Play Nice

by Michael Guillebeau

Play Nice is an Elmore Leonard-style Nancy Drew story. Cassie Luna is a twenty
-two-year-old woman whose fairytale life as a six-foot-two WNBA star, model, and
health food spokesman crashed when she was caught smuggling drugs to pay for her
niece Belva’s medical needs. Now she’s being forced by Detective Stevens of the
corrupt Jericho Police Department to lie to send an innocent man to jail, or
face a long sentence herself, which will destroy the family she’s trying to hold
together. Cassie’s always played tough but nice. But playing nice in a very
dirty world of drug lords and crooked cops can get you killed.

303 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 22, 2016

About the author

Michael Guillebeau's book MAD LIBRARIAN won the 2017 Foreword Reviews Indie for Humor Book of the Year. He has published seven novels and two anthologies and over thirty-five short stories, including three in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The promotional description of "an Elmore Leonard-style Nancy Drew story" is spot on--this felt very much like a grown-up Nancy Drew mystery...although Nancy's gone a bit to the dark side and makes her living selling drugs. The characters in Play Nice are the most grounded, realistic characters of Guillebeau's novels so far--there are no crazy, gun-toting Russians or alternative-lifestyle embracing Native Americans suddenly popping up for color. In this case, the whimsy is more technocentric, with unmanned aerial battle drones playing a major role. What's most interesting, however, are the shades of grey in the characters. Yes, Cassie is a drug dealer; but her motivations are such that you can't help but root for her. Yes, Stephens is a bully and a corrupt police detective, but you quickly start to suspect that he wants the case solved correctly. Those juxtapositions keep you turning pages, and the mystery itself keeps you wondering how it's all going to turn out.

This ARC was provided by the author in return for an honest review.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another hit for Michael Guillebeau! His books keep getting better and better.

In this case, Play Nice is the most realistic, darkest of his books yet, and, yes, that is a good thing. First of all, don't be fooled by the cover. This is not a book about basketball. Cassie, the main character, just happens to have played ball in college until her world crashed down and she made some bad decisions to survive.

This is the story of the love (or hate) of family and what you will sacrifice for them. It's the story of redemption. It even has a little romantic love thrown in.

Aside from all of that, it has the wit and whimsy we've come to expect from Guillebeau. The banter is sharp and amusing. While the whimsy isn't so much the wacky action sequences, it's exaggerated tech and superhero vibe is pure fun.

Read the book... then, go back and catch up on JOSH WHOEVER and A STUDY IN DETAILS (all standalone and completely unrelated so read them in whatever order). You won't be sorry.

[Lynnea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't judge a book by it's cover...I wasn't sure about this book on first glance. Have no fears if you are like me, this book isn't heavily focused on basketball. It is an important detail in the central character, Cassie's backstory. What a life she has lived and continues to live. I enjoyed every twist and turn this novel took Cassie. It is a story well told when I am left wondering what will happen to these characters next. Perhaps the author will give us more.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

Enjoyable read! Colorful characters, mystery, misdirection, little romance and life lessons. Would love to recommend it to my teacher friends but the took many curse words... oh well...

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got in return for an honest review. After a fairly good start, this fell flat. The characters were moderately developed, but lacked nuance. There were a lot of poorly-written sentences, misspellings, and punctuation issues that detracted from the book.