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As You Look
Yolanda Avila, a former LAPD cop-turned private investigator, blames herself for her mother’s death in a road rage accident. It was her fault. The perpetrator was a suspect she’d pursued in an unrelated case, someone she should’ve caught by tracking down a license plate number. Any good detective would’ve done that. But she got cocky, thought she’d catch him by following clues from a stupid dream instead. The only salve against the guilt eating at her now is Yolanda’s vow to reject that juju crap.
But when her godson Joey is kidnapped, his parents are suspected of murder, and a stalker threatens her wife Sydney to warn Yolanda off the case, she must deal with more than just the facts. She must confront the juju to overcome her guilt and deal with pent-up grief—or risk losing yet another loved one.
But when her godson Joey is kidnapped, his parents are suspected of murder, and a stalker threatens her wife Sydney to warn Yolanda off the case, she must deal with more than just the facts. She must confront the juju to overcome her guilt and deal with pent-up grief—or risk losing yet another loved one.
228 pages, Paperback
Published March 22, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 2, 2022
Three mysteries converge in As You Look which ex police officer turned private investigator Yolanda Ávila must solve to keep her family safe. Her godson is kidnapped on his way to school one morning. One of the kidnappers is then murdered and lastly what is up with her dreams, weird feelings and premonitions.
The advent of the premonitions and Yolanda’s guilt in not listening to them to prevent her mother’s death is overpowering the other two mysteries. At one point late in the story I just wanted Yolanda to accept her gift and stop complaining. Insensitive perhaps, but I understood her views on it and did not require the constant reinforcement of her issues.
The two remaining mysteries were satisfactory in their build up and their resolution.
This is the first book of the upcoming series and the groundwork has been laid. It will be interesting to see where Gutiérrez takes her characters.
I received an advance review copy from Bella Books and NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The advent of the premonitions and Yolanda’s guilt in not listening to them to prevent her mother’s death is overpowering the other two mysteries. At one point late in the story I just wanted Yolanda to accept her gift and stop complaining. Insensitive perhaps, but I understood her views on it and did not require the constant reinforcement of her issues.
The two remaining mysteries were satisfactory in their build up and their resolution.
This is the first book of the upcoming series and the groundwork has been laid. It will be interesting to see where Gutiérrez takes her characters.
I received an advance review copy from Bella Books and NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 22, 2022
3.25 stars. I always look forward to reading debut books, not having any idea what to expect is exciting and this is a crime book which made my anticipation even higher. In the end, it turned out that I was anticipating something else. This book was not a very good match for my personal reading preferences as it turned out.
First of all, let me say I’m starting to notice a pattern with crime procedurals. This was the third book this month that I read that has a main character who is shunned or hated by her colleagues in blue for blowing the whistle on a dirty partner. I know the police force is under heavy scrutiny and I applaud the fact that authors also show the other side of the force that is meant to protect us. That said, this particular storyline is getting old fast, of course I won’t hold that against this specific book, but three times in a month (of the 4 crime books I read) was just too much for me, so this might have affected my reading pleasure.
Yolanda is a private investigator who just started her own business. When her nephew has been kidnapped she won’t let go until he’s safe again. This is an investigative storyline, but strangely it didn’t feel as if the investigation was the most important part of this book. Yolanda has a gift called juju. Nightmares or feelings let her know something is about to happen, but she is reluctant to believe in it and flat out refuses to listen to it. This book is all about her acceptance of her juju. I’m very skeptical about premonitions and accompanying feelings and I prefer paranormal gifts in books to be a bit more out there. However, it was not even so much the juju I had problems with, I can accept that in a book, but it was the enormous fuss about it. Believe in it, accept it, trust it …. or not, back and forth. It completely took over the storyline. Perhaps this is a me thing though and others might enjoy this much better.
There were two things happening in the investigation storyline and the first one took a bit of a backseat in the first half of the book. It was rather quickly and easily resolved, the second one held my interest better, but I had some trouble with the pacing of the story and it took me longer than normal to finish this book.
There is no romance arc in this book, but Yolanda is in an established relationship with Sydney who’s an ex-army doc and now works as an attending at the ER. I really liked Sydney, she’s grounded, understanding and tough at the same time and I liked them as a couple.
This is the first book in a series and while this book wasn’t the best match for my tastes. There were parts that made me curious about what the future will bring, but I hope there will be less focus on the juju.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, let me say I’m starting to notice a pattern with crime procedurals. This was the third book this month that I read that has a main character who is shunned or hated by her colleagues in blue for blowing the whistle on a dirty partner. I know the police force is under heavy scrutiny and I applaud the fact that authors also show the other side of the force that is meant to protect us. That said, this particular storyline is getting old fast, of course I won’t hold that against this specific book, but three times in a month (of the 4 crime books I read) was just too much for me, so this might have affected my reading pleasure.
Yolanda is a private investigator who just started her own business. When her nephew has been kidnapped she won’t let go until he’s safe again. This is an investigative storyline, but strangely it didn’t feel as if the investigation was the most important part of this book. Yolanda has a gift called juju. Nightmares or feelings let her know something is about to happen, but she is reluctant to believe in it and flat out refuses to listen to it. This book is all about her acceptance of her juju. I’m very skeptical about premonitions and accompanying feelings and I prefer paranormal gifts in books to be a bit more out there. However, it was not even so much the juju I had problems with, I can accept that in a book, but it was the enormous fuss about it. Believe in it, accept it, trust it …. or not, back and forth. It completely took over the storyline. Perhaps this is a me thing though and others might enjoy this much better.
There were two things happening in the investigation storyline and the first one took a bit of a backseat in the first half of the book. It was rather quickly and easily resolved, the second one held my interest better, but I had some trouble with the pacing of the story and it took me longer than normal to finish this book.
There is no romance arc in this book, but Yolanda is in an established relationship with Sydney who’s an ex-army doc and now works as an attending at the ER. I really liked Sydney, she’s grounded, understanding and tough at the same time and I liked them as a couple.
This is the first book in a series and while this book wasn’t the best match for my tastes. There were parts that made me curious about what the future will bring, but I hope there will be less focus on the juju.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 26, 2022
My first read by Veronica Gutierrez. While I did enjoy ‘As you look’, it wasn't one of the better crime stories I've read. The story is okay, but it didn't seem to ‘hook’ me in.
I've given ‘As you look’ a 3/5
I've given ‘As you look’ a 3/5
March 9, 2022
Ok, my last review I complained a little about the cover not being right and the blurb being slightly misleading. About this one I am more positive, the cover is really nice and the blurb teases enough, but is also made me think the story would play out differently, more on that later.
Yolanda is a former cop turned PI. I think she was a cop in LA and now works in Pasadena, this is just a little unclear to me. Yolie is married to Sydney, a doctor and a veteran. Sydney believes that Yolie's prophetic dreams hold meaning and shouldn't be disregarded. Yolie feels differently about that because of her mom's death. Nothing good comes from chasing the "juju". Yolanda's godson is kidnapped and she is assisting in solving the case, with or without her and her brother's "juju". After the kidnapping, which is resolved rather quickly there is a murder case and stalking of our couple. Yolie needs to find a way to solve the case- and come to terms with her "juju". Once she accepts her "juju" as strong gut feelings she is able to see things clearly and let go of her past.
My Spanish is ok enough conversationally, reading is slightly harder to do especially when there are words I am unfamiliar with and can't make out in context. And when they turn out to be "slang" it is super hard to find as well. It was a learning experience for me.
So for me, the whole "juju" thing is something I don't believe in, much like Yolanda at first. I do believe some people have better instincts than others. I could have easily enjoyed this book if Yolanda would have just accepted her prophetic dreams and not be so against it and fighting it and everyone who does believe in them. For a non-believer in such things I am able to enjoy them in fictional things like books and shows, but not how it was written in this book. Too much focus on it, that just doesn't work for me. By the end Yolanda accepted it, to great relief of her loved ones, and it made for better reading. The ending is why I would pick up another one and give this PI and the writer another chance.
In this book there is just too much going on, basically 3 cases, the "juju" thing and getting to know the characters, and there are many, it's just too much.
*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*
Yolanda is a former cop turned PI. I think she was a cop in LA and now works in Pasadena, this is just a little unclear to me. Yolie is married to Sydney, a doctor and a veteran. Sydney believes that Yolie's prophetic dreams hold meaning and shouldn't be disregarded. Yolie feels differently about that because of her mom's death. Nothing good comes from chasing the "juju". Yolanda's godson is kidnapped and she is assisting in solving the case, with or without her and her brother's "juju". After the kidnapping, which is resolved rather quickly there is a murder case and stalking of our couple. Yolie needs to find a way to solve the case- and come to terms with her "juju". Once she accepts her "juju" as strong gut feelings she is able to see things clearly and let go of her past.
My Spanish is ok enough conversationally, reading is slightly harder to do especially when there are words I am unfamiliar with and can't make out in context. And when they turn out to be "slang" it is super hard to find as well. It was a learning experience for me.
So for me, the whole "juju" thing is something I don't believe in, much like Yolanda at first. I do believe some people have better instincts than others. I could have easily enjoyed this book if Yolanda would have just accepted her prophetic dreams and not be so against it and fighting it and everyone who does believe in them. For a non-believer in such things I am able to enjoy them in fictional things like books and shows, but not how it was written in this book. Too much focus on it, that just doesn't work for me. By the end Yolanda accepted it, to great relief of her loved ones, and it made for better reading. The ending is why I would pick up another one and give this PI and the writer another chance.
In this book there is just too much going on, basically 3 cases, the "juju" thing and getting to know the characters, and there are many, it's just too much.
*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*
March 15, 2022
Ex-cop Yolanda Avila has recently transitioned to being a private investigator. When her five-year-old godson goes missing, his parents ask her to help the police find the boy. The only thing she has to go on is he may have been abducted by a person in a white van. Her brother gives her clues gained by his visions, but she ignores them as nothing more than juju until one of them turns out to be spot on. When the boy manages to call 911, a cop calls her about the call. She rushes to the boy’s rescue, subdues the perpetrator, and makes the news. When she has a nightmare that her wife may be in danger, she begins to believe in the family’s gifts.
The author has a potentially solid character in Yolanda but squanders her by lecturing her readers on Union politics, having a five-year-old make a phone call on his kidnapper’s phone without the man noticing even though he’s in the front seat and the boy is entrapped in ropes and seatbelts in the back seat. Instead of having developed that story much deeper, the author starts an entirely new book with her wife being in danger. Perhaps if she had chosen one or the other storylines to focus her talents on, this would have been a better book.
The author’s characters are not as well developed as one would have wished, and readers may not get into the book and might even set the book aside to go to the next book on their to-be-read lists. Since this book is the first in a series featuring Yolanda, the author might have wanted to put more time into developing Yolanda’s and the other on-going characters.
If you like reading the first book in a series, this is a book you’ll want to read. If you’re looking for a character-driven book with well-developed characters, this isn’t that.
My thanks to Bella Books and NetGalley for an eARC.
The author has a potentially solid character in Yolanda but squanders her by lecturing her readers on Union politics, having a five-year-old make a phone call on his kidnapper’s phone without the man noticing even though he’s in the front seat and the boy is entrapped in ropes and seatbelts in the back seat. Instead of having developed that story much deeper, the author starts an entirely new book with her wife being in danger. Perhaps if she had chosen one or the other storylines to focus her talents on, this would have been a better book.
The author’s characters are not as well developed as one would have wished, and readers may not get into the book and might even set the book aside to go to the next book on their to-be-read lists. Since this book is the first in a series featuring Yolanda, the author might have wanted to put more time into developing Yolanda’s and the other on-going characters.
If you like reading the first book in a series, this is a book you’ll want to read. If you’re looking for a character-driven book with well-developed characters, this isn’t that.
My thanks to Bella Books and NetGalley for an eARC.
August 7, 2022
Oh, how I wanted to like this book more! Finally - a sapphic audiobook with a Latina writer and narrator, Kyla Garcia. I jumped right on it.
What I liked about it most - the cultural references. I smiled with mentions like doilies being prevalent in an older person's home. The mention of what I know as the cure for the "evil eye" which involves rubbing an uncooked egg over someone while saying a prayer, then breaking the egg into a bowl or glass of water, placing the bowl near the body overnight and seeing what the shape or condition was the next day. The importance of family, the role of unions in the community. My mouth watered at mentions of favorite foods. And it was wonderful having a Latina narrator who could actually pronounce the words properly.
But the story itself dragged. There was so much telling and very little showing. Main character Yolanda Avila struggled with a psychic gift, passed down from her mother and she is obsessed with fighting it. This is a mystery and there's lots and lots of talking through scenarios, trying to work things out - discussing who did what. But for a former police officer turned private investigator, she's not a very heroic character. Yolanda's doctor wife Sydney is more of a badass than she is. She is surrounded by loving and supportive people who help her solve the mystery, but it's very much a group effort. And because it took so long to unravel, by the end I wasn't very invested in the outcome. It seems like maybe this is the beginning of a series and perhaps now that the basics have been established, things will improve. I hope so because I'd really love to see Gutierrez and more Latina authors succeed in sapphic fiction.
What I liked about it most - the cultural references. I smiled with mentions like doilies being prevalent in an older person's home. The mention of what I know as the cure for the "evil eye" which involves rubbing an uncooked egg over someone while saying a prayer, then breaking the egg into a bowl or glass of water, placing the bowl near the body overnight and seeing what the shape or condition was the next day. The importance of family, the role of unions in the community. My mouth watered at mentions of favorite foods. And it was wonderful having a Latina narrator who could actually pronounce the words properly.
But the story itself dragged. There was so much telling and very little showing. Main character Yolanda Avila struggled with a psychic gift, passed down from her mother and she is obsessed with fighting it. This is a mystery and there's lots and lots of talking through scenarios, trying to work things out - discussing who did what. But for a former police officer turned private investigator, she's not a very heroic character. Yolanda's doctor wife Sydney is more of a badass than she is. She is surrounded by loving and supportive people who help her solve the mystery, but it's very much a group effort. And because it took so long to unravel, by the end I wasn't very invested in the outcome. It seems like maybe this is the beginning of a series and perhaps now that the basics have been established, things will improve. I hope so because I'd really love to see Gutierrez and more Latina authors succeed in sapphic fiction.
March 20, 2022
As You Look by Veronica Gutierrez is an intrigue novel that I really enjoyed. It’s the first novel I’ve read by this author, and I’m definitely going to be looking for more.
The story revolves around Yolanda Avila, an ex-LAPD cop who has started a private investigation firm. Her business is doing well, but she has other issues from her past that keep intruding in her life. Her exit from the LAPD was not a happy one, and there are hard feelings on both sides. She also feels partly responsible for her mother’s death which involves what Yolanda calls juju, a paranormal ability that seems to run in her family…an ability Yolanda tries to reject in herself. Then Yolanda’s godson is kidnapped, and she becomes involved in a mystery that has more twists, turns, and possible bad guys than you can shake a stick at.
This is a very complex novel set in Boyle Heights, a real life neighborhood in East Los Angeles. The author knows this area intimately since she grew up there, so the setting is well described. We see most of the book through Yolanda’s eyes, but there are a few chapters where we get to see what the godson, Joey, is experiencing. Those chapters were actually kind of scary for me. I wanted to cover my eyes and read at the same time. There is also a fairly large cast of secondary characters, from Yolanda’s wife Sydney, her best friends and family, and the multiple folks who could be the villains of the tale. Because of the complex plot, you should take your time reading this novel. If you try to skim or read quickly, you may miss parts of the story you need to really understand what is happening.
The book is a true whodunit, not a romance. Yolanda and Sydney are happily married from the beginning of the tale, and although we do get to see some of their life together, the focus of the book is on the mystery.
I’m happy to see that this is the beginning of what may end up a series of “Yolanda Avila Mysteries”. I will be looking forward to seeing more from this author and these characters.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
The story revolves around Yolanda Avila, an ex-LAPD cop who has started a private investigation firm. Her business is doing well, but she has other issues from her past that keep intruding in her life. Her exit from the LAPD was not a happy one, and there are hard feelings on both sides. She also feels partly responsible for her mother’s death which involves what Yolanda calls juju, a paranormal ability that seems to run in her family…an ability Yolanda tries to reject in herself. Then Yolanda’s godson is kidnapped, and she becomes involved in a mystery that has more twists, turns, and possible bad guys than you can shake a stick at.
This is a very complex novel set in Boyle Heights, a real life neighborhood in East Los Angeles. The author knows this area intimately since she grew up there, so the setting is well described. We see most of the book through Yolanda’s eyes, but there are a few chapters where we get to see what the godson, Joey, is experiencing. Those chapters were actually kind of scary for me. I wanted to cover my eyes and read at the same time. There is also a fairly large cast of secondary characters, from Yolanda’s wife Sydney, her best friends and family, and the multiple folks who could be the villains of the tale. Because of the complex plot, you should take your time reading this novel. If you try to skim or read quickly, you may miss parts of the story you need to really understand what is happening.
The book is a true whodunit, not a romance. Yolanda and Sydney are happily married from the beginning of the tale, and although we do get to see some of their life together, the focus of the book is on the mystery.
I’m happy to see that this is the beginning of what may end up a series of “Yolanda Avila Mysteries”. I will be looking forward to seeing more from this author and these characters.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
August 8, 2022
I love a good crime novel and I was interested by this book's blurb. Yolanda is a former LAPD cop-turned private investigator, who experiences what she calls 'juju'. She's been burnt by the juju previously and she has so much guilt from her mother's death. Unfortunately, this novel focuses quite heavily on her internal struggle with the juju, and I found it a bit overkill. I would've liked for her to make a decision either way, and then move on. This was part of the reason why I don't think this novel worked for me.
The other reason was due to the writing style. There is a lot of telling in this novel, with minimal showing which is a shame as a crime procedural really needs to work between the two to be engaging. I'm not sure if it was because this book with packed with three crime storylines within the one novel plus the heavy amount of characters. I think if it was paired down slightly, this would've been a more engaging read. I struggled to finish it unfortunately.
Another point - Yolanda as a character is interesting. She's not overly tough or commanding as a PI and ex-cop, and I definitely agree with others who mention that her partner Sydney held this role moreso.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
The other reason was due to the writing style. There is a lot of telling in this novel, with minimal showing which is a shame as a crime procedural really needs to work between the two to be engaging. I'm not sure if it was because this book with packed with three crime storylines within the one novel plus the heavy amount of characters. I think if it was paired down slightly, this would've been a more engaging read. I struggled to finish it unfortunately.
Another point - Yolanda as a character is interesting. She's not overly tough or commanding as a PI and ex-cop, and I definitely agree with others who mention that her partner Sydney held this role moreso.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2022
Yolanda Avila is a private detective and ex LAPD police officer. She usually gets one of her special dreams if something bad is going to happen. After one such dream her godson is kidnapped. Yolanda doesn’t want to trust in her second sight or premonitions because it ties back to guilt she feels for her mothers death. Instead she thinks about who benefits from the missing boy. The case quickly ties in with two others, a murdered man and eventually threats directed at her own family.
I like the characters. Yolanda is a good procedural investigator. She follows clues and uses contacts that include union organizers, real estate developers and even another investigator. She’s burnt bridges with the LAPD but has a detective there she can work with as well. I like that she doesn’t do everything on her own and will share information with the police. Yolanda’s wife Sydney, an attending physician, is a good counter balance. She enjoys yoga and sees Yolanda’s gift as healing. She is also ex-military and doesn’t shy away when things get tough. I think this has the basics for the beginning of a good new series. This is a mystery thriller without focus on romantic heat between the couple. Thank you to NetGalley and Bella Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars.
I like the characters. Yolanda is a good procedural investigator. She follows clues and uses contacts that include union organizers, real estate developers and even another investigator. She’s burnt bridges with the LAPD but has a detective there she can work with as well. I like that she doesn’t do everything on her own and will share information with the police. Yolanda’s wife Sydney, an attending physician, is a good counter balance. She enjoys yoga and sees Yolanda’s gift as healing. She is also ex-military and doesn’t shy away when things get tough. I think this has the basics for the beginning of a good new series. This is a mystery thriller without focus on romantic heat between the couple. Thank you to NetGalley and Bella Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars.
April 15, 2022
If you’re looking for a PI mystery and like missing person cases, here’s a great start to a new series. Yolanda Avila is now a PI, having left the LAPD because of harassment. She’s trying to ignore what may be prophetic dreams, something she’ll have to come to terms with when her godson is kidnapped and her wife begins getting threatening notes at work… Bonus if you’re a fan of PIs with great family and friend support systems.
(TW child abduction/ active pedophile case in the city, no graphic details/ anxiety attack)
(TW child abduction/ active pedophile case in the city, no graphic details/ anxiety attack)
June 18, 2023
Solid 2. I felt there were many missed opportunities.
~ I listened to this book (audio) and found it hard to connect with the reader.
~ There were way too many characters to keep up with.
~ The novel felt like it was meant for young adults/juveniles.
~ The ending was uneventful. It almost felt like the author didn't know how to write the ending. It was a total flop.
Untapped potential.
I would not recommend this book.
~ I listened to this book (audio) and found it hard to connect with the reader.
~ There were way too many characters to keep up with.
~ The novel felt like it was meant for young adults/juveniles.
~ The ending was uneventful. It almost felt like the author didn't know how to write the ending. It was a total flop.
Untapped potential.
I would not recommend this book.
May 9, 2022
Great.
I really enjoyed AsYou Look. I love plots that involve strong level headed female Private Detectives. Love the family connections and relationships.
I really enjoyed AsYou Look. I love plots that involve strong level headed female Private Detectives. Love the family connections and relationships.
August 24, 2022
More than three, less than four. I like these characters.
May 3, 2023
2.5 stars rounded up. this was...fine?
March 24, 2022
This mystery introduces Yolanda Avila. She a former LAPD cop who left because of harassment since she's a competent woman, Hispanic, and a Lesbian. None of those traits endeared her to her fellow officers. Now, she's trying to build a new career as a private investigator.
Yolanda receives a panicked call for her best friend who tells her that her six-year-old son Joey has been kidnapped. Her friend Carmen first suspects her estranged husband since they have been arguing about custody. But Luis is as baffled as Carmen and as innocent.
As Yolanda investigates, she finds herself looking into unions and construction projects that could be the cause of the child's disappearance. Yolanda has a psychic gift that she isn't willing to trust. After all, trusting it may have led to the death of her mother in a road rage accident perpetrated by the person Yolanda was looking for because she looked in the wrong place based on her visions. Despite getting psychic clues, Yolanda is determined to find her godson using traditional detective skills.
The child is found but problems don't end. Yolanda's investigation has led to something that the criminals want hidden. Yolanda is assaulted and her ER Doctor wife Sydney is threatened before the case can be solved.
I enjoyed this story despite the large amount of untranslated Spanish that was interspersed. It showed me a place and culture that was unfamiliar to me. I liked the relationship between Yoland and Sydney and the acceptance they get from both their families.
The mystery was well-done and filled with intriguing plot twists.
Yolanda receives a panicked call for her best friend who tells her that her six-year-old son Joey has been kidnapped. Her friend Carmen first suspects her estranged husband since they have been arguing about custody. But Luis is as baffled as Carmen and as innocent.
As Yolanda investigates, she finds herself looking into unions and construction projects that could be the cause of the child's disappearance. Yolanda has a psychic gift that she isn't willing to trust. After all, trusting it may have led to the death of her mother in a road rage accident perpetrated by the person Yolanda was looking for because she looked in the wrong place based on her visions. Despite getting psychic clues, Yolanda is determined to find her godson using traditional detective skills.
The child is found but problems don't end. Yolanda's investigation has led to something that the criminals want hidden. Yolanda is assaulted and her ER Doctor wife Sydney is threatened before the case can be solved.
I enjoyed this story despite the large amount of untranslated Spanish that was interspersed. It showed me a place and culture that was unfamiliar to me. I liked the relationship between Yoland and Sydney and the acceptance they get from both their families.
The mystery was well-done and filled with intriguing plot twists.
April 12, 2022
I started this mystery thriller during March Mystery Madness. The book has three crime elements: a child abduction, a murder and a stalking. All of these incidents involve private investigator and former LAPD police officer, Yolanda Avila.
There are many things I liked about the book. It is very inclusive. The main character Yolanda is in a same sex marriage and the author writes about it so matter of factly that the marriage is not a plot point. The California setting adds a great backdrop to visualize how the events of the book are unfolding.
One of the major things I didn’t like about the book was the child abduction scenes. I have read other thrillers with child abductions and could feel the terror for the child and family. The author writes the thoughts and actions of the six year old during the abduction as if he is a mature adult. Another thing I did not like was the inclusion of juju, supernatural happenings. The juju distracted from solving the crimes and moving forward in the book.
Despite the issues I have with the book, I believe mystery and thriller readers will enjoy the book. This is the author’s mystery debut and I would read another book written by her.
Thanks to Kaye Publicity for an advanced copy of the book for review.
There are many things I liked about the book. It is very inclusive. The main character Yolanda is in a same sex marriage and the author writes about it so matter of factly that the marriage is not a plot point. The California setting adds a great backdrop to visualize how the events of the book are unfolding.
One of the major things I didn’t like about the book was the child abduction scenes. I have read other thrillers with child abductions and could feel the terror for the child and family. The author writes the thoughts and actions of the six year old during the abduction as if he is a mature adult. Another thing I did not like was the inclusion of juju, supernatural happenings. The juju distracted from solving the crimes and moving forward in the book.
Despite the issues I have with the book, I believe mystery and thriller readers will enjoy the book. This is the author’s mystery debut and I would read another book written by her.
Thanks to Kaye Publicity for an advanced copy of the book for review.
August 7, 2022
I finished reading my copy of AS YOU LOOK on Tuesday, and what a wild ride. This is the first Yolanda Ávila Mystery, where our protagonist is challenged to solve what feels like problem after problem following the kidnapping of her godson.
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This book puts you in Yolanda's shoes as se tries to balance what shes been taught are the proper ways to investigate a crime and what she's feeling in her gut. With lots of short chapters, its easy to whip through this book in no time at all.
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There are lots of characters in this one, it took me a bit to keep track of them all, but once I figured them out i was rocking. The characters are set up nicely for this book to turn into a series.
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A few chapters are written from a different perspective and I found that really pulled me into the story, it gave the book more of a heart pounding thriller feel.
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This book puts you in Yolanda's shoes as se tries to balance what shes been taught are the proper ways to investigate a crime and what she's feeling in her gut. With lots of short chapters, its easy to whip through this book in no time at all.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
There are lots of characters in this one, it took me a bit to keep track of them all, but once I figured them out i was rocking. The characters are set up nicely for this book to turn into a series.
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A few chapters are written from a different perspective and I found that really pulled me into the story, it gave the book more of a heart pounding thriller feel.
October 4, 2022
This book was good. Not great but a good story with good bones.
The character of Yolanda or Yola to her friends is a good one. She is struggling with guilt after the death of her mother. She is a lesbian and a PI and former police officer which has its own set of complications. the mystery was well written and complex enough to keep my interest.
Yolanda Avila, a former LAPD cop-turned private investigator, blames herself for her mother’s death in a road rage accident. It was her fault. The perpetrator was a suspect she’d pursued in an unrelated case, someone she should’ve caught by tracking down a license plate number. Any good detective would’ve done that. But she got cocky, thought she’d catch him by following clues from a stupid dream instead. The only salve against the guilt eating at her now is Yolanda’s vow to reject that juju crap.
The character of Yolanda or Yola to her friends is a good one. She is struggling with guilt after the death of her mother. She is a lesbian and a PI and former police officer which has its own set of complications. the mystery was well written and complex enough to keep my interest.
Yolanda Avila, a former LAPD cop-turned private investigator, blames herself for her mother’s death in a road rage accident. It was her fault. The perpetrator was a suspect she’d pursued in an unrelated case, someone she should’ve caught by tracking down a license plate number. Any good detective would’ve done that. But she got cocky, thought she’d catch him by following clues from a stupid dream instead. The only salve against the guilt eating at her now is Yolanda’s vow to reject that juju crap.
April 21, 2022
I really enjoyed this intriguing mystery. Yolanda is a PI and former cop in LA, married to Sydney, a doctor. Yolanda also has a psychic gift, that she calls juju, that she’s reluctant to use. The book starts with Yolanda’s godson being kidnapped. He’s rescued pretty quickly, but then Yolanda has to chase down the clues to discover who was behind it. Because this is a first in a series, Gutierrez adds in a lot of characters and details about the area of LA in which the women live. We also meet many of the people in Yolanda’s life as well as being immersed in the culture of her family and friends. I was not ready to reach the conclusion so soon and I’m now awaiting the next book.
July 22, 2023
There was too much going on in this book. Three mysteries to solve in a book of 228 pages was a lofty goal but it left some to be desired. The first mystery is solved fairly quickly and shortly after another one is revealed. The juju mystery was constant throughout the book and got annoying and was distracting from the rest of the book. There also was a larger number of characters which was a little hard to keep track of who was who. The ending was a little abrupt, but I think that was meant to set it up for the next in the series 🤷🏼♀️
I absolutely loved that this was a sapphic crime novel though.
I absolutely loved that this was a sapphic crime novel though.
March 28, 2022
Really entertaining crime book, with an ex cop turned private investigator who receives messages from the spirit world. Yolanda fights this until she realises that it helped more than it hinders. I really liked the existing supportive relationship between her and her wife Sydney. I also really enjoyed being able to focus on the crime and the intricacies of the case without distraction.
With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2022
Decent debut and the mystery is good. I think the story suffered from having to introduce too many concepts/characters. Yolanda's characterization was also uneven and among the female sleuths I've read, she's far from 'kickass'.
June 12, 2024
The book was okay. I felt like the story ended halfway through (don’t want to spoil so that’s all I say about that). So it was hard for me to get back into. The ending was okay though.
March 22, 2023
It's great that more mystery and thrillers with a diverse cast are being published, and I keep finding wonderful new authors and characters to follow. Yolanda Avila, a LA PI, as written by Veronica Gutierrez is one. Yolanda is still laboring with the guilt she feels over her mother's recent death and is reluctant to see the bad dreams she has as anything but dreams when her godson is kidnapped. A former LAPD officer, forced to quit the force, she can ask questions and go places that the cops can't go, and they're not very happy that she seems to get the answers before them!
Great characterization and insight into the world of labor and unions in LA, I look forward to more stories starring Yolanda.
Thanks to Bella Books for access to a digital ARC via NetGalley.
Great characterization and insight into the world of labor and unions in LA, I look forward to more stories starring Yolanda.
Thanks to Bella Books for access to a digital ARC via NetGalley.
February 6, 2023
Well written characters and relationships with just a daddy of the paranormal. The plot is tightly paced and the politics of LA, of community building and union interests are fascinating. I look forward to future installments.
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