What do you think?
Rate this book
Sofie Metropolis #2
Dirty Laundry
When Sofie Metropolis decided to stop being a waitress and start being a private detective, she had no idea what she was getting into. With only a few cases under her belt, Sofie has inherited a dead woman's mean-spirited Jack Russell; fallen hard for a mysterious, charming Australian bounty hunter; and gained a rep for an itchy trigger finger. She even shot one of her clients!
Sofie's mom suspects Sofie's dad is having an affair, and Sofie's seen enough cheating spouses to know that her father is keeping secrets. And though Jake Porter is more available than ever, Sofie finds herself torn between the Australian she barely knows and a handsome, available Greek who knows that the fastest way to Sofie's heart is through a bakery.
Searching for a missing dry cleaner who left behind a brand-new Mercedes and a not-so-brand-new wife, Sofie is attacked by . . . a plastic-swathed suit? Or was it one of Tony DiPiazza's goons? Tony being the junior-league Mobster who has his own reasons to want to get his finely-manicured hands on the dry cleaner's account books.
If Sofie's not careful, her favorite kicks are going to be replaced by a pair of cement overshoes . . . .
Sofie's mom suspects Sofie's dad is having an affair, and Sofie's seen enough cheating spouses to know that her father is keeping secrets. And though Jake Porter is more available than ever, Sofie finds herself torn between the Australian she barely knows and a handsome, available Greek who knows that the fastest way to Sofie's heart is through a bakery.
Searching for a missing dry cleaner who left behind a brand-new Mercedes and a not-so-brand-new wife, Sofie is attacked by . . . a plastic-swathed suit? Or was it one of Tony DiPiazza's goons? Tony being the junior-league Mobster who has his own reasons to want to get his finely-manicured hands on the dry cleaner's account books.
If Sofie's not careful, her favorite kicks are going to be replaced by a pair of cement overshoes . . . .
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
5 people are currently reading
456 people want to read
About the author
Tori Carrington
185 books186 followersAuthor Tori Carrington is the penname of husband and wife writing team Lori and Tony Karayianni.
Hands down, penning a bio is always the most difficult writing challenge we take on. What do we say? What do we keep a secret? Considering we've been writing together for over twenty-two years...well, that reveals more about us than anything you'll likely read here. We're fiction writers simply because we enjoy escaping into an exciting, colorful, fictional world of our own making. Take great, shameless pleasure in delving into the lives of others. Revel in living vicariously through our characters, trying on career hats we'd never otherwise put on, stretching muscles we'd probably be better off excercising in reality. We won't even discuss how our writing allows us to voice opinions on society, romance and human sexuality that aren't subject to public ridicule but rather presented as entertainment. To go there, well, we'd be revealing a little too much, now, wouldn't we?
So we'll stick to just the facts, ma'am -- or sir, depending on your preference, which may or may not have anything to do with your sex. Should you desire more information, feel free to e-mail us and we'll provide you with our phone number, or -- our preference -- arrange to meet with you one-on-one where we can learn as much, or perhaps more, about you as you will about us. Depending on our mood, we may spill everything we'd prefer to keep a secret, like which traits we would change about the other if given half a chance. Likewise, we may wisecrack our way through the interview, sprinkle our responses with what we find exciting about our latest book, and blissfully skate over personal details that might bare a little too much.
Trust us, this is not an attempt to create an aura of mystery. We're not quite that saavy. No, we're just very protective of our evolving selves and consider ourselves open-minded, known to change an opinion the moment we voice it or are presented with further information, so we're hesitant to commit any to writing. Guess we're very Socrates-like (as opposed to Socratic) in that way, which isn't altogether a bad thing..
So rather than dictate to you here, we'll lay out the basic facts, then provide a number of links to others who have interviewed us.
I'm (Lori Schlachter Karayianni) a Holy Toledo, Ohio, native, having attended Central Catholic but ultimately graduating from Macomber-Whitney with certification in computer science. After working in the computer industry for a number of years -- and after Tony and I endeavored to write our first novel -- I switched to temp work which ultimately led to a four-year stint as a secretary/sales clerk in the engineering and international sales departments of Owens-Illinois, the international container company that put the "glass" into The Glass City. I put the brakes on before I reached the five-year mark, however, the point of no return for most dreamers who get caught in the corporate trap (more vacation time? Better benefits? Probably I should stay until retirement).
Tony's background couldn't be more different from mine, but thankfully it led him to me. Born in Smila, a small hillside village in the area of Ancient Olympia outside Pyrgos, Greece, (where his family has deep roots and an older brother still maintains the family olive groves) he was raised in Athens during a time of political and cultural upheaval, although neither stopped him from becoming a drummer in a successful pop band that often played with Greek singer Teris Chrysos. He immigrated to the U.S. in late 1976 and with the help of the Greek community achieved the American Dream. Only the hunger for something more, the restless searching that originally compelled him to turn his back on his successful music career and brought him here, remained. It wasn't until after we'd become a couple, and he turned to me and suggested that we try our hand at writing, that both of us discovered the true meaning of th
Hands down, penning a bio is always the most difficult writing challenge we take on. What do we say? What do we keep a secret? Considering we've been writing together for over twenty-two years...well, that reveals more about us than anything you'll likely read here. We're fiction writers simply because we enjoy escaping into an exciting, colorful, fictional world of our own making. Take great, shameless pleasure in delving into the lives of others. Revel in living vicariously through our characters, trying on career hats we'd never otherwise put on, stretching muscles we'd probably be better off excercising in reality. We won't even discuss how our writing allows us to voice opinions on society, romance and human sexuality that aren't subject to public ridicule but rather presented as entertainment. To go there, well, we'd be revealing a little too much, now, wouldn't we?
So we'll stick to just the facts, ma'am -- or sir, depending on your preference, which may or may not have anything to do with your sex. Should you desire more information, feel free to e-mail us and we'll provide you with our phone number, or -- our preference -- arrange to meet with you one-on-one where we can learn as much, or perhaps more, about you as you will about us. Depending on our mood, we may spill everything we'd prefer to keep a secret, like which traits we would change about the other if given half a chance. Likewise, we may wisecrack our way through the interview, sprinkle our responses with what we find exciting about our latest book, and blissfully skate over personal details that might bare a little too much.
Trust us, this is not an attempt to create an aura of mystery. We're not quite that saavy. No, we're just very protective of our evolving selves and consider ourselves open-minded, known to change an opinion the moment we voice it or are presented with further information, so we're hesitant to commit any to writing. Guess we're very Socrates-like (as opposed to Socratic) in that way, which isn't altogether a bad thing..
So rather than dictate to you here, we'll lay out the basic facts, then provide a number of links to others who have interviewed us.
I'm (Lori Schlachter Karayianni) a Holy Toledo, Ohio, native, having attended Central Catholic but ultimately graduating from Macomber-Whitney with certification in computer science. After working in the computer industry for a number of years -- and after Tony and I endeavored to write our first novel -- I switched to temp work which ultimately led to a four-year stint as a secretary/sales clerk in the engineering and international sales departments of Owens-Illinois, the international container company that put the "glass" into The Glass City. I put the brakes on before I reached the five-year mark, however, the point of no return for most dreamers who get caught in the corporate trap (more vacation time? Better benefits? Probably I should stay until retirement).
Tony's background couldn't be more different from mine, but thankfully it led him to me. Born in Smila, a small hillside village in the area of Ancient Olympia outside Pyrgos, Greece, (where his family has deep roots and an older brother still maintains the family olive groves) he was raised in Athens during a time of political and cultural upheaval, although neither stopped him from becoming a drummer in a successful pop band that often played with Greek singer Teris Chrysos. He immigrated to the U.S. in late 1976 and with the help of the Greek community achieved the American Dream. Only the hunger for something more, the restless searching that originally compelled him to turn his back on his successful music career and brought him here, remained. It wasn't until after we'd become a couple, and he turned to me and suggested that we try our hand at writing, that both of us discovered the true meaning of th
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
July 26, 2012
In this unabashed mimic of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, PI Sofie Metropolis returns once again to the New York crime scene, this time dead set on finding Uncle Tolly, a laundry owner who suddenly disappeared after buying an expensive Mercedes. As Sofie investigates, all clues lead to his involvement in the Greek mafia. Was he laundering more than just clothes? Sofie's probe into the underworld of Astoria proves to be dangerous to her own health, for she finds herself being tailed by men that look too much like hitmen for comfort and being tested out for new shoes - of the cement variety! As if that weren't enough, her uncle Spiros is still out of the country and Sofie is shouldering more than her share of the agency's work, including trying to serve papers to an evasive man, prove the guilt of a man involved in a workman's compensation swindle and find a few more missing pets and cheating spouses. Her personal life isn't much simpler, for the heat wave that has hit New York is obviously causing everyone around her to act strangely: her father is probably being unfaithful, her dog is releasing deadly fumes and her current love (or is that lust) interest, Jake Porter, continues to save the day but otherwise remain frustratingly elusive. Will Sofie ever straighten up the mess that she calls her life?
Although some reviewers obviously disagree, I am beginning to really like this series. I tried reading the Stephanie Plum books but found them just a bit too vulgar for my taste. This series, though by no means lacking in innuendos and highly charged scenes, scales down the intensity quite a bit which I found to be much more to my liking. The characters are quirky and likable and the plot is fast-paced and enjoyable. I love Sofie's internal commentary, which ranges from witty (like her quips about a life that is characterized by "stale Jordan almonds and dog farts") to insightful (like her observation that she needed to stop living for work and start living to enjoy life!) Like her, I agree that it's not the heat that makes people act strangely...we're just all strange to start out with! I look forward to reading more of her adventures.
Although some reviewers obviously disagree, I am beginning to really like this series. I tried reading the Stephanie Plum books but found them just a bit too vulgar for my taste. This series, though by no means lacking in innuendos and highly charged scenes, scales down the intensity quite a bit which I found to be much more to my liking. The characters are quirky and likable and the plot is fast-paced and enjoyable. I love Sofie's internal commentary, which ranges from witty (like her quips about a life that is characterized by "stale Jordan almonds and dog farts") to insightful (like her observation that she needed to stop living for work and start living to enjoy life!) Like her, I agree that it's not the heat that makes people act strangely...we're just all strange to start out with! I look forward to reading more of her adventures.
December 31, 2008
Not a bad little mystery-- kind of like Janet Evanovich meets My Big Fat Greek Wedding-- or I guess that would be Stephanie Plum or Barney rather than Janet, herself. Still not quite sure of the wholebit as to why Sofie's investigation might have required cement boots (seemed a bit extreme and a bit messy, but hey, who am I to criticize?)
Anyhow, if I stumble upon more in this series, I'll probably give them a read. I'll offer this to bumma now and if she's not interested, will wild release or take to meetup.
From the Publisher
When Sofie Metropolis decided to stop being a waitress and start being a private detective, she had no idea what she was getting into. With only a few cases under her belt, Sofie has inherited a dead woman's mean-spirited Jack Russell; fallen hard for a mysterious, charming Australian bounty hunter; and gained a rep for an itchy trigger finger. She even shot one of her clients!
Sofie's mom suspects Sofie's dad is having an affair, and Sofie's seen enough cheating spouses to know that her father is keeping secrets. And though Jake Porter is more available than ever, Sofie finds herself torn between the Australian she barely knows and a handsome, available Greek who knows that the fastest way to Sofie's heart is through a bakery.
Searching for a missing dry cleaner who left behind a brand-new Mercedes and a not-so-brand-new wife, Sofie is attacked by . . . a plastic-swathed suit? Or was it one of Tony DiPiazza's goons? Tony being the junior-league Mobster who has his own reasons to want to get his finely-manicured hands on the dry cleaner's account books.
If Sofie's not careful, her favorite kicks are going to be replaced by a pair of cement
Anyhow, if I stumble upon more in this series, I'll probably give them a read. I'll offer this to bumma now and if she's not interested, will wild release or take to meetup.
From the Publisher
When Sofie Metropolis decided to stop being a waitress and start being a private detective, she had no idea what she was getting into. With only a few cases under her belt, Sofie has inherited a dead woman's mean-spirited Jack Russell; fallen hard for a mysterious, charming Australian bounty hunter; and gained a rep for an itchy trigger finger. She even shot one of her clients!
Sofie's mom suspects Sofie's dad is having an affair, and Sofie's seen enough cheating spouses to know that her father is keeping secrets. And though Jake Porter is more available than ever, Sofie finds herself torn between the Australian she barely knows and a handsome, available Greek who knows that the fastest way to Sofie's heart is through a bakery.
Searching for a missing dry cleaner who left behind a brand-new Mercedes and a not-so-brand-new wife, Sofie is attacked by . . . a plastic-swathed suit? Or was it one of Tony DiPiazza's goons? Tony being the junior-league Mobster who has his own reasons to want to get his finely-manicured hands on the dry cleaner's account books.
If Sofie's not careful, her favorite kicks are going to be replaced by a pair of cement
November 19, 2013
Dirty Laundry was light and easy reading, you may even pick up a few Greek words or customs. The mystery was okay, and watching Sofie on her investigations was interesting - she bumbles along in the beginning, but towards the end finds a system of baiting that works out well for her. Like I said in my previous review of Sofie Metropolis the first book in the series, the comparisons between this and another popular series are going to be there, but it was still entertaining.
Sofie, there are times I like her and times I don't. She's stubborn and I've got to give her credit where credit is due - the girl does not give up and she has some serious balls and bravado. I will also say she has a gun, and will use it with some degree of success. As for her investigative skills - I wasn't very impressed but I will admit she tries, and did finally show some progress towards the end. Don't get me wrong she does do some stupid things, which she knows are stupid yet continues to do anyway. That annoys me to no end because she knows it's not a good idea, and there is so much potential for something to go wrong and yet she goes along with it despite not having the experience to really take care of herself if things go bad or even telling anyone or taking any precautionary measures (except taking her gun, which is the single plus).
As for Jake, well I know about as much about him from this book as I did in the first. The man of mystery is a bit overdone and I think it's a bit too much - I still don't get why she's attracted to him, except that he's hot, and he helps her out. The introduction of another possible male interest - Dino wasn't fully explored in this book. I have no opinion either way because I don't know either of them well enough and Sofie seems mostly attracted by physical appearance (and perhaps benefits of having one male over the other). That sounds rather harsh of me, but that's kind of how it came off at times - maybe I just wasn't feeling the romance in this book or Porter's overdone man of mystery thing is just annoying me, or perhaps it's Sofie's usual tendency to melt into a puddle in close quarters with him (though I will say she did give him back a little attitude in this which was…progress).
Sofie's investigations consist of a man suspected of cheating workers comp, several suspected cheaters, missing creatures (Uncle Tolly and Frank the Ferret), trying to serve another man court papers, and let's not forget her mother's suspicion that dad is having an affair. It's a bit much to take in, and the story is interspersed with greek culture and food, gossip and drama, and some issues that were never touched on again. I still have some questions.
Overall, it was light, silly and amusing, a reasonably entertaining way to pass the time. 3 stars.
Sofie, there are times I like her and times I don't. She's stubborn and I've got to give her credit where credit is due - the girl does not give up and she has some serious balls and bravado. I will also say she has a gun, and will use it with some degree of success. As for her investigative skills - I wasn't very impressed but I will admit she tries, and did finally show some progress towards the end. Don't get me wrong she does do some stupid things, which she knows are stupid yet continues to do anyway. That annoys me to no end because she knows it's not a good idea, and there is so much potential for something to go wrong and yet she goes along with it despite not having the experience to really take care of herself if things go bad or even telling anyone or taking any precautionary measures (except taking her gun, which is the single plus).
As for Jake, well I know about as much about him from this book as I did in the first. The man of mystery is a bit overdone and I think it's a bit too much - I still don't get why she's attracted to him, except that he's hot, and he helps her out. The introduction of another possible male interest - Dino wasn't fully explored in this book. I have no opinion either way because I don't know either of them well enough and Sofie seems mostly attracted by physical appearance (and perhaps benefits of having one male over the other). That sounds rather harsh of me, but that's kind of how it came off at times - maybe I just wasn't feeling the romance in this book or Porter's overdone man of mystery thing is just annoying me, or perhaps it's Sofie's usual tendency to melt into a puddle in close quarters with him (though I will say she did give him back a little attitude in this which was…progress).
Sofie's investigations consist of a man suspected of cheating workers comp, several suspected cheaters, missing creatures (Uncle Tolly and Frank the Ferret), trying to serve another man court papers, and let's not forget her mother's suspicion that dad is having an affair. It's a bit much to take in, and the story is interspersed with greek culture and food, gossip and drama, and some issues that were never touched on again. I still have some questions.
Overall, it was light, silly and amusing, a reasonably entertaining way to pass the time. 3 stars.
June 28, 2012
I was sat on the fence with the first Sofie Metropolis book, but with Dirty Laundry I find myself really liking the series.
Sure it is like Evanovich's Plum series. There are a lot of parallel's including Sofie's use of the word "Probably." But for all those similarities, Sofie is different from Stephanie. She lacks a side kick and her family is way more quirky than the Plum household. She's also a girly girl, something which really can't be said for Stephanie.
In this book there's more cheating spouses, or so they think, a missing ferret and a missing dry cleaner.
Oh and then there's the mob! Tony DiPiazza, who wants to have "pasta" with Sofie, if you know what I'm saying. (wink wink, nudge nudge) I have to say one of the funniest moments of the book is when Sofie's apartment is broken into and Muffy is taped to the toilet. Poor little Muffy!
There's a lot of funny stuff with Sofie, and her crush on Jake Porter, which almost made it to the bedroom is worth turning pages for. Hunky Aussie guys are always worth turning pages for.
The first book had trouble finding its footing, but with Dirty Laundry, Tori Carrington definitely has a winner. I look forward to reading more from this series. Hopefully they can keep things fresh and funny for awhile!
Sure it is like Evanovich's Plum series. There are a lot of parallel's including Sofie's use of the word "Probably." But for all those similarities, Sofie is different from Stephanie. She lacks a side kick and her family is way more quirky than the Plum household. She's also a girly girl, something which really can't be said for Stephanie.
In this book there's more cheating spouses, or so they think, a missing ferret and a missing dry cleaner.
Oh and then there's the mob! Tony DiPiazza, who wants to have "pasta" with Sofie, if you know what I'm saying. (wink wink, nudge nudge) I have to say one of the funniest moments of the book is when Sofie's apartment is broken into and Muffy is taped to the toilet. Poor little Muffy!
There's a lot of funny stuff with Sofie, and her crush on Jake Porter, which almost made it to the bedroom is worth turning pages for. Hunky Aussie guys are always worth turning pages for.
The first book had trouble finding its footing, but with Dirty Laundry, Tori Carrington definitely has a winner. I look forward to reading more from this series. Hopefully they can keep things fresh and funny for awhile!
August 23, 2012
These are enjoyable little mysteries, heavily spiced with humor, and some great secondary characters.
One of the things I like about Sofie, as compared to some other sleuths, is that she actually makes progress toward solving her cases. Discoveries are made, plans are laid, and it all works toward an ultimate conclusion. In many similar detective/amateur sleuth series, the protagonist sort of bumbles cluelessly from one event to the next, until eventually the mystery solves itself in her presence. Sofie, on the other hand, is a take-charge kind of girl, and while there's a fair amount of bumbling, you can see she has some skills and a good brain as well.
Much like Stephanie Plum. Which is my main complaint about this series. Janet Evanovich should really be getting royalties, as the characters (main and secondary), plot, humor, etc. are nearly identical. You could even make a conversion chart:
Rosie = Lula
Jake = Ranger
Waitress = Button Factory worker
and so on.
All in all, these are fun reads, but if you're looking for a change of pace from Stephanie Plum, this wouldn't be it.
One of the things I like about Sofie, as compared to some other sleuths, is that she actually makes progress toward solving her cases. Discoveries are made, plans are laid, and it all works toward an ultimate conclusion. In many similar detective/amateur sleuth series, the protagonist sort of bumbles cluelessly from one event to the next, until eventually the mystery solves itself in her presence. Sofie, on the other hand, is a take-charge kind of girl, and while there's a fair amount of bumbling, you can see she has some skills and a good brain as well.
Much like Stephanie Plum. Which is my main complaint about this series. Janet Evanovich should really be getting royalties, as the characters (main and secondary), plot, humor, etc. are nearly identical. You could even make a conversion chart:
Rosie = Lula
Jake = Ranger
Waitress = Button Factory worker
and so on.
All in all, these are fun reads, but if you're looking for a change of pace from Stephanie Plum, this wouldn't be it.
November 24, 2019
This is the second book in the goofy Sofie Metropolis series. Sofie gets herself in more trouble this time around. She’s still pet detecting, still hunting down cheating spouses, but also struggling pretty hard to serve some papers to an elusive Mr. Waters and while helping locate the missing laundromat owner, has gotten herself tangled up with the mob. We’ve got Muffy unable to control his terrible gas and Jake Porter is still hanging around and teasing Sofie. Oh yeah and is her dad cheating on her mom?
This book was a lot more involved. There were so many storylines going on at once that I forgot about some of them half the time and then when they’d come up again I wouldn’t remember where we were at or who the people are that are being talked about. There are a lot of characters in this book series. I think it’s better than your funny and goofy detective series because of that. It’s definitely not a simple mindless read. Or listen like this one was. This’ll be my last audiobook though, there’s no more on Overdrive and I don’t love the narrator so print it’ll be.
Even though I felt like this book had more interesting things going on I think the main storylines of the last one were more interesting. Now to find out if I find these books more fun when actually reading them.
This book was a lot more involved. There were so many storylines going on at once that I forgot about some of them half the time and then when they’d come up again I wouldn’t remember where we were at or who the people are that are being talked about. There are a lot of characters in this book series. I think it’s better than your funny and goofy detective series because of that. It’s definitely not a simple mindless read. Or listen like this one was. This’ll be my last audiobook though, there’s no more on Overdrive and I don’t love the narrator so print it’ll be.
Even though I felt like this book had more interesting things going on I think the main storylines of the last one were more interesting. Now to find out if I find these books more fun when actually reading them.
November 11, 2018
Sofie Metropolis, P.I, is back and ready for action in the second novel of this series.
Five months have passed since her last eventful case (if you can call shooting someone in the knee an event), and, unfortunately, she’s due for another.
When Apostolis Pappas (A.K.A, Uncle Tolly) disappears, his wife Aglaia wants Sofie to find him, dead or alive, so she can sell his fancy new Mercedes. But Sofie realizes soon enough that she’s dealing with more than she can handle... namely, the mob. And a missing ferret, a gassy dog, and her terrible love life.
I only gave the first book in this series two stars, because I felt that it was copying the Stephanie Plum series. This one felt more original, while still having the same type of humor that I enjoyed.
Five months have passed since her last eventful case (if you can call shooting someone in the knee an event), and, unfortunately, she’s due for another.
When Apostolis Pappas (A.K.A, Uncle Tolly) disappears, his wife Aglaia wants Sofie to find him, dead or alive, so she can sell his fancy new Mercedes. But Sofie realizes soon enough that she’s dealing with more than she can handle... namely, the mob. And a missing ferret, a gassy dog, and her terrible love life.
I only gave the first book in this series two stars, because I felt that it was copying the Stephanie Plum series. This one felt more original, while still having the same type of humor that I enjoyed.
December 1, 2023
This book was a lot better and it is clear to see that Sofie is starting to find her way through her chosen profession as a PI. While the similarities between Sofie and Stephanie are still there, it is a fresh take on a familiar plot line. I love that fact that although she is not a fan of guns she at least sees the importance of carrying one. I believe she will have a new kind of sidekick in Mr. Waters which is a Lula equivalent from the Plum series. I hope that her relationship with Porter develops into a real thing and not just a constant tease between books. Overall better read on to book 3, Foul Play.
May 7, 2018
Entering Sofie Metropolis's world is entering one of a tight-knit Greek-American family with a daughter (Sofie) determined to stand on her own. Getting involved with the Mob, inadvertent or not, reveals the support and help Sofie has in her mysterious Australian friend/fellow-PI who serves as protector, her family, and herself as she pulls herself back together after learning her fiancee was cheating on her (with her maid of honor) on the day of her wedding.
Quick and light.
Quick and light.
October 30, 2024
It was alright. I got it and its sequel at the library book sale on a whim. For 75% of it, I'd only read a few pages at a time before bed. It definitely picked up in the last 25, and held my interest enough to stay up and finish it.
May 27, 2017
Love the characters and it was funny. Audiobook was amazing.
June 23, 2017
Love this series.
September 27, 2017
I'm up to date with ms plum and these are the next best I've found so far
October 25, 2018
An okay read, with some humor. Greek recipes.
October 26, 2019
Totally formulaic, but fun.
June 17, 2020
It's what my friend calls a "beach read".
January 25, 2021
Audiobook performed by Anna Fields*
October 17, 2021
Light enjoyable read. Likable characters.
January 29, 2022
Fun !!! Love this series . I'm so glad I stumbled on to it. Ready to read more about Sofie and her escapades.
March 4, 2023
This author is a sister to #Janet Evonovich! I am enjoying this series of new funny adventures.
Fabulous reader.
Fabulous reader.
August 29, 2023
Like the first book in this series, this mystery was light, fast and fun. I got a kick out of the characters. I like the recipes for classic Greek dishes at the end of the book.
Read
October 29, 2025I love this series.
May 3, 2013
I didn't have as much fun with this one as the first. I guess the novelty has worn off and my forgiveness for its obvious copying of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I know that many authors have taken the formula of Evanovich's books and written their own series, and I'm okay with that, but it just seems as if this series is too transparent with its copying of Evanovich. Don't get me wrong, Strohmeyer's Bubbles series and White's Bailey Wiggins' series are also like Evanovich (and they all came out after Evanovich's books proved successful).
I think the Greek cultural references in this series are cute/funny, but seriously, here's the formula that seems to make this series and others like it so popular:
1. Woman is bumbling through a career that involves the law somehow (PI, bail bonds, etc)
2. Woman has a crazy ethnic family
3. Woman has a sexy male counterpart/friend/helper who likes/loves/hates her
4. Woman's office/job has a sexy bimbo (who's actually smart)
5. Woman's past record with men isn't great (unfaithful husband/boyfriend)
6. Woman engages in outrageous antics that are over the top but very funny
7. Woman has a side kick
8. Woman's life involves an affinity/connection to food
And maybe I'm cranky because there wasn't enough Jake Porter in this one for my romantic craving at the time. My final verdict? I'll read more in the series because Evanovich only gives me 1 book per year, and I need more than that to sustain my desire for an outrageously silly story that is laugh out loud hilarious.
I think the Greek cultural references in this series are cute/funny, but seriously, here's the formula that seems to make this series and others like it so popular:
1. Woman is bumbling through a career that involves the law somehow (PI, bail bonds, etc)
2. Woman has a crazy ethnic family
3. Woman has a sexy male counterpart/friend/helper who likes/loves/hates her
4. Woman's office/job has a sexy bimbo (who's actually smart)
5. Woman's past record with men isn't great (unfaithful husband/boyfriend)
6. Woman engages in outrageous antics that are over the top but very funny
7. Woman has a side kick
8. Woman's life involves an affinity/connection to food
And maybe I'm cranky because there wasn't enough Jake Porter in this one for my romantic craving at the time. My final verdict? I'll read more in the series because Evanovich only gives me 1 book per year, and I need more than that to sustain my desire for an outrageously silly story that is laugh out loud hilarious.
Read
January 11, 2009Dirty Laundry, by Tori Carrington. B-plus.
This was a very light read, a Sophie Metropolis novel. Sophie is Greek, and the characters represented by her family are extremely funny. I’ll probably read more of these when I’ve read heavier darker books and need a break. The publisher’s note for the book describes it as well as anyone could:
Sofie Metropolis is the newest P.I. on the mean streets of Astoria, Queens. She's known for her trademark frappes and her itchy trigger finger. Uncle Tolly
was acting odd right before he disappeared. The proof? The brand-new Mercedes Tolly just bought. And the business' books, which show that Uncle Tolly was
laundering more than just clothes. Which is where the mob comes in, in the darkly handsome figure of Tony DiPiazza. Tony's very taken with Sofie. Too bad
she won't back off the money-laundering and kidnapping (or is it murder?) investigation. Too bad she's too busy to notice the men in her life because she's
being attacked by a malevolent dry-cleaning bag, bailing Aglaia out of jail, and spying on her own father. Sofie's quest for the truth gets her into hot
water, and a pair of cement overshoes. It's not her best look.
This was a very light read, a Sophie Metropolis novel. Sophie is Greek, and the characters represented by her family are extremely funny. I’ll probably read more of these when I’ve read heavier darker books and need a break. The publisher’s note for the book describes it as well as anyone could:
Sofie Metropolis is the newest P.I. on the mean streets of Astoria, Queens. She's known for her trademark frappes and her itchy trigger finger. Uncle Tolly
was acting odd right before he disappeared. The proof? The brand-new Mercedes Tolly just bought. And the business' books, which show that Uncle Tolly was
laundering more than just clothes. Which is where the mob comes in, in the darkly handsome figure of Tony DiPiazza. Tony's very taken with Sofie. Too bad
she won't back off the money-laundering and kidnapping (or is it murder?) investigation. Too bad she's too busy to notice the men in her life because she's
being attacked by a malevolent dry-cleaning bag, bailing Aglaia out of jail, and spying on her own father. Sofie's quest for the truth gets her into hot
water, and a pair of cement overshoes. It's not her best look.
September 7, 2012
These are enjoyable little mysteries, heavily spiced with humor, and some great secondary characters.
One of the things I like about Sofie, as compared to some other sleuths, is that she actually makes progress toward solving her cases. Discoveries are made, plans are laid, and it all works toward an ultimate conclusion. In many similar detective/amateur sleuth series, the protagonist sort of bumbles cluelessly from one event to the next, until eventually the mystery solves itself in her presence. Sofie, on the other hand, is a take-charge kind of girl, and while there's a fair amount of bumbling, you can see she has some skills and a good brain as well.
Much like Stephanie Plum. Which is my main complaint about this series. Janet Evanovich should really be getting royalties, as the characters (main and secondary), plot, humor, etc. are nearly identical. You could even make a conversion chart:
Rosie = Lula
Jake = Ranger
Waitress = Button Factory worker
and so on.
All in all, these are fun reads, but if you're looking for a change of pace from Stephanie Plum, this wouldn't be it.
One of the things I like about Sofie, as compared to some other sleuths, is that she actually makes progress toward solving her cases. Discoveries are made, plans are laid, and it all works toward an ultimate conclusion. In many similar detective/amateur sleuth series, the protagonist sort of bumbles cluelessly from one event to the next, until eventually the mystery solves itself in her presence. Sofie, on the other hand, is a take-charge kind of girl, and while there's a fair amount of bumbling, you can see she has some skills and a good brain as well.
Much like Stephanie Plum. Which is my main complaint about this series. Janet Evanovich should really be getting royalties, as the characters (main and secondary), plot, humor, etc. are nearly identical. You could even make a conversion chart:
Rosie = Lula
Jake = Ranger
Waitress = Button Factory worker
and so on.
All in all, these are fun reads, but if you're looking for a change of pace from Stephanie Plum, this wouldn't be it.
January 25, 2016
These are enjoyable little mysteries, heavily spiced with humor, and some great secondary characters.
One of the things I like about Sofie, as compared to some other sleuths, is that she actually makes progress toward solving her cases. Discoveries are made, plans are laid, and it all works toward an ultimate conclusion. In many similar detective/amateur sleuth series, the protagonist sort of bumbles cluelessly from one event to the next, until eventually the mystery solves itself in her presence. Sofie, on the other hand, is a take-charge kind of girl, and while there's a fair amount of bumbling, you can see she has some skills and a good brain as well.
Much like Stephanie Plum. Which is my main complaint about this series. Janet Evanovich should really be getting royalties, as the characters (main and secondary), plot, humor, etc. are nearly identical. You could even make a conversion chart:
Rosie = Lula
Jake = Ranger
Waitress = Button Factory worker
and so on.
All in all, these are fun reads, but if you're looking for a change of pace from Stephanie Plum, this wouldn't be it.
One of the things I like about Sofie, as compared to some other sleuths, is that she actually makes progress toward solving her cases. Discoveries are made, plans are laid, and it all works toward an ultimate conclusion. In many similar detective/amateur sleuth series, the protagonist sort of bumbles cluelessly from one event to the next, until eventually the mystery solves itself in her presence. Sofie, on the other hand, is a take-charge kind of girl, and while there's a fair amount of bumbling, you can see she has some skills and a good brain as well.
Much like Stephanie Plum. Which is my main complaint about this series. Janet Evanovich should really be getting royalties, as the characters (main and secondary), plot, humor, etc. are nearly identical. You could even make a conversion chart:
Rosie = Lula
Jake = Ranger
Waitress = Button Factory worker
and so on.
All in all, these are fun reads, but if you're looking for a change of pace from Stephanie Plum, this wouldn't be it.
November 24, 2009
I grabbed this book from the tbr pile this morning and started it this afternoon because I wanted something light and fun.
After reading about 1/3 it appears this book is a ripoff of the Stephanie Plum books. The tone is tongue in cheek, the heroine is a Greek girl who, after catching her husband-to-be with the maid of honor on her wedding day, is now a PI wanna-be and she has a huge crush on a sexy Australian bounty hunter. If you've read the Stephanie Plum books this will all sound painfully familiar. In comparison (and how could one not make the comparison?) this one lacks. There is a lot of talk about Greek food and a few somewhat quirky characters but there is no Grandma Mazer here, just an old bat who wants to cook a dog and gives people the "evil eye" and it's all a bit bland. Man, now I'm feeling even grouchier.
Later: I finished and won't say it was a chore. The writing is light and breezy and it's truly a mindless read which is what I needed to distract me from thinking on a few things. Come tomorrow I doubt I'll remember any details about it however . . .
After reading about 1/3 it appears this book is a ripoff of the Stephanie Plum books. The tone is tongue in cheek, the heroine is a Greek girl who, after catching her husband-to-be with the maid of honor on her wedding day, is now a PI wanna-be and she has a huge crush on a sexy Australian bounty hunter. If you've read the Stephanie Plum books this will all sound painfully familiar. In comparison (and how could one not make the comparison?) this one lacks. There is a lot of talk about Greek food and a few somewhat quirky characters but there is no Grandma Mazer here, just an old bat who wants to cook a dog and gives people the "evil eye" and it's all a bit bland. Man, now I'm feeling even grouchier.
Later: I finished and won't say it was a chore. The writing is light and breezy and it's truly a mindless read which is what I needed to distract me from thinking on a few things. Come tomorrow I doubt I'll remember any details about it however . . .
September 1, 2014
This one was better than the first one. The main character was less annoying in this book and seems to be finding her feet as a PI. Even still, she makes some pretty stupid choices that anyone with a brain in their head would know were very bad and very dangerous choices. So in that respect, some things in the book were somewhat unbelievable. I'm not sure if the authors want Sofie to start out weak as a character and grow with each book or what. It definitely felt that way between book one and two. Although, I'm not Greek so it's hard for me to believe that any parents would raise a daughter this day in age, to only want to grow up, work in the family restaurant, and then get married and have babies. They don't want any thing more for their daughters than that? Maybe someone raised in a Greek family can enlighten me. But all in all, it is a fun, light read with a fast pace. Read the book in less than 24 hours. Oh, and the Jake Porter thing is kind of being drawn out far too long.
October 21, 2008
Ok, so here's the thing. The authors of this book are supposed to be "good" having been up for a slew of awards. Apparently I either don't know what good writing is or this is obviously not one of the books that got them nominated for any of those awards. The cover says "sexy, suspenseful, and flat-out hilarious!"... Sexy - not at all (very boring), suspenseful - didn't pick up on that either, hilarious - didn't even grin while reading the book much less laugh. The idea for the story was good, just way to much writing, little to no dialogue, somewhat of an obnoxious style. I didn't get it. Best of luck should you choose to read it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews