I'm kind of lukewarm on this one, the first two were more entertaining I think. I still liked it, and will read the next one, but of the three so far, this one isn't my favorite. ( )

Sophie gets an odd request from her friend and mentor, Melanie O’Reilly, and feels compelled to help her out. Melanie, who is married to a man involved in a political campaign, suspects her husband of infidelity. She asks Sophie to try to seduce him to see if he is eager to take the bait, so to speak. Fortunately, Eugene O’Reilly proves to be an honest man, unfortunately, he is shot and killed in a drive-by shooting just minutes after parting ways with Sophie. Feeling sorry for her friend and determined to keep her ex-boyfriend, Anatoly (a private investigator) from getting the case, Sophie decides to play detective again.

Sophie discovers multiple suspects and signs that point to some sort of cover up related to the political campaign Eugene was involved in. Of course, while searching for clues and trying to find the killer, Sophie herself starts getting odd threats and unwittingly attracts the attention of the very man she set out to avoid, Anatoly.

Can Sophie catch the killer without getting killed herself? Will Sophie and Anatoly patch up their relationship, or just annoy each other? Read the book to find out!

This series is my second favorite book series. These cozy mysteries are so much fun, and Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate is no exception. Sophie is such a great character; headstrong, opinionated, witty and just genuinely likeable. Her friends are original, interesting, and likeable as well. I love her gay hairstylist, Marcus. He’s got some of the best lines in the book. And Sophie’s friend Dena, who owns a sex toy shop is also unforgettable and a lot of fun. And, of course, I can’t forget about Anatoly, the sexy Russian Jew, who drives Sophie crazy. Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate was a really fun read. I laughed out loud sometimes, making my husband look at me like I was crazy. I had trouble putting it down, so it was a fast read. I think I finished it within twenty-four hours of starting it.

This is a great book, just like the others in the series. The only thing that bothered me a little was the ridiculousness of the scandal that the killer was trying to hide. It was amusing, but a little too weird for my taste. Regardless, I highly recommend both this book and the series . You can find more of my reviews at http://bookwormbookreviews.com ( )

Sophie is called upon by her mentor for a really big favor. This story is the first one I've read where I thought maybe Sophie will grow and develop and not just be another Stephanie Plum. It is a fun story, I was impressed with the author's handling of the political candidates. When I saw where the story was headed, I was afraid it would simply turn out to villainize one party or the other, but she kept the focus on the individuals, and human nature, not on the political differences. I must say, this book may have ruined my innocent enjoyment of mascot costumes and such!

I'm always a bit unsatisfied at the end of these novels, I think the author could still improve in setting up her resolutions and denouement. ( )

The 3rd book in the Sophie Katz series was a weird one involving sex and politics. Took me a while to get into it and I can't say it was a favorite. I am glad that she and Anatoly are working together and on their relationship. Here's hoping the 4th book is better. ( )

Fun