A Talent For Murder

Polly Pepper #3

by R.T. Jordan, Richard Tyler Jordan

Polly Pepper, legendary TV-star-turned sleuth, is back to solve another Hollywood murder, in this funny, smart mystery series.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery

352 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2009

Reviews

[Michael crage]

When I first tarted the book, I thought I would not like it since it was about hollywood movie stars and tv people. But the more I read it the more interesting it became. It is fun trying to solve a mystery right along with the people in the novel. And this novel was fair. Many authors solve a case using information you were not give and had no reason to expect. This one did not.

[Jackie]

Poorly written

[Jasmine]

I found this book to be a very different take on mystery solving. I found the main character to be quite different from the usual face of the detectives or sleuths that I'd read about before now. I have to say it made quite the story, that's for sure! Armed with her bubbly, loyal maid, and handsome son, Polly Pepper solves mysteries left and right in her city of Bel-Air, wrapping the case up in a neat little gift box and a bow on top. I thought the author did a great job at giving the reader step by step insight into how the mystery was being solved and why it was being solved the way it was. Another aspect of the way the author told the story that I also really liked was keeping the reader guessing who the culprit was up until the end of the story, which provided suspense to this mystery as well. After all, I guess I don't see the point in reading a mystery book, which is supposed to stump you and make you think, and finding out the culprit within the first few chapters. What's the point in that? I'll tell you; there isn't really reason at all, is there? Anyway, I thought this book was suspenseful, entertaining, funny, and a really great read as well. It was a really great work and I would definitely recommend it to other mystery-lovers out there.

[Debby]

What did I like about this book? NOTHING! I got this book on the last day of the library book sale where you get a big of books for $5 so I probably spent a quarter for it. The story looks promising a has been star living in the glory of her past solving murders. It is a mash up of American Idol meets the Gong Show. The characters are interesting. The story is too many pages of listing celebrities by name. I didn't enjoy it at all. I purchased a couple of others from this series. I may try to read them jin hopes the author can redeem himself, but I am not betting on it.

[Deb Drish]

This book is full of chills and thrills with a final twist.

[Kevin]

At the start of Jordan's bubbly third sleuth-a-thon to feature Hollywood actress Polly Pepper (after 2008's Final Curtain), Polly becomes a judge on a cheesy reality TV show, I'll Do Anything to Become Famous. When someone plunges a knife into a fellow judge, nasty Brit Thane Cornwall, Polly flips into Miss Marple mode. The prime suspect? Thane's ex-lover, Lisa Marrs, the producer's secretary, found at the crime scene with the murder weapon. Aided by housekeeper Placenta, gay son Tim and her current amour, Beverly Hills detective Randal Archer, Polly uncovers some surprises involving such show contestants as rapper Ped-Xing and Miley Cyrus clone Amy Stout. Dotted with delicious observations on America's obsession with celebrity, this entry should win new fans for Polly, who, as the body count rises, tells the exasperated Archer that she's œa death magnet. And there's nothing you can do about it. Fans of comic whodunits will be rewarded.

[Mascanlon]

Hollywood musical comedy legend Polly Pepper has a new gig, as the "nice" judge on sleazy reality show called "I'll Do Anything To Be Famous." Think "American Idol" on steroids and crack . Supposedly written by a Hollywood inside this series is so camp and not in a good way, from the champagne sipping diva Polly, to the de rigor gay son and best friend Hispanic maid. I did much like the first volume I read of this series but forgot or put it out of mind and so picked this up . I'll remember the next time, sure wish I could put a book down unfinished!

[Susan]

Television icon Polly Pepper is eager for a way to supplement her income--champagne doesn't come cheap--and agrees to act as a judge on a summer-replacement reality show that tries to see just how far would-be celebrities will go to achieve fame. Polly, of course, is the "nice" judge, which is lucky, because the nasty judge is murdered after the first show. That's only the first death, so Polly, her son Tim, and their maid and bff spring into detective mode to find which of the very unattractive characters is the most desperate to be a celebrity.

[Mark Baker]

Polly Pepper has gotten a job on the next great reality show as a judge. But when another judge is murdered, Polly suddenly finds herself with a whole lot of suspects. The characters and plot are delightfully over the top in an "only in Hollywood" way. Wacky but lots of fun.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Ellen]

An aging famous actress who swills champagne and refers to herself in the 3rd person accepts a job as the "nice" judge on an American Idol type show. Murder of course gives her a chance to find the bad guy, despite all the danger to herself & family. What can I say, I bought it from a bin at Big Lots!

1.5 Rounded up to 2.0.