Better than a Rest (Leo Street, Book 2): An endearing novel filled with wit and adventure

Leo Street #2

by Pauline McLynn

Private eye Leo Street is on the trail of an adulterous husband when her clapped-out car causes her cover to be blown. It's time to draft in Ciara Gillespie, the teenage tearaway whom she befriended on her last case. At first, Ciara's methods of surveillance leave a lot to be desired, but soon she's unearthing the secret life of an obstetrician who likes to dabble in genetic engineering... With Ciara in control, Leo's free to pursue other matters, such as who's making anonymous phone calls to her friend Maeve, and why there's pandemonium at the local crèche. Then she accepts an invitation from Andy Raynor - an old flame who she's never fully extinguished - and sparks begin to fly.

Genres: Mystery

350 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 6, 2001

About the author

Pauline McLynn (born 11 July 1962) is an Irish actress, comedienne and author, best known for playing Mrs Doyle on the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted. McLynn was born in Sligo but grew up in Galway. She studied History of Art and Modern English at Trinity College, Dublin. She was heavily involved in Trinity's Dublin University Players (college drama society). She is married to the producer and agent Richard Cook. She supports both Aston Villa and Bohemian F.C.

Reviews

[Cliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slighty quirky female private investigator it set to following a leading surgeon whose wife suspects him of having an affair. The story is set in Dublin. The story, which is told in the 1st person by the Leo Street, has plenty of diversions along the way of a lightly comical nature. These range from the bitchy mothers picking up their children after nursery through the antics of the four cats and one dog Leo keeps to her live in boy friend, an actor, and his friend, also an actor, who do performances in pubs across the city. It's not all jokey though as Leo meets the angst ridden teenage daughter of the surgeon and then o e of his former patients. The book is deftly written and the characters beautifully drawn.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of everything here, from crime to romance, with humour. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite funny and I was rather amused throughout the book. McLynn really does have a way with words and the cases Leo was put to work on was rather interesting.^^^^The hopeless trashy-romance-loving side of me thirst for some development between Leo and the gorgeous Andy, whom she's trying to keep a distance from, and I had plowed through the book for one. Ah so shameless. ^^^^Decent for book 2... on to book 3! (Yes, I checked the library catalogue for a copy and they have it! Muhahhaha *more Leo-Andy development daym it!!! >_<*)

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange read. I liked the realism of it, but it ended up making it read more like somebody's journal, that meandered along and didn't tie up loose ends. There were a few points that you clearly needed to have read the first book to understand - the story behind Mick for example. It got pretty confusing by the end with all the different storylines. I think it's the first mystery I`ve ever read where, unless I missed something, we don`t actually find out who the murderer was! Clearly set up for the third book - not sure if I will give that one a go or not.

[Alan]

Not near as good as the original, I got bored and decided to give it to a friend rather than continuing on. I think the key problem is that there are 3 mysteries going on, as opposed to one - which makes it difficult to follow.

I might try again at some stage though, just because I liked the original so much.

[Jenn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Usually I only give a book 100 pages before I put it down. And I had so much hope for this one! I even gave it to page 180 before I realized that it had no plot, and I cared none for any of the characters.

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pointless Kerry Greenwood style detective mystery, basically a Mills & Boon story with a thin detective element.

Leonara is a private dick in “cool Ireland”. In the first 50 pages she has a minor car prang and almost hires an assistant.

[Gill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun re-read of the second in McLynn's Leo Street series. Not as good as Something for the Weekend though.

[Rosalind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one, thought it was better than the first one in the series

[Helen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up on this book I'm afriad(which is very rare). I didn't really have a clue what was going on and found the text really hard to follow.

[Alex Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Leo Street trilogy is one of my favourite series of books. Brilliantly written and laugh out loud funny each one follows so brilliantly from the previous. I just wish she would write more!!