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Matchmaker Mysteries #8

It Happened One Fright

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Spencer might have marriage on his mind, but Gladie is distracted by her best friend’s troubles and a busy matchmaking month. The father of Bridget’s baby is threatening to take custody away from her, and when he winds up murdered, Bridget becomes the top suspect. Now, Gladie must juggle her own love life, her matchmaking, and proving that Bridget is innocent, not to mention dealing with the town’s attempt to break the world record for the largest Easter egg hunt. But poking around is dangerous, and Gladie could be next on the killer’s hit list.

It Happened One Fright is proof that sometimes love comes with a few dead ends.

294 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2017

162 people are currently reading
213 people want to read

About the author

Elise Sax

84 books907 followers
Elise Sax worked as a journalist for fifteen years, mostly in Paris, France. She took a detour from journalism and became a private investigator before trying her hand at writing fiction. She lives in Southern California with her two sons. An Affair to Dismember is her first novel.

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5 stars
281 (49%)
4 stars
206 (36%)
3 stars
70 (12%)
2 stars
12 (2%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for Jilly.
1,838 reviews6,684 followers
June 13, 2018
This book is definitely funny, but not as funny as the first ones. I guess it's impossible to hold on to that magic for too long. We see it all the time.


I remember you when you were cool, man.

Another similarity to the Simpsons? I think Glady, our heroine, is actually getting dumber. Get this quote from her about pregnancy:

The whole thing made me feel icky. I mean, how did the poor baby breathe in there? And wasn't it smooshed between her poop canal and her pee pee area?

Someone get this girl back into 5th grade - STAT!! She needs to reread her health book.

But, it was confusing because later she makes this reference:

"We're just going to ask them some questions and look around. This isn't Da Nang in the sixties."

Huh? She doesn't understand that babies don't breathe air until they are born, doesn't know she has a uterus, but can make a reference to a place in Vietnam that I had to look up? WTH??

Is she super dumb and just knows about the Vietnam War somehow? Strangely, Spencer, her boyfriend, made a comment about Vietnam too when he got stuck making hard-boiled eggs all day because their town decided to host the world's biggest Easter egg hunt.

"They drafted me. They wouldn't let me leave. I've been boiling eggs for hours. It's my personal Vietnam. I think I have PTSD already."

Weird.
Aren't these two a little young for the Vietnam references? Even my father wasn't in that war, and this couple is supposed to be way younger than me. Do you know how often I mention the Vietnam War in my daily life? Let's just say that this review has more references to it than at least the last year of my mentions - all put together.


I do hear that their food is amazing.

So, I don't know what's going on there...

Anyway, the story has a few people who get killed, and it's hard to figure out what they have to do with each other. And, it has Glady's usual crazy antics - which reminds me strongly of Stephanie Plum, but Glady is actually less incompetent than her. Still a dumbass... but the bar is super low there. And, it's fun. Fun is good enough sometimes.


Profile Image for Susan.
1,169 reviews43 followers
December 1, 2017
So much happening in this book! As with each and every book in this series, there are tons of laugh out loud moments. Elise Sax always, ALWAYS makes me laugh. I can’t get enough of Gladie and Spencer too. Love, love how Gladie is growing with each and every book. Can’t wait for the next one!
Profile Image for JoAn.
2,459 reviews1 follower
January 5, 2018
It Happened One Fright by Elise Sax is another laugh-out-loud addition to the Matchmaker Mystery series.

I can always count on Ms. Sax to provide laughs, murder, chaos and smexy times in each book. Gladie and Spencer are perfect together so their "conversations" usually have me smirking and giggling. A great plot, well developed characters and enough clues to keep me guessing throughout the book.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All of the above opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Angela Verdenius.
Author 66 books677 followers
March 15, 2018
Excellent addition to a funny series. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - a light read for a giggle and a romantic sigh, as well as a mystery to indulge the PI in you.
824 reviews12 followers
December 10, 2017
Gladie and Spencer FINALLY get to spend a romantic weekend together! They get to the suite, take a, ahem, shower together but, while taking said 'shower', they hear a thump, followed by a scream and rush into the bedroom, only to find a dead woman lying on their bed!!!!! Does this sound familiar to Gladie fans?
And the fun begins! Our esteemed dead body and crazy people magnet, not really wannabe matchmaker, has finally gotten to a good point in her romantic life! It's just - those pesky bodies keep popping up and, one of the cops HATES her and, Gladie can't get away from her 'Ms. Marple' nickname!!!
I've decided that I want to live in this imaginary town as Ruth!!! Only problem is that I could only manage an hour or two inside Ms. Sax's head without passing out from a lack of oxygen because I've been laughing non-stop!
Read this book! Read this whole series! You will LOVE IT!
132 reviews
December 7, 2017
Love the series!!

The banter between characters is pure gold! I absolutely love Spencer and Gladie as a couple and the mischief that happens while a murder mystery unfolds.

Let's just say.... when Spencer proposed to Gladie.... I was smiling, doing a fist pump and a happy dance!

While I have been a fan of Janet Evanovich and her Stephanie Plum series, I am a bigger fan of Elise Sax and her Matchmaker series. The magic of the writing does it for me! There is character growth, as well as story development.

Any person interested in this book should get a copy, but may I suggest starting at the first book of the series titled, "An Affair to Dismember", and go from there. You'll be glad you did. 5 laugh out loud stars!
Profile Image for Anima.
2,748 reviews52 followers
December 1, 2017
I want Ruth as my boss, Gladie my friend and this town for my home. I mean seriously, it can't get anymore exciting than 501,000 eggs for Easter, dead people, aliens after brains and a Buckstars coffee shop. And Spencer finally does something romantic. Between matchmaking and murder solving I don't know when Gladie has time for all of her lattes. Whenever I finish a book in this series I can't believe it ended, I'm looking for more craziness, humor and death. I'm a huge fan of Elise's, read every book and laughed more than any other read. I wrote my review voluntarily and without bias after a gifted copy.
Profile Image for Jana Gundy.
1,919 reviews17 followers
December 2, 2017
Oh my gosh, what a ride!

I’m always thrilled to read the next installment in the crazy Gladie train. It lives up to the level of crazy I expect each book and I just couldn’t put it down. Gladie and Spencer were dynamite. Lucy gets in on the action, Bridget writes a manifesto and Gladie finds more dead bodies. Crazy!
100 reviews
December 12, 2017
Great read!😀💜

Great series full of laughs, mystery and romance! Elise Sax is a wonderful writer. It Happened One Fright is great. Many surprises for Gladie. All the characters in these books are absolutely charming. You will love them! 💜💜💜💜 I would recommend starting with the first book, even though you can read this as a standalone. Already preordered the next book.
Profile Image for Mooncat.
362 reviews2 followers
June 17, 2024
Once again, the case is weak and doesn’t make a lot sense. It starts with a murder, then nothing happens for another hundred pages before we get back to the case. The in between is filled with nonsense and antics that aren’t really funny.
The relationship to Spencer and Ruth are the only halfway good things I can say about this series.
34 reviews1 follower
December 1, 2017
Loved, loved, loved Pinky

I laughed out loud at least once per chapter. As usual in this series, this book was so enjoyable! I think a tv series should be made based on the book series.
Profile Image for Jocelyne.
28 reviews
December 4, 2017
They got engaged!!! If been waiting for this FOREVER! This book was a dream come true. Weird & hilarious as always. I love how Glady starts sweating when talking about commitment lol. Spencer & Pinky 4ever!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
155 reviews3 followers
August 17, 2018
Another stellar book!

Book 8 and things are just as wacky and fun as the last 7 books. I am really enjoying this series! And I'm so happy to discover this author has written other series AND she just started a new one. I can binge read to my hearts content!
64 reviews
May 8, 2023
Easter egg hunt and mystery

Funny story and written descriptively. Imagination and murder mystery lined with Miss Marple enthusiasm. Quick read with fun interludes of crazy adventure adventure
Profile Image for Rhonda Jones.
2,794 reviews17 followers
December 8, 2017
Awesome Story

This was an awesome mystery! I had no clue who did it. But getting all the clues was a fun journey. Laugh out loud scenes and very quirky characters! Great book.
57 reviews2 followers
December 7, 2017
You can't help but love Elise Sax. Whenever you pick up one of her books you know you are in for a rocking good time.
Profile Image for Stefani.
110 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2017
Fun read as usual! Sad this series will be coming to an end after book 10.
22 reviews1 follower
December 22, 2017
Hilarious

I love these books. Elise Sax is a comedic genius writer. Her mystery settings are icing on the cake. Great fun.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
800 reviews21 followers
February 28, 2018
Another entertaining, bizarre and twisty Gladie Burger story!
Profile Image for Anita.
574 reviews1 follower
May 2, 2018
Gladys is a moron lol but I love this universe and series... I hope she gets pregnant in the next one!
Profile Image for E Sano.
158 reviews
May 2, 2018
This is such a fun series, and always a joy to read. The stories and characters just keep getting better. An excellent choice for light, easy, fun reading.

Profile Image for Josie.
2,001 reviews
August 30, 2019
Wow, this one took me down the road and then doubled back. Freaked me out about Zelda, but tough old broad.
Profile Image for Michelle.
209 reviews
October 20, 2019
Gladie, Grandma, Spencer and the rest of the town are always Laugh Out Loud funny. And book 8 is no different.
154 reviews
May 31, 2024
Funny , quick read. It was entertaining enough, just didn’t like it as much as some of the others. A little too much chaos going on to follow any sort of plot . 2.5 ⭐️
Profile Image for Alicia Luechtefeld.
373 reviews2 followers
October 25, 2020
Just finished book 8 of the #matchmakermysteries I never got into this book. Yes there were funny parts but it had way too much going on. I still enjoyed it and will continue reading the series but I didn’t like it as much as the others. #book #booksofig #booksofinstagram #cozymystery #mystery #mysteryromance #ithappenedonefright #reading #readingchallenge #readingchallenge2020 #kindle
Profile Image for Kim.
141 reviews5 followers
December 10, 2017
Don't mind the cheesy first run covers of the first few books. I really really like this series. So much so that I've read all 8 books in less then 3 weeks. Don't take it too seriously and you will find yourself laughing several times during each book. I kind of think I'd be just like Gladie if I was a murder solving matchmaker.

Between my hopefully temporary lung issues, my ankle getting shredded and my dad's cancer diagnosis - I've needed an escape from reality and these books could not have been more perfect. I'd hug the author if I could.


******Finally!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews

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