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Gen Delacourt Mystery #2
The Last Fairytale
Bree Butler shelved her dream of becoming an investigative journalist long ago. But when she finds a young biotech executive dead on his office floor, she begins to think she might have another shot at it – even though she’s a suspect in the homicide investigation. Bree and her old college friend, Detective Gen Delacourt (who we first met in Mark of the Loon), begin a danger-filled quest to unravel the puzzle. The deeper they dig, the more truth about their own personal lives is revealed along with the dead man’s. They’ll both begin again after this is solved … if Bree makes it out alive.
259 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2013
159 people are currently reading
623 people want to read
About the author
Molly Greene
15 books180 followersHello readers! I am the author of the Gen Delacourt Mystery Series, which includes Mark of the Loon, The Last Fairytale, Paint Me Gone, A Thousand Tombs, Swindle Town, Lock the Cellar Door, Midnight at Half Moon Bay, and The India Archives.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 75 reviews
December 16, 2013
Two old college friends, Genevieve Delacourt, a Lawyer turned Private Investigator, and Cambria Butler, a would-be investigative journalist, meet up unexpectedly one day to find themselves living in the same apartment block. They are so pleased to met up again, but Bree is in a rush to interview a chemical engineer called Andrew Ducane who works for a company called Elergene Enterprises, so the two women agree to arrange a catch up very soon.
Bree arrives at Elergene Enterprises only to discover a body! She is in shock and is accused of committing the crime by Taylor Vonnegon, the CEO, who calls the police. Bree is taken to the police station and questioned by Detectives Garcia and Hackett. The first person Bree thinks of to help her is Gen, she calls her and the two women find themselves meeting up again much sooner than expected.
The story continues rapidly, with many twists and turns. Has the victim died of natural causes or is it as the two women suspect, a murder, and if so who has committed it? What is Vonnegon’s part in all this? Bree can’t make her mind up how she feels about him. The two women decide to take matters into their own hands and do some investigating for themselves. When the detectives realise that they can’t keep Bree and Gen out of the investigation, they join forces. Bree finds herself in mortal danger, but won’t listen to the detectives who try to keep her safe. This crime has rekindled her investigative journalism as she realises it could turn into a brilliant story. I don’t want to give the plot away, but suffice to say it is a very good story, well written and keeps you engrossed from beginning to end.
Bree arrives at Elergene Enterprises only to discover a body! She is in shock and is accused of committing the crime by Taylor Vonnegon, the CEO, who calls the police. Bree is taken to the police station and questioned by Detectives Garcia and Hackett. The first person Bree thinks of to help her is Gen, she calls her and the two women find themselves meeting up again much sooner than expected.
The story continues rapidly, with many twists and turns. Has the victim died of natural causes or is it as the two women suspect, a murder, and if so who has committed it? What is Vonnegon’s part in all this? Bree can’t make her mind up how she feels about him. The two women decide to take matters into their own hands and do some investigating for themselves. When the detectives realise that they can’t keep Bree and Gen out of the investigation, they join forces. Bree finds herself in mortal danger, but won’t listen to the detectives who try to keep her safe. This crime has rekindled her investigative journalism as she realises it could turn into a brilliant story. I don’t want to give the plot away, but suffice to say it is a very good story, well written and keeps you engrossed from beginning to end.
December 26, 2013
Rapunzelis the latest mystery offering from uber-blogger Molly Greene, featuring PI Gen Delacourt.
When Cambria (Bree) Butler, a budding journalist, finds her interview subject dead, she is immediately a suspect. But a chance reunion with college friend, Gen Delacourt, convinces Bree maybe this unfortunate incident is actually her chance to revive her dream of becoming an investigative journalist. Bree jumps in with both feet.
Greene creates a rich cast of San Francisco characters including a rich CEO, a gay next door neighbor confidante and a pair of hunky cops. She takes us all on a wild, richly plotted chase through familiar SF environs and into the musty world of mushrooms.
She takes her time unfolding the plot and teasing out the details. I especially admired the care that Greene put into her descriptions and scenes.
Well-done
When Cambria (Bree) Butler, a budding journalist, finds her interview subject dead, she is immediately a suspect. But a chance reunion with college friend, Gen Delacourt, convinces Bree maybe this unfortunate incident is actually her chance to revive her dream of becoming an investigative journalist. Bree jumps in with both feet.
Greene creates a rich cast of San Francisco characters including a rich CEO, a gay next door neighbor confidante and a pair of hunky cops. She takes us all on a wild, richly plotted chase through familiar SF environs and into the musty world of mushrooms.
She takes her time unfolding the plot and teasing out the details. I especially admired the care that Greene put into her descriptions and scenes.
Well-done
March 23, 2016
Just getting around to writing a review for this engaging and interesting mystery/romance.
Good development of the mostly likeable characters.
I enjoyed the original and unique element of the 'mushrooms' in the story.
I'm glad that I have more in this series on my Kindle to read, that I got as Freebies. :D
Good development of the mostly likeable characters.
I enjoyed the original and unique element of the 'mushrooms' in the story.
I'm glad that I have more in this series on my Kindle to read, that I got as Freebies. :D
November 15, 2025
Great plot, interesting characters - enjoyed reading this book .... and I didn't know who was the 'bad guy' until about 85% done!! I would read more in this series
January 16, 2014
Cambria (Bree) Butler is at a low point in both her personal and professional life. What she least expects though is to find herself at a police station as a suspect in a murder case. Vulnerable and lost, she puts her fragile trust in the hands of her old friend, Genevieve Delacourt, an attorney-turned-detective. Together, Gen and Bree try to unweave a tangled web of lies and deception that will force Bree to get closer than ever to her inner strength--and death.
I needed a break from my emotionally charged, angsty reads so I jumped at the opportunity to review an advance copy of Molly Greene's new mystery, Rapunzel. I'm familiar with Ms Greene's writing as a blogger--she runs a great blog on writing and blogging--so I knew that at least her writing would be engaging. It was a whole lot more.
Instead of playing on the trend for instant gratification through a tell-all, adrenaline-inducing plot, the writer weaves an intricate story while giving you the impression that you can just lie back and enjoy a smooth ride. Wrong. "Rapunzel" is an exquisitely detailed puzzle, its pieces expertly hidden in each page of the book. So while you fall effortlessly in love with Gen and Bree, you'll also be putting your puzzle-solving brain to work, sifting through details and descriptions that might seem they're there to offer a glimpse into the main characters' lives, but also serve as leads to solving a murder case.
Gen and Bree are the kind of girls you want to be friends with--strong and adventurous with a vulnerable feminine side the reader can totally relate to. Their homes, families and backstory are gradually revealed to the reader in a way that proves that Ms Greene knows the golden rule of her (or any) genre: show them don't tell them.
If you enjoy mystery stories with strong female leads and solid prose, look no further. This is your next read. As for mine? Mark of the Loon, the first Gen Delacourt mystery.
I needed a break from my emotionally charged, angsty reads so I jumped at the opportunity to review an advance copy of Molly Greene's new mystery, Rapunzel. I'm familiar with Ms Greene's writing as a blogger--she runs a great blog on writing and blogging--so I knew that at least her writing would be engaging. It was a whole lot more.
Instead of playing on the trend for instant gratification through a tell-all, adrenaline-inducing plot, the writer weaves an intricate story while giving you the impression that you can just lie back and enjoy a smooth ride. Wrong. "Rapunzel" is an exquisitely detailed puzzle, its pieces expertly hidden in each page of the book. So while you fall effortlessly in love with Gen and Bree, you'll also be putting your puzzle-solving brain to work, sifting through details and descriptions that might seem they're there to offer a glimpse into the main characters' lives, but also serve as leads to solving a murder case.
Gen and Bree are the kind of girls you want to be friends with--strong and adventurous with a vulnerable feminine side the reader can totally relate to. Their homes, families and backstory are gradually revealed to the reader in a way that proves that Ms Greene knows the golden rule of her (or any) genre: show them don't tell them.
If you enjoy mystery stories with strong female leads and solid prose, look no further. This is your next read. As for mine? Mark of the Loon, the first Gen Delacourt mystery.
May 28, 2015
Another enticing mystery from Molly Greene. If you enjoyed Mark of the Loon, then you’ll love The Last Fairytale, which follows Genevieve Delacourt to San Francisco and the new private detective practice she runs with her boyfriend, Ryan. They’ve recently moved in to a new apartment together. One afternoon, Gen runs into her downstairs neighbour, Cambria Butler (affectionately known as Bree) whom she went to school with. Bree is now a freelance writer—some distance from the high level career in journalism she had envisioned for herself in High School. But when Bree goes to interview an executive of the Elergene Enterprises—Andrew Ducane—for an article she was commissioned to write, everything begins to unravel. Luckily, Gen is willing to help.
You’ll love following confident, capable, caring Gen and shy, sweet, uncertain Bree as they solve this mystery and discover who the killer is. I also enjoyed spending time with Oliver—Livvie—Bree’s best friend, who is hilarious at times. As always, Molly Greene’s characters are fresh, lively and very real. Her plot is tightly knit and plausible. It kept me guessing to the end.
You’ll love following confident, capable, caring Gen and shy, sweet, uncertain Bree as they solve this mystery and discover who the killer is. I also enjoyed spending time with Oliver—Livvie—Bree’s best friend, who is hilarious at times. As always, Molly Greene’s characters are fresh, lively and very real. Her plot is tightly knit and plausible. It kept me guessing to the end.
January 29, 2015
Good, thrilling story.
Like the strong female character. All the life styles and choices accepted, hope one day this will happen. Learned more about mushrooms. Secret studies governments make, and revenge some people live with.
Like the strong female character. All the life styles and choices accepted, hope one day this will happen. Learned more about mushrooms. Secret studies governments make, and revenge some people live with.
June 3, 2017
Bree Butler is currently getting by writing bit pieces here and there: executive bios, etc. Nothing like the investigative journalism she wanted to pursue. On her way to an interview for a piece she's writing, she bumps into Gen Delacourt, a PI/lawyer who happens to live upstairs in her building and who was her friend ages ago. Fortuitous for Bree, as when she arrives at her client's office, the interviewee is dead, and the CEO finds her over the body and promptly calls the cops on her. Gen is her one phone call from jail. Bree and Gen found each other and rekindled their friendship just in time, adding their neighbor Liv to their ranks.
The plot keeps moving right along, introducing characters who may or may not need the reader's attention. I haven't seen mycelium as a menace in a book since, oh, A Series of Unfortunate Events. Greene doesn't write as though she's being paid by the page. It's smooth, her characters aren't overly ridiculous in their pursuit of the truth, though Bree pushes the envelope there a bit.
Fascinating that this is Gen Delacourt's series, but this one was mostly written from Bree's perspective, almost as though it was Bree's series. I'd read another just to see if they're all written in such a manner. Not sure why I read #2 first; I have Mark of the Loon in my kindle queue as well...
The plot keeps moving right along, introducing characters who may or may not need the reader's attention. I haven't seen mycelium as a menace in a book since, oh, A Series of Unfortunate Events. Greene doesn't write as though she's being paid by the page. It's smooth, her characters aren't overly ridiculous in their pursuit of the truth, though Bree pushes the envelope there a bit.
Fascinating that this is Gen Delacourt's series, but this one was mostly written from Bree's perspective, almost as though it was Bree's series. I'd read another just to see if they're all written in such a manner. Not sure why I read #2 first; I have Mark of the Loon in my kindle queue as well...
December 22, 2021
The Last Fairytale (Gen Delacourt Mystery Series, #2) — Molly Greene (Prologue + 44 chapters) Dec. 17-20, 2021
Genny bumps into an old college mate, Bree, and almost immediately needs to go to the jail to bail her out. It appears she has found a dead man at his office and is now accused of his murder.
However, there is more that lurks beneath the surface of this random murder. As Gen and Bree race to solve the case, Bree finds herself torn between two men that like her, one she trusts and one that she doesn’t. But which one is true and which one is holding something back?
This was an enjoyable second book in this series. The plot involved mushrooms and a top secret government project.
Spelling/punctuation notes: I noticed a very glaring typo: De Moines, as all Iowans know, is spelled Des Moines (the “s” is silent.) If you are going to say the then in in Iowa, make it authentically correct!
Did not know if I would continue this series, but this book gives me hope that the next in the series will be as entertaining as this one.
Three stars.
Genny bumps into an old college mate, Bree, and almost immediately needs to go to the jail to bail her out. It appears she has found a dead man at his office and is now accused of his murder.
However, there is more that lurks beneath the surface of this random murder. As Gen and Bree race to solve the case, Bree finds herself torn between two men that like her, one she trusts and one that she doesn’t. But which one is true and which one is holding something back?
This was an enjoyable second book in this series. The plot involved mushrooms and a top secret government project.
Spelling/punctuation notes: I noticed a very glaring typo: De Moines, as all Iowans know, is spelled Des Moines (the “s” is silent.) If you are going to say the then in in Iowa, make it authentically correct!
Did not know if I would continue this series, but this book gives me hope that the next in the series will be as entertaining as this one.
Three stars.
August 12, 2024
Bree Butler shelved her dream of becoming an investigative journalist long ago. But when she finds a young biotech executive dead on his office floor, she begins to think she might have another shot at it – even though she’s a suspect in the homicide investigation. Bree and her old college friend, Detective Gen Delacourt (who we first met in Mark of the Loon), begin a danger-filled quest to unravel the puzzle. The deeper they dig, the more truth about their own personal lives is revealed along with the dead man’s. They’ll both begin again after this is solved … if Bree makes it out alive.
(Previously titled "Rapunzel")
**
April 6, 2023
Excellent!
Great read however I think Vonnegon should have been picked up simply because he agreed to meet for lunch, then neither he did not mentionep that and that she never showed. Hmmm. For those of you who've not read this yet, you must to find out who did it! Hehehe
Great read however I think Vonnegon should have been picked up simply because he agreed to meet for lunch, then neither he did not mentionep that and that she never showed. Hmmm. For those of you who've not read this yet, you must to find out who did it! Hehehe
January 25, 2018
Went straight from book 1 to this one.
Read it straight through.
Love the development of the characters.
Read it straight through.
Love the development of the characters.
September 5, 2018
Enjoyed this one. Kept my interest right to the end.
April 27, 2019
This is the second book by author Molly Greene I have read and I look forward to reading more by this author. Her characters are believable and I really enjoy the humor.
December 25, 2019
Enjoyable whodunnit with a female PI and her friends on and off the police force all contributing. 👍🏻
November 24, 2023
Interesting mystery. Love this series.
August 6, 2019
Not as good as the first but still very good. The Gen Delacourt becomes more fleshed out and definitely the primary character. I didn't really want to get invested in another series but I think it's too late.
December 15, 2013
Cambria “Bree” Butler is reeling from a bad break-up and her lost dreams of pursuing a career as an investigative journalist, but her resilient attitude will carry her through the ups and downs of working as a freelance writer in San Francisco’s Bay Area. That is, until she shows up for an interview at the mysterious Elergene Enterprises and finds her interviewee – a young chemical engineer – dead on the floor of his office. After being marked as a suspect in the murder herself, Bree is determined to finally put her journalistic chops to the test and track down the real murderer. Joining her in the unsanctioned investigation is her college friend, sassy lawyer-turned-detective Gen Delacourt. Together, the two women will do what it takes – including evading or assisting the two handsome cops on the case – to unravel the mystery. But when Bree gets close to Elergene’s CEO, the enigmatic Taylor Vonnegon, she’ll have to find her way to the truth with a new target on her back.
I adored Molly Greene’s debut, Mark of the Loon, and I was delighted to find that her talent for crafting engaging fiction has only grown through Rapunzel. Greene is accomplished at creating escapist novels: stories that take us out of our environment and catapult us into a colorful world of mystery, romance, and cinematic detail. Her characters came to life effortlessly for me: I loved seeing Mark of the Loon’s resourceful and spunky Gen Delacourt again, and the newcomers in the story felt instantly like old friends. The narrative bounces back and forth to follow both Gen and Bree, which I particularly enjoyed. Both women are vastly different – Gen struck me as the more impulsive while Bree was decidedly more emotionally driven – but their chemistry makes them a terrific team to share the story. Greene’s heroes and heroines are heroic, and her villains are aptly villainous; but beyond that, Rapunzel boasts a mystery that leaves the reader actively engaged in rooting out who among the array of characters are trustworthy – and who aren’t. It’s the sort of fun experience in a mystery that makes us as readers feel as though we’re genuinely part of the story; the sort of experience that we never want to end.
What also impressed me was the way Greene was able to shift the atmosphere of Rapunzel from lighthearted and comedic to truly gripping suspense. There were flirty exchanges, moments of high-running family emotions, frustration-filled arguments, life and death situations, romantic heartbreaks, and the electric excitement of digging for the truth; Greene navigates it all with aplomb and delivers a story that entertains easily without giving away a single detail of its mystery. The mystery itself is a fascinating one, and it balances well with the detailed personal plights of each of the main characters; in pursuing the engineer’s murder, Bree and Gen both find out a good deal about themselves and it was interesting simply to follow along on their journey of discovery. In all, Rapunzel was a delightful read with a well-executed mystery, plenty of suspense, an uplifting friendship, a touch of romance, and a lot of heart.
(Review © Casee Marie, originally published on December 11, 2013 at LiteraryInklings.com. A copy of the book was provided for the purpose of review.)
I adored Molly Greene’s debut, Mark of the Loon, and I was delighted to find that her talent for crafting engaging fiction has only grown through Rapunzel. Greene is accomplished at creating escapist novels: stories that take us out of our environment and catapult us into a colorful world of mystery, romance, and cinematic detail. Her characters came to life effortlessly for me: I loved seeing Mark of the Loon’s resourceful and spunky Gen Delacourt again, and the newcomers in the story felt instantly like old friends. The narrative bounces back and forth to follow both Gen and Bree, which I particularly enjoyed. Both women are vastly different – Gen struck me as the more impulsive while Bree was decidedly more emotionally driven – but their chemistry makes them a terrific team to share the story. Greene’s heroes and heroines are heroic, and her villains are aptly villainous; but beyond that, Rapunzel boasts a mystery that leaves the reader actively engaged in rooting out who among the array of characters are trustworthy – and who aren’t. It’s the sort of fun experience in a mystery that makes us as readers feel as though we’re genuinely part of the story; the sort of experience that we never want to end.
What also impressed me was the way Greene was able to shift the atmosphere of Rapunzel from lighthearted and comedic to truly gripping suspense. There were flirty exchanges, moments of high-running family emotions, frustration-filled arguments, life and death situations, romantic heartbreaks, and the electric excitement of digging for the truth; Greene navigates it all with aplomb and delivers a story that entertains easily without giving away a single detail of its mystery. The mystery itself is a fascinating one, and it balances well with the detailed personal plights of each of the main characters; in pursuing the engineer’s murder, Bree and Gen both find out a good deal about themselves and it was interesting simply to follow along on their journey of discovery. In all, Rapunzel was a delightful read with a well-executed mystery, plenty of suspense, an uplifting friendship, a touch of romance, and a lot of heart.
(Review © Casee Marie, originally published on December 11, 2013 at LiteraryInklings.com. A copy of the book was provided for the purpose of review.)
February 10, 2014
Molly Greene's Rapunzel is a thrilling read. A murder mystery set in San Francisco that involves corporate espionage, kidnapping, and mysterious mushrooms (it's true!). Cambria (Bree) Butler is a would-be investigative journalist who, on the same day, bumps into an old college friend and stumbles on a dead body. That old college friend, Genevive Delacourt, happens to be a lawyer and a licensed private investigator - as well as a lifeline for Bree, who finds herself a suspect in a very sticky situation. The friends soon find themselves in the middle of a hugely complex set of circumstances.
The body I mentioned earlier belongs to Andrew Ducane, a very young and rather brilliant chemical engineer at a San Francisco biotech company. Bree is supposed to interview him for a college alumni magazine, but find an entirely different kind of story when she arrives at his office. The ensuing mystery is well-crafted, if a bit complicated. (Full disclosure: it is very well possible that the plot seemed complicated only because it's me. Science has never been my strong suit and, admittedly, my mind glazed over a bit during the more scientific parts. Sorry, Molly!) Instead of focusing on those aspects, I focused on characters and relationships. I had some favorite characters and some that I was suspicious of from the get-go. However, I felt a little confused at times. The character canvas seemed to grow very quickly and the use of various nicknames threw me a bit, too. I had to pause sometimes and think about who was who and to remind myself of how they were all related.
That said, let's talk about some favorite and memorable characters:
From the moment he stepped onto the canvas, I was suspicious of Taylor Vonnegon, CEO of the biotech company where Ducane worked - and died. Molly Greene did a great job making him a debonair yet cunning presence and she sure kept my suspicion on its toes!
One of my favorite character relationships was between Bree and Detective Eric Garcia. They have a few scenes that rank among my favorites in the book. The chemistry and banter between the pair is palpable, easy, and natural. I wish there were more of these two later in the novel - I thought they got a little lost; swallowed up by other events.
Gen is a lively character and, as I understand it, the character Molly Greene's mystery series revolves around. (Rapunzel is the second and, full disclosure, I have not yet read the first - but I plan to!) She capably moves the story along and has good interplay with all of the surrounding characters through the novel. She's engaging and I can easily see how a series can spin around her.
Overall, I enjoyed Rapunzel. The thread of intrigue is strong and the result is a compelling read. Technically, my rating is 3.5 stars; however, Goodreads and Amazon don't accept that rating and, since it's closer to a 4 than a 3, I rate this read a 4-star book. Happy reading!
(Notice of disclosure: I received a free copy of Rapunzel in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to author Molly Greene for the opportunity to review her work.)
The body I mentioned earlier belongs to Andrew Ducane, a very young and rather brilliant chemical engineer at a San Francisco biotech company. Bree is supposed to interview him for a college alumni magazine, but find an entirely different kind of story when she arrives at his office. The ensuing mystery is well-crafted, if a bit complicated. (Full disclosure: it is very well possible that the plot seemed complicated only because it's me. Science has never been my strong suit and, admittedly, my mind glazed over a bit during the more scientific parts. Sorry, Molly!) Instead of focusing on those aspects, I focused on characters and relationships. I had some favorite characters and some that I was suspicious of from the get-go. However, I felt a little confused at times. The character canvas seemed to grow very quickly and the use of various nicknames threw me a bit, too. I had to pause sometimes and think about who was who and to remind myself of how they were all related.
That said, let's talk about some favorite and memorable characters:
From the moment he stepped onto the canvas, I was suspicious of Taylor Vonnegon, CEO of the biotech company where Ducane worked - and died. Molly Greene did a great job making him a debonair yet cunning presence and she sure kept my suspicion on its toes!
One of my favorite character relationships was between Bree and Detective Eric Garcia. They have a few scenes that rank among my favorites in the book. The chemistry and banter between the pair is palpable, easy, and natural. I wish there were more of these two later in the novel - I thought they got a little lost; swallowed up by other events.
Gen is a lively character and, as I understand it, the character Molly Greene's mystery series revolves around. (Rapunzel is the second and, full disclosure, I have not yet read the first - but I plan to!) She capably moves the story along and has good interplay with all of the surrounding characters through the novel. She's engaging and I can easily see how a series can spin around her.
Overall, I enjoyed Rapunzel. The thread of intrigue is strong and the result is a compelling read. Technically, my rating is 3.5 stars; however, Goodreads and Amazon don't accept that rating and, since it's closer to a 4 than a 3, I rate this read a 4-star book. Happy reading!
(Notice of disclosure: I received a free copy of Rapunzel in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to author Molly Greene for the opportunity to review her work.)
December 27, 2014
* Full Review can be found here: http://therevboard.com/2014/10/14/the... *
Molly Greene’s “Rapunzel” centers around a young investigative journalist Genevieve Delacourt who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Going to a late night job interview (NOT UNCOMMON these days, citing how I have been to a few myself; mainly for Life Insurance sales opportunities), she finds that the person who was to interview her is deader than a door nail, and she becomes the Prime Suspect in the eyes of the San Francisco Police Department. Feeling that the walls are closing in on her, she enlists the help of her old college friend Cambria Butler who happens to be in the Private Investigations and Legal fields. A jackass of a corporate executive, his loyal admirer, and a snarky San Francisco Detective force rounds out the cast of characters in this 162-page read.
The story takes on a “matter-of-fact” tone; if told by the person who is seeing everything unfolding as the story progresses, understandable. The MOST Telling piece of detail that is making me feel a bit uneasy is that the story is being told from a first-person Point of View: the insinuation that the narrator PERSONALLY KNOWS the characters is evident within these pages.
Case in point: BOTH Genevieve Delacourt and Cambria Butler are referred to as “Gen,” “Genny,” and “Bree” respectively throughout the story.
IF the narrator IS NOT a part of the story, then there is no need to tell the story from a first person perspective; it WILL confuse your readers.
To me, the story felt cookie cutter to where I have read several stories that had a similar feel. I AM NOT taking away from the story, for it is well constructed. What I will say, is that a bomb of a plot twist or 4 would have gave the story the roller coaster feel that I KNOW that it possesses. Unfortunately, it felt like sitting on the bench on a carousel as opposed to the Loch Ness Monster roller coaster at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA.
Ms. Molly Greene DOES have a good story here! It is “thriller enough” to where it will not make you have a bowel movement during your sleep. As long as she continues to have extra eyes on her work to wrangle errant spelling errors as well as punctuation marks, she has Great Potential. Give “Rapunzel” AKA “The Last Fairytale” a read; you JUST MIGHT like it.
Molly Greene’s “Rapunzel” centers around a young investigative journalist Genevieve Delacourt who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Going to a late night job interview (NOT UNCOMMON these days, citing how I have been to a few myself; mainly for Life Insurance sales opportunities), she finds that the person who was to interview her is deader than a door nail, and she becomes the Prime Suspect in the eyes of the San Francisco Police Department. Feeling that the walls are closing in on her, she enlists the help of her old college friend Cambria Butler who happens to be in the Private Investigations and Legal fields. A jackass of a corporate executive, his loyal admirer, and a snarky San Francisco Detective force rounds out the cast of characters in this 162-page read.
The story takes on a “matter-of-fact” tone; if told by the person who is seeing everything unfolding as the story progresses, understandable. The MOST Telling piece of detail that is making me feel a bit uneasy is that the story is being told from a first-person Point of View: the insinuation that the narrator PERSONALLY KNOWS the characters is evident within these pages.
Case in point: BOTH Genevieve Delacourt and Cambria Butler are referred to as “Gen,” “Genny,” and “Bree” respectively throughout the story.
IF the narrator IS NOT a part of the story, then there is no need to tell the story from a first person perspective; it WILL confuse your readers.
To me, the story felt cookie cutter to where I have read several stories that had a similar feel. I AM NOT taking away from the story, for it is well constructed. What I will say, is that a bomb of a plot twist or 4 would have gave the story the roller coaster feel that I KNOW that it possesses. Unfortunately, it felt like sitting on the bench on a carousel as opposed to the Loch Ness Monster roller coaster at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA.
Ms. Molly Greene DOES have a good story here! It is “thriller enough” to where it will not make you have a bowel movement during your sleep. As long as she continues to have extra eyes on her work to wrangle errant spelling errors as well as punctuation marks, she has Great Potential. Give “Rapunzel” AKA “The Last Fairytale” a read; you JUST MIGHT like it.
April 11, 2014
I have to admit: It took me a bit to get interested in "Rapunzel." I'm not sure if it's due to flaws in the first chapter or if it took me awhile to acquaint myself with the voice. Whatever the case, I'm glad I kept with it for by the second chapter, I was hooked. I looked forward to reading this each evening after work, the way one always looks forward to escaping inside a well-crafted fictional world.
Greene has developed two strong and unusual female characters in freelance journalist Cambria Butler (Bree) and private detective Genevieve Delacourt (Gen).
I say unusual because unlike many of the female detective books out there, Gen and Bree aren't all bravado and tough-girl talk (and thank god for that, too). Instead, they're vulnerable and unsure at times, sometimes hard and tough, sometimes soft and unsure. It's a compelling combination.
The basic plot: When Bree stumbles upon a dead body while working on a story, she and Gen (along with two good-looking cops) set out to solve the who-dunit, which involves mushrooms, a mother and half-brother, a really long swim, and did I mention mushrooms?
But it's the characters that make this story. One of my favorite segments finds Bree, after being thrown overboard and left for dead, swimming for shore while thinking of her mother, who died when she was still a child. It's a small scene yet so surprisingly tender that it brought tears to my eyes.
I recommend "Rapunzel" to readers of mystery, chicklit, women's fiction and women's detective series. Hopefully Greene will bring Gen and Bree back for another mystery romp soon (bring them back, okay, Molly?).
My last comment is a bit of an aside: I'd love to see Greene redo the cover. It does little to relay the care that obviously went inside the writing/storyline and, in this reader's mind, diminishes the work. The book deserves (deserves!) a more compelling and sophisticated cover. Hopefully Greene will see fit to rework this at some point.
Greene has developed two strong and unusual female characters in freelance journalist Cambria Butler (Bree) and private detective Genevieve Delacourt (Gen).
I say unusual because unlike many of the female detective books out there, Gen and Bree aren't all bravado and tough-girl talk (and thank god for that, too). Instead, they're vulnerable and unsure at times, sometimes hard and tough, sometimes soft and unsure. It's a compelling combination.
The basic plot: When Bree stumbles upon a dead body while working on a story, she and Gen (along with two good-looking cops) set out to solve the who-dunit, which involves mushrooms, a mother and half-brother, a really long swim, and did I mention mushrooms?
But it's the characters that make this story. One of my favorite segments finds Bree, after being thrown overboard and left for dead, swimming for shore while thinking of her mother, who died when she was still a child. It's a small scene yet so surprisingly tender that it brought tears to my eyes.
I recommend "Rapunzel" to readers of mystery, chicklit, women's fiction and women's detective series. Hopefully Greene will bring Gen and Bree back for another mystery romp soon (bring them back, okay, Molly?).
My last comment is a bit of an aside: I'd love to see Greene redo the cover. It does little to relay the care that obviously went inside the writing/storyline and, in this reader's mind, diminishes the work. The book deserves (deserves!) a more compelling and sophisticated cover. Hopefully Greene will see fit to rework this at some point.
October 14, 2014
Reviewed on behalf of The Review Board
This novel is set around the San Francisco Bay Area and is a mild thriller. The story opens with the discovery of a dead body, and a wannabe-investigative journalist is implicated in the murder. A chance meeting with an old college friend, who happens to be a private investigator, soon sets them both on a danger-filled quest to unravel the puzzle. There is a minor romantic thread running throughout the narrative.
The writing style is passive, but well put together on the whole. There are a lot of introductory clauses left without commas, and some spelling errors that need addressing. Near the beginning of the book, is a slight plot inconsistency, as we are told that a character has life-saving skills, but she doesn’t display any at all, and just a few paragraphs further on we are told she doesn’t know what to do. The character development was done well, and I felt they were multi-dimensional. Dialogue was realistic, although some of the tags need editing. The plot was steady throughout, but I did feel the ending could have been rounded out a little more. The climax was barely touched upon before a fresh chapter ensued which had jumped straight into the happily-ever-after stuff, without any kind of satisfying resolution. The facts were told, rather than shown and glossed over. So it ended up being an anti-climax.
All in all, I enjoyed this read and would recommend it to people who like clean thrillers without lots of violence or swearing. If the editing were tightened up, and the proofreading revisited, I could see this book achieving an easy five stars. As it is, it gets a very soft four out of five stars, which I translate into seven out of ten stars on the TRB rating scale.
This novel is set around the San Francisco Bay Area and is a mild thriller. The story opens with the discovery of a dead body, and a wannabe-investigative journalist is implicated in the murder. A chance meeting with an old college friend, who happens to be a private investigator, soon sets them both on a danger-filled quest to unravel the puzzle. There is a minor romantic thread running throughout the narrative.
The writing style is passive, but well put together on the whole. There are a lot of introductory clauses left without commas, and some spelling errors that need addressing. Near the beginning of the book, is a slight plot inconsistency, as we are told that a character has life-saving skills, but she doesn’t display any at all, and just a few paragraphs further on we are told she doesn’t know what to do. The character development was done well, and I felt they were multi-dimensional. Dialogue was realistic, although some of the tags need editing. The plot was steady throughout, but I did feel the ending could have been rounded out a little more. The climax was barely touched upon before a fresh chapter ensued which had jumped straight into the happily-ever-after stuff, without any kind of satisfying resolution. The facts were told, rather than shown and glossed over. So it ended up being an anti-climax.
All in all, I enjoyed this read and would recommend it to people who like clean thrillers without lots of violence or swearing. If the editing were tightened up, and the proofreading revisited, I could see this book achieving an easy five stars. As it is, it gets a very soft four out of five stars, which I translate into seven out of ten stars on the TRB rating scale.
August 24, 2015
I loved the first book in this series, Mark of the Loon and so looked forward to seeing more of Madison and Cole in this book. Alas, they were nowhere to be found! But I did enjoy this story and getting to know Gen Delacourt.
An old college friend of Gen's lives in Gen's apartment building. They run into each other when Cambria ("Bree") is on her way to interview a research scientist at a San Francisco company. Unfortunately, she discovers his body and is soon a suspect in the murder. She calls Gen and thus begins Gen's new case in in her recently formed investigation business. I was glad to learn more about Gen and her back story. But throughout the story I kept expecting Bree to be the next murder victim. She puts herself in harm's way so many times in her zeal to figure out what happened to her interview subject I couldn't imagine her escaping one more time! As a result I didn't connect with her the way I did with Madison in the prior book.
The series introduces two SFPD detectives I hope will be back in upcoming books. And please bring back Madison!
An old college friend of Gen's lives in Gen's apartment building. They run into each other when Cambria ("Bree") is on her way to interview a research scientist at a San Francisco company. Unfortunately, she discovers his body and is soon a suspect in the murder. She calls Gen and thus begins Gen's new case in in her recently formed investigation business. I was glad to learn more about Gen and her back story. But throughout the story I kept expecting Bree to be the next murder victim. She puts herself in harm's way so many times in her zeal to figure out what happened to her interview subject I couldn't imagine her escaping one more time! As a result I didn't connect with her the way I did with Madison in the prior book.
The series introduces two SFPD detectives I hope will be back in upcoming books. And please bring back Madison!
February 17, 2015
I bought this book mainly because I loved the cover. But its a nice mystery, that hinges on Cambria Butler's loose canon attitude. She happens to find the body of Andrew Ducane and finds herself being the target of the murder next. The entire book depends on the ability of the author to shield the suspect from our eyes. The red herring is dashing, rich Taylor Vonnegan. The book is well written, the pace could have been better, maybe a bit tighter. The last 15 pages had a lot happening and really fast. It was a nice read and with a very interesting subject-mycology. I would have loved for them to make it more sinister. The only con here is there's too many male characters competing for the women's attention. There's Taylor, Garcia, Mack and Ryan. There's no clear paragraph hinting as to who chooses whom and why. The best part of the book Gen Delacourt- no- nonsense private eye. She's heartbroken, but strong, down but still back up fighting, matter-of-fact and mourning in private.
October 2, 2015
It was okay
I really enjoyed the first book. It had great character development, especially with Madison and Gen. They were a hoot. This book was good. I thought the story line was a bit confusing though. I still don't really understand why Andrew was murdered. What was Patience's motive for that? I really didn't mind that Gen and Ryan broke up since we didn't really like his character very much in the first book. Mack seems awesome and to really like Gen a lot. I am looking forward to seeing where that goes in the next book. I didn't feel the characters as much in this book. I had a hard time with the story line. The mushroom science just seemed a little far fetched. I found the who done it mystery intriguing for awhile but it just got bland half way through it. Where was the amazing article that Bree was going to write? What did the Rapunzel have to do with the title? I must have missed something. That is why I give this book only three stars.
I really enjoyed the first book. It had great character development, especially with Madison and Gen. They were a hoot. This book was good. I thought the story line was a bit confusing though. I still don't really understand why Andrew was murdered. What was Patience's motive for that? I really didn't mind that Gen and Ryan broke up since we didn't really like his character very much in the first book. Mack seems awesome and to really like Gen a lot. I am looking forward to seeing where that goes in the next book. I didn't feel the characters as much in this book. I had a hard time with the story line. The mushroom science just seemed a little far fetched. I found the who done it mystery intriguing for awhile but it just got bland half way through it. Where was the amazing article that Bree was going to write? What did the Rapunzel have to do with the title? I must have missed something. That is why I give this book only three stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2016
Msg. Greene I would like to thank you for all the twist and turns of this great novel. I love the fact how a gunshot, a disappointed journalist worked in tandem with the police some of the time, but because they didn't have the restrictions the police have they could dig deeper, and the case was solved quicker then otherwise.
My take on this novel is we have two women who have strengths different from the other, yet Gen was the friend that boost her friend's confidence in herself when it was most needed. Both women handled their break ups differently, yet in a lot of ways the same as most of us women tend to over invest in relationships and are left to realize it wasn't a two way street. I gave the five star rating because each woman was like mirror in my life. Thank you for adding the whimsy of Oliver to the story and Garcia and Mack.
My take on this novel is we have two women who have strengths different from the other, yet Gen was the friend that boost her friend's confidence in herself when it was most needed. Both women handled their break ups differently, yet in a lot of ways the same as most of us women tend to over invest in relationships and are left to realize it wasn't a two way street. I gave the five star rating because each woman was like mirror in my life. Thank you for adding the whimsy of Oliver to the story and Garcia and Mack.
August 11, 2016
This was a great read for those who enjoy reading crime/suspense with strong female leads. Molly's ability to portray a story is captivating. Her characters are well-defined and her descriptions of places and characters are meticulously detailed. As the book progressed I found myself very caught up in the mystery eager to find out what happens next and waiting to see how Bree would get herself out of the dangerous situations she got herself into through her investigations. Without giving away spoilers I will just say that I liked the way the last chapter ended but the one previous to it, I would have liked to see it sewn up a little tighter with more detail in Bree's struggle to be freed. Beautiful writing!
May 25, 2015
The Gen Delacourt Mystery Series includes Mark of the Loon, The Last Fairytale, Paint Me Gone, A Thousand Tombs, and Swindle Town... with more to come in the future. I've just sped through and thoroughly enjoyed these first five books, and will write a bit about each of them...
The Last Fairytale is the second book of the five to date, and is the story of Gen making the move from lawyering to becoming a private detective. It also tells the tale of Brie Butler, an old college friend of Gen's who is a suspect in a homicide investigation.
An excellent continuation of the Gen Delacourt series.
The Last Fairytale is the second book of the five to date, and is the story of Gen making the move from lawyering to becoming a private detective. It also tells the tale of Brie Butler, an old college friend of Gen's who is a suspect in a homicide investigation.
An excellent continuation of the Gen Delacourt series.
July 25, 2015
This book was fast paced and held my interest throughout most of the book. The descriptions were often nicely written. I did, however, have some small, but as annoying issues. The first of these minor issues was a tendency to introduce too many characters, too close together. The second little thing was she used a lot of 'he/she said' without being clear who she or he was.
There were, though, two things that she did particularly well that saved the book from having a lower rating and those were a very readable style as well as the occasional good insight into characters and/or the human condition.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and will continue to read others in the series.
There were, though, two things that she did particularly well that saved the book from having a lower rating and those were a very readable style as well as the occasional good insight into characters and/or the human condition.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and will continue to read others in the series.
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