Paid in Full

Ari Adams Mystery #1

by Ann Roberts

A quiet Sunday afternoon takes a deadly turn for real estate agent Ari Adams, who discovers the corpse of a business tycoon in one of her listings. When her best friend, Bob, becomes the prime suspect, Ari's desire to prove his innocence puts her on a collision course with Detective Molly Nelson, the gorgeous homicide detective facing the enormous pressure of finding the power broker's killer - fast.

When Bob disappears, Ari enters a world of betrayal and deception, causing her to question Bob's innocence. She realizes that she may need to admit that Molly's hunt for justice will lead to Ari's greatest secret.

As both women hunt for Bob, they are drawn to each other - unable to control the desire that surfaces when they are together. While Ari desperately craves Molly's attention, her devotion to Bob may force her to choose between the debts of the past and the promise of a happy future - if she can stay alive that long.

Genres: Mystery, Lesbian, Crime, Romance, LGBT, Fiction, Audiobook

194 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2006

About the author

Ann Roberts is the author of twenty books that span the romance, mystery and general fiction genres. A Goldie winner and a Lammy finalist, Ann was awarded the Alice B. Medal for her body of work. She loves to hear from readers, so she hopes you'll give her some feedback.

Librarian note: Multiple authors with the same name in the Goodreads database; this author is entered with two (2) spaces.

Reviews

[Diane Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good series!
Good mystery along with a nice love story added to the storyline -- don't forget the chemistry channeling between it's main characters. Also a good supporting cast and the great detective work that made this series a hit -- it's also well written. A recommended series!

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars. This is the first book I have read by Ann Roberts, though I have wanted to read her for quite a while. I liked this, it was a decent mystery, with a flowing story-line that made it a quick read. The story revolves around two mains, a detective, Molly and a former cop turned real estate agent, Ari. Ari discovers a body in a house shes trying to sell. Being a former cop, she decides to investigate before calling the police, and finds her best friend's name in blood, written by the victim. Ari can't believe her best friend could commit murder, so shes out to prove Molly and the rest of the police wrong. While Molly and Ari have an instant attraction, Ari won't leave the case alone, thus driving Molly nuts. I liked the interaction between the two. The attraction was believable as well as the frustration on both ends.
I know other reviewers said the mystery was predictable, and I'm usually good at figuring out the "who done it" part of the mystery, but this book had me guessing till the end. The romance ended on a bit of a rocky note, and you won't find out what happens until you read the next book in the series. While the ending wasn't a cliff hanger, thank goodness, there are some open story-lines, like the romance.
It's was a nice quick read, and i definitely enjoyed it enough to continue reading the series.

[susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

I don't think there was anything I did t like about this book. I loved the characters they were all well written and fit right into the story. I am reading the series off to book 2. I definitely recommend this book.

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was OK, although I think the relationship was better done than the criminal investigation. Some of the characters and their relationships were a bit clichéd and at times a bit like out of a bad soap opera. When the case is finally resolved I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
I quite enjoyed the developing relationship between Ari and Molly, but it's a bit irritating that you have to read the next one if you want to find out if the relationship goes anywhere.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The first of the Ari Adams books by Ann Roberts. For a book published in 2006, this holds up with the test of time. Two likable main characters in Ari and Molly who find themselves thrown together by a murder mystery. Ari is the Real Estate agent selling the house where the body is found and Molly is the Detective assigned to the case. It’s a decent mystery with plenty of red herrings and angst between the women swirls through the story. It was a gentle read and a fairly quick, well written book. Decent read for me.

[R T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. Just I couldn't think they are couple. Molly was too hard-boiled for me. I couldn't imagine how she was like.
The mystery was good and I'll read 2nd one, anyway.

[Elia Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the mystery and romance. There were a few odd things throughout the book but it was still a nice read.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The mystery is fairly predictable and the so are the characters reactions to each other and their environment. I did feel something between Molly and Ari, though, so that made me enjoy the book a little more. There are times when the attraction between characters feels forced but I thought this felt real. There was enough there for me to give the second book in the series try. I'd like to see where their relationship goes and if the author fleshes out some more back story for them.

[Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

And this is an actual "mystery" series!? This book is rife with clichéd characters, awful dialogue, worse sex scenes, and a laughably obvious murder mystery.

[Shannon Luchies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Realtor Ari Adams is getting ready to show a home when she stumbles over a dead body. Worse, there's evidence connecting the murder to her friend, Bob.

Detective Molly Nelson leads the team, and butts heads with Ari almost immediately. Worse, she's very attracted to the other woman.

Mild bitch: there's some 'head jumping' in which we switch POV mid chapter. It's kinda annoying.

There are some police bits that felt weird. Molly berating Ari over talking to Bob before she could... I mean, Molly, you're the cop. It's was your job to go see him, or send a minion. If Ari beat you to it, it means the cops fucked up.

Also, later bringing in Ari for questioning. As it hadn't even been said Bob was charged with anything, hauling Ari in was screwed up.

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

1000000% here for sapphic love, always.
However, wtfffff was everything else in this book????? Why is a real estate agent KNOWINGLY tampering with an investigation and nobody does anything besides say "hey, pls don't do that", especially being a former cop she should know better!!! It was hard to get into the story when you're constantly thinking "you cannot be serious, Ari.."
And disappointing to not even know what happens with the romance at the end.. I guess it's a tactic to pick up the next book in the series, but unfortunately everything else about this novel made me not care to do that so I won't be finding out if Ari and Molly made it work.

[Alealea · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a mystery, the main character sure is not usual !
Her profession, her life, and even the way she stumbles (sometimes quite literally) on clues is fascinating.

The "romance" was, as we are used to , an instantaneous crush but thanks to the situation it goes really slowly which is really nice

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Technically a re-read. I failed to keep up with the series since reading the debut back in 2006, so trying again.

Think I actually like the novel more this time. The MCs are well developed, with interesting backgrounds. The mystery is a twisty one - so many red herrings! The romance, paced just right, leaves room for so much more in the next instalment.

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

No chemistry between the two main characters. They dance around each other but nothing makes you think that there is any connection. The mystery is pretty good, but if you are looking for a good romance, forget it.

[Stephanie Tuell · Rating 5 out of 5]

the ending is not what one would suspect.

[Margaret L. Hedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great.

I really enjoyed Paid in Full. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series. Ari and Molly are great characters.

[L E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book and the ending left me questioning why author ended it there but only then did I realize this was a series. I can truly say, I'm looking forward to the next book!

[Donna Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh the stories Real estate agents can tell. A dead body in the house prior to an Open Home. A gorgeous crabby detective. A great read

[Seb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this.Yes it had issues but it was an easy gng sapphic murder mystery.

[Megan]

It’s astonishing how often similar motifs crop up in successive books. In the previous book I read, Allison Kaine’s father was a well-known police officer in Denver. Well, Ari Adams’ dad, “Big Jack” Adams, was a police legend in Phoenix. Trouble is, unlike Allison’s supportive father, Ari’s dad disowned her the day she came out. Despite her success as a realtor, Ari feels alone and unloved, despite having the looks of a “model.” Her oldest friend, Bob Watson, who she briefly dated as a young woman, is one of the only people she can turn to for comfort. But when Bob is accused of murder—then disappears—Ari has no choice but to try to find him.

Police Detective Molly Nelson finds Ari’s interference a pain, despite being smitten with her at first sight. If she doesn’t find, arrest, and question Bob at the first opportunity, her job may be on the line. So the dichotomy is planted. Unlike the protagonists in many lesbian mysteries, Ari and Molly declare their like for each other early in the book. This gives room for tension when Ari withholds crucial information , not once but several times. Then, of course, Ari does something stupid, gets trapped in an empty house by the killer, and is saved at the last instant by either a man or a man surrogate.

So, yes, there is a lot about Paid in Full that is formulaic. I kind of like both Molly (who, unexpectedly, plays a mean piano) and Ari, who is never afraid to take chances. The plot, featuring a good deal of real estate lore that gives us a good idea of Ari’s profession, is not bad except for the more-then-improbable ending. In fact, one of the big deals in the book has to do with the fact that the murder victim wrote the name Robert in blood on the wall as a dying clue, despite the fact that everybody in the book called the suspect Bob. Oops, another of those dreaded fatal flaws that I sometimes mention. For one thing, it is next to impossible for Molly—or any other police officer—to assume that Robert stood for Bob in this instance. More impossible still, is that the name written in blood was not “Bob”—not only was it shorter for a dying man to write, but the victim actually called him Bob, not Robert. It ruins whatever story is there. Sorry.

Blame the editor—I usually do. Blame her for the incredibly awkward point of view shifts throughout the book. Either Bella editors know nothing about the correct use of point of view, or they just don’t care. I suspect the former, but it could very well be the latter. Neither reflect well on the publisher. Then there is the confusion about Ari’s age—first she is said to be 32, then 33 (and no, she didn’t have a birthday). During the investigation we learn that one of Molly’s officers finds a pistol hidden in Bob’s filing cabinet; later we learn that it was in fact, in his desk drawer. Which is it? All this despite the fact that the office was searched thoroughly a day or two previously.

But what really galls me about this book is what the author did not do: explain how appearances depend on the observer. There is no real doubt about what Ari looks like—Molly admires her legs, her hair, her eyes, her skin, even her mind. Yet all Ari has to say about Molly (to her friend Jane) is that she is “gorgeous.” No description at all from Ari. Yet in Molly has no hesitation in describing herself as looking like a “linebacker” or a “tank.” Those who are interested in what a lipstick lesbian like Ari sees in a self-described “bull dyke,” will go away wanting. Author Roberts had a great opportunity to do something I’ve never seen in a lesbian mystery—and totally blew it. I don’t even think she thought of it. And that’s not all. Two of the main characters—both the victim and the suspect—are incredibly handsome, straight, rich, conservative businessmen with philandering dispositions. Yet both planned to leave their wives for a 21-year-old goth who is described as having a belly piercing, black-rimmed eyes, five studs in each ear, and two-toned hair. A quick fuck? Sure. But anything else? Come on. In other words we need more than that—we need to know what these men saw in her. Look: I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but for something this unusual the author has to do more work than just state it.

So on the whole, Paid in Full isn’t a good start to a series whose fourth offering won a Goldie award. I probably won’t be reading that far, so somebody let me know if the series gets any better. And give this one 2.5 stars.

Note: I read the first Bella printing of this novel.

Another Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 930 other lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.

[MiserableFlower · Rating 3 out of 5]

An alright ended. I like how the ending was open and not a happily ever after situation.

[Vickie]

Lesbian

[Mirtha Siblesz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

I liked the book. It was a very good mystery story. Very well developed characters. A job well done. Can't wait for the next one!