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PI Grace Smith #1
Who Killed Marilyn Monroe?
Liz Evans is in top form in these, the first three investigations in the PI Grace Smith mystery series. Featuring a feisty and engaging heroine, and packed with cracking one-liners and unexpected twists, these pacey novels will keep you guessing to the end. Marilyn Monroe has been murdered. And irrepressible ex-cop PI Grace Smith is hired to hunt down the killer. But there are no all-expenses-paid trips to California for this Marilyn Monroe was a donkey, and Grace is too broke to turn down the owner's bizarre request for an investigation. As the case progresses, Grace finds herself increasingly drawn into the mystery surrounding the murder of a young prostitute, whose death occurred on the same night as Marilyn's. But pitting her wits against a deranged criminal mind while trying to keep one step ahead of the police proves a challenge. And as an extraordinary tale of greed and betrayal begins to unfold, Grace soon realizes her own life is in grave danger.
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First published September 8, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 26, 2009
A well written mystery, with a nice use of location and an interesting lead character - and it's always good to read English based PIs. Well worth a read.
July 5, 2012
I enjoyed Cue the Easter Bunny so wanted to read the rest in the series. As with the first one, it's was enjoyable ... a mystery with humorous writing.
September 1, 2014
Great book, shame more Liz Evens are available as Kindle books
November 29, 2020
Liz Evans crime fiction novels have been around for a couple decades and have been widely acclaimed but it's only now have I decided to visit her work. Private Eye, is former police officer Grace Smith lives in a seaside time working almost exclusively on small investigations. With no real interest in the subject matter Grace is asked by December Dalrymple to investigate the killing of a donkey called Marilyn Monroe which brutally slain in and left in a derelict warehouse. The case turns out to be more complex after Grace discovers that a prostitute had been murder on the same night and place. Smithy, has she likes to be called is a sassy girl, in the mold of Liza Cody's Anna Lee, and the story has a nice balance of menace and sexual tension before a final brutal conclusion.
May 1, 2019
Grace Smith is going through a dry period as a private investigator in this series opener, so she reluctantly accepts a job trying to find out who killed a donkey. The police are too busy investigating a murdered girl, and the donkey's owner, December Drysdale, has a string of beloved donkeys that give visitors to the seaside town rides along the beach. Of course, the fact that the dead girl and the dead donkey were killed with a knife on the same night and roughly in the same area is a strange coincidence. Grace isn't yet in midseason form, but she does a good job getting herself knocked around, annoying her friends, and finding a killer(s).
December 2, 2016
Very entertaining and witty debut of British PI Grace Smith. Never mind her lack of legal scruples. She does have a knack for sussing out the solution to a mystery--no matter what consequences she suffers. And suffer plenty of physical abuse she certainly does in this mysterious case; Don't want to spoil the fun, but Marilyn Monroe is not who you think. Carry on Miss Smith.
May 20, 2018
Grace Smith is a private detective in an English seaside town. She's hired to investigate the brutal murder of a donkey but finds links to the death of a prostitute. Apart from the animal cruelty, this was a sort of cosy mystery with a few laughs along the way. A few of the pop culture references date it but it's still an entertaining read.
March 12, 2019
I liked this a lot once I got into it. It's a bit of its time now - and I like that low-tech sort of detective approach (after all I love the interwar detective stories!) but it's a grittier and seedier than you expect. You don't exactly like Grace, but she's very compelling. Would happily read more if they came my way.
May 24, 2024
Was unexpectedly pretty good and an easy read
January 23, 2025
Another bizarrely random book that was highly entertaining at the same time. A good quick read that isn't overly consuming.
June 10, 2018
Who Killed Marilyn Monroe? by Liz Evans, the first book in the PI Grace Smith series, was an entertaining, fun surprise. Of course, I was somewhat mislead by the title, of course, it had nothing to do with Marilyn Monroe. Grace Smith is a struggling PI working for Vetch Associates, somewhere on the coast of England (struggling because she never seems to have any money and seems to get the odd ball cases).
Marilyn Monroe is a donkey, belonging to December Drysdale, who runs them down to the beach for tourists to take pictures of and to ride them. Unfortunately, Marilyn has been murdered and Drysdale doesn't think the police will take the death seriously enough. Grace 'Smithie' is assigned the case and thus begins an interesting, odd case which might also involve the murder of one of Drysdale's neighbors, a young woman, who was also murdered the same evening.
While it seems an unlikely story, but Evans puts it together nicely, making for an interesting, even fascinating story. She develops her characters with loving care and you find yourself drawn into them and the story. As Liz Lemon would say, "I want to go to there" and meet Grace and the other people in her community; from bar owner and aging rocker, Shane (who feeds Grace for free and entertains with loud rock music), her co-worker, Annie (sarcastic and a tolerant, helpful friend); the residents of the old age home, even Drysdale's donkeys. You find yourself loving these characters.
Evans weaves a fun story, somewhere between Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books and Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone mysteries. Grace Smith is at times hapless, but always determined. She's scruffy, sexy and lovable. I've already ordered the next book, JFK Is Missing!. If you like a cozy, but action-filled, at times humorous mystery, try Liz Evans (4.5 stars)
Marilyn Monroe is a donkey, belonging to December Drysdale, who runs them down to the beach for tourists to take pictures of and to ride them. Unfortunately, Marilyn has been murdered and Drysdale doesn't think the police will take the death seriously enough. Grace 'Smithie' is assigned the case and thus begins an interesting, odd case which might also involve the murder of one of Drysdale's neighbors, a young woman, who was also murdered the same evening.
While it seems an unlikely story, but Evans puts it together nicely, making for an interesting, even fascinating story. She develops her characters with loving care and you find yourself drawn into them and the story. As Liz Lemon would say, "I want to go to there" and meet Grace and the other people in her community; from bar owner and aging rocker, Shane (who feeds Grace for free and entertains with loud rock music), her co-worker, Annie (sarcastic and a tolerant, helpful friend); the residents of the old age home, even Drysdale's donkeys. You find yourself loving these characters.
Evans weaves a fun story, somewhere between Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books and Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone mysteries. Grace Smith is at times hapless, but always determined. She's scruffy, sexy and lovable. I've already ordered the next book, JFK Is Missing!. If you like a cozy, but action-filled, at times humorous mystery, try Liz Evans (4.5 stars)
January 20, 2021
Grace Smith is a Private Investigator living on the South coast of England, An ex police officer she is forced out of the local constabulary. When we find out the reason I was amazed she didn't end up in prison for perverting the course of justice.
Having said all this the book is a take your brain out type of read and I found the Grace Smith character both witty and unorthodox.
Smith is asked to investigate the death of a donkey which becomes linked to the death of a young prostitute. I found it a little unbelievable she wouldn't go the police with some of her findings as her discoveries put herself in danger.
Smith carries on regardless and although the story does flag at times it does pick up some pace towards the end and I really wanted to find out why some car locks were so important to various characters in the book.
Liz Evans has created a PI in Smith that you can't help wanting to succeed I think she may be wasted in a seaside town which is past its best and where nothing much happens- except murder.
I re-read this again because of the book's quirkiness, it is one of those that always cheers me up. It has its flaws but it is still rnjoyable.
Having said all this the book is a take your brain out type of read and I found the Grace Smith character both witty and unorthodox.
Smith is asked to investigate the death of a donkey which becomes linked to the death of a young prostitute. I found it a little unbelievable she wouldn't go the police with some of her findings as her discoveries put herself in danger.
Smith carries on regardless and although the story does flag at times it does pick up some pace towards the end and I really wanted to find out why some car locks were so important to various characters in the book.
Liz Evans has created a PI in Smith that you can't help wanting to succeed I think she may be wasted in a seaside town which is past its best and where nothing much happens- except murder.
I re-read this again because of the book's quirkiness, it is one of those that always cheers me up. It has its flaws but it is still rnjoyable.
September 28, 2009
Hmm, I'm not sure this is as cozy as I had expected. Sure, there's a bit of romance and the PI is a tad inept. There's also some deadly peril and a lot of blood - not to mention animal abuse. Marilyn Monroe is the donkey. It is apparently common to name donkey ride animals after old movie stars. According to one of my traveling friends, it's done in Greece as well - and they aren't all named Melina Mercouri. Old American film stars seem to be the norm.
Grace Smith, forced to leave The Force and now an unsuccessful private investigator and full-time mooch, is hired by the donkey ride owner to find out who killed an innocent beast of burden.
This case gets tangled with the murder of a young woman - and everyone is off looking for the Maltese Falcon (oh, whattagiveaway!). Well, that's what I was saying to myself once the statue element entered the story. And once you know there's a vicious donkey, you can predict what happens later.
This was, despite those predictable bits, a good and satisfying read that held up right to the end.
Grace Smith, forced to leave The Force and now an unsuccessful private investigator and full-time mooch, is hired by the donkey ride owner to find out who killed an innocent beast of burden.
This case gets tangled with the murder of a young woman - and everyone is off looking for the Maltese Falcon (oh, whattagiveaway!). Well, that's what I was saying to myself once the statue element entered the story. And once you know there's a vicious donkey, you can predict what happens later.
This was, despite those predictable bits, a good and satisfying read that held up right to the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2013
This really isn't the sort of thing I would normally read, but a local bookshop were selling things off cheap and I couldn't resist!!
PI Grace Smith has been asked to investigate the murder of Marilyn Monroe - not the glamorous star, but a seaside donkey! Too broke to turn down the case, she starts off unenthusiastic about the death, but when she finds out that there was a young girl murdered on the same night, she is determined that there is a link between the two and that she can solve them both.
This is funny and enjoyable, a bit of a romp through a serious murder case that has lots of strange characters and, of course, the donkeys. I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read the sequel that I also have here.
PI Grace Smith has been asked to investigate the murder of Marilyn Monroe - not the glamorous star, but a seaside donkey! Too broke to turn down the case, she starts off unenthusiastic about the death, but when she finds out that there was a young girl murdered on the same night, she is determined that there is a link between the two and that she can solve them both.
This is funny and enjoyable, a bit of a romp through a serious murder case that has lots of strange characters and, of course, the donkeys. I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read the sequel that I also have here.
May 26, 2009
This was a bit of a silly book. It wasn't awful but it certainly was not great. Do not think I would ever read this again because it was just a bit too over the top, yet at times it would still keep me wanting to read more.
It follows a PI who has been asked to find out who has killed Marilyn Monroe. Thought to be a excellent job until PI Grace Smith find outs that Marilyn is in fact a murdered donkey.
Finding information about the donkeys death leads Grace to stumble upon the murder of a girl, which leads her danger.
It follows a PI who has been asked to find out who has killed Marilyn Monroe. Thought to be a excellent job until PI Grace Smith find outs that Marilyn is in fact a murdered donkey.
Finding information about the donkeys death leads Grace to stumble upon the murder of a girl, which leads her danger.
August 23, 2010
I am finding that this book drags and am trudging through it. It isn't that I don't like it, just that I am not being pulled into the plot. Further into the book, and I am liking it a lot more now. It won't be a book I will rave about, but it is enjoyable.
February 9, 2013
Book #6 read in 2013
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and the characters were great. I may have figured out "who-done-it" pretty early on, but that didn't take away from the book at all.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and the characters were great. I may have figured out "who-done-it" pretty early on, but that didn't take away from the book at all.
April 23, 2009
It's an alright book. Nothing spectacular, but I might at some point pick up the rest of the books.
June 1, 2010
RATING: 2.5
January 4, 2012
A quick, enjoyable read! I particularly liked the characters and setting for the story, a nice departure from the usual detective/sleuth stories.
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November 12, 2012Good
August 15, 2016
This is a fairly well written mystery although nothing special, it was ok and worth a read.
September 18, 2016
Very interesting characters - very real, very human - and the mystery was wonderfully intertwined. I'm off to read the next one!
June 21, 2012
Its showing its age I'm afraid. Good story though with some funny moments. An enjoyable light read.
December 31, 2012
A fun quick read.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews