Real estate agent for Miami Beach millionaires, Wendy Darlin, clashes with “SEC Investigator” and world famous archaeologist, Roger Jolley. He follows her out to sea on the mega-yacht owned by Charlie Hook, a Ponzi swindler on the run from federal agents and angry investors. Despite her fear of water, she finds herself a tomb raider on the Caribbean. Will she find the Lost Boys? Will she escape Hook’s clutches? And whom will she find on Nevis Island? Oh… and is Roger a good kisser?
Wendy Darlin Tomb Raider ~ Comedy Mystery series: Wendy and the Lost Boys London Broil Cairo Caper Wendy Darlin Tomb Raider Boxed Set
Barbara Silkstone is the best-selling author of the Wendy Darlin Tomb Raider series that includes: Wendy and the Lost Boys, London Broil, Cairo Caper, Miami Mummies, Vulgarian Vamp, Wendy Darlin Tomb Raider Boxed Set. Her Criminally Funny Fables Romantic Suspense series includes: The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three-Quarters; Wendy and the Lost Boys; Zo White and the Seven Morphs. For a squirt of paranormal comedy try: Cold Case Morphs. True fiction fan? Try: The Adventures of a Love Investigator.
New: Mister Darcy Series Book One: Mister Darcy's Dogs Book Two: Mister Darcy's Christmas Book Three: Mister Darcy's Secret
Silkstone’s writing has been described as “perfectly paced and pitched – shades of Janet Evanovich and Carl Hiaasen – without seeming remotely derivative. Fast moving action that shoots from the hip with bullet-proof characterization.”
This was a really funny, very adult reworking of Peter Pan, with Wendy as the most important character, and the narrator of the story. While it is totally off-kilter and completely foreign to the original, the seemingly offhanded interlaced quotes and scenarios from the original story work their magic in unusual ways: always reminding the reader of the genesis of the story, while twisting off into several marvellous side streets and alleyways.
The narration provided by Nicole Colburn provides less emotional range than I would normally hope for, her voice is lovely, but should have enhanced story and plot. While not distracting, the delivery of some incredibly clever written words could have been improved with inflection, as it was rather flat in affect and impression. Perhaps even speaking with a smile, for that is always noticeable to a listener, would have improved delivery: there are truly laugh-out-loud moments in this book, and I can’t imagine the narrator not smiling herself.
Throughout some truly slapstick moments, the character of Wendy is clearly defined and presented: the reluctant caretaker to an oversexed and pharmaceutically enhanced Hook her offbeat and often smart ass comments and responses combine to spice up the story, providing a break in the never-ending tension that could feel oppressive. Imagery is evocative, the writing and dialogue are silky smooth, and the story is truly just fun. It is my first introduction to this author’s work, and most certainly will not be my last.
I received an AudioBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review for the Heard Word. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
What a super read! I've always loved Peter Pan and this wonderful story made into a comedy/contemporary mystery is quite unique.
Wendy and the Lost Boys has an intriguing plot and wonderful sparkling characters providing excellent reading.
As a mystery writer myself, I can say that this is not your usual mystery, or a comedy, Ms Silkstone has blended the two perfectly creating a perfect niche for herself.
Well done. I'll look at fairy tales in a different light from now on!
A great cozy mystery. An easy read, and could have been quick, if I had the time to read it. ;) I liked the main characters and I liked how the names are related to Peter Pan. And, although they had some similar personality quirks, there were differences, too. The story line was good, and I never did guess the killer until the reveal. Can't wait to read the next one.
Fairytales usually start with "a long time ago, in a place far away" and end with “happily ever after,” offering metaphors that are universal. In 'Wendy and the Lost Boys' the author, Barbara Silkstone, modified the classic story of Peter Pan, offering a unique, contrary point of view.
The story is told in the voice of Wendy Darlin, with a gritty language that is modern, contemporary, and full of spunk. When talking about the pirates she says, “One grabbed my round the waist and did a lumbering polka…. He forced his lips on mine. His breath was a lethal combination of onions and salami.”
Peter Payne (note the altered pronunciation, which alters the meaning of his name) was her first love. They were high school sweethearts for one year. Two decades later, she still keeps and old locket he has given her on their last date. “His kisses were as sweet as whipped cream and twice as tasty.”
Emblematic of a generation that tried to retain eternal youth, and then had to contend with the realities of aging and responsibility, Peter’s presence in the story is felt despite not having many lines. It is up to Wendy to let go of him, in order to grow up. “I knew the only thing I ever loved about Peter was the memory of him… It was time to let go of something that never really existed.
In this story, the Lost boys are valuable artifacts from ancient Egypt, cut from solid black diamond. Charlie Hook orchestrates a mysterious disappearance of them, for no better reason than the thrill to get away with it. Roger, a freelance archeologist who states that he retrieves stolen antiquities, explains, “This box contains the shadows of twelve of the infant sons of the fourth dynasty pharaoh. These shadows are over five thousand year old.”
This is a mystery wrapped in romance, a coming of age of a woman who is already an adult, but is she really? Clearly, she is attracted to Roger, “He gave me a kiss I could feel in my shoes.” Saving the Lost Boys is a worthy goal, But the real challenge for her is finding herself in her own shoes.
This is not a mystery like your usual mystery, nor is it simply a humorous novel; it is the most perfect combination of the two. Knowing Silkstone's writing, I expected Wendy and the Lost Boys to be clever and funny, but I didn't expect such a wild ride of a mystery and a rapid repeat of thrill, laugh, thrill. Silkstone has really hit on something with her twist on classic tales. It makes the story all the more fun as you compare the characters in Wendy and the Lost Boys to those of Peter Pan.
And while making a fool of myself laughing out loud as I read, I also couldn't help marveling at the evocative imagery Silkstone uses, to the extent that I was actually reminded of Vonnegut at times. The novel isn't just non-stop fun, there's substance here as well. It is truly one of those can't-put-it-down gems!
Wendy Darlin is a real estate agent, is kidnapped along with her friend, and an investigator by the evil Hook. Hook, married to Wendy's best friend gets Wendy on his ship when he calls her to tell her friend is dying. Wendy takes along her friend/manicurist Kip and an agent (Roger Jolly) posing as a doctor. Hook kidnaps them and uses them to retrieve the treasure. Wendy soon learns that her husband Crook is alive and trying to steal the treasure from Hook. This book was very enjoyable and lots of fun. This was my first read from Barbara Silkstone, but it will not be the last.
The book reminded me a little of the Stephanie Plum character kind of quirky gets into situations that she had no control over. It is a quick read and does hold your interest. Wendy promises an old employee to look after her daughter when she marries a hedge fund crook unbeknown to here. There are pirates, crooks, old people, etc. that keep you smiling throughout the book.
Have you ever watched episode three of a series which was a spin-off from another (one that you've never seen)? There are constant references to what went before, but you haven't a clue. That's me when it comes to "Wendy and the Lost Boys". I never read 'Peter Pan', didn't watch the movie(s), and only have the vaguest idea about the story. This book reads as if someone has novelised a film script. It doesn't make a lot of sense most of the time and usually just relies on unlikely events coinciding with a need to drive the plot forward. It's occasionally funny but mostly it is ridiculous. Some authors can pull it off (Jennifer Crusie for example) but Barbara Silkstone is not one of them. I'd normally give some indication of what it is about but, as it bounces all over the place, there isn't much point. If you've read 'Peter Pan' you may get more out of it than I did. 2 Stars.
Fans of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series will enjoy this book. Barbara Silkstone cleverly uses the names of the characters from Peter Pan for this modern day pirate tale. Wendy Darlin doesn’t seem to have much luck with men. She sets out to visit a dying friend and gets caught up in the schemes of yet another man. I was glad to see that Wendy was smart and brought a couple of her own guys (Darlin’s Dudes) to help her solve some mysteries. Well written so you feel like you’re along on the adventure. Quick moving and humorous (down to Roger Jolley’s brown socks and brown shoes with shorts), this story will keep you hooked. Sit back and enjoy the wild ride.
I recently received a gift of one of this author's Pride & Prejudice Regency novels, which I enjoyed. However, my taste runs more toward mysteries, especially with a touch of humor, so I gravitated toward her Wendy Darlin series. The "touch of humor" here is more like a whap upside the head with a nerf baseball bat. Screwball comedy, held together with a daffy mystery for our heroeene and her hopefully-allies to solve. The cloaked super-yacht... the goat farm clan... who comes up with this stuff? Happily, Barbara Silkstone did, and put her wacky characters and situations on "paper" for the rest of us to enjoy. 5-star entertainment.
I struggled rating this, I thought this was OK but it was better than 2 stars. So I gave it 3. The idea was cute the story was interesting. There was a good mix of humor, but there were some plot points that felt really rushed and there were others that felt like they went too slow. It was a decent read. I'll probably finish the rest of the trilogy bundle I got this in.
This story takes you on an adventure with a best friend. Wendy Darlin is the friend that acts tough but has a heart of gold and the wit to keep you one step ahead of trouble. I recommend this funny mystery and look forward to reading the next one in the series.
So disappointed. I thought this would be a fun read. It had potential. But when you are thinking, why did she do THAT? On every other page or so, it's just not a fun story anymore. The characters are just annoying.
My memories of the story of Peter Pan are several decades old, so any comparison I make to that story and this one are likely to be inadequate and miss many points of comparison. However, I suspect Silkstone’s goal wasn’t a retelling of the children’s classic, but as a jumping off point for a story of her own, possibly with some of the same lessons to take away. That is just one reason these fairy tales are “fractured.” Some of the characters have names from the fairy tale: Wendy, Charles Hook (not the captain, but the owner of the yacht), and Peter Payne, a high school boyfriend of Wendy’s who doesn’t want to grow up. There is even a dog, named Tinkerbelle.
The plot of "Wendy and the Lost Boys" is a mystery, with plenty of tension and suspense. This provides the needed conflict to keep the reader involved, but it is the humor that makes Silkstone’s writing unique. In her book The Love Investigator …, her humor made a book that could have easily been depressing into an entertaining read. In "Wendy and the Lost Boys," it adds the needed spice to make this more than just another okay mystery. Sometimes the humor comes from being a touch over-the-top. Examples are a problem Hook experiences (which is a good reason for his name to be Hook, since his hands are both intact) and a visit to Hook’s roots, which couldn’t be much different from his current life. Other times the humor comes from an offbeat observation or smartass dialogue.
"Wendy and the Lost Boys" may be a fairy tale, but I never made the mistake of thinking I should be reading it aloud to my grandkids. A fun read for adults with a sense of humor.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
Barbara Silkstone's grown-up twist on the child-hood classic Peter Pan is a joy to read. This story has a little bit of everything: romance, mystery, and humor. The way the original version of the fairy tale winds its way throughout the storyline is ingenious! Being a fan of the original version, it was fun to see my favorite characters portrayed in different ways and sometimes even different creatures. Even famous, quotable lines are thrown into the book, bringing a smile to my face or often a big laugh. The subtleties of the original story creeping into the plot are a lot fun too. You have to pay close attention; Ms. Silkstone is so clever in entwining these into the storyline that sometimes it is easy to totally miss some of these. All in all, this is a great story that culminates to a wonderfully exciting ending. A fun, laugh-out-loud read. I plan on reading Barbara Silkstone's other book in this series, The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, to see how she deals with that fairy tale; I am expecting a lot of laughs from that book as well.
I have to say that I started of enjoying this novel quite a bit. I do understand that it is meant as a light read and was evaluating it that way. I enjoyed the author working this story with elements of the Peter Pan story. But, the story began to strain as I delved farther into it. I think if the author had kept this at novella length it might have worked better. No, it is not especially long but as I got into it it began to seem longer. I did not find it as humorous some of the other reviewers- some smiles early on but they vanished as the story dragged on.
Thrillers often have somewhat wooden characters but compensate with action. Here you do get the wooden characterizations but the action is just too silly to hold your interest. I am somewhat chagrinned as, at first, I felt another reviewer was expecting to much from what was intended to be a light hearted take on a fairy tale. Even for a fairy tale this story has too many holes.
Sorry couldn't give this more than 1 star. really not my thing. To cheesy, Real estate agent for Miami Beach millionaires, Wendy Darlin, clashes with “SEC Investigator” and world famous archaeologist, Roger Jolley. He follows her out to sea on the mega-yacht owned by Charlie Hook, a Ponzi swindler on the run from federal agents and angry investors. Despite her fear of water, she finds herself a tomb raider on the Caribbean. Will she find the Lost Real estate agent for Miami Beach millionaires, Wendy Darlin, clashes with “SEC Investigator” and world famous archaeologist, Roger Jolley. He follows her out to sea on the mega-yacht owned by Charlie Hook, a Ponzi swindler on the run from federal agents and angry investors. Despite her fear of water, she finds herself a tomb raider on the Caribbean. Will she find the Lost Boys? Will she escape Hook’s clutches? And whom will she find on Nevis Island? Oh… and is Roger a good kisser? see what I mean
Welcome to the wonderful, wacky world of Wendy Darlin, Miami real estate broker. Her newest agent is a daughter of an old friend, but rather useless until she is given an opportunity to sell to a crook, whom she marries. Said twit has Wendy at the wedding and makes her promise to Take care of said husband if she dies. Wendy had a previous sort-of marriage to a similar kind of crook after a lot of unwise drinking, and that comes back to bite her as well. Soon Wendy meets Roger Jolly, who seems to be an SEC investigative agent, and is off on a hilarious adventure. She encounters murder, yachts, a helicopter, a dog in live with a pig, more crooks, and the punny names are absolutely inspired! A delightful dose of unreality to brighten up a dismal spell or two! Also available as Whispersync. The narrator is either not fully engaged, or having control issues with the gigglesnorts.
Wendy Darling has a very good heart, and it gets her into some very serious problems. She is an intelligent business woman with a lot of savvy and a snarky wit that will have you laughing out loud. This ingenious mystery is fast moving with lots of twists, not all of the characters are who they say they are. The stakes are high and the dangers are real.
Wendy has one person she can trust with her on this adventure on the high seas, Kip her bodyguard/manicurist. Although she really wants to believe Roger Jolley, she just can't get past his ugly brown wing tip shoes; but his Johnny Depp eyes are wearing her down.
I was totally engrossed in this tale, and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is truly a fractured fairy tale and I can not wait to read more from this author.
It's been a while since I've read Peter Pan, so I'm sure some of the references were lost on me. Still, I found the story thoroughly entertaining. From Wendy to Secret Agent Roger Jolly to Charlie Hook, I LOVED her characters. They all cracked me up. The introduction of the Lost Boys caught me totally off guard and added an interesting twist to the story. I just couldn't put this one down. Fun, funny and brilliant. A must read for anyone with a sense of humor AND adventure.
Loved this. It's about the people and places in the off-broadway world not long before I was there, so it rang many bells for me personally. Wendy Wasserstein herself is portrayed in all her complexity. Ultimately she is a difficult person to like, although her motivations are made painfully clear. I would imagine this book would hold more appeal to people who follow theater and know her work.
Wendy and the Lost Boys is a funny, gritty version of a childhood classic. With characters ripped from the headlines, shaken and not stirred, it’s easy to get caught up in trying to find the notorious and the naughty hidden in the twists and turns of the plot. This is one of a series of criminally funny fables by author Barbara Silkstone.
Barbara certainly knows how to tell a fab story through her clever use of characters.
I read this based on the many positive reviews it received. Sadly, I found it to be far less than average. While I did finish reading the book, there were many times I felt like just setting it aside and moving on to another book. I kept thinking it would get better, yet it didn't. Unfortunately, I purchased the Kindle edition that included 3 books. I don't know when, or if, I'll bother to read the remaining two.
Barbara Silkstone's "Wendy and the Lost Boy's - Wendy Darlin Tomb Raider #1" had me reluctant at first, due to the obvious parody of Peter Pan story. However, once I started reading about the adventure of Real estate agent Wendy Darlin, "SEC Investigator" Roger Jolley, and other Peter Pan character name sakes, I found this story very humours and down right charming mystery, that left me trying to guess what was going to happen next.