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Dahlia Moss Mysteries #2
The Astonishing Mistakes of Dahlia Moss
You'd think that after I took a bullet in my arm following my last case, that I'd be timid about going in guns blazing a second time. But you'd be wrong. I faced down death, and the only bad thing that happened was that I got a cool scar. Which is a like a tattoo, but with street cred.
I may have been a little overconfident this time. Like, Leeroy Jenkins overconfident. Some small, but confidently made, errors committed in this book include:
Unwisely meeting up with an internet stalker in real life.
Eating a large breakfast before discovering a corpse
Kidnapping
Standing uncomfortably close to the edge of a steamboat while musing that nothing bad could possibly happen
Kidnapping, again
That's the thing about a sense of invulnerability-- you usually get it right before things go terribly, terribly, wrong.
I may have been a little overconfident this time. Like, Leeroy Jenkins overconfident. Some small, but confidently made, errors committed in this book include:
Unwisely meeting up with an internet stalker in real life.
Eating a large breakfast before discovering a corpse
Kidnapping
Standing uncomfortably close to the edge of a steamboat while musing that nothing bad could possibly happen
Kidnapping, again
That's the thing about a sense of invulnerability-- you usually get it right before things go terribly, terribly, wrong.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 14, 2017
31 people are currently reading
934 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
March 14, 2019
fulfilling book riot's 2018 read harder challenge task #21: A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author
extry points given to me, by me, for choosing a book that has been in my house for more than a year.
************************************
i loved The Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss so, so much. when i was working at the bookstore, i would put it on tables and displays, when i was curating lists for other jobs, i would always be sure to add it to the appropriate lists and channels, and i would suggest it to people who were looking for mysteries that weren't too gruesome/disturbing or sf geeks looking for something (f)unexpected.
so i was really excited when i had my "derrr" moment and realized i'd be able to read this second book in the DM trilogy as part of my book riot challenge, because i've had the second and third books on my shelves for ages without picking them up for all of the usual reasons i don't get around to reading books i really want to read.
this one is slightly less fun than the series opener, but it has enough of the same zany energy and silliness to remind me how great TUDoDM was, and in my experience, the second book in most trilogies tends to be the low point, so i'm ready to check the math on that with book three: The Questionable Behavior of Dahlia Moss.
but for now, book two!
now that ms. moss has gotten a taste of the girl-detective lifestyle, she's taking online certification courses to officially get her private eye license. but although she's still matriculating, she's not going to turn down real-world experience if she happens to stumble upon it, even if it brings her back into the stony-frowned sights of detective maddocks:
in her defense, she has not yet taken the "learn not to vomit" class.
what follows is more of the same kind of fun n' murderrrrr, as dahlia spouts sass, makes many geek-culture references, gets kidnapped a few times, learns proper nautical terminology, and follows the criminal breadcrumbs while many online nerds via twitch advise her, cheer her on, or are... less supportive.
and once again, i find the world has failed me (or i have failed myself, but i'm not into taking responsibility today), for not informing me about yet ANOTHER awesome x-men character:
for those of you who, like me, were NEVER GIVEN THE HEADS-UP, marrow is a lady whose bones grow out of her skin, and she can YANK THEM OUT AND USE THEM AS WEAPONS TO CLUB FOOLS WHAT CROSS HER.
dear hollywood: why are you wasting our time with Rogue when there is a mutant USING HER OWN BONES AS WEAPONS????? use your special effects budget on this, please.
anyway, i still love dahlia and i love the adventure part of this one, but it was a little more relentlessly goofy than the first, and it wore me out a bit. also, although there wasn't too much of it, the relationshippy parts got in the way. as far as that goes, the focus was mostly on the david/charice romance, but also - i really liked shuler as a character, so even though i'm not a big shipper or romance fan or anything, and i don't care who dahlia's kissing, i was disappointed by the underuse of shuler here, and while dahlia seems perfectly content with nathan, i still wanna hang out with shuler once in a while, ya know?
still excited to see what comes next for dahlia, and hopefully i will manage to read the third one even without a challenge-prompt.
come to my blog!
extry points given to me, by me, for choosing a book that has been in my house for more than a year.
************************************
i loved The Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss so, so much. when i was working at the bookstore, i would put it on tables and displays, when i was curating lists for other jobs, i would always be sure to add it to the appropriate lists and channels, and i would suggest it to people who were looking for mysteries that weren't too gruesome/disturbing or sf geeks looking for something (f)unexpected.
so i was really excited when i had my "derrr" moment and realized i'd be able to read this second book in the DM trilogy as part of my book riot challenge, because i've had the second and third books on my shelves for ages without picking them up for all of the usual reasons i don't get around to reading books i really want to read.
this one is slightly less fun than the series opener, but it has enough of the same zany energy and silliness to remind me how great TUDoDM was, and in my experience, the second book in most trilogies tends to be the low point, so i'm ready to check the math on that with book three: The Questionable Behavior of Dahlia Moss.
but for now, book two!
now that ms. moss has gotten a taste of the girl-detective lifestyle, she's taking online certification courses to officially get her private eye license. but although she's still matriculating, she's not going to turn down real-world experience if she happens to stumble upon it, even if it brings her back into the stony-frowned sights of detective maddocks:
"Are you the person that found the body? Tell me that you aren't."
"I did find the body. Also, I had sort of a reaction to it, and I may have, you know, thrown up a tiny amount in there."
"I've been in there," said Maddocks.
"Maybe it was more of a moderate amount."
"There are gallons of vomit on the floor."
"I was surprised!"
in her defense, she has not yet taken the "learn not to vomit" class.
what follows is more of the same kind of fun n' murderrrrr, as dahlia spouts sass, makes many geek-culture references, gets kidnapped a few times, learns proper nautical terminology, and follows the criminal breadcrumbs while many online nerds via twitch advise her, cheer her on, or are... less supportive.
"Hi, everyone! Guess where I am now?"
Murdered, said Twitch chat. Is it murdered?
"It's not murdered," I told them.
"Buried alive," someone guessed. "Like in that old Twilight Zone episode."
"That was the Outer Limits," said another Twitch chatter, and then a flame war began, as it obviously would, given that we were on the Internet.
and once again, i find the world has failed me (or i have failed myself, but i'm not into taking responsibility today), for not informing me about yet ANOTHER awesome x-men character:
for those of you who, like me, were NEVER GIVEN THE HEADS-UP, marrow is a lady whose bones grow out of her skin, and she can YANK THEM OUT AND USE THEM AS WEAPONS TO CLUB FOOLS WHAT CROSS HER.
dear hollywood: why are you wasting our time with Rogue when there is a mutant USING HER OWN BONES AS WEAPONS????? use your special effects budget on this, please.
anyway, i still love dahlia and i love the adventure part of this one, but it was a little more relentlessly goofy than the first, and it wore me out a bit. also, although there wasn't too much of it, the relationshippy parts got in the way. as far as that goes, the focus was mostly on the david/charice romance, but also - i really liked shuler as a character, so even though i'm not a big shipper or romance fan or anything, and i don't care who dahlia's kissing, i was disappointed by the underuse of shuler here, and while dahlia seems perfectly content with nathan, i still wanna hang out with shuler once in a while, ya know?
still excited to see what comes next for dahlia, and hopefully i will manage to read the third one even without a challenge-prompt.
come to my blog!
Read
July 11, 2019Enjoyed the quirky humor, really didn't like the body shaming. Won't be bothering with book 3.
March 28, 2018
Full disclosure: I won a free Kindle copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
This is apparently the second book in a series, though I’ve not read the first. I suppose that's a spoiler of sorts: Dahlia survives the first book. Those of you hoping that this series is actually about a zombie detective will just have to learn to live with the crushing disappointment.
A mystery fan of Dahlia’s livestream convinces her to enter a video game tournament, where she stumbles across a corpse in a storeroom and is off on another adventure. What makes the book memorable is Dahlia herself. The book is written in the first person, and her narrative is full of asides and digressions and snark and humor. The colorful cast of characters are what make this book--and likely the whole series--special. Fun stuff! Recommended!
This is apparently the second book in a series, though I’ve not read the first. I suppose that's a spoiler of sorts: Dahlia survives the first book. Those of you hoping that this series is actually about a zombie detective will just have to learn to live with the crushing disappointment.
A mystery fan of Dahlia’s livestream convinces her to enter a video game tournament, where she stumbles across a corpse in a storeroom and is off on another adventure. What makes the book memorable is Dahlia herself. The book is written in the first person, and her narrative is full of asides and digressions and snark and humor. The colorful cast of characters are what make this book--and likely the whole series--special. Fun stuff! Recommended!
October 22, 2019
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this silly, goofy contemporary murder mystery eARC from Goodreads Giveaways. Arrrrr! I was so excited to read this second book in the dahlia moss mysteries series. If ye haven’t read the first book, the unfortunate decisions of dahlia moss, then ye might want to skip this post and go read me review of the first book. No spoilers ahead but if ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .
So me hearties, I have to say that I really enjoyed this second installment. It was such a treat to be back with that wacky Dahlia Moss. This novel deals with the topics of Twitch streaming, which I admit I have never used. But I am familiar with the concept, having used the interwebs before, and so was perfectly able to follow along. Like the first novel, there are plenty of pop-culture references that made me chuckle. Several parts made me laugh out loud and want to share the funny with the first mate. Sadly he was on deck being productive but I rarely belly laugh like that from books. I do think that the first book was much stronger in terms of characterizations and the actual murder mystery. I guessed who the culprit was in this one pretty quickly. But Dahlia is so absolutely insane and lovable that I didn't care. It was another fast, absurd, and jolly read. I want the next book already! Arrrrr!
So lastly . . .
Thank ye kindly Redhook Books and Goodreads Giveways!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
So me hearties, I have to say that I really enjoyed this second installment. It was such a treat to be back with that wacky Dahlia Moss. This novel deals with the topics of Twitch streaming, which I admit I have never used. But I am familiar with the concept, having used the interwebs before, and so was perfectly able to follow along. Like the first novel, there are plenty of pop-culture references that made me chuckle. Several parts made me laugh out loud and want to share the funny with the first mate. Sadly he was on deck being productive but I rarely belly laugh like that from books. I do think that the first book was much stronger in terms of characterizations and the actual murder mystery. I guessed who the culprit was in this one pretty quickly. But Dahlia is so absolutely insane and lovable that I didn't care. It was another fast, absurd, and jolly read. I want the next book already! Arrrrr!
So lastly . . .
Thank ye kindly Redhook Books and Goodreads Giveways!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
May 10, 2019
hoarder challenge: #31 made you laugh
Question from 1st book answered. Dahlia is in her 20’s.
More smart humor from Dahlia as she dives into another mystery. At least this time she’s taking an online course to become a PI. (who knew it was that easy!)
Unfortunately, the library didn’t have numbers 2 & 3 of the Dahlia Moss trilogy in audio book format. So I read them in paperback.
Again, a lot of the references went over my head. I had to look up Twitch & several other things. (thank goodness for google)
But the characters are so engaging that I didn’t mind.
That being said, I did laugh out loud alot.
I could easily imagine 2 grown adults engaging in smack-talk w/a 7 yr. old as they engaged in a game competition with him. Too much!
And the mystery is a bit more in depth this time so I was mentally going thru my list of suspects along w/Dahlia.
And of course, all the characters that I liked from the 1st book return as well as a few new people to add to Dahlia’s gang of geeks.
i hadn't solved the case so it was a nice surprise at the end when all was revealed.
Question from 1st book answered. Dahlia is in her 20’s.
More smart humor from Dahlia as she dives into another mystery. At least this time she’s taking an online course to become a PI. (who knew it was that easy!)
Unfortunately, the library didn’t have numbers 2 & 3 of the Dahlia Moss trilogy in audio book format. So I read them in paperback.
Again, a lot of the references went over my head. I had to look up Twitch & several other things. (thank goodness for google)
But the characters are so engaging that I didn’t mind.
That being said, I did laugh out loud alot.
I could easily imagine 2 grown adults engaging in smack-talk w/a 7 yr. old as they engaged in a game competition with him. Too much!
And the mystery is a bit more in depth this time so I was mentally going thru my list of suspects along w/Dahlia.
And of course, all the characters that I liked from the 1st book return as well as a few new people to add to Dahlia’s gang of geeks.
i hadn't solved the case so it was a nice surprise at the end when all was revealed.
June 19, 2017
Max Wirestone is plotting his increasing abilities in a two-point data set very well.
My partner and I raved about the Unfortunate Decisions... to anyone who would listen. The best 'unknown' book the year it came out. Just finished the Astonishing Mistakes... and Max has clearly 'leveled up'. Astonishing Mistakes... contains all of the ease and personality (the intimacy, dammit!) of the first book, but has polished his editing skills and lets loose with the humour. Oh my god the humour, it's written in a manner which feels both natural and thought-out (like Adams or Patchett), yet retains the 'elan vital' of the young female whose name graces the title. It's wonderful to drink in such abilities, and I cannot recommend this series too highly. Just thinking about this book puts a spring in my step.
My partner and I raved about the Unfortunate Decisions... to anyone who would listen. The best 'unknown' book the year it came out. Just finished the Astonishing Mistakes... and Max has clearly 'leveled up'. Astonishing Mistakes... contains all of the ease and personality (the intimacy, dammit!) of the first book, but has polished his editing skills and lets loose with the humour. Oh my god the humour, it's written in a manner which feels both natural and thought-out (like Adams or Patchett), yet retains the 'elan vital' of the young female whose name graces the title. It's wonderful to drink in such abilities, and I cannot recommend this series too highly. Just thinking about this book puts a spring in my step.
April 23, 2017
This was advertised as being like Veronica Mars. It is not. The only evidence the main character has any "detective skills" is repeated insistence of these "skills" by her friends. The only reason I can figure that accounts for her "solving" the case is that her name is on the cover, and the author felt obligated to let her "figure it out" somehow.
July 26, 2018
I got this book from Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say that I had a lot of trouble getting into this book. I don't know if it was the way it was written or just that it wasn't my type of book. I had to force myself to finish it. I think maybe some of it was because I am not a gamer and so the gaming aspect of it lost me and left me behind. Not having read the first book in the series may have something to do with it also.
Anyways, i was bored most of the way through. Dahlia's detective skills where just not there. And she kept going off on these aside stories that just lost me all together.
I doubt very much that I will be looking for the first book in the series or will be reading any future books in the series.
I have to say that I had a lot of trouble getting into this book. I don't know if it was the way it was written or just that it wasn't my type of book. I had to force myself to finish it. I think maybe some of it was because I am not a gamer and so the gaming aspect of it lost me and left me behind. Not having read the first book in the series may have something to do with it also.
Anyways, i was bored most of the way through. Dahlia's detective skills where just not there. And she kept going off on these aside stories that just lost me all together.
I doubt very much that I will be looking for the first book in the series or will be reading any future books in the series.
March 28, 2018
OMG this series is a hoot! In book 2 Dahlia live streams on Twitch, enters into a computer game competition to find the mysterious Doctor XXX, stumbles over dead bodies, finds a naked man handcuffed to a chair in a hotel storeroom and goes swimming in the Mississippi River to escape a crazed killer.
Lots of pop culture, lots of laugh out loud moments, and lots of cussing because that's how millennial's talk, so it's not for everyone.
Lots of pop culture, lots of laugh out loud moments, and lots of cussing because that's how millennial's talk, so it's not for everyone.
July 7, 2018
2.5 stars. Fun, light, goofy mystery. Seemed a little more haphazard and convoluted than the first book, although that may be partially more a function of my scattered mind at the time I was reading this than the book itself.
Best line: “He looked like a Fraggle who was trying to pilot a hippopotamus, which apparently was exactly what was needed.”
Best line: “He looked like a Fraggle who was trying to pilot a hippopotamus, which apparently was exactly what was needed.”
October 18, 2017
Fun little who-done-it
Fun little romp. A modern cozy mystery with a quirky heroine, lots of cultural references for all ages. Kindle iPhone version nice to have to read while waiting in line.
Fun little romp. A modern cozy mystery with a quirky heroine, lots of cultural references for all ages. Kindle iPhone version nice to have to read while waiting in line.
December 3, 2017
A geeky wanna be detective has to figure out who is bumping off the competition (literally!) at a video game tournament before she's the next casualty. A funny whodunit that will have you guessing til the end.
September 29, 2019
Oh my god I love these fucking books. I am Dahlia, and she is me. Wirestone writes an excellent Millennial woman.
June 13, 2020
I laughed out loud multiple times. Worth reading for that reason alone.
June 7, 2017
★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
Det. Maddocks meant that as a disparaging remark -- but he's pretty much on target. Which is good news for Wirestone's readers.
Dahlia is asked to meet someone at a video game tournament, he's convinced it'd be good to have a detective on hand. Her mysterious client, Doctor XXX, doesn't show where he's supposed to -- but there is a dead body there.
So, while not getting in the police's way, Dahlia needs to investigate the murder, find out just who Doctor XXX is, why he thought a detective would be needed at the tournament -- not to mention, just who's the guy in his underwear handcuffed to a chair nearby?
Concerned for her welfare, Dahlia's roommate, Charice sends her boyfriend Daniel along to act as a bodyguard -- for some reason, people in her life aren't crazy about Dahlia going to meet a stranger named Doctor XXX. I enjoy Charice, but a little of her goes a long way, and one of the biggest issues I had with the previous book was that Charice was just in it too much -- having Daniel stand in for her for most of the book helped a lot. Daniel's goofy enough on his own, but he's much more restrained than this girlfriend. So the whole thing was easier to take. Det. Shuler wasn't around much, and mostly served as someone for Dahlia to get occasional help from. Hopefully, he has a bigger role next time. Of course, we also have Nathan, Dhalia's love interest:
Dahlia herself is a blast -- a great mix of confidence, cowardice, competence, and cluelessness -- she's over her head in a lot of the situations she finds herself in -- but doesn't let that stop her -- she just barrels on, sure that things will work out . . . eventually. I love her voice, her attitude -- and ineptitude. Really, all of her. She's probably my favorite female detective since Izzy Spellman.
I know, thanks to that blurb/review of The Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss , everyone talks about Veronica Mars in relation to Dahlia -- but the more I think of it, the quotation above is closer to the truth -- she's Stephanie Plum with more realistic anatomy. The same heart, a similar humor, the same good intentions and haphazard results, with some loony friends (not as extreme as Stephanie's) and a similar budding triangle.
In the midst of the investigations, Wirestone is able to celebrate the videogame culture and those who are part of it while being able to joke about it and have fun with some of the eccentricities around it. Not just laughing at, but with these characters and their hobbies is a great way to appeal to both those inside geek culture and without. More than that, we have a pretty decent mystery -- one that's not just clever in construction, but in the way it is told.
This is such an enjoyable read -- I didn't make it out of the first chapter without audibly chuckling. I had a lot of fun with the first book, and I think this was a noticeable improvement -- I had more fun reading it. I hope this trend continues to the next book. Also, I'm hoping this isn't a trilogy -- I don't know that we need 20+ Dahlia Moss mysteries, but three isn't going to be enough.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
"She's just trouble. Dahlia Moss is a nexus of trouble."
Det. Maddocks meant that as a disparaging remark -- but he's pretty much on target. Which is good news for Wirestone's readers.
Dahlia is asked to meet someone at a video game tournament, he's convinced it'd be good to have a detective on hand. Her mysterious client, Doctor XXX, doesn't show where he's supposed to -- but there is a dead body there.
So, while not getting in the police's way, Dahlia needs to investigate the murder, find out just who Doctor XXX is, why he thought a detective would be needed at the tournament -- not to mention, just who's the guy in his underwear handcuffed to a chair nearby?
Concerned for her welfare, Dahlia's roommate, Charice sends her boyfriend Daniel along to act as a bodyguard -- for some reason, people in her life aren't crazy about Dahlia going to meet a stranger named Doctor XXX. I enjoy Charice, but a little of her goes a long way, and one of the biggest issues I had with the previous book was that Charice was just in it too much -- having Daniel stand in for her for most of the book helped a lot. Daniel's goofy enough on his own, but he's much more restrained than this girlfriend. So the whole thing was easier to take. Det. Shuler wasn't around much, and mostly served as someone for Dahlia to get occasional help from. Hopefully, he has a bigger role next time. Of course, we also have Nathan, Dhalia's love interest:
A word about shirtless Nathan. I have a real thing for Nathan-I admit it-but this is not a Janet Evanovich-y romp here where Rick ManSlab takes off his shirt to reveal a sixpack, or an eight-pack, or a seven-pack (which is a six-pack and an abdominal hernia, possibly?), or whatever packs guys have these days. Shirtless Nathan looks like a turtle who has somehow gotten out of its shell. He has no body mass! No fat, which is admittedly appealing, but no anything else. He was a brazen little turtle, though, because he seemed cheered by the turn of events.
Dahlia herself is a blast -- a great mix of confidence, cowardice, competence, and cluelessness -- she's over her head in a lot of the situations she finds herself in -- but doesn't let that stop her -- she just barrels on, sure that things will work out . . . eventually. I love her voice, her attitude -- and ineptitude. Really, all of her. She's probably my favorite female detective since Izzy Spellman.
I know, thanks to that blurb/review of The Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss , everyone talks about Veronica Mars in relation to Dahlia -- but the more I think of it, the quotation above is closer to the truth -- she's Stephanie Plum with more realistic anatomy. The same heart, a similar humor, the same good intentions and haphazard results, with some loony friends (not as extreme as Stephanie's) and a similar budding triangle.
In the midst of the investigations, Wirestone is able to celebrate the videogame culture and those who are part of it while being able to joke about it and have fun with some of the eccentricities around it. Not just laughing at, but with these characters and their hobbies is a great way to appeal to both those inside geek culture and without. More than that, we have a pretty decent mystery -- one that's not just clever in construction, but in the way it is told.
This is such an enjoyable read -- I didn't make it out of the first chapter without audibly chuckling. I had a lot of fun with the first book, and I think this was a noticeable improvement -- I had more fun reading it. I hope this trend continues to the next book. Also, I'm hoping this isn't a trilogy -- I don't know that we need 20+ Dahlia Moss mysteries, but three isn't going to be enough.
August 19, 2017
Not as laugh-out-loud funny as the previous one, but that may have been because I'm a lot less familiar with Twitch streaming than fantasy MMORPGS. The mystery this time around was also a little less interesting than before.
Still a big fan of Dahlia and her crazy friends. The ending was action-packed fun, and Dahlia's wry commentary as she makes decisions (and mistakes) is just pop-culture filled goodness. More people need to wake up to this series - that review count is a travesty.
I do want to experience a fighting game tournament now. But maybe with less murder.
Still a big fan of Dahlia and her crazy friends. The ending was action-packed fun, and Dahlia's wry commentary as she makes decisions (and mistakes) is just pop-culture filled goodness. More people need to wake up to this series - that review count is a travesty.
I do want to experience a fighting game tournament now. But maybe with less murder.
July 26, 2018
I rarely laugh out loud when I'm reading books, but I had to put down this book for a good 5 minutes while I laughed. Every time I read the passage, I'd get started again. Gamer-geek Dahlia Moss is a would-be sleuth with a penchant for finding trouble (and corpses). Her conversations with her Twitch followers were hilarious, and for an old girl like me, learning about yet more gaming trends was illuminating. If you are in the mood for something clever, not too deep, but really well-written, this is for you.
February 6, 2017
This is book two following The Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss that came out in 2015 and continues the fun. The blurb on it says Veronica Mars meets World of Warcraft and I have to say that is a pretty good description, especially if you throw in some of the Guild. Fun characters, over the top humor, great dialog, and tons of geek references all add up to one of my new favorite series. I can't wait for book 3 The Questionable Behavior of Dahlia Moss!
August 11, 2019
I have to give Wirestone some mad props because Dahlia's voice is so much fun to read. I think some of the 'kinks' got worked out from the first book and Dahlia's character was much more established in this second book. And the writing... it's just awesome. I'm sitting on the plane reading this giggling like a crazy person. Because I laughed out loud, A LOT, reading this book. Dahlia's voice, her sense of humor, her ridiculous actions and deductions are just brilliant. She is a quirky mix of brilliant naivety with startling insight.
We find ourselves with Dahlia again. Her roommate Charice is still with the actor boyfriend Daniel. Dahlia is still with her boyfriend Nathan (though she also appears to have feelings for the detective Shuler, but also doesn't let herself really think about it). She's playing on her streaming thing (I don't quite 'get' this, but I'm going with it) Twitch Chat. A Doctor XXX gives her $500 to meet her at a gaming tournament at a hotel tomorrow. Twitch Chat tells her not to (duh) but she goes anyway. Charice sends Daniel with her for protection.
Dahlia meets a bunch of people. Mike3000. Remy. Imogen. Nice Guy Kyle and his wife Tricia and their baby Undine (whom Dahlia ends up watching for awhile). She and Daniel have a match with a six-year-old and his little brother. They beat them. Barely. Dahlia gets a notice to meet Dr XXX in a storage room upstairs. She finds a dead body, a gamer named Karou. Then she throws up on it/him. Daniel goes to get help. She hears a noise and in another storage room finds a guy named Swan handcuffed to a chair in just his underwear. He begs her not to get the police involved. She agrees and drags him (chair and all) to his room. She goes back to meet the police. They give their statement. They go back to Swan but can't get him out of the handcuffs so she calls Shuler. Shuler tells her to tell the cops (or he will) but when they get back Swan is gone.
Everyone Dahlia and Daniel were supposed to play against didn't show so they kept automatically advancing and they made it to day 2, which was on a steamboat. Charice comes dressed as a Balroc, so Daniel also dressed up as something scary. He's going to propose to her. Dahlia spends time processing this.
I honestly can't do the hi-jinks of this book credit. A crazy mix of improbable and totally believable. Dahlia is direct, almost painfully so, and often at her own detriment. I can't do justice to the steamboat. My recap pales. But here we go. There were player swaps due to death, and Swan was now to play with Chul-Moo. Who didn't show. Dahlia goes snooping and finds him dead in a bathroom. she's streaming with Twitch Chat so they see her get knocked out. She finds herself (and Chul-Moo) in an engine room. She can't get out the door so she works herself out of a portal and when someone grabs at her, she falls into the river. The police pick her up and she get back on the boat. She soaking wet so nathan spends the rest of the book finding her dry clothes. (Nathan showed up, and brought her a cactus cause that's what he does).
She borrows another guy's laptop who is streaming and sets off to find the killer. This guy has way more followers than she does and she eventually gets Tricia and Nice guy Kyle to admit to the killings. (I missed the motif. I think it was money? But the prize wasn't THAT much money. $20K. Honestly, I don't care about the motif. It really isn't important with this story). She has to run for her life. Again. And interrupts Daniel proposing to Charice on the stage. But the killers are caught.
The plot was the weak point of the story. But I honestly didn't care about the plot. It's Dahlia. I could probably read a book about her just going to the grocery store. Her character is so funny to me. Wirestone, keep writing about Dahlia cause I want to keep reading about her!
We find ourselves with Dahlia again. Her roommate Charice is still with the actor boyfriend Daniel. Dahlia is still with her boyfriend Nathan (though she also appears to have feelings for the detective Shuler, but also doesn't let herself really think about it). She's playing on her streaming thing (I don't quite 'get' this, but I'm going with it) Twitch Chat. A Doctor XXX gives her $500 to meet her at a gaming tournament at a hotel tomorrow. Twitch Chat tells her not to (duh) but she goes anyway. Charice sends Daniel with her for protection.
Dahlia meets a bunch of people. Mike3000. Remy. Imogen. Nice Guy Kyle and his wife Tricia and their baby Undine (whom Dahlia ends up watching for awhile). She and Daniel have a match with a six-year-old and his little brother. They beat them. Barely. Dahlia gets a notice to meet Dr XXX in a storage room upstairs. She finds a dead body, a gamer named Karou. Then she throws up on it/him. Daniel goes to get help. She hears a noise and in another storage room finds a guy named Swan handcuffed to a chair in just his underwear. He begs her not to get the police involved. She agrees and drags him (chair and all) to his room. She goes back to meet the police. They give their statement. They go back to Swan but can't get him out of the handcuffs so she calls Shuler. Shuler tells her to tell the cops (or he will) but when they get back Swan is gone.
Everyone Dahlia and Daniel were supposed to play against didn't show so they kept automatically advancing and they made it to day 2, which was on a steamboat. Charice comes dressed as a Balroc, so Daniel also dressed up as something scary. He's going to propose to her. Dahlia spends time processing this.
I honestly can't do the hi-jinks of this book credit. A crazy mix of improbable and totally believable. Dahlia is direct, almost painfully so, and often at her own detriment. I can't do justice to the steamboat. My recap pales. But here we go. There were player swaps due to death, and Swan was now to play with Chul-Moo. Who didn't show. Dahlia goes snooping and finds him dead in a bathroom. she's streaming with Twitch Chat so they see her get knocked out. She finds herself (and Chul-Moo) in an engine room. She can't get out the door so she works herself out of a portal and when someone grabs at her, she falls into the river. The police pick her up and she get back on the boat. She soaking wet so nathan spends the rest of the book finding her dry clothes. (Nathan showed up, and brought her a cactus cause that's what he does).
She borrows another guy's laptop who is streaming and sets off to find the killer. This guy has way more followers than she does and she eventually gets Tricia and Nice guy Kyle to admit to the killings. (I missed the motif. I think it was money? But the prize wasn't THAT much money. $20K. Honestly, I don't care about the motif. It really isn't important with this story). She has to run for her life. Again. And interrupts Daniel proposing to Charice on the stage. But the killers are caught.
The plot was the weak point of the story. But I honestly didn't care about the plot. It's Dahlia. I could probably read a book about her just going to the grocery store. Her character is so funny to me. Wirestone, keep writing about Dahlia cause I want to keep reading about her!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2017
I won this book on a Goodreads giveaway (thanks Goodreads Team!!) and dug right in. Having recently read the first Dahlia Moss installment I was excited to dive into the next right away.
Dahlia is a hot mess but in all the right ways. She’s smart and wry and funny. She has more than her share of bad luck and weird situations but it works for her. Working towards being a PI, she can’t seem to help but find mysteries to solve. This time around it is gamer named Doctor XXX, a near naked gamer called Swan handcuffed to a chair and a hotel storage room murder that all lead to Dahlia being in the line of fire. Again.
In order to solve the mystery Dahlia must enter an online game competition. Her partner, and bodyguard, is her roommate’s boyfriend who knows nothing about gaming or subtlety. In between winning matches through forfeiture, Dahlia and Daniel search for clues to the mystery of Doctor XXX.
Dahlia’s costars include her roommate Charice, a lovable force of nature and girlfriend of Daniel, Nathan, a botanist who delivers cacti instead of roses to express his romantic interest, Shuler, a police detective who also has a romantic interest in Dahlia and Twitch chat, a group of rowdies who follow her online and from whom she finds comfort and bad advice when facing danger.
Dahlia proves once again that her powers of deduction eventually do kick in and, should she avoid getting killed or seriously injured, she is up to the task of uncovering a murderer.
This book is hilarious in its geek humor. If you don’t know any gamers, millennials or online nerds, some things may snake past you. Regardless, it’s still a lot of fun to ride along with Dahlia Moss.
Dahlia is a hot mess but in all the right ways. She’s smart and wry and funny. She has more than her share of bad luck and weird situations but it works for her. Working towards being a PI, she can’t seem to help but find mysteries to solve. This time around it is gamer named Doctor XXX, a near naked gamer called Swan handcuffed to a chair and a hotel storage room murder that all lead to Dahlia being in the line of fire. Again.
In order to solve the mystery Dahlia must enter an online game competition. Her partner, and bodyguard, is her roommate’s boyfriend who knows nothing about gaming or subtlety. In between winning matches through forfeiture, Dahlia and Daniel search for clues to the mystery of Doctor XXX.
Dahlia’s costars include her roommate Charice, a lovable force of nature and girlfriend of Daniel, Nathan, a botanist who delivers cacti instead of roses to express his romantic interest, Shuler, a police detective who also has a romantic interest in Dahlia and Twitch chat, a group of rowdies who follow her online and from whom she finds comfort and bad advice when facing danger.
Dahlia proves once again that her powers of deduction eventually do kick in and, should she avoid getting killed or seriously injured, she is up to the task of uncovering a murderer.
This book is hilarious in its geek humor. If you don’t know any gamers, millennials or online nerds, some things may snake past you. Regardless, it’s still a lot of fun to ride along with Dahlia Moss.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2017
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and have not let that affect my review.
This book was awesome. So funny, with a very self-aware (in a meta way) and self-deprecating heroine. Sample line: "It was at that moment that I decided to take off my pants. I've been dreading typing that sentence for a while because I've long known there isn't a way to write it that doesn't turn out insane, but hear me out [provides numbered list of reasons]."
Dahlia is 90% of why I loved this book, because every other sentence made me crack me up. But there's also a wacky cast of characters, including anonymous Internet trolls that are surprisingly loveable, and lots of geeky references which I enjoyed even when I didn't understand (things I understood: Twitch, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Bond villains, Chris Evans in Fantastic Four. Things I didn't: anything about specific video games, which I still can't tell whether they're real games or just modeled after real games). The mystery-solving parts were fairly amateurish - a police procedural this is not - but that did not detract from my enjoyment one bit since I'm reading this more as wacky hijinks than professional detective.
I didn't read the first book in this series; even though there are a number of references to the events and character developments from that book, I still felt like I knew what was going on in this book. But I am totally going to read it (the first book) AND watch for the next one too, because, as I said, this book was awesome.
This book was awesome. So funny, with a very self-aware (in a meta way) and self-deprecating heroine. Sample line: "It was at that moment that I decided to take off my pants. I've been dreading typing that sentence for a while because I've long known there isn't a way to write it that doesn't turn out insane, but hear me out [provides numbered list of reasons]."
Dahlia is 90% of why I loved this book, because every other sentence made me crack me up. But there's also a wacky cast of characters, including anonymous Internet trolls that are surprisingly loveable, and lots of geeky references which I enjoyed even when I didn't understand (things I understood: Twitch, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Bond villains, Chris Evans in Fantastic Four. Things I didn't: anything about specific video games, which I still can't tell whether they're real games or just modeled after real games). The mystery-solving parts were fairly amateurish - a police procedural this is not - but that did not detract from my enjoyment one bit since I'm reading this more as wacky hijinks than professional detective.
I didn't read the first book in this series; even though there are a number of references to the events and character developments from that book, I still felt like I knew what was going on in this book. But I am totally going to read it (the first book) AND watch for the next one too, because, as I said, this book was awesome.
July 28, 2017
This is my favorite read of the last 5 years, at least in terms of straight enjoyability.
I love mysteries, I love video games, I love pop culture (geeky) references, and I love off-beat humor... so basically Max Wirestone wrote this book (or possibly series) just for me. But I digress.
Dahlia Moss is training to be a PI in St. Louis, possibly on a lark. It's unclear (having not read the first in the series) how much thought was actually put into this. Somehow her IRL hobbies have at least partially leaked into her Twitch stream, because a follower mysteriously asks her to be on-hand as a detective at a fighting game tournament the next day.
And hilarity, danger, and mystery ensues! Some of her decisions (mistakes) are pretty astonishing, but never in the "ugh, I can't believe how stupid she is" kind of way. In other words, I wasn't getting angry at the inanimate book in my hands every time she made a terrible decision. The plot progresses pretty well, in a fairly natural way, and the mystery was actually mysterious enough that I didn't start suspecting the outcome until pretty near the end.
Add to all this compelling one-liners, absurd segways, and supporting characters that were actually developed and interesting (and freaking hilarious), and you have my favorite read of the decade (so far).
I love mysteries, I love video games, I love pop culture (geeky) references, and I love off-beat humor... so basically Max Wirestone wrote this book (or possibly series) just for me. But I digress.
Dahlia Moss is training to be a PI in St. Louis, possibly on a lark. It's unclear (having not read the first in the series) how much thought was actually put into this. Somehow her IRL hobbies have at least partially leaked into her Twitch stream, because a follower mysteriously asks her to be on-hand as a detective at a fighting game tournament the next day.
And hilarity, danger, and mystery ensues! Some of her decisions (mistakes) are pretty astonishing, but never in the "ugh, I can't believe how stupid she is" kind of way. In other words, I wasn't getting angry at the inanimate book in my hands every time she made a terrible decision. The plot progresses pretty well, in a fairly natural way, and the mystery was actually mysterious enough that I didn't start suspecting the outcome until pretty near the end.
Add to all this compelling one-liners, absurd segways, and supporting characters that were actually developed and interesting (and freaking hilarious), and you have my favorite read of the decade (so far).
October 5, 2017
Dahlia Moss likes to stream her video game playing for an audience on Twitch. She is shocked when she receives a $500 donation from a user named Doctor XXX. The Doctor's only request is she meet him at a video game tournament at a hotel. Even though Dahlia technically isn't a detective, Doctor XXX wants her there in case something goes down at the tournament. And of course something does happen at the tournament, and soon Dahlia is in way over her head.
I don't consider myself a gamer but I was surprised how much I liked that aspect of the book. I thought that and the humor were the best parts of the book. Dahlia is a bit like the Stephanie Plum character where she gets herself in some outrageous situations but because there is humor involved you kinda overlook the things that don't seem very believable.
I thought the first half of the book was stronger than the second. I found myself a bit bored with the mystery aspect of the story. Other than Dahlia and her friends, I just didn't really care what happened to any of the characters at the video game tournament.
I won a free copy of this ebook in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinions.
I don't consider myself a gamer but I was surprised how much I liked that aspect of the book. I thought that and the humor were the best parts of the book. Dahlia is a bit like the Stephanie Plum character where she gets herself in some outrageous situations but because there is humor involved you kinda overlook the things that don't seem very believable.
I thought the first half of the book was stronger than the second. I found myself a bit bored with the mystery aspect of the story. Other than Dahlia and her friends, I just didn't really care what happened to any of the characters at the video game tournament.
I won a free copy of this ebook in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinions.
November 9, 2017
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and I am very grateful for this. I am not sure I would have stumbled upon these books if it were not for the giveaway. I love Dahlia Moss.
I think that this second installment had more laugh out loud moments for me personally because I know more about the Twitch world than I do MMORPGs. Max Wirestone has the best style in writing geeky and eccentric characters so getting to engross myself even more because I was more familiar with the content was great fun. The situations and reactions are certainly outlandish but that makes it all the more enjoyable in my book.
From what I can tell the comparison to Veronica Mars is the make or break point for whether people enjoy these books. A very specific idea can be conjured in a lot of people's minds because Veronica Mars is such a beloved character with a cult following. Dahlia Moss, is a sarcastic sleuth in her own right; however she is a much more lighthearted character. If you go in with the right expectation this book is a super fun right from start to finish.
I think that this second installment had more laugh out loud moments for me personally because I know more about the Twitch world than I do MMORPGs. Max Wirestone has the best style in writing geeky and eccentric characters so getting to engross myself even more because I was more familiar with the content was great fun. The situations and reactions are certainly outlandish but that makes it all the more enjoyable in my book.
From what I can tell the comparison to Veronica Mars is the make or break point for whether people enjoy these books. A very specific idea can be conjured in a lot of people's minds because Veronica Mars is such a beloved character with a cult following. Dahlia Moss, is a sarcastic sleuth in her own right; however she is a much more lighthearted character. If you go in with the right expectation this book is a super fun right from start to finish.
February 27, 2018
Crazy geeky fun
Reading the second novel of the series, gave me some good laughs, along with some pretty relatable quotes. Dahlia can be a very relatable character, especially for female nerds, even if you may not have played some of the games or know all the references.
This series and this book does not take itself serious, which is why it can be a fun and light read. The plot can be a little predictable, but the hijinks and dialogue is what makes this story great. I am also impressed with the author, due to the fact that he is great at writing as a female. It's hard to tell, until you turn to the "About the author" page.
For some reason, I like the second novel more than the first. I think that the dialogue may have flowed better and I felt like the first felt more like a rant than actual story telling. Overall, I would recommend this book for those that are in the mood for a fun and geeky book.
I won this novel in a Goodreads giveaway in return for an honest review.
Reading the second novel of the series, gave me some good laughs, along with some pretty relatable quotes. Dahlia can be a very relatable character, especially for female nerds, even if you may not have played some of the games or know all the references.
This series and this book does not take itself serious, which is why it can be a fun and light read. The plot can be a little predictable, but the hijinks and dialogue is what makes this story great. I am also impressed with the author, due to the fact that he is great at writing as a female. It's hard to tell, until you turn to the "About the author" page.
For some reason, I like the second novel more than the first. I think that the dialogue may have flowed better and I felt like the first felt more like a rant than actual story telling. Overall, I would recommend this book for those that are in the mood for a fun and geeky book.
I won this novel in a Goodreads giveaway in return for an honest review.
March 27, 2018
I received The Astonishing Mistakes of Dahlia Moss in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I also received the first book in the series and after reading that one did not want to continue on to the second book, but I did since I had said I would. I gave it a chance and it thoroughly disappointed me.
It is clear after reading two of Dahlia Moss's 'detective' stories that she has absolutely no detective skills, she flounders about until the murder tries to murder her and she realizes 'who done it'. Never have I ever read a detective series where I wished the main character would meet her end with one of the many 'attempts on her life'.
I really hate giving books bad reviews, but I just couldn't get into this book. Maybe I'm just not the right audience for this 'geeky' detective series, but it is definitely not for me. If you think you will like it based off of the book description, I'd say go for it and give it a chance. I've seen many reviews where people have seemed to love it, but it is not for me.
It is clear after reading two of Dahlia Moss's 'detective' stories that she has absolutely no detective skills, she flounders about until the murder tries to murder her and she realizes 'who done it'. Never have I ever read a detective series where I wished the main character would meet her end with one of the many 'attempts on her life'.
I really hate giving books bad reviews, but I just couldn't get into this book. Maybe I'm just not the right audience for this 'geeky' detective series, but it is definitely not for me. If you think you will like it based off of the book description, I'd say go for it and give it a chance. I've seen many reviews where people have seemed to love it, but it is not for me.
November 22, 2017
Fun--don't let the three stars fool you, there's no real downside to this book, just that other books are subjectively better and if I don't have standards then the enemies have won!
I would follow Dahlia Moss almost anywhere (not in real life, I'm likely to get killed), and while the mystery itself didn't enthrall me, and its resolution didn't really satisfy (I'm a Christie-fan, I want my clues, the eventual sorting of clues into red herrings and pertinent, and then the thrilling explanation of how it all comes together to prove something), I'd happily read about Dahlia's adventures in a non-mystery setting--a Bridget Jones kind of novel would suit her well.
So 4 for the characters, 2 for the plotting, and it averages to 3.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
I would follow Dahlia Moss almost anywhere (not in real life, I'm likely to get killed), and while the mystery itself didn't enthrall me, and its resolution didn't really satisfy (I'm a Christie-fan, I want my clues, the eventual sorting of clues into red herrings and pertinent, and then the thrilling explanation of how it all comes together to prove something), I'd happily read about Dahlia's adventures in a non-mystery setting--a Bridget Jones kind of novel would suit her well.
So 4 for the characters, 2 for the plotting, and it averages to 3.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
December 29, 2017
Like the first in the series, this book is a fun easy classic murder mystery with over the top geek flavor. The pop-geek references stay just barely on the right side of the pandering to the audience line. Dahlia is just as self-deprecating and accidentally charming as she was in the first novel. The murders are just as unpredictable, with the least likely suspects just as guilty.
I'd say that the only thing that makes me hesitant about this novel is the approaching love triangle. I truly hope that the author does NOT fall into this over-done-nauseating-awful-I-refuse-to-read-any-more-books-that-contain-this-trope "oh, I'm just a normal girl, how will I ever decide between the two equally attractive men interested in me." Seriously. Its not here yet, but you can tell that it might appear. And if it does it'll ruin the series for me. There's still some hope though, so I'll just cross my fingers that the author is smart enough not to go there.
I'd say that the only thing that makes me hesitant about this novel is the approaching love triangle. I truly hope that the author does NOT fall into this over-done-nauseating-awful-I-refuse-to-read-any-more-books-that-contain-this-trope "oh, I'm just a normal girl, how will I ever decide between the two equally attractive men interested in me." Seriously. Its not here yet, but you can tell that it might appear. And if it does it'll ruin the series for me. There's still some hope though, so I'll just cross my fingers that the author is smart enough not to go there.
January 11, 2018
Okay, I kind of adore Dahlia. I especially adore her sense of humor. And for everyone who's complaining about how she's not a *real* detective, well, neither are Nancy Drew or Miss Marple or dear Lord Peter Wimsey. Anybody who wants a real detective should go read a police procedural. This is the wacky second in the series and maintains the geek culture setting and the zany characters and the laugh-out-loud moments. Dahlia unwisely responds to a social-media troll who invites her to meet him at a video game tournament, and the plot just gets crazier from there. Appearances by characters from the first book, including Charice the crazy roommate, Charice's actor boyfriend Daniel, Dahlia's kind-of love interest Nathan, and the deputy detective Shuler who is also kind of crushing on Dahlia all return along with their lovable quirks. My gosh, I'm enjoying this series. Can't wait for the third book.
October 4, 2017
What can I say about Dahlia Moss? She was as haphazard, random and completely lucky this time as she was last time and I love it.
Dahlia doesn't really bring any more method, or thought to her investigation in book 2 than she did in her first book. I frequently found myself thinking, "This is not how I would go about this," and then reminding myself that this is the point, Dahlia is going about things how Dahlia would not how I, a reasonable reader would. She flings herself whole heartedly into her curiosity and (as a consequence) ridiculous situations that we the reader think we would be far too clever to get into. But would we? Would we really?
Dahlia, and the whole cast of characters in her book are zany, a little odd, exactly who I'd expect to meet at the next Comicon, and 100% endearing. I can't wait for the next book.
Dahlia doesn't really bring any more method, or thought to her investigation in book 2 than she did in her first book. I frequently found myself thinking, "This is not how I would go about this," and then reminding myself that this is the point, Dahlia is going about things how Dahlia would not how I, a reasonable reader would. She flings herself whole heartedly into her curiosity and (as a consequence) ridiculous situations that we the reader think we would be far too clever to get into. But would we? Would we really?
Dahlia, and the whole cast of characters in her book are zany, a little odd, exactly who I'd expect to meet at the next Comicon, and 100% endearing. I can't wait for the next book.
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