Chapter & Hearse

Booktown Mystery #4

by Lorna Barrett

According to the gossip around Stoneham, New Hampshire, Tricia Miles cannot put down a real murder mystery. After all, the owner of the mystery bookstore, Haven't Got a Clue, has been spending more time solving whodunits than reading them...

Tricia's sister, Angelica, considers herself to be the next celebrity chef. To celebrate her first cookbook, Angelica hosts a launch party, but sadly the only guest is an oversized cutout of herself. Worse than the lack of fans is a nearby gas explosion that injures her boyfriend, Bob Kelly, the head of the Chamber of Commerce.

Tricia's never been a fan of Bob, but when she reads that Bob is being tight-lipped about the "accident" and how it killed the owner of the town's history bookstore, it's time to take action. As the incriminating details emerge, Tricia gets wrapped up in a murder that proves to be as spine-tingling as the books that line her shelves...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Books About Books

243 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 3, 2010

About the author

The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorna Barrett’s name on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it’s her talent -- whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett -- that keeps her there. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square Mystery series and has many short stories and novellas to her name(s). Check out the links to all her works here: http://www.lornabarrett.com

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapter & Hearse is the 4th book in the Booktown Mysteries written by Lorna Barrett. With the clever word play on Chapter & Verse, who wouldn't enjoy this lighthearted but well-rounded cozy collection? Picture it: small town in New Hampshire where they have a street filled with bookstores. Two sisters, Ange and Tricia, run several of the shops. They bicker but care for one another. Both are in complicated relationships. And someone they know is murdered. Again!

In this caper, Bob (Ange's boyfriend) almost dies when a gas explosion happens at one of the bookstores. The owner, who some liked and some disliked, dies. His girlfriend (no one knew) works in Ange's store. His elderly mother had a lot to say about him. And some company is trying to buy up the stores. How could it all be connected? What about someone stalking Tricia? Or Ange's book publication taking her out of town? Or another almost murder? And... a lottery winner. So much going on in this book between the main mystery and the side stories.

I am enjoying this series a lot. It has great characters, fun plots, and lots of cozy appeal. Sometimes little things bug me (so many angry characters in the same book, lots of reversal on people's relationships and personalities) but I find myself wanting to dive back in each time. I think it's got plenty of charm, and the writing is smooth, so it works for me. I look forward to the next one.

[Melanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the only cozy mystery series that has ever made me root for the killer to end it all. Tricia is second only to Dolores Umbridge as the most dislikable character in all of fiction. Tricia wasn't as bad as the last book, maybe because I spaced it out within 3 days instead of just reading it in a few hours like I did with the previous three books. I do not understand why a stable character who was not even into Tricia is all of a sudden obsessed with her. As one of the 1 in 6 women who have been stalked before I felt like the author took stalking as a joke. The author is offensive using slur words for lesbians or saying that being a lesbian is an insult. Apparently one of her character did not admit a woman tried to murder him because she was a "girl." I would enjoy seeing any man take on any woman with basic martial arts training. I literally had to check several times when this book was written because it seems like Ms. Barrett is 100 years old. Map-quest in 2010? Ok, let me take out my Sextant and chart in order to navigate! I know that was petty but come on! The main character wants for a sick woman to die so she can get her ex! She has women fighting other women like teenagers for men. Obviously the author does not find a sense of purpose without a man in her life but strong independent Ginny was so much better than an idiot who is not able to speak because of a guy.

Now onto the random subplots that led nowhere: 1. Why have a book club that contributes nothing? 2. The whole mortgage thing, what was that? Also what kind of person would just allow someone else to pay for their mortgage? Ridiculous. 3. The cutout getting dressed up? Why? No point aside from making me dislike Tricia even more. 4. Jake being an a-hole and then not being an a-hole. He could just be a good person, no point. 5. Tricia still being into her ex. I started these books this year and I'm already over it. I've known about Christopher for 13 days and I'm already over him leaving her. Like GIIIIRL! Move on! Who cares? You can't change the past! 6. How can Tricia just leave her employees all day and still have business? 7. The Inn going down. 8. The Nazi memorabilia...like dude, seriously?

I'm just over these books. I got the whole series so I now have to read it. I shall review and complain on all of them because I don't see how this series can get better. Reading the reviews I can tell it gets worst. Given that I gave Ms. Barrett my money, I shall give her my opinion too.

[beachbum bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another solid book in the series...if you want to her more of my thoughts on this book and other cozy mystery books subscribe to my channel!
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[Crissy Hensley · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I borrowed a print copy of this book like I said I would, to see if it was any better without Tricia and Angelica ACTUALLY whining in my ear. And it was! Kind of. (I can still hear them)

At last, Tricia doesn't stumble across a random dead body! Instead, a building explodes! Yay! Nosy bookseller go! If I were hottie Captain Baker I would stay as far away from this brand of crazy as possible. Go ahead and keep up that "sickly ex-wife" story, Baker!

Did you know that Tricia HATES when people say "not a problem" instead of "you're welcome", to the point where she grinds her teeth when someone does it? You petty bitch! Take the nicety and go! This was mentioned about five times in the book and I wanted to slap her every time. Ugh.

Angelica is gone for most of the book on her book tour. Because, of course you can run two businesses and have a book tour at the same time! Angelica is growing on me. I think I like her better than Tricia (which is not saying much!)

My problem with this series is that I hate the characters but I really like the mysteries. I think I need to find a different series. If you have any suggestions for good cozies please let me know!

[Bird · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you ever read books and get the impression that the author has written the main character with him/herself in mind? That's the feeling I get when reading this series, and this book in particular.

The main character finds the strangest things to comment on and take issue with. For example, she hates when people say, "No problem," in response to being thanked. It's so trivial, and I can see no reason for it to be included in the book other than because it mirrors the author's personal pet peeve. There's nothing wrong with this, except when it pulls the reader out of the story.

Other than that, it had what I've come to expect from the Booktown series. Annoying sister? Check. Sub-par romantic interests? Check. Car chase/hit-and-run/etc? Check. Nothing stands out as being special or different from previous stories, but sometimes you just want a relaxing mystery.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better and better. I love the whole idea of a theme town with bookstores (what librarian wouldn't?) and the characters are so well drawn that the books just seem to suck me in and hold me captive until I finish them!

In this story Tricia is busy trying to run her bookstore, Angelica's bookstore and Angelica's cafe as Angelica is out on book tour for her new cookbook. Naturally, a dead body shows up and Tricia has to try and solve the mystery as well as juggle three businesses and deal with the personal lives of her two employees!

I had a sneaking suspicion about the murderer but wasn't positive enough to say I "solved" the mystery, so once again I get to enjoy the twists that Ms. Barrett puts in to confuse and confuzzle her readers.

Can't wait for the next in the series.

[T K Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

In hopes of finding perhaps characters eventually become more likeable, I peeked at reviews of more recent Booktown Mysteries. Sadly the same complaints remain. Why this series is so popular is beyond me. With innumerable cozy series available, life is too short to read books with a main character this unpleasant. I'm done with this series. Which is not to say I'm done with the author. The Victoria Square and Lotus Bay Mystery series are two of my favorites.

Being very late to this review writing party my plan was to simply relate impressions of the content. This quickly turned into a lengthy list of things I didn't like about the book including but not limited to: Main character tampering with evidence for no reason. Tiresome love triangle or possibly quadrangle. Continuing in this book to repeatedly gripe about the store's phone (it's weight and -Horrors!- how slow the rotary dial is). Multiple mentions, for no discernable reason, of how Tricia is disgusted when people say "not a problem" rather than "thank you". Yet again including car chases/accidents. And on and on. Really at a loss to come up with anything I liked other than Mr. Everett and Grace.

[Mayda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tricia is so busy running around in this novel, she ought to qualify for frequent running miles! Angelica is on a book signing tour and Tricia is overseeing the running of Angelica’s stores as well as her own. When another shop blows up, that owner is killed and Bob is injured. Now Tricia is on the case, helping the owner’s widowed mother and trying to take care of Bob while Angie is away. Besides this mystery, a side story is developing concerning Tricia’s ex-husband. But then Russ wants back in Tricia’s life, though she still is attracted to Deputy Baker, at least to his green eyes. Sigh. It’s an interesting if complicated time in Tricia’s life, and there is never a dull moment in this well-written and fast-paced cozy.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is the first book I've read by this author and it may be the last, at least in this series. Maybe it was my frame of mind but after the second time of the main character wincing/grimacing, etc. because someone says "no problem" instead of "you're welcome" I wanted to yell "what's your problem?" Unfortunately her reaction continued like this through the whole book and it really grated. Other than that I found her reaction to a sometime boyfriend wanting to stand by his ex-wife during her cancer treatment as a bit selfish. All in all, I didn't much like the main character but I did like her sister and the peripheral characters.

[Michelle Robinson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Up until this novel, I have found these books remotely entertaining. They are not the best written mystery novels but the people and the mystery are at least interesting.

I did not care for the fact that a large part of the characters lives took place outside of each novel and so we ended up with a great deal of tell and no show. This is rather disappointing if one wants to see the characters develop.

In this novel, Trisha goes from being a fairly likable character to being judgmental, untrustworthy, a violater of the trust of her friends and a snob. She finds out that her sister has hired a "convicted felon" and she confronts this man and demands he tells her what crime he committed in the past. I was horrified. She is a perfect example of why people cannot get a clean slate after committing a crime and trying to reenter society. If her sister chose to hire the man his crime was absolutely none of Tricia's business.

Frannie tells Tricia something in confidence and at her first opportunity, Tricia tells the investigator what Frannie says. She justifies divulging Frannie's secret by saying that the police had the right to know. We witness Tricia withholding information in everyone of the preceding books. I imagine it was only worth betraying Frannie's secret because Tricia is still interested in the investigator and hypocrites are rarely insightful.
Later, in the novel, we see Tricia treat Frannie poorly AGAIN and expect Frannie to apologize to her for some imagined slight, where she Tricia, never seems to see that she should owe Frannie even the remotest apology for not giving her the opportunity to tell her own secrets or even warning her that she had divulged what Frannie had shared to the police.

I can see where these books may appeal to people of privilege, who have never had to consider the feelings of of other people, especially people who may have made a mistake an need an opportunity to redeem themselves. Her behavior toward the cook, who she could have dealt with strictly on the fact that he was not being diligent concerning his job. Her attitude toward Frannie was abysmal. I just found her so unlikable that I am not sure I will finish the book and while I had found the others light, simplistic reads, this will most likely be the last one for me. Maybe after a few days I will feel differently but maybe not.

[Janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boy oh boy, I have had my issues with the main character, Tricia Miles, in the past--and judging by other reviewers, I'm not the only one! She is one of the most unlikable, egotistical, snobby, snotty, judgmental, narcissistic, selfish, salad-eating prudes that ever smudged a page. THIS is why it's been years since I'd read any of this series. I really,REALLY don't like Tricia and in this one, even the peripheral characters, including mild-mannered "poor" Mr. Everett irritated me. And don't get me started on the dumb cat....(no, I am not a cat person but I do enjoy reading about animals that have a personality!). Definitely not a foodie, Tricia doesn't know how to cook (another thing I dislike about her), doesn't eat anything but salads or "healthy" food and in one scene she actually doesn't know if she likes coffee cake. Coffee cake! She whines about no one remembering her birthday like a spoiled toddler, pats herself on the back for being Lady Bountiful by offering to pay off her employee's mortgage (pooh poohing the advice of the banker and her sister) and then gets in a snit because said employee refuses her offer and has other plans for her life. She thinks she's so very clever and tries to solve the murder/attempted murders and, of course, ends up messing things up in the end. And how stupid is it for her to get her knickers in a twist at people saying "Not a problem" instead of "You're welcome"??? Does she not understand nuance and connotation? Oh enough. I've wasted too much time on sour Tricia and I'm glad to see the back of her. I do have to say, the author is too talented and too good a writer to waste ability on such a icky character. In this book I really didn't care about any of the people, any of their problems or even who was the culprit in the end. No. More.

[Abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so sad Angelica was out of town in this one! Love her!!

Tricia is one of the most generous main characters!

This one also got really crazy and a little dark but I really liked it!

[Julie P · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the first book in this series, and did not like it. More specifically, I did not like the characters. It's not that it wasn't well written, but just that the protagonist, Tricia, seemed unlikeable. I broke a cardinal rule and skipped books two and three in the series, and picking up with book four. Even with some time and seasoning I find that I still don't like Tricia, nor do I like many of the characters in this town. At times they are downright nasty. Maybe by book seven (after skipping books five and six) I might find that this series is worth salvaging. I wouldn't want to invite these characters into my home if they were real, so I definitely don't want to waste my pleasure reading on them.

[LibraryCin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

When one of the stores in Stoneham is blown up, the owner doesn't make it out alive. The head of the Chamber of Commerce was also there at the time, but got out with only injuries. Tricia Miles, who owns a mystery bookstore across the street, has a tendency to "help" solve crimes in the area. Meanwhile, Tricia's sister is in and out of town, as she is promoting a cookbook she has written, so Tricia is helping out with her sister's businesses, as well.

I quite enjoyed this 4th book in the Booktown Mystery series. I still love Tricia's cat, Miss Marple. Something else I like about this one - Tricia had a life. She didn't focus solely on solving the mystery - she was super-busy and had lots of day-to-day stuff to do, as well. On the other hand, something that bugged me - why doesn't she just go the police when she finds something out!? I can understand why in the first book or two, but with a different police officer - one she actually gets along with - looking into this one, I just don't understand! Overall, though, I enjoyed it.

[Chriss · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Libby) This was book 4 in the series, and I’m still enjoying it. I did find several continuity inconsistencies in this one though, most notably in what changed with Grant and Tricia between book 3 and book 4. When I first happened upon it I thought I must have inadvertently skipped a book in the series because someone appeared out of the blue who wasn’t in book 3 but had an impact on the storyline. Still baking Christmas cookies here so I’ll begin the next one once I get started tomorrow.

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stelle e mezza
Altro bel volume di una bella serie. Peccato che all'inizio venga distrutta da un'esplosione proprio la libreria che si occupa di storia, la mia passione... insieme ai mysteries e ai romances, ovviamente! Inoltre, mi immedesimo sempre di più in Tricia, la protagonista.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I have a love/hate thing going on with these books. Lorna Barrett is definitely a talented author. I am really enjoying the bond becoming stronger between the two sisters. But wish the endings had more of a climax.

[Cheryl Landmark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable mystery in this bookish series by Ms. Barrett.

This time, Tricia didn't stumble over a dead body, but, somehow, the appellation "jinx" still tainted her! At first, the explosion at the store across the street from Haven't Got a Clue looked like an accident, but it turned out to be murder, and Tricia was once again on the hunt for the killer.

Tricia seemed to run hot and cold in this story. Once minute, she was kind and compassionate and, the next, she thought and said some rather catty and mean-spirited things to people. She didn't seem all that supportive of her sister, Angelica's, book tour and mocked her success as a published author, but, on the other hand, she was more than willing to help her out with her two businesses in her absence. I thought Tricia's wanting to strangle her older sister at times was a little harsh and exaggerated. I kind of like Angelica, sometimes even more so than Tricia!

I'm finding it a bit odd that Tricia and Angelica can run "successful" businesses when both of them are hardly ever in their own stores! It's just a good thing, I guess, that their hired employees are competent and loyal and willing to handle the business on their own.

Poor Tricia! Her love life certainly left a lot to be desired. Russ turned out to be a major jerk, and, to tell the truth, I never liked the guy, anyway. Captain Baker was a potential love interest, but cooled the budding relationship between him and Tricia with an "ex-wife is sick and needs my help" excuse. There is still the possibility that they will get together in the future.

The mystery was pretty good with a few twists and turns here and there. I knew the person who was eventually revealed as the murderer was up to no good well before the end, but I didn't realize he or she was responsible for Jim Roth's death or what the motive was. The old car chase and hit-and-run ploy is getting a bit thin, in my opinion. Every book I've read so far in the series utilizes this same plot element, as well as the final gathering of everyone in Haven't Got a Clue at the end.

Regardless, this is a fun, cozy series and quite enjoyable for the most part.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I think this will be the last Booktown Mystery that I will read/listen to for a while. Honestly, Tricia got on my nerves with this one. I get that she's trying to solve murders, but she's so intent on invading other peoples' privacy that she doesn't get it at all when they don't want to tell her things that are absolutely none of her business. That, and the fact that she was trying to solve the financial issues of several Stoneham residents was truly annoying. I mean, I know that she's "filthy rich," as she put it, but sometimes people want to solve their own issues. And her constant droning on about the fact that she'd be alone on her birthday became irritating. I know, no one wants to be alone on their special day, but her repeated lamenting of it grew tiresome. One more gripe, her annoyance when people responded to her "thanks" with "not a problem." It's a legitimate phrase that almost everyone uses at some point, but for some reason, it became a bugaboo for Tricia in this novel. I'm really not sure why it even came up as it added absolutely no value to the story and I'm not even sure it added anything to Tricia's character. This was going to be a 2 star rating for me, but the end proved entertaining and finished the story in a satisfying manner, so 3 stars it is.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I keep reading this series because I like the premise and some of the characters. The whodunit is usually good and sometimes a surprise, as in this one. It was obvious that the perp was a dicey person all along but I didn't suspect the person as the murderer or the motive, so that was good. I actually came up with a motive early on that turned out to be way off, so I like the surprise factor. But I don't like the main character and maybe that's why I keep reading. Sometimes it's amusing to read a train-wreck. Tricia is prissy, judgmental, has annoying pet peeves that must be the author's personal peeves, and is alternately super kind and super clueless to other's feelings. For example, throughout the book she is really upset that people keep telling her "not a problem" rather than "thank you". Repeatedly. I can't figure out if the author writes her like this purposefully and she's going to explode into a real person in the next book, or what. So I'm not sure why I'm feeling compelled to just run through this series at breakneck speed. Maybe I'm hoping for Tricia's redemption. Other than her, it's a fine cozy mystery series.

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one LOL book that has a terrific mystery right at the beginning. The best, by miles, in the series yet! Join me reading this book...pre-order it Now!

I began reading this book with laughter and then...it was a murder mystery. The transition was so smooth you felt you were there. Then you get shocked because the 'killer' appears to be after all sorts of persons.

Meanwhile our intrepid sleuth is trying to deal with a couple of personal problems and she is confused with the reactions of persons she thought she was helping....

This book was complete on so many levels and leads us towards, hopefully, the next in the series.

Ms. Barrett is an excellent storyteller.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the series, and I enjoyed it. Tricia's sister Angelica isn't mentioned in this book too much, as she is on a book signing tour and just makes quick trips home. Therefore, Tricia not only has to run her own business, she has to keep checking on the two stores that her sister owns. With the result that, in this book, she seems to be constantly out of her own store!
Angelica's boyfriend is injured when a store that he rents has an explosion, killing the owner. Of course, Tricia makes it her business to find out who the murderer is, when it is judged to be done on purpose. And one lucky returning character wins the state powerball lottery!

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was OK. The owner of the book shop History Repeats is blown up, someone seems to be after Angelica, the owner of The Cookery book shop, and someone in the town is the winner of $20 million. It's entertaining enough and the culprit a bit difficult to pinpoint. The problem is that the protagonist, Tricia, owner of Haven't Got a Clue book store, takes a gigantic leap to figure out who the murderer. I had to read that section a couple of times trying to find the logic in how she figured out who it was. Not the best way to wind up a mystery.

[Grey853 · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's hard for me to like a book, no matter how well it's written, when I don't like the main character. Tricia is extremely whiny, opinionated, and self-absorbed. Since she's the protagonist, it's difficult to really care what happens.

I wanted to like this book, but nobody in the town was the least bit nice. The sisters bicker too much, a trend I see in several series, and I just found it all unpleasant. It's a shame, too, because I've actually bought the rest of the series and now I'm not inclined to read them.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

SUMMARY:Mystery bookstore owner Tricia Miles has been spending more time solving whodunits than reading them. Now a nearby gas explosion has injured Tricia's sister's boyfriend, Bob Kelly, the head of the Chamber of Commerce, and killed the owner of the town's history bookstore. Tricia's never been a fan of Bob, but when she reads that he's being tight-lipped about the "accident", it's time to take action.

REVIEW: Easy to read cozy mystery with interesting characters, a good storyline and in the vein of Murder She Wrote or Miss Marple.

[Barbara ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only issue I really have with this series is Angelica. She gets on my darn nerves. Luckily for me, she spent most of the book on tour and only made a few cameo appearances which suited me fine.

I like the idea of the bookish town and the clever naming of each bookstore. I like most of the characters too so it makes for an enjoyable read.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I haven't read a book in a while where I despised all of the characters and the writing was terrible. Too bad the explosion in the first chapter didn't just take out the town...

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed at all the suitors coming out of the woodwork. I understand you want to draw out romantic tension so you can make the series longer... But come on! Three interested parties at once? One who is weirdly obsessed and cringy--and honestly I'm just over. One I'm rooting for, but a lot of their "relationship" happened off screen during the time between books so I'm left wanting. And now an ex randomly coming out of the woodwork and clouding things? No thank you.

Also, the author's need to constantly make comments about every woman's weight is quite off putting. Having characters not only make comments in conversation, but also sprinkling it throughout the narration--way past the point of just simple description.
I swear EVERY meal Tricia tries to eat is either interrupted or she's put off by something part way through and doesn't finish her food. She'll have had JUST a yogurt for lunch, say she's famished, and then not even finish a salad because she suddenly lost her appetite? It's not empowering character development to have a male be like... enjoy life a bit and order dessert first! That shouldn't be life changing character development. It's one thing to present a character a fit and healthy, but this borderline obsession with body type is not wholesome. And it's not even like the book is "a product of its time." 2010 wasn't that long ago.

I didn't hate the book, nor did I have to force myself to finish it. There were some redeeming parts, and I teared up a bit at the end--because emotions. But the whole murder mystery plot this time around just seemed convoluted and almost like an afterthought--a plot device to explore some weird character interactions.
Normally when I finish a book, I get an emotional rush. But I finished this one and just felt underwhelmed.
The books so far in the series have all had their little moments of cringe, but the overall plot has kept me intrigued and wanting more. I have already purchased the next couple books in the series, so I will probably finish those... but if they are the same caliber as this installment, I can see myself just losing interest in the continuing the series.

[Amanda Sexton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audiobook.

So disappointed in this series. Every book seems to make the characters worse versions of themselves. The main character is not only more whiny and needy in this book, but now she calls herself, “filthy rich” when thinking about how she can buy her friends out of their troubles (which seems like it would be nice, but somehow the author makes it seem overbearing, pushy, and snotty). She also is super judgmental....calling someone,”dumpy”, because they work a blue collar job, and when that person says they’re going to help a friend in their garden, she becomes skeptical because they have nicely painted fingernails and silver rings on their fingers.

I kept rolling my eyes, and groaning, and getting so frustrated that my family asked why I bothered to continue to listen. I wanted to get to the end because I hoped it would get better....but it never did. I almost stopped with the series after book 3, but continued on because I was between other books on my wait list at the library, but I wish I had scrapped it and started something new. I have no honest idea why the publishing company encouraged the author to continue to write this series!

[Shalini M · Rating 2 out of 5]

After the previous book in the series, I was hoping that this series won't be disappointing, for some time at least. But I couldn't be more wrong. The plot in this book was not strong, and there is an increasing amount of filler content (how many times do you want to the told that the cat said 'yow' or Tricia hates 'not a problem'?)

I hate books where the women are so desperate to 'get a man' (I detest the phrase itself!), that they are willing to settle for anyone and anything. As for the MC Tricia, my growing dislike for her is now turning to hate. She is becoming more and more obnoxious, overbearing, egoistic and stupid. She is so infuriating that I am surprised someone doesn't murder her just for pestering them. If I were to list down the reasons for this thought, it's going to be a very long list, and I have no wish to waste time doing that. So I'll just say, goodbye and good riddance, Tricia.