The Fall Girl

Lexy Lomax Mysteries #2

by Kaye C. Hill

Accidental P.I. Lexy Lomax is investigating a suspicious death in a decidedly spooky cottage. Kinky, her truculent chihuahua, hates the place, but he seems to be in a minority. She's hindered by her obnoxious ex, and a mysterious beast that dogs her footsteps. And dark forces are running amok. ""Hill's smashing sequel. . . improves on her well-received debut. . . Hill avoids the usual cozy clichés in this cracking good read."" -Publishers Weekly, Starred Review ""It moves along at a good pace and it is well-written and absorbing."" - I Love a Mystery ""Sassy Lexy frequently acts with more guts than sense, but that's why reading about her is so much fun. . . Fans of British cozies will love Fall Girl.""-Mystery Scene Magazine ""The author and her protagonist had me completely charmed very quickly. Lexy's investigation at the dead woman's cottage, with the invaluable assistance of her friend, DI Bernard Milo, takes some suspenseful and unexpected turns, with a wholly satisfying resolution. A thoroughly delightful tale.""-Crime Spree Magazine

Genres: Mystery

273 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2010

Reviews

[Sallee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lexy Lomax, working as a private investigator finds herself looking into the death of Elizabeth Cassall who fell over the balcony of her cottage. She is hired by Rowana Paterson, a young woman who thinks Cassall's death was caused by her doing a magic spell. Lexy goes to the cottage to investigate but also to avoid her husband who she had left under bad circumstances. She had been living under the radar in the small town of Clopwolde. When she finds her husband is putting on a huge antique fair right across from where she lived, she felt she needed to get out of town. While investigating at Four Winds Cottage, she meets the Gallimore family who own all the land around the cottage and want to buy it now that the owner is deceased. When they find out that Four Winds has been left to Rowana Paterson, they make offers to the Paterson family. Secrets abound and as Lexy slowly works through the information, she finds plenty of motives for murder. Lexy is accompanied by her little Chihuahua named Kinky who doesn't seem to know he is no bigger than a tin can. Strange happenings in the woods, strange sights and strange attitudes make for a fast paced mystery that I think everyone will enjoy.

[Franklie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire/retrain whoever okayed the cover art, but the rest is fantastic.....

The storytelling style is practically perfect despite the usual plot device of lack of communication near the end and the fact that it doesn't look like anyone gets punished.

There was rarely a dull moment, the investigators got along (more-or-less), great side characters, amazing locations, and Hill had a PERFECT way of leaving out offensive words. It reminded me of the days when sex was implied in movies and books. Implication frees the reader/watcher to imagine whatever works for them. SO clever.

This was my first Lexie Lomax story and it looks like there is only one other. My crowd would definitely read dozens more. Can't wait to read the first one.

The BIGGEST problem w this book is the cover art! The publisher did a HUGE disservice to the author. I almost didn't choose this book because the cover is so off-putting, yet inside is bright and inviting. I'd republish these two books w covers that reflect the beautiful places these stories go.

[Lizzie Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Fall Girl’ by Kaye C Hill
Published by Crème De La Crime, 13 August 2009. ISBN: 9780-0-9557078-9-6

Lexy Lomax is in hiding in Suffolk, with her dog Kinky, taking on detective work to keep body and soul together.

When sixteen year old Rowana Paterson confesses to killing an unknown woman by magic. An unknown woman who has left her a fortune, having died the day after Rowana evoked Helandra, Supreme Goddess of the Moon, to provide her, Rowana with money by whatever means. Lexy isn’t sure that she should take the case, but the rent is pressing and she has just discovered that her violent ex-husband is due in the vicinity, so against her better judgment she agrees to check out how Elizabeth Cassall died to put Rowana’s mind at rest.

It all seems pretty simple on the face of it, but life is rarely that simple and Lexy finds herself caught up with the occupants of
ilgrim Farm as she checks out Rowana’s inheritance Four Winds Cottage. Why do Bruce and his sons Ward and Tyman want to buy the cottage so desperately. Then Rowana’s family get involved and life becomes even more complicated. Popping up and attempting to keep Lexy out of trouble is Detective Inspector Bernard Milo, he of the ice-blue eyes.

A good mystery, some marvellous characters and some sparkling dialogue. Kept me guess to the end. Highly recommended.
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Lizzie Hayes

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A competent but ho-hum mystery about a woman who, desperate to hide her past, sets herself up as a private detective without the slightest idea how to go about the job. In her first case, she is approached by a teenage girl who is worried that the spell she half-heartedly cast from a witchcraft book has caused the death of a stranger who left her a hefty inheritance.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second of only two books I can find by this author..which is a shame. She has a good story line going, with likeable characters. This last book was written 3 years ago, but I'm hoping there's more to come.

[Vanessab · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good amusing romp and I like the main character and her dog. It was fast paced and well-written. A real page turner. Although I felt that the plot was rather too implausible I look forward to reading more by this writer.