The Girl Next Door

Carter Ross Mystery #3

by Brad Parks

Reading his own newspaper’s obituaries, veteran reporter Carter Ross comes across that of a woman named Nancy Marino, who was the victim of a hit-and-run while she was on the job delivering copies of that very paper, the Eagle-Examiner. Struck by the opportunity to write a heroic piece about an everyday woman killed too young, he heads to her wake to gather tributes and anecdotes. It’s the last place Ross expects to find controversy - which is exactly what happens when one of Nancy’s sisters convinces him that the accident might not have been accidental at all.

It turns out that the kind and generous Nancy may have made a few enemies, starting with her boss at the diner where she was a part-time waitress, and even including the publisher of the Eagle-Examiner. Carter’s investigation of this seemingly simple story soon has him in big trouble with his full-time editor and sometime girlfriend, Tina Thompson, not to mention the rest of his bosses at the paper, but he can’t let it go - the story is just too good, and it keeps getting better. But will his nose for trouble finally take him too far?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Humor, Audiobook, Crime

335 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2012

About the author

International bestseller author Brad Parks is the only writer to have won the Shamus, Nero, and Lefty Awards, three of American crime fiction's most prestigious prizes. His books have been translated into 16 languages and have earned starred reviews from every major pre-publication journal.

A father of two and a husband of one, Brad is a slow runner and an even slower swimmer. He's grateful for his readers, because otherwise he'd just be a guy who has a lot of conversations with himself in his own head.

For more information -- or to sign up for the newsletter written by his impertinent interns -- visit his website at www.bradparksbooks.com.

To find Brad on Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/Brad_Parks.

And for Facebook: www.facebook.com/BradParksBooks.

Reviews

[Tim The Enchanter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted to The Literary Lawyer.ca

A Blue Collar vs. White Collar Mystery - 3.5 Stars

The fact is that I am writing this as I am finishing up the 5th book in the series. Given what was written after this, I can say that I feel that this is the weakest book in the series to date. That said, it is hardly damning as Brad Park continues to impress in this installment. As I live in a staunch union run city and county, some of the worker vs. "The Man" themes rang true and the solid writing and storytelling keeps the series running strong.


Plot Outline

While reading the obituaries in his own newspaper, Carter Ross is taken by the death of fairly young woman who delivered papers for the Eagle Examiner. Looking for something to do, he decides to write an extended obituary/human interest story on this woman's life. After learning the woman was killed in a hit and run, the story delves into a mystery that could even implicate his own paper. Powerful men and blue collar "everymen" are all potential killers as he unravels the mystery that no one believes exists.

The Good

Great Story

Brad Parks always spins a good yarn. I appreciate that storylines and themes used in this novel (and the others for that matter) are issues that fall within the realm of possibility. Parks has knack for taking stories that at first seem innocuous and potentially boring and infusing them with life and mystery. In this installment, he follows a vague trail of crumbs regarding a hit and run that the authorities see as open and closed. This results in suppositions, red herrings with a big finish.

Audio Wonder

The Narrator hits this character perfectly. I had read the first two but decided to listen to this one. The character of Carter Ross has a distinct sense of humour and sarcasm and the narrator read it perfectly. I am very disappointed to see that he not reading books 4 and 5. The performance is very nuanced and one of the best matches for a character I have heard.

The Bad

Missing some Zip

This installment was lacking the humour that infused the first two books in the series and there were not as many laugh out loud moments. While I liked the story overall, the mystery was not as nearly interesting as the others in the series. In the other books a small mystery often leads to bigger mysteries. That did not occur in this book and it was a small disappointment.

Again?

There are a few elements that Brad Parks likes to add it to his novels. There is potential that some of these elements could become a bit tiresome. In fact, the ongoing relationship issue with his boss has already become tiresome. While these elements are minor, it gives the books a slight formulaic feeling. This is something I will be watching as the series progresses.

Can it Stand Alone

Yes. The reoccurring characters are always reintroduced and Parks uses the same explanation in every book to deal with certain concepts and characters. The backstory plays a minimal role. If this one looks the most interesting to you, you can pick it up and read with confidence.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Brad Parks put out another strong novel. While a step below the previous two (and the two after it) the novel is highly readable and is excellent in the audio format. This series has become a favorite of mine and I highly recommend it.

Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest

Sex - 2.5

Sex is a topic of conversation from time to time. Carter has a strange relationship with his boss and they are occasionally "frisky". There is nothing graphic.


Language - 2.5

Occasional use of adult language. It tends to be mild.


Violence - 2.5

There is less violence in this than the others in the series. There is a hit and run at the very beginning which is actually quite graphic. Some readers may find it disturbing. Outside of this, there is little violence until the end.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became interested in reading the Carter Ross series, by Brad Parks when on a blog I read about a talk he gave to mystery readers who came to hear him speak. The talk was so entertaining and so much fun that I searched out the first book in the series.

I was not disappointed as the books lived up to his talk. The books had me chuckling aloud at times. Carter Ross is an investigating reporter for the Eagle Examiner In Newark New Jersey. He is wise cracking but has a soft spot for the underdog. The secondary characters are interesting and add to the story. The last two books featured interesting interns. This book had Lunky who somehow landed into a newspaper office while his heart was with literature. There were some funny visual scenes that will stay with me such as the cat door. This is an entertaining good series that I look forward to continuing.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I have to agree with this reviewer.

For a mystery book, this one is a bit disappointing. Brad Parks doesn't offer many twists in Carter's attempt to uncover the murder of Nancy Marino. And, while I already think that Carter is NOT the most convincing investigative reporter EVER, this book takes his "naivity" into another level. He relies too much on one source. He doesn't even try to check out the source's credibility. I think he is being too naive and lets his biases played into his investigation -- even Carter admits that in the end. It doesn't improve my judgment of his character and profesionalism.

I think I'm more amused with Lunky, the literary intern who talks more about American literature than news reporting. The scene with the bear -- and the kind of news that Lunky writes -- is one of the funniest things from this book. I also still love Tommy and Tee, as secondary characters. Carter himself? Yeah, not so much.

The other two books I rate slightly higher due to the entertainment factor (book #1) and mystery factor (book #2). This one only get my 3.5 stars because, well, the entertainment factor is lacking and it cannot make-up for the disappointing mystery. However, although the trend of my rating the books in this series tend to go lower and lowe, I think I still would like to check out book #4 though. I still have hope *smile*

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was enjoyable, but not the strongest book in the series. It lacked zip and wasn’t as heavy handed on the humor, but it’s still a good story written by an entertaining and skilled writer.

The characters came through as I’d hoped for, but I can’t recommend as a standalone due to the few lack of references to previous books which help to illustrate and develop the story.

I’m probably too wrapped up in being a “start to finish” completist reader 🤓 so the stand-alone concept doesn’t come into play in my world. Nonetheless. Looking forward to #4!

[Dlmrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last time I had this much fun reading a book was an early Stephanie Plum.
Carter Ross, a 32 year old veteran reporter from Newark, has a great sense of humor and great looks. He decides to look into a hit and run death of a fellow "Eagle-Examiner" employee, a paper delivery person. This story leads him into the realization that it was no accident- it was murder. As he investigates, he gets arrested as a "Peeping Tomcat", runs from a bear on the urban Newark streets, has a very hot shower scene with his editor and is fired from his job.
This book was so much fun. I laughed out loud more than once. One of my favorite scenes is when his intern, Lunky, writes the story about the bear by discussing the bear in fiction citing William Faulkner and John Irving. Absolutely hysterical.
I thought this was a debut novel but discovered it was the third in the series. You don't have to read the first two to appreciate this one. I didn't and I enjoyed it. I am going to read the first two. That's how much I liked this one.

[Nicky Wills · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll give this one 4 stars, since I would rate this and the previous Carter Ross book 3.5, so this evens it out! These books are fun and easy reads, and now I'm invested in the recurring characters. They're a little goofy and cliche at times, but I enjoy reading them.

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ll give this book about a 3.2. It was an ok detective novel but like I read from another reviewer, there really weren’t that many twists. I do however like the main character and would enjoy reading the other books by the author in which he is featured.

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

PROTAGONIST: Carter Ross, investigative reporter
SETTING: Newark, New Jersey
SERIES: #3 of 3
RATING: 4.0

Carter Ross is an investigative reporter for the Newark Eagle-Examiner who is often able to determine his own assignments. While reading the obituaries one day, his eye is caught by the story of Nancy Marino who was killed in a hit-and-run while delivering the paper early one morning. He decides that her story is worthy of an expanded piece and sets out to interview her friends and family to put together a heart-warming sketch of a young woman working hard. Instead, he finds evidence that her death was no accident; a witness near the scene describes a car speeding up and deliberately hitting her.

Ross soon makes a connection between the victim and the unlikeable publisher of the newspaper, Gary Jackman. When he is warned not to pursue the story both by the general manager and his editor, he becomes even more determined to pursue the truth. In so doing, he gets into more trouble than he can believe. He goes to Jackman’s home and attempts to get into his garage to see if the car used in the killing is there and ends up in a jail cell instead. Aided by one of the other reporters, he finally uncovers what happened.

The narrative is leavened with large doses of humor, both in Ross’s outlook and in the situations that he faces. He is chased by a bear – in Newark! – and stuck in a cat door. The humor never detracts from the story and serves to make the book very readable. In addition, Carter is very likeable. He’s no superhero. In fact, he is teased endlessly because he is such a preppy kind of guy, in his nerdy khakis and button-down collared shirt. He cares about the people that he works with—in fact, he is the only one to give “Lunky”, a new intern, a chance to learn the trade. The only element that did not work for me was how Carter trusted someone that he shouldn’t have. It was obvious to me from the get-go that this was a person not to confide in. Given Ross’s investigative background, I was surprised to see him act so stupidly.

THE GIRL NEXT DOOR is the third book in the Carter Ross series. I really like the lead character, as well as the portrayal of the newspaper business. And it doesn’t hurt that I got a chuckle or two out of the book.

[Jessica at Book Sake · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Girl Next Door was fairly disappointing. Carter Ross, an investigative reporter for the Eagle-Examiner, discovers that the “hit-and-run” death of Nancy Marino may not have been an accident at all. The plot sounds totally played out to begin with, but hey, I also love every episode of Law & Order, so what the hell, right? Unfortunately, this book didn’t throw me a single curve ball. The mystery of Nancy’s murder was so transparent that I’d figured it out about 50 pages into the novel. Where’s the fun in that? I didn’t even want to finish it at that point. I also couldn’t find any reason to care about the murdered woman because we never really learn much about her anyway. Carter’s rogue bear story was far more interesting than the murder. That part cracked me up and is probably the only reason why I continued reading this book. Parks has a great sense of humor, but it didn’t seem as if he put as much effort into the plot. The whole thing was a bit confusing for me, honestly. Why not just write a comedy instead?

I realize I don’t have many positive things to say about this book, but it wasn’t unbearable. I guess I just wasn’t expecting what I got from this book. The Girl Next Door is a light, fun read if you can forget the fact that it was intended to create any sort of suspense.

Reviewed by Brittany for Book Sake.

[Jenee Rager · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had a great opening line. From there on it was all downhill. I loved the premise and was very excited to read it, but after a few pages I struggled to force myself through it. I have never read a "mystery" book that was so predictable. The characters were all stereotypical and uninteresting, and I think even the most unskilled reader could predict who the killer was almost immediately. I kept hoping maybe I was wrong and that there would be a plot twist to save the book, but unfortunately that wasn't the case and by the time I finished the last page I no longer cared who did it, or even why (which is only explained very thinnly anyway) I was just glad to be done.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course, me being me, I started at the #3 book instead of the #1. I guess it didn't really matter much except I might have learned what a sense of humor Carter Ross has and not been so surprised. Brad Parks has created in Carter Ross a likable character that has personality, charm and integrity. He also is owned by a charming cat named "Deadline" that Ross describes as "dormant". We were offered a plateful of bad guys...but I never guessed the identity until nearly the end. I would recommend this series for anyone that is looking for a good mystery that doesn't take itself too seriously.

[William Nist · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid entry to the Carter Ross series; this episode focuses in on a rather mundane "Hit and Run" incident that turns out to be a murder. The prime suspect is Ross's employer, the publisher of his newspaper, but of course the prime suspect is not the final perp...who is in plain site for most of the novel.

A new intern, Lunky, is introduced who turns out to be the hero of the book. I like the use of interns in this series. It is a device that inserts unusual and interesting characters into the ongoing cast.

I love the snide, somewhat cynical, and amusing Ross...he makes me grin while reading (in a actual world that provides little opportunity for grinning).

In so many of the thriller or mystery series that I read,, the central character is a quasi shell shocked, bitter, disillusioned, military ranger or seal, with all kinds of related issues...it is refreshing to be inside a newsroom and not a safe house, where the dynamics are totally different and the mental states reveal a entirely different set of neurosis.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy the Carter Ross character, a smart-mouthed New Jersey reporter dedicated to his craft. This mystery involved a newspaper delivery woman from his own paper who was run down by a speeding car. What at first appears to be a hit-and-run begins to look sinister to Ross when he decides to write a profile of the victim.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Good main character and other regulars. But I guessed the solution too early.

[Kevintipple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the steadily worsening situation for newspapers across the country as well as at his own, Reporter Carter Ross still has a job at a Newark Eagle–Examiner. While the newspaper maybe having serious fiscal issues, the obituary pages are still one thing the bosses have not surrendered in the face of declining circulation and revenues. It was while he was reading the obits that Reporter Carter Ross come across the notice about the death of 42 year old Nancy B. Marino.

Single and hardworking, Nancy not only was a volunteer she held down two jobs with one of them being a carrier for Newark Eagle–Examiner. Reporter Ross knows the carriers who actually deliver the daily newspaper are the lifeblood of the paper. There is enough there in her obit to make him wonder who she was and why she died. It sticks with him and he decides the deceased needs a follow-up piece of some sort. That leads him to attend her visitation where at least some in her family think there is a lot more to the story than a simple accidental hit-and-run. They aren’t alone in that feeling.

Told primarily from the viewpoint of Carter Ross, with the occasional and totally unnecessary switch to the viewpoint of the narcissistic killer, THE GIRL NEXT DOOR moves forward at a fairly steady pace. Full of Carter Ross battling increasing odds in his quest for the truth, the mystery contains plenty of action, adventure and misdirection as well as observations regarding the newspaper industry. As always in this series that is not aimed at mystery readers who want the books serious and dark, there is plenty of humor. Some of it is in your face and some of it is subtle with the result there are plenty of laughs throughout the book.

This is the third in the series that began with Faces of the Gone followed by Eyes of the Innocent and is another solidly good one as Reporter Carter Ross continues to wisecrack at will while trying to find out the truth about what happened to Nancy Marino. Like any series it would be best to read them in order, but if you can’t, you can safely here as previous events are only briefly mentioned in the barest of terms.



Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano Texas Public Library System.


Kevin R. Tipple © 2012
Lots More Reviews At http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carter Ross reads a story about a woman involved in a hit and run. He decides to attend her funeral. Carter gets more than he bargained for when the victim’s sister tells Carter that she believes the accident was no accident. Carter agrees to investigate the case. Carter better watch his back or he could find himself in a hit and run accident of his own.

The Girl Next Door is book three of the Carter Ross novels. I like Carter. When you first think of a reporter, you instantly group them with attorneys. When it comes to Cater, I would have to say that he is the minority. He plays by his own rules but he is for the people. He will go to great lengths to uncover the truth, even if it means this could be his last story.

While, I did enjoy this book, I had some trouble jumping in with both feet. There was nothing too exciting about the characters that drew me into the story or made me really cheer for Carter to solve the murder. For a mystery fan, there were not a lot of twists and you will probably figure out who the responsible party if before the book is over. Although, there was nothing special about this book, I am still a fan of Mr. Parks and will check out the next Carter Ross book.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My take: This is the kind of mystery that I like. The protagonist is a smart-mouthed, thirty-something year old reporter who accidentally discovers his investigative skills are going to be honed. He's funny, witty, and provides an enjoyable "voice." He doesn't talk crass and the book itself is relatively clean, although I'd not be handing it to my children. The guy is still a guy who makes a few references and is a willing participant if the opportunity arises (no pun intended) and he nearly has a couple of opportunities.

So there's the mystery part; Nancy, the girl next door is killed by a hit and run. It doesn't look like it was an accident. Our hero looks into it and gets in trouble. Then there's the human interest part; he's likeable, funny, and oh-so-human. He sweats. He calls people bad names. He is a romantic in spite of his editor. He's overeducated and underpaid. He has a cat named Deadline. His best lines are wasted on the cat. I wish I could use them but nobody would hear them except my own cat. He has a couple of possible side-kicks in the form of Lunky the intern who is, surprisingly, large but not stupid.

Fun book. Light but not too light. Clean but not unrealistic. I want to see this character again.

[Cori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun mystery. I like the way Parks divides his books, moving from first person narration by Carter Ross, to a small section by the antagonist (who is not revealed until the end) and back again. This is the third book of Parks that features Carter Ross, but the first I've read. I am not reading "Faces of the Gone," which is the first Carter Ross book.

Carter Ross is a reporter for a Newark newspaper, and the newspaper speak and newsroom descriptions and talk of what's happening in the newspaper business is all spot on. I worked in a newspaper newsroom for five years, and it is just as Parks describes it. He knows newsrooms having worked in one himself.

The story of the girl next door and her murder is not complicated (and I even figured out whodunnit) but it's well-written and has you sure you know, then not so much, then you probably figure it out (especially if I did!) and it gets wrapped up. Just the kind of mystery I like to read. I really almost never try to solve a mystery, but this one helped me along. But the solution wasn't so obvious that it made me want to quit reading.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brad Parks has done it again with The Girl Next Door! In his third in the Carter Ross series, Brad combines mystery, humor and suspense into a wonderful read. Carter Ross is still as cute as ever, and it is so much fun to read about his escapades. This time, he gets himself into more trouble than ever, and I found myself hooked to discover how he would solve the mystery and get his life back on track. The greatest thing about Carter is even though he is the hero of the novel, he makes mistakes along the way, and is able to admit it! Hilariously funny, well written and suspenseful. Well Done, Brad!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPS brought me this goodreads win yesterday afternoon. If the truck had arrived in the morning, I'd have finished the book before bedtime. It is an entertaining fast read with some really good one-liners. The backdrop is a financially shaky newspaper trying to get union concessions. A shop steward is killed by a hit and run driver. Was it an accident or murder? Reporter Carter Ross wants to know. Most of the characters are stereotypes but they are funny and every one moves the story along. The Girl Next Door is a light escapist read, but that was just what I wanted today. This is the 3rd book in a series. I'll be off to the library soon to pick up the first two.

[Angela Risner · Rating 2 out of 5]

An unassuming paper carrier/waitress is killed in a hit and run accident. From the way she lived her life, it seems impossible that she could have any enemies. Yet as Carter Ross, reporter. digs into the story, he finds out that it was no accident.

First of all, I want to say that there is talent here. There were lots of great lines and the story was cohesive (for the most part.)

However, by page 30, I knew who the killer was. And the book goes on for 200+ pages after that. I doubt that I'm the only one who could solve the crime that easily. It made me want to quit the book right then and there. Pushing on was not horrible, but I didn't enjoy every moment of it.

[JoeK · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always this was a quick, fun read. I like the characters, I love the humour, but I'm starting to get a bit tired of the format. Viewpoint of the criminal, viewpoint of Carter Ross' investigation, back and forth until finally Ross gets up close to the killer not realizing who he is or the great danger that he's put himself into until the last minute.

In the Eyes of the Innocent, Ross negotiates with a killer from behind bullet proof glass, so I thought over time he would get smarter and more pro-active, maybe confront the killer with some cops at his back.

While I really enjoyed this one. I think I need to read one of Parks' other, non-Carter Ross, books for a change of pace.

[Kitty Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Title: "The Girl Next Door”
Author: Brad Parks
Published By: Minotaur
Age Recommended: 187+
Reviewed By: Kitty Bullard
Raven Rating: 4.5

Review: You don’t usually find many mysteries/thrillers that have a hint of humor while maintaining their sense of macabre danger. Brad Parks has successfully married the two in this novel. This book is a rare gem and not one to be missed. If you love mysteries with a little dark humor tossed in for good measure you’ll truly enjoy, “The Girl Next Door.”

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Girl Next Door" was a good "who done it". Brad has a great way of creating characters who are believable and entertaining! I have read two of his books now and going to read the third tomorrow. Keep writing Brad, enjoyed meeting you at the Bon Air Library.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good one. I'd say more of the same, but each differs quite a bit. Parks does a great job telling the reporter's side of the story. Twisty, good mystery, too.

[Vinnie Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the wit of investigative journalist Carter Ross. That was enough for me to enjoy this mystery. But in truth, I knew who the "bad guy" was early on and nothing disabused me of the notion.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carter Ross is an investigative reporter for the Newark Eagle-Examiner, a newspaper which like many others is struggling to maintain viability in the changing world of journalism. Carter sees an obituary for Nancy Marino in the paper - one of the Eagle-Examiner’s own - who is killed in a hit-and-run accident and decides to write a tribute to her in the next day’s edition. Nancy had delivered the newspaper for many years in addition to working as a waitress at a local diner. To learn more about her, he attends the wake where he sees some interesting conversations between men who are tangentially associated with Nancy as well as meeting her sister who tells Carter that her death was not an accident. It turns out that Nancy was more than just the paper lady - she was very active in the union that represented all of the carriers. Most of the paper’s employees have taken pay cuts, but not the union’s members which leads Carter to focus on the paper’s publisher who has been ruthlessly cutting staff and salaries, apparently to protect his own job. The story gets even more complicated when Carter sees the owner of his favorite diner deep in conversation with the publisher - why? The whole investigation for his story finds him in deep trouble at every turn as he stumbles forward toward the truth.

This is the third book in Parks’ Carter Ross series (although the first I have read since the first in the series some 10 years ago!). Carter is an enjoyable protagonist - there are many laugh out loud moments throughout the book along with his sometimes bumbling investigation and interaction with other characters. His desire to get to the bottom of the case is relentless despite the odds against him. I was able to guess who was responsible (operative word guess) but the getting there in the book is most entertaining and will hold your attention to the very end.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veteran Newark, New Jersey "Eagle-Examiner" reporter Carter Ross is unexpectedly drawn into a murder investigation when he sets out to write a piece about Nancy Marion, a forty-two year old paper delivery person who was killed by a hit-and-run driver while delivering the "Eagle-Examiner." As he researches his story, the killer, determined to stop the investigation, soon has the intrepid reporter in his sights. Can Carter solve the mystery of the woman’s death without becoming the killer’s next victim himself?

This series, a must for those who like their mysteries served with a hefty dose of wit and whimsy, is the third outing for Carter Ross and his pals. Likeable characters abound, and an escapade with a bear is pure hilarity [and nothing less than spot-on, considering all those northern Jersey bear sightings making news at the time of the writing of this review].
Carter hasn’t lost his propensity for humorous retorts, clever comments, and his uncanny ability to get himself into all kinds of less-than-desirable situations. For an investigative reporter, he is long on naïveté and short on insight, but readers are likely to count that as part of his enduring charm.
Astute readers will identify the killer long before Carter, but the fun is in seeing how he gets from here to there . . . and how he gets himself out of one fix after another.

Recommended.

[Darlene Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure how I feel about this book. The main character, Carter Ross, is so appealing. He's funny and smart. And the plot kept me guessing.

However, there were a few parts that I didn't like. Without giving anything away, at one point ( a very inconvenient point, I might add) a female character suddenly disrobes. Okay, maybe it's just me - maybe other women often take their clothes off in front of their employees when they're trying to help said employee not lose their job. This woman also does something in another part of the book that, if it were done by a man, would let everyone know this man is not a nice man. It's just blown off in the book. I also was rather annoyed when Mr Ross is trying to get some information from a secretary, a "cute-if-somewhat-chunky brunette who probably spent a few too many Saturday nights at home with her Netflix account." I found that description unnecessarily bitchy.

This is the third book in the series, and because the plot was so good, I'll probably read the others. I just hope there's not too many incidents like the above.