A Real Shot in the Arm

Chris Martin #1

by Annette Roome

The author's first book.

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Winner of the 1989 New Blood Dagger Award for A Real Shot in the Arm .

Reviews

[El · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy enough read with an undemanding plot. However, the protagonist was so weak-willed, deferential to all around her (particularly men) and diffident that I couldn't relate to her at all. And she was meant to be a journalist! She never asked a probing question, she blushed at the slightest comment and thought her role in life was to "look after" the men in her life. It was as if she was some sort of mediaeval maiden transposed to modern-day life. And when she was involved in a life-threatening hostage situation she then immediately left the scene without being interviewed by the police or being checked out at hospital. This is a real mish-mash of a book which doesn't seem to know what it is or what it wants to be. I'd have had the main male character as the protagonist with the female as his sidekick who grows some inner strength through her association with him. Disappointing.

[Vchen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nette Story zum nebenbei lesen! Den Fall an sich finde ich spannend, später wird die Geschichte dann irgendwie zu privat und der Fall rückt in den Hintergrund. Auch sind die Einstellungen mancher Charaktere für mich teilweise schwer nachzuvollziehen.

[Julia Ibbotson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm puzzled by this entry on Goodreads as I have just discovered (after reading it) that it is also 'billed' as originally entitled A Real Shot in the Arm by Annette Roome, as one of a 'Chris Martin' series (?). Other reviews have written about the protagonist Chris Martin, a journalist, and clearly weren't about the same book at all! My review is on One Way to Venice by Jane Aiken Hodge and has no protagonist or any other character called Chris Martin! I wonder if two books have become mixed up by the publisher? Or Goodreads? OK - I quite enjoyed this novel as light summer holiday reading (read on the plane!) and the initial premise was interesting (strange notes sent to Julia out of the blue about her missing son, and it promised a fascinating read. However, it became rather like a Boys Own adventure and I admit that I skipped through the second half. The style is also rather dated. I was also unfortunately bothered by the inconsistencies and unexplained confusing issues in the plot. In 'flashbacks' (?) Julia appeared to have had a miscarriage/termination and lost her sole baby under mysterious circumstances, but then suddenly appears to have a son whom she has left with her former husband, but whom she subsequently tries to find again (hence the mysterious notes). All rather odd. Was the novel entirely rewritten and remodelled under a different name? Yet the synopsis for A Real Shot in the Arm is entirely different! I'm confused! However, to find something positive: I liked the descriptions of Venice, a place I love.

[Karyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

One way to Venice

Julia Rivers has given her son Dominic up for adoption after a tempestuous relationship with her now ex husband Breckon. Five years on she mysteriously begins to receive letters about Dominic, she then receives a photo and a one way ticket to Venice. Is this her chance to right the wrong of giving him up.
Julia commences her trip and begins the search for her son. This was an easy read but a little fanciful and lacking in any real depth for me. A light mystery with a few twists. Thanks for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review.

[Regine]

Sprightly, somewhat forced.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I packed this one in at only 7%. It was too farcical for me and read like a Carry On film.......all a little too slapstick and not very serious. I'm no fan of "funny" books as a rule. I like my murder 'n' mayhem without the levity.
I'd not spotted any horrendous mistakes by the time I gave in which was good aside from her self having a needless space.
On a positive note I do like her book covers. They were what drew me to the books (as I had another by her downloaded too) in the first place.

[Lori]

Really liked this one. Will have to get the sequel.

[Aleasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh lord am I having a bad run of books lately! I don't want to take it all out on this book though, but boy was this a bore. A Real Shot in the Arm was the story of Chris Martin. A older woman who has just gone back to her career in a small time newspaper, reporting on local boring activities, when all of a sudden she finds someone hanged at a conference she is reporting on. She teams up with another reporter to uncover details as the detectives are ruling it a suicide but all signs point to murder. This novel had the potential to be good but just really fell flat with unlikeable characters and quite a boring follow through. Don't even get me started on the way both her husband and the other reporter speak to her. I don't know any women in my life who would stand for this type of talk. For instance, having a go and having a hissy fit because Chris was working late and god forbid dinner wasn't on the table and the washing wasn't ironed. Jeez louise!
Sorry but this one was just not my cup of tea!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.