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Charlie Chan #1
E-Girl Unplugged
AN ADDICTIVE CRIME THRILLER SERIES PACKED WITH TWISTS, TURNS, HUMOUR & KICK-ASS GEN-Z PRIVATE DETECTIVES
After a very public meltdown on stage, pop diva Emefa disappeared from public view. The Internet was awash with conspiracy theories. But interest waned as soon as the tabloids began chasing the next celebrity story...
Nothing to investigate, right?
Right. That is, until Emefa drops her first track since her meltdown. It’s a pared back e-girl acoustic ballad, returning to her original sound before the fame, boys and brand management took over. Charlie and her team think there’s a cry for help hidden within the song—and they’re not going to rest until they find the truth.
Add a serial killer targeting cougars, a cuckold seeking proof of infidelity, and a group of young, eager private detectives to the mix, and you get E-Girl Unplugged.
Murder and mystery are peppered with action and humour in this fast-paced crime thriller, set in Liverpool—a city where reputations can be won, lost or bought at the drop of a hat.
After a very public meltdown on stage, pop diva Emefa disappeared from public view. The Internet was awash with conspiracy theories. But interest waned as soon as the tabloids began chasing the next celebrity story...
Nothing to investigate, right?
Right. That is, until Emefa drops her first track since her meltdown. It’s a pared back e-girl acoustic ballad, returning to her original sound before the fame, boys and brand management took over. Charlie and her team think there’s a cry for help hidden within the song—and they’re not going to rest until they find the truth.
Add a serial killer targeting cougars, a cuckold seeking proof of infidelity, and a group of young, eager private detectives to the mix, and you get E-Girl Unplugged.
Murder and mystery are peppered with action and humour in this fast-paced crime thriller, set in Liverpool—a city where reputations can be won, lost or bought at the drop of a hat.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 5, 2024
13 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 6, 2023
I found the multiple storylines hard to follow at first, there is two or three different stories wrapped up in one and the jumping back and forth was confusing at times, i was about 50% complete before i really connected with the characters and could get a sense of where the story was going
All in all a good read if a slow burner
All in all a good read if a slow burner
December 10, 2023
What an absolute gem of a book I've been lucky to read the eARC version of! A fresh take on modern-day British crime with loveable characters, a fast-paced story that kept me guessing, and hilarious banter. I loved the mixture of ages within the team, and Clive definitely stole a piece of my heart. I can't wait to read more about Charlie Chen and Co!!
December 30, 2023
This was a really good crime thriller and a great start to the Charlie Chan series!! ❤️ There wasn’t a single dull moment and the story moved at a really good pace! Charlie Chan’s team are a great mix of characters who I found to be loveable!! Especially their banter back and forth! And the twist? Well done!! 🤌🏻
I highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun detective thriller!! 🙌
I highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun detective thriller!! 🙌
December 31, 2023
Great read, lots of references to current pop-culture. Can't wait to read the next one!
December 8, 2023
Crime, banter and action. What’s not to like?
December 29, 2023
Thank you to the publisher for this arc!
Whizzed right through this book, with the plot keeping me hooked right from the get go. But my favourite part was the characters; I really loved the mix match team and the way they played off each othed. Its definitely got me keen for the next book!
Whizzed right through this book, with the plot keeping me hooked right from the get go. But my favourite part was the characters; I really loved the mix match team and the way they played off each othed. Its definitely got me keen for the next book!
January 23, 2024
A great read. The first book in a new series, that took the time to introduce the characters and learn about them. Really fast paced book, kept me on the go and very easy to read. Doesn't go down the dark and serious route, the humour is great and placed well. I am looking forward to the next installment. Worth the read, keep them coming please!
January 8, 2024
Thank you so much to the author for sending me an eARC!
It's been a very long time since I last read a thriller/crime book, considering I'm a huge fan of serial killer dramas!!! I dived into the book completely blind having no idea what to expect, and oh my god, what a roller coster ride!!! At one point, I was frustrated and then literally screaming with the plot twist and the emd reveal? I did not expect that!!! More than anything, a bad ass FMC who's a CEO of a detective company? That's a chefs kiss for me and definitely the main reason I applied for an ARC!
I absolutely loved the story, and I can't wait to dive into the second book to see what more Charlie and her crew have in store. If I have to pick a favourite character, it's definitely Ashley because that man is in sassy, and he just makes me laugh whenever it is his time to narrate!!!
Highly recommend to everyone who loves a thriller with good plot twists that you won't see coming. But it will definitely make you guess to see who the culprit is, and needless to say, I failed!!
It's been a very long time since I last read a thriller/crime book, considering I'm a huge fan of serial killer dramas!!! I dived into the book completely blind having no idea what to expect, and oh my god, what a roller coster ride!!! At one point, I was frustrated and then literally screaming with the plot twist and the emd reveal? I did not expect that!!! More than anything, a bad ass FMC who's a CEO of a detective company? That's a chefs kiss for me and definitely the main reason I applied for an ARC!
I absolutely loved the story, and I can't wait to dive into the second book to see what more Charlie and her crew have in store. If I have to pick a favourite character, it's definitely Ashley because that man is in sassy, and he just makes me laugh whenever it is his time to narrate!!!
Highly recommend to everyone who loves a thriller with good plot twists that you won't see coming. But it will definitely make you guess to see who the culprit is, and needless to say, I failed!!
December 18, 2023
I was kindly sent the ARC of this book and was really happy to have been chosen as I thought this book was great!
Like most crime thrillers, they’re very serious and dark, however I really enjoyed the different tone of this book which made for a nice change in experience. You still get that mystery/crime element but still get a little humour throughout.
I also really like the pacing of the book. It was a really fast read for me and after being in a slump, I thought this massively helped!
Like most crime thrillers, they’re very serious and dark, however I really enjoyed the different tone of this book which made for a nice change in experience. You still get that mystery/crime element but still get a little humour throughout.
I also really like the pacing of the book. It was a really fast read for me and after being in a slump, I thought this massively helped!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2024
4.5⭐
I received an ARC of this book and I loved it! It's very much a Veronica Mars-esque story of a young private investigator agency and the insights to some fantastic cases!
The only criticism I have is that a previously unnamed character just becomes named at some point without an explanation of how we know his name, he just has one now, which confused me a little. I actually went back a chapter to see if I had missed something, but I hadn't!
Overall though, very enjoyable and I can't wait to read the next one!
I received an ARC of this book and I loved it! It's very much a Veronica Mars-esque story of a young private investigator agency and the insights to some fantastic cases!
The only criticism I have is that a previously unnamed character just becomes named at some point without an explanation of how we know his name, he just has one now, which confused me a little. I actually went back a chapter to see if I had missed something, but I hadn't!
Overall though, very enjoyable and I can't wait to read the next one!
December 15, 2023
I’m very thankful I got to be an arc reader for this…however, I probably would’ve liked it more if the author spent more time on one investigation. I’d give it a 2.75 if I could.
Charlie Chan & Co is a private owned detective agency and is trying to gain traction to keep the company and her employees in business. They seem to be in luck when a husband hires them to try to catch his wife cheating with another man. There’s also the secrecy of a well known singer gone off the radar with no questions ask. Except one of the sleuths of the business starts raising a bunch of questions. Will Charlie keep the business open? Will the wife be caught cheating? Did the singer really go to rehab or is she missing?
Charlie Chan & Co is a private owned detective agency and is trying to gain traction to keep the company and her employees in business. They seem to be in luck when a husband hires them to try to catch his wife cheating with another man. There’s also the secrecy of a well known singer gone off the radar with no questions ask. Except one of the sleuths of the business starts raising a bunch of questions. Will Charlie keep the business open? Will the wife be caught cheating? Did the singer really go to rehab or is she missing?
February 22, 2024
I won a digital copy of this book in a StoryGraph giveaway.
Charlie Chan’s detective agency is made up of a group of Liverpool-based Gen Z detectives who find themselves investigating the mysterious disappearance of Emefa, a popular singer. To do this, they track both real-world clues and potential hints from her latest song.
This took me a little while to get through, but I think that’s more down to the fact that it’s targeted at a slightly younger audience and isn’t my usual genre than a reflection on the book itself.
The detectives investigate two main cases throughout the book and the story switches between both. It took some time to follow each of them, and I expected that they would tie in together towards the end, but that didn’t really happen. It’s probably more realistic that they weren’t connected but at times, this made the storyline feel slightly disjointed.
The main characters are all interesting to read about - they each have their own distinct personalities, strengths, and flaws that contribute to the plot. I’d be happy to recommend this for new adult readers who enjoy mysteries and detective novels.
Charlie Chan’s detective agency is made up of a group of Liverpool-based Gen Z detectives who find themselves investigating the mysterious disappearance of Emefa, a popular singer. To do this, they track both real-world clues and potential hints from her latest song.
This took me a little while to get through, but I think that’s more down to the fact that it’s targeted at a slightly younger audience and isn’t my usual genre than a reflection on the book itself.
The detectives investigate two main cases throughout the book and the story switches between both. It took some time to follow each of them, and I expected that they would tie in together towards the end, but that didn’t really happen. It’s probably more realistic that they weren’t connected but at times, this made the storyline feel slightly disjointed.
The main characters are all interesting to read about - they each have their own distinct personalities, strengths, and flaws that contribute to the plot. I’d be happy to recommend this for new adult readers who enjoy mysteries and detective novels.
January 1, 2024
I had the pleasure of reading a copy of the book before release. It took a little bit to get into the groove but I enjoyed the different take to crime thriller. While the plots seemed a little disjointed I enjoyed the relationships of the characters. I'd like to see where Charlie Chan & Co go and whether Charlie finds her answers.
February 8, 2024
Wonderful crime thriller! Relatable charachters that give off modern day Sherlock Holmes energy.
I very much enjoyed the fast paced back and forth non linear timeline with multiple story lines that surprisingly all tie in very neatly together in the end. It was a tad bit slow at first, but once you get into it, it's very hard to put down.
Can't wait for book 2!
I very much enjoyed the fast paced back and forth non linear timeline with multiple story lines that surprisingly all tie in very neatly together in the end. It was a tad bit slow at first, but once you get into it, it's very hard to put down.
Can't wait for book 2!
January 8, 2024
This is the first instalment in a Liverpool-based crime series, centered around Charlie Chen's private investigation business.
This story is a mix between a couple of big cases and also introducing the main characters to the readers.
It was quick and easy to read, but I'm expecting the second book to be even better, now that I know the characters and the setup a bit better.
Thanks to the author and BookFunnel for the eARC of this book.
This story is a mix between a couple of big cases and also introducing the main characters to the readers.
It was quick and easy to read, but I'm expecting the second book to be even better, now that I know the characters and the setup a bit better.
Thanks to the author and BookFunnel for the eARC of this book.
January 9, 2024
I wasn’t sure about his book when I first saw it, but I can say it definitely surpassed expectations. My main worry going in was that it would try to be too ‘trendy’ in order to get younger readers, however I found that wasn’t the case at all. It was certainly a shock to see online slang outside of a comment section, but it was done well.
There are two plot points the story follows. The main case, searching for the missing Emefa, as well as a smaller side case for a distressed husband worried his wife is cheating. They stay fairly seperate from each other, however are addressed in such a way it doesn’t feel like your switching between one to another drastically.
The characters were all very interesting, with diverse backgrounds. Charlie herself is of course a diverse main character, however the three supporting characters that help in her agency are given decent coverage to explore their characters and expand the story and relationships between the work colleagues.
The one thing I do have to say about this book that I wasn’t sure on was how things were paced. It felt as though there was a lot of build-up to the big Emefa case, however it seemed to be solved too quickly. I actually preferred the background case in this instance as it felt well paced throughout the book. Other than how quickly the main case is solved, I was very invested in the characters solving it and saving Emefa.
There are scenes from Emefa’s point-of-view (3rd person) which explain what was happening in the months leading up to the event of the book, which was a surprise to see. I suppose this makes up for the quickness of the case as we don’t need to learn everything that happens, but I think it would have been interesting to see the characters discover what we knew.
I did really love at the end however the plot twist with the second case and the way Emefa’s chapters eventually lined up with the clues the team were finding. It was fun to see how they would find a clue, and then have it be explained how Emefa left it. Overall, an enjoyable read I would definitely recommend.
There are two plot points the story follows. The main case, searching for the missing Emefa, as well as a smaller side case for a distressed husband worried his wife is cheating. They stay fairly seperate from each other, however are addressed in such a way it doesn’t feel like your switching between one to another drastically.
The characters were all very interesting, with diverse backgrounds. Charlie herself is of course a diverse main character, however the three supporting characters that help in her agency are given decent coverage to explore their characters and expand the story and relationships between the work colleagues.
The one thing I do have to say about this book that I wasn’t sure on was how things were paced. It felt as though there was a lot of build-up to the big Emefa case, however it seemed to be solved too quickly. I actually preferred the background case in this instance as it felt well paced throughout the book. Other than how quickly the main case is solved, I was very invested in the characters solving it and saving Emefa.
There are scenes from Emefa’s point-of-view (3rd person) which explain what was happening in the months leading up to the event of the book, which was a surprise to see. I suppose this makes up for the quickness of the case as we don’t need to learn everything that happens, but I think it would have been interesting to see the characters discover what we knew.
I did really love at the end however the plot twist with the second case and the way Emefa’s chapters eventually lined up with the clues the team were finding. It was fun to see how they would find a clue, and then have it be explained how Emefa left it. Overall, an enjoyable read I would definitely recommend.
January 28, 2024
A nice easy read, possible to get through in one sitting.
The characters are relatable and fun.
I would definitely read something by this author again
The characters are relatable and fun.
I would definitely read something by this author again
January 3, 2024
Thank you to the author for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team! “E-Girl Unplugged” releases January 5, 2024.
Charlie Chan has opened her own private detective agency, mostly with the idea that if she can become legitimate enough she’ll have access to the resources to look into her own father’s disappearance. But future cases don’t pay the bills, so when one of her detectives brings the idea that a popular singer has actually been kidnapped, Charlie is launched into the biggest case of her budding career.
Unfortunately, I think I have a bone to pick with this book. Specifically with the book’s marketing. Advertised as a fast-paced thriller, the majority of this (relatively short) story was…not so fast paced. The parts where things actually progressed and the plot made headway were great, and they did have quite a nice clip to them, but the build-up and the in-between bogged down the rest of the story.
Set in a dual timeline that eventually collides, we follow the original kidnapping of Emefa, a pop-punk idol with some serious personal issues, as it occurred 11 months prior to the rest of the story. The other half follows Charlie and her investigative agency. She starts out with a different case (which we do end up with a resolution to, as well as the main investigation, which was nice), but shortly after ends up investigating Emefa’s disappearance. Once the story gets going with the main investigation, the action picks up pretty quickly and makes for a much more interesting read. That first 30-40%, however, was slow going. I found it difficult to stay engaged until that point, as nothing was really happening. It was a lot of interpersonal interactions, but nothing that really jumped out and grabbed me.
The actual characters in the story are a wild mix, to put it mildly. They’re all interesting people, but for all the conversations we don’t really get a solid feel for the characters’ personalities. It’s like the story couldn’t decide whether to be plot based or character based, and so ended up being neither. Both investigative plot lines were interesting, though not necessarily ones the reader would have a chance at ‘solving.’ The writing itself was good, just a bit slow.
Overall, the story was okay. For a book clocking in at under 300 pages, I expected the whole thing to feel a lot faster. It’s almost like half of it was written to go along with a longer book that spent more time on the characters and their lives, and the other half was written to fit that ‘fast-paced thriller’ vibe. I didn’t hate it, but it didn’t make the top of my ‘favorite thrillers’ list, either.
Charlie Chan has opened her own private detective agency, mostly with the idea that if she can become legitimate enough she’ll have access to the resources to look into her own father’s disappearance. But future cases don’t pay the bills, so when one of her detectives brings the idea that a popular singer has actually been kidnapped, Charlie is launched into the biggest case of her budding career.
Unfortunately, I think I have a bone to pick with this book. Specifically with the book’s marketing. Advertised as a fast-paced thriller, the majority of this (relatively short) story was…not so fast paced. The parts where things actually progressed and the plot made headway were great, and they did have quite a nice clip to them, but the build-up and the in-between bogged down the rest of the story.
Set in a dual timeline that eventually collides, we follow the original kidnapping of Emefa, a pop-punk idol with some serious personal issues, as it occurred 11 months prior to the rest of the story. The other half follows Charlie and her investigative agency. She starts out with a different case (which we do end up with a resolution to, as well as the main investigation, which was nice), but shortly after ends up investigating Emefa’s disappearance. Once the story gets going with the main investigation, the action picks up pretty quickly and makes for a much more interesting read. That first 30-40%, however, was slow going. I found it difficult to stay engaged until that point, as nothing was really happening. It was a lot of interpersonal interactions, but nothing that really jumped out and grabbed me.
The actual characters in the story are a wild mix, to put it mildly. They’re all interesting people, but for all the conversations we don’t really get a solid feel for the characters’ personalities. It’s like the story couldn’t decide whether to be plot based or character based, and so ended up being neither. Both investigative plot lines were interesting, though not necessarily ones the reader would have a chance at ‘solving.’ The writing itself was good, just a bit slow.
Overall, the story was okay. For a book clocking in at under 300 pages, I expected the whole thing to feel a lot faster. It’s almost like half of it was written to go along with a longer book that spent more time on the characters and their lives, and the other half was written to fit that ‘fast-paced thriller’ vibe. I didn’t hate it, but it didn’t make the top of my ‘favorite thrillers’ list, either.
December 9, 2023
Thank you to the author for providing an eARC for this review.
Charlie Chan and her band of misfits make up a private detective agency struggling to make ends meet, willing to take on any case that comes through their door in the hopes that their big break is on the way. When Emefa, a musician who seeminly dropped off the face of the earth almost a year earlier, suddenly releases a new track hinting at the fact that she might not have vanished of her own free will, they suspect they might be about to get their chance.
Overall, I found the plot of this story very compelling. I was hooked the moment I read the synopsis for this and signed up for that eARC quick smart, and I was not disappointed! The novel follows Charlie and her crew as they deduce that Emefa is missing, and then set out to find her, all the while they have smaller cases keeping them occupied in the background. I've seen a number of reviews complaining about that secondary case, but it made the book feel more real to me. Charlie Chan & Co. don't seem like the type to abandon one case for another, so I loved that they kept investigating Dave's concerns, even when Charlie was clearly annoyed by it.
My literal one complaint about the book is that I felt the main plot concluded too quickly, and far too early. I was at the 75% mark when the Emefa storyline came to an end, at what I thought would have been an appropriate way and time to end the novel, had Dave's case been wrapped up earlier. I also felt that Dave's case's ending was...sudden, and we didn't get much of an explanation for it. I would have liked to have seen more.
I'm far from being (or understanding) everything about Gen Z, but I found mostly everything in this novel easy to follow along with, and the addition of Boomer Clive really brings things together in my opinion. Having this older gentleman working with three much younger, much more tech-savvy individuals is great, and their relationships together, while they could have been portrayed stronger, still shine off the page for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. E-GIRL UNPLUGGED will appeal to readers interested in young adult crime fiction, particularly those who are on the younger side of things. I'll be pre-ordering book two the second it becomes available!
Charlie Chan and her band of misfits make up a private detective agency struggling to make ends meet, willing to take on any case that comes through their door in the hopes that their big break is on the way. When Emefa, a musician who seeminly dropped off the face of the earth almost a year earlier, suddenly releases a new track hinting at the fact that she might not have vanished of her own free will, they suspect they might be about to get their chance.
Overall, I found the plot of this story very compelling. I was hooked the moment I read the synopsis for this and signed up for that eARC quick smart, and I was not disappointed! The novel follows Charlie and her crew as they deduce that Emefa is missing, and then set out to find her, all the while they have smaller cases keeping them occupied in the background. I've seen a number of reviews complaining about that secondary case, but it made the book feel more real to me. Charlie Chan & Co. don't seem like the type to abandon one case for another, so I loved that they kept investigating Dave's concerns, even when Charlie was clearly annoyed by it.
My literal one complaint about the book is that I felt the main plot concluded too quickly, and far too early. I was at the 75% mark when the Emefa storyline came to an end, at what I thought would have been an appropriate way and time to end the novel, had Dave's case been wrapped up earlier. I also felt that Dave's case's ending was...sudden, and we didn't get much of an explanation for it. I would have liked to have seen more.
I'm far from being (or understanding) everything about Gen Z, but I found mostly everything in this novel easy to follow along with, and the addition of Boomer Clive really brings things together in my opinion. Having this older gentleman working with three much younger, much more tech-savvy individuals is great, and their relationships together, while they could have been portrayed stronger, still shine off the page for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. E-GIRL UNPLUGGED will appeal to readers interested in young adult crime fiction, particularly those who are on the younger side of things. I'll be pre-ordering book two the second it becomes available!
December 5, 2023
3.5stars
This is an arc and is due to be released in January, 2024. Thank you so much to the author for giving me a copy, I really appreciate it.
We follow a dual perspective and timeline to figure out what has happened to a kidnapped punk rock superstar spanning back and forwards within 11 months.
Charlie, Rebecca, Ashley, and Clive makeup the Charlie Chan & Co detective agency. It was fun and unique to read about this group of people in their 20s (and clive) solving these cases.
Positives: I thought it was a really fun read. I usually don’t like the whole dual perspective/timeline dynamic, but in this case it worked really well. I loved the banter between the team and think Ash is the best thing ever. For me the dynamic reminded me a bit of Nancy Drew, or even Famous Five grown up.
I liked the way the team figured out where Emefa was and I think Adi was clever in leaving little clues as to what would be the ultimate clue that led them to her.
The one critique I do have is that I felt like there were two adventures and stories being told. This distracted from the main story, at least from the blurb of the book. The team gets an ‘infidelity case’ which is investigated periodically throughout the book, which leads to something a whole lot bigger in the long run. However, it has nothing to do with this kidnapping case. And so in that way, I think it didn’t need to be there. I think that case should be its own book. The space could have been used to flesh out the characters a bit more, maybe speak more to Charlie’s side investigation…
Overall this was a really fun read. It came to me at the perfect time where I was in a bit of a reading slump, and it pulled me right out. I will do a re-read of this again in future!
Characters: 3
Plot: 4
World: 3
Re-readablility: 4
Average: 3.5
This is an arc and is due to be released in January, 2024. Thank you so much to the author for giving me a copy, I really appreciate it.
We follow a dual perspective and timeline to figure out what has happened to a kidnapped punk rock superstar spanning back and forwards within 11 months.
Charlie, Rebecca, Ashley, and Clive makeup the Charlie Chan & Co detective agency. It was fun and unique to read about this group of people in their 20s (and clive) solving these cases.
Positives: I thought it was a really fun read. I usually don’t like the whole dual perspective/timeline dynamic, but in this case it worked really well. I loved the banter between the team and think Ash is the best thing ever. For me the dynamic reminded me a bit of Nancy Drew, or even Famous Five grown up.
I liked the way the team figured out where Emefa was and I think Adi was clever in leaving little clues as to what would be the ultimate clue that led them to her.
The one critique I do have is that I felt like there were two adventures and stories being told. This distracted from the main story, at least from the blurb of the book. The team gets an ‘infidelity case’ which is investigated periodically throughout the book, which leads to something a whole lot bigger in the long run. However, it has nothing to do with this kidnapping case. And so in that way, I think it didn’t need to be there. I think that case should be its own book. The space could have been used to flesh out the characters a bit more, maybe speak more to Charlie’s side investigation…
Overall this was a really fun read. It came to me at the perfect time where I was in a bit of a reading slump, and it pulled me right out. I will do a re-read of this again in future!
Characters: 3
Plot: 4
World: 3
Re-readablility: 4
Average: 3.5
January 5, 2024
Rating: B
Review copy received from the author.
E-Girl Unplugged is a somewhat comedic crime novel about a detective agency run by Chinese-English PI Charlotte Chan and her group of fun/young private investigators. Each has a different skill to supplement the team - Ash is a master of disguise, charming and attractive, Becca is a punk-rock rebel on the computer, Charlie is the lead who knows Kung Fu (or something lol) and Clive, new hire, is a veteran and ex-security guard in his 50s. The story has two main threads - the first is the Wedding Veil Killer, a serial killer targetting women who commit adultery, and the second is finding missing pop star, Emefa, an idol who goes missing almost a year before the story takes place.
I struggled at the beginning telling the characters apart and remembering who was who - Charlie and Ash, especially, having so many scenes together at the start, then suddenly Becca shows up and I didn't really find it easy to keep track of their own personal drama. The story with Emefa I thought that kind of threw a spanner into the pacing of the story, because I did like the writing style and I enjoyed a modern premise and some of the dialogue. I thought Clive was a really great character and there was a respectable amount of time dedicated to Charlie's backstory and her family drama. The cast of the book is so diverse, it was really refreshing to read about people who could be my friends.
I also liked the detectives acknowledging their work being unstable and the reality of a pop star . I did think that the
Good novel otherwise. Not a long read.
Review copy received from the author.
E-Girl Unplugged is a somewhat comedic crime novel about a detective agency run by Chinese-English PI Charlotte Chan and her group of fun/young private investigators. Each has a different skill to supplement the team - Ash is a master of disguise, charming and attractive, Becca is a punk-rock rebel on the computer, Charlie is the lead who knows Kung Fu (or something lol) and Clive, new hire, is a veteran and ex-security guard in his 50s. The story has two main threads - the first is the Wedding Veil Killer, a serial killer targetting women who commit adultery, and the second is finding missing pop star, Emefa, an idol who goes missing almost a year before the story takes place.
I struggled at the beginning telling the characters apart and remembering who was who - Charlie and Ash, especially, having so many scenes together at the start, then suddenly Becca shows up and I didn't really find it easy to keep track of their own personal drama. The story with Emefa I thought that kind of threw a spanner into the pacing of the story, because I did like the writing style and I enjoyed a modern premise and some of the dialogue. I thought Clive was a really great character and there was a respectable amount of time dedicated to Charlie's backstory and her family drama. The cast of the book is so diverse, it was really refreshing to read about people who could be my friends.
I also liked the detectives acknowledging their work being unstable and the reality of a pop star . I did think that the
Good novel otherwise. Not a long read.
December 18, 2023
Thank you to the author and to BookFunnel for the ARC!
I was keen to start reading this as the synopsis sounded interesting. I enjoyed the dual timelines for the Emefa storyline, and that investigation was interesting.
It was difficult to work out where the addition of the other major investigation fit in, and the story felt like it flipped between the two storylines without much purpose or intent - but I did enjoy the end of the second investigation and was genuinely surprised by the related plot twist. It also felt like investigations were way too easy - suspects/people with information were always easily accessible and seemed to provide answers instantly throughout the whole story.
I really liked Charlie’s character but felt that I couldn’t really connect with the other characters - there were pieces of back story but if these were fleshed out in more detail I think the story would have been richer for it.
Overall this was a decent read, worthwhile in the end but I did feel the middle portion dragged without being able to see the pieces coming together until a mad rush at the end.
I was keen to start reading this as the synopsis sounded interesting. I enjoyed the dual timelines for the Emefa storyline, and that investigation was interesting.
It was difficult to work out where the addition of the other major investigation fit in, and the story felt like it flipped between the two storylines without much purpose or intent - but I did enjoy the end of the second investigation and was genuinely surprised by the related plot twist. It also felt like investigations were way too easy - suspects/people with information were always easily accessible and seemed to provide answers instantly throughout the whole story.
I really liked Charlie’s character but felt that I couldn’t really connect with the other characters - there were pieces of back story but if these were fleshed out in more detail I think the story would have been richer for it.
Overall this was a decent read, worthwhile in the end but I did feel the middle portion dragged without being able to see the pieces coming together until a mad rush at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2024
📚📚📚 Arc Reader 📚📚📚
I was recommended by a friend to sign up for this ARC reading because they believed the story was something I would enjoy. There was a lot of aspect of this story that I did enjoy and there was a fair bit that I felt just went on for too long. Those parts were not bad just felt like they went on forever when they didn't really need to. The characters inside the story were well written with their own personalities, strengths, weaknesses and issues. The side events and backstories take up a fair amount of this book which is understandable being a first book introducing us to Charlie and gang. I did enjoy the multiple POV's but I did at times find it confusing to keep track of the timeline with the events from the changes. The use of modern technology and social media within this story was well represented but often made me cringe.
If I had to recommend this story to anyone I would have to really question what their preference in Crime Thriller would be because I don't see this story appealing to all but to a fair few. Mostly due to how long the side events drag out for and how small the main event felt to me.
I was recommended by a friend to sign up for this ARC reading because they believed the story was something I would enjoy. There was a lot of aspect of this story that I did enjoy and there was a fair bit that I felt just went on for too long. Those parts were not bad just felt like they went on forever when they didn't really need to. The characters inside the story were well written with their own personalities, strengths, weaknesses and issues. The side events and backstories take up a fair amount of this book which is understandable being a first book introducing us to Charlie and gang. I did enjoy the multiple POV's but I did at times find it confusing to keep track of the timeline with the events from the changes. The use of modern technology and social media within this story was well represented but often made me cringe.
If I had to recommend this story to anyone I would have to really question what their preference in Crime Thriller would be because I don't see this story appealing to all but to a fair few. Mostly due to how long the side events drag out for and how small the main event felt to me.
February 12, 2024
No Spoilers -read on Kindle through Book Funnel. Thank you Adi Flynn and Book Funnel for letting me read this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was published on January 5th, 2024. I was late on reading this ARC, and am late on getting my review done.
This book has multiple POVs and storylines. It was difficult to follow in the beginning, but once I got things straight and was more into the story, I enjoyed it. However, this was a slow burn for me. I had to be in the mood for this book to read, or I got easily distracted, hence why it took me longer to read. A little after the halfway point, I truly got invested in figuring out everything and could not put it down. There was suspense, some spice, banter, and twists which I love. I am glad I did not DNF this book and I found the right time to read it as it was a good read! I ended up liking the characters as well and feeling connected.
Would I recommend this? If you like a slow burn and multiple storylines, I would recommend reading this. I am going to be reading Book 2 at some point because I did overall enjoy this book.
This book was published on January 5th, 2024. I was late on reading this ARC, and am late on getting my review done.
This book has multiple POVs and storylines. It was difficult to follow in the beginning, but once I got things straight and was more into the story, I enjoyed it. However, this was a slow burn for me. I had to be in the mood for this book to read, or I got easily distracted, hence why it took me longer to read. A little after the halfway point, I truly got invested in figuring out everything and could not put it down. There was suspense, some spice, banter, and twists which I love. I am glad I did not DNF this book and I found the right time to read it as it was a good read! I ended up liking the characters as well and feeling connected.
Would I recommend this? If you like a slow burn and multiple storylines, I would recommend reading this. I am going to be reading Book 2 at some point because I did overall enjoy this book.
March 12, 2024
I won this e-book in a giveaway on Storygraph so thanks to them for this free copy.
The book had its fair share of interesting parts, and I particularly enjoyed the camaraderie among the workers, the inside jokes shared by the detective agency's colleagues, and the initial kidnapping of Emefra.
However, the book's several storylines, which had so much potential, seemed to fizzle out and go nowhere, and the initial suspense that I was looking forward to just died out.
Moreover, there were parts in the book that felt rushed, notably the rescue scene, which I thought would be the pinnacle of the book. Sadly, it was over and done with so quickly that I didn't have time to savour the moment.
Despite this, the book was a quick read, and I was impressed with the main characters, most of whom I grew to love.
I'm still on the fence about reading the next book in the series, although there is one significant part of the storyline that remains unresolved, and I might just get sucked in.
The book had its fair share of interesting parts, and I particularly enjoyed the camaraderie among the workers, the inside jokes shared by the detective agency's colleagues, and the initial kidnapping of Emefra.
However, the book's several storylines, which had so much potential, seemed to fizzle out and go nowhere, and the initial suspense that I was looking forward to just died out.
Moreover, there were parts in the book that felt rushed, notably the rescue scene, which I thought would be the pinnacle of the book. Sadly, it was over and done with so quickly that I didn't have time to savour the moment.
Despite this, the book was a quick read, and I was impressed with the main characters, most of whom I grew to love.
I'm still on the fence about reading the next book in the series, although there is one significant part of the storyline that remains unresolved, and I might just get sucked in.
December 5, 2023
Thank you to BookFunnel for the ARC!
Okay, so. Not the biggest fan. The pacing felt weird. The author tried to make us care about the characters by giving tiny tidbits of backstory but I just didn't care. I also thought it was weird there was a big emphasis on Charlie's heritage in the beginning but no mention of it later on. Why introduce it as a theme then?
There were 2 different cases in this book and neither one was particularly interesting. There should have been a much bigger emphasis on Emefa & figuring out her case. I felt like it was wrapped up very quickly for the agency to go on and solve another big case within 30 mins of reading.
All in all I felt the story was rushed, & the characters either needed more depth (therefore slowing the book down) or less backstory for the side characters
Okay, so. Not the biggest fan. The pacing felt weird. The author tried to make us care about the characters by giving tiny tidbits of backstory but I just didn't care. I also thought it was weird there was a big emphasis on Charlie's heritage in the beginning but no mention of it later on. Why introduce it as a theme then?
There were 2 different cases in this book and neither one was particularly interesting. There should have been a much bigger emphasis on Emefa & figuring out her case. I felt like it was wrapped up very quickly for the agency to go on and solve another big case within 30 mins of reading.
All in all I felt the story was rushed, & the characters either needed more depth (therefore slowing the book down) or less backstory for the side characters
December 7, 2023
📚✨ARC BOOK REVIEW✨📚
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy and allowing me to read it in exchange for a honest review.
I was very excited about this book! I couldn’t wait to get it.
After the first 5 chapters though, I knew this book was going to be a difficult one to get through. It covers essentially two different cases that a detective agency takes on. Neither case is very interesting, in my opinion. I thought there would be more with the pop star and it kind of just abruptly ended. The other case wasn’t really elaborated on and it felt like it was added into the book to create more pages. With all of this going on, there is also the overshadowing of why the MC went into detective work in the first place. Also, not very much elaboration was made with that situation either.
I rated this a 3 because I did finish it but I had to make myself finish it.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy and allowing me to read it in exchange for a honest review.
I was very excited about this book! I couldn’t wait to get it.
After the first 5 chapters though, I knew this book was going to be a difficult one to get through. It covers essentially two different cases that a detective agency takes on. Neither case is very interesting, in my opinion. I thought there would be more with the pop star and it kind of just abruptly ended. The other case wasn’t really elaborated on and it felt like it was added into the book to create more pages. With all of this going on, there is also the overshadowing of why the MC went into detective work in the first place. Also, not very much elaboration was made with that situation either.
I rated this a 3 because I did finish it but I had to make myself finish it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2023
4.25 ⭐️
Thank you to Adi Flynn - I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this book was exciting! I'm not going to lie - I didn't think that all the different story lines were going to make sense, even in the synopsis they seemed a little random. But they tied together nicely! There were twists and turns up until the end. It had my heart racing, my anxiety got higher, I was even pacing around at times. I thought the characters had well developed back stories while still allowing for growth.
I didn't think that a 58 year old would be THAT bad with technology, it's not that old. But then again, I wasn't super confident in what I thought an e-girl is. So maybe, I too, am old. Or just really American.
Thank you to Adi Flynn - I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this book was exciting! I'm not going to lie - I didn't think that all the different story lines were going to make sense, even in the synopsis they seemed a little random. But they tied together nicely! There were twists and turns up until the end. It had my heart racing, my anxiety got higher, I was even pacing around at times. I thought the characters had well developed back stories while still allowing for growth.
I didn't think that a 58 year old would be THAT bad with technology, it's not that old. But then again, I wasn't super confident in what I thought an e-girl is. So maybe, I too, am old. Or just really American.
January 6, 2024
eARC review. This was a very fun crime mystery thriller. I really enjoyed all of the characters and the dynamic that they had together. The plot was very well thought out and dynamic and gave me great Sherlock Holmes vibes which I absolutely loved. Honestly really thought this was a great start to a new series and I’m looking forward to reading the next book. If you enjoy a good mystery novel or have thought about starting a new genre I would highly recommend this book.
December 26, 2024
2.5 - This book was okay. I actually won a copy on a StoryGraph giveaway. It was a real slow burn and I’d have preferred it if the author focused on one main investigation rather than multiple. I didn’t really connect properly with any of the characters. I liked the writing style and found it was easy to read, but I just didn’t like the wishy washy-ness between the different investigations and felt like the ending was kinda rushed. I don’t think I would read any others from the author really.
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