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Worse Than Being Alone
Worse Than Being Alone is a riveting tale involving multiple cons, a vicious murder, romance, betrayal, and escape as it vividly explores just how far all of us are prepared to go to avoid being alone.
Kitty and Roni are building their fledgling investigative agency by following workers' comp cheats. Every PI's dream of catching real criminals seems to be coming true when they begin to suspect one of their targets is engaged in more nefarious activities than just a bogus comp claim. Their cat and mouse game gets twisted when they realize they are the ones being stalked.
A personal and potentially lethal inquiry emerges after Roni's father marries a woman with a checkered past, and they fear he has found his Worse Than Being Alone. When their investigation points to a shady past involving a trail of life insurance payouts and dead husbands, they wonder if Dad has married a Black Widow or an extremely unlucky woman.
As that case boils over, along comes the most talented con artist of them all. After his angry employer hires them to check him out, Kitty and Roni slowly come to realize he has the makings of a master criminal. They uncover numerous identities along with multiple workers' comp claims. Then here are his almost daily trips to the same bank wearing different disguises.
Surprises abound as Kitty and Roni break up a sex slave ring, thwart a bank robbery, nab a shoplifter, and document a Black Widow's treachery. A sudden death leaves them stunned as they second-guess their activities, forcing them to confront a murderer.
Kitty and Roni are building their fledgling investigative agency by following workers' comp cheats. Every PI's dream of catching real criminals seems to be coming true when they begin to suspect one of their targets is engaged in more nefarious activities than just a bogus comp claim. Their cat and mouse game gets twisted when they realize they are the ones being stalked.
A personal and potentially lethal inquiry emerges after Roni's father marries a woman with a checkered past, and they fear he has found his Worse Than Being Alone. When their investigation points to a shady past involving a trail of life insurance payouts and dead husbands, they wonder if Dad has married a Black Widow or an extremely unlucky woman.
As that case boils over, along comes the most talented con artist of them all. After his angry employer hires them to check him out, Kitty and Roni slowly come to realize he has the makings of a master criminal. They uncover numerous identities along with multiple workers' comp claims. Then here are his almost daily trips to the same bank wearing different disguises.
Surprises abound as Kitty and Roni break up a sex slave ring, thwart a bank robbery, nab a shoplifter, and document a Black Widow's treachery. A sudden death leaves them stunned as they second-guess their activities, forcing them to confront a murderer.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2012
140 people are currently reading
709 people want to read
About the author
Patricia M. Clark
7 books11 followersPatricia Clark combined her thirty-year background in the nursing field and her interest in the effects of micro-organisms to craft her medical thriller, The Jekyll Island Club. She began writing in 1995. Pat lives with her husband and three children in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
February 21, 2014
Interesting, sometimes wandering, tale. Unusual premise (nurses as investigators). No graphic sex or violence though lawbreakers abound. Pleasant read. Would read author again. TTS-enabled, well-edited eBook, free on Amazon at this time.
March 4, 2018
Well, for starters, the whole context is told up front. THEN, the story flips back and forth between the first and third person which is distracting and confusing. I wanted to like it, and I did finish the book, but I wouldn't recommend it and would not read another like it. It's a shame because it really was a good story...just could have been written better.
March 17, 2015
Great book title
It's evident the writer is familiar with her story. And, indeed, it is an enjoyable story though fraught with tragedy and criminal activity Will there be a follow-up?
It's evident the writer is familiar with her story. And, indeed, it is an enjoyable story though fraught with tragedy and criminal activity Will there be a follow-up?
June 19, 2019
Great Novel.
Roni and Kitty are high school friends who have gone into business as investigators of insurance fraud. Their backgrounds as nurses is useful when investigating workers compensation cases.
Many of their cases lead to interesting characters, but more interesting are their friendship and their families. Kitty is irreverent and clever, while Roni seems to be more settled and nurturing.
I really enjoyed the story which moved quickly with several threads all seeming to be occurring at the same time. The characters were interesting and believable. I was sorry when the story ended.
Roni and Kitty are high school friends who have gone into business as investigators of insurance fraud. Their backgrounds as nurses is useful when investigating workers compensation cases.
Many of their cases lead to interesting characters, but more interesting are their friendship and their families. Kitty is irreverent and clever, while Roni seems to be more settled and nurturing.
I really enjoyed the story which moved quickly with several threads all seeming to be occurring at the same time. The characters were interesting and believable. I was sorry when the story ended.
November 8, 2019
2 star read
This actually turned out to be a second read for me. I downloaded a bunch of older purchases my Kindle app didn't register as read. I didn't remember this one but found some highlights when I got into it. When I got to the end, I found original review notes. I agree with my previous self. This book has too many different things going on to work. The main story line is buried in a zillion subplots, which never seem relevant to the primary plot. It also has a a deliberate hook ending, which switches to a POV not previously appearing in the book.
I might be a smidge more critical in rating than my previous self but I have no qualms about giving this a two star.
This actually turned out to be a second read for me. I downloaded a bunch of older purchases my Kindle app didn't register as read. I didn't remember this one but found some highlights when I got into it. When I got to the end, I found original review notes. I agree with my previous self. This book has too many different things going on to work. The main story line is buried in a zillion subplots, which never seem relevant to the primary plot. It also has a a deliberate hook ending, which switches to a POV not previously appearing in the book.
I might be a smidge more critical in rating than my previous self but I have no qualms about giving this a two star.
February 26, 2019
Well written
I thoroughly enjoyed this book about friends Roni & Kitty. The background story of their fledgling business of investigations of insurance fraud was good; but the friendship and checking into the background of a new wife was so well done. I loved the humor and prose....Ms. Clark is an excellent writer. I look forward to reading more books by her.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book about friends Roni & Kitty. The background story of their fledgling business of investigations of insurance fraud was good; but the friendship and checking into the background of a new wife was so well done. I loved the humor and prose....Ms. Clark is an excellent writer. I look forward to reading more books by her.
July 21, 2023
Just because you don't like how a book ends doesn't mean it wasn't a good book. This was an excellent book! I had trouble putting it down. The characters and story line were craftily woven together with a bit of fun and romance tossed in. This is a good read for those who enjoy a lighter investigative story line with only a slight dark undercurrent.
August 7, 2021
Lovely
A great storyline, fantastic and funny characters. A very true read. It always astounds me have the elderly are made victims. Will be reading more of this authors work. Great job.
A great storyline, fantastic and funny characters. A very true read. It always astounds me have the elderly are made victims. Will be reading more of this authors work. Great job.
September 4, 2017
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
October 22, 2017
Adequate read
The book was entertaining and the heroines likable. The writing tended toward the sophomoric & repetitive. Critical events were telegraphed well in advance.
The book was entertaining and the heroines likable. The writing tended toward the sophomoric & repetitive. Critical events were telegraphed well in advance.
September 24, 2019
If I had known this was setting up for a series or at least a sequel, I wouldn’t have read it. Tired of series. Really poor editing and unnecessary details. Also predictable.
March 19, 2020
I enjoyed this book, hope to read more about the adventures of Roni and Kitty. The ending of this book, in fact, hints at a possible sequel.
March 23, 2017
Entertaining and easy read
March 16, 2017
Terrific Story
I like the way the narration alternated voices from one woman back to the other. Roni had a challenge I would have felt compelled to undertake. This book had an interesting interweave of stories that made good fillers. VERY good book!
I like the way the narration alternated voices from one woman back to the other. Roni had a challenge I would have felt compelled to undertake. This book had an interesting interweave of stories that made good fillers. VERY good book!
March 15, 2017
Good read
The funny parts are excellent and the same is to be said for the story. My only complaint is that the story, in some parts, can be a bit slow. All in all I would recommend it.
The funny parts are excellent and the same is to be said for the story. My only complaint is that the story, in some parts, can be a bit slow. All in all I would recommend it.
March 24, 2013
Kitty Talty and her friend Roni Edelin, childhood friends, went to college together and became RNs. Their careers and lives went different directions but eventually they formed a Workers’ Compensation case management/investigative company. It’s mission was to find the best treatment for the patients who were injured on the job and expose those who are either entirely faking their injuries or extending the time needed to return to work.
These cases were about half of the plot and covered both types of cases. While they were successful in explaining the results of some injuries, such as severe burns, or becoming a paraplegic or quadraplegic, the emphasis was on the cheats. I don’t think two of the examples were logical: I doubt if a person involved in major felonies would bother with filing a false Workers’ Compensation report though identity theft seems possible.
The second major part of the story involved the growing relationship of Roni’s 85-year-old father Billy with the younger Marian Cirillo. Unsure if she is just resentful of her father dating and possibly rushing into marriage with Marian, Roni undertakes an investigation of Marian’s background while Billy looks upon the relationship as his last chance at happiness after being alone for eight years after his wife’s death from cancer. Having been alone for several years (abandoning her alcoholic husband and their seventeen-year-old son) at one point, she sees benefits of being alone. I found this a refreshing change from the typical stories where a woman isn’t complete without a man and much of the plot involves looking for that man.
Other important part of the story are Kitty’s relationship with her son, Ethan, and the discussions about mental illness- what it feels like to the person with the illness and its influence on people around them. Kitty’s mother was paranoid and the women hired Cindy, another student from their school years, who has obsessive compulsive behavior. While talking about Cindy’s behaviors, Kitty notes, “Her...behaviors are impossible to conceal. The rest of us become practiced masters at hiding our insecurities, our paranoid thought patterns, and our strange reactions to certain events....I am much more comfortable having Cindy’s dysfunction front and center than to analyze mine too closely.” She also began to think about what it was like for her mother who may have, on one level realized her fears were irrational, believed them and had to live with them everyday.
When thinking back about her ex-husband’s alcoholism, Kitty asked herself, “How many red flags did I miss when I was going out with James? Did I see them and dismiss them or just miss them entirely, or was James so clever he successfully hid them?
She writes about female mass murderers, pointing out that while we know the names of the male ones, we don’t know the female ones. They differ from their male counterparts. Some are the Black Widows. Others kill their victims for other reasons. Poison is their most common weapon.
Patricia M. Clark opens the book by stating it is partially based on the experiences of a friend of hers. Her friend thinks her father is being taken in by a woman who is trying to steal his money. Ms. Clark took the idea and ran with it, writing an interesting, informative book which captured and maintained my interest. The tidbits of information on other issues, such as workers’ comp services and fraud, mental illness, female mass murderers, and burn victims were spread throughout the story and provided unexpected insight.
This book was a free Amazon download.
These cases were about half of the plot and covered both types of cases. While they were successful in explaining the results of some injuries, such as severe burns, or becoming a paraplegic or quadraplegic, the emphasis was on the cheats. I don’t think two of the examples were logical: I doubt if a person involved in major felonies would bother with filing a false Workers’ Compensation report though identity theft seems possible.
The second major part of the story involved the growing relationship of Roni’s 85-year-old father Billy with the younger Marian Cirillo. Unsure if she is just resentful of her father dating and possibly rushing into marriage with Marian, Roni undertakes an investigation of Marian’s background while Billy looks upon the relationship as his last chance at happiness after being alone for eight years after his wife’s death from cancer. Having been alone for several years (abandoning her alcoholic husband and their seventeen-year-old son) at one point, she sees benefits of being alone. I found this a refreshing change from the typical stories where a woman isn’t complete without a man and much of the plot involves looking for that man.
Other important part of the story are Kitty’s relationship with her son, Ethan, and the discussions about mental illness- what it feels like to the person with the illness and its influence on people around them. Kitty’s mother was paranoid and the women hired Cindy, another student from their school years, who has obsessive compulsive behavior. While talking about Cindy’s behaviors, Kitty notes, “Her...behaviors are impossible to conceal. The rest of us become practiced masters at hiding our insecurities, our paranoid thought patterns, and our strange reactions to certain events....I am much more comfortable having Cindy’s dysfunction front and center than to analyze mine too closely.” She also began to think about what it was like for her mother who may have, on one level realized her fears were irrational, believed them and had to live with them everyday.
When thinking back about her ex-husband’s alcoholism, Kitty asked herself, “How many red flags did I miss when I was going out with James? Did I see them and dismiss them or just miss them entirely, or was James so clever he successfully hid them?
She writes about female mass murderers, pointing out that while we know the names of the male ones, we don’t know the female ones. They differ from their male counterparts. Some are the Black Widows. Others kill their victims for other reasons. Poison is their most common weapon.
Patricia M. Clark opens the book by stating it is partially based on the experiences of a friend of hers. Her friend thinks her father is being taken in by a woman who is trying to steal his money. Ms. Clark took the idea and ran with it, writing an interesting, informative book which captured and maintained my interest. The tidbits of information on other issues, such as workers’ comp services and fraud, mental illness, female mass murderers, and burn victims were spread throughout the story and provided unexpected insight.
This book was a free Amazon download.
Read
April 7, 2014This story is about two individuals who became friends in high school, attended college and became nurses. After a number of years they became case managers for an insurance company. After one leaves the St Louis area and returns they open their own case management business and sideline into workers comp cases. The main story revolves around one partner’s father who marries again for the second time. They feel that the new wife is only after the father’s assets. As the story unfolds it turns out that this individual has had multiple husbands and most have died under suspect circumstances. There are also some subplots going on at the same time. The techniques they use are real and are blended into the story very well. I could say how it all ends but that would give it away. It is excellent story that is presented very well.
August 9, 2016
A very readable book
I breezed my way through this book and loved every page. The writing style is so smooth and readable and the story is so good that time just flew. The characters were wonderful and the plot definitely held my interest.
Kitty and Roni are nurses who have formed a business, part of which is investigation and surveillance in suspected fraudulent claims. The cases involved are very realistic. Roni's elderly father has formed a relationship with a woman who merits a background check, which reveals an interesting past.
If I had proofread this book, I would have made 39 corrections.
I breezed my way through this book and loved every page. The writing style is so smooth and readable and the story is so good that time just flew. The characters were wonderful and the plot definitely held my interest.
Kitty and Roni are nurses who have formed a business, part of which is investigation and surveillance in suspected fraudulent claims. The cases involved are very realistic. Roni's elderly father has formed a relationship with a woman who merits a background check, which reveals an interesting past.
If I had proofread this book, I would have made 39 corrections.
June 1, 2013
I'm not sure how I ended up with this freebie in my kindle, but I'll take it. It was okay, good job of following two main characters. There was a *lot* on conversation, and not a whole lot of action description. It definitely felt like the first of a series of private-detective/fraud-complaint-buster novels. It set up characters, but it didn't wallop me with suspense and heart-pounding action. If it got a re-write, or some script treatment, it could be a quick little mini-series for some summer gap-filling show.
March 18, 2015
Head turning story
Two nurses enter into venture to investigate insurance claims privately. Suddenly one finds her 85 yr. old father has decided to marry a m I chose younger woman. Discovering that this is her sixth marriage and she is already four times a widow causes them to use
their contacts to prevent the father from becoming the sixth victim of her schemes. In between they continue to carry their caseload of clients and patients needing their assistance. Well written and utterly thought provoking.
Two nurses enter into venture to investigate insurance claims privately. Suddenly one finds her 85 yr. old father has decided to marry a m I chose younger woman. Discovering that this is her sixth marriage and she is already four times a widow causes them to use
their contacts to prevent the father from becoming the sixth victim of her schemes. In between they continue to carry their caseload of clients and patients needing their assistance. Well written and utterly thought provoking.
March 3, 2014
Written well, good story that keeps the reader intrigued. The only negative thing that I can say about the book is that there are some errors about locations. I live in a proximity of the setting of the story frequent the places mentioned. she mixed up some cities and once mixed up the states. It's like she wrote the setting in one state then edited it to be another state, but didn't get the all the cities edited. The plot is good and keeps you wondering all the way to the end.
June 19, 2015
Twisted mind
Marian is crazy, will do what ever to get her hands on money. Men as usual don't take time to really think. Glad Kitty has found love with Lionel. They seem like a perfectly matched & blended family. Just wished that Roni had moved her investigation into Marian along daily & not spaced out. Would love to send a follow up book to this that follows everyone & eventually see the end of Marian's madness.
Marian is crazy, will do what ever to get her hands on money. Men as usual don't take time to really think. Glad Kitty has found love with Lionel. They seem like a perfectly matched & blended family. Just wished that Roni had moved her investigation into Marian along daily & not spaced out. Would love to send a follow up book to this that follows everyone & eventually see the end of Marian's madness.
October 7, 2013
If it was not for the storyline of this book actually being decent I would have rounded down to 2 stars rather than rounding up to 3. The editing was horrible. The research was non existant. The story however was well done, so the book was tolerable. I will not read any more of her books however.
May 9, 2015
Great mystery...surprise ending
I really enjoyed this book. I was intigued by the fact it was about worker's comp investigators.
Each of the cases in the book are fascinating & keep you guessing.
Some humor, romance and sex. Some bad language.
Definitely worth your time with a surprise ending & Patricia Clark definitely left it open for a sequel.
I really enjoyed this book. I was intigued by the fact it was about worker's comp investigators.
Each of the cases in the book are fascinating & keep you guessing.
Some humor, romance and sex. Some bad language.
Definitely worth your time with a surprise ending & Patricia Clark definitely left it open for a sequel.
March 17, 2015
Bought this book on a whim
Definitely glad I did buy this book. I hope there will be others with Kitty, Roni, Cindy, Harley and Lionel. This cast of characters feel like family you want to be around. I recommend this WORSE THAN BEING ALONE to all you who enjoy a good mystery and laughs.
Definitely glad I did buy this book. I hope there will be others with Kitty, Roni, Cindy, Harley and Lionel. This cast of characters feel like family you want to be around. I recommend this WORSE THAN BEING ALONE to all you who enjoy a good mystery and laughs.
March 26, 2015
This was an okay book--not great. Kitty, Roni, and Cindy have started their investigative business, and are doing all right. Roni's 85 year old father gets married, unfortunately to a woman with five previous husbands, who have died in mysterious ways. They encounter a young man who escapes from the police though handcuffed.
April 7, 2015
Good food for thought. There ARE worse things than being alone. Two things stood out for me as being better than many of this genre. The adults really seemed like adults. And a good ending is more realistic if not everyone lives happily ever after. Note I don't like books with dark endings, but a little negative is ok.
May 14, 2015
A great srory
I enjoyed " Worse Than Being Alone ". Compelling characters take you on their journey to keep people honest. Roni and Kitty are going places with their investigation company and I fore see Crazy Cindy as a important member of the team.
A good book for next in series sure to be a winner!
I enjoyed " Worse Than Being Alone ". Compelling characters take you on their journey to keep people honest. Roni and Kitty are going places with their investigation company and I fore see Crazy Cindy as a important member of the team.
A good book for next in series sure to be a winner!
April 22, 2017
A good thriller
I would have given this more stars if it wasn't for Billy's character being so unrealistic. First of all there was the age difference between father and daughter. And also his attitude about marriage and sex that didn't match up with any 85 year-old that I have ever known.
I would have given this more stars if it wasn't for Billy's character being so unrealistic. First of all there was the age difference between father and daughter. And also his attitude about marriage and sex that didn't match up with any 85 year-old that I have ever known.
June 9, 2016
I loved this book! At first I felt a little confused, like I missed something. But I really got into it and loved the characters. Except for Harley killing cats. But Kitty got him back. What I did not like is that two characters died. I wish there were more books with these characters. I would love to see what Roni and Kitty are up to.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews