The Temporary Detective

Isobel Spice #1

by Joanne Sydney Lessner

Phones, light typing…and murder.

Think breaking into show business is hard? Try landing a temp job without office skills. That’s the challenge facing aspiring actress Isobel Spice when she arrives in New York City, fresh out of college and deficient in PowerPoint. After being rejected by seven temp agencies for her lack of experience, Isobel sweet-talks recruiter James Cooke into letting her cover a last-minute vacancy at a bank. New to his own job, and recently sober, James takes a chance on Isobel, despite his suspicion that she’s a trouble-magnet. His misgivings are borne out by lunchtime, when she stumbles across a dead secretary in a bathroom stall. With her fingerprints on the murder weapon, Isobel sets out to prove her innocence by investigating the crime herself. While learning to juggle phone lines and auditions, she discovers an untapped talent for detective work—a qualification few other office temps, let alone actresses, can claim.

Please note: this is a contemporary cozy with an edge; contains some adult language.

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Humor, Chick Lit, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Thriller

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 12, 2010

About the author

Writer, singer, and actor Joanne Sydney Lessner draws on her own experiences pursuing a performing career in New York City for her acclaimed Isobel Spice Mysteries: THE TEMPORARY DETECTIVE, BAD PUBLICITY, AND JUSTICE FOR SOME, and OFFED STAGE LEFT. With humor and a bit of romance, Isobel juggles auditions and temp jobs, solving murders along the way, while Joanne’s inside knowledge provides a window into the realities of breaking into show business (as well as a forum to share every humiliating audition experience she and her friends ever had.)

Joanne’s debut novel, PANDORA’S BOTTLE, was inspired by the true story of the world's most expensive bottle of wine and was named one of the top five books of 2010 by Paperback Dolls. With her husband, composer/conductor Joshua Rosenblum, she has co-authored several musicals, including the cult hit FERMAT'S LAST TANGO and EINSTEIN'S DREAMS, based on the celebrated novel by Alan Lightman. Her play, CRITICAL MASS, received its Off Broadway premiere in October 2010. Joanne is also a regular contributor to OPERA NEWS and a graduate of Yale University.

For a free Isobel Spice short story, visit http://joannesydneylessner.com.

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Workplace settings are underutilized in mystery writing and as someone who spent fifteen years plus in contract work, the premise attracted my intention. A few pages into the Kindle sample I had to download the whole thing.

I loved the voice, wit and style. Characters are well realized and complex—especially Isobel and James. (Good job showing the flaws, BTW.) The dialogue is clever--banter worthy of the GILMORE GIRLS or BUNHEADS but not overly wordy. The theater and audition scenes have interesting insider perspective that you don’t get from similar scenes on film/TV. Whoever edited this book did an amazing job.

As far as genre goes, TD walks a thin line between cozy mystery and romantic comedy—definitely a mystery, but Lessner taunts you with the possibility of a relationship. MOONLIGHTING may be a good comparison, but Isobel is an accidental detective, not a polished, professional investigator and she seems to have no aspirations along those lines. (Not yet, anyway.) Genre categories and murder aside, the novel should have a general appeal to anyone interested in the story of a young professional making a go of it in the NYC theater scene.

After a rather disappointing binge of mysteries by a well regarded writer I found Lessner’s book superior in every way. Even before finishing, I downloaded PANDORA'S BOTTLE (her first novel) and BAD PUBLICITY (Isobel Spice #2).

[Tahlia Newland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-written and engaging story about an actress who takes a temp job, discovers a murder and can't stop trying to work out who did it. The man who gave her the temp job also takes an interest in solving the mystery in the guise of looking after his employee, who he is rather taken by, though he tries to pretend that isn't the case. The main character, Isobel is likeable and easy to relate to, as is James, her boss in the temp agency. He is an alcoholic with a controlling girlfriend that he needs to get away from. The cast also includes an embezzler, a transvestite, a blackmailer and a gay man whose wife wants a baby. It's an enjoyable story, well deserving of its place on the Awesome Indies list.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a Kindle freebie. Not bad and I'm happy to report no glaring continuity or spelling/grammar issues.

Light detective story. Nice break from my typical UF and Epic Fantasy fare. Good character development and an interesting topic. Not too over the top in it's reasonings. More of a fun than a serious read. I'll read the second book.

[Aditi · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a fan of detective books, I was disappointed. The story was good, but the characters also seemed too immature and juvenile to be convincing detectives. They seem to have more stumbled upon the answer than actually solving the mystery.

[Ricki · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read this was! Isobel Spice is newly minted out of work actress in the big city. Looking for a way to pay her bills while waiting for her first gig, she finally gets a job thru temp agency...and then the fun begins!
This book is part mystery, part comedy, but very well written and a gem to read! If you are looking for a quick mystery read, this one is it! And you may be surprised at who-dun-it...and the reason why!

[February Four · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like the characters very much at first (especially the romance between James and Isobel), but Isobel as a character is consistently inconsistent, which is a strange thing to be attracted to. I'm not sure if I'll keep reading this series, but I haven't ruled it out.

[Cindy]

Sorry, but I found Isobel too annoying, so I didn't finish this one.

[Billy Dean]

The main character isn't a detective, but circumstances force her to get involved in solving a murder. It was easy to keep track of the events, but the author dragged the mystery out with too many scenes that had nothing to do with the problem of solving the crime. This is my complaint about most novels. Seems like they have to stick all sorts of irrelevant happenings into the story because 1) The problem the character is trying to solve isn't complicated enough for anything but a short story; so, 2) The author must extend the story to meet the minimum word count of a typical novel. This may not be what this author was consciously doing, but I get really tired of reading novels that do not keep me turning ages with scenes and dialog that increase the conflict, the tension of the main issue in the story. Yes, descriptions of characters and buildings does give readers more presence. But whole chapters on something that happened when the main character was in high school which has nothing to do with the here-and-now problem she is trying to solve? Not for me.

[Debra Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actress, working temp, and bad bathroom timing

I liked this story, because it really depicts how some companies treats their temporary people hired through temp agents. Joanne Lessner patterned the characters after real people attitudes, and how they treated each other. The hardship of survival and finding a job that pays enough for food and rent. Then the harsh competition for parts in plays. The cruelty of people to each other. Also how persistent Isobel was at trying to solve the mystery, and could she and her close friends piece the bits of hints together to solve the case before they end up being the next murdered victims. A really good hair raiser that will keep you reading to the end.
Debra H.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun enjoyable cozy mystery

The temporary detective is very typical of most cozy mysteries and I really enjoyed it. It was a quick easy read and I can definitely see where the author is going to go with the secondary characters. I think the use of a character who is in AAMakes this a bit more than your typical mystery because the author actually addressed some of the issues of being an alcoholic and I was very appreciative of that. I also really loved the heroine interaction with her younger brother Percival I think he’s going to figure in to the story quite largely in the future.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Temporary Detective' was one of those books that pulled me in and didn't let go. The premise was entertaining and it could have gone a different route but I'm glad it didn't. The way it played out included mystery, a bit of suspense, accidental discoveries and humor. The characters were a colorful bunch. I'm glad the author didn't shy away from developing the characters the way she did. They were quite enjoyable. Isobel is a mess. She rambles on, she seems to blurt things out and she's fun. To me, that makes a great character. I look forward to reading more.

[dianne Snow-Posner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

Great story actually. Kept me in suspense til the end. And after. Had to back a reread what I missed. It was a fun story as well hope you all enjoy a really good who done it. This was

[Laurie • The Baking Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Synopsis: Isobel Spice is an aspiring actress who has recently moved to NYC. While Isobel has an excellent singing voice and acting ability, getting a gig in the city is proving to be harder than she originally thought. In an attempt to go after her dream while still making ends meet, Isobel scours the city for a job at various temp agencies. Unfortunately without any marketable office skills many temp agencies turn her down.

Getting more than a little nervous about her financial situation, Isobel holds nothing back while trying to sweet talk temp agent James Cooke into giving her a chance at a last minute fill-in job at a local bank. James knows that he shouldn't be taking any risks with new recruits. He has a lot on his own plate with being new at his own job, being a recovering alcoholic and then there's that niggling feeling he has that Isobel has a penchant for trouble. Even with his inital misgivings about Isobel's skill he decides to give Isobel a shot at the job.

Unfortunately, James initial bad feelings about Isobel's innate ability to find trouble are realized when she finds the body of an unlikeable secretary in a bathroom stall during a routine fire drill. Now with the police pointing fingers in her direction, a new job to fulfill as well as getting to auditions on time Isobel has more than she can handle.

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My Thoughts: When I ordered this mystery for my Kindle I was in the mood for a cozy mystery. Nothing too heavy and the fact that this was the first book in a new series sealed the deal.

Here's what I liked about this book -- It was a light mystery that had an interesting premise and setting. I loved the NYC setting and the behind-the-scenes look at auditions and call-backs etc.

I realize that to read a cozy mystery series usually one has to suspend reality a wee bit because the protagonist keeps finding dead bodies and, honestly how often does that happen? I'm hoping not a lot. I think that setting Isobel up as a temp worker gives the author many opportunities to put Isobel in many varied situations for the future books where she can stumble upon corpses and keep the reader interested.

That said I think that the overall feel I got from this book was just 'meh'. It was just an OK mystery with OK characters but nothing over the top. There were a lot of characters with a twist or two thrown in but none of the secondary characters really stood out and there were a few times when I got confused as to which character the author was referring.

The character with the most depth had to have been James, Isobel's temp agent, who was a recovering alcoholic. It was nice to see, amongst all of the rather blaw characters, a person who stood out from the rest. Yes, his addiction made the storyline a little heavy at times but I think it brought a more authentic feel to James. I also appreciated that the reader gets to have an inside view of the inner feelings of a recovering alcoholic and what they endure on a daily basis.

In contrast, I felt like I never really got to know Isobel. Yes, she's an aspiring actress with a great voice but what else? She really fell flat for me and with this being the beginning of a series I was hoping to really click with the main character right off the bat. Unfortunately that just didn't happen this time around.

I think the author was trying to start some romantic tension between James and Isobel but I just didn't feel it. Nor did I really want to. Why do we always have to have sexual tension between main characters? In this book I would have rather more time spent on ramping up the suspense of the book than wondering will they/won't they?

Would I recommend this book? Yes, if you're in the mood for a very light mystery. I'm hoping that things pick up their pace in the future books because with the setting and Isobel's job prospects being so interesting this book series 'could' be a great little cozy mystery series.

My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Isobel Spice Series by Joanne Sydney Lessner. We meet Isobel Spice, aspiring actress during a job interview at the temp agency Temp Zone, as Isobel is trying to convince recruiter James Cooke to give her a shot. Isobel is fresh out of college from the state of Wisconsin, having only been in New York for about a week and has had absolutely no luck signing on with a temp agency thus far. All the good ones want experienced workers, but without an actual job she is never going to get any experience. That is until she convinces James Cooke, newly hired recruiter at Temp Zone to give her a chance.

Isobel gets what should have been a 1/2 day job at InterBank Switzerland - just some phones and light typing. It should have been easy, except that Isobel finds one of the secretaries murdered in the bathroom during an emergency drill. Now Isobel is staying on and finding more and more trouble in the Procurement Support department for InterBank Switzerland. She is not sure who to trust, but she knows that things aren't adding up. And despite numerous warning from friends, she just can't let things go. Isobel has a burning curiosity to find out exactly why the murder happened.

As Isobel's recruiter, James Cooke and finds himself worried about the mess Isobel seems to have gotten involved in. But James has his own problems to deal with as well. As a recovering alcoholic Columbia University drop-out black male, James feels that his opportunities are limited, both career wise and relationship wise. His girlfriend Jayla is smothering him by pushing him to fit into a role that James is not sure that he is ready for - that of husband and provider. But he's not sure how or even if he should, let her go. She is also extremely jealous and suspicious of any woman James talks to. James is uncertain of how to handle things with Jayla, but he can't help but do what he can to assist Isobel and make sure that she is safe.

The story is told from the varying view points of Isobel and James. There seems like there might, some day, far, far in the future be some hint of romantic leanings. But it is very vague and neither is at a point of admitting those kinds of feelings to themselves, let alone each other. However, I enjoyed the hints of tension that promise to develop in their relationship.

I really enjoyed Isobel's friendships and how she interacts with the world. Especially with her new friends Delphi and Sunil. The brief appearance of her brother Percival was adorable and I can't wait to see more of him. James also had some interesting relationships and seeing the juxtaposition of how different James and Isobel's lives were really added a very nice dimension to this story. The pacing was good and the twists and turns were quite awesome. I was really surprised a couple different times. This book was a 4 star Goodreads read.

[Tania Godwin-evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

To enjoy this book one does have to suspend belief to a certain degree. But it is rather an interesting setting for this new series of crime dramas - if only all temp jobs were this interesting!

The prose is witty, charming and stylistic, as is Isobel Spice, an aspiring musical actress who is earning a crust while waiting for those all-important auditions hoping that one would lead to her ideal job. The auditions add an interesting dimension to this whole reading experience.

I enjoyed the interplay between Isobel and James Cook, her temp agent. Their exchanges are engaging and cleaver. The characters are given great depth (even in this first book) and are interesting. Isobel is innocent, likeable and vivacious; she is a recent New York plant. In contrast, James is more cynical, and has more than a few demons; he is also harbouring a few feelings for his new temp. When James eventually reveals his demons to Isobel, she accepts them without so much as an eyelid bat; in fact she even defends him in a certain situation. (It is refreshing to find one of the key characters dealing with a real life problem an how this affects their life and other’s perceptions of them.)

The characters are engaging and it is nice to see that they are not perfect. Isobel’s propensity to put her mouth into action before she puts her brain in to gear gets her into plenty of hot water but it is quite refreshing. Even the secondary characters are given the same treatment as the main characters. All of whom are imaginative and colourful and each has their own detailed background. Too often authors do not spend enough time with the supporting cast of characters but here the author has paid attention to detail in every way.

I will not go into the story line itself but just rest assured that not everything is plain sailing and there are some cringe worthy and laugh out loud moments during the duration of this novel. There were plenty of plot twists which were confounding and quirky (like our main character).

Unlike many crime mystery books which have become very formulaic, this series sees the author bring an exciting fresh take to the genre like a breath of fresh air and is very much welcomed by this reader. I will certainly be looking for more books not only in this series but also by this author. Not lease because I want to see how the relationship between Isobel and James pan out and whether Isobel eventually gets her dream job.

If you want to read a new, engaging, entertaining and highly delightful novel then you NEED to read this one.

Full Disclosure: I received a free copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

[TAMMY CUEVAS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recent college grad Isobel Spice has just arrived in NYC with dreams of stardom dancing in her head. Realizing that she can't live on dreams, Isobel seeks employment through temp agencies. Although she has no real office experience, James Cooke takes a chance and sends her to an assignment at Interbank Switzerland. A full bladder is Isobel's undoing; during an emergency drill she makes a mad dash to the ladies' room, only to find a dead body in a stall. Isobel just won't let sleeping dogs lie and embarks on her own investigation to find the killer.



Once again, I have done things bass-ackward and read the second novel first. Didn't matter; I enjoyed reading them anyway. This is a fun, light series for fans of the cozy mystery genre who don't mind a little edge to the story. I enjoyed catching up on James' story and seeing how Isobel, Sayil, and Delphi first met. Being a small-town girl, the behind-the-scenes look at the acting world and NYC living was a plus.



If you're looking for beach or poolside reading material this summer, look no farther. Isobel and her friends will keep you entertained.



5 stars

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Cozy Mystery book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Shantel Clemons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book after reading "Bad Publicity" the second Isobel Spice book. I like both books. In the first book we get a glimpse into Isobel's story trying to make it in New York City as an actress who only does musical theater. Makes sense if you want to be a presence on The Great White Way. Well when you're schlepping to and from casting calls, you need a job to support your calling while you do so. So she registers with a Temp agency. Only the hiring manager, James, has some reservations about hiring a person with no experience. How is a person to get experience if no one hires her? Anyway a client needs someone ASAP, and James has no one else to send so he takes a chance and sends Isobel. What could go wrong? Too bad on her first day, Isobel discovers a dead body in the women's bathroom during a fire drill. Hey, when you gotta go you gotta go. What transpires through the story is Isobel trying to solve the case despite the good intention warnings of her friends and family to let the police handle it. She discovered the body, which automatically makes her the prime suspect, not to mention that she's just a temp, so what connection does she have to the murder victim other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time, right? Long story short, she does solve the case, albeit in that haphazard Isobel way that makes this character so appealing to the reader. Since I've already read book 2 in this series, I can
tell you it was just as good as the first, so now I have to read the third book. Happy reading!

[Crittermom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life as an aspiring actress in New York is far from easy. Parts are few and far between and the competition is intense. Survival in the big city requires money, and waiting tables is out of the question for Isobel (especially after dumping a hot lobster on a nun). Temping is the only viable option, but with no experience Isobel's opportunities are limited. Pluck and luck get her a temp position at Interbank Switzerland. Surviving it is a different matter, particularly after Isobel discovers a dead coworker in the ladies room.

With her prints on the murder weapon, Isobel needs to find the real killer. Otherwise her next role may be in a jailhouse production.

Isobel is a likable lead. Her enthusiasm and honesty are refreshing, and contrast nicely with James's more cynical nature. In some ways, James, Isobel's recruiter, is a more developed character. It is easy to sympathize with his struggles with alcoholism. He is trying to get his life on track, and his worries about Isobel's safety threaten to derail him. Still, he endeavors to discover what he can about the murder and her fellow employees.

The Temporary Detective is a fun, light cozy that has an interesting plot and likable main characters. The novel is a solid debut to a series that promises to be entertaining.

I received a copy of The Temporary Detective from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isobel Spice is such a fantastic character. She’s a little flaky, sort of like Becky Bloomwood of the Shopaholic series, but clever and intuitive as well. She basically tells it like it is which frequently gets her into trouble.

Isobel is an aspiring actress but that doesn’t pay the bills so she takes on temp work. She ends up placed in the Procurement department of a bank and quickly gets embroiled in a mystery when a disliked secretary is discovered dead in the bathroom. The scissors from Isobel’s desk are the murder weapon so she takes action proving that she did not kill the woman.

Woven into the story are Isobel’s relationships with her new actor friends and her temp agent, James which adds to the overall complexity of Isobel’s life. You can see that as the series progresses James and Isobel relationship will become even more interesting since both are attracted to each other but neither is willing to move forward.

I loved how Isobel stumbled from clue to clue, always questioning whether the information was reliable. This was a great mystery and I enjoyed it so much I went and bought the second book in the series, Bad Publicity.

4.5 out of 5 stars

I received a copy of this novel for an honest review

[Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Kim
for Read Your Writes Book Reviews
www.readyourwrites.blogspot.com

Granted, I haven’t read a lot of cozy mysteries, but TEMPORARY DETECTIVE is different from ones I’ve read in the past. It’s a little hard to explain. The book has humorous moments, which I’ve come to expect in the cozies. But the book also deals with real issues like alcoholism and coming to terms with who you really are as a person and being accepted.

For me, the book had a slow start. It was almost enough for me to not want to read the book. I know this is going to sound bad, but once the murder was committed, it got better for me. Isobel Spice comes off as being a klutz, but she’s likable and caring. The murderer and the way the person was revealed was a surprise.

TEMPORARY DETECTIVE was an enjoyable read. The main characters are likeable. There’s a little romantic tension that could be explored in the next book. It has it’s funny moments, but it also has it’s serious moments, which other cozies don’t have.

3.5 (It’s enjoyable. Give it a try.)
Source: Blog Tour Promoter

[James Moir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and fun little murder mystery novel.

The characters are colourful and deep, the plot unpredictable and twisty, the ending ... unpredictable!

A most enjoyable book. The characters really brought to life with a rich and colourful description of their lives and background. Their interaction is rather superficial and the detection work depends on too many coincidences. It also relies on the fact that the detectives are both useless and like to talk about the case to possible suspects - unrealistic in that sense.

Plot twists that were unpredictable and quirky. Each had confirmation from another source so following the clues was rather simple.

The closing chapters were rather too staged and again relied on coincidence far too much. Again there was a lack of reality when the murderer was uncovered with the evidence.


Would I read another? The characters were warm and fun, the writing style rather simplistic. That being said it is a short novel which I got pulled into and I would happily read another for relaxation and enjoyment.

[Lillie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time suspending disbelief at all the perverted people in a single small department of a large bank. Although Isobel fumbles around on her first job assignment, she manages to figure out all the secrets her coworkers are hiding. I liked the story line about James as a recovering alcoholic. I admired his efforts to stay sober--I didn't admire his attraction to Isobel when he was in a relationship (at least a sexual relationship) with another woman. The bed-hopping didn't add anything to the story, and made the characters less sympathetic to me.

[Kren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun mystery that grows and grows in characters and complexity. I didn't actually expect to like it but I did!

I had read a couple of reviews that gave it one star due to sex and language. No more bad language than any tv cop show or late night talk show. The "sex" was hillarious and brief. The author did a great job of presenting a just out of college, new to NYC young woman, trying to make sense of things and start a life.

Try it. You might enjoy it. I did. And I'm 64 years old. Lighten up!

And, YES, I'll be reading the sequel!

[Harika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just not an edge of the seat thriller but a good mystery nonetheless. I was not disappointed by the treatment the author gave to the story, it was new and fresh to not have a love-story angle for the protagonist and I must say I liked it.

Too much in love with James' character, because he wasn't a typical jock-turned-serious but he really was someone with humility and usual doubts about himself, which was good considering he was the main lead.

Isobel was just funny witty and loud, which incidentally is how I like my heroines.

[Rachel Skinner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was probably closer to a 3.5 for me. There wasn't anything I didn't like, but it didn't cross into 'favorite book' territory. I like the New York setting and the various characters aspiring to be actors. Although it would have been nice to see more romance with James and Izabelle, I appreciate that the author is taking things slow for the sake of building the series. It's also nice to see a hero with a real-world problem (recovering alcoholic).

[JenniferJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story began with a comedic air. Isobel is a likable and really funny character while still getting down to business. She is one of those that talks before she can think what she is blurting out and it gets her in trouble so to speak quite a few times but yet keeps her out of trouble at the same time.

If you like quick and funny characters with a bit of romance and mystery tossed in you will love this story!

[Mary Newcomb]

Isobel Spice is an actor. Until someone, anyone, in New York recognizes that she is a temp. Within the first hours of her first job she finds a dead body and can't resist investigating. She and her acting friends piece it all together with some help from her contact at the temp agency. This is an interesting cast of characters, I am looking forward to reading some more of their adventures.

[Mary Souther · Rating 3 out of 5]

fluffy but entertaining. At first I was rather annoyed by the main character, Isobel, as I thought she was portrayed as making incredibly stupid decisions but was supposed to be intelligent at the same time. However, she did grow on me and by the end I found myself rooting for her and wanting her to succeed.

[Michelle Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read about 20% of the book before calling it quits. I assume the author was trying to make Isobel a lovable ditz, but I thought she was simply annoying. I just couldn't make myself care about her or any of the other characters, and felt the writing was too choppy, so The Temporary Detective becomes my first DNF of 2015.

[bex · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written and enjoyable cozy mystery. The POV alternated between two main characters, each distinctive and interesting. There were plenty of suspects and the clues were as visible to the reader as to the sleuth. I didn't want to put it down.