Dating is Murder
Harley Jane Kozak
book reviews:
· general fiction
· chick lit/romance
· sci-fi/fantasy
· graphic novels
· nonfiction
· audio books

Click here for the curledup.com RSS Feed

· author interviews
· children's books @
   curledupkids.com
· DVD reviews @
   curledupdvd.com

newsletter
win books
buy online
links

home

for authors
& publishers


for reviewers

click here to learn more




Buy *Dating is Murder* online

Dating is Murder

Harley Jane Kozak
Doubleday
Hardcover
352 pages
March 2005
rated 3 of 5 possible stars
previous reviewnext review

An artist and current game show contestant on "Biological Clock," Wollie Shelley is scrambling to make ends meets, simultaneously conducting a search for Mr. Right and surreptitiously monitoring the ticking of her own biological clock. When Annika, a German citizen who also works for the "Biological Clock" reality show, drops out of sight, Wollie puts her considerable energy into tracking down her missing friend. What could possibly have happened to Annika? And why would anyone want to hurt her?

A simple search becomes ever more complicated as Wollie traces Annika's last few contacts before her disappearance, a seemingly impossible task. Eventually Wollie turns to the police, another source of frustration, and soon finds herself caught in the middle of an FBI drug cartel investigation. To make matters worse, there may be ties to contestants on "Biological Clock," low-budget though it is.

Wollie has gotten herself in deeper than intended, but her sleuthing curiosity is whetted and she refuses to concede her momentum in the face of danger. All the better for the intrepid Wollie when a special “man" appears in her life. The timing may not be perfect, but Wollie isn't about to practice catch-and-release, although this particular man seriously complicates her search for Annika.

Harley Jane Kozak is an actor familiar with the LA scene, Topanga Canyon denizens and the atmosphere of television reality shows, that strange culture of celebrity and quasi-fame, using her personal experience to craft a likeable character who is part bluff, part tough and seriously concerned for Annika's welfare. Like any well-meaning amateur detective, Wollie gets in way over her head but is naive enough to be unaware of the seriousness of her predicament.

Dating is Murder is no Sue Grafton mystery novel (as is suggested on the book jacket), but it is entertaining light reading, LA-style. And in the end, Wollie's mistakes are artfully redeemed by the new man on the horizon. Half mystery, half chick-lit, this novel has appeal for an audience willing to follow Wollie's well-intentioned exploits, not to mention some behind-the-scenes dish on reality TV.



Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Luan Gaines, 2005

buy *Dating is Murder* online
click here for more info
Click here to learn more about this month's sponsor!


fiction · sf/f · comic books · nonfiction · audio
newsletter · free book contest · buy books online
review index · links · · authors & publishers
reviewers

site by ELBO Computing Resources, Inc.