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Rose Strickland Mystery #1
Diners, Dives & Dead Ends
As a struggling waitress and part-time college student, Rose Strickland's life is stalled in the slow lane. But when her close friend, Axton, disappears, Rose suddenly finds herself serving up more than hot coffee and flapjacks. Now she's hashing it out with sexy bad guys and scrambling to find clues in a race to save Axton before his time runs out. With her anime-loving bestie, her septuagenarian boss, and pair of IT wise men along for the ride, Rose discovers political corruption, illegal gambling, and shady corporations. She's gone from zero to sixty and learns when you're speeding down the fast lane, it's easy to crash and burn.
333 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2012
155 people are currently reading
3035 people want to read
About the author
Terri L. Austin
15 books475 followersTerri lives in Missouri with her family. She loves to hear from readers. Drop her a note at TerriLAustin.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
June 23, 2017
A fun read. Rose's friend goes missing and she does everything she can think of and then some to try to find him. Her middle name should be trouble as it finds her where ever she goes. Loved the ending. Was quite surprised.
June 29, 2012
Diners, Dives and Dead Ends by Terri L. Austin was a free book that I won through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway. It's and advanced copy prior to the book coming out in July. I was glad I got to read this book. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Couldn't put it down until the last word.
Rose Strickland is a part-time college student and waitresses at Ma's Diner. She had been disinherited by her parents as she didn't want to conform to their lifestyle and go to the college they had chosen for her. "You could have had everything just like your sister." Well, Rose just was too independent and has been doing fairly well on her own so far.
Rose's close friend, Axton, disappears and suddenly Rose is caught up in the adventure of trying to find him. He had left her his backpack and wanted her to watch it for a few days. But when he doesn't seem to be around for days, she begins to worry and wonders what happened to him. She is being followed by some "bad guys". She is looking for clues as to where her friend went without any luck. Her friend, Roxy from the diner, helps her try to locate Axton. Also, a pair of IT wise men and her elderly boss discover political corruption, illegal gambling and very shady corporations.
Rose is abducted by a henchman,blindfolded, tied up and taken to a manse where the "boss" demands to get back "what is his." Rose adamantly tells him she doesn't have whatever he wants. Although, maybe she does. She is returned to her apartment the same way and just tossed out of the limo. Going up to her apartment she finds that it has been vandalized, everything is destroyed: food, clothing, furniture; all gone, shredded to pieces. The police are called and they do their thing and leave. New door locks are installed and she now needs to buy some clothes, food and furniture as much as her money will let her do so. Why do such a terrible thing?
Having had not much sleep for days, she looks awful, but goes to work anyway. She lets everyone know what is happening. Who are these guys and what do they want? She finds that Axton had an encrypted hard drive and her IT friends discovered what was on it. Names, dates, addresses, etc.; lots of prominent people on the list including the mayor, chief of police and Axton's brother, Packard. Packard wouldn't talk to Rose, so she decided one night to follow him and low and behold he went to gamble in an old school. She found that he was indebted to whomever was running this establishment; probably her abductor of earlier.
Running on adrenalin she is determined to find Axton and any evidence she can to stop what is going on around town. Rose races to the finish line determined not to go down in flames and find her friend. Does she? What else is in store for Rose.
This is a great mystery and I loved all the characters in the book and I can't wait for the next book to come out.
Rose Strickland is a part-time college student and waitresses at Ma's Diner. She had been disinherited by her parents as she didn't want to conform to their lifestyle and go to the college they had chosen for her. "You could have had everything just like your sister." Well, Rose just was too independent and has been doing fairly well on her own so far.
Rose's close friend, Axton, disappears and suddenly Rose is caught up in the adventure of trying to find him. He had left her his backpack and wanted her to watch it for a few days. But when he doesn't seem to be around for days, she begins to worry and wonders what happened to him. She is being followed by some "bad guys". She is looking for clues as to where her friend went without any luck. Her friend, Roxy from the diner, helps her try to locate Axton. Also, a pair of IT wise men and her elderly boss discover political corruption, illegal gambling and very shady corporations.
Rose is abducted by a henchman,blindfolded, tied up and taken to a manse where the "boss" demands to get back "what is his." Rose adamantly tells him she doesn't have whatever he wants. Although, maybe she does. She is returned to her apartment the same way and just tossed out of the limo. Going up to her apartment she finds that it has been vandalized, everything is destroyed: food, clothing, furniture; all gone, shredded to pieces. The police are called and they do their thing and leave. New door locks are installed and she now needs to buy some clothes, food and furniture as much as her money will let her do so. Why do such a terrible thing?
Having had not much sleep for days, she looks awful, but goes to work anyway. She lets everyone know what is happening. Who are these guys and what do they want? She finds that Axton had an encrypted hard drive and her IT friends discovered what was on it. Names, dates, addresses, etc.; lots of prominent people on the list including the mayor, chief of police and Axton's brother, Packard. Packard wouldn't talk to Rose, so she decided one night to follow him and low and behold he went to gamble in an old school. She found that he was indebted to whomever was running this establishment; probably her abductor of earlier.
Running on adrenalin she is determined to find Axton and any evidence she can to stop what is going on around town. Rose races to the finish line determined not to go down in flames and find her friend. Does she? What else is in store for Rose.
This is a great mystery and I loved all the characters in the book and I can't wait for the next book to come out.
May 23, 2012
This delightful & funny mystery is fast-paced with wonderful characters and a quirky plot. Rose Strickland, a down-and-out waitress, puts her life on the line when she dedicates herself to finding her missing stoner friend. Her unrelenting determination gets her caught up in an underground gambling ring filled with dangerously delicious bad guys.
Using her sass, wits and a handy taser, Rose takes on the baddies in a fun, twisting plot that will keep you turning the pages! Terri L Austin's debut is a winner and I can't wait to read more Rose Strickland mysteries!
Using her sass, wits and a handy taser, Rose takes on the baddies in a fun, twisting plot that will keep you turning the pages! Terri L Austin's debut is a winner and I can't wait to read more Rose Strickland mysteries!
May 2, 2012
I received this book as an ARC from the publisher after winning it in a contest, and read the book in one day. In short, I loved this book! The main character is instantly likeable, the writing style is engaging and the plotting is well paced. The ending has a twist of sorts (I won't spoil it for anyone) and is somewhat of a surprise. I am really looking forward to reading more from this author, and hopefully Diners, Dives & Dead Ends becomes the first in a series.
September 10, 2012
Omg , this was one of the funniest and most amazing light-hearted mysteries I have read , I did not want to put it down and the cover is amazing as well. I'm not normally a fan of light mysteries filled with humour etc as they tend to get a bit too silly for my liking but Terri's Diners, Dives and Dead Ends I really enjoyed. From the friends and family dynamics to the anticipation of what's going to happen next and of course what mischief Rose will find herself in.
In Diners, Divas and Dead Ends we meet main character Rose aka Rosalyn Strickland . She is in her early to mid 20's and when she was 19, she found herself cut off from her wealthy family and left to fend for herself in the real world. Rose works as a waitress at Ma's Diner and when she isn't working , she is taking a lot of different classes at the local college to see what she wants to theoretically be when she grows up. The story starts when Rose's friend Axton , also a rich boy now stoner turns up at the Diner asking Rose to do him a huge favour, to look after his backpack. Rose is suspicious as he doesn't go anywhere without it , but as the good friend she doesn't ask questions. Then Rose gets worried about Axton as he doesn't turn up the next day or the next. But it seems , that Rose is not the only guy looking for Axton as she is being stalked by a guy she nicknames BJ and Scarface. Can Rose find Axton and get to the bottom of what is going on ? But what will happen when it seems that Rose is too far over her head and they are threatning her family. Mix this tale with a dysfunctional family , a variety of awesome and out-there friends, a group of IT nerds and you have an awesome and enjoyable mystery for all. I look forward to reading more of Terri. Austin's work and will have to check out Book #2
In Diners, Divas and Dead Ends we meet main character Rose aka Rosalyn Strickland . She is in her early to mid 20's and when she was 19, she found herself cut off from her wealthy family and left to fend for herself in the real world. Rose works as a waitress at Ma's Diner and when she isn't working , she is taking a lot of different classes at the local college to see what she wants to theoretically be when she grows up. The story starts when Rose's friend Axton , also a rich boy now stoner turns up at the Diner asking Rose to do him a huge favour, to look after his backpack. Rose is suspicious as he doesn't go anywhere without it , but as the good friend she doesn't ask questions. Then Rose gets worried about Axton as he doesn't turn up the next day or the next. But it seems , that Rose is not the only guy looking for Axton as she is being stalked by a guy she nicknames BJ and Scarface. Can Rose find Axton and get to the bottom of what is going on ? But what will happen when it seems that Rose is too far over her head and they are threatning her family. Mix this tale with a dysfunctional family , a variety of awesome and out-there friends, a group of IT nerds and you have an awesome and enjoyable mystery for all. I look forward to reading more of Terri. Austin's work and will have to check out Book #2
July 21, 2012
Debut author? Um...could be so-so, could have major mistakes, or might have to write a polite review for someone I know in real life...
NOT AT ALL! This book is awesome and I would recommend it to anyone who, like me, loves the genre of the rather wacky, unintentional sleuth with a unique group of friends who helps bungle their way into solving crimes. I like the additions of the many interesting men who show the main character, Rose, their interest. It rides the fine line of zaniness and believability that many authors don't always manage successfully.
This book is so funny with its characters, situations, and sly humor, it made me snort a couple of times and grin widely at my Kindle Fire. Trust me, it had to be a little unnerving for the people watching me in the doctor's office waiting room.
Please take the time to read this book by Terri L. Austin. She is a great person in real life and the book was a great addition in my life. It can be in your life too!
NOT AT ALL! This book is awesome and I would recommend it to anyone who, like me, loves the genre of the rather wacky, unintentional sleuth with a unique group of friends who helps bungle their way into solving crimes. I like the additions of the many interesting men who show the main character, Rose, their interest. It rides the fine line of zaniness and believability that many authors don't always manage successfully.
This book is so funny with its characters, situations, and sly humor, it made me snort a couple of times and grin widely at my Kindle Fire. Trust me, it had to be a little unnerving for the people watching me in the doctor's office waiting room.
Please take the time to read this book by Terri L. Austin. She is a great person in real life and the book was a great addition in my life. It can be in your life too!
August 10, 2012
“Diners, Dives and Dead Ends, A Rose Strickland Mystery", the first book from Henery Press and author Terri L. Austin is a winner. I predict this will be a long and successful series.
The strength of this book lies in the characters. Rose, or Rosalyn as her parents call her, is the central character. Born to a wealthy family, her parents forced her to move out and pay for college herself when she wanted to change schools after her freshman year. Rose now supports herself as a waitress at Ma’s Dinner and attends Huntingford City College part time while deciding what to do with her life. Rose defines herself as a “twenty-four year old former rich girl who doesn’t know what she wants to be when she grows up.” I liked Rose quite a bit, she had courage to stand up for herself and to make her own way in life. She is intelligent and loyal, both of which come to play in the book.
See more of my review at: http://www.examiner.com/article/enjoy...
The strength of this book lies in the characters. Rose, or Rosalyn as her parents call her, is the central character. Born to a wealthy family, her parents forced her to move out and pay for college herself when she wanted to change schools after her freshman year. Rose now supports herself as a waitress at Ma’s Dinner and attends Huntingford City College part time while deciding what to do with her life. Rose defines herself as a “twenty-four year old former rich girl who doesn’t know what she wants to be when she grows up.” I liked Rose quite a bit, she had courage to stand up for herself and to make her own way in life. She is intelligent and loyal, both of which come to play in the book.
See more of my review at: http://www.examiner.com/article/enjoy...
December 11, 2012
I bought this autographed copy from the author at a local book signing. I didn't plan on buying it but I'm glad I did! I can relate to Rose, Roxy and Pot Head Ax! I loved the characters and the mystery of Ax's disappearance sucked me right in and I couldn't stop worrying about him right along with Rose! I won't spoil the ending but I was satisfied with it. I will be buying the Last diner Standing now to continue following Rose in her next adventure as a badass waitress. I hope we get some romance with Rose and Sullivan in the next book. That was the only thing missing in this story but I definitely felt the attraction between them. I want more Sullivan he reminds me of Barrons from Fever Series. If Barrons was Irish and lived in Missouri. I Love my Local Authors!
August 9, 2012
I loved this book the very first time I read it, and consider it a favorite. Terri Austin writes with confidence, blending humor and suspense with a practiced hand rarely seen in a debut. She serves us the gutsy Rose Strickland and her blue-haired sidekick, Roxie -- toss in her snobby family and a sexy bad guy, and the results are delicious. An excellent read if you're looking to dive into a new humorous mystery series.
October 9, 2012
Fast paced, full of surprises, and a lot of fun - I think Terri has come up with the perfect recipe for mystery/suspense! I like this book so much I'm currently re-reading it!!
August 5, 2012
When a book keeps you on the treadmill for a double-length workout, you know you’ve found a winner! Terri L. Austin, my waistline thanks you for this fresh, funny mystery that had enough twists to keep me walking (and guessing) all the way to the breathless finale.
This first book in Austin’s debut series introduces Rose, a mixed-up twentysomething who thinks her life as a waitress/student is pretty dull. Then her closest friend goes missing and her world is flipped on end by shady characters and startling revelations about some of her hometown’s most prominent citizens.
With a fun, colorful supporting cast that includes Rose’s spunky, sassy boss (who says you can’t have adventures after 70?), and plenty of men vying for our heroine’s attention, this book definitely has something for everyone. Rose is smart and independent, and the contrast between her and her sister, who took the road her parents pointed her toward and lives a very comfortable life, adds a nice layer of family drama to the story.
Austin deftly sets Rose up as a “real” character who has refreshingly appropriate reactions to the crazy situation she’s thrown into. I really liked that Rose didn’t behave as though she knew she was the heroine in a thriller, but rather as most ordinary people would if they were thrust into such an extraordinary situation.
Witty dialogue and snappy writing keep the narrative moving right along, and I loved the fact that even when I thought I had it all figured out, there was one more surprise waiting that I really didn’t see coming.
This first book in Austin’s debut series introduces Rose, a mixed-up twentysomething who thinks her life as a waitress/student is pretty dull. Then her closest friend goes missing and her world is flipped on end by shady characters and startling revelations about some of her hometown’s most prominent citizens.
With a fun, colorful supporting cast that includes Rose’s spunky, sassy boss (who says you can’t have adventures after 70?), and plenty of men vying for our heroine’s attention, this book definitely has something for everyone. Rose is smart and independent, and the contrast between her and her sister, who took the road her parents pointed her toward and lives a very comfortable life, adds a nice layer of family drama to the story.
Austin deftly sets Rose up as a “real” character who has refreshingly appropriate reactions to the crazy situation she’s thrown into. I really liked that Rose didn’t behave as though she knew she was the heroine in a thriller, but rather as most ordinary people would if they were thrust into such an extraordinary situation.
Witty dialogue and snappy writing keep the narrative moving right along, and I loved the fact that even when I thought I had it all figured out, there was one more surprise waiting that I really didn’t see coming.
March 6, 2013
I don't read a lot of humorous mysteries, but I am so glad I took a chance on this one! Not only does Austin's main character offer up some freaking hilarious observations, but many of the secondary ones do as well. Ma's comment about Rose looking like "ten miles of bad road" had me literally LOLing. It certainly wasn't the only time either.
The next thing I loved about DD&DE was how I felt like I was in the main character's skin. Austin has deep Point of view nailed. I was actually kind of surprised at the climax - for a humorous story, it really had some teeth. And I mean that in a good way. It was definitely a page turner at the end.
Finally, gosh, Rose wasn't the only who developed ambivalent feelings for the bad guy! He was drawn rather yummy. I love the rich complexity that added to the story. Loved it!
The next thing I loved about DD&DE was how I felt like I was in the main character's skin. Austin has deep Point of view nailed. I was actually kind of surprised at the climax - for a humorous story, it really had some teeth. And I mean that in a good way. It was definitely a page turner at the end.
Finally, gosh, Rose wasn't the only who developed ambivalent feelings for the bad guy! He was drawn rather yummy. I love the rich complexity that added to the story. Loved it!
July 7, 2012
Well fist off let me say that this book was something out of the norm for me to read. I was looking over some of the giveaways and the cover struck me. I must say that the artwork on the cover is awesome!
Now for the book itself. I was very surprised to enjoy this book as much as I did. I tried going into it with an open mind since I normally don't read much in the way of mystery or those with a female main character. I really got into this book. At the beginning I wasn't really pulled into the story, but as I got a little further into it I had to finish it. I'll be sure to check out more reads from Terri Austin as this one was one of those fun books to read, if that makes sense.
(I won this book from a First Reads Giveaway)
Now for the book itself. I was very surprised to enjoy this book as much as I did. I tried going into it with an open mind since I normally don't read much in the way of mystery or those with a female main character. I really got into this book. At the beginning I wasn't really pulled into the story, but as I got a little further into it I had to finish it. I'll be sure to check out more reads from Terri Austin as this one was one of those fun books to read, if that makes sense.
(I won this book from a First Reads Giveaway)
May 31, 2018
Are you kidding me? I was a bit meh about the book, but the last 30 or so pages? What's going on? Where did that come from?
Maybe it's the genre, as I haven't read too many cozy mysteries before, but this was absolutely not for me. The protagonist seems too dull while actually supposed to be smart (or maybe it's her "rebellious" character). The story didn't seem to progress much. And although the initial quest was solved, all the info Rose uncovers while trying to find Axton somehow didn't accumulate to anything proper.
Maybe it's the genre, as I haven't read too many cozy mysteries before, but this was absolutely not for me. The protagonist seems too dull while actually supposed to be smart (or maybe it's her "rebellious" character). The story didn't seem to progress much. And although the initial quest was solved, all the info Rose uncovers while trying to find Axton somehow didn't accumulate to anything proper.
January 19, 2013
I loved this book! So much so that before I updated my GR status I hopped on Amazon and bought the second in the series. Rose Strickland is one of my new favorite characters and I'm thrilled that she's got more adventures on the horizon.
June 12, 2023
4.5/5
Rose Strickland, former rich girl turned waitress/part time college student, doesn’t quite know what she wants to do with her life yet. Despite her disapproving and disappointed snobby parents, she’s pretty content while she figures things out. Life is okay at the diner, working with her best friend Roxy, though less than exciting… until her other best friend, Axton, disappears after leaving her with his backpack and a mysterious hard drive inside. Soon, her life is turned upside down as she is tracked down by a very powerful (and very sexy) man who had something to do with Axton’s disappearance, and knows way too much about her life. Now, Rose is chasing down leads, using her stun gun, and living life dangerously while on the hunt to find her best friend and bring him home.
I seriously loved this book! I thought it was just fantastic and the writing was great. I especially liked the cast of characters. Rose was down to earth, hardworking, independent, and just plain fierce. She refuses to back down to the menacing man behind Axton’s disappearance, and she refuses to back down to her parents, who disapprove of her being a waitress, and kicked her out of the house after she decided to transfer to a college not of their choosing. The rest of the characters were awesome as well, with her goofy, anime-loving, strangely-dressing friend Roxy, the old but feisty Ma, her boss at the diner, and some IT guys helping her to solve the mystery.
I thought the mystery aspect was interesting and suspenseful, but I also enjoyed the non-mystery side stories too, like Rose’s strained relationship with her family. This book was really funny and witty too. The only complaint I have is this one small story line that happened at the end of the book, in the last 20 pages or so. Rose finds herself in a very strange situation that I didn’t really feel tied in with the rest of the story. This is a really minor complaint though, believe me.
All in all, this was an awesome read with really strong characters. I’m dying to read the next book so I can read about Rose and all of her friends again!
Note: I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Rose Strickland, former rich girl turned waitress/part time college student, doesn’t quite know what she wants to do with her life yet. Despite her disapproving and disappointed snobby parents, she’s pretty content while she figures things out. Life is okay at the diner, working with her best friend Roxy, though less than exciting… until her other best friend, Axton, disappears after leaving her with his backpack and a mysterious hard drive inside. Soon, her life is turned upside down as she is tracked down by a very powerful (and very sexy) man who had something to do with Axton’s disappearance, and knows way too much about her life. Now, Rose is chasing down leads, using her stun gun, and living life dangerously while on the hunt to find her best friend and bring him home.
I seriously loved this book! I thought it was just fantastic and the writing was great. I especially liked the cast of characters. Rose was down to earth, hardworking, independent, and just plain fierce. She refuses to back down to the menacing man behind Axton’s disappearance, and she refuses to back down to her parents, who disapprove of her being a waitress, and kicked her out of the house after she decided to transfer to a college not of their choosing. The rest of the characters were awesome as well, with her goofy, anime-loving, strangely-dressing friend Roxy, the old but feisty Ma, her boss at the diner, and some IT guys helping her to solve the mystery.
I thought the mystery aspect was interesting and suspenseful, but I also enjoyed the non-mystery side stories too, like Rose’s strained relationship with her family. This book was really funny and witty too. The only complaint I have is this one small story line that happened at the end of the book, in the last 20 pages or so. Rose finds herself in a very strange situation that I didn’t really feel tied in with the rest of the story. This is a really minor complaint though, believe me.
All in all, this was an awesome read with really strong characters. I’m dying to read the next book so I can read about Rose and all of her friends again!
Note: I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2012
i LOVED this book! I've read a few mysteries and while this one isn't what i would call "action packed", it still moved at a good pace and kept you guessing. The relationship between rose and sullivan is another HUGE plus for me. i never expected an attraction between her and the bad guy but i'm so glad the author wasn't afraid to go there. sullivan is not by any means evil so this is a relationship that could always happen in my opinion. he is shady and involved in some questionable dealings but he was still there when rose needed him, loved that!!
May 15, 2014
When Rose's best friend shows up at the diner where she works, he's jumpy and looking nervous. He asks her to look after his backpack and then promptly disappears. Rose finds herself investigating which brings her into contact with a bunch of less than reputable characters.
The women in this book are great. They are honestly captivating. The men unfortunately lack depth and are really kind of odious. I quite enjoyed the book...but the male characters took a bit of the shine off it.
The women in this book are great. They are honestly captivating. The men unfortunately lack depth and are really kind of odious. I quite enjoyed the book...but the male characters took a bit of the shine off it.
January 19, 2013
I just finished Diners, Dives & Dead Ends, and all I can say is "Wow!". My favorite kind of mystery is one where I didn't see the end coming, and this one definitely delivers, with the added bonus of a great cast of characters and several intriguing relationships. I am very excited about seeing how things develop in the next book!
December 28, 2017
One star os just for Sullivan and I'll read the next one just for his sake.
The book is not bad and Rose grows a lot as a character. She has a lot of good traits, she's loyal to her friends and she's indipendent, and I liked this a lot.
I liked her friends, too, because she may be poor money speaking, but she's rich in friendship and that's wonderful.
And the reading is not boring, but it's not so good or so captivating. I was expecting more from this book, more fun, for example... I can't say in the end why I wasn't so hooked up or so captivated by it, I don't know what went wrong, but I give it 3 stars just for Sullivan, because I need more of him!
The book is not bad and Rose grows a lot as a character. She has a lot of good traits, she's loyal to her friends and she's indipendent, and I liked this a lot.
I liked her friends, too, because she may be poor money speaking, but she's rich in friendship and that's wonderful.
And the reading is not boring, but it's not so good or so captivating. I was expecting more from this book, more fun, for example... I can't say in the end why I wasn't so hooked up or so captivated by it, I don't know what went wrong, but I give it 3 stars just for Sullivan, because I need more of him!
February 10, 2016
This was my first win in a giveaway and I thought this book was really good. I really disliked Rose's family, but I think you are supposed to hate them, it makes Rose and her odd bunch of friends even more likeable! Her friends include Ma, who owns the diner where Rose works; Roxy who works with Rose at the diner and is a really strange dresser; Axton, who is missing for most of this story which creates a big part of the mystery, and a couple of computer nerds. Rose comes from a family with money. Unfortunately for her, they withhold their money and their love, because she is not living the life they want her to live. The mystery held my interest and there were a couple of twists and turns that I didn't expect. I thought this was a good 1st installment in what I hope will be a continuing series. I would definitely read the next in this series, if the author writes one.
July 14, 2012
I won this beauty through the Goodreads Giveaway and I have to say I would have definitely bought it if I hadn't. Great characters, interesting plot, and a good story all rolled into one. Teri wrote a fun mystery and I truly hope that when it comes out on July 17th, that others will buy it , read it, and hopefully enjoy it as much as I did. I truly hope Teri writes another book with these characters.
I recommend this book 100%!
I recommend this book 100%!
June 30, 2012
I won this book from one of the giveaways on Goodreads... I was immediately hooked on the story, which was a very fast-paced mystery... I found it hard to put this book down, and I was blown away by the ending!
January 24, 2020
Great start to a series. I enjoyed the humor and the relatable characters. It's a little hard to find. I had to resort to "reading it in browser," and now that I'm hooked, I'm stuck with that format. First world problems.
March 3, 2017
That was a fun fast read with a twist at the end I wasn't expecting.
January 4, 2019
Rose has turned her back on family money in order to make her own life decisions is trying to decide what she wants her major to be in college so she is taking part-time classes. Rose works for a diner was a waitress to pay her way through college and rent on her small apartment. One day her close friend Axton comes in the diner and asks her to keep his backpack safe. She hides the backpack for him and before she can find out more Axton disappears. Suddenly strange things start to happen in Rose’s life. While trying to find her missing friend which the police don’t seem to believe is really missing Rose stumbles into a world of political corruption and illegal gambling. Can Rose find Axton before she becomes a victim too?
I love this book. This is a very funny fast-paced mystery. I love the characters… Rose although she seems lost in ways she is a very strong person to walk away from family money in order so she can live the life she wants on her own terms. Her octogenarian boss is a hoot, she definitely someone you’d want as a boss.
This is a great first book in a series, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a mystery with a touch of humor. I was provided with an ARC if this book from NetGalley in hopes I would submit a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love this book. This is a very funny fast-paced mystery. I love the characters… Rose although she seems lost in ways she is a very strong person to walk away from family money in order so she can live the life she wants on her own terms. Her octogenarian boss is a hoot, she definitely someone you’d want as a boss.
This is a great first book in a series, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a mystery with a touch of humor. I was provided with an ARC if this book from NetGalley in hopes I would submit a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 21, 2018
This was a good one. Perhaps borderline cozy, with a some bits of violence and a bit of 'earthy' language, but it worked for me (iow, not too rough). It took me too long to get to it, thanks to an overloaded TBR, but it was worth the wait. Luckily I'd already downloaded the second one, and hope it doesn't take forever to get to it!
April 20, 2017
The writing did too much telling and not enough showing, with very little descriptive detail. Good news is the writing style of this series improves greatly by the third book! The mystery plot of the book is fun and surprising.
March 2, 2013
Rose Strickland, 24 years old, comes from a rich and snobby family. Her mother is controlling pretty much every aspect of her husband’s and her two daughters’ lives. While the older sister Jacqueline is more than happy to oblige, to follow whatever life path her mother chooses for her, Rose is not that passive. She doesn’t want to go to the college her parents paid for, but prefers to find something different, something to appeal to her interests.
But such kind of disobedience is not something her mother cares to tolerate. It’s either all or nothing. So since the age of 18 Rose has been cut off from her parents’ financial support and maintains a very cold and strained relationship with them. Jacqueline is the only one to stay in contact with Rose, and she actually tries to restore peace within the family.
To be able to pay for her studies and apartment, Rose works as a waitress at Ma’s Diner, but her financial situation is really bad, which by her mother is considered a shame for the family.
But in terms of friendship, Rose doesn’t lack anything. She’s in good relationship with the whole staff at the Diner, particularly with fellow waitress Roxy and her boss Ma (who’s, by the way, is about 80 years old, but totally lively and energetic). Another one of Rose’s best friends is Axton, whom she’s known since school, with their families sharing the same social circle. But they became really closer 5 years ago, when both came to the Huntingford City College.
Rose and Axton don’t really have much in common, though, especially with Axton being a fan of sci-fi movies and fantasy books and consuming weed on regular basis. But it was him who helped Rose overcome the most hardest periods in her life, when she only learned how to live independently.
Axton almost always acts weird (some of it may be the pot influence), but one morning he stumbles into Rose’s workplace, all nervous and secretive, asks her to keep his backpack, and then disappears. Rose is very worried about him and after police turns out to be useless and Rose being threatened by some mysterious man to stay away from this case, she starts her own investigation. What she finds out, though is both unexpected and highly dangerous.
The story is not something I read very often, but it is the statistics I plan to change. First of all, following my New Year’s resolution to read more different genres, and, secondly, judging by this particular book, cozy mystery is a really enjoyable read. So there definitely will be more books like this on my reading list.
‘Diners, Dives & Dead Ends’ is a winning combination of mystery, adventure, humor and a hint at possible romance. The main heroine Rosalyn Strickland is no pushover, she’s independent, brave and loyal. She’s not the one to let anybody control her or her decisions, if she sets her mind on something, there’s no stopping her. It’s very rare to find such a heroine in a book now, so this one was like a breath of fresh air.
Rose’s determination to save her friend Axton is both admirable and very brave. I may have been wondering why these two actually became friends in the first place. They just seem top opposite to me. Rose is just this good girl, who works hard to make something of her life, and Axton is kind of problematic. Yes, they helped each other in some tough moments of life, but what was the actual starting point for the friendship? Besides, if they were such good friends, couldn’t Rose have already influenced Axton about his way of life? Especially if Axton already had several pot possession misdemeanors.
Another thing that kept my eyes constantly rolling was the fact that seemingly every other guy Rose meets throughout the book immediately had the hots for her. I counted 5 guys pining over her! Seems too much to me and kind of reminded me of some lame YA romance books!
Rose’s investigation of Axton’s disappearance was very adventurous and humorous. There were some really unexpected plot twists, but I liked the way Rose conducted herself. Rose’s sidekicks Roxy and Ma are very independent and passionate characters, I liked them just as much as I liked Rose. They are funny, impulsive and entertaining.
And can I just say how much I liked Sullivan? Yes, he is the bad guy here, but he was really mysterious and when he saved Rose in the end, I just knew there’s something going on between these two.
Hope the next installment will turn out just as great, I’m definitely reading it next week. And I would recommend this book to anyone who loves easy-reading and fun stories, with a really intriguing plot and good well developed characters.
But such kind of disobedience is not something her mother cares to tolerate. It’s either all or nothing. So since the age of 18 Rose has been cut off from her parents’ financial support and maintains a very cold and strained relationship with them. Jacqueline is the only one to stay in contact with Rose, and she actually tries to restore peace within the family.
To be able to pay for her studies and apartment, Rose works as a waitress at Ma’s Diner, but her financial situation is really bad, which by her mother is considered a shame for the family.
But in terms of friendship, Rose doesn’t lack anything. She’s in good relationship with the whole staff at the Diner, particularly with fellow waitress Roxy and her boss Ma (who’s, by the way, is about 80 years old, but totally lively and energetic). Another one of Rose’s best friends is Axton, whom she’s known since school, with their families sharing the same social circle. But they became really closer 5 years ago, when both came to the Huntingford City College.
Rose and Axton don’t really have much in common, though, especially with Axton being a fan of sci-fi movies and fantasy books and consuming weed on regular basis. But it was him who helped Rose overcome the most hardest periods in her life, when she only learned how to live independently.
Axton almost always acts weird (some of it may be the pot influence), but one morning he stumbles into Rose’s workplace, all nervous and secretive, asks her to keep his backpack, and then disappears. Rose is very worried about him and after police turns out to be useless and Rose being threatened by some mysterious man to stay away from this case, she starts her own investigation. What she finds out, though is both unexpected and highly dangerous.
The story is not something I read very often, but it is the statistics I plan to change. First of all, following my New Year’s resolution to read more different genres, and, secondly, judging by this particular book, cozy mystery is a really enjoyable read. So there definitely will be more books like this on my reading list.
‘Diners, Dives & Dead Ends’ is a winning combination of mystery, adventure, humor and a hint at possible romance. The main heroine Rosalyn Strickland is no pushover, she’s independent, brave and loyal. She’s not the one to let anybody control her or her decisions, if she sets her mind on something, there’s no stopping her. It’s very rare to find such a heroine in a book now, so this one was like a breath of fresh air.
Rose’s determination to save her friend Axton is both admirable and very brave. I may have been wondering why these two actually became friends in the first place. They just seem top opposite to me. Rose is just this good girl, who works hard to make something of her life, and Axton is kind of problematic. Yes, they helped each other in some tough moments of life, but what was the actual starting point for the friendship? Besides, if they were such good friends, couldn’t Rose have already influenced Axton about his way of life? Especially if Axton already had several pot possession misdemeanors.
Another thing that kept my eyes constantly rolling was the fact that seemingly every other guy Rose meets throughout the book immediately had the hots for her. I counted 5 guys pining over her! Seems too much to me and kind of reminded me of some lame YA romance books!
Rose’s investigation of Axton’s disappearance was very adventurous and humorous. There were some really unexpected plot twists, but I liked the way Rose conducted herself. Rose’s sidekicks Roxy and Ma are very independent and passionate characters, I liked them just as much as I liked Rose. They are funny, impulsive and entertaining.
And can I just say how much I liked Sullivan? Yes, he is the bad guy here, but he was really mysterious and when he saved Rose in the end, I just knew there’s something going on between these two.
Hope the next installment will turn out just as great, I’m definitely reading it next week. And I would recommend this book to anyone who loves easy-reading and fun stories, with a really intriguing plot and good well developed characters.
February 3, 2013
I rated this 4.5 out of 5 Stars.
A waitress turned sleuth, a dermatologist with a secret and a smexy hot criminal mastermind are just a part of the fun in Terri L. Austin's Diners, Dives & Dead Ends, the first book in the Rose Strickland Mystery series. With a large dose of comedy, likable characters, and snarky dialogue, Ms. Austin's story captured my attention and never let go. Reading late into the night, there were times I thought I'd fall out of bed due to laughing so hard.
Former debutante Rose Strickland's life has changed a lot in the last five years. Now a part time college student and a struggling waitress, Rose eeks out an existence working at Ma's Diner, where breakfast is served daily from 6am to 1pm. Somewhat estranged from her doctor father and socialite mother, Rose is the "black sheep" of the family. When Axton, her closest friend and wanna be brother from grade school, asks her to watch his backpack she agrees not realizing the danger she would soon be involved in. When Axton goes missing, Rose seems to be the only person concerned about his disappearance. The police won't help and Axton's dermatologist brother refuses to get involved.
Armed with her trusty notebook and backed up by a strange assortment of friends, Rose begins to investigate who could have taken Axton and tries to discover what they want. Opening his backpack, she's surprised when she discovers a portable computer memory she knows doesn't belong to Axton. Asking his fellow IT geeks to figure out what's stored inside, Rose begins to follow a series of clues hoping to save her friends life. When her own safety is threatened by the criminal mastermind behind Axton's kidnapping, Rose refuses to back down and with the help of her "gang", hatches a daring, and somewhat insane plan to rescue her friend.
Armed with chocolate chip cookies and a bag of Chex Mix, Rose and her group of friends (made up of Roxie, her blue haired best friend and fellow waitress, Ma, the 79 year old woman who owns the diner, and two IT geeks from the local college) locate the villains lair and plan to spring Axton right from under his nose. Armed with a discount tazer, purchased from the back of a friend's cousin's trunk, and a set of walkie-talkies, Rose and Roxie break into the house of a man whose warned Rose to mind her own business.
Ms. Austin did a great job developing Rose and the secondary characters in this story. I especially liked Rose's friends, who helped her regardless of her crazy plans. At the beginning of the story, Rose is struggling with the lack of direction in her life. The "black sheep" of the family for refusing to conform to her mother's demands, Rose is on her own and is financially broke. Still dealing with her family and her mother's demands, Rose is beginning to realize no one else will respect her if she can't respect herself. Standing up to her mother's demands is just one way she'll do that, saying no to the smexy bad guy is another.
Will Rose, Roxie and her gang be able to break Axton out of his kidnapper's house? And will Sullivan, the smexy bad guy let Rose get away with it? You'll have to read Diners, Dives & Dead Ends to find out. I loved it and can't wait to read Last Diner Standing to read about Rose's next adventure.
A waitress turned sleuth, a dermatologist with a secret and a smexy hot criminal mastermind are just a part of the fun in Terri L. Austin's Diners, Dives & Dead Ends, the first book in the Rose Strickland Mystery series. With a large dose of comedy, likable characters, and snarky dialogue, Ms. Austin's story captured my attention and never let go. Reading late into the night, there were times I thought I'd fall out of bed due to laughing so hard.
Former debutante Rose Strickland's life has changed a lot in the last five years. Now a part time college student and a struggling waitress, Rose eeks out an existence working at Ma's Diner, where breakfast is served daily from 6am to 1pm. Somewhat estranged from her doctor father and socialite mother, Rose is the "black sheep" of the family. When Axton, her closest friend and wanna be brother from grade school, asks her to watch his backpack she agrees not realizing the danger she would soon be involved in. When Axton goes missing, Rose seems to be the only person concerned about his disappearance. The police won't help and Axton's dermatologist brother refuses to get involved.
Armed with her trusty notebook and backed up by a strange assortment of friends, Rose begins to investigate who could have taken Axton and tries to discover what they want. Opening his backpack, she's surprised when she discovers a portable computer memory she knows doesn't belong to Axton. Asking his fellow IT geeks to figure out what's stored inside, Rose begins to follow a series of clues hoping to save her friends life. When her own safety is threatened by the criminal mastermind behind Axton's kidnapping, Rose refuses to back down and with the help of her "gang", hatches a daring, and somewhat insane plan to rescue her friend.
Armed with chocolate chip cookies and a bag of Chex Mix, Rose and her group of friends (made up of Roxie, her blue haired best friend and fellow waitress, Ma, the 79 year old woman who owns the diner, and two IT geeks from the local college) locate the villains lair and plan to spring Axton right from under his nose. Armed with a discount tazer, purchased from the back of a friend's cousin's trunk, and a set of walkie-talkies, Rose and Roxie break into the house of a man whose warned Rose to mind her own business.
Ms. Austin did a great job developing Rose and the secondary characters in this story. I especially liked Rose's friends, who helped her regardless of her crazy plans. At the beginning of the story, Rose is struggling with the lack of direction in her life. The "black sheep" of the family for refusing to conform to her mother's demands, Rose is on her own and is financially broke. Still dealing with her family and her mother's demands, Rose is beginning to realize no one else will respect her if she can't respect herself. Standing up to her mother's demands is just one way she'll do that, saying no to the smexy bad guy is another.
Will Rose, Roxie and her gang be able to break Axton out of his kidnapper's house? And will Sullivan, the smexy bad guy let Rose get away with it? You'll have to read Diners, Dives & Dead Ends to find out. I loved it and can't wait to read Last Diner Standing to read about Rose's next adventure.
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