A great plot trapped inside some overly narrative writing. Nice to see a fresh new detective, just wish I could have read a version with 90% dialog instead. ( )

I chose this series to start reading because....... I love: A good mystery series, books set in my hometown and I love a kick ass , smart mouth female lead character! The Ludlows are a highly successful dysfunctional family of lawyers , all except for Fina who is the family firm investigator. Fina has to solve the murder of her brother Rand's wife and in the process discovers a family mess, I will not say what family mess , no spoilers here! There were a lot of false leads that kept me in suspense and Fina has a few interesting friends that add to the cast of characters in this series. I am happy to say I enjoyed the story line, mystery and the ending, although the ending was not exactly what I would have expected, part of it anyway....

I am currently finishing up the second book in this series Identity (Fina Ludlow #2).This review was originally posted on A WordPress Site ( )

Fina Ludlow, a law school dropout, works as a private investigator for her high-powered family of Boston lawyers. When her sister-in-law, Melanie, disappears, Fina unexpectedly finds herself forced to choose between family loyalty and the truth.

With strong characterizations, a family that gives new meaning to dysfunctional, and a tough, take-no-prisoners woman investigator, there is much to appreciate in this first book in a new series. The only detractor in this intriguing narrative is Fina’s overuse of offensive coarse language . . . using foul language does not make her strong, cool, or tough and many readers may find themselves annoyed by the continual barrage of expletives.

As the plot takes several unforeseen turns, readers will find themselves pulled into the mystery. Unexpected twists and reveals will keep the pages turning.

Recommended. ( )

The story begins with an unknown woman being bound, gagged, and wrapped in chains. She's thrown into the ocean and sinks into the darkness below.

Fina Ludlow is a private detective working in her dysfunctional family's personal injury law firm. She's been tasked to find her sister-in-law, Melanie, who has disappeared. It's just a matter of time before Fina's brother, Rand, becomes the prime suspect.

Her family is the ambulance chasing version of a Mafia family. They've made a lot a questionable moral decisions and people are scared of them. Fina's father, Carl, and three brothers, (Rand, Scott, and Matthew) want Fina to find Melanie before the police get involved. It's easy to see any of them as a suspect in Melanie's disappearance.

Fina is a tough talking private eye. In some ways she reminded me of Stephanie Plum in the Evanovich series. She's a 34 year old slob who eats junk for breakfast and gets into fights with suspects. She irritates everyone but we like her because she's sassy and resilient. I liked Fina. Her personal life is a real mess but she's loyal to her friends and family. There's a lot of snappy dialogue in the story and Fina's relationship with her bullying father is interesting.

Lots of characters are introduced in the beginning but I thought they were all well defined and interesting. The story was good and the plot were entertaining. It wasn't particularly suspenseful but I was in the market for a fast, entertaining read and was more than happy with it. I would definitely try another of this author's books if she continues to write a series featuring Fina.
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Compelling but a little disturbing. ( )