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The B-Team: The Case of the Angry First Wife
Del's great-aunt, Kitty, has retired from a life of crime and embarked on a new venture, the B-Team. Although Del works at an animal shelter by day, by night she, her great-aunt and their cohorts, Dino and Ritz, use their criminal skills to right wrongs. In this fun book, the modern-day Robin Hoods set out to return a necklace to its rightful owner but along the way discover they've been duped by an imposter who also wants to get her hands on the necklace. The problem is, criminals can't go to the police, even if they are on the side of the good. Del comes up with a new plan, and the B-Team saves the day. Not without a few detours along the way.
144 pages, Paperback
Published February 6, 2018
6 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Melodie Campbell
47 books108 followers"the Canadian literary heir to Donald Westlake"
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
NEWS: THE GODDAUGHTER DOES VEGAS is on the Ontario Library Association 2020 Forest of Reading GREAT STORIES list!
THE B-TEAM has been shortlisted for the 2019 Arthur Ellis Award for Excellence in Crime Writing! Melodie Campbell is a double finalist this year, with A SHIP CALLED PANDORA (Mystery Weekly Magazine) being a finalist in the short story category.
THE GODDAUGHTER'S REVENGE has won the DERRINGER AWARD and the ARTHUR ELLIS AWARD for Crime Writing!
The Toronto Sun called her Canada's "Queen of Comedy." Library Journal compared her to Janet Evanovich.
Melodie got her start writing comedy so it's no surprise that reviewers and editors have called her fiction "hilarious" and "laugh-out-loud funny". She has over 200 publications, including 40 short stories, 15 novels, and has won 10 awards for fiction.
"The Goddaughter" a comic mob caper, has been called "Just right for Janet Evanovich fans...impossible not to laugh" by Library Journal.
"The Goddaughter's Revenge" from Orca books, was dubbed 'Real Gold' by the Hamilton Spectator. It won the Derringer Award in the States, and the Arthur Ellis Award in Canada.
Book 5 in the series, "The Bootlegger's Goddaughter" was a finalist for the Ontario Library Association Golden Oak Award. Book 6 in the series, "The Goddaughter Does Vegas" is now available.
Top 100 Bestseller "Rowena Through the Wall," was the first novel in the Land's End comic time travel fantasy series. The entire Land's End trilogy is a Top 50 Amazon Bestseller (all books).
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
NEWS: THE GODDAUGHTER DOES VEGAS is on the Ontario Library Association 2020 Forest of Reading GREAT STORIES list!
THE B-TEAM has been shortlisted for the 2019 Arthur Ellis Award for Excellence in Crime Writing! Melodie Campbell is a double finalist this year, with A SHIP CALLED PANDORA (Mystery Weekly Magazine) being a finalist in the short story category.
THE GODDAUGHTER'S REVENGE has won the DERRINGER AWARD and the ARTHUR ELLIS AWARD for Crime Writing!
The Toronto Sun called her Canada's "Queen of Comedy." Library Journal compared her to Janet Evanovich.
Melodie got her start writing comedy so it's no surprise that reviewers and editors have called her fiction "hilarious" and "laugh-out-loud funny". She has over 200 publications, including 40 short stories, 15 novels, and has won 10 awards for fiction.
"The Goddaughter" a comic mob caper, has been called "Just right for Janet Evanovich fans...impossible not to laugh" by Library Journal.
"The Goddaughter's Revenge" from Orca books, was dubbed 'Real Gold' by the Hamilton Spectator. It won the Derringer Award in the States, and the Arthur Ellis Award in Canada.
Book 5 in the series, "The Bootlegger's Goddaughter" was a finalist for the Ontario Library Association Golden Oak Award. Book 6 in the series, "The Goddaughter Does Vegas" is now available.
Top 100 Bestseller "Rowena Through the Wall," was the first novel in the Land's End comic time travel fantasy series. The entire Land's End trilogy is a Top 50 Amazon Bestseller (all books).
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 22, 2018
3 short stars 🌟🌟🌟
I guess this is classified as a rapid read and indeed it was that.... and while I would have really appreciated this in high school and college as assigned reading... it made it hard to really get into.... hard for much character development when the book is this short....
I thought based on the title of this book it would be funny, unfortunately that wasn’t the case.... it was about Del a girl who works at an animal shelter by day and helps bring justice to those who have been wronged by night.... and oh yeah she has ties to the mob.... I really needed more angry first wife and less mob!
Del and her aunt really had potential to be interesting characters, but the book was too short for that.... The plot really didn’t draw me in either... I just felt as though a lot was thrown in, the animal shelter, the mob, the love interest.....
I’d recommend this if you want a really quick read, perhaps to pass the time in a doctors waiting room....
*** i’d like to thank the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book ***
I guess this is classified as a rapid read and indeed it was that.... and while I would have really appreciated this in high school and college as assigned reading... it made it hard to really get into.... hard for much character development when the book is this short....
I thought based on the title of this book it would be funny, unfortunately that wasn’t the case.... it was about Del a girl who works at an animal shelter by day and helps bring justice to those who have been wronged by night.... and oh yeah she has ties to the mob.... I really needed more angry first wife and less mob!
Del and her aunt really had potential to be interesting characters, but the book was too short for that.... The plot really didn’t draw me in either... I just felt as though a lot was thrown in, the animal shelter, the mob, the love interest.....
I’d recommend this if you want a really quick read, perhaps to pass the time in a doctors waiting room....
*** i’d like to thank the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this book ***
August 17, 2018
Weird little story about a team of individuals who help those the law doesn’t, taking on scam artists and others. I picked it up at random from the library because of the cover with the pretty black cat.
I found the writing a little strange in tone, as it veered from YA to younger to occasionally adult. The main character is an adult but doesn’t really act like one, and the characterization of the other characters is a little hurried, probably due to space/length limitations on the text. I did like the mentions to streets I knew, placing it clearly in a particular part of Ontario.
I found the writing a little strange in tone, as it veered from YA to younger to occasionally adult. The main character is an adult but doesn’t really act like one, and the characterization of the other characters is a little hurried, probably due to space/length limitations on the text. I did like the mentions to streets I knew, placing it clearly in a particular part of Ontario.
June 3, 2023
I picked it up on a whim looking for a good mystery. While it wasn't what I expected, I ultimately enjoyed it. Less who-dun-it and more vigilante justice, it was a fun quick read that I'm glad I came across.
March 25, 2018
Another fun "family" mystery by Melodie Campbell. Reading a book by Melodie is complete enjoyment. How she can stuff so much fun in a Rapid-Read book is amazing to me. A little different from her previous comic villains, but a part of the same family, that of Gina Gallo et al, the "vigilantes" of the B-Team, namely Kitty, Ritz, Dino and Del are determined to do justice to the wronged, in this case return a stolen necklace to its rightful owner. Still, something always seems to go awry and in this book the rightful owner is more likely the unrightful owner. The usual "family" business and connections, plus another entry to romance carries on with Del as it does in the Gina Gallo books. I love these quick but very complete books by Melodie! Character-driven like a barrel of monkeys I always enjoy the hijinks of "the family".
February 8, 2018
This book was so bad is actually funny...
The main idea is based on a TV show I have no idea what is about but while I was reading I got the mix feelings of The Godfather and Robin Hood.
There is this (what I believe) a grandma how decides to create a Team of vigilantes, to do good to those who need it, obviously is a business so they charge but they are cheaper that lawyers and detectives.
I will base my dislike only on Kitty, the grandma. She is so active, she has businesses but she wanted to do something else with her life and she just get whatever business she wants just because, so obviously this 'Team' is not necessarily to earn money but to do revenge, a little too late. Even though is fiction this character is unreal. Did I mention they are Italian?
For me is a story based on two good classics. The lack of creativity is disappointing. I didn't invested in this book a lot of time but is not worth it.
The main idea is based on a TV show I have no idea what is about but while I was reading I got the mix feelings of The Godfather and Robin Hood.
There is this (what I believe) a grandma how decides to create a Team of vigilantes, to do good to those who need it, obviously is a business so they charge but they are cheaper that lawyers and detectives.
I will base my dislike only on Kitty, the grandma. She is so active, she has businesses but she wanted to do something else with her life and she just get whatever business she wants just because, so obviously this 'Team' is not necessarily to earn money but to do revenge, a little too late. Even though is fiction this character is unreal. Did I mention they are Italian?
For me is a story based on two good classics. The lack of creativity is disappointing. I didn't invested in this book a lot of time but is not worth it.
January 23, 2018
Melodie Campbell's new book, The B-Team: The Case Of The Angry First Wife is a joy to read. She's brought back some of the characters from her Gina Gallo series. The book is a fast read and made me smile all the way through it.
The book, like the Gina Gallo series (as noted on the back cover) is really capers more than mysteries but don't let that stop you from reading this book.
The book, like the Gina Gallo series (as noted on the back cover) is really capers more than mysteries but don't let that stop you from reading this book.
February 7, 2018
Award winning author, Melodie Campbell tells a full force mystery novel in a rapid read
package. That’s about 250 pages of plot, action, dialogue and that famous Campbell
style climax in about 130 pages.
Meet the B-Team: Great aunt Kitty, retired for a career in crime, Dell, who works in an
animal shelter by day and their cohorts, Dino and Ritz—together they do wrong for all
the right reasons. They are “The Hammer’s” modern-day Robin Hood, complete with
the potholes in the road. An imposter has done his worst and criminals can’t go to the
police, so where do they turn? Aunt Kitty and her hoods.
Called the Queen of Comedy by the Toronto Sun, author, Campbell is an Arthur Ellis
and Derringer award winner and her writing has been compared to Janet Evanovich.
Campbell was won 9 awards and is the best selling author of the Hamilton based, Gino
Gallo mysteries.
Her style is plot forward, fuelled by feel-real, snappy dialogue that reveals the sense of
place right down to the street corner. Her thirteen novels and over a 100 other credits
make her one of Canada’s most popular fiction writers.
The B-Team summary deals with justice, not the law, delivered with intensity and
laughter.
Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews
package. That’s about 250 pages of plot, action, dialogue and that famous Campbell
style climax in about 130 pages.
Meet the B-Team: Great aunt Kitty, retired for a career in crime, Dell, who works in an
animal shelter by day and their cohorts, Dino and Ritz—together they do wrong for all
the right reasons. They are “The Hammer’s” modern-day Robin Hood, complete with
the potholes in the road. An imposter has done his worst and criminals can’t go to the
police, so where do they turn? Aunt Kitty and her hoods.
Called the Queen of Comedy by the Toronto Sun, author, Campbell is an Arthur Ellis
and Derringer award winner and her writing has been compared to Janet Evanovich.
Campbell was won 9 awards and is the best selling author of the Hamilton based, Gino
Gallo mysteries.
Her style is plot forward, fuelled by feel-real, snappy dialogue that reveals the sense of
place right down to the street corner. Her thirteen novels and over a 100 other credits
make her one of Canada’s most popular fiction writers.
The B-Team summary deals with justice, not the law, delivered with intensity and
laughter.
Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews
February 7, 2018
Princess Fuzzypants here:
I was not sure at first how much I would enjoy this book but I was delightfully surprised. Del and her great aunt KItty are modern day Robin Hoods trying to undo wrongs when someone who did not deserve it was shafted by someone else. They are into justice when Del is not running an animal shelter in Hamilton Ontario. Her office mate is a cat named Pepe Le Pew for obvious reasons so you have to love her.
They steal a diamond necklace for a woman who says it was a family heirloom she lost in a bitter divorce. Kitty and Del’s sense of outrage is turned upside down when they discover they have been scammed by a con woman who has no right to the necklace. NOw they are determined to right the wrong they did and teach the con woman a lesson.
It is a fun book, very light and frothy, with lots of references to places my parents know well.
I give it four purrs and two paws up.
I was not sure at first how much I would enjoy this book but I was delightfully surprised. Del and her great aunt KItty are modern day Robin Hoods trying to undo wrongs when someone who did not deserve it was shafted by someone else. They are into justice when Del is not running an animal shelter in Hamilton Ontario. Her office mate is a cat named Pepe Le Pew for obvious reasons so you have to love her.
They steal a diamond necklace for a woman who says it was a family heirloom she lost in a bitter divorce. Kitty and Del’s sense of outrage is turned upside down when they discover they have been scammed by a con woman who has no right to the necklace. NOw they are determined to right the wrong they did and teach the con woman a lesson.
It is a fun book, very light and frothy, with lots of references to places my parents know well.
I give it four purrs and two paws up.
April 2, 2018
This was the first time that I've read anything by Melodie Campbell. I know her as a person through the work that she does for the Hamilton Literacy Council and have been to a couple events that she has been at. Always funny and charming, she is a delightful person. As was expressed in her writing. This was a rapid read so it was nice to get through in one sitting and held my attention. It was great reading about my hometown of Hamilton. I would recommend this book to Hamiltonians and someone looking for a light, quick read. It would be a great book to get out of a reading slump.
January 24, 2018
I enjoyed this very quick and funny mystery. I liked the bite of the dialogue most of all. Snark-central and fast-paced. The main character is a wee bit shady but with a heart of gold as seems the rest of her extended family. She creates fundraisers for an animal shelter in her hometown! She is also a thief, sort of Robin Hood-esque.
I liked this and I look forward to reading more from this author.
I liked this and I look forward to reading more from this author.
February 22, 2018
Del and her brother Dino have grown up in and around the family business. What that business is exactly is never spelled out, but it's not strictly legal, judging by their skill set. Lately their aunt Kitty has decided to use their talents to help in the cause of justice, which is not to say it's legal, and agrees to take on a case recovering a ex-wife's diamond necklace. Things do not go as planned.
Dell is an appealing character and I liked Aunt Kitty. The rest are sort of just outlines, but this book is extremely brief, little more than a short story. I would have enjoyed it more if three or four of these exploits were gathered together. As it is, it was a quick fun read that made me smile, but nothing deeper than that. Thanks for the chance to read this one.
Dell is an appealing character and I liked Aunt Kitty. The rest are sort of just outlines, but this book is extremely brief, little more than a short story. I would have enjoyed it more if three or four of these exploits were gathered together. As it is, it was a quick fun read that made me smile, but nothing deeper than that. Thanks for the chance to read this one.
December 2, 2025
This book was a quick read that I picked up from the library mainly based on the title & cover. It was a fun quick read but nothing special that I would reread/recommend to a friend.
It’s about a vigilante mob group who tries to get justice for those who might have been scorned - like maybe a first wife! I also think the writing of this leaned more YA which surprised me a bit, since I grabbed it from the adult fiction section. I do think I wasn’t its intended audience for sure though.
It’s about a vigilante mob group who tries to get justice for those who might have been scorned - like maybe a first wife! I also think the writing of this leaned more YA which surprised me a bit, since I grabbed it from the adult fiction section. I do think I wasn’t its intended audience for sure though.
June 6, 2020
Fun nonviolent mystery
Four stars for a quick read fun "mob famiky" mystery. A senior citizen in need of aid? Too see Kitty who will send in her niece Del and Del's sort of crazy friend Ritz off to avenge the strong that no one else can fix. Coming from a family that has connections doesn't hurt either.
Four stars for a quick read fun "mob famiky" mystery. A senior citizen in need of aid? Too see Kitty who will send in her niece Del and Del's sort of crazy friend Ritz off to avenge the strong that no one else can fix. Coming from a family that has connections doesn't hurt either.
January 11, 2018
Amazon refers to this as a "Rapid Read." That it is! I was given the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review by NetGalley. I did enjoy the story, but it was too short. However, being that it is a rapid read, I guess it lives up to the name. I would have liked more!
December 4, 2023
This was a fun little read! There was a little too much crammed into it for a "Rapid Read." I would've liked to read this book where it had room to breathe as a full novel, because the concept is fun!
January 18, 2018
A fun short story. I was bummed when the book ended. I want more! Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley for my voluntary review.
February 1, 2022
Why was this so short!!!!!!
June 7, 2023
My ESL class enjoyed it. None of them had heard of the A-Team so there was some pop culture education to be had. Ritz turned out to be their favorite character.
January 18, 2024
A cute very quick read!
August 11, 2019
Was an ok book not one I'd read again tho!!!
February 3, 2021
I didn't know this was a "Rapid Read" until after I was finished. It was more like longer story in an Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine.
Expecting a book, I was ultimately unsatisfied with the lack of character development, and the predictable plot.
Expecting a book, I was ultimately unsatisfied with the lack of character development, and the predictable plot.
April 5, 2020
entertaining, quick read, laugh-out-loud funny. I couldn't put it down and read it straight through!
January 16, 2018
Great-aunt Kitty wants her niece Del to run a vigilante team that helps seniors who are getting scammed. The team includes Kitty, Del, Dino, Del’s brother Dino, and Del’s friend Ritz, an ops expert. The case in this adventure is about a first wife whose husband kept an expensive heirloom necklace from her family after the divorce. She approached Kitty to help her retrieve it – somewhat surreptitiously.
The premise behind this story is interesting yet not fully realized. The book is a very quick read, the plot line works and the dialogue realistic for the context of the book. I enjoyed the read, it’s fun and light. But I also wished there had been more…
The premise behind this story is interesting yet not fully realized. The book is a very quick read, the plot line works and the dialogue realistic for the context of the book. I enjoyed the read, it’s fun and light. But I also wished there had been more…
February 6, 2018
A very entertaining, fast paced and well written books. I really enjoyed.
I look forward to reading other books written by this author.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers
I look forward to reading other books written by this author.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews