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Happy Hoofers Mystery #2
Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities
Murder is nothing to tap at. . .
The high-kicking Happy Hoofers--Tina, Janice, Pat, Mary Louise, and Gini--have been booked to flaunt their fabulous flamenco footwork on a luxury train ride through northern Spain. But when a blowhard talk show host is found deader than four-day-old flan--with Gini as suspect numero uno--the feisty friends waste no time stepping into their sleuthing shoes to protect one of their own.
The dynamite dancers will have to step up their game before a clever killer brings the curtain down on one of them . . . for good!
Includes Photo Tips And Tasty Recipes
The high-kicking Happy Hoofers--Tina, Janice, Pat, Mary Louise, and Gini--have been booked to flaunt their fabulous flamenco footwork on a luxury train ride through northern Spain. But when a blowhard talk show host is found deader than four-day-old flan--with Gini as suspect numero uno--the feisty friends waste no time stepping into their sleuthing shoes to protect one of their own.
The dynamite dancers will have to step up their game before a clever killer brings the curtain down on one of them . . . for good!
Includes Photo Tips And Tasty Recipes
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 24, 2015
18 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Mary McHugh
41 books39 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
February 28, 2015
I'm totally on a middle ground when it comes to this book. I did not love it, I did not hate it - in fact, I liked the story - I just didn't realize that I did until I was about 70% in, and the story ends around 83%.
I love a good mystery and the book description on this one really caught my eye. It was very misleading, though. At no point in the story is Gini considered "suspect numero uno." It is joked around about, the detective does question her (he questions everyone on the train), but it's all very light hearted when it comes to her - and the other dancers - as if they could never do anything wrong, and everyone trusts them immensely.
It is slow-going at the beginning and there were questions that kept popping into my head:
How old are they? I haven't read the first book, two of the ladies have been married for awhile with children, but it isn't until I read the book description for the next book (at the end of this story there is information on the next book, as well as an excerpt) that I found out they were 50+.
Why is an American dance troupe doing Flamenco dancing during a tour of Spain? This was a big one that bothered me. I felt like them doing it in the first place was rather disrespectful. And the detective even acts quite disgusted about the whole idea. Their second and third dance were both "American" - the second being to the song "New York, New York" - which sounded more like something you would expect.
What does the story have to do with the title? This one was mainly because of a mystery my mother read a couple of weeks ago that had the word flan in the title, and in that book it wasn't until the last chapter that flan was even spoken of, and just in passing. I wanted to see how flan became a big part of this story, so big that it was in the title - that's big. Like, was someone going to die from eating poisoned flan??!!??!! (No, that didn't happen. The death had nothing to do with flan.)
After we hit the first restaurant, the story starts picking up, and as with any good mystery, you have a list going in your head of who was going to be murdered - and who did it. There were things that I didn't expect, suspects that I wouldn't have guessed, and the murderer was not even on my list of possibilities. The last chapter was a summation of where everybody's life went after this trip (well, between this one and the next book), answering some of the questions that hadn't been completely answered, and I plan on reading the next book because it sounds interesting and I'm curious to see what kind of trouble these gals get into next.
I especially liked the descriptions of the scenery and the places they visited, including the restaurants, and that there were recipes for some of the things that they tried along the way. For your photo buffs, each chapter ends with a photography tip - most of them I already knew, but there were a couple that I took note of.
I guess my main problem with the book was that there were ... lots of problems.
(I am going to try very hard not to give away too much information beyond this point - I would hate to ruin the story for anyone - but I am pointing out some of the problems I had. You have been warned.)
The book is written in first person, us being in Gini's mind. She is very proud of saying everything that pops into her head, as if this is a good thing, and is always pointing out that she can't help her self, hold back her sarcasm, or keep her mouth shut. And it is not just in what she says to other characters. It often felt like I was stuck in the mind of a dog whose mind gets sidetracked by a squirrel. She was all over the place sometimes, rambling off onto a subject, which ended up veering way off into left field, and taking away from the story at hand.
There were lots of side stories that did the same thing. Sometimes it really felt like the mystery was the actual side story. Especially at the end. There was no real understanding of how exactly the murder did it - just a big event that made you feel like the person was guilty, which ended rather easily, then Gini's hypothesis when they key players discussed it back on the train. In the final chapter, she does mention going back to Spain for the trial.
And her excuses for being rude weren't the only repetitive things - the one sticking out most was that it was pointed out at least five times that there were four different languages (Spanish, German, English and Norwegian) being spoken on the train at any given time. We get it, and it really doesn't need to be told to us every time all the passengers are in one room.
Things didn't exactly add up: For example, why did Eduardo and Javier (the detective) trust these five ladies so much? They both went to them at different times with information (including right after the murder when Eduardo told only the dancers about the murder). And, on that trust note, why did the dancers trust some people, but not others, when a lot of people had motives and opportunities. It was like, without evidence, they were sure this person, that person, those people over there COULD have done it, when the same thing could have been said about Gigi herself. Another example, why was there this "lie" hanging around about when the murder took place? Eduardo told them BEFORE they went out to do their first dance, yet when the police were questioning them, everyone acted as if it happened in the middle of the night, including one of the dancers who said, "She certainly didn't get up in the middle of the night and kill anyone. I would have noticed." Several pages later, one of them confesses to the police that they already knew and that it had actually happened earlier. (People lie when they are covering things up and this seemed like a false clue.)
The Spanish in at least one place is wrong i.e. "Por favor" is not a reply to "Muchas gracias."
I didn't really find the five dancers likable. Not until closer to the end.
Janice is the one I disliked the most ... and it's the author's fault. Here's an example: "Javier could not take his eyes off Janice. You could tell he was trying to suppress his feelings, without any luck. He was hooked. Janice was so beautiful. Her face, which was always lovely, was glowing, slightly rosy, after the dance. She pushed back her hair, now curly and untamed. She looked so sexy, I knew Javier couldn't resist." This is one of many times Gini talks about how gorgeous this girl is. She is so beautiful, no man can resist her, blah blah blah blah blah *barf* (I really do get tired of the "perfect" woman. Hasn't that character been overwritten? I couldn't help but roll my eyes whenever she came on the page.) Of course, they know each other for two days, and are in love, wanting to spend every moment together - time he should have been spending investigating the murder, and she seemed very sulky when he was away. And Javier is not the only man who is smitten with her.
The one I disliked almost as much as her was Mary Louise, which bothered me because I had actually liked her in the beginning - she really came off as very sweet. She is a married woman, but also falls in love after two days, with a man who is still grieving over the loss of his wife, a woman that she reminds him a lot of.
Pat came off as the "token" gay woman. It's not mentioned at first, and is really none of our business, but all of a sudden she falls in love, too - with a woman that I don't think should have been trusted as quickly as they did her.
That leaves us with Tina, who I actually did like. She stayed out of drama, was very helpful and caring, and did her best to try to keep the rest of them corralled, though her job shouldn't have been to babysit the others.
The characters I liked the most were the side characters, people I wanted to know more about. Mark and Sam, Geoffrey and Danielle - they seemed like great people. I liked Eduardo and the bartender as well. My favorites, though, were Jonathan and Hawkeye - probably the most thought-out and interesting characters I have read about in a long time (and I liked how each character dealt with the two of them). I also liked Geoffrey and Danielle's daughter Michele.
I always try to point out the things that I like and don't like - for the author and for potential readers - and I would suggest that the author find an editor to do a thorough go-through. (She is more than welcome to contact me - I know several good ones.) These were just some of the problems I found. The book has a lot of potential and these things take away from what is a good story.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Please remember that this review is my opinion based on my own personal impressions of the book.
I love a good mystery and the book description on this one really caught my eye. It was very misleading, though. At no point in the story is Gini considered "suspect numero uno." It is joked around about, the detective does question her (he questions everyone on the train), but it's all very light hearted when it comes to her - and the other dancers - as if they could never do anything wrong, and everyone trusts them immensely.
It is slow-going at the beginning and there were questions that kept popping into my head:
How old are they? I haven't read the first book, two of the ladies have been married for awhile with children, but it isn't until I read the book description for the next book (at the end of this story there is information on the next book, as well as an excerpt) that I found out they were 50+.
Why is an American dance troupe doing Flamenco dancing during a tour of Spain? This was a big one that bothered me. I felt like them doing it in the first place was rather disrespectful. And the detective even acts quite disgusted about the whole idea. Their second and third dance were both "American" - the second being to the song "New York, New York" - which sounded more like something you would expect.
What does the story have to do with the title? This one was mainly because of a mystery my mother read a couple of weeks ago that had the word flan in the title, and in that book it wasn't until the last chapter that flan was even spoken of, and just in passing. I wanted to see how flan became a big part of this story, so big that it was in the title - that's big. Like, was someone going to die from eating poisoned flan??!!??!! (No, that didn't happen. The death had nothing to do with flan.)
After we hit the first restaurant, the story starts picking up, and as with any good mystery, you have a list going in your head of who was going to be murdered - and who did it. There were things that I didn't expect, suspects that I wouldn't have guessed, and the murderer was not even on my list of possibilities. The last chapter was a summation of where everybody's life went after this trip (well, between this one and the next book), answering some of the questions that hadn't been completely answered, and I plan on reading the next book because it sounds interesting and I'm curious to see what kind of trouble these gals get into next.
I especially liked the descriptions of the scenery and the places they visited, including the restaurants, and that there were recipes for some of the things that they tried along the way. For your photo buffs, each chapter ends with a photography tip - most of them I already knew, but there were a couple that I took note of.
I guess my main problem with the book was that there were ... lots of problems.
(I am going to try very hard not to give away too much information beyond this point - I would hate to ruin the story for anyone - but I am pointing out some of the problems I had. You have been warned.)
The book is written in first person, us being in Gini's mind. She is very proud of saying everything that pops into her head, as if this is a good thing, and is always pointing out that she can't help her self, hold back her sarcasm, or keep her mouth shut. And it is not just in what she says to other characters. It often felt like I was stuck in the mind of a dog whose mind gets sidetracked by a squirrel. She was all over the place sometimes, rambling off onto a subject, which ended up veering way off into left field, and taking away from the story at hand.
There were lots of side stories that did the same thing. Sometimes it really felt like the mystery was the actual side story. Especially at the end. There was no real understanding of how exactly the murder did it - just a big event that made you feel like the person was guilty, which ended rather easily, then Gini's hypothesis when they key players discussed it back on the train. In the final chapter, she does mention going back to Spain for the trial.
And her excuses for being rude weren't the only repetitive things - the one sticking out most was that it was pointed out at least five times that there were four different languages (Spanish, German, English and Norwegian) being spoken on the train at any given time. We get it, and it really doesn't need to be told to us every time all the passengers are in one room.
Things didn't exactly add up: For example, why did Eduardo and Javier (the detective) trust these five ladies so much? They both went to them at different times with information (including right after the murder when Eduardo told only the dancers about the murder). And, on that trust note, why did the dancers trust some people, but not others, when a lot of people had motives and opportunities. It was like, without evidence, they were sure this person, that person, those people over there COULD have done it, when the same thing could have been said about Gigi herself. Another example, why was there this "lie" hanging around about when the murder took place? Eduardo told them BEFORE they went out to do their first dance, yet when the police were questioning them, everyone acted as if it happened in the middle of the night, including one of the dancers who said, "She certainly didn't get up in the middle of the night and kill anyone. I would have noticed." Several pages later, one of them confesses to the police that they already knew and that it had actually happened earlier. (People lie when they are covering things up and this seemed like a false clue.)
The Spanish in at least one place is wrong i.e. "Por favor" is not a reply to "Muchas gracias."
I didn't really find the five dancers likable. Not until closer to the end.
Janice is the one I disliked the most ... and it's the author's fault. Here's an example: "Javier could not take his eyes off Janice. You could tell he was trying to suppress his feelings, without any luck. He was hooked. Janice was so beautiful. Her face, which was always lovely, was glowing, slightly rosy, after the dance. She pushed back her hair, now curly and untamed. She looked so sexy, I knew Javier couldn't resist." This is one of many times Gini talks about how gorgeous this girl is. She is so beautiful, no man can resist her, blah blah blah blah blah *barf* (I really do get tired of the "perfect" woman. Hasn't that character been overwritten? I couldn't help but roll my eyes whenever she came on the page.) Of course, they know each other for two days, and are in love, wanting to spend every moment together - time he should have been spending investigating the murder, and she seemed very sulky when he was away. And Javier is not the only man who is smitten with her.
The one I disliked almost as much as her was Mary Louise, which bothered me because I had actually liked her in the beginning - she really came off as very sweet. She is a married woman, but also falls in love after two days, with a man who is still grieving over the loss of his wife, a woman that she reminds him a lot of.
Pat came off as the "token" gay woman. It's not mentioned at first, and is really none of our business, but all of a sudden she falls in love, too - with a woman that I don't think should have been trusted as quickly as they did her.
That leaves us with Tina, who I actually did like. She stayed out of drama, was very helpful and caring, and did her best to try to keep the rest of them corralled, though her job shouldn't have been to babysit the others.
The characters I liked the most were the side characters, people I wanted to know more about. Mark and Sam, Geoffrey and Danielle - they seemed like great people. I liked Eduardo and the bartender as well. My favorites, though, were Jonathan and Hawkeye - probably the most thought-out and interesting characters I have read about in a long time (and I liked how each character dealt with the two of them). I also liked Geoffrey and Danielle's daughter Michele.
I always try to point out the things that I like and don't like - for the author and for potential readers - and I would suggest that the author find an editor to do a thorough go-through. (She is more than welcome to contact me - I know several good ones.) These were just some of the problems I found. The book has a lot of potential and these things take away from what is a good story.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Please remember that this review is my opinion based on my own personal impressions of the book.
March 15, 2015
4 stars
In this Happy Hoofers Mystery the main character is Gini Miller. She is the teller which just having read right before was the first Happy Hoofers and the teller was Tina. It was a little confusing. The story had more fun with dancing, more murder, great sights on a train ride in Green Spain, more romance and still a clean read.
The Happy Hoofers are Gini award-winning filmmaker. Tina Powell magazine editor and leader of the dancers. Janice Rogers actress and director, Pat a family therapist, Mary Louise mother of three. They are all in there 50's they tap dance and look good. They were asked to dance on this train as entertainers.
I admit at times it was hard for me to keep track of which dancer likes who. There are a lot of characters.
Dick Shambless is a television talk show host in the US. He has arranged to televise this train ride trip. He starts off right away making enemies. He believes he alone is special and does not care of who he makes wait for him. He is rude, brash. Gini for one talks about killing him.
Gini gets attacked in this adventure. I don't know if I would want to be a Happy Hoofer with someone attacking at least one of them each time they travel to dance and having murders happening around them.
The setting is Green Spain. The train follows five-hundred-mile route that pilgrims take from San Sebastian in the east to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela in the west where the bones of St. James are buried.
Gini gives photography tips throughout the book at the end of chapters. There is a lot of good food they eat and are always getting recipes. They are scattered in the book at the end of chapters to. I think it would be easier to have all the recipes together at the back of the book. So they would easier to find.
But I read the next adventure they go on to France.
I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Kensington Books. In return I agreed to give a honest review and be part of Flamenco, Flan and Fatalities book tour.
February 23, 2015
The Happy Hoofers are back in another exciting mystery. This time they are dancing their way on a train through northern Spain and, once again, they are tossed right into the middle of a murder. One of the guests on the train is an obnoxious talk show host who is using the trip as an opportunity to film a documentary. In a short time, he has managed to make more enemies than fans.
One of the Happy Hoofers, Gini, manages to get into a fight with the talk show host and threatens to kill him. Naturally when he’s found dead, she’s the prime suspect. Gini has no intentions of sitting around waiting to be arrested. Instead, she throws herself into the middle of the investigation and finds her own life is on the line.
I love this group of five fifty-something women. They not only dance together, but are best friends as well. Each book in this series is told in the first person and each Hoofer narrates her own story. The first was narrated by Tina. This one is narrated by Gini.
Gini is a tough woman, but also has a few vulnerabilities. She doesn’t hesitate to eavesdrop or put herself in danger to get the information she needs. She, also, pays no attention to the warnings of the chief investigator to mind her own business. She made me laugh as she says whatever is on her mind – no holds barred.
The main thing that attracted me to this series is the age of the main characters as well as the opportunity to travel the world with them. The book doesn’t get too bogged down with travel details, but it’s just enough to give the reader the feeling they are there as well. Talk about transporting the reader – I felt as if I were in Spain for the last few days.
With each book, I learned more and more about the main five characters and I absolutely can’t wait to read the next book and see what they are up to next.
FTC Disclosure: The author and NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book to review for this blog tour. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
One of the Happy Hoofers, Gini, manages to get into a fight with the talk show host and threatens to kill him. Naturally when he’s found dead, she’s the prime suspect. Gini has no intentions of sitting around waiting to be arrested. Instead, she throws herself into the middle of the investigation and finds her own life is on the line.
I love this group of five fifty-something women. They not only dance together, but are best friends as well. Each book in this series is told in the first person and each Hoofer narrates her own story. The first was narrated by Tina. This one is narrated by Gini.
Gini is a tough woman, but also has a few vulnerabilities. She doesn’t hesitate to eavesdrop or put herself in danger to get the information she needs. She, also, pays no attention to the warnings of the chief investigator to mind her own business. She made me laugh as she says whatever is on her mind – no holds barred.
The main thing that attracted me to this series is the age of the main characters as well as the opportunity to travel the world with them. The book doesn’t get too bogged down with travel details, but it’s just enough to give the reader the feeling they are there as well. Talk about transporting the reader – I felt as if I were in Spain for the last few days.
With each book, I learned more and more about the main five characters and I absolutely can’t wait to read the next book and see what they are up to next.
FTC Disclosure: The author and NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book to review for this blog tour. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 16, 2016
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Gini narrates this time and she a force to be reckoned with. She has a hard time holding her tongue and that lands her on the suspect list.
I like these stories because these woman are my age and I wish I could be traveling right along with them. I am mystery fan so even the dead bodies wouldn’t both me too much….yeah right…well I would hope I could help them sleuth out the killer.
Set on a train traveling through Green Spain sounds just spectacular except when a murder means the passengers are stuck on the train instead of seeing the sights. The Happy Hoofers have made friends with certain people though that allows them to travel to some local tourist attractions and restaurants, but they are usually quick secret excursions.
This is basically a closed mystery meaning the killer has to be someone on the train even though it makes several stops. Even in the close quarters these ladies find a way to snoop and eavesdropping is pretty easy with everyone so close together. There are more than a few twists before the true culprit is revealed and I was thrilled that I was on the right track.
I did enjoy the disabled passenger on the train. Their experience mirrored mine about life in a wheelchair and they offered some great insight.
Mary McHugh has penned a very humorous mystery with a key emphasis on friendship. There is a bit of romance too. Love always seems to bloom when people travel. The recipes are great too!
This can be read as a stand alone but recommend starting at the beginning with Chorus Lines, Caviar, and Corpses. They are quick entertaining reads and a great way to spend an afternoon.
We don’t have long to wait for our next vacation with the Happy Hoofers. We head to France with Cancans, Croissants, and Caskets August 25.
March 4, 2022
Another fun dance through a foreign country, this time Spain, with the girls.
March 2, 2015
I think I've fallen in love with this series! No joke, how can you not love a cozy series with a group of dancers called the Happy Hoofers? Its impossible, I tell you. This is the second book in the series, so I only have to go back and read one book. Yay!
Oh and the cover is the cutest thing. (Just had to mention that)
I saw this story as a cozy modern spin on Murder On The Orient Express. It is a fast paced fun read, that you really won't want to miss! It is told from the point of view of Gini, a rather outspoken member of the troop.
I have to say, if you have conservative leanings, you might not enjoy this book as much. Bless her bleeding heart liberal heart. I found Shambless to remind me a bit of Newt Gingrich. He's the same kind of hateful blowhard.
I loved how Gini told him off at the restaurant, because he really was a vile pig.
The story really focused on Gini, Mary-Louise and Janice. The later two women had love interests o the trip, Janice kind of had two and the one really kept them in the thick of the investigation. Gini, really isn't quite suspect numero uno as the blurb would suggest though, but she sure helps the investigation move along.
I really enjoyed the story and the recipes included, though most are a bit too intricate for my cooking abilities.
Oh and the cover is the cutest thing. (Just had to mention that)
I saw this story as a cozy modern spin on Murder On The Orient Express. It is a fast paced fun read, that you really won't want to miss! It is told from the point of view of Gini, a rather outspoken member of the troop.
I have to say, if you have conservative leanings, you might not enjoy this book as much. Bless her bleeding heart liberal heart. I found Shambless to remind me a bit of Newt Gingrich. He's the same kind of hateful blowhard.
I loved how Gini told him off at the restaurant, because he really was a vile pig.
The story really focused on Gini, Mary-Louise and Janice. The later two women had love interests o the trip, Janice kind of had two and the one really kept them in the thick of the investigation. Gini, really isn't quite suspect numero uno as the blurb would suggest though, but she sure helps the investigation move along.
I really enjoyed the story and the recipes included, though most are a bit too intricate for my cooking abilities.
February 24, 2015
A new author for me and I enjoyed the story of the Happy Hoofers. They are exchanging their dancing for travel expenses. This trip is aboard a luxury train through green Spain. The first night a overbearing talk show host is found dead. The train is halted will the police investigates the death. Romance is in the air for Jancie and Mary Louise. The format distracted me as I don't like recipes and hints at the end of chapter. At time I couldn't tell if the train was halted or traveling through the county. I pla on reading the earlier books.
Full Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kensington Books through Netgalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.
Full Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kensington Books through Netgalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.
February 24, 2015
Boy the Happy Hoofers sure get themselves into some trouble when they are abroad entertaining. This time, they are on a train in Spain. Gini tells the story this time. I enjoyed this book a little better than I did the first Happy Hoofer mystery. There were a lot of twists and turns in this book that kept me guessing. There is even some romance in this book for all the romance fans out there. This was a fast read than kept my attention from start to finish. I look forward to the next adventure of the Happy Hoofers, they are going to France next time!
I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.
March 3, 2015
**I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.**
I am not sure how I felt about this book to be totally honest. Mostly luke warm feelings on the whole. I picked up the first one from the series so I will wait to pass complete judgment until I am finished that. Quick mystery read. Delicious looking recipes.
I am not sure how I felt about this book to be totally honest. Mostly luke warm feelings on the whole. I picked up the first one from the series so I will wait to pass complete judgment until I am finished that. Quick mystery read. Delicious looking recipes.
February 18, 2015
I loved this book. It had a wonderful mystery, great characters and yummy food. What more could you ask for? I look forward to more adventures from the Happy Hoofers.
August 24, 2016
In this second "Happy Hoofers Mystery" the ladies are on a train traveling around "Green Spain". The Hoofers are a group of five 50+ ladies who love to dance, Gini, Tina, MaryLouise, Pat and Janice. They all have other jobs/professions and do this on the side. They are entertaining on the trip so get a free trip out of the deal.
Gini narrates this story and she is quite the lady. She says what she thinks and this gets her into trouble. When a hated TV host, Shambless, gets killed she is a suspect based on the fact that she said she would like to kill him. Unfortunately because of the murder, the travelers on the train do not get to do and see as much as they had planned as they are stuck on the train during portions of the investigation. The Hoofers get to sneak off to a couple of tourist sites and excellent restaurants as they have made friends with the investigating detective.
When a second murder occurs, things get sticky. Gini wants to investigate if for no other reason than to clear her own name, but also because it is a little scary knowing you are traveling with a murderer. Even in the close quarters of the train, she finds a way to snoop and eavesdropping is pretty easy with everyone so close together. There are many twists before the true culprit is revealed. I did figure out who the culprit was, but was not able to figure out why.
Once again the characters were fun, interacted well with one another and were smart. There were two characters that were disabled in this story, a young man in a wheelchair and a blind man with a guide dog. Through these characters we saw some of their frustrations about accessibility and the way some people treat them. The one thing that I was not sure about was who quickly the romance blossomed. With two of the Hoofers "falling in love" relatively quickly, a possible affair and finding out one of the gentlemen was married, it took just a little away from the way the Hoofers had been portrayed in the first book.
Mary McHugh has written a humorous mystery with an emphasis on friendship. There are both photography tips from Gini and recipes from various chefs and restaurants. A nice book for cozy mystery lovers, especially if you enjoy armchair travel and great food. I am ready to head off to France with the Hoofers on their next trip
Gini narrates this story and she is quite the lady. She says what she thinks and this gets her into trouble. When a hated TV host, Shambless, gets killed she is a suspect based on the fact that she said she would like to kill him. Unfortunately because of the murder, the travelers on the train do not get to do and see as much as they had planned as they are stuck on the train during portions of the investigation. The Hoofers get to sneak off to a couple of tourist sites and excellent restaurants as they have made friends with the investigating detective.
When a second murder occurs, things get sticky. Gini wants to investigate if for no other reason than to clear her own name, but also because it is a little scary knowing you are traveling with a murderer. Even in the close quarters of the train, she finds a way to snoop and eavesdropping is pretty easy with everyone so close together. There are many twists before the true culprit is revealed. I did figure out who the culprit was, but was not able to figure out why.
Once again the characters were fun, interacted well with one another and were smart. There were two characters that were disabled in this story, a young man in a wheelchair and a blind man with a guide dog. Through these characters we saw some of their frustrations about accessibility and the way some people treat them. The one thing that I was not sure about was who quickly the romance blossomed. With two of the Hoofers "falling in love" relatively quickly, a possible affair and finding out one of the gentlemen was married, it took just a little away from the way the Hoofers had been portrayed in the first book.
Mary McHugh has written a humorous mystery with an emphasis on friendship. There are both photography tips from Gini and recipes from various chefs and restaurants. A nice book for cozy mystery lovers, especially if you enjoy armchair travel and great food. I am ready to head off to France with the Hoofers on their next trip
August 22, 2015
Note: There's no actual details, but this review is spoilerish.
This is a joint review for Flamenco, Flan and Fatalities and Cancans, Croissants and Caskets because they are basically the same book. (I haven't read the first one in the series.) The set up is that there is this 50ish troupe of 5 women who do dance performances and get to travel because of it. Murders occur during the trip, one or more fall in love/lust (despite being on trips of a week or less), one of the gals gets in danger because she notices something, yet in each book the killer gets away with the first attempt to silence the hoofer then stupidly makes another attempt getting caught.
This is more a chick lit read about 5 50+ ladies traveling, how they are dressed and what they see and eat. We know every meal and there are some recipes included in each book. The books alternate with a different "hoofer" being the main character and this character gives tips at the end of every chapter. Gini gives photography tips in Flamenco and Janice gives fashion tips in Cancans (Why fashion? She's an actress true, but that makes her a fashion expert? We've all seen some of those fashion nightmares on the red carpet.) The tips are so simple, I thought they were tongue in cheek at first. Bring sunglasses and an umbrella? Don't take pictures of someone eating?
As a mystery series, I'd have to give the books a 1 star rating. Typically, main characters participate in solving the crime. There is none of that though, at least, the local cops do interviews. The crooks in both cases basically out themselves and did a pathetic job of trying to cover up their crime especially in Flamenco. If there was any evidence, it was very circumstantial.
Why muck up the series with romance? Especially those characters who are in relationships. Yes, we all know people cheat, but it's just implausible that multiple hoofers (and again, there are only 5 of them) are tempted in each book knowing that their friends are witness to this. It's distasteful, especially with so much page space devoted this stuff.
I received copies of both books from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This is a joint review for Flamenco, Flan and Fatalities and Cancans, Croissants and Caskets because they are basically the same book. (I haven't read the first one in the series.) The set up is that there is this 50ish troupe of 5 women who do dance performances and get to travel because of it. Murders occur during the trip, one or more fall in love/lust (despite being on trips of a week or less), one of the gals gets in danger because she notices something, yet in each book the killer gets away with the first attempt to silence the hoofer then stupidly makes another attempt getting caught.
This is more a chick lit read about 5 50+ ladies traveling, how they are dressed and what they see and eat. We know every meal and there are some recipes included in each book. The books alternate with a different "hoofer" being the main character and this character gives tips at the end of every chapter. Gini gives photography tips in Flamenco and Janice gives fashion tips in Cancans (Why fashion? She's an actress true, but that makes her a fashion expert? We've all seen some of those fashion nightmares on the red carpet.) The tips are so simple, I thought they were tongue in cheek at first. Bring sunglasses and an umbrella? Don't take pictures of someone eating?
As a mystery series, I'd have to give the books a 1 star rating. Typically, main characters participate in solving the crime. There is none of that though, at least, the local cops do interviews. The crooks in both cases basically out themselves and did a pathetic job of trying to cover up their crime especially in Flamenco. If there was any evidence, it was very circumstantial.
Why muck up the series with romance? Especially those characters who are in relationships. Yes, we all know people cheat, but it's just implausible that multiple hoofers (and again, there are only 5 of them) are tempted in each book knowing that their friends are witness to this. It's distasteful, especially with so much page space devoted this stuff.
I received copies of both books from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
March 10, 2015
This is the second book in the Happy Hoofer Mystery series. The main characters are five tap dancing ladies--Gini, Pat, Mary Louise, Tina, and Janice. They each have a unique personality, yet they are all the best of friends, and fit together very well.
This time around, Gini finds herself a suspect in a murder, as she was heard to threaten the victim a short time before his death. As she tries to find the real killer, the body count rises, and Gini has to watch out for her life, as well.
I can attest to the fact that this is readable as a stand alone mystery, as I have yet to read the first offering in the series, Chorus Lines, Caviar, and Corpses and yet had no problem reading this one. There are a few vague references to the story of the first book, but nothing that impacts the storyline of this one. The first book is now on my nightstand, waiting for me to get to it ASAP...and then I'll be waiting for Cancans, Croissants, and Caskets to come out in August.
**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and feelings expressed are entirely my own.**
This time around, Gini finds herself a suspect in a murder, as she was heard to threaten the victim a short time before his death. As she tries to find the real killer, the body count rises, and Gini has to watch out for her life, as well.
I can attest to the fact that this is readable as a stand alone mystery, as I have yet to read the first offering in the series, Chorus Lines, Caviar, and Corpses and yet had no problem reading this one. There are a few vague references to the story of the first book, but nothing that impacts the storyline of this one. The first book is now on my nightstand, waiting for me to get to it ASAP...and then I'll be waiting for Cancans, Croissants, and Caskets to come out in August.
**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and feelings expressed are entirely my own.**
May 17, 2015
I would have enjoyed this book far more had the author kept her own special interest and political opinions out of the mix and let the story unfold without the continual interference. Readers want to be entertained, not preached at. This will be the last novel by this author in which I will invest time and money. While the "Happy Hoofers" had potential, having some secondary character refer to them as happy hookers in each book gets stale quickly, as does the author's liberal agenda.
In this installment of the Happy Hoofers mysteries, the gal pals are booked to dance aboard a train in Spain when an outspoken, conservative talk show host is murdered, closely followed by the murder of his photographer. The who in whodunnit was pretty obvious from the beginning, and Gini, knowing the killer was on to her, took chances any sane, rational person in her shoes would not have taken.
This book didn't do it for me.
In this installment of the Happy Hoofers mysteries, the gal pals are booked to dance aboard a train in Spain when an outspoken, conservative talk show host is murdered, closely followed by the murder of his photographer. The who in whodunnit was pretty obvious from the beginning, and Gini, knowing the killer was on to her, took chances any sane, rational person in her shoes would not have taken.
This book didn't do it for me.
February 25, 2015
Flamenco, Flan and Fatalities is a story about 5 women who are hired to entertain on a train trip through Spain. When a passenger turns up dead, they work to solve the murder, especially Gini. I really enjoyed this book, even though Gini was too out spoken sometimes, and I wanted to tell her to shut up. This is the 2nd book in the series, the first one is Chorus Lines, Caviar, and Corpses. I plan on reading that book very soon. Besides the murder mystery you also are given information on taking photographs, dancing and the beautiful scenery of the green part of Spain. I am very excited that I found a new author.
September 26, 2018
Gini Miller and her four friends are the Happy Hoofers (with an F) traveling by train throughout Spain and dancing for their fare. The ladies are best friends even though they have very different backgrounds (photographer, actress, etc.). Gini, the narrator of the story, has a difficult time keeping quiet and tends to butt in where she does not belong.
Dick Shambless, the acerbic, but well-loved conservative U.S. talk show host is traveling through Spain making a travelogue. He happens to be on the same tour as the Happy Hoofers. Unfortunately, Shambless becomes the quintessential 'ugly American' and ticks off the tour guides, bartender, Happy Hoofers, and other guests. When Shambless is found dead the suspects are numerous including Gini who threatened to 'kill him' if he did not shut up. We know Gini did not murder him, but who did? Was it someone on the train, in the restaurant, or did someone sneak onto the train unnoticed? Time for Gini and the Hoofers to dance their way to a solution!
This is the second book in the Happy Hoofers series. There are recipes for Spanish dishes as well as photography tips throughout the book. The description of the Spanish countryside and towns is wonderful. Never having been to Spain it does make me curious and I may have to add another country to my 'must see' list!
Dick Shambless, the acerbic, but well-loved conservative U.S. talk show host is traveling through Spain making a travelogue. He happens to be on the same tour as the Happy Hoofers. Unfortunately, Shambless becomes the quintessential 'ugly American' and ticks off the tour guides, bartender, Happy Hoofers, and other guests. When Shambless is found dead the suspects are numerous including Gini who threatened to 'kill him' if he did not shut up. We know Gini did not murder him, but who did? Was it someone on the train, in the restaurant, or did someone sneak onto the train unnoticed? Time for Gini and the Hoofers to dance their way to a solution!
This is the second book in the Happy Hoofers series. There are recipes for Spanish dishes as well as photography tips throughout the book. The description of the Spanish countryside and towns is wonderful. Never having been to Spain it does make me curious and I may have to add another country to my 'must see' list!
July 5, 2023
I love that the author has her finger in so many pies! The mystery was fine, but I loved that a group of women banded together and danced as a way to get free travel. I miss being a part of a women's group. They supported each other and enjoyed being together. The characters are all interesting and very different from each other.
I also give extra points for free education. My ankle is not good now but I would have loved to try out the Flamenco timed step that Gini, the main character this time taught. I really enjoyed the exuberance that the women had for dancing, it brought me back to my days of doing JoBe, African dance!
The author gives photography tips that are outstanding and the recipes sound good. Also, I learned that there is a camera that can be attached to the eyeglasses that will talk to you, for example, point the camera and it will tell you when the light is green, and it read menus to you! I have been in many restaurants where the menus had print too small for me to read so I would love that myself.
I also give extra points for free education. My ankle is not good now but I would have loved to try out the Flamenco timed step that Gini, the main character this time taught. I really enjoyed the exuberance that the women had for dancing, it brought me back to my days of doing JoBe, African dance!
The author gives photography tips that are outstanding and the recipes sound good. Also, I learned that there is a camera that can be attached to the eyeglasses that will talk to you, for example, point the camera and it will tell you when the light is green, and it read menus to you! I have been in many restaurants where the menus had print too small for me to read so I would love that myself.
May 6, 2022
Well that whole trip was just a huge mess. 😣 Murder, married men and almost a divorce, I just couldn't believe that these were the same ladies from the last book. 😮 I love "people watching" when I'm out and about and the other passengers made for some interesting watching. 😏 I am very interested to see if the next story is told by another of the ladies (I thought that was really cool how the author did that) just because it gives you a closer look at her personality. 😊 Great story as always (so far) by this author and it will be interesting to see where they end up dancing next.
April 12, 2021
While I enjoyed this book it didn’t engage me quite as well as the first book in the series. I think I didn’t really care for the narrator in this book. I like how the author is varying the narrator between different Happy Hoofers in each of her books but I just didn’t care for Gini very much. I did enjoy the descriptions of the Green Spain area of northern Spain. I liked McHugh’s ability to mix descriptions of the scenery and culture in with the storyline. I will continue to read the series to see how I like the next narrator
July 15, 2017
I enjoyed the Happy Hoofers but the whodunnit took a while to develop. The characters seem obsessed with food.
October 2, 2017
This is a new author for me - what a great read I wish I was with them on this trip
May 23, 2021
The character development was so goooood!
June 17, 2021
This one was just okay for me. It doesn't help that it wasn't the first in the series, but overall I didn't really enjoy the premise or the characters.
October 26, 2022
It was ok. I’m probably done with this series.
March 20, 2025
Hated the Hoofer team name.. I also didn’t get the background information from other groups.. like Sylvia and Tom… or Mary Louis and her situationship.. too many story lines..
September 26, 2018
I just finished reading a really good book, y'all! Let me tell you a little about it.
Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities, a cozy mystery by Mary McHugh, is the second book in her Happy Hoofers series. The series is about five friends who form a tap-dancing group — at first, just as a fun way to exercise. Their group, the Happy Hoofers, has become so good that they have been hired to entertain travelers on a cruise through Russia (Book 1, Chorus Lines, Caviar, and Corpses) and now on a train tour of Spain. What a great way to see the sights! (Well, except for the murders that they seem to attract on their trips. Is Jessica Fletcher one of the Happy Hoofers?)
The Happy Hoofers consist of Tina, Janice, Pat, Mary Louise, and Gini. Each book is narrated by a different woman. Gini narrates Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities, and gives photo tips, since she is an award-winning documentary filmmaker.
Oh, and by the way — the Happy Hoofers are all in their 50s. They seem to be taking George Burns' advice to heart: “You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old.” The women are quite likable, and are described very realistically.
Mary Louise loves to cook, and she's the one responsible for the recipes in the Happy Hoofer books. The meals included in the group's tour packages are always fabulous (well, almost always — see Book 1 for the exception!) and Mary Louise asks the chefs for recipes, so she can prepare the same dishes at home. Thanks, Mary Louise! I haven't tried any yet, but they are all very tempting.
I liked reading about the camaraderie of the five friends, and their sightseeing in Spain, just as much as trying to figure out whodunit. I had my suspicions about a certain character, who did turn out to be the murderer. This in no way spoiled my enjoyment of the book. In fact, the identity of the murderer becomes known to our heroines — they just can't prove it at first. This was an unusual plot twist, one which I enjoyed.
The final chapter consists of a summation of the Hoofers' activities after their train trip, concluding with
And speaking of the next book, Cancans, Croissants, and Caskets will be published in August 2015, and is available now for pre-order at Amazon!
Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities is a lot of fun, a great read that has earned Four Stars! I really enjoyed it, and recommend Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities to Cozy Mystery fans — armchair travelers, especially, will enjoy touring northern Spain on a luxury train with the Happy Hoofers.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities from the publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest opinion of the book.
Originally published on my blog at Jane Reads.
Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities, a cozy mystery by Mary McHugh, is the second book in her Happy Hoofers series. The series is about five friends who form a tap-dancing group — at first, just as a fun way to exercise. Their group, the Happy Hoofers, has become so good that they have been hired to entertain travelers on a cruise through Russia (Book 1, Chorus Lines, Caviar, and Corpses) and now on a train tour of Spain. What a great way to see the sights! (Well, except for the murders that they seem to attract on their trips. Is Jessica Fletcher one of the Happy Hoofers?)
The Happy Hoofers consist of Tina, Janice, Pat, Mary Louise, and Gini. Each book is narrated by a different woman. Gini narrates Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities, and gives photo tips, since she is an award-winning documentary filmmaker.
Oh, and by the way — the Happy Hoofers are all in their 50s. They seem to be taking George Burns' advice to heart: “You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old.” The women are quite likable, and are described very realistically.
Mary Louise loves to cook, and she's the one responsible for the recipes in the Happy Hoofer books. The meals included in the group's tour packages are always fabulous (well, almost always — see Book 1 for the exception!) and Mary Louise asks the chefs for recipes, so she can prepare the same dishes at home. Thanks, Mary Louise! I haven't tried any yet, but they are all very tempting.
I liked reading about the camaraderie of the five friends, and their sightseeing in Spain, just as much as trying to figure out whodunit. I had my suspicions about a certain character, who did turn out to be the murderer. This in no way spoiled my enjoyment of the book. In fact, the identity of the murderer becomes known to our heroines — they just can't prove it at first. This was an unusual plot twist, one which I enjoyed.
The final chapter consists of a summation of the Hoofers' activities after their train trip, concluding with
...when she [Tina] got an offer for us to dance on the Bateau Mouche, she couldn't resist. Vive la France!I like this teaser for the next book, so that I know what to look forward to!
I changed my mind about ....
Want to come along?
And speaking of the next book, Cancans, Croissants, and Caskets will be published in August 2015, and is available now for pre-order at Amazon!
Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities is a lot of fun, a great read that has earned Four Stars! I really enjoyed it, and recommend Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities to Cozy Mystery fans — armchair travelers, especially, will enjoy touring northern Spain on a luxury train with the Happy Hoofers.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities from the publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest opinion of the book.
Originally published on my blog at Jane Reads.
March 1, 2015
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Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities
~Mary McHugh
4.2 out of 5 stars (12)
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Cozy!, February 28, 2015
By c-lu (USA)
This review is from: Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities (A Happy Hoofers Mystery Book 2) (Kindle Edition)
A train ride through southern Spain has more excitement than planned for Gini and the Happy Hoofers when the mouthy, obnoxious, ultra right-wing talk show host is poisoned. Like any "closed room" mystery, everyone on board is considered a suspect. The train is stopped and the inspector, Javier, interviews everyone. The big problem? The talk show host has only one fan on the train and several were heard to mutter or yell, "I'll kill him!" including Gini.
Gini talks to the various people on board, including the mother with her son in a wheel chair, the mother whose son suffers from depression, and the two gay men who own a restaurant, the bartender, the blonde bimbo who was traveling with the talk show host, and of course, the only one fan, Dorah. Then there's a second murder.
The main plot is well-developed with Gini's sleuthing placing her predictably at risk, but almost necessary as Javier is smitten with Janice. He breaks many rules including taking some of the Happy Hoofers off the train to see the sights. Each of the Hoofers has their own subplot or story, each unique. The characters have depth with unique characteristics and conflicts. The sub themes related to attitudes toward gay marriage, individuals with physical and sensory disabilities, and those who suffer from depression or other mental illness are timely. Descriptions of parts of Spain, the various dances (including to New York, New York), recipes and photo tips are interspersed as well.
This is the second book in the Happy Hoofers Mystery series, but it can be read alone. CHORUS LINES, CAVIAR, AND CORPSES (Happy Hoofers Mystery Book 1) is now on my TBR pile. I hope to get to it before the next one (available for pre-order) - CANCAN, CROISSANTS, AND CASKETS (Happy Hoofers Mystery Book 3) comes out in August 2015.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2015
Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities by Mary McHugh is fun cozy mystery. It is the second book in the Happy Hoofers mystery series. The Happy Hoofers have been asked to perform on a luxury train that is traveling across Northern Spain. Chorus Lines, Caviar, and Corpses was told from Tina Powell’s (the leader of the group) point-of-view. Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities is told from Gini Miller’s point-of-view. Gini is a documentary filmmaker. Gini is still seeing Alex and Alex has relocated to New York (still working at the NY Times). Mary Louise is looking forward to getting away from her husband. Mary Louise is married to George, an attorney. George has been too wrapped up in his cases lately and not paying enough attention to his wife. Pat, the therapist, and Janice, the actress, are also looking forward to the trip and maybe even a little romance.
The Hoofers are looking forward to the trip until they see Dick Shambless. He is a television talk show host who is anti-everything. Dick is also very rude and obnoxious. There is only person on the trip who is a fan. Dora Lindquist comes up to Dick right away to get his autograph. Not long after the train starts the trip Mr. Shambless is found dead. While exploring the Spanish countryside, the Happy Hoofers dance and try to figure out who killed Dick Shambless.
Whoever killed Dick Shambless does not want to be discovered and will do what it takes to keep from being found out. The Hoofers get to eat some good food on the trip and meet some new friends. Mary Louise makes sure to collect recipes for all the wonderful dishes. At the beginning of each chapter you get tips on taking pictures while on vacation.
Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities is a charming cozy mystery. It has delightful characters and the book is easy to read. The mystery, though, was very, very easy to solve. If you follow the clues, you can solve the mystery very quickly. The story is told in first person, but I did not even notice it after getting into the story. I give Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities 4 out of 5 stars. I look forward to the next Happy Hoofers mystery (which will be out in the August).
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogs...
The Hoofers are looking forward to the trip until they see Dick Shambless. He is a television talk show host who is anti-everything. Dick is also very rude and obnoxious. There is only person on the trip who is a fan. Dora Lindquist comes up to Dick right away to get his autograph. Not long after the train starts the trip Mr. Shambless is found dead. While exploring the Spanish countryside, the Happy Hoofers dance and try to figure out who killed Dick Shambless.
Whoever killed Dick Shambless does not want to be discovered and will do what it takes to keep from being found out. The Hoofers get to eat some good food on the trip and meet some new friends. Mary Louise makes sure to collect recipes for all the wonderful dishes. At the beginning of each chapter you get tips on taking pictures while on vacation.
Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities is a charming cozy mystery. It has delightful characters and the book is easy to read. The mystery, though, was very, very easy to solve. If you follow the clues, you can solve the mystery very quickly. The story is told in first person, but I did not even notice it after getting into the story. I give Flamenco, Flan, and Fatalities 4 out of 5 stars. I look forward to the next Happy Hoofers mystery (which will be out in the August).
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogs...
February 26, 2015
The different thing about this book is that the series is written from different points of view. The first was told from Tina Powell's point of view, and this, the second in the series, is told from Gini Miller's. It gives a nice perspective in that you are getting different voices, and as such, different personalities.
The five women are the aforementioned Tina and Gini, and also Mary Louise, who is married to George and has three children; Pat, a therapist who also happens to be gay; and Janice, an actress. This time out, the ladies are in Spain, traveling by train and seeing what the country has to offer. When a talk show host dies (and there is no surprise here, since from the first pages we find out that he is a nasty human being, and we know right away that he is going to be the person who gets killed.
We have a long list of suspects to choose from, including Gini herself, who made an idle remark that could indeed be construed as a threat, even if she did feel provoked at the time. In fact, practically the only person who liked him was a tourist named Dora, who gushed over him at dinner the night before.
I liked the book and the plot, but one thing bothered me: Gini says that each of the hoofers brings something to the table: Tina is the smartest, Gini the funniest, Pat the wisest, Mary Louise the kindest, and Janice...the most beautiful. Four personality traits and one physical trait. I guess if Janice weren't beautiful she'd have nothing to offer. That irked a little bit. The fact that it kept being played up throughout the book (how beautiful she was and how men fell at her feet everywhere they went, but very little about her accomplishments) bothered me. It seemed as if because she was beautiful nothing else mattered. I like to see books with strong women, and if they're beautiful, all to the good. But when this is mentioned as the only trait that's important...this is what cost the book the fifth star.
However, the plot was enjoyable and the women were likable, even if because there were five of them, you only get to know anything about one - the narrator - and just snippets of the others. I am guessing that in the rest of the books, the other characters will be fleshed out somewhat. Enjoyable, recommended.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review but this in no way influenced my decision.
The five women are the aforementioned Tina and Gini, and also Mary Louise, who is married to George and has three children; Pat, a therapist who also happens to be gay; and Janice, an actress. This time out, the ladies are in Spain, traveling by train and seeing what the country has to offer. When a talk show host dies (and there is no surprise here, since from the first pages we find out that he is a nasty human being, and we know right away that he is going to be the person who gets killed.
We have a long list of suspects to choose from, including Gini herself, who made an idle remark that could indeed be construed as a threat, even if she did feel provoked at the time. In fact, practically the only person who liked him was a tourist named Dora, who gushed over him at dinner the night before.
I liked the book and the plot, but one thing bothered me: Gini says that each of the hoofers brings something to the table: Tina is the smartest, Gini the funniest, Pat the wisest, Mary Louise the kindest, and Janice...the most beautiful. Four personality traits and one physical trait. I guess if Janice weren't beautiful she'd have nothing to offer. That irked a little bit. The fact that it kept being played up throughout the book (how beautiful she was and how men fell at her feet everywhere they went, but very little about her accomplishments) bothered me. It seemed as if because she was beautiful nothing else mattered. I like to see books with strong women, and if they're beautiful, all to the good. But when this is mentioned as the only trait that's important...this is what cost the book the fifth star.
However, the plot was enjoyable and the women were likable, even if because there were five of them, you only get to know anything about one - the narrator - and just snippets of the others. I am guessing that in the rest of the books, the other characters will be fleshed out somewhat. Enjoyable, recommended.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review but this in no way influenced my decision.
December 26, 2015
I adored this cozy mystery, everything is wonderful: the places, the plot, the characters, the food .........
The protagonists are the Happy Hoffers: Tina, Janice, Gini, Mary Louise and Pat. They are five great dancers and great friends who travel the world to entertain people with their shows. In addition to dance, are well-versed in solving murders and mysteries. They are doing a trip in northern Spain by train and should delight the other members of the tour with Flamenco dancing. On board the train there is also Mr. Shambless, a popular talk show host. He's hateful, arrogant, really it is hard to understand how it can have so many fans. He's shooting a documentary about the journey together with a girlfriend (should be the director ....) and a cameraman. During the dinner he has a nasty altercation with one of the dancers, Gini that in anger says that she would like to see him dead. When he found dead poisoned, Gini will be the first to be suspected of murder The Happy Hoofers will try to assist in the investigation the inspector sexy Javier Cruz. But when everything seems to work is found another corpse ...... And if the next possible victim was Gini?
Set in a country caliente and passionate, there had to be some romantic adventures: as increasing the complicity of Mary Louise, mother of three children neglected by her husband, and a doctor recently widower. Or the growing attraction between the inspector and Janice ....
It 's really very well written, with a flowing and compelling rhythm, very nice idea to end chapters with recipes or photos, maybe suggestions for a little vacation. Spain, with its green landscapes, its food, its culture is the background without being intrusive or annoying. All the characters are well developed, both main that secondary.
It's the second book on Happy Hoofers: every adventure can be read as a standalone without any difficulty. Each book in the series is told in first person by one of the dancers. This touches on Gini. She's a very strong and combative woman , who can not stand the injustices and abuses, can not remain silent in front of the arrogance of Mr. Shambless
Really to read for those who love the cozy mystery and Spain.
The protagonists are the Happy Hoffers: Tina, Janice, Gini, Mary Louise and Pat. They are five great dancers and great friends who travel the world to entertain people with their shows. In addition to dance, are well-versed in solving murders and mysteries. They are doing a trip in northern Spain by train and should delight the other members of the tour with Flamenco dancing. On board the train there is also Mr. Shambless, a popular talk show host. He's hateful, arrogant, really it is hard to understand how it can have so many fans. He's shooting a documentary about the journey together with a girlfriend (should be the director ....) and a cameraman. During the dinner he has a nasty altercation with one of the dancers, Gini that in anger says that she would like to see him dead. When he found dead poisoned, Gini will be the first to be suspected of murder The Happy Hoofers will try to assist in the investigation the inspector sexy Javier Cruz. But when everything seems to work is found another corpse ...... And if the next possible victim was Gini?
Set in a country caliente and passionate, there had to be some romantic adventures: as increasing the complicity of Mary Louise, mother of three children neglected by her husband, and a doctor recently widower. Or the growing attraction between the inspector and Janice ....
It 's really very well written, with a flowing and compelling rhythm, very nice idea to end chapters with recipes or photos, maybe suggestions for a little vacation. Spain, with its green landscapes, its food, its culture is the background without being intrusive or annoying. All the characters are well developed, both main that secondary.
It's the second book on Happy Hoofers: every adventure can be read as a standalone without any difficulty. Each book in the series is told in first person by one of the dancers. This touches on Gini. She's a very strong and combative woman , who can not stand the injustices and abuses, can not remain silent in front of the arrogance of Mr. Shambless
Really to read for those who love the cozy mystery and Spain.
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