Pwned

Lexy Cooper Mystery #2

by Christa Charter

Lexy Cooper discovers the body of coworker Declan Brown, a self-proclaimed "Game God." But who put the knife in his chest: His low-life brother? His favorite stripper? Professional rival (and Lexy's ex) Nate Howard? Go behind the curtain of the video game industry with smart, irreverent, sexy Lexy as she and homicide detective Mike Malick navigate the dangerous waters of big money, high tech, and murder.

Genres: Mystery

206 pages, Paperback

First published June 21, 2013

About the author

Christa Charter worked in the video game industry for two decades including eight years as community manager/website editor/video hostess "trixie360" for Microsoft's Xbox Live before writing books full time. She is the author of "Schooled," "Pwned," "I Saw Lexy Kissing Santa," "Griefed," "The Sleepless Nanny," "B.Y.O.P.: Be Your Own Publisher," and a Detective Malick spin-off, "Summer Wind." The fourth full-length Lexy novel, "Glitched," released March 31, 2015 is available on Amazon. Christa is currently writing Mike Malick #2. Follow her NSFW tweets @trixie360.

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pwned was a fantastic read and the perfect follow up to Schooled. Lexy finds herself in yet another ride showcasing murder, mystery, and a bit of naughtiness.

Of course, my favorite kind of mystery is one with a strong female lead, which is a pretty damn good description of Lexy. She doesn't take crap and isn't afraid of being who she is. There was one scene in the book where Lexy was "ambushed" by two managers, and her reaction made me want to reach into the book and give her a high-five. This was one of many examples in Pwned where I felt I could identify with Lexy, albeit finding dead bodies. As usual, Lexy rocked the book.

Uncle Detective Mike is also back and he didn't disappoint. He is such a solid character. I love how he interviews suspects and gives Lexy such a hard time. I feel like I got to know him a little better in this book and you are going to have to read the book to see what I'm talking about.

In addition, many of my favorite characters are back, like Officer Rogers, Yi and Nate. We get to learn a bit more about all of them. Some of them even had some surprising scenes. Oh and I should mention there are a few new faces to the book that contribute to murder, mystery, and naughtiness.

I can't end this review without mentioning the author. Christa does a phenomenal job developing these characters and stories. Pwned had a few more twists than I expected and I can't say anymore for fear of giving something away. Christa continues sprinkling the dialogue with pop culture references and adding a "soundtrack" to the book. I can't begin to tell you how awesome that is. Christa also keeps the story light and easy to follow; and in no way, do you have to be a nerd or a gamer to enjoy this book, just a fan of mystery. I highly recommend this book and already tingly waiting for the 3rd in the series.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sexy Lexy is back in 'Pwned', the entertaining and action-filled sequel to 'Schooled'. There's a new mystery to solve, and Lexy is back in the thick of things, helping her Uncle, Detective Malick, weed through the suspects with her typical style (racy) and attitude (no-bullshit). Lexy is full of her usual witty one-liners, and I adore her unique character and saucy, strong-willed personality. We get to see a bit of a softer side with Lexy this time, though -- she shows some weakness with regard to matters of the heart, which endears her to the reader even more. Some of our favorite characters from 'Schooled' are back, including Lexy's proverbial rock, handsome Uncle Mike, his side-kicks Officers Rogers and Yi, and even Nate Howard, who we love to hate (hate to love?). We even get some new characters, of which my favorite is Ash. Ohhhh, Ash. Yummmy yummy Ash. Gorgeous, viking-like, sexy, rock-hard Ash. Wait a second, what's happening, where am I? Oh yeah. Book review :) Aside from interesting, well-developed characters, the storyline is also solid. Just when you think you've figured out "whodunnit", that character is cleared, and you're back to the drawing board. There are just enough twists to keep you interested, and in the end, the mystery is solved satisfactorily. Luckily, there's a little bit of an open ending to leave room for the next book in the series :) Overall, this is a fun, engaging read. You don't even have to be a gamer or know much about any type of tech-industry to read this book. You just need to love reading a fast, fun mystery, and you definitely need to be able to handle and enjoy a little bit of raunch, because Lexy's got that in spades ;) I'll definitely be recommending this book to my friends, and will enthusiastically look forward to the next book in the Lexy Cooper mysteries. In the meantime, I'm off to daydream about Ash ;)

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second installment definitely didn't disappoint. The heroine is flawed, but strong, sexy, but real. Working at Xenon feels close to a true mix of corporate and game company shenanigans. Lexy is one cool chick that I would definitely be friends with in real life. The biggest douche bag of all douche bags is Agent 54. At least the other douche bags are authentic douche bags. This guy probably doesn't even realize he totally is one. I'm sure we all know at least one person on that douche bag level!

I recommend this series to anyone with a good sense of humor, especially video gamers or those that like to poke fun at them. I had plenty of LOL moments.

[Kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am pretty sure Christa popped inside my brain a sec and dug around proclaiming, 'Ah ha' and then Ash was born in her novel. He is so sexy, tall, and yummy and... Anyway, before I get too distracted and wax poetical about him, let’s talk about the book.

It is no surprise that the book is awesome. I think I actually enjoyed it even more than the first one; if that is possible. The characters are rich and developed (ohhh yeah Ash is VERY developed) and the mystery is clever and will keep you guessing all the way up to the end. I was constantly proclaiming (out loud to myself, numerous times) Ohh so and so did it! Only to find they had an alibi or some other mumbo jumbo which 'proved' they were potentially 'innocent'. The introduction of strippers, the particularly creative uses of swear words, Lexy's fun and inspired wardrobe choices, guns, and many other things will pique your interest and keeping you reading, most likely without sleep and to the detriment of any small animals or small children or small husbands or small wives that need feeding and/or your attention.

The introduction of the new characters (like Ash :swoooon: ), some which it seems may stick around a while, and the continuing development of some of our favorite (and not so favorite) characters (Malik, Rogers, Yi, Nate, and Agent54) keeps the momentum from the first book in the series going. The use of social media, glimpses into [REDACTED] exclusive [REDACTED] of the industry, and even more insights into the behind the scenes interaction with the community, is creative and intriguing.

If you enjoyed the first book in the Lexy Cooper series, you should definitely read this. If you haven’t read the first one, you will still enjoy the second, but really should read the first one as well because it was just so much fun! And if you want to find out more about Ash and his bulging… just read the book!

[Snow Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very addictive sequel to Schooled, with Lexy getting into, and out of, another incident revolving around murder and mystery. One thing that amazed me about this book (as it did with the first one), was how the author juggled many threads of information to make believable characters and interactions. Usually there's a A plot and B plot, but with the Lexy Cooper series there's usually also a C plot, D plot, and G spot...err.. plot. Lexy can be a very naughty girl and her love life takes an interesting turn in this book. She manages well enough to juggle her love life, work, and information on this new murder, though some repercussions from the first book come to light.

In short, a strong female lead with equal parts geeky and sexy, embroiled through no fault of her own in another murder mystery. Two thumbs up!

[James Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

By all rights I should be mad at Christa Charter. Her books make me neglect my family, friends and all of humanity. At least until I finish the book. Pwned is an excellent book and much like after I had finished Schooled, the first book in the Lexy Cooper Mystery series, I was ready to start reading the third immediately afterward, but alas I will have to wait.

Christa has a natural gift for imagery, some of the weirdest details you wouldn't think about, she does - and the reader benefits from it. The characters she has created are diverse, individual and very entertaining. As long as Christa is writing, I will continue reading.

[Sal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only a few months after helping her detective uncle catch a multiple murderer, community manager turned video game tv show hostess Lexy Cooper walks in to another slain co-worker. Unfortunately for her, the list of suspects goes beyond the workplace and in to a world that is more dangerous than walking around in Minecraft with just a stick. To add to the difficultly level, her now ex boyfriend is one of the suspects as well as the mysterious pro-snowboarder that she pairs up with. With the level set this high, her uncle might not be able to protect her as he has a trickery mini-game to play with a FBI former lover who might not have Lexy's safety as a goal.

[Saffista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad that I got to be an early reader on this one. I have been waiting for it since I finished Charter's first Lexy Cooper book, Schooled. This book did not disappoint. Lexy becomes even more rich as a character in this book and I am almost ashamed to admit that Charter made me tear up not once, but twice with the book. The richness and complexity of the relationships demonstrates how much Lexy as a character and Charter as an author have grown. I do have 2 requests for the author: 1) Hurry up with book 3 and 2) can we have one or two more diverse characters in the next book?

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christa has done it again. Great book from start to finish. I thought I had this booked figured out but every time that I did I was always wrong. She keeps you guessing and brings in some wonderful new characters along with the great cast that was there from book 1. I can't wait until the next one come out. Great job and definitely if you haven't read the first one do that and get to reading this one you won't be disappointed.

[Nicky Nunney · Rating 4 out of 5]

CW: mentions/descriptions of vomit

This was a cool sequel!

I really liked the video game elements, as well as the relationship between Lexy and Mike. I didn't guess the murderer though!

I hope Ash is in more Lexy novels, he was fab!

[Jaq Greenspon · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Pwned, Christa Charter once again brings Sexy Sleuth Lexy Cooper to life with a mystery following hot on the heels of her initial outing, Schooled. Once again, Lexy is dragged into a mystery set amidst the high-tech world of video game systems. This time, Lexy gets involved because her paramour, Nate, the married father she can’t stay away from, calls and asks her to check on a member of the team who should be at the airport about to head for Japan... but isn’t. Ever the dutiful "friend," Lexy heads over only to discover the guy dead on the kitchen floor, a single stab wound to the chest.

Coming as this does on the heels of her last adventure (a mere few month in book time), Lexy promptly calls her "Uncle" Mike, a police detective, reports the crime and then passes out, a victim of PTSD. Then, over the course of the relatively short novel, the murder investigation gets hampered by complications and leads down paths involving drug dealers, strippers, an old flame of Mike's who now works for the FBI and a firearms instructor who moonlights as a championship extreme sports star (or maybe it's the other way around). There are enough red herrings to make a Lithuanian meal while suspects come and go faster than pixels on a dual core processor (I don't know what the means, either).

Needless to say, it all gets solved and Lexy herself has a major hand in the action, overcoming her murder related stress as well as her devotion to Nate (well, almost). She also gets a new boyfriend and a new hand weapon (and a throng of new followers for her in-system show, Xenonline). It's a quick, fun read and I'll certainly get the next book in the series, next time it's on sale, but a lot of the same problems I found with the original book are still present here.

Ms. Charter still writes her characters as inhabiting the world she lives in at the time she's writing them and so she's got pop culture references which make the book feel dated instead of timeless. I'm not sure what the answer is, but I think she might be better served by creating fictional figures who fulfill the roles she wants her pop culture figures to fill so instead of having a concrete person we might or might not know, we'll create our own thinly veiled pastiche of whoever is current at the time of reading. This would create a relevancy which comes as a collaboration with the reader instead of actively trying to contradict their current reality.

Also, Lexy is still a sex pot and while we, the readers understand she is more brain than boob, her colleagues don’t really see her that way. And neither does she. She’s allows herself to be used to cover for her co-host who doesn’t want to work, a host who is hired in the first place to provide the show with an “intelligent” half. Her looks are given more credibility than anything else she might have to offer. I’m not saying this doesn’t exist, I just wish Lexy complained about it more than a cursory cursing and then moving on and keeping with the status quo. Even the one co-worker who asks her to edit a piece of writing, really only does it as a pretense to sexually harass her. Which brings up another issue - sexual harassment in this book is almost at the point of absurdity. When the HR Director is guilty of massive and obvious harassment I tend to lose focus and he loses credibility as a character. Sure, he may be a slimeball, but you don’t get to be head of an HR department and NOT know that standing around with your dick hanging out is a major no-no. It just strikes me as someplace where if something was going to be said about the nature of sexist situations in the gaming industry, this was the place. Instead, it passes with the barest of notices except as a potential clue towards discovering our killer.

At the end of the day, I keep wanting Lexy and her cohorts to be more aware of their situation and at least trying to understand and combat it. It’s a testament to Ms. Charter’s writing ability that I’m still reading and looking forward to more.

[Sonic Alpha · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been quite a while since I’ve written an actual review of a product, however Christa Charter‘s latest book seemed like the perfect opportunity to flex my writing muscles. The second book in the “Lexy Cooper Videogame Mystery” series, Pwned, finds everyone’s favourite community manager knee deep in trouble.

If you haven’t read the first installment, Schooled, then be warned: Spoilers ahead!

A few months have passed since the events that unfolded in Schooled. Lexy Cooper’s career has begun to take off, and she is quickly becoming the face of the Xenonline service. But beneath the sugar coated smiles, heart stopping cleavage, and the filthiest mouth in the gaming industry, Lexy is a very different woman. Suffering from panic attacks as a result of her run in with Andy Kemp, and brokenhearted over the loss of Nate, young Miss Cooper is barely holding it together.

When Nate surprises Lexy with an urgent phone call and begs for her help, Lexy’s world is thrown in to turmoil after discovering the body of a colleague. Once again finding herself in the middle of a murder investigation, where the list of suspects seems endless, Lexy starts to do a little digging of her own. But is she ready for what she will uncover?

While not a typical murder mystery, Pwned takes a somewhat fresh approach to the genre. Rather than having an amalgamation of various detective type characters in a sexy new wrapping, the author instead places the reader in the shoes of someone who could quite easily end up being the next victim. While her input and her efforts to get to the bottom of the mystery prove invaluable, it’s Lexy’s Uncle Mike and his team that inevitably push the investigation forward.

Featuring an expanded cast of characters over its predecessor, Pwned presents a number of different perspectives as events unfold. This switching proves to be one of the novel’s greatest strengths, as none of these different views into Lexy’s world is a waste of the reader’s time. Instead, each character feels much more well rounded and whole, almost real in a way.

Of course there will be characters that you love, characters you hate, and characters that will make you want to punch through your Kindle in utter rage (Agent 54 aka Major Numbnuts, for example), and each one is developed just that little bit more in this installment. Lexy’s potty mouth makes a welcome return, as does her insatiable sexual appetite.

If I had to level one criticism at this novel, it’s that it’s just too short. Painfully so in fact. It could be down to the fantastic writing that kept me gripped to my Kindle from the moment I started, but I felt that Pwned ended far too quickly for me.

Having loved Schooled, when news of Pwned reached me I began counting down the days till I could once again step into Lexy Cooper’s world. I’m happy to say that the very long wait was more than worth it, and once again I’m ticking off days on the calender for the next book in the series.

Ultimately, there’s a little of something for everyone in Pwned. You’ll laugh (at Lexy), you’ll cry (with Lexy), and your heart will race (because of Lexy).

[Jen Bailey Bergen (tryjen) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first Lexy Cooper book, Schooled, so much that I was camping Amazon as of midnight on release day waiting for Pwned to be released. I plowed through the book over the following weekend, and was left wanting more - again. This series can't respawn quickly enough. What I said when I reviewed Schooled (Lexy Cooper Videogame Mystery) was "If you're a woman and you've ever worked in the gaming or technology industry, you'll recognize at least some part of yourself in this book." is still true. It's bigger than that, now, however, and when I recommended the book to other Goodreads users I mentioned that I thought anyone who has ever even worked peripherally in The Industry will enjoy these books. The truth in this fiction feels so real because I'm certain that names have been changed to protect the not-so-innocent, especially as large gaming events are concerned.

I like the standard good-old-fashioned mystery layout and the nods to standard scare tropes with modern and high-tech characters and situations. The "softer side of Lexy Cooper" as mentioned by another commenter was a good call. There is a deeper look at her humanity this time; Lexy struggles with the duality of a public face to a private life, the trauma of choosing between loved ones, and navigating sharply changing but not entirely-obvious undercurrents between main characters. Lots of man gibs are scattered again in this book, as by now we've come to expect.

This is the third book I've read by Christa Charter and the third one I've really loved. Her writing style is like a rocket launcher right to the Cacodemon of my pleasure reading heart.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Lexy just can't catch a break. Just as she was settling down after a shocking murder on the Xenon campus, she unknowingly stumbles across yet another murder of a Xenon employee. Along with her co-workers and Uncle Mike, Lexy sets out to see if she can figure out the mystery of who the killer is and why they did it.

As much as I enjoyed the first Lexy book, Schooled, Pwned really hit its stride and built upon the characters we were introduced to previously and they became more fleshed out. I'm still amazed at the glimpses into the gaming world that these books give me. Sure, it's most likely not 100% accurate, but I'm sure that there is a great deal of truth in the gaming community and other aspects of working at a video game company in there.

All in all, I'm very glad to have found these books through following Christa on Twitter for the past few years while she was part of the XBox team. I am going to proceed directly to the 3rd book in the series as its out now and no waiting. :)

[Chris Twentier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lexy Cooper #2 really moves the series in a positive direction. I liked Schooled (obviously or I wouldn't be into #2), but this book really went a long way in fleshing out the main characters. The first book was a quick, fun read, but the sequel added a lot of emotional substance to the characters. They feel more real, especially Lexy's uncle Mike. I found myself caring more for the characters, and not just wondering "who's Lexy gonna grind up against next!" It's hard to review detective books without giving away spoilers, but suffice it to say, this mystery keeps you guessing to the end, and the 'who done it" was not who I was expecting at all. If a mystery story can keep you guessing until the final reveal, while keeping you engaged in the story, I don't think you can ask for much more! I know the third book is just a couple weeks away, and if Lexy discovers yet another corpse, I will begin to fear for the poor girls sanity going forward!! Give this one a whirl, gentle reader, I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

[Jessi Moyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this one just as enthralling as the first. (Obviously since I went from 28% to 100% in just one night) I love Lexy as a character because I can see a little bit of myself in her, in this 2nd addition to the series. I love how things turn out with a certain "viking" *wink*wink* In writing this review it is so hard for me to not give out any "spoilers" but as a gamer I know how those can ruin anything good ;) I encourage fans of a good mystery to pick this up as a wonderful read. (My mystery love started with Encyclopedia Brown when I was younger than I am now) I also encourage fellow gamers, and anyone in this "Nerd" culture to pick it up as well. Christa does a wonderful job of writing engaging characters that leave you waiting for the new title like a kid waiting to open the "big" presents on Christmas morning.

[Karsyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I like Lexy, for the most part. She's smart, funny, sassy, sexy and she doesn't care what most people think about her. She does as she wants to do, no matter if it's politically/socially correct or not. It's great.

Lexy has one HUGE fault, letting herself love a married man. I hate this aspect of her. She's too smart for that. Sex is one thing and while plenty would think it's horrible too, I get that, but love is a different story and I really really hope that part is over because it makes her seem weaker than she is.

I might be in the minority (dunno, I've never read reviews on this series) but I hope she wises up and ends up with "uncle" Mike. He's perfect for her, and not her real uncle, so all is good there. Sparks are gonna fly if that ever happens. I hope it does!

[Joshua Levy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finishing up the second book in Christa Charter's Lexy Cooper series, I must say that I am falling in love. Don't tell my wife, but Lexy Cooper is just pure win. While I did not enjoy Pwned as much as I enjoyed Schooled, it was more due to jealousy than dislike. The new characters are excellent and the mysteries are well thought out. Uncle Mike and Lexy are a wonderful pair. I truly can't wait to get into I Saw Lexy Kissing Santa and Griefed.

[Tia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

Lexy is an interesting, independent, intelligent character. I enjoy her antics. She appears shallow and irresponsible to the outside world, however, she has the ability to piece things out that others haven't. I love the relationship between her and Mike, as well as, how they become BFFs. Well worth reading. Readers will laugh and be shocked by the happenings at Xenon.

[Jamie Puleo · Rating 4 out of 5]

My gamer husband introduced me to these books, and I wasn't disappointed with the second in the series. This mystery kept me guessing until the very end, and I'm finding myself becoming more invested in the characters. I have a lot of remaining questions so I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store for Lexy both professionally and personally!

[Chris Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book I enjoyed reading. It's a bit weird, the mystery in this book seemed to be a more off-stage in this one, focusing more on Lexy's love life. It again shows me that Mike is the character I love reading about, so I'm overjoyed that Christa Charter will be writing some more on his adventures in the future.

[Maranda Carvell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe it took me this long to getting around to reading this... sorry Christa! It's a great, light, fun read, definitely a must-read for anyone who loves Xbox and video games but certainly fun for those who don't. Like the first one, my complaint is that I wish it were longer. Looking forward to reading #3!

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy Pwned quite as much as the first book in the series. There's two separate plots in the book - Mike's murder mystery and Lexy's personal life. The two barely intersect and the Lexy plot veered dangerously close to cheesy afternoon TV territory. That said, I still enjoyed it enough to buy the rest of the series.

[Brandon Larkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one a lot more than the first. I feel like the characters were even better developed and the winding plot was more mature. There were bits I didn't see coming in the mystery, and it was just more enjoyable for me all around.

[John Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finishing the second half of this book in a night is quite an achievement for me. It would have to be a 50-100 pointer (you know: rare/hard). I loved this story just as much as the first, and can't wait to read the next. Keep em coming!

[Gentle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciate that the protagonist of the story is a strong female. Lexy Cooper is a wonderfully developed character. You want to know what's going to happen with her next. Pwned is a good mystery that will keep you guessing and turning pages to find out who did it. An enjoyable read.

[Charles McDougald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't decide how I feel about this series. I enjoy the humor in it, and the mysteries are pretty good but the main characters morals are rather lacking. Oh well, guess I'll still be reading book 3 somewhere down the road.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great follow up

This second book was a great way to get back into the Lexy Cooper franchise! Although there were some annoying parts where she seemed to lose her strong edge. Once again I was left guessing who was the murderer till the end.

[Nathan Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the second in the series. Down to Earth mystery that reads like a "based on a true story". Cant wait to find out what happens next to "Sexy Lexy".

[Lisa Macnutt walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Lexy Cooper story. Keep 'em coming!