Don't Take any Wooden Nickels

The Million Dollar Mysteries #2

by Mindy Starns Clark

Callie is working to provide quality professional clothes to women who can’t afford to buy their own. She soon becomes involved with one young woman who is trying to come out of drug rehabilitation―just as she’s charged with murder.

What appears to be a routine murder investigation in her hometown on the Chesapeake suddenly becomes complicated amid international intrigue, cutting-edge technology, and deadly deception. A string of heart-pounding events lands her disastrously in the hands of the killer, where Callie finds she has less than a moment for a whispered prayer. Will help arrive in time?

Genres: Mystery, Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Romance

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Mindy Starns Clark is the bestselling author of more than 30 books, both fiction and nonfiction, and has received numerous literary honors, including two Christy Awards and RT Book Review Magazine’s 2012 Career Achievement Award. Mindy and her husband, John, have two adult children and live near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The end got a bit melodramatic but by then I was completely caught up in the action. A great read! Mystery without the gore. Christianity without didactic preaching. Romance without sex. And a lot of action.

[Bo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. The heroine is supposed to be an experienced private detective, but in my opinion she does a lot of dumb things, which seldom result in negative consequences. Additionally, sometimes the writing style just seems basic, not well-written. I also thought she was too "chummy" with a potential romantic interest, allowing, and to some extent inviting, his kisses, when she wasn't even sure that she liked him beyond as a friend.

As far as the mystery itself went, there were some interesting twists and turns. I will probably continue to read the series, but they won't be books I re-read, nor want to add to my own personal library.

[Cielo · Rating 3 out of 5]

At last! The goal that was supposed to be fulfilled in the beginning finally happened in the end. It was so romantic. "Tom" <3 LOL

On the other hand, it was really interesting and thrilling. It showed the some of the bitter realities happening in the real world - good people blinded by power and wealth. It saddens me, seeing even the most respected heroes turn into one of the most horrible and despised villains. Though their capture doesn't usually happen in the real world, it is relieving to see people with hope (and very interesting imagination) show such things.

One of the most important things that I encountered in this book is a personal growth, spiritually. It may be illusional for me to say that one day I might face such things that Callie had but who knows? God works in mysterious ways that we don't even know when our hearts might stop breathing. Never the less, Clark has shown how God, even - especially in the most critical times in our lives, a moment between life and death, a fact remains - He is with us all. Callie was loosing all hope, seeing two officers shot by a trusted friend and a foreigner, she remembered and she clutch that promise with her very life hanging from a falling bridge. She chose to let God lead her whether to struggle or wait for help. She and I ended up seeing unexpected events.

A great sequel to "A Penny For Your Thoughts", "Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels" and its author does not seem to cease the page-turners and her fast-paced plotting.

[Rev. Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my third novel by this author, and I really like the way she combines mystery and suspense in an inspirational setting. This one involves international intrigue in a sleepy seaside village, along with a mysterious employer that the main character, Callie, works for but has never met.....sort of a Charlie's Angel idea. Very entertaining plot and loved the ending.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again. Good idea. Good plot. Interesting mystery. But not the best writing...

Callie gets caught up in helping a young woman accused of murder who was being helped by the volunteer organization she works for. What she uncovers turns out to be a horrifying crime.

[Gerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as her other books but I enjoyed it.
I've got to find the next in the series anyway!

[Lydia Howe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this book quite as much as the first one, although I did like getting to know more about Callie, as well as meeting Tom. Because of course, Tom is the big reason to keep reading the series, right? Just because I'm so, crazy, curious about him. Who is he? Who is he REALLY?

This book deals with a really serious issue that made it just a little bit creepy at times, but I didn't feel like the author overdid it, and that's saying a lot.

At the end of this book I had more questions then I did at the beginning, and was thankful that the series was written a while ago so I could go right into the next book. I really like Callie and am thankful for the small ways she was able to make adjustments and change as the story went on.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Callie, comes into this plot again, from the first book. More about her boss Tom, and looking forward to meeting him, and the nightly phone calls. More about the organization she works with, and the question of going with another company to help them. Along the way she is trying to get a friend, and a woman they are helping to better herself, and right now she is in serious trouble. It all comes together in the end, and one is looking forward to the next Book and adventure,

[Polly Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favorite of the whole series. I just love the character of Kirby. So endearing.
Also, set in Callie's hometown (the only one in the series that is). So gives us a lot more insight into her daily life.
Setting is so lovely on the Chesapeake. And the mystery is good too.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series was a favorite at 18 and its still a fav in my 30's. I only remembered 2 scenes in this one and both were near the end so most of the book was a surprise. Also audio book is Really good.Highly recommended.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quiet, slightly rambling mystery that somehow manages to be utterly absorbing too. The character voice is really well done as Callie works through issues in her professional and personal life while trying to help clear a young friend’s name from a murder charge.

[Katelin Burge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was probably my least favorite book by Mindy starns Clark because a lot of it felt slow and dragged on. The last few chapters were action packed which left me satisfied. The ending left me kicking my feet. So cute!

[Marian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I probably wouldn't have read this if I'd known it was "Inspirational" but that aspect was fairly low-key. It was a fun book to read, the plot and pacing were great, as was the setting.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great action! Great plot twists!

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait to read the next one!!! And what an ending!!! 😍

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly wasn’t sure I would like this book, but I was very pleasantly surprised! Not only did it keep me n suspense, but had a very powerful message. Very well done!

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was better than the first mystery, in my opinion.

[Brooke796 ☼ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounding up. Callie takes some really stupid risks in this one.

[Joyce Ziebell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great mystery as Callie uses her investigative methods to solve a murder while approving a grant for a nonprofit.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one.

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok at best. I realize it is fiction but a little too far fetched for some parts. A little less dramatic and a little more realistic would tell a better story

[Mary Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the whole series!

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good! A well-done, tasteful mystery that was surprisingly Christian. I enjoyed it.

[Bm · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book more than the first one. I liked that they continued to focus on her job and I also liked the continuing side mystery of her boss. The murder mystery was more interesting this time around. The main character "callie" is still a little unpolished, but clark does do a better job of developing her character in this one. My only issue is that sometimes an author puts a character through many difficult character deepening experiences but yet the character doesn't seem as seasoned by their experiences as they should be. Clark does that with callie, callie is fairly naive considering all she has been through and experienced. I feel it would be more realistic if her character was a bit deeper, but other than that I enjoyed it!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This time we see Callie as finally meeting her mysterious boss Tom, however, he stands her up. She goes home without any work to be had and finds herself hot on the trail of a murder. She is working for a store for indigent women and meets a woman there named Shayna Greer. Meenwhile they find Shayna's boyfriend's body in the trunk of her vehicle. Callie feeling that Shayna had been put through a set-up of a murder goes to solve and exonerate her new found friend. Meenwhile, she is having a tough time trying to figure out her and her friend and boss Tom's relationship while exploring dating with another man named Kirby. Will she ever meet her mysterious boss? Read and FIND OUT!!!

[Susan Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good story. ? is supposed to meet her boss face to face at last. They will be in the same airport, she returning from a case and him going to a meeting. But a woman meets her instead and tells her he won't be there; he's had a family emergency. She's quite upset, but he hasn't left her any cases, so she helps out a friend she is working with as a volunteer and a young woman she's working with to get a job. Then they find the woman's boyfriend in her trunk and all kinds of things start going crazy.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again I really liked this book. I love the ending! But you kind of get the feeling right at the end that it is going to end that way. This time the main character is in her home town with a week to relax because there is no work to do when a girl she has been helping get a job ends up being accused of murdering her boyfriend. Again the mystery is solved. hard to put down so when you read it plan on reading in one sitting. Can't wait to get the next one!

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second in a series recommended by another woman in the library bookclub. It is a cozy mystery with a Christian focus. This second book is much better than the first one. The murder/mystery was much more complicated and led to a conclusion I had missed entirely! The main character, Callie webber, is likeable although a little naive. She works for a philanthropist, investigating charities and delivering funds to them and finds herself in danger due to her desire to help others.