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Cadence Jones #1
Me, Myself and Why?
From New York Times bestselling author MaryJanice Davidson comes an outrageously funny novel about a highly unconventional FBI agent, a rather odd serial killer, a best friend on the edge, a gorgeous baker. . . and oh, yeah, love.
Sweet and innocent with a twist of girl-next-door, Cadence Jones is not your typical girl and certainly not your typical FBI agent. Just ask her sisters, Shiro and Adrienne. (Wait. . . best if you don’t ask Adrienne anything.) But it’s her special “talent” which makes Cadence so valuable to the FBI and it never comes in more handy than when she and her partner, George, get tagged to bring down the Threefer Killer. A serial killer who inexplicably likes to kill in threes, leave behind inexplicable newspaper clippings, and not one shred of decent forensic evidence, soon starts leaving messages that seem to be just for Cadence and her sisters. Could it be that this killer knows all about Cadence’s special “talent”?
In the meantime, love blooms in the most unexpected place when Cadence meets her best friend’s gorgeous brother who is in town visiting—and she discovers that he knows her secret too! When attraction burns hot between them, her best friend isn’t thrilled with the romantic development and this time Cadence just might agree!
Suddenly Cadence finds her unbalanced life turned even more upside down as she tries to date a baker who wants to get in her heart and in her bed, dodge a pesky psychiatrist, keep a leash on her sociopath partner, while trying to catch a serial killer who’s now fixated on her.
Some days it’s not even worth getting up in the morning.
Sweet and innocent with a twist of girl-next-door, Cadence Jones is not your typical girl and certainly not your typical FBI agent. Just ask her sisters, Shiro and Adrienne. (Wait. . . best if you don’t ask Adrienne anything.) But it’s her special “talent” which makes Cadence so valuable to the FBI and it never comes in more handy than when she and her partner, George, get tagged to bring down the Threefer Killer. A serial killer who inexplicably likes to kill in threes, leave behind inexplicable newspaper clippings, and not one shred of decent forensic evidence, soon starts leaving messages that seem to be just for Cadence and her sisters. Could it be that this killer knows all about Cadence’s special “talent”?
In the meantime, love blooms in the most unexpected place when Cadence meets her best friend’s gorgeous brother who is in town visiting—and she discovers that he knows her secret too! When attraction burns hot between them, her best friend isn’t thrilled with the romantic development and this time Cadence just might agree!
Suddenly Cadence finds her unbalanced life turned even more upside down as she tries to date a baker who wants to get in her heart and in her bed, dodge a pesky psychiatrist, keep a leash on her sociopath partner, while trying to catch a serial killer who’s now fixated on her.
Some days it’s not even worth getting up in the morning.
302 pages, Hardcover
First published September 28, 2010
51 people are currently reading
1852 people want to read
About the author
MaryJanice Davidson
142 books5,393 followersMaryJanice Davidson is an American author and motivational speaker who writes mostly paranormal romance, but also young adult and non-fiction. She is the creator of the popular UNDEAD series and the time-traveling historical fiction A CONTEMPORARY ASSHAT AT THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. MaryJanice is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author who writes a bi-weekly column for USA Today and lives in St. Paul with her family. You can reach her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 378 reviews
August 24, 2011
This book isn't for me. I hardly ever find subjects that are completely intolerable in a book, but this is one, if not done right, I can't abide. My mother is bi-polar with schizophrenic tendencies, which basically means not only are her moods all over the place, but she has a tendency to get violent and hears voices that tell her to do bad things. Thankfully she is cognizant enough to ignore the voices, but it's a very serious illness. And not one I can take lightly, especially in a romance book where the heroine has split personality disorder and it seems one of them is extremely violent, but the context in which this story is told is one of jokes, silliness and it feels offensive to me. I'll admit this may be acceptable to others, but as mental illness is something I take very seriously, I can't listen/read a story that uses it as a quirky plot line, it's just too personal for me and I don't read/listen to books that deal with mental illness so lightly and trivially. It just seems insulting but I know the author did not intend this, so I will just pretend I never even bothered with this one and choose a different book to introduce me to MJD.
March 6, 2018
I gave it 3 stars because I didn’t know what else to do. I literally have no idea what it just listened to. This was the most odd story I have ever read. I’m speechless and just so confused by what just happened. It was so bizarre.
November 10, 2011
I'm actually not sure how many stars to give this book...it was a bit like not being able to look away from a car accident. It's probably one of the most bizarre books I've ever read (actually listened to). The main character has Multiple Personality Disorder, she is a member of a special FBI unit that is full of mentally ill agents...her partner is a sociopath, there is a kleptomaniac, an agoraphobic, etc. It is so unbelievable I was waiting to find out this was all going on in the main characters mind and none of it was real..sort of like the movie A Beautiful Mind or that Chris Bohjalian book "Double Bind", but no you need to buy in to the idea that someone would bring all these unusual personalities together to hunt down the craziest of killers.
There are some very funny parts and some very graphic, violent, horrific parts...like why the main character has multiple personalities.
Anyway..I'm not sure I would recommend this book, but at the same time I'm going to look for the next book in the series.
There are some very funny parts and some very graphic, violent, horrific parts...like why the main character has multiple personalities.
Anyway..I'm not sure I would recommend this book, but at the same time I'm going to look for the next book in the series.
September 17, 2010
Cadence Jones is a FBI agent with multiple personality disorder. Her three very distinct personalities include Candence, Adrienne, and Shiro. The problem is you never know which personality you were reading about. Davidson thought it would be a smart idea to change personality not every chapter, not every paragraph but sometimes, mid-sentence. It was annoying, confusing and I did not want to waste anymore time trying to figure out what was going on. Therefore, I didn't!
September 2, 2010
Fabulous and incredibly different in a very good way. MaryJanice Davidson never fails to amaze me with her talent!
February 6, 2017
This was a cute little short that I wish had more... I'll keep looking.
November 23, 2010
After witnessing a horrible tragedy at the age of three, Cadence Jones was never the same. Raised in a mental institution and suffering from multiple personality disorder, Cadence thinks of her other two personalities as her sisters, her family. Cadence is sweet and never swears. Shiro smokes and is sarcastic, and Adrienne is well, violent.
Luckily there is a relatively unknown little branch of the FBI that hires the strange and unusual; they feel agents that are kleptomaniacs, have multiple personality disorder or any other strange psychosis can lend a unique perspective on capturing killers or any other cases. So far this strange group of agents is highly successful. Right now Cadence and her sociopath partner, George, are trying to catch a serial killer known as the ThreeFer.
Only in MaryJanice Davidson’s imagination could any of the above be thought up, and written out. The fact that she can get the reader to eat up every page and have them believe that everything is entirely plausible makes her a master at her craft.
I love MaryJanice Davidson’s humor and wit. Her characters always charm me and Cadence and her sisters did, too. While Cadence, Shiro and Adrienne’s background is tragic and sad, you can see why they are reluctant to get rid of one another. It’s a dependency that was born in heartache but has been helpful and reliable.
This is a weird and wonderful little murder mystery filled with a colorful cast of characters and hilarity. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next two books! I love Cadence and ALL her personalities!
Cherise Everhard, November 2010
Luckily there is a relatively unknown little branch of the FBI that hires the strange and unusual; they feel agents that are kleptomaniacs, have multiple personality disorder or any other strange psychosis can lend a unique perspective on capturing killers or any other cases. So far this strange group of agents is highly successful. Right now Cadence and her sociopath partner, George, are trying to catch a serial killer known as the ThreeFer.
Only in MaryJanice Davidson’s imagination could any of the above be thought up, and written out. The fact that she can get the reader to eat up every page and have them believe that everything is entirely plausible makes her a master at her craft.
I love MaryJanice Davidson’s humor and wit. Her characters always charm me and Cadence and her sisters did, too. While Cadence, Shiro and Adrienne’s background is tragic and sad, you can see why they are reluctant to get rid of one another. It’s a dependency that was born in heartache but has been helpful and reliable.
This is a weird and wonderful little murder mystery filled with a colorful cast of characters and hilarity. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next two books! I love Cadence and ALL her personalities!
Cherise Everhard, November 2010
November 8, 2012
MJD has been hit-or-miss with me the last couple of years, but this was definitely a mixed-up, twisted, hilariously funny hit! Can't wait for the next book in the trilogy! :)
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April 13, 2017I don't very often come across a book by an author I admire and find I can't actually read it but this one I struggled with from page one. I was so excited when I found it in a book shop and knew it was one I hadn't read that I just bought it without reading what it was about. Even when I did read the back, I thought it would be fun because MJD writes fun, humorous books. But this one was not for me. I was as confused as the multiple disorder inflicted heroine and I got to the point where the hero turns up before I gave up. I feel really disappointed that I didn't 'get' this but she's still an author who makes me smile.
December 26, 2018
Wish the remainder of the series were available on audio!
November 29, 2010
Candace Jones is an FBI operative in a very special, super-secret branch of the organization. She, and all her collegues have various mental disabilites that make them uniquely suited to hunting down and bagging the criminals they seek. Candace, dealing with multiple personality disorder, and her partner, a sociopath, are on the trail of a notorious serial killer.
This is an outrageous, over-the-top, tongue in cheek kind of book. If you are looking for something believable or a serious mystery this is not the book for you. However, if you are looking for a few laughs and a pleasant distraction I recomend you give it a try. I really liked Candace and all her collegues and the mystery started out entertaining enough. The story got a little too outrageous for me towards the end, I wish the mystery part had been written better. Still, the characters were great and the idea was pretty original. This is the first book by Mary Janice Davidson I've read and I will likely read more.
I listened to this book on audio, read by Renee Raudman. She does a fantastic job with the narration. Candace's three personalites are very distinct, it's always easy to tell which one is present, yet they sound similar enough to be related. All the wacky energy of this book comes through in the lively reading. This is an audiobook that I imagine is an improvement on the print version. The perfect distraction for a long commute!
This is an outrageous, over-the-top, tongue in cheek kind of book. If you are looking for something believable or a serious mystery this is not the book for you. However, if you are looking for a few laughs and a pleasant distraction I recomend you give it a try. I really liked Candace and all her collegues and the mystery started out entertaining enough. The story got a little too outrageous for me towards the end, I wish the mystery part had been written better. Still, the characters were great and the idea was pretty original. This is the first book by Mary Janice Davidson I've read and I will likely read more.
I listened to this book on audio, read by Renee Raudman. She does a fantastic job with the narration. Candace's three personalites are very distinct, it's always easy to tell which one is present, yet they sound similar enough to be related. All the wacky energy of this book comes through in the lively reading. This is an audiobook that I imagine is an improvement on the print version. The perfect distraction for a long commute!
December 20, 2010
Me, Myself and Why? is a chick lit mystery featuring Agent Cadence Jones and her two other personalities. Cadence works for a secret division of the FBI, BOFFO, which employs agents with personality disorders because their mental illnesses often come in handy in investigations. Cadence, along with her sociopath partner George, are searching for a serial killer called ThreeFer.
I love the premise, the idea of people with psychological disorders being exploited by the government in the name of public safety and national security. I also love MaryJanice Davidson's writing style. Her books, Me, Myself and Why? included, are easy, lighthearted, funny reads no matter the subject matter.
The one, huge problem with Me, Myself and Why? is Cadence has an innocently grating personality. She's annoying. Of her other two personalities, Shiro is obnoxious and Adrienne only speaks in some bizarre sing-songy poetry of craziness. As the personalities take control of the body, the chapters abruptly end or start. In mid sentence. While this is a good way to know that a new personality is speaking, it isn't necessary as the personalities are vastly different.
The mystery in Me, Myself and Why? is surprising and interesting, but Cadence and company make it hard to want to read all the way to the end to find out who ThreeFer is.
I love the premise, the idea of people with psychological disorders being exploited by the government in the name of public safety and national security. I also love MaryJanice Davidson's writing style. Her books, Me, Myself and Why? included, are easy, lighthearted, funny reads no matter the subject matter.
The one, huge problem with Me, Myself and Why? is Cadence has an innocently grating personality. She's annoying. Of her other two personalities, Shiro is obnoxious and Adrienne only speaks in some bizarre sing-songy poetry of craziness. As the personalities take control of the body, the chapters abruptly end or start. In mid sentence. While this is a good way to know that a new personality is speaking, it isn't necessary as the personalities are vastly different.
The mystery in Me, Myself and Why? is surprising and interesting, but Cadence and company make it hard to want to read all the way to the end to find out who ThreeFer is.
August 4, 2016
Cadence is an FBI Agent with BOFFO, a division that employs the mentally 'ill' - schizophrenics, kleptomaniacs, multiple personalities, etc. With her 'sisters', Cadence comes with unique skill sets and way of looking a crime scenes, which makes them invaluable. Cadence and her sisters recognize something familiar about the rash of "3Fer" killings, which is causing her to switch rapidly between personalities. Will Cadence, Shiro, and Adrienne figure out who the real killer is before it's too late (and Cadence cracks up for good)?
I love Ms. Davidson's books (especially her Queen Betsy series) and I was thrilled at the chance to read this first book in a new trilogy. Cadence is quirky, sweet, and funny - she's everyone's best friend; Shiro is cold, intellectual, and strong - she's the protector; and Adrienne, well, Adrienne's unadulterated id. Cadence and her sisters must work together (as much as they can) to figure out who is killing people and leaving sick messages. To add to it, Cadence's best friend's brother is in town and quite smitten with all three of the Jones sisters. This is a fast-paced roller coaster ride of a story, with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end! I highly recommend Me, Myself, and Why?!!
Cadence Jones series: Outta the Bag (0), Me, Myself and Why? (1), Yours, Mine, and Ours (2)
I love Ms. Davidson's books (especially her Queen Betsy series) and I was thrilled at the chance to read this first book in a new trilogy. Cadence is quirky, sweet, and funny - she's everyone's best friend; Shiro is cold, intellectual, and strong - she's the protector; and Adrienne, well, Adrienne's unadulterated id. Cadence and her sisters must work together (as much as they can) to figure out who is killing people and leaving sick messages. To add to it, Cadence's best friend's brother is in town and quite smitten with all three of the Jones sisters. This is a fast-paced roller coaster ride of a story, with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end! I highly recommend Me, Myself, and Why?!!
Cadence Jones series: Outta the Bag (0), Me, Myself and Why? (1), Yours, Mine, and Ours (2)
December 14, 2010
It isn’t easy being a woman in a male dominated world. It is even harder when you have split personalities; all fighting for a chance to come out. Meet…FBI Agent Cadence Jones. Cadence has three sides to her. There is Cadence the FBI Agent, who tries to stick to the rules. Than there is Shiro, the ninja warrior and finally there is Adrienne, the instigator. You can guarantee that no case is ever boring with the many sides of Cadence around.
I love FBI Agent Cadence Jones and her multiple personalities. Though my favorite was Shiro. Shiro really was a force to be watching your back around. She could kick your ass and enjoy it. The one that made the least impression on me was Adrienne. I hardly noticed when she would made an appearance, though Adrienne is still someone I would not like to meet. He would show up when someone was fighting. I felt sorry for Cadence’s partner, George. He never knew which one of Cadence’s many personalities would make an appearance next. George was always in the line of fire and the punching bag. It was refreshing to read a mystery that had a bit of comedic relief to the story line. I am definitely keeping my eyes on MaryJanice Davidson.
I love FBI Agent Cadence Jones and her multiple personalities. Though my favorite was Shiro. Shiro really was a force to be watching your back around. She could kick your ass and enjoy it. The one that made the least impression on me was Adrienne. I hardly noticed when she would made an appearance, though Adrienne is still someone I would not like to meet. He would show up when someone was fighting. I felt sorry for Cadence’s partner, George. He never knew which one of Cadence’s many personalities would make an appearance next. George was always in the line of fire and the punching bag. It was refreshing to read a mystery that had a bit of comedic relief to the story line. I am definitely keeping my eyes on MaryJanice Davidson.
July 16, 2024
Well that was just flat-out fucking weird. I've enjoyed so many of Ms. Davidson's other books, many of which were also weird, but this one is just off the charts. I mean, I get what she was going for and I did like the story overall but Christ on a cracker, it was disturbing and there were some truly odd things about it. Like the nice guy suddenly turning into a pervert? That added nothing to the story and just struck such a bad chord for me. And the third sister being unhinged made sense but the parts where she was there were not fun or even easy to read and it took me entirely out of the story. I was happy to wrap it up and put it mostly behind me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2018
This was a very strange book. Candace Jones works for a special division of the FBI that uses only people with severe psychological problems to solve cases. She herself is a multiple personality with two other “sisters”. The book is bizarre jumping from sister to sister in the blink of an eye as she works to find a serial killer. It feels wrong to take a serious issue and turn it into chicklit. I did finish the book though so it got to stars. Maybe some will find it to be amusing but definitely not my cup of tea.
August 17, 2020
I have to be honest. I only listened to the audiobook version of this for Renee Raudman. I just love her narration. Now with that said...this was weird. I don't know if I should be offended or not take it so seriously that I get offended. I don't know but Raudman is awesome and she did a great job!
May 9, 2024
I liked this, but it gets old quickly trying to read the multiple perspectives mid sentence.
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January 20, 2020Definitely does not count as chick lit romance. Might count as chick lit murder mystery? Not exceptional.
September 20, 2010
Fans of Queen Betsy, the Cyborgs and (my personal favorites) the Alaskan Royal Family know that the odd, quirky and unexpected is par for the course when you crack open a MaryJanice Davidson novel. Me, Myself and Why? certainly delivers the off-beat, piquant characters that make Davidson such a successful and popular writer, not to mention so wonderfully fun to read. But this novel is also longer on mystery and lighter on romance than Davidson’s previous works and it has a whole lot more depth for the reader to digest.
This is the first in an intriguing new trilogy featuring Cadence Jones, an agent with an under the radar branch of the FBI which goes by the unusual (but fitting) acronym BOFFO. Cadence and her fellow BOFFO Agents all suffer from serious psychological disorders. Cadence’s little quirk is that she is always with her ‘sisters,’ Shiro and Adrienne. Sisters who just happen to be fractured pieces of her own psyche. And if Cadence’s multiple personality disorder would seem to be an unusual trait in an FBI agent, consider her partner George - he’s a sociopath.
Cadence has even more on her mind than usual these days. She and the annoyingly self-centered George are on the trail of a serial killer, which would be stressful enough, but Cadence’s best friend’s older brother seems to be making a move on Cadence - and on Shiro and Adrienne to boot. So Cadence is all about juggling her work and her personal life, but keeping them separate turns out not to be an unworkable notion. As she and George turn up clues at the ‘Threefer Killer’s’ crime scenes, Cadence starts finding that things are disturbingly familiar.
Me, Myself and Why? is an ambitious undertaking and while it is a little slow and confusing in the early stages (the jumps between personalities are a little tough to sort out until the reader becomes familiar with each of the ‘sister’s’ voices), the writing throughout is accomplished and extremely readable. About a third of the way through things really pick up - both in the central mystery and in Cadence’s personal life. When I first read the description of this book on Good Reads, I was really curious to see how Davidson would make the idea work, so I was thrilled to win a copy through Goodreads First Reads. Things were really getting interesting and complicated at the end and I find myself looking forward to the next entry in the Cadence Jones trilogy.
This is the first in an intriguing new trilogy featuring Cadence Jones, an agent with an under the radar branch of the FBI which goes by the unusual (but fitting) acronym BOFFO. Cadence and her fellow BOFFO Agents all suffer from serious psychological disorders. Cadence’s little quirk is that she is always with her ‘sisters,’ Shiro and Adrienne. Sisters who just happen to be fractured pieces of her own psyche. And if Cadence’s multiple personality disorder would seem to be an unusual trait in an FBI agent, consider her partner George - he’s a sociopath.
Cadence has even more on her mind than usual these days. She and the annoyingly self-centered George are on the trail of a serial killer, which would be stressful enough, but Cadence’s best friend’s older brother seems to be making a move on Cadence - and on Shiro and Adrienne to boot. So Cadence is all about juggling her work and her personal life, but keeping them separate turns out not to be an unworkable notion. As she and George turn up clues at the ‘Threefer Killer’s’ crime scenes, Cadence starts finding that things are disturbingly familiar.
Me, Myself and Why? is an ambitious undertaking and while it is a little slow and confusing in the early stages (the jumps between personalities are a little tough to sort out until the reader becomes familiar with each of the ‘sister’s’ voices), the writing throughout is accomplished and extremely readable. About a third of the way through things really pick up - both in the central mystery and in Cadence’s personal life. When I first read the description of this book on Good Reads, I was really curious to see how Davidson would make the idea work, so I was thrilled to win a copy through Goodreads First Reads. Things were really getting interesting and complicated at the end and I find myself looking forward to the next entry in the Cadence Jones trilogy.
August 1, 2014
Wow. Before you take that wow as a compliment, look at my star rating, and let me be very clear. It is not a good wow.
I've read a number of books by MaryJanice Davidson, 9 to be exact. After 8 books, I've come to expect a certain level of decency in her books. We all know this isn't heady literature, but fun rompy reads meant to entertain.
Reading this book is regretful, not because of the lost time (well, there is that too), but because reading this book makes me less interested in reading other books by this author. It's like my perception has shifted and I'll now be more aware of, and less forgiving of, flaws in her other books.
For starters, it's all kinds of not PC. I know people love to bitch about PC, but it serves its purpose. I imagine MaryJanice thinks of herself as an enlightened gal, but some stuff peeks through in this book that made me cringe. Don't ask for examples, I suck at that. I just remember multiple times thing "hmm, that's probably not cool".
Then there were the logic fails. Was this book not given to any beta readers? How was some of this stuff not caught?
The main fella starts out fine, but then, mild spoiler: The main identity Cadence ends up negotiating with him, and the fact that she doesn't tell him to fuck off just didn't work for me. Blech.
Finally, reading about someone with Dissociative Identity Disorder (MJ uses the old term split personality in the book, because she thinks her readers can't handle the new term), is, well, kind of annoying. This isn't the only book I've read from the POV of someone with DID, but it was the one with the most annoying identities. I will admit that listening to this as audiobook was not a good choice. It was too difficult to tell what was internal dialog and what was not. If I ever hear someone sing "the wheels on the bus go round and round" again, well, let's just say I hope not to.
Memorability Factor: 9/10
Follow this author: I already do, but I'll be sure to not pick up books outside of the 2 series I enjoy unless it's from the library (free) or I am willing to abandon it partway through.
I've read a number of books by MaryJanice Davidson, 9 to be exact. After 8 books, I've come to expect a certain level of decency in her books. We all know this isn't heady literature, but fun rompy reads meant to entertain.
Reading this book is regretful, not because of the lost time (well, there is that too), but because reading this book makes me less interested in reading other books by this author. It's like my perception has shifted and I'll now be more aware of, and less forgiving of, flaws in her other books.
For starters, it's all kinds of not PC. I know people love to bitch about PC, but it serves its purpose. I imagine MaryJanice thinks of herself as an enlightened gal, but some stuff peeks through in this book that made me cringe. Don't ask for examples, I suck at that. I just remember multiple times thing "hmm, that's probably not cool".
Then there were the logic fails. Was this book not given to any beta readers? How was some of this stuff not caught?
The main fella starts out fine, but then, mild spoiler: The main identity Cadence ends up negotiating with him, and the fact that she doesn't tell him to fuck off just didn't work for me. Blech.
Finally, reading about someone with Dissociative Identity Disorder (MJ uses the old term split personality in the book, because she thinks her readers can't handle the new term), is, well, kind of annoying. This isn't the only book I've read from the POV of someone with DID, but it was the one with the most annoying identities. I will admit that listening to this as audiobook was not a good choice. It was too difficult to tell what was internal dialog and what was not. If I ever hear someone sing "the wheels on the bus go round and round" again, well, let's just say I hope not to.
Memorability Factor: 9/10
Follow this author: I already do, but I'll be sure to not pick up books outside of the 2 series I enjoy unless it's from the library (free) or I am willing to abandon it partway through.
January 5, 2011
There I am, sitting on my favorite corner of the couch reading while the kids and my hubby watche TV, laughing my behind off. Every time I guffaw, someone asks what’s so funny. Once hubby asked to rewind the TV because his missed it, then blew it off because he realized I was laughing over a passage in the book.
As usual, the rapid-fire dialog works, the insightful tidbits are either poignant or gut-splitting funny.
It’s hard enough to keep track of which character is speaking when there are more than two in a scene. Now, if one of those characters just so happen to have multiple personality disorder, that just adds a whole new dimension to the dialogue. MaryJanice cleverly kept it easy with clues as to what triggered that particular’s personality’s appearance, in addition to the personality’s word choices and speech cadence, so it was easy to anticipate when a particular personality was about to make an appearance.
I’ve never been with more than one me inside me at a time. I can only guess that MaryJanice… naw, it’s best if I don’t hazard a guess in that direction. She treated her neurologically-challenged-yet-mainstreamed characters with heart, hope, and a chance to be more than their diagnosis. Further, she let us feel what it might be like to live in the world of someone challenged with multiple personalities.
A zany read with zing, wrapped up in a poignant ending.
I really don’t like reading hardback books. This was a hardback book.
I really hate paying full price for books and I usually wait until they reach the 25% off shelf. I paid full price.
I really liked this book. Not just because MaryJanice signed it for me.
December 3, 2010
First Line: "The lilting strains of thrash metal crashed through my skull and I sat bolt upright in bed, clutching my ears."
This is the first Davidson book that I have read and I was thoroughly enchanted. Somehow, she made a romance featuring the three personalities of a woman suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder work well. I think listening to this book really helped me build the three distinct personalities into fleshed-out characters as the narrator did a beautiful job of altering her tone to match them. There is Candace, a social and too-sweet woman who never cusses, is a virgin, and is a whiz at compiling data and solving puzzles. Shiro, my personal favorite, is a master of various forms of martial arts and is tough enough to handle all the uncomfortable truths that Candace cannot face. Finally, there is Adrianne, who everyone dreads because she is a violent party girl who acts completely for her own pleasure. Together, they work for a special unit of the FBI that employees people with various mental disorders and they are hunting a serial killer who always kills in threes. I loved all three women and they are the reason I enjoyed the story. Candace's love interest was only so-so, as I often felt that a man who would knowingly date someone with MPD was either crazy or had a weird fetish and he never really proved me wrong. Still, the various romantic scenes when one of Candace's other personalities make an appearance were always hilariously entertaining. If you are in the mood for something a little different, give this one a try.
Narrator: Renee Raudman
Tone: Humorous, Dark, Angst
Setting: Minnesota
Characters: FBI Agents, Baker, Multiple Personality Disorder
Language: Perky, Serious, Frenzied
Pace: Fast-paced
This is the first Davidson book that I have read and I was thoroughly enchanted. Somehow, she made a romance featuring the three personalities of a woman suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder work well. I think listening to this book really helped me build the three distinct personalities into fleshed-out characters as the narrator did a beautiful job of altering her tone to match them. There is Candace, a social and too-sweet woman who never cusses, is a virgin, and is a whiz at compiling data and solving puzzles. Shiro, my personal favorite, is a master of various forms of martial arts and is tough enough to handle all the uncomfortable truths that Candace cannot face. Finally, there is Adrianne, who everyone dreads because she is a violent party girl who acts completely for her own pleasure. Together, they work for a special unit of the FBI that employees people with various mental disorders and they are hunting a serial killer who always kills in threes. I loved all three women and they are the reason I enjoyed the story. Candace's love interest was only so-so, as I often felt that a man who would knowingly date someone with MPD was either crazy or had a weird fetish and he never really proved me wrong. Still, the various romantic scenes when one of Candace's other personalities make an appearance were always hilariously entertaining. If you are in the mood for something a little different, give this one a try.
Narrator: Renee Raudman
Tone: Humorous, Dark, Angst
Setting: Minnesota
Characters: FBI Agents, Baker, Multiple Personality Disorder
Language: Perky, Serious, Frenzied
Pace: Fast-paced
September 28, 2014
I'm super disappointed in the book. When I first found it, I was really excited to read it because the summary sounded interesting and addition of "A Modern Threesome" gave it some extra spice. Turns out I was being led on. By a book. No romantic threesomes in sight.
I'll admit that the crime story of the book was interesting and that's basically what kept me going. The characters were really inconsistent - not just our three leading ladies, but others as well. The love interest? What on Earth was up with that guy towards the end? In fact, what on Earth was up with that guy all the time? I'm not easily offended, but this book and his behaviour in particular just rubbed me the wrong way. I don't think making fun of a mental illness is the way to go.
Aside from the plot, I was really confused at times by the way chapters were used. Sometimes it really meant a new chapter, other times it was one of Cadence's sisters coming out of the woodwork and while I could keep it straight most of the time, there were one or two instances where I wasn't even sure if there had been a personality switch because I couldn't tell which personality it was supposed to be until somebody talked to her and said her name.
Once I saw that the book was the first of a series, I literally groaned. I don't think the book or the plot deserve to be part of a series. I'm really disappointed because I liked MJD's Undead series, and while the writing of this one is fine if at times confusing, the book on the whole is anything but and definitely not my cup of tea. (For what it's worth, I adored George. He was fun.)
I'll admit that the crime story of the book was interesting and that's basically what kept me going. The characters were really inconsistent - not just our three leading ladies, but others as well. The love interest? What on Earth was up with that guy towards the end? In fact, what on Earth was up with that guy all the time? I'm not easily offended, but this book and his behaviour in particular just rubbed me the wrong way. I don't think making fun of a mental illness is the way to go.
Aside from the plot, I was really confused at times by the way chapters were used. Sometimes it really meant a new chapter, other times it was one of Cadence's sisters coming out of the woodwork and while I could keep it straight most of the time, there were one or two instances where I wasn't even sure if there had been a personality switch because I couldn't tell which personality it was supposed to be until somebody talked to her and said her name.
Once I saw that the book was the first of a series, I literally groaned. I don't think the book or the plot deserve to be part of a series. I'm really disappointed because I liked MJD's Undead series, and while the writing of this one is fine if at times confusing, the book on the whole is anything but and definitely not my cup of tea. (For what it's worth, I adored George. He was fun.)
October 30, 2010
To start, it's another very short $25 book that's more white space than words. Half way through it was a three star book, unfunny but somewhat interesting. 3/4 of the way I was bored, channel surfing, annoyed at the characters, and somewhat offended by the most awkward and stupid (and short) romance scene ever. By the end I was just offended at the senseless violence and the total waste of time reading this book was.
I used to be a huge MJD fan. I didn't go into this not comparing it to her other books since it was a new series. Most of the time I forgot it was even hers. So the problem isn't that it's awful compared to her old books, it's just that it's awful. I'm really disappointed. My first piece of fan mail ever was to MJD late one difficult night when one of her books made me laugh and I remembered that there was contact info on her website. I was excited to get an email back from her assistant (Jessica) even though it wasn't from the author itself. And yet the clincher for this book and my being a fan was when I finished this book and read the back inside cover flap. She says that we should come and look at her website and that, "...she occasionally tolerates getting mail from readers..." I won't be bothering her anymore.
I used to be a huge MJD fan. I didn't go into this not comparing it to her other books since it was a new series. Most of the time I forgot it was even hers. So the problem isn't that it's awful compared to her old books, it's just that it's awful. I'm really disappointed. My first piece of fan mail ever was to MJD late one difficult night when one of her books made me laugh and I remembered that there was contact info on her website. I was excited to get an email back from her assistant (Jessica) even though it wasn't from the author itself. And yet the clincher for this book and my being a fan was when I finished this book and read the back inside cover flap. She says that we should come and look at her website and that, "...she occasionally tolerates getting mail from readers..." I won't be bothering her anymore.
June 25, 2013
At first, I thought the concept was a bit odd. How can the author write a comedy about mental illness, something that's not funny, and then throw in a serial killer on top of that? But the book does not try to make fun of any of the characters' psychoses. Instead the author showcases their many issues as superpowers. I did not once believe that a department such as BOFFFO could exist and actually produce desirable results, but after a while, I started to see the story just like any other drama where a team of individuals with specialized skill sets come together to take down bad guys. Think of it as Leverage meets Monk meets Criminal Minds .
Also, I feel that marketing this book as a romantic comedy is a bit misleading. There is nothing light, fluffy, or romantic about the high body count. There isn't a whole lot that's funny either. Other than one scene where George, Cadence's sociopath partner, goes after a group that offends him for reasons no one can determine, most of the "humor" is awkward at best.
Having said that, I am well into the second book of this series so I guess I kind of like it.
Also, I feel that marketing this book as a romantic comedy is a bit misleading. There is nothing light, fluffy, or romantic about the high body count. There isn't a whole lot that's funny either. Other than one scene where George, Cadence's sociopath partner, goes after a group that offends him for reasons no one can determine, most of the "humor" is awkward at best.
Having said that, I am well into the second book of this series so I guess I kind of like it.
August 13, 2016
Ms. Davidson's novel could correctly be described as the literary equivalent of a "chic-flick". That said; I am not the least bit hesitant to confess that I, a 67 year-old male, who normally avoids female-oriented movies and novels like a plague, found "Me, Myself, and Why?" to be thoroughly entertaining and well-worth reading.
The adventures and mis-adventures of the main character Cadence Jones, a self-confessed, certified insane person, being professionally treated for Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD), is one of the most original detective-type novels I have read in a very long time.
I soon fell in love with Ms. Jones - all three of her - and was both impressed and fascinated with her total acceptance of her mental disorder and her ability to put it to practical use in aiding the FBI in solving complex crimes.
I pride myself on usually being able to correctly determine how a story will end before it actually does. However, I didn't even come close to doing so this time.
The adventures and mis-adventures of the main character Cadence Jones, a self-confessed, certified insane person, being professionally treated for Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD), is one of the most original detective-type novels I have read in a very long time.
I soon fell in love with Ms. Jones - all three of her - and was both impressed and fascinated with her total acceptance of her mental disorder and her ability to put it to practical use in aiding the FBI in solving complex crimes.
I pride myself on usually being able to correctly determine how a story will end before it actually does. However, I didn't even come close to doing so this time.
October 27, 2013
Although read effectively by narrator Renee Raudman whose comic timing and pregnant pauses were made for this book, it was just past the edge of the weird side of normal. Cadence Jones works for a very specialized branch of the FBI. All of the agents are suffering from one psychosis or another. In Cadence's case, she's a multiple personality. Her other sisters are not nearly as well functioning as she is. When Cadence and her sociopathic partner George become the lead agents on the notorious Threefer serial killer case, Cadence and her sisters must up their game if they are going to come out alive. Though funny in spots, and MJD is not intentionally making fun or light of people with serious psychoses, the tone of this book struck me as forced. It doesn't quite fit in and neither do the characters. They are all off just enough that they don't even mesh well with each other. Interesting but I am not going to seek out any sequels.
September 9, 2011
This was different...I've read MJD in the past and found her Undead series to be lite and whimsey for the most part (I mean, a Vampire addicted to shoes)...in this new series, she takes on an individual with mental health issues (multiple personalities) who is also a federal agent.
Overall I enjoyed the book (although I listened as an audiobook) and might consider picking up another one in the series in the future. However, this isn't one that you can listen to or read if you are easily distracted, because some chapters will stop mid-sentence as another of Cadance's personalities makes an appearance. I've never met anyone with MPD, so don't know if this is how it happens - but I hope not, because I felt sorry for Cadence in some of the situations she found herself in at times.
Overall I enjoyed the book (although I listened as an audiobook) and might consider picking up another one in the series in the future. However, this isn't one that you can listen to or read if you are easily distracted, because some chapters will stop mid-sentence as another of Cadance's personalities makes an appearance. I've never met anyone with MPD, so don't know if this is how it happens - but I hope not, because I felt sorry for Cadence in some of the situations she found herself in at times.
May 24, 2013
Me, Myself and Why? is book one in the Cadence Jones series by MaryJanice Davidson. This story is about Detective Jones; Cadence, Shiro, and Adrienne Jones all rolled into one person. Detective Jones suffers from MPD Multiple Personality Disorder. I enjoyed this story.
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