Cat winds up in the midst of a murder investigation when Cat’s new partner Cleo’s ex-husband is found murdered. Cat wants to clear Cleo’s name, but do so they need to find his killer. Cat comes from a large, intrusive Italian family and there is plenty of inane relational drama to keep Cat on her toes.
Cat is a likeable character who ends up in some ridiculous situations and has a similar flighty impulsive nature to Stephanie Plum. Then there’s the love triangle with her mate Max and lover Chance with plenty of drama to add to the hilarity of Cat’s life.
Sticks and Stones is a fast-paced action-crime novel with witty one-liners and eccentric characters.
July 26, 2011
I had a great time reading about cat. Love her detective business name. Pants on Fire . Its a detective story,comedy and romance and family. It reminds me a little of stephanie plum stories.
Cat has a business out of Catch Liars and cheats. Her family is full of police and not all honest. Her boyfriend is FBI agent. Her family does not like FBI. She has friends who were spies and one helps protect her. Her assistant is crazy gun toting who is up for murdering her husband. Noone but Cat believes her and is trying to prove her innocent. Her family want her to quit her job and get married.
I was wrong figuring out who the murder was but I did pick one person for a bad guy Just not that murder.
She tells a good story. Keeps your attention the whole way through. I was given this ebook in exchange for honest review.
Cat has a business out of Catch Liars and cheats. Her family is full of police and not all honest. Her boyfriend is FBI agent. Her family does not like FBI. She has friends who were spies and one helps protect her. Her assistant is crazy gun toting who is up for murdering her husband. Noone but Cat believes her and is trying to prove her innocent. Her family want her to quit her job and get married.
I was wrong figuring out who the murder was but I did pick one person for a bad guy Just not that murder.
She tells a good story. Keeps your attention the whole way through. I was given this ebook in exchange for honest review.
January 6, 2012
When I saw the publisher’s description of Sticks & Stones, it sounded reminiscent of Janet Evanovich’s and Lisa Lutz’s novels. Sticks & Stones is the second book in the Cat DeLuca mystery series by K.J. Larsen. It works fine as a stand-alone novel, so no worries on not having read the first book.
To give you an idea of the writing quality, Book #1 in the series, Liar, Liar, was named one of 2010’s best mysteries by Library Journal. K.J. Larsen is actually the pseudonym for three sisters who are writing the series together. Normally I’m not thrilled about design by committee but in this case it not only works but it works very well. If you’re fond of mysteries series with wacky, offbeat humor then you’ll want to check this one out. Read the rest of my review at http://popcornreads.com/?p=2588
To give you an idea of the writing quality, Book #1 in the series, Liar, Liar, was named one of 2010’s best mysteries by Library Journal. K.J. Larsen is actually the pseudonym for three sisters who are writing the series together. Normally I’m not thrilled about design by committee but in this case it not only works but it works very well. If you’re fond of mysteries series with wacky, offbeat humor then you’ll want to check this one out. Read the rest of my review at http://popcornreads.com/?p=2588
October 20, 2012
Cat DeLuca, Proprietor of the Pants On Fire Detective Agency is hot on the trail of the latest wife cheater, when her assistant/client, Cleo Jones shoots her husband with buckshot in the rump. Cat races to return the husband's dog and money but instead finds his dead body!
In this second book of the 'A Cat DeLuca Mystery' series, the pace is quick and the action flows while Cat pulls out all stops to save Cleo from being arrested for murder. Secrets abound, Childhood friends, gambling, Chicago designers, and tycoons from the construction industry. All of them had just cause to hate the victim, but which one took the time to frame Cleo.
This is a witty murder mystery that will have you trying to catch your breath as you follow along with Cat and her brother, and more.
In this second book of the 'A Cat DeLuca Mystery' series, the pace is quick and the action flows while Cat pulls out all stops to save Cleo from being arrested for murder. Secrets abound, Childhood friends, gambling, Chicago designers, and tycoons from the construction industry. All of them had just cause to hate the victim, but which one took the time to frame Cleo.
This is a witty murder mystery that will have you trying to catch your breath as you follow along with Cat and her brother, and more.
May 19, 2016
+++Cat DeLuca owner & licensed investigator of the Pants On Fire Detective Agency seems to be a magnet for trouble, often in the form of a corpse. Her assistant Cleo has peppered her husband's bum with buckshot and has been seen by many on a video gone viral declaring her intention to kill him. So when he is discovered murdered (by CD) it is no wonder that Cleo is the prime suspect. Cat does everything in her power to prove Cleo innocent. In so doing, she irritates and upsets her mother, her brothers (all cops), her priest, her FBI boyfriend, her father (ex-cop), a local contractor as well as a fashion diva, some of her other clients and the local station Captain. Everything except one murder hinges on a 20 year old college backpacking & camping trip.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2012
I thought the second book in the "Cat DeLuca - Pants on Fire Detective Agency" series was good, but not quite as good as the first. I wasn't quite as drawn into the story. I did like seeing many of the characters from the first book return, including Cat's crazy family members, her somewhat shady friends, and particularly her new love FBI Agent Chance Savino. I did notice several instances where the editor missed small words - "to", "the", etc. - I think that was the result of seeing what you expect to see when proofreading, but for those brief lines, it was distracting. Otherwise, good job and I'll be looking for #3 in the series.
September 28, 2012
First of all, I think it's interesting that K.J.Larsen is not one person, but three sisters. It's great they work together well enough to write such an entertaining series, of which Sticks & Stones is the second. I'm looking forward already to the next.
While there's a decent mystery at the heart of this book, I read the Cat DeLuca Pants on Fire stories for the zany characters and crazy situations. Cat's family are some of the quirkiest people you'll ever meet, and her two hunky boyfriends may well make the ladies pant. And what can you say about Cleo, Cat's assistant (according to Cat)/partner (according to Cleo)! And the dogs, of course. What's a book without dogs?
While there's a decent mystery at the heart of this book, I read the Cat DeLuca Pants on Fire stories for the zany characters and crazy situations. Cat's family are some of the quirkiest people you'll ever meet, and her two hunky boyfriends may well make the ladies pant. And what can you say about Cleo, Cat's assistant (according to Cat)/partner (according to Cleo)! And the dogs, of course. What's a book without dogs?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews