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Really Dead: A Ria Butler Mystery
Travel writer Ria Butler has to outsmart a killer on the set of a reality TV show. Ria is supposed to be looking at blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos. Instead, she circumnavigates her unsettled relationship with investigative reporter Glenn Cooper and flies to the set of the TV show that her brother is producing in the British Virgin Islands. On location, she learns a production assistant has gone missing — only her tattooed foot has been found. While Ria tries to outwit a killer, Glenn tries to outlast Ria's commitment detour, and a producer tries to outplay the police. When the reality series goes to air, it really does have the most dramatic finale ever — and someone is Really Dead.
- GenresMystery
312 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 5, 2013
The movie industry is filled with sons-a-bitches. Whenever you mix a sense of entitlement, trunks filled with money, nubile young women willing to show their breasts on a whim, kinky old men, and drugs, you’re bound to experience plenty of problems. Political scandals pale in comparison to the seedy atmosphere underlying the entertainment industry where the grime and slime covered me faster than a coal mine.
While Ria Butler did hold a certain appeal, most of it was lost on me. REALLY DEAD managed to cut scenes too soon, the jumps proved more jarring than a wave smacking me in the face, and the story lacked the flow that would have kept me really engaged. The voice hurt my ears worse than nails on a chalkboard. The dialogue proved a bit cheesy, and a few of the characters a bit too dimwitted for me to truly sing their praises. Others proved to be royal asshats.
The mystery lacked a certain sophistication and complication that I would have otherwise preferred, with the subplots receiving more screen time than the main show. The ending wrapped a bit too quickly, and the villain needed to insert hand in mouth and bite down, instead of utilizing a megaphone.
However, I did enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at reality TV show production. I just wish the price of admission wouldn’t have been so steep, as the story and writing weighed me down and kept me submerged beneath the surface of the water. My boycott of all reality television shall continue unabated, so the book did have that going for it, even if I had trouble finding much else to enjoy.
I received this book for free through NetGalley.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
While Ria Butler did hold a certain appeal, most of it was lost on me. REALLY DEAD managed to cut scenes too soon, the jumps proved more jarring than a wave smacking me in the face, and the story lacked the flow that would have kept me really engaged. The voice hurt my ears worse than nails on a chalkboard. The dialogue proved a bit cheesy, and a few of the characters a bit too dimwitted for me to truly sing their praises. Others proved to be royal asshats.
The mystery lacked a certain sophistication and complication that I would have otherwise preferred, with the subplots receiving more screen time than the main show. The ending wrapped a bit too quickly, and the villain needed to insert hand in mouth and bite down, instead of utilizing a megaphone.
However, I did enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at reality TV show production. I just wish the price of admission wouldn’t have been so steep, as the story and writing weighed me down and kept me submerged beneath the surface of the water. My boycott of all reality television shall continue unabated, so the book did have that going for it, even if I had trouble finding much else to enjoy.
I received this book for free through NetGalley.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
January 16, 2014
An entertaining romp in the British Virgin Islands as a TV reality show is in the multiple forms of production. Ria Butler is just returning from a trip in the Andes when she receives a call from her brother's friend to come to the British Virgin Islands. Forget Galapagos and the promised photo for her niece of a blue-footed boobie, she is on her way via a number of flights.
As a travel writer, Ria Butler has seen many strange and interesting things, but nothing could have prepared her for what she finds when she arrives on the set of the reality show her brother James is producing. When she finally gets to the island where filming takes place she finds herself unable to avoid being under surveillance everywhere. How will she be able to find out from Rob, James' friend, what prompted his urgent call that James may be in trouble?
On her arrival James certainly seems to have both hands and more full with his room-mate, presumably not the trouble referred to. Ria does smell a mystery, though, and her curiosity expands the more she gets to know the cast and crew, but goes into overdrive when it comes to James' partner the obnoxious Dan, and Albert the mysterious courier, curiously coming and going at odd times flying between the islands and Toronto, delivering canvas bags one way and carrying a metal case back.
When action is called on this set, they really mean business! Fast-paced and unexpected action. As a reality show, competition runs in the extreme with the finale about to be filmed. With the assistance from afar of Ria's boyfriend Glenn, an investigative reporter, the mystery deepens. A young member of the crew has disappeared and left behind her luggage and her severed foot...or was that a production prop? Why do the police in Toronto say she is at home and whole? I loved this book, not just for the mystery and intrigue, but for the feel of the excitement, practical jokes, hustle and bustle of TV production. Well-written and taut, great characters, J.E. Forman knows what she's talking about. I'm happy to learn this book is first in the "Ria Butler series," a series I'm sure will have a long run.
As a travel writer, Ria Butler has seen many strange and interesting things, but nothing could have prepared her for what she finds when she arrives on the set of the reality show her brother James is producing. When she finally gets to the island where filming takes place she finds herself unable to avoid being under surveillance everywhere. How will she be able to find out from Rob, James' friend, what prompted his urgent call that James may be in trouble?
On her arrival James certainly seems to have both hands and more full with his room-mate, presumably not the trouble referred to. Ria does smell a mystery, though, and her curiosity expands the more she gets to know the cast and crew, but goes into overdrive when it comes to James' partner the obnoxious Dan, and Albert the mysterious courier, curiously coming and going at odd times flying between the islands and Toronto, delivering canvas bags one way and carrying a metal case back.
When action is called on this set, they really mean business! Fast-paced and unexpected action. As a reality show, competition runs in the extreme with the finale about to be filmed. With the assistance from afar of Ria's boyfriend Glenn, an investigative reporter, the mystery deepens. A young member of the crew has disappeared and left behind her luggage and her severed foot...or was that a production prop? Why do the police in Toronto say she is at home and whole? I loved this book, not just for the mystery and intrigue, but for the feel of the excitement, practical jokes, hustle and bustle of TV production. Well-written and taut, great characters, J.E. Forman knows what she's talking about. I'm happy to learn this book is first in the "Ria Butler series," a series I'm sure will have a long run.
July 3, 2013
This is THE perfect summer read! It is set in the Caribbean on the set of a reality TV show and a young woman has apparently left the show and returned to Canada. Funny thing, though, a part of a leg with a tattoo like the young woman’s has turned up on a beach. The main character is a travel writer whose brother is the producer of the TV show and one of his cameramen is worried that something is wrong so he contacts the travel writer and she turns up on the island. There are cameras everywhere – almost nothing that happens on the island is private – this turns out to be very important in the solving of the disappearance of the young woman. The story breezes along, there are a couple of love interests and when I finished the book I wanted the next book in the series to be available NOW.
August 10, 2016
Took it with me on a trip to some warmer climates, and it really matched my setting perfectly. I'm a huge reality TV junky so it was right up my alley! Looking forward to the next installment!
November 3, 2013
Started reading on a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon and actually got up early on Sunday morning to finish it before breakfast. A really good read for a weekend, beach chair or on a long airplane ride. Can't wait to read more about Ria Butler in the future... believe can only get better.
July 17, 2020
When I'm trying to rush through a book to get it finished, it just isn't good enough. I'm about halfway through this but I have to quit, it just isn't good. For something that's supposed to be a murder mystery, it's quite boring..the story and the people...
October 25, 2013
when ria Butter is summoned to the set of the reality show her brother is producing a girl is mssing and when her tattooed leg shows up its clear there's a murderer on set while dealing with this Tia lso has to figure out what to do about Glenn Cooper does she want a relationship or not.romance murder in the perfect setting the Virgin Islands.
June 15, 2013
This is an easy read. A good story, well told.
October 25, 2013
A fun book to read anytime of the year! Will help you imagine it's still summer even during the winter. Great story very entertaining. A good combination of mystery, thriller and relationship story!
March 21, 2014
I generally do not read straight mystery books but how could I resist a story set in the British Virgin Islands?!
Ria is a great character, constantly making jokes about her age and investigating a possible murder because of her loyalty to her brother James, who is the producer of the reality TV show.
J E Forman heightens the feeling of unease on the islands by casting the majority of characters as hypothetical suspects.
Ria and Glenn's relationship adds an extra melodrama to the story. Ria is using Glenn's investigatory skills to help her find the missing woman, whilst avoiding all mention of their romantic relationship. However, there is a shared wit between the pair, which is often needed to lighten the narrative.
Really Dead kept me guessing until the 'big reveal' and I enjoyed J E Forman's writing style. I would happily read another Ria Blake mystery and recommend this book to others.
Ria is a great character, constantly making jokes about her age and investigating a possible murder because of her loyalty to her brother James, who is the producer of the reality TV show.
J E Forman heightens the feeling of unease on the islands by casting the majority of characters as hypothetical suspects.
Ria and Glenn's relationship adds an extra melodrama to the story. Ria is using Glenn's investigatory skills to help her find the missing woman, whilst avoiding all mention of their romantic relationship. However, there is a shared wit between the pair, which is often needed to lighten the narrative.
Really Dead kept me guessing until the 'big reveal' and I enjoyed J E Forman's writing style. I would happily read another Ria Blake mystery and recommend this book to others.
October 21, 2015
The British Virgin Islands are an expensive and exclusive destination for holidays and fashion shoots, and in this book for a reality television show and a disappearance. This novel is an enjoyable, unchallenging mystery and would make a good holiday read for anyone with a less exotic location in mind.
There is a romantic love triangle between the main character, her current male friend and a man she has known for a long time. The author cannot seem to decide whether the book is a romance with a mystery as sub-plot or a mystery with a romantic sub-plot and I did sometimes wish she would just get on with one or the other. The characters are not deep enough to carry the romance, so for me this was padding for the mystery, but others may not feel the same.
There is a romantic love triangle between the main character, her current male friend and a man she has known for a long time. The author cannot seem to decide whether the book is a romance with a mystery as sub-plot or a mystery with a romantic sub-plot and I did sometimes wish she would just get on with one or the other. The characters are not deep enough to carry the romance, so for me this was padding for the mystery, but others may not feel the same.
January 2, 2015
Mystery. Ria is a travel writer and involved romantically with TV writer Glenn Cooper. On a tip she flies to the British Virgin Islands where her brother, James, with partner Dan, is producing a reality show. A woman is missing—Kate was the lover and production assistant to her brother. The buzz on the set is that she ran off—but her luggage is still there and her twin sister in Toronto has not heard from her. What are the chances that she’s missing permanently. Ria looks into the mystery, thwarted by some, namely her brother and his partner, but helped by others, and eventually Glenn comes to the island to help solve the mystery of why Kate was killed.
The title refers to the reality that someone is really dead. Dundurn 2013
The title refers to the reality that someone is really dead. Dundurn 2013
July 21, 2016
Not bad, but writing had a sophomoric feeling to it. It took me almost a month to read this book because while the storyline was enough to keep my interest (sort of). The writing didn't. I almost felt as though I was reading the works of someone in a Freshman level writing course.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews