Melanie Jackson (1) (1975–)

���Reading this book was like watching Once Upon a Time in Mexico. The beginning is fabulous, and half-way through everything changes, leaving you to puzzle out whether the second half of the story was written/directed by the same person responsible for the first part. In the case of DIVINE MADNESS, I absolutely adored Ninon's story. But as soon as the focus changed from Ninon to Miguel, I was bored out of my skull. There were other problems, too, like the fact that the book has no ending. No resolution is given, nothing even remotely satisfying in terms of a final battle against some pretty evil bad guys. A word of warning for those with weak stomachs: this is a horror novel, first and foremost. The romance is very much a background element here, while the gore and guts take top billing. I probably would have gotten more out of the characterization if I'd known who Ninon de Lanclos was as a historical figure, but since I'm not much of a history buff, my lack of familiarity with her can probably be excused. Still, I'm giving this book fairly high marks simply because the first half is of the novel is utterly enthralling. (B)… (meer)

Chloe Boston wants to be a police detective. Instead, she's a meter maid.

She's very smart, very capable, and very tiny. At 98 pounds, she will never meet the police physical requirement of being able to lift 100 pounds. But she's the daughter of the former chief of police in her town of Hope Falls, and initially at least, that was a little bit of an advantage and she managed to land the meter maid job.

But Daddy wasn't a very good cop, and especially not a good chief of police, and he's been forced out. Chloe was mocked for her tiny frame and her connection to the chief while her father was in office; now it's worse.

And now her best friend on the force, Jeffrey Little, her fellow parking enforcement officer, has disappeared, and no one is taking it seriously. Chloe decides to launch her own investigation.

Initially, at least, this is a frustrating book. Chloe isn't just small and smart and determined; she's also a bit awkward in interpersonal skills, and capable of a certain degree of obliviousness to whether or not her very clear logic is altogether reasonable. It makes her, initially, a little hard to like.

But she also goes to great lengths to bring her rescue Rottie, Blue, with her everywhere--including in the electric vehicle in which she patrols the town giving out parking tickets. She reads. She's loyal to her friends. She's kind. She's very certain of her intelligence and logic, but aware of her failings and insecure in quite recognizable ways.

Did I mention loyal to her friends?

Chloe grew on me a lot, over the course of the book.

Recommended if you enjoy cozies.

I received a free copy of this book from the author.… (meer)