4 Bodies and a Funeral

Body Movers #4

by Stephanie Bond

One cadaver, two cadaver, three cadaver, four...Ever had one of those days? A surprise visit from her father--who's on the run from the law--has given Carlotta Wren a lot to think about. Should she join her former fiancé, Peter, in proving her father is innocent? If she does, are her body-moving days over?And then...A close friend's behavior begins to spin out of control...The cops turn up the heat on her father's case...Carlotta discovers that her brother Wesley's gambling debts are child's play compared to his new vice...And the Charmed Killer, a serial murderer, unleashes his wrath on Atlanta.Now the bodies are piling up--and Carlotta's father is the number one suspect!Look for all the books in Stephanie Bond's Body Movers PARTY CRASHERS (prequel)BODY MOVERS2 BODIES FOR THE PRICE OF 13 MEN AND A BODY4 BODIES AND A FUNERAL5 BODIES TO DIE FOR6 KILLER BODIES6 1/2 BODY PARTS (novella)7 BRIDES FOR 7 BODIES8 BODIES IS ENOUGH9 BODIES ROLLING10 BODIES LYING

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Chick Lit, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Crime

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 24, 2009

About the author

USA TODAY bestselling author Stephanie Bond was seven years deep into a systems engineering career and pursuing an MBA at night when an instructor remarked that she had a flair for writing and suggested that she submit to academic journals. But Stephanie, a voracious reader, was only interested in writing fiction–more specifically, romantic fiction.

Upon completing her master’s degree and with no formal training in writing (her undergraduate degree is in computer programming), she started writing a romance novel in her spare time. Two years later in 1995 she sold her first manuscript, a romantic comedy, to Harlequin Books.

In 1997, with ten sales under her belt to two publishers, Stephanie left her corporate job to write women’s romantic fiction full-time. In 2011,

Stephanie launched a self-publishing business. Since that time, she has sold more than 1 million copies of her own books. To-date, Stephanie has published over 70 novels and has over 6 million copies of her work in worldwide distribution in numerous languages and formats.

Reviews

[Emmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall rating: 4 stars

Genre: Chick-Lit
Plot: 8/10
Ending: 6/10
Writing: 6/10
Hero: Jack- 8/10
Coop- 8/10
Peter- 1/10
Heroine: 8/10
Humour: 7/10
HEA: n/a

Recommend: Yes
Re-read: Maybe
Read more from author: Yes

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Im having a hard time writing a review for this book. Im afraid Im sort of indifferent. Even with the rating, I was going back and forth between three stars and four. I couldnt find anything that I didnt really care for in order to lower it to three, on the other hand I couldnt name anything I really liked to give it four.

If youre like me and read all series in order then this book is more of the same. Carlotta balancing her three men. Carlotta "accidentally" finding herslf in the midst of several police investigations. Her brother Wesley trying to stay out of trouble and failing miserably.

I call this type of book a "fluffer" book. The meaning should be obvious, but if its not it means this book is basically just building the action and getting us ready for the next edition.

That being said, I still enjoyed this book. I found myself laughing out loud several times. I love Carlotta's wit. The dynamic between her and her three guys is always fun. Every time I think she is finally leaning towards one something happens to draw the other two back in. I both love and hate Wesley. I want him to get his stuff together so badly, but it just wouldnt be the same series if he did.

Definitely looking forward to the fifth book.

[Ladiibbug · Rating 5 out of 5]

#4 Body Movers - Mystery Series

*Smack!* That's the sound of Stephanie Bond yet again powerfully slamming the ball wayyyyy out of the park, across the freeway, and into a field a mile away!

#4 in her cozy mystery Body Movers series somehow further exceeds the fun, intrigue, mystery and just damn excellent writing of books 1 through 3. If you like mysteries and are not reading her, do youself a big favor and get going on this amazing author!

While part of the Body Movers series, books 4 through 6 focus on the Charm (as in charm bracelet) Killer ... a charm is found in each victim's mouth in this cozy series.

Carlotta's brain-smart but decisions-dumb 19 y/o brother Wesley continues to screw up and indulge in bad behaviour (gambling, hanging out with drug dealers ...) and manages to add to his list of vices. Coop, the former Medical Examiner turned morgue attendant (thus, the "Body Movers") fires Wesley, so Coop has turned to Carlotta for an assist on body pick-ups.

I absolutely LOVE the superb writing, the humor, the complex web of relationships between main and supporting characters ... and the main plot is always accompanied by several equally exciting subplots that make Stephanie's books a pure delight to read!

I can't ***WAIT**** to see what's going to happen next!! Books 4, 5 and 6 are being released once a month, back to back, in April 1, May 1 and June 1 in this Charmed Killer segment of the Body Movers series.

www.stephaniebond.com

[Akl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've downloaded a lot of Bond's books when they are free on Amazon so I am familiar with her. I've loved most of her books. I was able to borrow the Body Mover series from the library. I am glad I didn't actually buy them. I liked the 1st book fine, but by this fourth, I am really starting to hate most of the characters.

Carlotta - I normally enjoy women sleuths, but Carlotta is so nosey and self righteous, it is hard to like her. She hates Jack's new partner as soon as they meet because she's gorgeous. The fact that Carlotta is angry that Maria isn't OK about Jack sharing police info w/ her is laughable! Seriously? How childish can you be?
The way she treats Wesley as if he's fragile is also ridiculous! Yes, Carlotta, he is the way he is because of you! You don't tell a gambling addict you are proud him for winning $10k! If Wesley had lost, she would have been singing a different tune!

Wesley - I've hated him from the first book. What an entitled, selfish brat! Perhaps if everyone stops protecting him and throw his butt in jail, he will actually shape up!

The men - seriously, what do they see in her that I don't see? Seriously, everyone falls head over heel in love with Carlotta? Both Coop and Peter should just move on. Why they want to be with a girl who's banging someone else is beyond me! It is clear she likes Jack the most! She only keeps Peter around because "he can give her the life she deserves" (there's that self entitlement again!).

I really dislike any love triangle type of story, especially the one that drags on, but this isn't even a triangle! Seriously, three men? Ridiculous!

The mystery - by this 4th book, I am now reading over and over and over the same story. What happened in the fist three books; seriously, the rehash of the stories take up most pages! I want to know what's going on with the father! This has been dragging with no real development at all! The "mini" mystery in each book is not intriguing enough to keep me from wanting to read more. Although in this 4th book, they introduce another mystery, the Charmed killer. It's like a mystery within a mystery within a mystery. Oh boy, my head is spinning just typing that!

I am so ready to give up on this series. But since I am already on the wiring list at the library for the next book, I'll probably read it too.

Seriously, Bond, I loved your Mojo series, but after this Body Movers series, I am not sure I will ever pick up another of your book.

[Xenos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps it's a cliche, but I'm still gonna use it..."Four Bodies and a Funeral" is the feel-good book of the year! Because after you read it, you will feel SO GOOD about your own life now matter how dull or stressful or ordinary it may be. Once again, Carlotta and company are up to their asses in alligators...Dead bodies, an escaped mental patient, romantic triangles and quadrangles, prescription drug abuse, undercover organized crime infiltration, illegal gambling...the list goes on and on. As with the previous books in this series, I wanna sit down and talk some sense into each and every character. (I doubt it would do any good, however, because they've obviously been pummeled mercilessly with the Stupid Stick.)

Still not loving this series, but I'm so addicted that I'm willing to cut Wesley some slack for his Oxycontin addiction. Darn you, Stephanie Bond...You've totally sucked me in! Three-and-a-half stars!

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not like the unfinished ending. It's not a mystery without a resolution.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find I keep reading this series for the train wreck that is Carlotta’s life. Wesley just keeps getting in deeper and deeper, making one stupid mistake after another. What makes this funny is how Carlotta can’t and doesn’t want to see just what Wesley is doing. I think part of this is to compensate for her parents leaving, but at some point Wesley needs to man up and become an adult instead of a kid playing at being one. The situation he is in at the end of the book shows that clearly.

Carlotta isn’t much better, she still has all 3 men on the hook. I don’t think she even wants Peter, but feels like she needs to keep in contact for two reasons, one is their past, the other is because of her father. The same father who left her high and dry and will most likely end up screwing her over again.

I am torn with my thoughts of Jack. I think they could be good together, but Jack is the kind of guy you have fun with, not the kind of guy who sticks around. Cooper would stick around, but he comes with his own set of problems, some that are flaring up right now.

I am disgusted with Carlotta’s choice at the end of the book. I think this is the easy way out and will come back to haunt her. I do confess that I look forward to the next book to see what the fall out will be.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! I love this series and all the quirky characters.

[Perryville Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Bodies and a Funeral by Stephanie Bond
I first picked up Stephanie Bond’s - Body Movers- series in one of the long dry spells between those hilarious and compulsively readable Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich. I was in the mood for a wacky mystery with a little bit of romance, and the first three books filled the void well. The 4th book, 4 Bodies and a Funeral, had an extra special something that had me as eager to start the fifth –which was luckily only a few feet away- as I was awaiting the next episode of the adventures of Stephanie Plum. While I would strongly recommend starting at the beginning of the series, this book is the first of a trilogy within the series, dealing with a single case, the case of the Charmed Killer. The Charmed Killer leaves a single charm in the mouth of each victim. Each book in the series has a smaller mystery for our heroine to solve, but the major mystery, the identity of a serial killer, remains unknown from book to book, keeping me wondering from title to title.
Like the Stephanie Plum series, Body Movers has its own cast of quirky characters. Front and center are the Wren siblings who split the lead as chapters move from the perspective of Carlotta Wren, a late twenties high-end sales clerk, to her brilliant but highly unmotivated younger brother Wesley Wren. In previous books we learn that for the past ten years, the Wren’s parents have been on the lamb for allegedly embezzling money, leavening Carlotta to raise her brother. But now Mr. Wren has contacted Carlotta asking her to help him clear his name. To do so, she must team up with her ex-fiancé- a man who abandoned her ten years earlier when she needed him the most. Carlotta has to keep their communication secret from Detective Jack Terry, the second of three romantic question marks in Carlotta’s life. If family life weren’t complicated enough for Carlotta, on her first day back to work- after recovering from the trials and tribulations of the third book in the series -she takes a dive into a sheet cake to protect an Olympic runner who has been signing charm bracelets at the store. While the woman is unharmed, Carlotta fails to prevent the theft of her famous charm bracelet. Carlotta will have to keep all her own secrets while she digs for information on the location of the famous Olympian’s charm bracelet, her father’s decade old case, and the identity of the man leaving behind dead bodies with charms in their mouths.
Meanwhile, her brother Wesley has his own secret mission: to use the access he is granted by his court ordered community service at the city’s computer center to obtain his father’s sealed court records. Wesley has believed in his father’s innocence from the start and is bound and determined to find a way to prove it. All the while he must dodge loan sharks, hide a budding addiction to over the counter pain medication, save face in front of the cute college girl at his community service, and make up his recent failures to his boss, the third question mark in Carlotta’s life, body mover and former medical examiner Cooper Craft.
The next two books, 5 Bodies to Die For and 6 Killer Bodies, offer more great plum-like moments including two wrecked vehicles, a suspect on roller skates, and an incident involving the dispersion of a boyfriend’s dead wife -in ash form - over a formal dining room.
The Body Movers series has broad appeal. It is full of twists, sub-plots and more fascinating characters than you can shake a stick at. Graced with laugh out loud moments, it also finds time for chilling suspense, and mystery. While I can usually peg a suspect half way through a book, this one kept me guessing until the last few pages. Fans of romantic suspense authors like Catherin Coulter and Suzanne Brockmann won’t be disappointed. Readers who enjoy Janet Evanovich titles as much as I do will love another series with a similar flavor. The humor, romance, friendships, and shopping references also give it plenty of chick-lit appeal for fans of Jennifer Cruise, and Sophie Kinsella. 6 Killer Bodies is the end of the charmed killer trilogy, and the latest book in the Body Movers series, but with any luck, Stephanie Bond will be serving up more bodies soon. Get your own body in gear and get a hold of a copy of book one, Body Movers by Stephanie Bond.

[Jane Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was labeled romantic suspense, but it had neither. It is a crime solving mystery that requires reading sequels.

REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This book was labeled romantic suspense, and the mislabeling is what bothers me the most. There was no suspense and no romance. At the beginning of the book, Carlotta is dating two men. A third man is interested, but she keeps that relationship platonic. At the end of the book, the dating situation is the same. There is no change or development in any relationship. I am also troubled that when I purchased the book, nothing told me that I would need to read sequels to finish it. This is the only book I’ve read in the series. I felt that I was stepping into the middle of a story and missing some things. I was angry at the end to find out that many mysteries and some character questions were unsolved and unfinished. Carlotta was involved with about seven mysteries in this book. I get the feeling that she is the lay person who will be solving most of the mysteries (Nancy Drew style) in future books. She solved one of them in this book. The other six are to be continued, which was unsatisfying and frustrating for me. I purchased this book as a preorder, before it was released. At that time, there were no customer reviews to warn me of the above. The Amazon Product Description also did not enlighten.

Readers who like crime solving mysteries might rate this 3 or more stars, but only if they are willing to buy all 6 books, two of which are not yet published (as of April, 2009). I took more notes than usual because there were so many characters to keep track of. A number of the characters were interesting, and I wanted to know more. I assume the various character stories will be further developed and wrapped up in future books.

STORY BRIEF:
Several years ago, Randolph and his wife ran off into hiding because Randolph was accused of a crime. Their two children, Carlotta and Wesley had to support themselves. Wesley is a genius at card games and computers. He’s addicted to pills and owes money to a couple of loan sharks. Coop was the medical examiner, fired for alcoholism. Now he transports dead bodies to the morgue. Carlotta works as a sales clerk for Neiman Marcus, but she enjoys working part time with Coop transporting bodies. Coop has some secrets. Some of the bodies Carlotta helps move have been killed by a serial killer. A psycho escaped from a mental institution and threatens Carlotta. Someone else may also be threatening Carlotta. Someone is trying to harm an Olympic runner who is endorsing the sale of charm bracelets for charity.

Carlotta’s romantic relationships consist of Coop, Peter and Jack. All three men want her. She is hesitant and goes back and forth among the three. She keeps things platonic with Coop. Jack is the police detective involved with most of these mysteries. They have sex occasionally, but he doesn’t want to settle down. Peter is wealthy and was Carlotta’s first love in high school. He broke up with her and married another woman who cheated on him and was murdered. Now he wants to marry Carlotta. She is dating him, but frequently leaves the dates early to join Coop on dead body calls.

DATA:
Story length: 335 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 3. Total number of sex scene pages: 3. Setting: current day Atlanta, Georgia. Copyright: 2009. Genre: crime solving mystery.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this but I didn't...

Carlotta has returned to work at Nieman Marcus. ..she is caught up in the midst of the theft of a "Lucky Charm" bracelet. She & her M.I.A. father are profiled by the Hottie Cop's new partner as possible suspects in the murder of three women who were found with charms in their mouths.

Wesley is addicted to "Oxy", working "collection" for the loan shark, but skimming off the top, hacking the courthouse pc files, and playing high stakes poker.

The crazy co-worker, Michael Lane, who attempted to murder Carlotta in the first book has escaped the asylum and is after her again.

She's still seeing Peter, but always has something else come up...and lies her way out of her dates with him....

Carlotta has proof Wesley is a druggie and refuses to believe the evidence...instead believing Wesley's lies! I mean come on...she knows he stole her painkillers & both refills, leaving her in pain with a broken arm!

And to top it off...someone is living in the spare "closed off" bedroom unbeknownst to her & her brother!

I like:
*Peter
*Hottie Cop
*The "charm" mystery itself
*Most of the mystery story line
*The "Body Movers" part

I Do NOT Like:
*Carlotta's codependent relationship with her druggie brother & the fact she is so Farking stupid & believes his lies while making excuses for his asinine behavior!
*Carlotta leaving Peter in the middle of a date to go pick-up a body
*Wesley PERIOD!
*Carlotta stringing along Peter while having sex with the Hottie Cop

What really ruins the series for me is Carlotta's Totally co-dependent relationship with her brother. She needs to pull her enabling head out of the darkness and stop rescuing her brother. He needs to take full responsibility for his criminal behavior and spend his justly earned time in jail.

[Debra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Carlotta Wren has a complicated life. She’s not only a sales associate at Neiman Marcus, but she helps moves dead bodies for her friend Coop, a former medical examiner. The job creates interesting situations, especially since a serial killer is on the loose. Also complicating Carlotta’s life are the three men she’s attracted to and the brief reappearance of her fugitive father after a decade in hiding. Oh, and her younger brother is into some pretty shady activities while dealing with an addiction that he’s keeping from Carlotta. All these balls are being juggled rather haphazardly, but things get even worse when the man who tried to kill Carlotta in the previous book reappears to finish the job.

There are one or two other subplots, which is the main problem with the book. There’s so much going on that the twists and mishaps stretch credibility into an almost farcical story. Obviously, I don’t know if this was the author’s intention, but it created a somewhat frustrating read for this mystery fan. It doesn’t help that Carlotta declines to call her cop friend Jack when she’s about to approach a suspected thief. Granted, Jack would be furious to find that she’s meddling, but that’s what Carlotta does.

Despite her lousy decisions, I liked Carlotta and the other characters. I just wish that the author had stuck to the major plots and saved some issues for future books. The key plots could have been developed into a more suspenseful story. Given that this is a Harlequin publication, though, crime solving might not be as important as focusing on Carlotta’s messy life and angst over potential lovers. Plenty of mystery readers will hate the unresolved storylines at the end. Maybe romance readers won’t mind as much.

[Dav · Rating 2 out of 5]

4 Bodies and a Funeral • by Stephanie Bond
(Body Movers, book series #4)

Carlotta Wren's dad is on the lam and the police think he's the killer in Atlanta, where bodies are piling up and the killer is leaving a bracelet's charm in the mouth of the victims. Charlotte and her brother Wes were left as kids when dad and mom took off to avoid jail. Dad had been stealing from his firm or framed. Charlotte now works in sales, plus being a part-time, body mover for the morgue. Wes is working with the DA to avoid jail for his many crimes; drugs, theft of a body, gambling debt and loan shark "Carver" troubles...

Three guys have the hots for Carlotta: "Coop" her Body Movers boss; Jack the cop hunting the killer and Peter, her former lover, working in Dad's old firm (he's helping prove dad isn't a crook). Someone blows up Carlotta's car. An ex-coworker, turned psycho, escapes prison and is stalking her. She does solve the stolen bracelet caper; a competitor had wanted the star athlete out of the way.

Then the ending with cliff hangers-- important storylines left unresolved and questions left unanswered. An Olympic star has her charm bracelet stolen and was poisoned by; who? If Dad and Mom were framed, why run and hide out for the last 10 years? Etc... annoyingly incomplete.

It's a cheesy, romantic, crime drama with plenty of R rated sex and way too many twists to believe or even care about. Piss-Poor.

The Body Movers Series
1 Body Movers (2006)
2 Bodies for the Price of 1 (2007)
3 Men and a Body (2008)
● 4 Bodies and a Funeral (2009)
5 Bodies To Die For (2009)
6 Killer Bodies (2009)
6 1/2 Body Parts (2012)

[Barbara ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again Carlotta gets into trouble just going to work. She is an amazing magnet for trouble. Just misadventures - being the wrong place at the wrong time. And poor Wesley, he might have a genius IQ but he gets into even more trouble than his sister. Loan sharks, computer hacking and now drugs. When will he straighten up his act and become responsible?

This book has three mysteries floating around. 1. the olympic runner whose charm bracelet is stolen while she is at an appearance at Carlotta's work place. 2. The Charmed Killer is a serial killer murdering people one after the other for no apparent reason. 3. Michael Lane - the baddie from a previous book has escaped the psych ward and is after Carlotta...again.

And what the hell is up with Peter? He dumps Carlotta when her father was indicted for embezzlement and now he's back trying to get into her good graces by trying to help clear her father's name. Why do I get a crawling sensation down my back everytime he enters the story? What is it about Peter that sets my radar off? Is it possible Peter framed Carlotta's father?

This book ended very abruptly and really left the story hanging -- rather annoying. Good thing I have #5 on my bookshelf.


The whole thing with her parents is really starting to get on my nerves. How much longer can Ms. Bond draw this storyline out?

[Stef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just lovin this series keeps me so interested in it. More characters come and go . . . Now there is a Charmed Killer and where is Michael? The plot keeps on twisting and Carlotta keeps getting herself mixed into a lot of things. . .

Fast read, suspense, action packed with a twist of romance with several men. Looking forward to Reading book 5 :-)

=======
Update 6-3-2016: If you are looking for other great suspense/action/Comedy/Laugh Out Loud / Romance books check out my other reviews. I Recommend this series and the following:
> Rose Gardner Mystery Series by Denise Grover Swank
> Body Movers Series by Stephanie Bond
> Rock Chick Series by Kristen Ashley
> Bobbie Faye's Series by Toni McGee Causey
> Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich
=======

[Nessy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series’s MO remains the same: no progress with Carly’s relationships, no progress on her dad’s case, some new problems like Lane getting out. I know that the author is capable of writing a far more compelling book because the first book was amazing but she seems far more interested in wringing every possible penny from this series before people get pissed that the books aren’t moving any major plot points forward. The lack of progress is extra annoying because the author is actually a great writer but seems to be to scared to finish this series and start a new one

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half of the storyline was good and mixed in to the rest that was bad. I’m really not liking any of the characters. Well, maybe the bad guys are ok. At least they are straight forward and honest about their dishonesty. Carlotta is a train wreck. She is stringing along 2 nice guys and a cop. There are several mini mysteries within the story and only one gets solved by the end. I don’t think it’s worth my time reading the next one. If the author can’t come up with new mysteries for each book, instead just repeating old stuff, then stop writing.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some good moments in these books, but not enough to make them good books. Most of the characters are really vile human beings and I find it difficult enjoying a book when I don't like the main characters.
I ordered the first seven of these books and I'll read them but it's hard to generate any enthusiasm. Most of the male characters are misogynists. The female characters are spineless strumpets.

[Cindi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure if this is a 1 or a 2 star for me. I read the earlier books years back, and came to this one because I needed something different. Um, got it! Not sure I liked it, but I got it.
There is a LOT more sex in this book than I remember from previous books. The overall story is just a mess - Carlotta and her, what 3? 4? more? - guys, Wesley and his whole .... mess. Maybe I'm just changing in my age, but this wasn't fun for me. Maybe I'm leaning more to a 1 star ....

[Linda Haring · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy the Body Movers series but I was expecting a resolution to the crime at the end of this one and there wasn't. You have to read #5 and #6 to find out who is responsible. I read the first one and then I was completely hooked.

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

The series is really stalling, the characters continue to play the same beats over and over. And the serial killer arc feels out of place.

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't even start this one. I'd read the 1st a while back, picked up 2/3/4 at library. I lost patience with the whole thing after #2. Skimmed a bit of #3 and didn't even start #4.

[Paraphrodite · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

There are so many dangling threads at the end of this book that it's really frustrating. I hope that at least some of them will be resolved in the next book!

[Jenene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This one had some very steamy scenes! Love this series!

[Amanda Nan Dillon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once I realized that the topic of 4-6 could’ve been a single book and that she doesn’t pick a man until the yet-to-be-released 12th book, I tapped out.

[IAmTheHolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you haven’t read the rest of the series (start with Body Movers by Stephanie Boyd), then probably skip to the last paragraph. Light spoilers and just ramblings that will make no sense if you aren’t familiar with the books. (look for the **** below!)

UGH. Carlotta needs to find a better guy. Why did she stop Peter. Why is she trying to rekindle a relationship with Peter when she isn’t feeling it. Why doesn’t she care more about what’s going on with Cooper – even as a friend, he’s just a good guy – and why isn’t she leaving Jack the heck alone! He’s admitted he doesn’t really want Carlotta as anything more than just “fun”. (Can you tell I’m totally ‘shipping Cooper right now?) And why is Wes still being dumb? He’s written as a character you want to like but he just continues the bad choices. Oxy? Really????

Getting a little frustrated with this series because Carlotta needs to figure a whole heck of a lot of stuff out. There were some good moments – she decided to basically work a case in this one that the police didn’t have time to solve. But she also isn’t good at taking care of herself and is way too quick to trust Wes when he has definitely not been proving his trustworthiness. And while I can kind of get it, her father definitely still holds too much power over her choices. She at least seems to be starting to understand that…

This post is going to make no sense if you haven’t read the series, so go read it!



***safe from spoilers!

While I’ve been a bit frustrated with how things are moving in this series, I would still recommend it. I’m going to take a little break and read something else (I have read 4 this week…), but I’ll be back to this series soon. I’ll go 6.5 of 10 H (I recommend the series but this wasn’t my favorite book of the series – as of now, I’ll go with 2 Bodies for the Price of 1 as my favorite) and 4.5 of 5 H. They are nice and fluffy reads, which is pretty much why I’ve been reading them this week!


For more reviews, check out bedroopedbookworms.wordpress.com!

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The audiobook narrator continues to get worse with her word pronunciations; the worst example in this book is her calling Chick-Fil-A, Chick fila. There are so many parts of the stories are already eye rolling so readers don't need additional issues from the audiobook.

The series has now become just one long drama as things aren't even concluded in the individual books. Wesley has become a completely irredeemable character now with all of his vices along with things he's willing to do & somehow justifies in his warped brain. I can't stand the worthless moron who has so much potential & throws it all away. Carlotta once again can't seem to make decisions for her own life & is pretty pathetic. Maria (the profiler) called Carlotta out on a lot of aspects of her personality/life and while she was annoyed with having the truth thrown at her, Carlotta does nothing to improve herself or her issues (financial or personal). Finally, this book took the best character, Cooper, in a disappointing direction. At this point, I want answers but I'm not sure I can get through 9 more books to get them.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

2009. Read by Cassandra Campbell. Carlotta accepts an invitation to drive to Florida with Coop to pick up a body of a famous person. She dies young and suddenly. But, Wesley interrupts their plans by hiding in the hearse and surprising them. Carlotta hopes to investigate a scene in a hotel where her father's finger prints are a possible match to a robbery. On the way back to Atlanta, several attempts to snatch the body take place. At one rest stop, Carlotta's father, in disguise, tells her he is proud of Wesley and herself and that soon he will return with proof to claim his innocence of fraud. Meantime, Wesley is hooked on Oxycontin. One of the thugs he owes money to has carved half his name into Wes's forearm. Funny, whenever Wes has cash, he is robbed. And, Michael, the so called friend of Carlotta's, who stole her identity has jumped in the river after being chased down by police. And, a serial killer is bumping off women at a remarkable pace.

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just when I think characters in this series could not get any stupider, here they all line up and say hold my beer. This installment also suffers from ADHD, there's a lot going on and damn near all of it is still unresolved at the end. Another beef with this is the inclusion of a sex scene with the little brother, which was gross and wholly unnecessary, and I say that as a reader who enjoys the occasional smut that's way spicier than this.

I kind of hate myself for continuing in the series as there are some dated details and the growing list of Stephanie Plum ripoffs that now include a blown up car. Aside from a few chuckles at legal stuff that takes place in Fulton County in Georgia and a fictional mental hospital in Milledgeville, and for those who don't follow American politics, there's a certain career conman who is likely to be indicted in Fulton County soon and a screeching buffoon with the initials MTG who is from Milledgeville, this book was a disappointment.

[Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I complained in my review of book 3 that it was so much recapping of previous books that the story didn’t start happening until halfway through. It has been so long since I read book 3 that I actually appreciated the recaps this time.

I decided to try the audiobook for this one, and it was fine. The occasional and inconsistent southern accent for character voices threw me off a bit, but it was otherwise uneventful with no major issues (other than her cringey pronunciation of Chick-fil-A).

I really can’t stand the Wesley character, and I don’t understand why their parents were so selfish that they asked their kids to basically stay frozen in time and exist solely to exonerate them and why the kids agree to this arrangement. Three love interests for Carlotta is just too many, but I’m determined to finish this series after starting it in my teens, so I will press on.

One small storyline was started and resolved, but the rest remain wide open.