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Nice Work
Jacquidon Carroll has problems ... She's diagnosed with diabetes and laid off from her job the same week, but that's nothing compared to becoming a suspect in the murder of her ex-boss… She becomes convinced that someone recruited from an Internet sex site is the real killer. To clear herself, Jacquidon and her intrepid sister Chantal steal information from the boss's computer and a mysterious journal they find, among other (sleazier) places. The clues lead them through a network of local sex clubs and the seamy underside of the BDSM (S&M) lifestyle. By the time Jacquidon gathers the evidence they need, the murderer is on the same page—and intends to stop her the same way the boss was silenced.
- GenresMystery
356 pages, Paperback
First published July 11, 2012
13 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 27, 2013
This romantic mystery has humor. Several of scenes, in which the heroine Jacquidon and her sister Chantal search for clues, are reminiscent of scenes from the old “I Love Lucy” TV series. Denise Weeks has imbued NICE WORK with the flavor of Texas, starting with her heroine’s name Jacquidon. Perhaps the author includes too many details at time and slows the place of the novel, but she maintains the suspense until the end.
December 7, 2012
Jacquidon has one of those days were absolutely nothing is going right. She has just been recently diagnosed with diabetes, is fired from her job, and then runs into her former boss in public and makes a fool of herself. Things can only get better, right? Not exactly. When her ex-boss ends up dead, she's the prime suspect.
A good start to a book is critical with many readers today. What really grabbed my attention in the first few chapters of this book was not only the multiple problems that are thrown at Jacquindon right off the bat, but how realistic the setting was. She's a mid-level employee, new diabetic, and working her tail off the get recognition and a better job. Plenty of readers can relate to that. Even getting fired is terrible, but not uncommon. Weeks brings readers into a world that is very familiar to them, centered around a character they can relate to and care about. Then the craziness really starts happening.
Even once we step out of the everyday with Jacquidon and into secret exploits to clear her name and stay out of a killer's line of sight, there is enough realism to keep it down to earth. The adventures Jacquidon struggles through keep the story interesting and entertaining. She ends up in places she never expected to find herself, and doing things she never thought herself capable of. Jacquidon is a very interesting character to follow. Her sister is a great addition. Her constant need to warn her sister about not ruining her clothes added lightness to
the more serious moments when it was needed. The people she used to work for, Bonnie and Yancy, as well as a few others are genuine pieces of work. Weeks did a great job of creating characters you wanted to slap. The cast worked really well together.
Who killed Yancy is a mystery not only to Jacquidon, but also the reader. Weeks does a good job of keeping readers entertained with plot twists and clues as she leads them toward the truth. The "Interludes" sprinkled throughout the book were an interesting addition. There were a few that seemed a little too vague to really get me hooked on them, but I think many readers will find them interesting. While trying to solve the mystery, Jacquidon's search leads her into a world of strange sexual appetites. This gives her a chance to find out me about Yancy's secrets and the people he has hurt, but it does not go into great detail. I was glad Weeks chose not to have graphic scenes as others might have.
My main issue with this book was the length. At 168,000 words, it is almost double the usual length for a cozy mystery. As a reader who is often pressed for time, I can see other readers seeing the length and being concerned. Overall, this was a very interesting book, but I did feel there were areas that could have been trimmed to make the length more manageable. There were occasions with the outplacement rep and David that the conversation seemed to go on a little longer than needed. When the active parts of the mystery were going on I stayed interested, but I was not as captured during some of the slower sections.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. It is one you have to have the time to read, or be willing to read a few chapters here and there, but it is worth finishing. The characters are well written, and the mystery was engaging.
Who would I recommend this book to? Adult cozy mystery readers are going to be the main target. It's not one I would recommend to teens because some of the topics are more adult in nature. It didn't have a strong romantic element either, but I was okay with that. Overall, most readers interested in an entertaining mystery will enjoy this book.
Check out my other reviews at The Edible Bookshelf
A good start to a book is critical with many readers today. What really grabbed my attention in the first few chapters of this book was not only the multiple problems that are thrown at Jacquindon right off the bat, but how realistic the setting was. She's a mid-level employee, new diabetic, and working her tail off the get recognition and a better job. Plenty of readers can relate to that. Even getting fired is terrible, but not uncommon. Weeks brings readers into a world that is very familiar to them, centered around a character they can relate to and care about. Then the craziness really starts happening.
Even once we step out of the everyday with Jacquidon and into secret exploits to clear her name and stay out of a killer's line of sight, there is enough realism to keep it down to earth. The adventures Jacquidon struggles through keep the story interesting and entertaining. She ends up in places she never expected to find herself, and doing things she never thought herself capable of. Jacquidon is a very interesting character to follow. Her sister is a great addition. Her constant need to warn her sister about not ruining her clothes added lightness to
the more serious moments when it was needed. The people she used to work for, Bonnie and Yancy, as well as a few others are genuine pieces of work. Weeks did a great job of creating characters you wanted to slap. The cast worked really well together.
Who killed Yancy is a mystery not only to Jacquidon, but also the reader. Weeks does a good job of keeping readers entertained with plot twists and clues as she leads them toward the truth. The "Interludes" sprinkled throughout the book were an interesting addition. There were a few that seemed a little too vague to really get me hooked on them, but I think many readers will find them interesting. While trying to solve the mystery, Jacquidon's search leads her into a world of strange sexual appetites. This gives her a chance to find out me about Yancy's secrets and the people he has hurt, but it does not go into great detail. I was glad Weeks chose not to have graphic scenes as others might have.
My main issue with this book was the length. At 168,000 words, it is almost double the usual length for a cozy mystery. As a reader who is often pressed for time, I can see other readers seeing the length and being concerned. Overall, this was a very interesting book, but I did feel there were areas that could have been trimmed to make the length more manageable. There were occasions with the outplacement rep and David that the conversation seemed to go on a little longer than needed. When the active parts of the mystery were going on I stayed interested, but I was not as captured during some of the slower sections.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. It is one you have to have the time to read, or be willing to read a few chapters here and there, but it is worth finishing. The characters are well written, and the mystery was engaging.
Who would I recommend this book to? Adult cozy mystery readers are going to be the main target. It's not one I would recommend to teens because some of the topics are more adult in nature. It didn't have a strong romantic element either, but I was okay with that. Overall, most readers interested in an entertaining mystery will enjoy this book.
Check out my other reviews at The Edible Bookshelf
July 27, 2012
At last, a pair of female amateur sleuths that reminds me of the "Snoop Sisters" (remember that old TV show with Ruth Gordon and Jessica Tandy?) and of the Anne George Southern Sisters mysteries. So many books today star a sleuth who is impossibly beautiful and can eat up the wallpaper and still never gain a pound or have a zit, and men follow her drooling, yet she doesn't seem to know she is unusual. But she's also dumb enough to go down the dark staircase to investigate a noise when she's by herself . . . not tell anyone that she is going to meet a suspect at midnight on Chicago's South Side . . . and the like. Well, THIS heroine uses her WITS to extract herself from trouble, and that is good reading!
Jacquidon Carroll is accused of murdering her boss as revenge for his having fired/terminated her and replaced her with a younger woman (in a convoluted way so that she can't sue or go to the EEOC). She and her sister investigate, and find that he was mixed up in the alternative lifestyle of BDSM, otherwise called S and M, and that he was not playing quite kosher with some of his "playmates" and connections. The two have quite an adventure following the links online and in person that lead them to other suspects and through the seedy side of the lifestyle. By the time they figure things out, so has the killer, and the killer plans to eliminate Jacquidon before she can get to the police. It's a wild rollercoaster ride.
You will identify with Jacquidon because she's good but not perfect--she has just developed diabetes and she gets a crush on her outplacement agent, a good-looking guy who is supposed to be setting her up for new interviews but keeps flirting. You will love her intrepid sister Chantal, who is the clever and pragmatic one who figures out the online stuff that gives them clues. The supporting cast is interesting, as well. You won't be sorry if you give this one a try. It's funny and edgy and has some twists I didn't see coming at all.
It's the first in a new series. I will be first in line to get the next book. Recommended.
Jacquidon Carroll is accused of murdering her boss as revenge for his having fired/terminated her and replaced her with a younger woman (in a convoluted way so that she can't sue or go to the EEOC). She and her sister investigate, and find that he was mixed up in the alternative lifestyle of BDSM, otherwise called S and M, and that he was not playing quite kosher with some of his "playmates" and connections. The two have quite an adventure following the links online and in person that lead them to other suspects and through the seedy side of the lifestyle. By the time they figure things out, so has the killer, and the killer plans to eliminate Jacquidon before she can get to the police. It's a wild rollercoaster ride.
You will identify with Jacquidon because she's good but not perfect--she has just developed diabetes and she gets a crush on her outplacement agent, a good-looking guy who is supposed to be setting her up for new interviews but keeps flirting. You will love her intrepid sister Chantal, who is the clever and pragmatic one who figures out the online stuff that gives them clues. The supporting cast is interesting, as well. You won't be sorry if you give this one a try. It's funny and edgy and has some twists I didn't see coming at all.
It's the first in a new series. I will be first in line to get the next book. Recommended.
October 2, 2012
NICE WORK by Denise Weeks is a whodunnit that will keep you guessing until the end.
Jacquidon Carroll doesn’t just have an unusual name– she has more problems than the law allows. Literally.
When her boss fires her without warning to replace her with a less qualified younger woman, Jacquidon is indignant, humiliated, and worst of all, broke. But all of that is nothing compared to being the number one suspect in his murder.
Nobody believes Jacquidon is innocent, except for her sister and best friend, Chantal. And this is where NICE WORK really shines. Weeks is an expert at building realistic, entertaining characters and exploring the relationships between them. Jacquidon and her supporting cast could work in your office or live in your neighborhood, and keep you in stitches the entire time.
Unique for a title character, Jacquidon also has diabetes, and is coping with this huge change in her lifestyle while doing everything she can to clear her name. She will stop at nothing to find the truth, even if it means sneaking into her former office, stealing from her dead boss’s ex-wife, impersonating the dead man’s relatives, and exploring his connection to underground bondage clubs, where she believes she will find the real killer– all the while trying to find a new job.
NICE WORK adds some unique elements to a traditional mystery, showcases multifaceted characters, and provides and all-in-all great read.
Jacquidon Carroll doesn’t just have an unusual name– she has more problems than the law allows. Literally.
When her boss fires her without warning to replace her with a less qualified younger woman, Jacquidon is indignant, humiliated, and worst of all, broke. But all of that is nothing compared to being the number one suspect in his murder.
Nobody believes Jacquidon is innocent, except for her sister and best friend, Chantal. And this is where NICE WORK really shines. Weeks is an expert at building realistic, entertaining characters and exploring the relationships between them. Jacquidon and her supporting cast could work in your office or live in your neighborhood, and keep you in stitches the entire time.
Unique for a title character, Jacquidon also has diabetes, and is coping with this huge change in her lifestyle while doing everything she can to clear her name. She will stop at nothing to find the truth, even if it means sneaking into her former office, stealing from her dead boss’s ex-wife, impersonating the dead man’s relatives, and exploring his connection to underground bondage clubs, where she believes she will find the real killer– all the while trying to find a new job.
NICE WORK adds some unique elements to a traditional mystery, showcases multifaceted characters, and provides and all-in-all great read.
September 17, 2012
I received a copy from the author. For me, the story began a bit slow, and the number of characters became somewhat confusing probably because I had to read in fits and starts. I loved the relationship between the two sisters. Readers who remember lots of TV shows and movie trivia from the 70s and 80s will appreciate the fun references sprinkled throughout the book, although it would have made more sense to me if Jacquidon had said she was a fan of these--otherwise it sometimes seemed out of character for this young woman to be so familiar with them.
These are fun quirky characters that should appeal to readers of cozy mysteries, with a hint of some romance to come.
These are fun quirky characters that should appeal to readers of cozy mysteries, with a hint of some romance to come.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews