The Hitwoman's Downward Dog

Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman #9

by J.B. Lynn

So many men….so little help.
Maladroit hitwoman Maggie Lee has never been one to ask for help. But now she’s found out that her niece, Katie, will soon be discharged from the hospital - making Maggie her guardian not just in name - and her semi-psychic friend Armani Vasquez has been kidnapped. Suddenly Maggie could really use some help.

While her crazy, but lovable, aunts are ready to help out with Katie, none of the men in her life are willing (or able) to lend a hand to save Armani. With both cops and bad guys telling her not to go after Armani alone, she knows the smart thing to do would be to listen to them. But Maggie’s not the type to abandon those she loves.

Even with Patrick, Maggie's murder-mentor and almost-lover, and her old friend Zeke out of the picture, Maggie’s not desperate enough to bring herself to involve crime reporter Jack Stern in her quest.

Armed with only Armani’s cryptic clues, and assisted by her snarky lizard, her dumb, but extremely loyal dog, and a one-eyed cat, Maggie decides to take on whoever's taken Armani.

Will the lack of human help prove to be her undoing?

Or will a special guy come through for her in the end?

Genres: Mystery, Strong Female Lead, Humor, Chick Lit, Romance

177 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 11, 2015

About the author

Author of the series:

Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman

Psychic Consignment Mysteries

Cursed Chick Club

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Maggie is up to her eyeballs again! Armani has been kidnapped and its up to Maggie to find her. Katie may be coming home, Mr. Delveccio needs her, and Mrs. Whitehat wants something! The list goes on and on. I absolutely love the characters that JB Lynn has created. Lots of laughs and action! Of course, lots of God (my favorite)! Once I start her books, I don't put it down until finished. I'm so looking forward to what Maggie gets herself in and out of next time!

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

JB Lynn Does It Again!

This is the 9th book in the Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman series. This book picks up right where the last book left off. Maggie's best friend, Armani, has been kidnapped. Despite the apparent lack of help from the different men in her life, Maggie is determined to rescue Armani safely. If this isn't enough Maggie has to deal with her crazy aunts, relationship shy sister, committment resistant love Patrick, & the responsibility/love Maggie feels toward her animals & niece, Katie.


I really enjoyed this book! Downloaded it & didn't put it down until I finished it. This series keeps getting better & better. The characters, especially Maggie, are quirky yet likable. I couldn't help but get drawn in. Can't wait for book 10 - The Hitwoman's Act of Contrition due out in March '15 as the author left us with a little cliff hanger! Patrick's ending statement has me extremely curious & dare I say hopeful?!

[Donna Huber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always like reading The Hitwoman books. They are fun and fast reads. After two kind of heavy books I was wanting something fun and fluffy. The Hitwoman books are always fluffy and Downward Dog is no exception. However, it wasn't quite as fun as I have come to expect of the series. I felt this one could have used a bit more polish to hit the mark Lynn is so capable of exceeding. Full review soon.

[Linda Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another winner in the Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman series. This picks up where the last book left off, with Maggie's friend Armani missing. Maggie is desperate to find her, but finds multiple complications thrown in her way. Despite this, she also is preparing to bring her niece home from the hospital and is frightened at being inadequate to meet her niece's needs.

While this is a stand alone novel (no cliff hanger), you will enjoy it so much more if you begin with the first book in the series, Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Sli...

This is a funny mystery as we follow Maggie's attempts to save the day as she finds herself surrounded by her murder mentor, crime boss, crazy family members, and talking animals. I think my favorite Maggie quote appears in this book: "On a day that you're not sure whether you'll make it out alive, I say eat dessert first.".....actually, it might be my favorite quote of all time.....lol.

Despite this, at times it is poignant as we see Maggie at her most vulnerable with her inner fears of inadequacy.

This is a must read.

[Melanie Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book in one day, and all I can say is that these books just make me happy! Start from Book 1 since they are a series and enjoy the adventures of Maggie (aka Dr Doolittle) as she saves her friends from trouble.

[Loretta TheMoodyRedhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret needs a vacation on an island…by herself. Or do you think she enjoys the drama the same way a skydiver gets a rush jumping out of a plane? Perhaps the rush of danger makes her feel ALIVE!
Let’s just say these books make me feel extremely anxious, but I haven’t been able to put them down! I walk around at home and at work with my nose in my Kindle, eyes only reading and ignoring everything going on around me (my peripheral vision is great, so I don’t run into anything or anyone). I guess I enjoy the rush of the anxiety, too! Then again, I find it difficult to get to sleep a lot of nights I read these books because my heart is racing so fast. One day I read 5 of these books! Yes, I love to read.
Anyway, as far as this book is concerned, it looks like Maggie is finding that maybe Ms. Whitecap isn’t as bad as Maggie had originally thought and all it took was Maggie’s smart mouth asking too many questions and showing her frustration to Ms. W and telling Ms. W “No”, so to speak.
I also like that Patrick is coming closer to trying to be more of a boyfriend to Mags. I’m thinking the next book may bring them closer together and maybe they’ll finally get to spend the night together (making love included).
I still wonder what Miss Piss real name is. Maybe that is her real name. It’d be nice if her name is revealed in book 10. I’ve been waiting for her name since she was first introduced.
One of the few things I don’t like about these books is that there are so many dirty cops! I suppose that in real life at one time there were a lot of dirty cops, but I like to think that isn’t the case anymore. I am realistic and know that there are still some bad cops out there, but hopefully not as many as there are in and around Maggie’s town.
And I also hope that Marlene’s beau isn’t playing her and that he actually likes her. Marlene wouldn’t be able to take it if she were being used again. That’d surely break her!
Well, that’s all I’ll say for now. Onto book 10…

[Starla · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I’d like to note that I’ve enjoyed this series quite a bit. I’d encourage anyone looking for a bit of light escapism to read the first few volumes, at least.

That said, I noticed in book 8 that the stories in this series are getting more formulaic, shorter, and have more errors. There are even more errors in this installment. You may not mind, but I felt shortchanged.

[Giles F. Singleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting better

All the time. Maybe I'm just weak-minded, but each of these seems to be better. The characters develop. The plot thickens, but not in expected ways.
Mags is a Janet Evanovich ineffective detective and hit an, with no Trenton burg. She is refreshing. And she is learning as she goes. Arriba! Arriba! Andole!

[L Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humor and Excitement.

Everything in Maggie’s life is going sideways. Zeke is still being blackmailed. Then Maggie starts to be blackmailed into “helping” their unknown blackmailer. Her house still hasn’t been finished so she’s on the couch in the basement with her pets and her niece is expected to return home next week. And that’s just the beginning.

[Deborah Wilcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well ok then !

I read this one today ! I like the books , I do, all the plots and characters and you can't put them down cause every book is a cliff hanger.
Is that good or bad?
OCR

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series

These books never disappoint. They are always funny and interesting to read. Five stars every time. If you haven't read this series before; you need to start right now.

[Kimberly Gordon-Bercich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost

Maggie doesn't like it when people mess with her family or friends. She will kill for them. Hopefully she won't have to die for them.

Discrepancies: DeeDee was stabbed by Paul, not shot. I know it's a tiny detail.

#opinecount6

[Joyce Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not long enough incomplete plots

I love these books but the stories are too short and most of it is used up to explain the main plot so events remain unexplained. The books would be do much better if given more emphasis to the actual story line. But I do love the humor.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still really like this series, but the men in this book are really starting to annoy me.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazeballs, as usual.

[Dena · Rating 4 out of 5]

funny

I enjoyed the antics that had happened throughout the story. The crazy family and the romantic interests. This story is humorous and very interesting.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun read with a suspenseful-ish ending! 😆

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too many lovers?

Another solid entry in the series. Maggie lee is trying to figure out why people are disappearing. The yoga references are somewhat unnecessary?

[Diana Kudsk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love love

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie Lee is at it again in the newest installment in the Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman series by JB Lynn. Seems like a day doesn't go by without a little drama for Maggie. She finds out that her beloved niece Katie is going to be coming home soon from the hospital and the reality of her life comes crashing down on her. All her doubt about if she can really take care of the girl and her life as a hitwoman make her worry about the future. Then her friend Armani is missing and no one knows where to find her and she can't seem to get any help. A new guy in Maggie's life crime reporter Jack Stern seems to pop up everywhere she goes. She's not sure if she can trust him but he seems to generally be concerned about her and offers to help if she can accept it. This book has all of Maggie 's charm and craziness along with her menagerie of talking animals who are always willing to help. She seems to juggle her aunts, her men, her animals and come to the rescue of Armani although it's never as smoothly as she would like. A bit of a thriller you can actually laugh at while reading. If you want to read a series that full of laughs and craziness start right here with this series.

[Elaine Lucky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had quite a few grammatical and punctuation errors. The stories are still fluffy and end in cliffhangers but are still enjoyable. God, Piss, & DeeDee are hilarious in their animal wisdom. An addict cat and a pompous lizard with a penchant for Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy and a dog that's "gotta gotta." Armani has disappeared and Maggie is on the case to get her friend back. She's supposed to stay out of the investigation per Detective Brian Griswald but can't. Zeke, Patrick, & Jack are all wooing her and have stepped down and are not helping her find Armani. Good news on Katie working toward being home, Marlene has a new beau, and U.S. Marshal Larry Griswald is still smitten with Aunt Susan along with Bob. Aunt Loretta & Templeton have a few bumps & Aunt Leslie is still sober. Maggie's determined to find her friend and it's a crap shoot if she will survive. Can't wait to read the next in series.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Series, A Must Read!
This series is a must read. This is the ninth book in the Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman series by JB Lynn. Maggie is a hired hitwoman, who talks to animals. Her semi psychic friend Armani has been kidnapped and she is determined to find her. The cops and the bad guys she works for have all told her not to look for Armani alone, but then none of them will go with her. She ends up getting help from her animals, her dog, her cat and her snarky lizard. This book kept me reading until the end. This book is so funny, and I can’t wait until the next book comes out.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“On a day that you’re not sure whether you’ll make it out alive, I say eat dessert first.” This is just one example of the delightful writing in this series. I like the fact that it is complete escapism. Yes, the main character talks to animals and they talk back, but who wouldn’t like to be able to do that?!!! The fact that she also works for the mob as a hitwoman leads to some hilarious situations. Love this series and find it thoroughly entertaining. I would highly recommend that you start with the first book in this series as you won’t want to miss out on any of the fun antics!

[Kelsey Keating · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love Maggie Lee. This book was great. My only complaint: I hate Jack Stern. He's so annoying and pushy. What's more, I hate how Maggie acts around him. So dumb. Come on, girl! Quit being such a little bag of hormones and stick to the "I hate this guy" vibe!

Maggie is back and ready for action after her best friend goes missing. As always, she has the bet crew of animals to help her solve the case. For being a hitwoman, it's been a long time since Delveccio had her kill anyone. She's in true Maggie form in this novel though, and it's another fun ride.

[B.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I loved this! It all flows perfectly together and with the other books in this series. It's quirky and fun and a little touching in places. I don't do spoilers, so you'll have to read to find out what whacky things Maggie's gotten herself into, what happened to Armani, what's going on with the trio of men in Maggie's life, how her niece is doing... It's all totally awesome. And again, I can't wait to see what JB has in store for us next.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a MUST read book! The main thing that I LOVE about the Hitwoman books is the sense of humor and it was in full force in this sequel. I also adore how I think that I know what will happen but am pleasantly surprised by JB's unpredictability with this multifaceted story. Now I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment with baited breath. :)

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm just playing catch up with my reading and I'm glad this is where I've started. This series continues to be entertaining. Maggie's character is developing and I can't wait for her to reach her peak. I enjoy the conversations she has with her animals and the conflict it causes with the people who hear her. Anyway I'm off to start the next book. Act of Contrition. Love this!

[LaShawnda Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Good One

As usually Maggie has way to many things going on at once but some she manages to pull everything off with a little help from Patrick. I just hope her Patrick together soon I glad the next will be out next month.

[Linda Denison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ALWAYS enjoy reading books in this series - the characters are wonderful and the stories are always entertaining. In my review of book #4 I mentioned some inconsistencies -- and I am very pleased that it was addressed in this book. I can't wait to read book #10!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so captivated by the story I lost all sense of time until I read the last word and noticed the amount of time that had passed.