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Esther Diamond #6
The Misfortune Cookie
Esther Diamond's year gets off to a rocky start when NYPD's Detective Connor Lopez, who slept with her and then didn't call, shuts down her current place of employment and gets her arrested. Once she's out of handcuffs, and with no paying work on the frigid horizon, Esther takes a small role in a grad student's film project in Chinatown—where her friend semi-retired hit man Lucky Battistuzzi, who escaped Lopez's sweep at the Little Italy restaurant where Esther works between acting jobs, is hiding out in a Chinese-Italian mortuary.
Esther and Lucky soon realize that something strange is going on in Chinatown, where beautifully handcrafted fortune cookies are inflicting deadly mystical curses on the hapless victims who receive them as gifts—and before long, Esther learns that Detective Lopez is one of the recipients. As preparations for Chinese New Year heat up in the ice-covered neighborhood, when the streets will be filled with costumed lion dancers, firecrackers, and dense crowds, Esther and Lucky summon the help of their friend Max, a semi-immortal mage and semi-solvent bookseller, to help them save Chinatown and Lopez (with whom Esther is not on speaking terms) from a mystical murderer of maniacal menace.
Esther and Lucky soon realize that something strange is going on in Chinatown, where beautifully handcrafted fortune cookies are inflicting deadly mystical curses on the hapless victims who receive them as gifts—and before long, Esther learns that Detective Lopez is one of the recipients. As preparations for Chinese New Year heat up in the ice-covered neighborhood, when the streets will be filled with costumed lion dancers, firecrackers, and dense crowds, Esther and Lucky summon the help of their friend Max, a semi-immortal mage and semi-solvent bookseller, to help them save Chinatown and Lopez (with whom Esther is not on speaking terms) from a mystical murderer of maniacal menace.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2013
12 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
About the author
Laura Resnick
109 books273 followersLaura Resnick is an award-winning science fiction and fantasy author, the daughter of prolific science fiction author Mike Resnick. She was the winner of the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in Science Fiction for 1993. She also writes romance novels under the pseudonym Laura Leone
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
December 20, 2021
The Misfortune Cookie
(Esther Diamond #6)
by Laura Resnick
This series is such fun! Esther always finds trouble or trouble finds her! It's never normal trouble but supernatural kind! This time someone is killing by cursed fortune cookies! The gang is there to help and of course her straight laced cop would-be boyfriend thinks she is a bit crazy! Lots of witty craziness! Plenty of fun!
(Esther Diamond #6)
by Laura Resnick
This series is such fun! Esther always finds trouble or trouble finds her! It's never normal trouble but supernatural kind! This time someone is killing by cursed fortune cookies! The gang is there to help and of course her straight laced cop would-be boyfriend thinks she is a bit crazy! Lots of witty craziness! Plenty of fun!
December 7, 2013
As much as I love this series, I have to admit, it is getting a bit tiresome. This whole book seemed like just an excuse to create drama between Esther and Lopez while making the main plot look like a side note to the drama. All of this drama feels like it is a vehicle being used for nothing more then to introduce a new potential relationship for Esther (or as I like to call it, more drama and angst) as well as the fact that someone Lopez works with is more then he seems and is most likely something evil.
To be perfectly honest, this is by far the weakest book in the series plot wise and has the most unnessary drama of all the books. Yes, Esther is still wishy washy about Lopez (in fact she thinks more with her loins then any man I know)and Lopez is still an oblivious idiot who obviously doesn't trust Ester enough to open his eyes to the crap that has been going on around him.
If, in the next book 2 of these things I am about to list are not resolved, I will not be buying anymore of this series because it is quickly becoming a waste of my time... 1.Lopez's blatant disreguard of the reality in which he lives, for example his blatant disreguard of magic. 2.Lopez's lack of trust in Esther and his constant accusing her of being crazy 3.This one kinda ties into the last one, The relationship between Lopez and Esther needs to be resolved one way or the other, either they get together (which is hard to see considering the lack of trust) or they break it apart for good. 4.This one also kinda ties in with the last one, Esther's wishy washiness towards Lopez, it has just gotten to the point of irrationality.
I hate to give this book this kind of rating but the truth is I feel I should have given it less. The only reason I gave it what I did is because, as a whole, I really love this series. I do recomend the series to fans of Urban Fantasy but I do not recommend this book.
To be perfectly honest, this is by far the weakest book in the series plot wise and has the most unnessary drama of all the books. Yes, Esther is still wishy washy about Lopez (in fact she thinks more with her loins then any man I know)and Lopez is still an oblivious idiot who obviously doesn't trust Ester enough to open his eyes to the crap that has been going on around him.
If, in the next book 2 of these things I am about to list are not resolved, I will not be buying anymore of this series because it is quickly becoming a waste of my time... 1.Lopez's blatant disreguard of the reality in which he lives, for example his blatant disreguard of magic. 2.Lopez's lack of trust in Esther and his constant accusing her of being crazy 3.This one kinda ties into the last one, The relationship between Lopez and Esther needs to be resolved one way or the other, either they get together (which is hard to see considering the lack of trust) or they break it apart for good. 4.This one also kinda ties in with the last one, Esther's wishy washiness towards Lopez, it has just gotten to the point of irrationality.
I hate to give this book this kind of rating but the truth is I feel I should have given it less. The only reason I gave it what I did is because, as a whole, I really love this series. I do recomend the series to fans of Urban Fantasy but I do not recommend this book.
May 13, 2025
So I've been dragged along long enough and I think I'll get off the bus here.
These are fun Graphic Audios with a cast of quirky characters and mishaps everywhere. But the plots are getting worse and now we are just jumping from situation to situation. Most of the drama between Esther and Lopez is just recycled at this point and could be cleared up if they ever had a real conversation that lasted longer than 10 minutes. I was rooting for them but again he has a hero complex and Esther is always in trouble and needs to be saved.
I guessed at the culprit pretty fast and then it just took time to get to where we were going. Lopez still is clueless to his magic or any of the mystical things happening around them and now there is the potential for a love triangle in the future of a sort. I think this is as good a stop as any so I'm disembarking from this series, which is what the author did too it seems since there is only one more book.
These were some fun, don't think too hard stories and they have been fun but I am looking for something with a little more sense to it.
These are fun Graphic Audios with a cast of quirky characters and mishaps everywhere. But the plots are getting worse and now we are just jumping from situation to situation. Most of the drama between Esther and Lopez is just recycled at this point and could be cleared up if they ever had a real conversation that lasted longer than 10 minutes. I was rooting for them but again he has a hero complex and Esther is always in trouble and needs to be saved.
I guessed at the culprit pretty fast and then it just took time to get to where we were going. Lopez still is clueless to his magic or any of the mystical things happening around them and now there is the potential for a love triangle in the future of a sort. I think this is as good a stop as any so I'm disembarking from this series, which is what the author did too it seems since there is only one more book.
These were some fun, don't think too hard stories and they have been fun but I am looking for something with a little more sense to it.
January 14, 2015
I wanted to like this novel, I really did. It is a spoof of urban fantasy. The premise is fantastic and original – someone in New York Chinatown is killed by a curse in a fortune cookie – but the story was too slow for me. The beginning was bumpy. The writing was average. The plot didn’t engage. The characters didn’t seem real. The magic wasn’t explained. The mystery of a murderous cookie wasn’t all that mysterious. And I didn’t like the protagonist at all. She mostly behaved like a silly bitch.
Besides, I don’t see why she is necessary in this story. Everyone in it has a role. She is the only one who doesn’t. She doesn’t do magic. She doesn’t investigate murder. She doesn’t love anyone but herself. She is just acting as if the entire tale revolves around her. But then, she is an actress. She is used to acting.
There is some humor in the story though, and that’s the only redeeming quality of this book. It kept me reading to the end. If you prefer a light paranormal slapstick comedy with ridiculous adventures, this book might be for you.
I must admit that I like the cover art. That’s why I picked this book at the library in the first place.
Besides, I don’t see why she is necessary in this story. Everyone in it has a role. She is the only one who doesn’t. She doesn’t do magic. She doesn’t investigate murder. She doesn’t love anyone but herself. She is just acting as if the entire tale revolves around her. But then, she is an actress. She is used to acting.
There is some humor in the story though, and that’s the only redeeming quality of this book. It kept me reading to the end. If you prefer a light paranormal slapstick comedy with ridiculous adventures, this book might be for you.
I must admit that I like the cover art. That’s why I picked this book at the library in the first place.
March 23, 2015
2.5 stars
Entering book 6 of a series, I am expecting a significant progress -- new power, new villain, epic war, an apocalypse, a marriage proposal, SOMETHING -- alas, this book doesn't deliver that. At all.
Truthfully, I am disappointed. I feel that there is nothing new that Ms. Resnick introduces here. Esther still cannot find a permanent job, Lopez's mysterious power is still mysterious and he still doesn't believe in magic, Lucky is still lucky, Nelli the familiar dog still growls when evil things is near, and we still have the on-again-off-again relationship between Esther and Lopez. In fact, I think almost half of this book, Esther practically moans on how Lopez never call her, a week after they have sex. It just a waste of time. This book feels nothing but a filler ... it doesn't add anything to the arc as a whole.
Then the mystery... man, that one is UNDERWHELMING. When I read the blurb "and before long, Esther learns that Detective Lopez is one of the recipients", I am hoping that it will give something intense, as Esther trying to save Lopez. Alas, Lopez doesn't even get his misfortune cookie until about 85% of the story!! It is shadowed by Esther's obsession about Lopez not calling and her wanting to be part of the movie. So LAME.
There are a couple of fun moments here and there (the part where Lopez and his partner arrest everyone at Stella's restaurant is quite a hoot! Which is the reason for my extra 0.5 stars) and it seems that Ms. Resnick is preparing an intriguing new character, judging from the ending of this book. That is why I'm still willing to give the sequel a chance. But if nothing momentous really happens in the next book, I think I'd better cut off my losses and say goodbye to Esther and the gang.
Edited to Add: March 23, 2015
Based on the reviews I read for book #7 in which , I decide that this book is MY LAST of this series. I had my fun but I also didn't want to end up feeling that much frustrated with the next books. So yep, cut off my losses here.
Entering book 6 of a series, I am expecting a significant progress -- new power, new villain, epic war, an apocalypse, a marriage proposal, SOMETHING -- alas, this book doesn't deliver that. At all.
Truthfully, I am disappointed. I feel that there is nothing new that Ms. Resnick introduces here. Esther still cannot find a permanent job, Lopez's mysterious power is still mysterious and he still doesn't believe in magic, Lucky is still lucky, Nelli the familiar dog still growls when evil things is near, and we still have the on-again-off-again relationship between Esther and Lopez. In fact, I think almost half of this book, Esther practically moans on how Lopez never call her, a week after they have sex. It just a waste of time. This book feels nothing but a filler ... it doesn't add anything to the arc as a whole.
Then the mystery... man, that one is UNDERWHELMING. When I read the blurb "and before long, Esther learns that Detective Lopez is one of the recipients", I am hoping that it will give something intense, as Esther trying to save Lopez. Alas, Lopez doesn't even get his misfortune cookie until about 85% of the story!! It is shadowed by Esther's obsession about Lopez not calling and her wanting to be part of the movie. So LAME.
There are a couple of fun moments here and there (the part where Lopez and his partner arrest everyone at Stella's restaurant is quite a hoot! Which is the reason for my extra 0.5 stars) and it seems that Ms. Resnick is preparing an intriguing new character, judging from the ending of this book. That is why I'm still willing to give the sequel a chance. But if nothing momentous really happens in the next book, I think I'd better cut off my losses and say goodbye to Esther and the gang.
Edited to Add: March 23, 2015
Based on the reviews I read for book #7 in which , I decide that this book is MY LAST of this series. I had my fun but I also didn't want to end up feeling that much frustrated with the next books. So yep, cut off my losses here.
September 13, 2018
A bucket full of Chinese stereotypes irked me.
I’m Chinese so when I say that the stereotypes found here irked me I can tell you specically why. I’m sure the same could be said about the rest of the series but this one I can relate to the most.
World: The continuation of the world of Esther is good, her cast of characters and their slow development into the world and their little slice of New York is interesting. I will say the Chinese part of this book was a bit painful to read. It’s not that it’s all incorrect but there are so many cliches and stereotypes written in this that I don’t know if this is parody or I should be irked. The fortune cookie is not a CHINESE thing (yes I know that book recognizes this). The stuff they did get right I enjoyed and was charmed.
Story: Chinese themed story, with the expected cliches and tropes found in the genre. There is the fireworks, the lion dance, the dim sum and mystic curses and all that. It’s par for the course in this series. I did like the interaction between the characters and they are the main thing that makes this series stand out for me and having them interact is a joy to read. I found the outcome to be a bit too derivative and the idea a bit too stereotypical of asian families but oh well.
Characters: Esther is fun, still wonderful personal voice and her interactions and banter is great. Her relationship with Lopez is fun and so are the other characters involved. Not a fan of the stereotype Chinese found in the book.
It was par for the course.
Onward to the next book!
I’m Chinese so when I say that the stereotypes found here irked me I can tell you specically why. I’m sure the same could be said about the rest of the series but this one I can relate to the most.
World: The continuation of the world of Esther is good, her cast of characters and their slow development into the world and their little slice of New York is interesting. I will say the Chinese part of this book was a bit painful to read. It’s not that it’s all incorrect but there are so many cliches and stereotypes written in this that I don’t know if this is parody or I should be irked. The fortune cookie is not a CHINESE thing (yes I know that book recognizes this). The stuff they did get right I enjoyed and was charmed.
Story: Chinese themed story, with the expected cliches and tropes found in the genre. There is the fireworks, the lion dance, the dim sum and mystic curses and all that. It’s par for the course in this series. I did like the interaction between the characters and they are the main thing that makes this series stand out for me and having them interact is a joy to read. I found the outcome to be a bit too derivative and the idea a bit too stereotypical of asian families but oh well.
Characters: Esther is fun, still wonderful personal voice and her interactions and banter is great. Her relationship with Lopez is fun and so are the other characters involved. Not a fan of the stereotype Chinese found in the book.
It was par for the course.
Onward to the next book!
July 20, 2014
I think I am done with series unless somebody tells me a miracle happens in the next book and things happen.
The only thing this book did was make me hungry for Chinese food. I skimmed to the ending, which was really weak then got a refund from Amazon.
Meh book was meh.
The only thing this book did was make me hungry for Chinese food. I skimmed to the ending, which was really weak then got a refund from Amazon.
Meh book was meh.
June 7, 2021
There are parts of this book I enjoyed, though I do with Esther and Lopez would either call it quits or just stop with the drama. Honesty, I think I am going to root for John.
I also am not in the mood for the who the baddie turned out to be, that is more me than the author.
I also am not in the mood for the who the baddie turned out to be, that is more me than the author.
March 14, 2018
The Misfortune Cookie : Esther Diamond 6
Read in chronological order
3 🌟
In A Nutshell:Esther was out of work but finds herself in a low budget movie in Chinatown. She is of course there because she is looking into the possibility of magical murders.
The Plot:Are Chinese fortune cookies causing deaths in Chinatown? Lucky, one of Esther's madcap crew thinks so and calls on Esther to help investigate.
The Protagonist:Esther Diamond is our protagonist, and she is the antithesis of the urban fantasy hero. Esther saves the world on the down low and without magic. It's her competence that makes Esther a winner. She does not possess killer looks although she has gorgeous cheekbones! With her wonderful sense of humour and winning personality you just have to love this crazy lady.
I didn't laugh as much as the last crazy slapstick adventure but I enjoyed this book and the build-up of Esther's relationship with John. I say no more. Go read it.
Recommended.
Connect with me on Twitter and FB
See all my reviews
Check out my blog on imjussayin
Book Rating
Sexual Content: 15
Language: 18
Violent: 12
Would I read the next oneor reread ?: Can't wait.
My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1* Finished the book but didn't like it.
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A magnificent read. A prominent example of the genre.
Read in chronological order
3 🌟
In A Nutshell:Esther was out of work but finds herself in a low budget movie in Chinatown. She is of course there because she is looking into the possibility of magical murders.
The Plot:Are Chinese fortune cookies causing deaths in Chinatown? Lucky, one of Esther's madcap crew thinks so and calls on Esther to help investigate.
The Protagonist:Esther Diamond is our protagonist, and she is the antithesis of the urban fantasy hero. Esther saves the world on the down low and without magic. It's her competence that makes Esther a winner. She does not possess killer looks although she has gorgeous cheekbones! With her wonderful sense of humour and winning personality you just have to love this crazy lady.
I didn't laugh as much as the last crazy slapstick adventure but I enjoyed this book and the build-up of Esther's relationship with John. I say no more. Go read it.
Recommended.
Connect with me on Twitter and FB
See all my reviews
Check out my blog on imjussayin
Book Rating
Sexual Content: 15
Language: 18
Violent: 12
Would I read the next one
My rating system (* = star)
0* Could not finish this book (waste of time)
1* Finished the book but didn't like it.
2* Finished the book it was okay.
3* A good read worth your time.
4* An excellent read often with a novel concept or unusual plot.
5* A magnificent read. A prominent example of the genre.
June 13, 2023
2923 bk 207. I enjoyed this book, the mystery, the setting, the conflict between Esther and Lopez (young love usually means conflict), and Nellie's adventures at the Funeral Home. I just realized, I really liked it even better than the last two books in the series. The supernatural stuff was just the right mix with reality.
October 2, 2017
This wasn't my favourite of the series, nut the madness continues so I can't rate it any lower. Still love Esther and the madcap activities. Little bit less in love with Lopez. Either resolve this romance or move on!!!
November 12, 2013
This whole series is great reading fun. Esther Diamond is a struggling actress in New York, which would be a hard enough life without having to fight Evil. Destroying demons, or at least driving them away, is Hell on your love life as well as cutting into career development time.
Spoiler alert: I can't write about this book without mentioning events in earlier books. If you haven't read them, for pity's sake go get hold of them. I can wait.
We're in Chinatown for most of the book. That's after Esther's sometime boyfriend, the stunningly attractive Irish-Cuban cop, Connor, has arrested her in the Italian restaurant where she's "resting" between acting jobs.
They had great sex at the end of Polterheist,and he hasn't called. The mook, as one of the restaurant's clientele exclaims. Now he arrests her? Their quarrel, with comments from other arretees and detainees, is one of the funniest arguments I've ever read.
She gets a movie role in an indie film in Chinatown. Hurray, food and rent money! Another entry on the resume! But evil is active. The previous actress has had a horrible series of misfortunes. How Esther and Max, her several hundred year old friend and student of the occult, work to solve the problem; how Esther and Connor get together again (with reservations on both sides), lives are saved and an aging mobster is set free: well, you'll just have to read it.
For best results start at the beginning, though, with Disappearing Nightly.
Spoiler alert: I can't write about this book without mentioning events in earlier books. If you haven't read them, for pity's sake go get hold of them. I can wait.
We're in Chinatown for most of the book. That's after Esther's sometime boyfriend, the stunningly attractive Irish-Cuban cop, Connor, has arrested her in the Italian restaurant where she's "resting" between acting jobs.
They had great sex at the end of Polterheist,and he hasn't called. The mook, as one of the restaurant's clientele exclaims. Now he arrests her? Their quarrel, with comments from other arretees and detainees, is one of the funniest arguments I've ever read.
She gets a movie role in an indie film in Chinatown. Hurray, food and rent money! Another entry on the resume! But evil is active. The previous actress has had a horrible series of misfortunes. How Esther and Max, her several hundred year old friend and student of the occult, work to solve the problem; how Esther and Connor get together again (with reservations on both sides), lives are saved and an aging mobster is set free: well, you'll just have to read it.
For best results start at the beginning, though, with Disappearing Nightly.
August 11, 2014
2.5 stars
I like this series for what it is, a light and comical urban fantasy that doesn't take itself seriously at all. That said, parts of it are starting to drag out to the point of being annoying. For one thing, I had hoped that the last book finally saw the end to the will-they/won't-they nature of the whole Esther/Lopez mess. And yes, I mean mess. We spend almost the entire book hashing out why Lopez hadn't called Esther in the week since the events of the last book went down then, when it seems like that issue is finally resolved, things get upended again. This is book six so please, with all due respect, either shit or get off the pot. And that goes double for Lopez's maybe mystical powers (that he knows nothing about). Once again we get a brief demonstration of those powers in action when Esther's life is threatened and, once again, it goes nowhere. I know this series is more comedy than anything else but even comedy has to keep building on storylines. Since this series doesn't have a long arc villain, its these smaller plot threads that tie all the books together but if nothing ever changes, well, interest fades. And that's where I'm finding myself after six books with the series, still somewhat invested but feeling myself starting to drift away.
I like this series for what it is, a light and comical urban fantasy that doesn't take itself seriously at all. That said, parts of it are starting to drag out to the point of being annoying. For one thing, I had hoped that the last book finally saw the end to the will-they/won't-they nature of the whole Esther/Lopez mess. And yes, I mean mess. We spend almost the entire book hashing out why Lopez hadn't called Esther in the week since the events of the last book went down then, when it seems like that issue is finally resolved, things get upended again. This is book six so please, with all due respect, either shit or get off the pot. And that goes double for Lopez's maybe mystical powers (that he knows nothing about). Once again we get a brief demonstration of those powers in action when Esther's life is threatened and, once again, it goes nowhere. I know this series is more comedy than anything else but even comedy has to keep building on storylines. Since this series doesn't have a long arc villain, its these smaller plot threads that tie all the books together but if nothing ever changes, well, interest fades. And that's where I'm finding myself after six books with the series, still somewhat invested but feeling myself starting to drift away.
January 23, 2014
I love this series. At this point, it's one of the few "urban fantasy" series that I'm keeping up with, and it's my favorite.
I did love the Chinatown setting for this one, though it did mean there were a few pretty solid info-dumps at the beginning to provide context. They were well-done info-dumps, though, and while I knew most of the info, if you didn't- it'd help.
The rest was really well done. I must say, I think it's time for Esther and Lopez wot work it out, damnit! even though the ambiguity can be pretty fun, like in one of the initial scenes here. Lopez's arc looks like it's going in an interesting direction, and I'm hoping that in the next few novels, some movement happens; right not, both Esther and Lopez are STUCK, which is not much fun.
I'm not sure whether this is one of the best in the series- and it's certainly not the place to start!- but it was a really fun novel with a good premise, and i enjoyed it utterly.
I can hardly wait for the next one!
I did love the Chinatown setting for this one, though it did mean there were a few pretty solid info-dumps at the beginning to provide context. They were well-done info-dumps, though, and while I knew most of the info, if you didn't- it'd help.
The rest was really well done. I must say, I think it's time for Esther and Lopez wot work it out, damnit! even though the ambiguity can be pretty fun, like in one of the initial scenes here. Lopez's arc looks like it's going in an interesting direction, and I'm hoping that in the next few novels, some movement happens; right not, both Esther and Lopez are STUCK, which is not much fun.
I'm not sure whether this is one of the best in the series- and it's certainly not the place to start!- but it was a really fun novel with a good premise, and i enjoyed it utterly.
I can hardly wait for the next one!
August 8, 2014
This time out, Esther finds herself trapped in another mystical mystery as she tries to help her friend Lucky solve a murder in Chinatown. Everyone thinks it was just an accident, but Lucky knows magic when he sees it and he is sure that the fortune cookie left for the victim was cursed. Meanwhile, Esther is trying to stay mad at her true love, Lopez, who has recently arrested her (long story). Much fun ensues.
This series is just getting better and better. The stories are so much fun. By now I know most of the characters pretty well and I look forward to seeing them. Esther must be the unluckiest person in NYC but she always manages to survive the magical mayhem around her. If you have not read these marvelous books, shame on you. You are missing all the fun.
This series is just getting better and better. The stories are so much fun. By now I know most of the characters pretty well and I look forward to seeing them. Esther must be the unluckiest person in NYC but she always manages to survive the magical mayhem around her. If you have not read these marvelous books, shame on you. You are missing all the fun.
February 6, 2014
Esther Diamond is funny and enjoyably quirky. Getting arrested just after midnight at the New Year by her ex-"I thought we were gonna be more than a one night stand" is one hell if a way to start your new year off. The mob guys as straight man sidekicks are awesome and Connor's confusion as to why a woman is upset with him then not then again is kind of hysterical.
Again I started with a middle book, but I don't think the story suffers much for it. Yes, some more background insight could have been good but I got along admirably without, and now I want to go backwards and read the beginning.
Again I started with a middle book, but I don't think the story suffers much for it. Yes, some more background insight could have been good but I got along admirably without, and now I want to go backwards and read the beginning.
February 1, 2016
I wasn't sure I'd like this one as much at the beginning...too much obsessing over the woman scorned, but it was finally dialed down a notch and turned into a decent read. Not my favorite of the series because of it, but not bad overall.
Do think they need to bring some of the story lines to some sort of closure moving forward soon...sort of getting old.
Do think they need to bring some of the story lines to some sort of closure moving forward soon...sort of getting old.
July 20, 2022
Paranormal mystery with a terrific GraphicAudio, multicast performance
This story begins in early January, a week after the events at the end of the fifth book in this series. Esther Diamond is a 27-year-old, struggling actress in New York City. She hasn’t had a new acting job since the closing of The Vampyre, an Off-Broadway play she was in for several months. Her temporary holiday job has also ended, which involved playing the part of Dreidel the singing Jewish Elf at a huge department store in Manhattan. She is currently employed where she usually picks up a paycheck between acting engagements, as a singing waitress at Bella Stella, an Italian restaurant in Little Italy that is a favorite hangout of members of the mob. She is in the middle of a lively performance, singing and dancing on a tabletop, when a police raid begins, led by Connor Lopez, the 31-year-old, handsome cop who is her romantic interest in this series. The sight of him throws Esther in a rage because, after they had sex for the very first time a week ago—after mutually fighting their attraction and refusing to date for most of the past year—he ghosted her. Or so she thought. When she starts screaming at Lopez, and even hits him, all he can say for himself is that he didn’t realize a whole week had passed.
In this story, the paranormal murder mystery involves an unknown evil sorcerer killing people with cursed fortune cookies. Lucky, a 60-something retired mobster, who has appeared in multiple books in this series, is on stage again, as is Dr. Max Zadok, a 350-year-old wizard, and Nelly, his dog-like, inter-dimensional familiar.
Overall, this is a fast-paced, entertaining read. There is less boring exposition and lots more action in this story than in the two previous books. After the author broke up Esther and Lopez (as always) in the previous book, they are (sort of) back together again in this book, for a little while, then (sort of) broken up again. This is the pattern for their relationship throughout this series, on-again and off-again, rinse and repeat.
As occurs in each of the other novels in this series, once again we see in this story an on-stage demonstration of Lopez’s instinctive use of one of his two unacknowledged, innate magical powers, light and fire, in this case, fire. As always, he explains away his latest, lifesaving, magical feat as a natural phenomenon that has nothing to do with him.
This novel was originally published in 2013, but it was not until 2017 that it became available in audio format. The latter is a multicast production performed by the extremely talented actors of GraphicAudio, which is how I experienced this story. Typically, given that GA creates a script that the actors work from, similar to what happens when a novel is made into a movie (their motto is, “a movie in your mind”), a GA production is only about 60-70% as long as an audiobook version of a novel would be if a narrator had read the entire book straight through. Thus, this audio production is only 5 hours long, rather than the approximately 8 hours long that a regular audiobook reading of this novel would have been. Since I tend to get bored with all the clue-sleuthing involved in the mystery genre, this script abridgment is all to the good, as far as I’m concerned. The tedious parts have been reduced, and the entertainment value expanded enormously by the realistic, background sound effects and the terrific performances of the extremely talented cast of actors.
Below is a list of the complete ED series with the dates they were initially published. GraphicAudio released a dramatized version of each of them in 2017.
1 Disappearing Nightly 2005
2 Doppelgangster 2007
3 Unsympathetic Magic 2010
4 Vamparazzi 2011
5 Polterheist 2012
6 Misfortune Cookie 2013
7 Abracadaver 2014
I rate this audio-drama as follows:
Heroine: 4 stars
Romantic Interest: 4 stars
Subcharacters: 4 stars
Mystery Plot: 4 stars
Romance Plot: 4 stars
Paranormal Elements: 4 stars
Humor: 3 stars
Setting: 4 stars
Writing: 4 stars
GraphicAudio Performances: 5 stars
Overall: 4 stars
This story begins in early January, a week after the events at the end of the fifth book in this series. Esther Diamond is a 27-year-old, struggling actress in New York City. She hasn’t had a new acting job since the closing of The Vampyre, an Off-Broadway play she was in for several months. Her temporary holiday job has also ended, which involved playing the part of Dreidel the singing Jewish Elf at a huge department store in Manhattan. She is currently employed where she usually picks up a paycheck between acting engagements, as a singing waitress at Bella Stella, an Italian restaurant in Little Italy that is a favorite hangout of members of the mob. She is in the middle of a lively performance, singing and dancing on a tabletop, when a police raid begins, led by Connor Lopez, the 31-year-old, handsome cop who is her romantic interest in this series. The sight of him throws Esther in a rage because, after they had sex for the very first time a week ago—after mutually fighting their attraction and refusing to date for most of the past year—he ghosted her. Or so she thought. When she starts screaming at Lopez, and even hits him, all he can say for himself is that he didn’t realize a whole week had passed.
In this story, the paranormal murder mystery involves an unknown evil sorcerer killing people with cursed fortune cookies. Lucky, a 60-something retired mobster, who has appeared in multiple books in this series, is on stage again, as is Dr. Max Zadok, a 350-year-old wizard, and Nelly, his dog-like, inter-dimensional familiar.
Overall, this is a fast-paced, entertaining read. There is less boring exposition and lots more action in this story than in the two previous books. After the author broke up Esther and Lopez (as always) in the previous book, they are (sort of) back together again in this book, for a little while, then (sort of) broken up again. This is the pattern for their relationship throughout this series, on-again and off-again, rinse and repeat.
As occurs in each of the other novels in this series, once again we see in this story an on-stage demonstration of Lopez’s instinctive use of one of his two unacknowledged, innate magical powers, light and fire, in this case, fire. As always, he explains away his latest, lifesaving, magical feat as a natural phenomenon that has nothing to do with him.
This novel was originally published in 2013, but it was not until 2017 that it became available in audio format. The latter is a multicast production performed by the extremely talented actors of GraphicAudio, which is how I experienced this story. Typically, given that GA creates a script that the actors work from, similar to what happens when a novel is made into a movie (their motto is, “a movie in your mind”), a GA production is only about 60-70% as long as an audiobook version of a novel would be if a narrator had read the entire book straight through. Thus, this audio production is only 5 hours long, rather than the approximately 8 hours long that a regular audiobook reading of this novel would have been. Since I tend to get bored with all the clue-sleuthing involved in the mystery genre, this script abridgment is all to the good, as far as I’m concerned. The tedious parts have been reduced, and the entertainment value expanded enormously by the realistic, background sound effects and the terrific performances of the extremely talented cast of actors.
Below is a list of the complete ED series with the dates they were initially published. GraphicAudio released a dramatized version of each of them in 2017.
1 Disappearing Nightly 2005
2 Doppelgangster 2007
3 Unsympathetic Magic 2010
4 Vamparazzi 2011
5 Polterheist 2012
6 Misfortune Cookie 2013
7 Abracadaver 2014
I rate this audio-drama as follows:
Heroine: 4 stars
Romantic Interest: 4 stars
Subcharacters: 4 stars
Mystery Plot: 4 stars
Romance Plot: 4 stars
Paranormal Elements: 4 stars
Humor: 3 stars
Setting: 4 stars
Writing: 4 stars
GraphicAudio Performances: 5 stars
Overall: 4 stars
July 15, 2021
It's been a while, so it was definitely time to catch up with the Esther Diamond series.
Esther's finally got her job back at Bella Stella and is enjoying a shift during New Year's Eve, when the OCCB—led by the guy who failed to call her after an intimate Christmas Eve together—busts a bunch of mob guys and even arrest her. After that, she has no job, her money is disappearing, the weather is miserable and she can't stop thinking about Lopez. Lucky for her, she's about to fall into some trouble in Chinatown...
This started out like every other one in this series: a hilarious and mystical ride. But somewhere along the line, something happened. The usual fun factor started to fade a little because the magical mystery wasn't as exciting as it usually is. Actually, it really wasn't much of a mystery, tbh.
I don't know why, but all the characters seemed a little off in this book. Like they were mere shadows of themselves and didn't shine with their usual zany charm.
I'm all for relationship drama in all genres because it adds an extra level of complication to a story, but even I have to admit that what goes on in this installment is off the charts. I know Esther's an actress, but gosh, this was too much. I really wish these two would make up their minds already and stick to on or off. I mean, are they a thing or not? Will they or won't they? Maybe one day they'll choose one path. Hopefully.
Otherwise, what's going to happen is that everything that made their romantic mishaps funny and cute, will get old and boring. Because I was in fact, mostly bored by their ongoing problems and they started to feel silly to me.
Anyway, I liked the location of Chinatown and how Esther always manages to find herself in the middle of new problems and takes Max and Nelli along for the ride. She even lands another dead-end acting gig and meets new people via the mobster-in-hiding, Lucky.
Not too much excitement in this one. It lacked the usual suspenseful thrills. There was definitely too much padding and excess stuff that made this book drag in sections. And I'm starting to think that this Esther and Lopez thing has to end or it's going to doom a great series.
Hope the next book is back to speed!
Esther's finally got her job back at Bella Stella and is enjoying a shift during New Year's Eve, when the OCCB—led by the guy who failed to call her after an intimate Christmas Eve together—busts a bunch of mob guys and even arrest her. After that, she has no job, her money is disappearing, the weather is miserable and she can't stop thinking about Lopez. Lucky for her, she's about to fall into some trouble in Chinatown...
This started out like every other one in this series: a hilarious and mystical ride. But somewhere along the line, something happened. The usual fun factor started to fade a little because the magical mystery wasn't as exciting as it usually is. Actually, it really wasn't much of a mystery, tbh.
I don't know why, but all the characters seemed a little off in this book. Like they were mere shadows of themselves and didn't shine with their usual zany charm.
I'm all for relationship drama in all genres because it adds an extra level of complication to a story, but even I have to admit that what goes on in this installment is off the charts. I know Esther's an actress, but gosh, this was too much. I really wish these two would make up their minds already and stick to on or off. I mean, are they a thing or not? Will they or won't they? Maybe one day they'll choose one path. Hopefully.
Otherwise, what's going to happen is that everything that made their romantic mishaps funny and cute, will get old and boring. Because I was in fact, mostly bored by their ongoing problems and they started to feel silly to me.
Anyway, I liked the location of Chinatown and how Esther always manages to find herself in the middle of new problems and takes Max and Nelli along for the ride. She even lands another dead-end acting gig and meets new people via the mobster-in-hiding, Lucky.
Not too much excitement in this one. It lacked the usual suspenseful thrills. There was definitely too much padding and excess stuff that made this book drag in sections. And I'm starting to think that this Esther and Lopez thing has to end or it's going to doom a great series.
Hope the next book is back to speed!
May 7, 2021
It was a magical night to be a New Yorker, strolling the streets of our city on a rare occasion when the pace as slow, traffic was light, and few people were crowding the sidewalks. It was a good night to commune with friends and loved ones. A good night, I thought, to be a Jewish elf in the Big Apple.
But in my coat pocket, I felt the weight of my silent phone, and I wondered why he didn't call.
(Laura Resnick, Polterheist, p.372)
I know the above quote is from the last book (it’s actually the closing lines), but I had to use it because it leaves the impression of a peaceful moment after a hellish Christmas run-up and also gives us just a touch of foreboding for the amazing opening of The Misfortune Cookie . TMC was actually the first book of the series I'd read because the cover was so eye-catching, and the opening cinched the whole premise for me. It is insanely funny and you’re not quite sure which lovers side to be on.
And yes, I do intend to review the entire series of books one after another. Bear with me, there’s only Abracadaver left after this one. The release date for the eighth in the series, Goldzilla , has been TBA for forever: seven years and counting (I legit just checked if she'd died, but I think she's at least retired because the copyright to her blog is up-to-date but it's been radio silence since 2018).
With her seasonal job a thing of the past and a dearth of acting roles available, Esther is back to work at everyone's favorite mafia hangout, waiting tables at Bella Stella's. When her on-again-off-again-never-again boyfriend shows up to raid the place (and kicking off a book-long fight that is truly a thing of beauty to read), she’s back out in the cold and willing to take anything that turns up.
Fortunately for her, Lucky, a mobster friend who slipped away during the raid, gives her and her mage friend, Max, a call about killer fortune cookies that lands her a leading role in a Chinatown indie film. With battling the cold in her character’s skimpy costumes, and battling her on-again-off-again as he blunders every chance she gives him to make amends, it just doesn’t seem fair that she also has to battle a mythical Evil that has its sights on her new friends.
The setting was lovely - Chinatown in the run-up to Chinese New Year - so that’ll be getting some stars below for sure. But good lord, the food! I was so hungry reading this! I suggest not even bothering to pick it up unless you’ve already ordered a scoff and have chopsticks at the ready.
Esther’s strained relationship with her detective boyfriend was the most entertaining yet, and they suffer so much heartache and miscommunication that it’s easily the most realistic part of the book. But as entertaining as they are, nothing they’ve got going on between them is healthy and I really wish one of them would pull off the Band-Aid and lose the other’s number. They’re just making each other miserable.
Like Vamparazzi , this book starts with a flashback that gives us a smattering of Max’s wholly unnecessary backstory. He’s an easy character to figure out - a 300+ year old mage who fights Evil in New York - and the less we know about him the more our imaginations can run rampant. Unlike Vamparazzi , Resnick isn’t forever stopping the story to pull us back to Max’s history as a vampire hunter (an interesting short story on its own, but Resnick simply isn’t any good at weaving it into her novel without making us groan and skip ahead), but this second attempt at flashbacks starts off even more clunky.
We get a brief look at a young Chinese woman Max met during the Boxer Rebellion, worked with for a few days, and saw ride off to her death. It was sweet at first, but after their first introduction their short time together is coldly related and rushed through in a couple of paragraphs. We’re supposed to feel bad for Max as her resemblance to a character in present day has him mourning her like a lost love, but they had no chemistry or history; Max just admires her and later thinks he might have been smitten with her (it suggests to me, on the plus side, that Resnick wrote Max as being in love with the image of her he’d built up in his memories and not with the real person).
But it gets a little better once Max meets said look-alike. It takes about a third of the book (a third in which we’re left wondering if that flashback had a point other than the adventure taking place in Chinatown) but we get there eventually and it's written very well. So well that the opening flashback really should have left out entirely and Max's character been given the chance to carry this information on his own.
CHARACTERS:
The characters were enjoyable and Esther was a star at taking names and running down this latest job, then holding it despite everything being thrown at her, but it was Lopez and Esther together who really stole the show. The entire plot and all the choices they make are marinated with their relationship issues.
SETTING/WORLD BUILDING:
The setting is beautiful and the food!
PLOT/SOLUTION:
One thing about this series I can do without is how long it always seems to get the ball rolling. This is the last book where this problem isn't too bad. The overall plot was pretty interesting.
OTHER ASPECTS:
I understand the reasoning behind having that flashback at the beginning, but it could have been cut out entirely and we never would have missed it. It was anchorless until a third into the book, and Max’s reactions tell the entire story far better than the flashback did (since he's the usual vehicle for any info dumping, seeing him convey so much with so little was a breath of fresh air).
THE VERDICT?
Oh God, I'm so hungry.
But in my coat pocket, I felt the weight of my silent phone, and I wondered why he didn't call.
(Laura Resnick, Polterheist, p.372)
I know the above quote is from the last book (it’s actually the closing lines), but I had to use it because it leaves the impression of a peaceful moment after a hellish Christmas run-up and also gives us just a touch of foreboding for the amazing opening of The Misfortune Cookie . TMC was actually the first book of the series I'd read because the cover was so eye-catching, and the opening cinched the whole premise for me. It is insanely funny and you’re not quite sure which lovers side to be on.
And yes, I do intend to review the entire series of books one after another. Bear with me, there’s only Abracadaver left after this one. The release date for the eighth in the series, Goldzilla , has been TBA for forever: seven years and counting (I legit just checked if she'd died, but I think she's at least retired because the copyright to her blog is up-to-date but it's been radio silence since 2018).
With her seasonal job a thing of the past and a dearth of acting roles available, Esther is back to work at everyone's favorite mafia hangout, waiting tables at Bella Stella's. When her on-again-off-again-never-again boyfriend shows up to raid the place (and kicking off a book-long fight that is truly a thing of beauty to read), she’s back out in the cold and willing to take anything that turns up.
Fortunately for her, Lucky, a mobster friend who slipped away during the raid, gives her and her mage friend, Max, a call about killer fortune cookies that lands her a leading role in a Chinatown indie film. With battling the cold in her character’s skimpy costumes, and battling her on-again-off-again as he blunders every chance she gives him to make amends, it just doesn’t seem fair that she also has to battle a mythical Evil that has its sights on her new friends.
The setting was lovely - Chinatown in the run-up to Chinese New Year - so that’ll be getting some stars below for sure. But good lord, the food! I was so hungry reading this! I suggest not even bothering to pick it up unless you’ve already ordered a scoff and have chopsticks at the ready.
Esther’s strained relationship with her detective boyfriend was the most entertaining yet, and they suffer so much heartache and miscommunication that it’s easily the most realistic part of the book. But as entertaining as they are, nothing they’ve got going on between them is healthy and I really wish one of them would pull off the Band-Aid and lose the other’s number. They’re just making each other miserable.
Like Vamparazzi , this book starts with a flashback that gives us a smattering of Max’s wholly unnecessary backstory. He’s an easy character to figure out - a 300+ year old mage who fights Evil in New York - and the less we know about him the more our imaginations can run rampant. Unlike Vamparazzi , Resnick isn’t forever stopping the story to pull us back to Max’s history as a vampire hunter (an interesting short story on its own, but Resnick simply isn’t any good at weaving it into her novel without making us groan and skip ahead), but this second attempt at flashbacks starts off even more clunky.
We get a brief look at a young Chinese woman Max met during the Boxer Rebellion, worked with for a few days, and saw ride off to her death. It was sweet at first, but after their first introduction their short time together is coldly related and rushed through in a couple of paragraphs. We’re supposed to feel bad for Max as her resemblance to a character in present day has him mourning her like a lost love, but they had no chemistry or history; Max just admires her and later thinks he might have been smitten with her (it suggests to me, on the plus side, that Resnick wrote Max as being in love with the image of her he’d built up in his memories and not with the real person).
But it gets a little better once Max meets said look-alike. It takes about a third of the book (a third in which we’re left wondering if that flashback had a point other than the adventure taking place in Chinatown) but we get there eventually and it's written very well. So well that the opening flashback really should have left out entirely and Max's character been given the chance to carry this information on his own.
CHARACTERS:
The characters were enjoyable and Esther was a star at taking names and running down this latest job, then holding it despite everything being thrown at her, but it was Lopez and Esther together who really stole the show. The entire plot and all the choices they make are marinated with their relationship issues.
SETTING/WORLD BUILDING:
The setting is beautiful and the food!
PLOT/SOLUTION:
One thing about this series I can do without is how long it always seems to get the ball rolling. This is the last book where this problem isn't too bad. The overall plot was pretty interesting.
OTHER ASPECTS:
I understand the reasoning behind having that flashback at the beginning, but it could have been cut out entirely and we never would have missed it. It was anchorless until a third into the book, and Max’s reactions tell the entire story far better than the flashback did (since he's the usual vehicle for any info dumping, seeing him convey so much with so little was a breath of fresh air).
THE VERDICT?
Oh God, I'm so hungry.
January 24, 2014
The Misfortune Cookie, the sixth book in Laura Resnick's urban fantasy series featuring Esther Diamond, is a considerable improvement over the previous book. I had seriously thought about giving up on this series after the rigor mortis experience of Polterheist, but this one is set in the Chinatown of Manhattan, when Chinese New Year is just around the corner. And, just look at the gorgeous cover! Okay, I can give this series one more try.
Still searching for that breakthrough role of a lifetime, Esther Diamond resumes waiting tables at Bella Stella, which remains open for business despite some recent weird things that happened there. The place is still a favorite of the Italian folks that dabble in organized crime, so it's probably not a good idea to keep working there. But the tips are great, and the guests aren't bad at all. But all good things come to an end, and the end arrives in the form of an OCCB raid, ruining all the fine tippers' meals and causing the place to go down. Needless to say, Esther is out of a job. Worse, the raid was led by Manhattan's finest, which included Detective Connor Lopez, and that SOB never called one week later, since they'd slept together. Asshole!
Her friend, Lucky Battistuzzi, lives up to his nickname when he manages to avoid getting arrested during the raid by being at the right place at the right time. Still, he has better lay low, so he holes up at the funeral parlor that he co-owned with a Chinese friend, right in Chinatown. It is there that he suspects the recent death of a member of the Chinese tong may be caused by paranormal means - a curse contained in a fortune cookie, to be exact. Esther's buddy Dr Max Zadok confirms that Lucky's suspicion is correct after doing some magical tests on the cookie in question. Oh no, is someone in town running around giving people a bunch of cursed fortune cookies?
I know, the plot, and I think the author knows it too, which is why the paranormal elements are present in a "blink and you'll miss it" manner. Seriously, there is only one paranormal scene - Max conducting some tests on the cursed cookie - in about 390 pages of this story, and the villain runs around at the climax of the story threatening to shoot people with a gun. A normal gun.
The lack of paranormal elements is both good and bad. It's good because it allows the author to show me that she is capable of some great comedy. The bulk of this story deals with Esther's admittedly petty grudge against Connor warring with her desire to fling her underwear at his head, and there are some outrageously funny moments that have me laughing. This is especially in the first few chapters. I like funny, so I like those bits.
On the other hand, I am tired of Esther and Connor. Their romance feels drawn out for no good reason, and if they start becoming another Joe-Stephanie thing, I'm going to tip a bucket of swill over their heads. Right now, the progression of their romance moves at a snail's pace, and yet, it still manages to push aside most of the paranormal aspects of this story. If future books are going to be this paranormal-light, I don't know how I'd feel about that. I signed up in the beginning for Max and Esther. Right now, it seems like Max is just here to serve as a vessel for exposition and a deus ex machina plot device, much to my disappointment.
Anyway, back to the boring couple. Connor can be an ass in the past, but I'm amused that his continuous ability to cheese Esther off stems from oh-so-male forgetfulness mixed with "I really don't want to call and be subjected to her shrill scolding" trepidation. I suspect many guys can relate to him here, as Esther shows that she can really hold a petty grudge even after knowing that he never called, mostly because his time is consumed by his job. Do you want to call such a creature and tell her why you didn't call, knowing that she just wants to scream and shout at you? Still, Esther is funny when she's petty, I'd give her that.
Take away the comedy, however, and not much left remains that is fun.
The author still gets carried away with dumping everything she has researched into this story. When Max lectures everyone about Chinese culture, that makes sense - he's like that, after all, that's his personality. When Esther and various secondary characters start going to detailed exposition about traditional Chinese culture, however, that's when I get forcefully pulled out of the story. A Chinese character may know plenty about the topic, but having him unload everything on Esther ten seconds into their acquaintance is hard to believe. It is even more unbelievable when Esther starts delivering "Everything Laura Resnick Had Researched in Six Paragraphs or Less" exposition. How would an out-of-work actress-turned-waitress know anything about this subject to such a thorough degree?
The plot is unbelievably flat. The identity of the villain is obvious from the start, as there is only one candidate that fits the bucket of crazy profile. I was hoping that this creature is just a red herring, but as the book lumbers to page 350 and only two people have died, with no other suspect available, it's pretty obvious that the author isn't even trying to make the story even a little unpredictable. When the villain is unmasked, therefore, my reaction is like, "Yeah, yeah, now go wash my socks."
Then again, the story is funny, unlike the previous book, so perhaps there is something worth hanging around for in the upcoming books? I also find myself intrigued by the sequel hook in this story. I suspect that I will end up checking out the next book, when it's out. As for this book, well, as I've mentioned, it's a step up in the right direction, but I would need more reassurance that this series is rebounding back to a good place.
Still searching for that breakthrough role of a lifetime, Esther Diamond resumes waiting tables at Bella Stella, which remains open for business despite some recent weird things that happened there. The place is still a favorite of the Italian folks that dabble in organized crime, so it's probably not a good idea to keep working there. But the tips are great, and the guests aren't bad at all. But all good things come to an end, and the end arrives in the form of an OCCB raid, ruining all the fine tippers' meals and causing the place to go down. Needless to say, Esther is out of a job. Worse, the raid was led by Manhattan's finest, which included Detective Connor Lopez, and that SOB never called one week later, since they'd slept together. Asshole!
Her friend, Lucky Battistuzzi, lives up to his nickname when he manages to avoid getting arrested during the raid by being at the right place at the right time. Still, he has better lay low, so he holes up at the funeral parlor that he co-owned with a Chinese friend, right in Chinatown. It is there that he suspects the recent death of a member of the Chinese tong may be caused by paranormal means - a curse contained in a fortune cookie, to be exact. Esther's buddy Dr Max Zadok confirms that Lucky's suspicion is correct after doing some magical tests on the cookie in question. Oh no, is someone in town running around giving people a bunch of cursed fortune cookies?
I know, the plot, and I think the author knows it too, which is why the paranormal elements are present in a "blink and you'll miss it" manner. Seriously, there is only one paranormal scene - Max conducting some tests on the cursed cookie - in about 390 pages of this story, and the villain runs around at the climax of the story threatening to shoot people with a gun. A normal gun.
The lack of paranormal elements is both good and bad. It's good because it allows the author to show me that she is capable of some great comedy. The bulk of this story deals with Esther's admittedly petty grudge against Connor warring with her desire to fling her underwear at his head, and there are some outrageously funny moments that have me laughing. This is especially in the first few chapters. I like funny, so I like those bits.
On the other hand, I am tired of Esther and Connor. Their romance feels drawn out for no good reason, and if they start becoming another Joe-Stephanie thing, I'm going to tip a bucket of swill over their heads. Right now, the progression of their romance moves at a snail's pace, and yet, it still manages to push aside most of the paranormal aspects of this story. If future books are going to be this paranormal-light, I don't know how I'd feel about that. I signed up in the beginning for Max and Esther. Right now, it seems like Max is just here to serve as a vessel for exposition and a deus ex machina plot device, much to my disappointment.
Anyway, back to the boring couple. Connor can be an ass in the past, but I'm amused that his continuous ability to cheese Esther off stems from oh-so-male forgetfulness mixed with "I really don't want to call and be subjected to her shrill scolding" trepidation. I suspect many guys can relate to him here, as Esther shows that she can really hold a petty grudge even after knowing that he never called, mostly because his time is consumed by his job. Do you want to call such a creature and tell her why you didn't call, knowing that she just wants to scream and shout at you? Still, Esther is funny when she's petty, I'd give her that.
Take away the comedy, however, and not much left remains that is fun.
The author still gets carried away with dumping everything she has researched into this story. When Max lectures everyone about Chinese culture, that makes sense - he's like that, after all, that's his personality. When Esther and various secondary characters start going to detailed exposition about traditional Chinese culture, however, that's when I get forcefully pulled out of the story. A Chinese character may know plenty about the topic, but having him unload everything on Esther ten seconds into their acquaintance is hard to believe. It is even more unbelievable when Esther starts delivering "Everything Laura Resnick Had Researched in Six Paragraphs or Less" exposition. How would an out-of-work actress-turned-waitress know anything about this subject to such a thorough degree?
The plot is unbelievably flat. The identity of the villain is obvious from the start, as there is only one candidate that fits the bucket of crazy profile. I was hoping that this creature is just a red herring, but as the book lumbers to page 350 and only two people have died, with no other suspect available, it's pretty obvious that the author isn't even trying to make the story even a little unpredictable. When the villain is unmasked, therefore, my reaction is like, "Yeah, yeah, now go wash my socks."
Then again, the story is funny, unlike the previous book, so perhaps there is something worth hanging around for in the upcoming books? I also find myself intrigued by the sequel hook in this story. I suspect that I will end up checking out the next book, when it's out. As for this book, well, as I've mentioned, it's a step up in the right direction, but I would need more reassurance that this series is rebounding back to a good place.
April 2, 2021
I'm spending way too much on this series. I have all available books in Audio with the full cast Graphic Audio. I really like the audio on these. The "Movie in your mind" experience is fun and works well on the zany escapades Esther goes on. This was a fun, action packed mystery with a little relationship drama thrown in. I love Esther and her independence and dedication. Her quirky group of friends make these stories fun and the narration added to that enjoyment. Only problem is there is only one additional book available and no eta on the next one. I want to know if Lopez ever realizes Esther is not a flake! Not sure how long I will need to wait for that.
June 15, 2022
I truly enjoyed this one. It wasn't a perfect novel but acted more as an in-between book. I still liked the interactions between Esther and Lopez, especially the opening scene at Stella's. I love that Esther doesn't try to hide the truth from Lopez but his continued non-belief is getting a little old. Here's hoping for change in the books to come!
October 6, 2017
Lopez's problems never stop.
February 15, 2018
Fun stories but the romance part is poorly written.
July 7, 2019
3.5 stars. I enjoyed it, for the most part, but the relationship upheaval was just so whiny it was distracting.
August 25, 2019
Good and ends with a cliffhanger. WooHoo?
August 1, 2021
I love the magic of this world. Esther is a mess, and I love her dearly for it. You get your man, girl!!
March 11, 2024
This one was not my fav in the series, but it was funny and a good listen. When will book 8 be out? It’s been 7 years!
September 28, 2024
Too short.
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