G162 E-Reading Book Review of Whitley & Austin by Parker Paige
Author: Parker Paige
ISBN: B00DVK36LG
Publisher: Pluto Books
Type of book: mystery, murder, changing self, revenge, legal, adult, Romantic suspense
Year it was published: 2013
Summary:
THREE beautiful
redheads - THREE Motives - ONE Murder
Tapping into the
common wish to be someone else, if only for a short time, this suspense drama
explores what happens when a woman, bored with her humdrum existence dyes her
hair red and takes on the persona of her late sister.
After the murder
of her beloved sister, a quiet and warmhearted legal secretary, Charlie Weiss,
who works for the prestigious Whitley & Austin, is in search of an escape.
A few sessions with her psychologist propel her to the realization that the
excitement that she seeks is in a new life, the life of her late sister.
With a daring
wish to continue the wild life of her late sister, she colors her hair red and
dares to reinvent herself. And with this new persona comes a different type of
experience, including becoming one of three redhead suspects to a murder.
Characters:
I really liked the characters of Laura, Camina and Charlie. Charlie is a mousy sweet girl who never got noticed until her whole family dies. However, after being bored and angry, she completely redoes herself; dying her hair red and acting like her sister Sandy, although I imagine that Sandy was a regular firecracker. I would have liked more background about Sandy beyond what Charlie gives us. There are some actions that I disapprove of, but at least Parker Paige was realistic with the lesson. Laura is Charlie's and Camina's friend who is always friendly, sweet and generous. Camina is dating Bruce Colby, a married attorney and is red-headed, fiery, sarcastic and inconsiderate. I enjoyed the scenes between Camina and Charlie.
Theme:
The change has to come from inside, not outside
Plot:
Its written in third person narrative from Charlie's point of view and Camina's to some extent. The last quarter of the book is pretty suspenseful, and half the time I did wonder whether or not a red-headed woman committed murder and why. I felt that it resolved a little too quickly at the end, and wished that the author would throw a loop or something. Parker Paige did use an interesting technique where she caused me to suspect one character of murder, while it was another in fact.
Author Information:
(from the media kit)
Parker
Paige has been writing fiction for several years with a passion for creating
eccentric characters. She is fascinated with true stories and for that reason,
she is drawn to the network Investigation Discovery like a drug. She is the
author of “The Color Pink” and “Whitley and Austin.” She is not completely
insane, maybe just a little bit crazy. She lives in Los Angeles.
Twitter: @ParkerPaige86
Opinion:
At first I was worried that I would find it offensive or a frustrating read due to the message I felt the book was setting: if you want the best to happen, then change everything about yourself, physically and mentally and so forth. I had a friend who had problems with his own appearance, and even when he altered something about himself, it didn't make him a happier person! Much to mine relief, the message is completely different than I thought it would be. The last quarter of the book is non-stop action of who did it and why? I even thought that perhaps someone else besides the three redheads has done it, but no. Most of the book consists of everyday interactions between Charlie, a secretary of Whitley & Austin and her co-workers, mainly Laura, Camina and her boss as well as Bruce Colby, and Lee. I would have liked more background information on Charlie as well as her family. Still, the last quarter more than made up for most of the book. I myself couldn't wait to find out who committed murder.
Buy it here
This is read and reviewed for Sage's Blog Tour
July 22nd Author-Reader Mixer
July 23rd Christine’s Blog
July 24th Devoted Mommy of 3
July 29th Literary, etc
July 30th Svetlana’s Reads and Views
August 1st WiLoveBooks
August 2nd Yah Gotta Read This!
August 3rd my name is: Sage
August 4th Romance and More
August 5th Books and Bindings
4 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
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