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Bobbi Logan Crime Novel #3
Seven Suspects
"You've most likely never met a narrator like Bobbi. Tough, tender, funny, full of heart―and a transgender woman." ―Jodi Picoult
Bobbi Logan is a successful businesswoman and a celebrated hairdresser. She is a witty, articulate woman who has survived rape, gender transition, a murder investigation, and countless acts of bullying and bigotry to get where she is—and she's made enemies along the way. Now one of them is stalking her. With each passing day, the threats become more brazen, more violent, and more personal. No one knows who here stalker is or why he's after her, but he's getting closer every day.
Bobbi is intimidated but she has vowed to never be the victim again. She accumulates a list of six suspects, and with courage and persistence, she hunts them down, one by one—stalking her possible stalkers. But as she confronts those men who may want to do her harm, the number seven keeps haunting her—there must be a seventh suspect.
And when she finds him, Bobbi’s world implodes.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2017
21 people are currently reading
731 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
September 18, 2017
Thanks Netgalley and respective publisher for giving me such a good book.
Excellent thrilling book,
It made me remind the kind of story-telling as Agatha Christie's thrillers.
I would not like to spoil , But as name suggest, 7 suspects were there behind a wonder woman(not exactly a woman).
Some moments were greatly defined and written.
Intriguing storyline and wonderful writing.
Excellent thrilling book,
It made me remind the kind of story-telling as Agatha Christie's thrillers.
I would not like to spoil , But as name suggest, 7 suspects were there behind a wonder woman(not exactly a woman).
Some moments were greatly defined and written.
Intriguing storyline and wonderful writing.
August 15, 2017
3.5 stars. This is the third Bobbi Logan novel.
Bobbi Logan is a successful business woman and a celebrated hairdresser. She is a witty, articulate woman who has survived rape, gender transition, a murder investigation and countless acts of bullying and bigotry. She's also made enemies along the way. Now she's being stalked. Each day the threats become more brazen, violent and personal. No one knows who the stalker is or why they rafter her. Bobbi is intimidated but had vowed never to be a victim again.
This story is told in the first person and is completely from Bobbi's point of view. The story does have some humour but the rape and violence we are told in great detail which might upset some readers. It gives an insight into transgender women and the struggles they face. I did not notice that this was the third book in the series when I requested it. I would have preferred to read the other two first. The pace is well set and I just loved Bobbi.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Oceanview Publishing and the author Renee James for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Bobbi Logan is a successful business woman and a celebrated hairdresser. She is a witty, articulate woman who has survived rape, gender transition, a murder investigation and countless acts of bullying and bigotry. She's also made enemies along the way. Now she's being stalked. Each day the threats become more brazen, violent and personal. No one knows who the stalker is or why they rafter her. Bobbi is intimidated but had vowed never to be a victim again.
This story is told in the first person and is completely from Bobbi's point of view. The story does have some humour but the rape and violence we are told in great detail which might upset some readers. It gives an insight into transgender women and the struggles they face. I did not notice that this was the third book in the series when I requested it. I would have preferred to read the other two first. The pace is well set and I just loved Bobbi.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Oceanview Publishing and the author Renee James for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 9, 2017
In exchange for an unbiased review, I accepted this ARC from NetGalley. Gratitude offered to Oceanview Publishing for making this edition available.
Renee James gave me an intimate, close-up look into the life of a transsexual woman living in a closed-minded, for the most part, unforgiving world. Opposition to the norm. An eye-opener. This well-written narrative took me by surprise as I'd witnessed her daily struggle to belong. Actually, to cope. After proper introductions, the main characters were well-developed, although, the plot became a bit stagnant as it hardly strayed from the main protagonist. It droned on finishing with an ending that caught me off guard. Chilled me to the bone.
There are a multitude of roadblocks every entrepreneur faces when trying to keep a business in the black. Throw into the mix being a transsexual. A whole new level. Bobbi Logan, is owner and operator of an upscale beauty salon, Salon L 'Elegance. She's managed to successfully slice out her own piece of the pie. No small feat in the fiercely, competitive city of Chicago. It came with a heavy price.
Bobbi walks the streets of Chicago in a endless state of paranoia. Always looking over her shoulder. Expecting the worst. Always feeling someone's eyes on her. Knows it for sure. It's inescapable. Who's after her now? Watching. Waiting. Survivor of a brutal rape thirteen years earlier, she'd vowed never to be taken victim again. Now it's time to walk the talk.
Over the years, she'd come to make her fair share of enemies. Last count put it at six. Six too many. For some reason though, she thinks there's a seventh stalker. Something to do with the law of sevens. Such as, " a football score, the number of dwarfs sleeping with Snow White, a divine or fatal number in craps, the number of the greatest wonders of the world..." Call it superstitious. Call it what you want. She's guided by her animal instinct to survive. It's kept her alive. So far.
Her business and home had been vandalized by an unknown assailant. Probably one of the six. Maybe seven. She struggles along in a constant state of fear. Always walking on thin ice. Continuing on this way would age her quickly, long before her time. That, certainly wouldn't do. In a state of desperation, she decided to turn the tables around. In a word, the prey becomes the predator. From the frying pan into the fire. If there's going to be a confrontation, it'll be on her terms. Hopefully, she'll see it coming. If she's lucky.
Renee James gave me an intimate, close-up look into the life of a transsexual woman living in a closed-minded, for the most part, unforgiving world. Opposition to the norm. An eye-opener. This well-written narrative took me by surprise as I'd witnessed her daily struggle to belong. Actually, to cope. After proper introductions, the main characters were well-developed, although, the plot became a bit stagnant as it hardly strayed from the main protagonist. It droned on finishing with an ending that caught me off guard. Chilled me to the bone.
There are a multitude of roadblocks every entrepreneur faces when trying to keep a business in the black. Throw into the mix being a transsexual. A whole new level. Bobbi Logan, is owner and operator of an upscale beauty salon, Salon L 'Elegance. She's managed to successfully slice out her own piece of the pie. No small feat in the fiercely, competitive city of Chicago. It came with a heavy price.
Bobbi walks the streets of Chicago in a endless state of paranoia. Always looking over her shoulder. Expecting the worst. Always feeling someone's eyes on her. Knows it for sure. It's inescapable. Who's after her now? Watching. Waiting. Survivor of a brutal rape thirteen years earlier, she'd vowed never to be taken victim again. Now it's time to walk the talk.
Over the years, she'd come to make her fair share of enemies. Last count put it at six. Six too many. For some reason though, she thinks there's a seventh stalker. Something to do with the law of sevens. Such as, " a football score, the number of dwarfs sleeping with Snow White, a divine or fatal number in craps, the number of the greatest wonders of the world..." Call it superstitious. Call it what you want. She's guided by her animal instinct to survive. It's kept her alive. So far.
Her business and home had been vandalized by an unknown assailant. Probably one of the six. Maybe seven. She struggles along in a constant state of fear. Always walking on thin ice. Continuing on this way would age her quickly, long before her time. That, certainly wouldn't do. In a state of desperation, she decided to turn the tables around. In a word, the prey becomes the predator. From the frying pan into the fire. If there's going to be a confrontation, it'll be on her terms. Hopefully, she'll see it coming. If she's lucky.
October 8, 2017
Bobbi Logan is tough, she's funny, she's a successful business woman who owns a thriving up-scale beauty salon. Bobbi is smart, lovable, ... and she's a transgender.
Transgender people are people who have a gender identity or gender expression that differs from their assigned sex. Transgender people are sometimes called transsexual if they desire medical assistance to transition from one sex to another.
Bobbi has survived many obstacles to get where she is .. she's been bullied, assaulted, and even survived an erroneous murder charge .. and she's made plenty of enemies along the way.
And now she has a stalker. He's broken into her salon, he's left a graphic drawing for her, he's been taking photos of her. And he's getting closer all the time. For the first time in a long time, she's feeling the fear and intimidation that she's fought so hard against for so long.
She has 6 possibilities of men who might be capable of doing these things ..so she does what most of us would never think of doing. One by one she confronts them face to face, resulting in a lot of emotional upheaval. Her friend says there must be a 7th suspect. Is one of her suspects the one ... or is there yet another one out there?
And when the stalker comes forward, Bobbi will be fighting for her very life.
The story is told in first person, present tense and entirely from Bobbi's point of view. The author has done an extremely good job in explaining transgenderism. In this instance, Bobbi has not let her gender define who she is. She is a very unique, credible character. The suspense that comes with every suspect she interviews had me closing one eye waiting to see how it ended.,, if this is the one who's a stalker.
This is 3rd in a series and does fine as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend starting with Book 1 to pick up all the little details and nuances that we all love.
WARNING: There is one graphic violent scene featuring rape. There is also one or two explicit love scenes.
Many thanks to the author / Oceanview Publishing / Netgalley / Edelweiss for the digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
4.5 Stars
Transgender people are people who have a gender identity or gender expression that differs from their assigned sex. Transgender people are sometimes called transsexual if they desire medical assistance to transition from one sex to another.
Bobbi has survived many obstacles to get where she is .. she's been bullied, assaulted, and even survived an erroneous murder charge .. and she's made plenty of enemies along the way.
And now she has a stalker. He's broken into her salon, he's left a graphic drawing for her, he's been taking photos of her. And he's getting closer all the time. For the first time in a long time, she's feeling the fear and intimidation that she's fought so hard against for so long.
She has 6 possibilities of men who might be capable of doing these things ..so she does what most of us would never think of doing. One by one she confronts them face to face, resulting in a lot of emotional upheaval. Her friend says there must be a 7th suspect. Is one of her suspects the one ... or is there yet another one out there?
And when the stalker comes forward, Bobbi will be fighting for her very life.
The story is told in first person, present tense and entirely from Bobbi's point of view. The author has done an extremely good job in explaining transgenderism. In this instance, Bobbi has not let her gender define who she is. She is a very unique, credible character. The suspense that comes with every suspect she interviews had me closing one eye waiting to see how it ended.,, if this is the one who's a stalker.
This is 3rd in a series and does fine as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend starting with Book 1 to pick up all the little details and nuances that we all love.
WARNING: There is one graphic violent scene featuring rape. There is also one or two explicit love scenes.
Many thanks to the author / Oceanview Publishing / Netgalley / Edelweiss for the digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
4.5 Stars
October 26, 2017
"Fate. Karma. God's grand design. Call it what you will, some days are just fucked before you get out of bed." Ain't life grand? 👀 And Renee, I agree - sometimes life just deals you what it deals you, no matter which side you get up from.
I'll be honest, I struggled through the first few parts of this book. Bobbi comes across as this extremely smart, strong and successful woman but the insecurities rise like the sludge of leftover soup. The constant need to make everything sexual became very off putting at times... and trust me, I'm not one to cower or run from any type of sexual implicity. However, every time Bobbi meets a man, whether it's by first glance, or a small encounter, or with her ex (Phil), the love of her life, it immediately goes to whether that man finds her attractive, repulsive or how quickly she can get into bed with him. EVERY ENCOUNTER.
Bobbi's character has been raped and abused in the past and yet she STILL lets strange men into her home and bed. (I know that this is sometimes a natural reaction for those who have been through such trauma - it can be this extreme or the flip side, but it's frustrating to read sometimes.) Even goes after each suspect in who could possibly be stalking her. She's taken self defense classes and her body is still large and intimidating but yet all these men are a threat to her, not only mentally but physically. WOMAN, stop it already!!
What ended up happening though is that I completely started to feel for Bobbi with each chapter. Yes, I was frustrated with her. Yes, I wanted to shake her and give her a good talking to... but she had Cecelia for that. I really enjoyed their friendship - it reminded me a lot of my friendship with my best friend, completely and unabashedly honest with that cut of sarcasm. Always looking out for the best in each other while still accepting each other wholeheartedly. You can't ask for more than that and it resonates throughout this book.
The final scene was hard to read - and not because I'm squeamish or haven't read worse - but because of how invested I started to get into Bobbi's character. You'll have to read to see how it all turns out.
Now, I know very little of the trans world so I can only imagine what Bobbi has gone through. What this novel did for me was to shed some light into this community and for that I am ever grateful. It also prompted me to look into the author some more and I found that she is transgender and based Bobbi on her physically. I found this link to the publisher's site where you can learn more about her... and I suggest that copy and paste this into your browser:
http://oceanviewpub.com/wp-content/up...
3.5 stars, rounding to 4 for GR.
I'll be honest, I struggled through the first few parts of this book. Bobbi comes across as this extremely smart, strong and successful woman but the insecurities rise like the sludge of leftover soup. The constant need to make everything sexual became very off putting at times... and trust me, I'm not one to cower or run from any type of sexual implicity. However, every time Bobbi meets a man, whether it's by first glance, or a small encounter, or with her ex (Phil), the love of her life, it immediately goes to whether that man finds her attractive, repulsive or how quickly she can get into bed with him. EVERY ENCOUNTER.
Bobbi's character has been raped and abused in the past and yet she STILL lets strange men into her home and bed. (I know that this is sometimes a natural reaction for those who have been through such trauma - it can be this extreme or the flip side, but it's frustrating to read sometimes.) Even goes after each suspect in who could possibly be stalking her. She's taken self defense classes and her body is still large and intimidating but yet all these men are a threat to her, not only mentally but physically. WOMAN, stop it already!!
What ended up happening though is that I completely started to feel for Bobbi with each chapter. Yes, I was frustrated with her. Yes, I wanted to shake her and give her a good talking to... but she had Cecelia for that. I really enjoyed their friendship - it reminded me a lot of my friendship with my best friend, completely and unabashedly honest with that cut of sarcasm. Always looking out for the best in each other while still accepting each other wholeheartedly. You can't ask for more than that and it resonates throughout this book.
The final scene was hard to read - and not because I'm squeamish or haven't read worse - but because of how invested I started to get into Bobbi's character. You'll have to read to see how it all turns out.
Now, I know very little of the trans world so I can only imagine what Bobbi has gone through. What this novel did for me was to shed some light into this community and for that I am ever grateful. It also prompted me to look into the author some more and I found that she is transgender and based Bobbi on her physically. I found this link to the publisher's site where you can learn more about her... and I suggest that copy and paste this into your browser:
http://oceanviewpub.com/wp-content/up...
3.5 stars, rounding to 4 for GR.
April 9, 2017
This story is told in first person, present tense, and completely from Bobbi's point-of-view. I struggled with the narration when I read this authors last book, however, now that I'm more familiar with Renee's writing style, I had no issue with the dialogue. Quite the opposite. I adore Bobbi, and can't even begin to fathom all the prejudice she encounters, simply from being true to herself, something that takes guts!
In this installment, Bobbi has the uneasy feeling she is being stalked, and thus begins the arduous journey of figuring out who wants to do her harm. Six people come to mind, but the seventh eludes her, and me - the reader.
There are some great supporting characters, Betsy, Roberta, Cecilia, and bits and pieces about the salon, which I adored revisiting. And Phil, dear dear Phil. What I wouldn’t give to have just five minutes in the mans head. *sigh*
Moving on, the main focus of this story is who wants to harm Bobbi, and why. The conclusion is far from pretty, it would be fair to say it's brutal. My heart was in my throat as I frantically flipped the pages. The epilogue goes a little way to stop the ending from being outright depressing, but I'd still call it a HFN, which was fitting to the plot.
As much as I loved this story, and am no stranger to darker content, I feel the need to issue a warning - if violence and/or rape are triggers for you, please approach this story with caution.
Summary, I highly recommend this story to readers who enjoy unique plots and don’t mind dark content.
Copy provided by the publisher, via NetGalley
In this installment, Bobbi has the uneasy feeling she is being stalked, and thus begins the arduous journey of figuring out who wants to do her harm. Six people come to mind, but the seventh eludes her, and me - the reader.
There are some great supporting characters, Betsy, Roberta, Cecilia, and bits and pieces about the salon, which I adored revisiting. And Phil, dear dear Phil. What I wouldn’t give to have just five minutes in the mans head. *sigh*
Moving on, the main focus of this story is who wants to harm Bobbi, and why. The conclusion is far from pretty, it would be fair to say it's brutal. My heart was in my throat as I frantically flipped the pages. The epilogue goes a little way to stop the ending from being outright depressing, but I'd still call it a HFN, which was fitting to the plot.
As much as I loved this story, and am no stranger to darker content, I feel the need to issue a warning - if violence and/or rape are triggers for you, please approach this story with caution.
Summary, I highly recommend this story to readers who enjoy unique plots and don’t mind dark content.
Copy provided by the publisher, via NetGalley
October 7, 2017
This is my second Bobby book. I thought I'd give the second (third in the series) book a try even though the first (second in the series) was a bit of a hit a miss for me. This time I remained in the same boat still hitting and missing.
My wishes for Bobby:
I wish her comfort with herself and with her body.
The assurance that woman can be strong
And that she believes that it is woman-like to be angry if anger is required
To be a woman does not mean to be soft and outwardly beautiful all the time, with tears ready to sprout out at the touch of an emotion.
Dear Bobby it is totally ok not to be a cut out beautiful woman. That is just a stereotype. Be better, be you.
I know all the above might be part of the transition Bobby is going through but for me it did not make for pleasurable reading.
This article here encapsulates a bit my feelings on women and their appearance.
read with Lena and Ije
My wishes for Bobby:
I wish her comfort with herself and with her body.
The assurance that woman can be strong
And that she believes that it is woman-like to be angry if anger is required
To be a woman does not mean to be soft and outwardly beautiful all the time, with tears ready to sprout out at the touch of an emotion.
Dear Bobby it is totally ok not to be a cut out beautiful woman. That is just a stereotype. Be better, be you.
I know all the above might be part of the transition Bobby is going through but for me it did not make for pleasurable reading.
This article here encapsulates a bit my feelings on women and their appearance.
read with Lena and Ije
October 27, 2017
Thanks to Oceanview Publishing for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for my honest review!
SEVEN SUSPECTS by Renee James is book three in the Bobbi Logan series, however it did read well as a standalone. The author brings the reader into a world of paranoia, stalking, and the life of one woman trying to figure out who, of her seven enemies, is harassing her.
Bobbi Logan is a successful hairdresser and business owner. She's gone through her share of hardships to get to where she is now. She's gone through gender transition (which has come with bigotry and bullying), survived rape, and even been part of a murder investigation. None of that can stop her or keep her down but needless to say, she's created a few enemies along the way. One day she begins to receive threats from a stalker. The threats become increasingly violent and personal as each day passes. Bobbi has vowed to never be a victim again, so she compiles a list of six men it could possibly be. When she confronts each of them she quickly realizes there's probably a seventh suspect.
I will say that this was both a frustrating and interesting read. Bobbi was both likeable and irritating. Despite her history she continues to let men she doesn't know into her home. I agree with my reader in crime, Chandra, on this one - you just want to shake her and tell her to snap out of it! I did love her friendship with Cecelia though. It felt so genuine and real. I'm sure every reader will be able to relate to that connection and think of their best friend.
I don't want to give away too much more information about the ending or other events, but it definitely comes to a climax at the end.
Overall, I did like this book. It was a good mystery and you get invested in the characters. It gives the readers a glimpse into a world that not many know a lot about - at least I don't. The hardships that Bobbi faces from gender transition are what made her mentally stronger.
I give this one 3.5/5 stars!
SEVEN SUSPECTS by Renee James is book three in the Bobbi Logan series, however it did read well as a standalone. The author brings the reader into a world of paranoia, stalking, and the life of one woman trying to figure out who, of her seven enemies, is harassing her.
Bobbi Logan is a successful hairdresser and business owner. She's gone through her share of hardships to get to where she is now. She's gone through gender transition (which has come with bigotry and bullying), survived rape, and even been part of a murder investigation. None of that can stop her or keep her down but needless to say, she's created a few enemies along the way. One day she begins to receive threats from a stalker. The threats become increasingly violent and personal as each day passes. Bobbi has vowed to never be a victim again, so she compiles a list of six men it could possibly be. When she confronts each of them she quickly realizes there's probably a seventh suspect.
I will say that this was both a frustrating and interesting read. Bobbi was both likeable and irritating. Despite her history she continues to let men she doesn't know into her home. I agree with my reader in crime, Chandra, on this one - you just want to shake her and tell her to snap out of it! I did love her friendship with Cecelia though. It felt so genuine and real. I'm sure every reader will be able to relate to that connection and think of their best friend.
I don't want to give away too much more information about the ending or other events, but it definitely comes to a climax at the end.
Overall, I did like this book. It was a good mystery and you get invested in the characters. It gives the readers a glimpse into a world that not many know a lot about - at least I don't. The hardships that Bobbi faces from gender transition are what made her mentally stronger.
I give this one 3.5/5 stars!
September 21, 2017
It is NOT a stand-alone. Seven Suspects is the book #3 in the Bobbi Logan Crime Novel Series and you SHOULD read BEFORE at least the previous book to understand and to enjoy it.
My first reaction, when I found out that Renee James wrote a new sequel in Bobbi Logan Crime Novel Series was a mixture of excitement and concerns. As much as I enjoyed the series, I was a bit skeptical: The case was solved (you have to know that the both books ARE about the same case, but from different perspectives), sealed up, the guilty ones got what they deserved and Bobby Logan became her life fully under control (at least it is what I desperately hoped to). And Bobby is not a detective, but a businesswoman, an owner of a beauty salon, a very talented hairdresser. What a new sequel in the mystery series could be about? With an emphasis on MYSTERY? Don't worry, buckle up and be ready for a rollercoaster ride!
Maybe it is a good possibility to warn that violence sciences are very graphical, but if you read the previous books, and I hope you did, then you must know that the author does not spare her readers a detailed description when she writes about hate crime.
I read Seven Suspects with a MC Bobby Logan, a transgender woman, an amazing character, an owner of a beauty salon and a very talented hairdresser, almost in one sitting and I loved every minute of it. The dynamic and the unexpected twists in the second part of the book, in contrast to the smooth and quiet beginning made me forget about everything around myself, I don’t know who drove me more crazy - Bobby with her good faith, or the author for putting us both through this.
Bobby has arrived at a point in her life where she lives in balance with herself and her body, she leads a quiet and content life, she runs successfully her own business, she has people she loves and who cares for her around. But she is a survivor type and a natural born fighter: to become a person she is now she had to overcome some extremely difficult stages in her life. And though she mastered them all with bravery, she made some enemies along the way.
When one day she becomes a feeling, she has been trailed and watched by someone, she is concerned but first tries not to pay too much attention to it considering it for an obsessive idea. Though the situation becomes much serious when she starts to receives anonymous threats. When one day her salon fells victim to vandalism, and shortly after an unknown intruder breaks into her apartment leaving behind a trail of destruction, she realizes that she can’t be a silent observer who waits for the police to find the villain. She is torn between her female nature and her male side that is still there, hidden deep inside.
The other part of me wants to take bloody, unrelenting revenge on the sick coward who did this. I know this is my male side, the one I’m not supposed to have, the one that was supposed to go away along with the testosterone that made me strong and hairy and inclined to violence. This feeling reveals me as a fraud, a hopeless queer with no real gender, but just now, I don’t care . The anger feels right. The determination to defend myself feels right. The willingness to kill or maim this villain feels good. The motherfucker who did this is going to pay.
She has to take the law into their own hands.
She makes a list of six suspects of her own. But maybe she missed someone? Who is this person? And why does he want to hurt her?
I have to admit, I was actually surprised that Bobby didn’t have THIS person on her list from the beginning. Even if I didn’t know FOR SURE who it COULD BE. (All six were not trustworthy, to tell the truth). But when it became clear WHO it WAS....the last 15% left my blood frozen.(Or boiled)
Absolutely great resolution, excellent writing, but the most a magnificent attraction of the series is the main character. Bobby Logan belongs to one of my favorite characters EVER. I could have never imagined that to be in a head of a transgender woman could be so fascinating. Transgender fiction is a difficult genre to win a wide audience; it belongs to a marginal genre of LGBT fiction. But maybe one of the reasons, there are not enough GREAT books to attract readers?
For this reason I appeal to all my GR friends and people who read LGBT fiction, and for all those who read General fiction and mystery, you simply HAVE to read this series.
Please, read it.
***Copy provided kindly by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
May 21, 2017
It’s not often that you get to say you learnt something from a work of fiction that will leave an indelible mark on who you are as a person. But this book is capable of making such a change on a reader.
The world of transgendered people is not, I'm willing to bet, something that many people have experience with. Sure, we might have seen a documentary or two on it, but the day to day life, the reality of what a transgendered person goes through in this world of cisgendered people is something to behold, and we get a small glimpse of it in Renee James’ book, Seven Suspects.
Clearly this book is part of an ongoing serious (it is number three in the Bobbi Logan Crime series) that follows the trials and tribulations of one Ms Bobbi Logan. She is six feet tall, forty-seven years of age, and was born a white male, transitioning to her female self in her thirties living in Chicago. She is a business owner and she has all the same dreams and hopes that most anyone has. She wants to have a successful career, a nice home and a fulfilling relationship. She has a sister relationship with Betsy, her former wife, is an honorary aunt to Betsy’s child Roberta and had a wonderful relationship with a cop named Phil, although that is on the skids in this chapter of her story.
In this book Bobbi begins to feel as if something is not quite right, and she slowly comes to the realisation that she is being stalked. Her dearest friend Cecilia makes note that Bobbi has not been winning hearts and making friends of all she meets lately, and that she might indeed have a few enemies. Bobbi makes a list of all the people who might possibly be stalking her and comes out with a list of six people. But Bobbi believes that numbers are part of the celestial working of the world, and believes that there should be seven suspects on her list, as seven is an important number. She then sets off to confront each and every one of the suspects to try and ferret out who is stalking her, trying to get them to stop, but she is convinced after her initial ‘investigations’ that none of the men on the list are the actual criminal. So it comes down to who she isn’t seeing who must be the seventh suspect out to get her, and it is indeed the way the universe works, making the seventh suspect ‘the one’.
This book gave a wonderful insight into the world of transgendered women, and the daily struggles they face to be seen and accepted as the women they are. Little things that never generally come to mind, such as the whole height factor for a transwoman and the possible male facial features that no amount of hormones can overcome. Or the desire to be treated as a woman and being mistaken for a man despite her best attempts to ‘pass’ as a woman. Little things that cisgendered people take for granted.
Although this was the third book in the series, it was easy to form an attachment with Bobbi as a character and not feel like there were many details written previously that we were not privy to now. It was easy enough to pick up the thread and understand who she was as a person and what her motivations were. There is a small cast of characters to keep track of, but all play an important part of the overall story and all are people that you care about.
This book is not written for faint of heart to read. If you are of a delicate constitution, then maybe this book isn’t the one for you. If you can’t cope with obscenities, then its best if you don’t read this book, as there are cuss words used and there is a line that, when you get to it, you’ll know it, and it resulted in a rip-snorting laugh for this reader with it poetic vibe, which is not the sole source of poetry in this novel. There are some chapters that leave one reeling with the brutality of what is occurring and James has not given an inch towards gentility, so if you are easily frightened or are triggered by rape scenes and talk, then this is not the book for you. This volume is cold and rough and violent in part and it leaves the reader feeling quite disturbed. When it goes dark, its goes black. That’s not to say that this book should be avoided, rather, forewarned is forearmed.
Themes of family and what that looks like in a modern world, the assumptions we make of other people and the façade that people can put up are also explored. Themes of transgendered people’s difficulties are explored several times in this book.
**My mind shifts gear. Every slight, every bigoted sneer, every nasty laugh, all the things I thought didn’t touch me come racing through my vision now, summoned by the certainty that there will always be people who see people like me as targets, not people. **
**If Nightmare Man jumps me here, he can beat me to death and leave without being seen. He might even be able to get in a quick rape, though that would be much riskier.**
It’s hard to imagine life under those constant thoughts, but that’s what this book makes come alive.
This is a suspenseful novel that is entertaining as well as insightful. Well worth the time to read.
October 18, 2018
Renee James’ writing is near perfect. The right amount of description, nicely said, in the right places, realistic dialogue, fast pace, no irritating errors or inconsistencies. Having read Eugenides’ Middlesex, I had some concept of the difficulties of living a transgender life and the courage it takes. James brings this home in a sympathetic way that does not get maudlin. Although I could not agree with much of what Bobbi did, I understood her and cared a great deal about her. Other reviewers have mentioned repetition and predictability, and I can’t deny their opinion, but I was caught up enough in the character’s problems and the writing so it didn’t bother me. I’d definitely read more of James’ work and would recommend it to readers with an open mind. 4 stars.
September 18, 2017
If you enjoyed the first two books in this series then book three is an absolute must!
I really enjoyed revisiting Bobbi and seeing her life after transition. Bobbi is now a business owner and a property owner, and although she has come close to losing both her life and her business, this book shows her making real progress on both fronts. Despite all the challenges of transition and the battle she had to fight against the person who was intent on murdering her, Bobbi is in Chicago living her life freely.
It isn't an easy road though. Bobbi is still coming to terms with what it means to live as a transgendered woman. She still has issues with what she sees as a lack of femininity and the love of her life has moved on, and now it seems she also has a stalker.
Bobbi focuses on day to day life, work, friends and family but she still wants to meet her 'special someone' and this quiet desperation leads her to take risks with unsuitable men and it appears that one of these men might be stalking her.
For Bobbi the stalker brings back all the darkness of the past; the rape, the threats and the fear, and Bobbi once again decides to take back control and she does this by trying to find the stalker herself. Bobby suspects that there are possibly seven people who could be stalking her but she can only identify six and she can't rest until she discovers who the seventh is. But the seventh suspect knows who Bobbi is and he is hunting her.
The story has a thrilling pace and a tense buildup. We know there is somebody out there who is determined to get her but we really don't know who this person is.
I enjoyed the thrill and the build up and I thought the story was written in a way which is really gripping but I do feel towards the end Bobbi acted in a 'too stupid to live' way, blind to obvious danger. I loved the endings of book one and two. These endings were quite surprising and provided a twist that just couldn't be predicted. In this book I could see the end approaching and that element of surprise wasn't there but the story is still a gripping read.
It is very brutal in places but Bobbi Logan is clearly a survivor. She has survived childhood in the wrong gender with parents who didn't care for her. She has survived a broken marriage but has managed to create something lasting and a caring relationship with her former wife. Bobbi has risen from the destruction of John Strand's violence against her and despite everything she continues to thrive.
Bobbi has spent so much time worrying about her appearance and her lack of femininity but here she is facing violence because she is female. Bobbi learns that being a woman can mean that she is vulnerable to gender based violence. In other words because she really is a woman there is always the danger of male violence and this potential for violence is common whether you are trans or whether you were born a woman. In our world today being a woman is to be vulnerable in all sorts of ways and in ways men will never experience and Bobbi comes to realise this. She may never have the petite appearance she desires but she is truly a woman.
The story has parts that are very hard to read because of this violence but Bobbi is not only a woman, she is a strong woman. She is a woman who knows how to dream and how to fly. I found myself willing her to struggle and to fight back against those people both male and female who thought they could put Bobbi down mentally and physically. Bobbi struggles with those who would pull her under and she resurfaces, she wins.
As you read these books you become invested in Bobbi Logan. You want her to succeed and to be everything she has ever wanted to be. I enjoy the way the writing evokes this kind of reader response. I have enjoyed this series so much that I can't let go of Bobbi just yet and I have even decided to go back and read the early version of book 1.
I just want more Bobbi Logan.
I now need to see more of Bobbi putting the world to rights in her own determined and indomitable way.
This is an excellent series. It is sometimes hard to read but it is gripping and pulls the reader in, not letting go of the reader until the very end and even after finishing the book the reader is left knowing that they have really met someone who has learnt to live and who has learned to be who she really is.
Copy provided by Oceanview Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
I really enjoyed revisiting Bobbi and seeing her life after transition. Bobbi is now a business owner and a property owner, and although she has come close to losing both her life and her business, this book shows her making real progress on both fronts. Despite all the challenges of transition and the battle she had to fight against the person who was intent on murdering her, Bobbi is in Chicago living her life freely.
It isn't an easy road though. Bobbi is still coming to terms with what it means to live as a transgendered woman. She still has issues with what she sees as a lack of femininity and the love of her life has moved on, and now it seems she also has a stalker.
Bobbi focuses on day to day life, work, friends and family but she still wants to meet her 'special someone' and this quiet desperation leads her to take risks with unsuitable men and it appears that one of these men might be stalking her.
For Bobbi the stalker brings back all the darkness of the past; the rape, the threats and the fear, and Bobbi once again decides to take back control and she does this by trying to find the stalker herself. Bobby suspects that there are possibly seven people who could be stalking her but she can only identify six and she can't rest until she discovers who the seventh is. But the seventh suspect knows who Bobbi is and he is hunting her.
The story has a thrilling pace and a tense buildup. We know there is somebody out there who is determined to get her but we really don't know who this person is.
I enjoyed the thrill and the build up and I thought the story was written in a way which is really gripping but I do feel towards the end Bobbi acted in a 'too stupid to live' way, blind to obvious danger. I loved the endings of book one and two. These endings were quite surprising and provided a twist that just couldn't be predicted. In this book I could see the end approaching and that element of surprise wasn't there but the story is still a gripping read.
It is very brutal in places but Bobbi Logan is clearly a survivor. She has survived childhood in the wrong gender with parents who didn't care for her. She has survived a broken marriage but has managed to create something lasting and a caring relationship with her former wife. Bobbi has risen from the destruction of John Strand's violence against her and despite everything she continues to thrive.
Bobbi has spent so much time worrying about her appearance and her lack of femininity but here she is facing violence because she is female. Bobbi learns that being a woman can mean that she is vulnerable to gender based violence. In other words because she really is a woman there is always the danger of male violence and this potential for violence is common whether you are trans or whether you were born a woman. In our world today being a woman is to be vulnerable in all sorts of ways and in ways men will never experience and Bobbi comes to realise this. She may never have the petite appearance she desires but she is truly a woman.
The story has parts that are very hard to read because of this violence but Bobbi is not only a woman, she is a strong woman. She is a woman who knows how to dream and how to fly. I found myself willing her to struggle and to fight back against those people both male and female who thought they could put Bobbi down mentally and physically. Bobbi struggles with those who would pull her under and she resurfaces, she wins.
As you read these books you become invested in Bobbi Logan. You want her to succeed and to be everything she has ever wanted to be. I enjoy the way the writing evokes this kind of reader response. I have enjoyed this series so much that I can't let go of Bobbi just yet and I have even decided to go back and read the early version of book 1.
I just want more Bobbi Logan.
I now need to see more of Bobbi putting the world to rights in her own determined and indomitable way.
This is an excellent series. It is sometimes hard to read but it is gripping and pulls the reader in, not letting go of the reader until the very end and even after finishing the book the reader is left knowing that they have really met someone who has learnt to live and who has learned to be who she really is.
Copy provided by Oceanview Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
April 14, 2017
I received Seven Suspects as an ARC from NetGalley.
I had no idea that this was book 3 in a series, had there been something stating that I may not have requested it. Some books you can jump into the middle of a series but this did make me feel more than a little lost! There has obviously been a lot happen to Bobbie in the previous books that I really feel I need to know in order to better understand the dynamics of this one.
That being said it is clear that Bobbie is a strong, fighting female character who has endured so much to get to where she is today - transition from male to female is hard enough for her but add a rape into the mix, I just cant imagine how she copes with the day to day prejudices that are thrown her way - the constant name calling, side-way looks etc
This is quite a dark read in some parts and once I got going I could not put it down. Bobbie had the feeling that she is being watched/followed which brings back the events of her rape back to the forefront of her mind. Is it someone connected to that who is following her? With the help of her ex-boyfriend & detective Phil she gets to the bottom of it all.
The ending was a little gritty but also very fitting for the story,
Trigger warnings: violence, rape
I had no idea that this was book 3 in a series, had there been something stating that I may not have requested it. Some books you can jump into the middle of a series but this did make me feel more than a little lost! There has obviously been a lot happen to Bobbie in the previous books that I really feel I need to know in order to better understand the dynamics of this one.
That being said it is clear that Bobbie is a strong, fighting female character who has endured so much to get to where she is today - transition from male to female is hard enough for her but add a rape into the mix, I just cant imagine how she copes with the day to day prejudices that are thrown her way - the constant name calling, side-way looks etc
This is quite a dark read in some parts and once I got going I could not put it down. Bobbie had the feeling that she is being watched/followed which brings back the events of her rape back to the forefront of her mind. Is it someone connected to that who is following her? With the help of her ex-boyfriend & detective Phil she gets to the bottom of it all.
The ending was a little gritty but also very fitting for the story,
Trigger warnings: violence, rape
Read
September 26, 2017This story is set in Chicago and involves Bobbi Logan, a successful business woman and owner of Salon L’Elegance. Originally born a man, but went through gender transition to become the woman she is now. The story is told through Bobbi, she has a tough life as a woman, having to deal with bullying, bigotry and people’s ignorance as well as having t deal with the process of being a rape victim. When Bobbi realises she is being stalked, her paranoia and insecurities are evident. But with assistance from her ex-wife Betsey, her best friend Cecelia and the help of her ex boyfriend Phil a policeman, they start work out who it could be. They come up with a list of six names between them that could have a possible grudge. Bobbi has an ability to annoy people, it’s a trait that she cannot seem to control.
I admit to being intrigued by this book when I requested it via Netgalley, the synopsis seemed a little bit different from most stories I normally read. But by the end I felt a little deflated, the characters were reasonably well described and the setting descriptions were okay. I think however the pacing of the story just didn’t quite feel quite right for me, it felt like it had a more laid back ambling feel to it when I was expecting something a little faster given the subject matter. I would also like to point out , that towards the end of the book that there is some violence that does not make very nice reading, and I did skim through those parts. I am not going into detail about what this was about, but if I had been aware of the inclusion of this I would not have requested the book. This is a book that describes how life as a transgender woman has to deal with living a normal life. It gives some examples of how dealing with humiliation, ignorance and bullying on a regular basis for being different is like. In some ways this aspect of the story stood out more that the main plot itself.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for my copy of this book. My thoughts are my own and are honest and unbiased.
I admit to being intrigued by this book when I requested it via Netgalley, the synopsis seemed a little bit different from most stories I normally read. But by the end I felt a little deflated, the characters were reasonably well described and the setting descriptions were okay. I think however the pacing of the story just didn’t quite feel quite right for me, it felt like it had a more laid back ambling feel to it when I was expecting something a little faster given the subject matter. I would also like to point out , that towards the end of the book that there is some violence that does not make very nice reading, and I did skim through those parts. I am not going into detail about what this was about, but if I had been aware of the inclusion of this I would not have requested the book. This is a book that describes how life as a transgender woman has to deal with living a normal life. It gives some examples of how dealing with humiliation, ignorance and bullying on a regular basis for being different is like. In some ways this aspect of the story stood out more that the main plot itself.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for my copy of this book. My thoughts are my own and are honest and unbiased.
June 6, 2017
Seven Suspects by Renee James Seven Suspects by Renee James is a brilliantly written story about Bobbi Logan who is smart and a successful businesswoman. She's also survived gender transition and rape, along with bullying and blatant bigotry.
"Time will never sweep away this memory. It will live in me like a virus that alternates between dormancy and soul-searing eruptions. It will be part of me as long as I have a mind." It is filled with suspense and kept me guessing.
I gave it five stars. She's being stalked. She determines which enemy might be doing this and confronts them one by one. Can she find out who it is before they destroy her?
"This salon is not just upscale. It looks and feels like a fairytale version of a beauty salon, bright and sleek, elegant clients being tended to by elegant hairdressers, classical music playing softly in the background. We cater to the rich and famous. We deliver fabulous services and we charge fabulous prices."
I received a complimentary Kindle copy from Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley. That did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Suspects...
It is in pre-order status until October 3, 2017. I could not leave a review on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
"Time will never sweep away this memory. It will live in me like a virus that alternates between dormancy and soul-searing eruptions. It will be part of me as long as I have a mind." It is filled with suspense and kept me guessing.
I gave it five stars. She's being stalked. She determines which enemy might be doing this and confronts them one by one. Can she find out who it is before they destroy her?
"This salon is not just upscale. It looks and feels like a fairytale version of a beauty salon, bright and sleek, elegant clients being tended to by elegant hairdressers, classical music playing softly in the background. We cater to the rich and famous. We deliver fabulous services and we charge fabulous prices."
I received a complimentary Kindle copy from Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley. That did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Suspects...
It is in pre-order status until October 3, 2017. I could not leave a review on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
April 9, 2017
This is my third Renee James book to read about Bobbi and probably the toughest one for me to get through. My issue wasn’t the writing which was great as usual but some of the content because of how vivid and detailed James writes.
Her character work allows you to explore the world around Bobbi, her protagonist who is a transwoman, thanks to some interesting supporting characters. Her characters are definitely the best part of the story as the plot line is pretty brutal. In Bobbi we find a strong woman, a rape survivor, and someone who is still dealing with the psychological torment of what was done to her.
I lost track of how often my heart felt like it was being ripped to shreds, my body tense from the horror unfolding before my eyes, or my eyes dripping with tears at the evil humanity is willing to inflict on each other for the most asinine of reasons. At times this book nearly became too depressing to continue but I felt forced to continue because I had to know where this story would lead.
If you have issues with violence and rape scenes, you may need to steer clear of James as she doesn’t hold her punches which I found to be a good thing because it provides a deeper experience into understanding the character of Bobbi not to mention taboo subjects. But if you’re willing to give her a chance you’ll also find she has an insightful ability to create a love story; one that forces you to recognize our tendency to prejudge people and how we would be better off waiting until we know them so our lives can be richer for the experience.
Hopefully throughout her series, readers will develop an appreciation for the fact that Transgendered people are no different than anyone else as James reflects this in her character style.
Her character work allows you to explore the world around Bobbi, her protagonist who is a transwoman, thanks to some interesting supporting characters. Her characters are definitely the best part of the story as the plot line is pretty brutal. In Bobbi we find a strong woman, a rape survivor, and someone who is still dealing with the psychological torment of what was done to her.
I lost track of how often my heart felt like it was being ripped to shreds, my body tense from the horror unfolding before my eyes, or my eyes dripping with tears at the evil humanity is willing to inflict on each other for the most asinine of reasons. At times this book nearly became too depressing to continue but I felt forced to continue because I had to know where this story would lead.
If you have issues with violence and rape scenes, you may need to steer clear of James as she doesn’t hold her punches which I found to be a good thing because it provides a deeper experience into understanding the character of Bobbi not to mention taboo subjects. But if you’re willing to give her a chance you’ll also find she has an insightful ability to create a love story; one that forces you to recognize our tendency to prejudge people and how we would be better off waiting until we know them so our lives can be richer for the experience.
Hopefully throughout her series, readers will develop an appreciation for the fact that Transgendered people are no different than anyone else as James reflects this in her character style.
November 20, 2017
I received an advance copy of this book from Renee James. The book will be released in the fall. Those of you who know Bobbie Logan will be happy to see her back with another mystery-suspense thriller. For those who haven't made her acquaintance yet, you will enjoy meeting this gutsy but sensitive transwoman.
When Bobbie senses someone stalking her as she escorts her niece to school, she has flashbacks to the trauma of her previous assault and rape. Unable to keep the feeling away, she embarks on a perilous journey to track down the seven suspects who could possibly be following her. This book will have you on the edge of your seats. If you like suspense and mystery, this book is a must read.
When Bobbie senses someone stalking her as she escorts her niece to school, she has flashbacks to the trauma of her previous assault and rape. Unable to keep the feeling away, she embarks on a perilous journey to track down the seven suspects who could possibly be following her. This book will have you on the edge of your seats. If you like suspense and mystery, this book is a must read.
August 19, 2017
Seven Suspects by Renee James
Title: Seven Suspects
Author: Renee James
First Published: Oct 2017
Publisher: Ocean view Publishing
Price on Amazon: Hardback £20.79 Kindle: £19.74
ISBN: 1608092550
Seven suspects the third novel in the Bobbie Logan Series.
Bobbie Logan is a successful business woman, a wonderful hairdresser and a tremendously strong person. She has survived rape, gender-transition, bullying and bigots, a murder trial and so much more and now she has another battle to survive.
Along the way, Bobbie has made enemies and now she has a stalker, as each day passes he gets closer. Bobbie comes up with a list of six suspects and having made the decision a long time ago she is never again going to be a victim she decides to stalk her possible stalkers. As Bobbie tried to work out who her stalker is, going through her list of suspects one by one with nothing but her witty one liners and a can of mace for protection can Bobbie figure out who her stalker is before he gets her.
One thing that is bothering Bobbie while on her mission to find her stalker is the number seven, there must be a seventh suspect but who is he? When Bobbies stalker is revealed can Bobbie escape with her life this time?
I received this book as an advanced copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Now when I got this book, I didn't realise it was the third in the series, whilst reading it I did wonder if there was another book before it as things seem to have happened before the book that was discussed as if I was expected to know about them however, I continued with the book and I am so glad I did because I really enjoyed it. I must say I will be heading on over to Amazon to buy the others in the series as I enjoyed it that much.
This is the first book I have read that involved the Transgender community and I think it is fabulously written. I found Bobbie to be a wonderfully written, strong feminine yet powerful character. The plot flowed really well and was easy to read and follow. I loved the fact that Bobbie and her ex-wife were friends and had become like sisters after Bobbie's transition. I enjoyed how it showed the real life side that we in the LGBT community get both negative and positive reactions from people. I loved how Bobbie dealt with the negativeness and the bullying as that is how I myself deal with homophobia I use sarcasm and snappy one liners rather than getting into what I see as stupid heated arguments.
All in all, i gave this book four out of five stars I think if I had read the others in the series first I would have gone on to give the book five out of five stars.
Reviews for this book can be found on:
Amazon under Lu's Reviews
Goodreads,
Net Galley,
My Blog at www.lu-ellensreadingandreviewingblog....
Links to this review can be found on:
Twitter: @lusreviews
Facebook: @lusreviews
Instagram: lusreviews
Tumblr: lusreviewsblog
Flikr: Lu's Reviews
Title: Seven Suspects
Author: Renee James
First Published: Oct 2017
Publisher: Ocean view Publishing
Price on Amazon: Hardback £20.79 Kindle: £19.74
ISBN: 1608092550
Seven suspects the third novel in the Bobbie Logan Series.
Bobbie Logan is a successful business woman, a wonderful hairdresser and a tremendously strong person. She has survived rape, gender-transition, bullying and bigots, a murder trial and so much more and now she has another battle to survive.
Along the way, Bobbie has made enemies and now she has a stalker, as each day passes he gets closer. Bobbie comes up with a list of six suspects and having made the decision a long time ago she is never again going to be a victim she decides to stalk her possible stalkers. As Bobbie tried to work out who her stalker is, going through her list of suspects one by one with nothing but her witty one liners and a can of mace for protection can Bobbie figure out who her stalker is before he gets her.
One thing that is bothering Bobbie while on her mission to find her stalker is the number seven, there must be a seventh suspect but who is he? When Bobbies stalker is revealed can Bobbie escape with her life this time?
I received this book as an advanced copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Now when I got this book, I didn't realise it was the third in the series, whilst reading it I did wonder if there was another book before it as things seem to have happened before the book that was discussed as if I was expected to know about them however, I continued with the book and I am so glad I did because I really enjoyed it. I must say I will be heading on over to Amazon to buy the others in the series as I enjoyed it that much.
This is the first book I have read that involved the Transgender community and I think it is fabulously written. I found Bobbie to be a wonderfully written, strong feminine yet powerful character. The plot flowed really well and was easy to read and follow. I loved the fact that Bobbie and her ex-wife were friends and had become like sisters after Bobbie's transition. I enjoyed how it showed the real life side that we in the LGBT community get both negative and positive reactions from people. I loved how Bobbie dealt with the negativeness and the bullying as that is how I myself deal with homophobia I use sarcasm and snappy one liners rather than getting into what I see as stupid heated arguments.
All in all, i gave this book four out of five stars I think if I had read the others in the series first I would have gone on to give the book five out of five stars.
Reviews for this book can be found on:
Amazon under Lu's Reviews
Goodreads,
Net Galley,
My Blog at www.lu-ellensreadingandreviewingblog....
Links to this review can be found on:
Twitter: @lusreviews
Facebook: @lusreviews
Instagram: lusreviews
Tumblr: lusreviewsblog
Flikr: Lu's Reviews
April 17, 2017
I'm giving this 3 stars, because it held my interest, the story follows Bobbie, a very successful transsexual hairdresser with a colourful past and her quest to find the creep who is stalking her. She starts by writing a list of likely candidates....I'm not going into any depth on the story due to not wanting to spoil it for others but suffice to say, I felt a bit let down at the end. I thought there would have been a final twist....
April 18, 2017
Copy courtesy of NetGalley
This book is a confusing mish-mash of happenings -- while the story is quite captivating, it's poorly told. The main character is, in turn, big and powerful then small and vulnerable....this is not how women are. Yes, Bobbi is a ; we get that from the start, but do...you...have...to....harp....on....about.....that? Lots of unnecessary information, including the broomstick, which just did not provide relevance for the novel's existence!
This book is a confusing mish-mash of happenings -- while the story is quite captivating, it's poorly told. The main character is, in turn, big and powerful then small and vulnerable....this is not how women are. Yes, Bobbi is a ; we get that from the start, but do...you...have...to....harp....on....about.....that? Lots of unnecessary information, including the broomstick, which just did not provide relevance for the novel's existence!
October 20, 2017
I'll be reviewing this for Windy City Times. I'm not giving away my thoughts completely but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the writing and editing. I've read so many books by queer authors and the only bright spot that can be said is that it's a queer author. I'm happy to find someone who is both queer and a good writer who brings a fresh perspective. I enjoyed the book.
April 19, 2017
I received this book free from the publisher via netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
Please see my full reviews available at www.coffeeandtrainspotting.com.
For requesting arcs and books to review, please visit www.netgalley.com.
Please see my full reviews available at www.coffeeandtrainspotting.com.
For requesting arcs and books to review, please visit www.netgalley.com.
Read
July 17, 2017I like that the protagonist is transgender (more of that please!), but the story just didn't hold my interest and the prose was too functional for my taste. I'd try another in the series though.
June 14, 2017
Our Book Club read this book in pre release form.
June 13, 2017
Murder and Mayhem Reading Group
Camas Public Library
Camas WA 98607
“Seven Suspects”, Renee James
Overall rating:
Would you recommend this book to other bookclubs? 50/50
Did you like this book: 3 yes; 3 +/-; 3 no
Q: who was the most sympathetic character OR your favorite character?
“The Hitler’s” were “unfortunately real”, made some of the people laugh
Cecilia~everyone liked her…for one reason or another ~ she was smart, gritty, funny, wise,
supportive and confrontational
Roberta/Robbie~everyone thought this was a realistic and lovable/likable character and liked the
relationship between Bobbie and Roberta.
Betsy~ she “handled it all” so well, the changing relationship with Bobbie (implied), trusting
Bobbie to do what’s right for Roberta etc
We discussed Phil in a separate discussion: we all seemed to like him and were sympathetic to
his struggle with his feelings for Roberta. Many of us were happy that they got back together. He
was a sympathetic character.
We had an interesting discussion about transgender and the spectrum of sexuality and sexual
orientation. Some of the group members thought that the “transgender” issue was brought up
too much, when maybe it could have been more subtle. Some of us didn’t notice that at all.
Some of the group thought that the emphasis on sex was too much. Some of us did not like the
“torture” being discussed in so much detail. Bobbie suffered enough!
There was some confusion about where the “Hitler’s” were from:Wisconsin? Indiana?
The writers in our group thought that the book was technically really well written with good
character development and plot development. Noting that it can be difficult to create a sense of
tension d/t a stalker for so long and keep it “tense”.
Other comments:
*There was some good stuff in the book, I felt like Bobbie was “tough” and “tearful” too
much…didn’t seem to fit, didn’t seem like a “mystery”
*Liked it a lot, would recommend it to others, interesting mystery, well written, too much “crying
over small things”
*Liked it, did not like graphic torture scenes
*Mixed about it~liked some of it, didn’t like some of it. Character put herself into too many risky
situations
*well written, did not enjoy reading it
*about too much crying-- Initially I found the incongruity between the more masculine traits of risk taking and fighting back and the tears and self doubt strange but then I figured that much of that was due to the hormones that Bobbie had to take to maintain her new feminine identity.
I really liked this book (and the first one as well) because it taught me so much about transgender issues. I am ashamed to admit I knew nothing about transgender until I read Renee James.
Q: Who was the least sympathetic: “The Hitler’s”,Mark,The suspects,Albert
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June 13, 2017
Murder and Mayhem Reading Group
Camas Public Library
Camas WA 98607
“Seven Suspects”, Renee James
Overall rating:
Would you recommend this book to other bookclubs? 50/50
Did you like this book: 3 yes; 3 +/-; 3 no
Q: who was the most sympathetic character OR your favorite character?
“The Hitler’s” were “unfortunately real”, made some of the people laugh
Cecilia~everyone liked her…for one reason or another ~ she was smart, gritty, funny, wise,
supportive and confrontational
Roberta/Robbie~everyone thought this was a realistic and lovable/likable character and liked the
relationship between Bobbie and Roberta.
Betsy~ she “handled it all” so well, the changing relationship with Bobbie (implied), trusting
Bobbie to do what’s right for Roberta etc
We discussed Phil in a separate discussion: we all seemed to like him and were sympathetic to
his struggle with his feelings for Roberta. Many of us were happy that they got back together. He
was a sympathetic character.
We had an interesting discussion about transgender and the spectrum of sexuality and sexual
orientation. Some of the group members thought that the “transgender” issue was brought up
too much, when maybe it could have been more subtle. Some of us didn’t notice that at all.
Some of the group thought that the emphasis on sex was too much. Some of us did not like the
“torture” being discussed in so much detail. Bobbie suffered enough!
There was some confusion about where the “Hitler’s” were from:Wisconsin? Indiana?
The writers in our group thought that the book was technically really well written with good
character development and plot development. Noting that it can be difficult to create a sense of
tension d/t a stalker for so long and keep it “tense”.
Other comments:
*There was some good stuff in the book, I felt like Bobbie was “tough” and “tearful” too
much…didn’t seem to fit, didn’t seem like a “mystery”
*Liked it a lot, would recommend it to others, interesting mystery, well written, too much “crying
over small things”
*Liked it, did not like graphic torture scenes
*Mixed about it~liked some of it, didn’t like some of it. Character put herself into too many risky
situations
*well written, did not enjoy reading it
*about too much crying-- Initially I found the incongruity between the more masculine traits of risk taking and fighting back and the tears and self doubt strange but then I figured that much of that was due to the hormones that Bobbie had to take to maintain her new feminine identity.
I really liked this book (and the first one as well) because it taught me so much about transgender issues. I am ashamed to admit I knew nothing about transgender until I read Renee James.
Q: Who was the least sympathetic: “The Hitler’s”,Mark,The suspects,Albert
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October 20, 2017
“Seven Suspects” by Renee James is the third in the “Bobbi Logan” series. Since I had not read the previous books, I had to spend time sorting out all the players and the backstories, however the author provided background explanations within the context of the storyline to help fill in information from the previous books. Ideally, a reader should start with the prior books before reading this one.
I begin with a caution; this book deals with a difficult social issue and contains graphic violence and sex. The underlying circumstances of the book will not please every reader, but this is all too real in the world in which we live. If as a reader, you can balance the good against the bad and accept that someone else’s reality is not your own, you will enjoy this book.
Bobbie Logan, a Chicago business owner, a renowned hairdresser, and a transgender woman with a traumatic past, tells this story as a first person narrative. The dialogue takes some getting used to, but Bobbie is unique and credible. We get to know her sense of self, her fears, and her sense of humor.
Bobbie worries that an enemy from her past is stalking her. The first person narrative focuses the plot as the threats become more blatant and more powerful. Bobbie focuses her investigations on six suspects. However, who is really after her? Is there a yet unknown seventh suspect? The suspense builds. The end is chilling, dramatic, and unexpected.
I received a copy of “Seven Suspects” from Renee James, Oceanview Publishing, and NetGalley. I recommend this book with the previously mentioned cautions, thus only three stars. It is not a book for every reader. The content is dark, and it contains graphic violence and sexual content. However, that should not deter people from reading it. Readers who approach “Seven Suspects” with an open mind will see the world through the eyes of a strong yet unconventional character who is no longer a victim.
I begin with a caution; this book deals with a difficult social issue and contains graphic violence and sex. The underlying circumstances of the book will not please every reader, but this is all too real in the world in which we live. If as a reader, you can balance the good against the bad and accept that someone else’s reality is not your own, you will enjoy this book.
Bobbie Logan, a Chicago business owner, a renowned hairdresser, and a transgender woman with a traumatic past, tells this story as a first person narrative. The dialogue takes some getting used to, but Bobbie is unique and credible. We get to know her sense of self, her fears, and her sense of humor.
Bobbie worries that an enemy from her past is stalking her. The first person narrative focuses the plot as the threats become more blatant and more powerful. Bobbie focuses her investigations on six suspects. However, who is really after her? Is there a yet unknown seventh suspect? The suspense builds. The end is chilling, dramatic, and unexpected.
I received a copy of “Seven Suspects” from Renee James, Oceanview Publishing, and NetGalley. I recommend this book with the previously mentioned cautions, thus only three stars. It is not a book for every reader. The content is dark, and it contains graphic violence and sexual content. However, that should not deter people from reading it. Readers who approach “Seven Suspects” with an open mind will see the world through the eyes of a strong yet unconventional character who is no longer a victim.
October 10, 2017
My actual rating is 2.5, because I am on the fence about this book. This is the third book in a series about the protagonist, trans*woman Bobbi, but unlike other reviewers, I do not think the main issue of this book was me not having read the previous installments.
(Trigger warning for assault, rape, trans*phobia and slurs.)
What was good: I enjoyed reading a queer book that was not about coming out, because I feel this might still be a rarity. The open conversation about trans-sexuality, the inclusion of PTSD and addressing of issues like slut shaming, gun violence and even Black Lives Matter was another positive surprise. The writing had a nice, tongue-in-cheek subtle humor to it, but could also get serious and emotional. The plot proper, that is, the stalking and Bobbi's investigation of it, was done well. However, I do think it could have gotten to the point a little earlier - the novel needs a good 70 pages before the action gets going. In the end, the crime plot is pretty obvious and easy to solve as a reader. However, all of this together would have still made me give the book maybe 4/5 stars.
What was bad, or at least very confusing: the treatment and self-image of Bobbi as a trans*woman. Disclaimer: I am not trans*, I am not at all queer, so maybe the mistake is on my part ... But I have read plenty of queer books, and I rarely had such a weird feeling in my stomach. Something did not add up for me, I and do think that is a sign of bad representation. But I will be glad if someone corrects me on this. Also: the author Renee James is - as far as I understand - not trans*, but gender-fluid or gender non-conforming. So this is not own voices.
Basically, my issue was with Bobbi, despite having undergone surgery and hormone treatment, acting like she is a man. When she is misgendered as a man, she actually makes apologies: "He probably saw me as an Amazonian woman." - he saw you as a woman and called you a man? In contrast, when someone genuinely compliments her: "You are trans*? I would have never guessed.", she deducts out of nowhere: "A lie, of course." There are other instances: "It is not hard to find the transgender in the room.", "I am not a woman, not a man, but a little of both.", worrying that she needs to be more ladylike. Bobbi is surprised when people find her voice feminine, she checks her body for femininity each morning and constantly refers to people noticing her trans-sexuality as "they read me", as if discovering a big, dirty secret. There are many mentions of her being "oversized" or "not a real woman" in contrast to "natural", "genetic" and "genuine" women. Momentarily, all this "I look like a man / manly woman" had me so confused, I thought we were talking about transvestites, rather than transgender... Or is the lesson here that not all trans*people pass as their gender?
In stark contrast, she at times acts like a woman with no issues. She takes no offense at being called "cunt", because at least a cunt is female. She also says things like: "from one woman to another" and "I am glad to be a woman." Interestingly enough, all of the trans*scene of Chicago that is introduces in this novel, even at big talks and events, seems to consist solely of m-to-f trans*people. Where are the trans*men? Do they not count?
The cherry on top of the weird-representation-cake was the end of the book, where Bobbi literally spells out the "lesson" she learned - and I assume the readers are to learn as well: "I finally understand that it is dangerous to be a woman." Is that really the message you want to send? "Be careful out there, especially scantly dressed, because as a woman, you are constantly in danger"? Is that what you want to teach young girls? Rather than, maybe: People, men, are idiots and sex-driven assholes, defend yourself!
As I said: something about this: "I look like a man, not like a real woman" after 12 years of hormones and surgery combined with a vulnerability of "all woman are victims" did not add up for me. So, 2,5/5 stars - at best.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions expressed above are my own.
(Trigger warning for assault, rape, trans*phobia and slurs.)
What was good: I enjoyed reading a queer book that was not about coming out, because I feel this might still be a rarity. The open conversation about trans-sexuality, the inclusion of PTSD and addressing of issues like slut shaming, gun violence and even Black Lives Matter was another positive surprise. The writing had a nice, tongue-in-cheek subtle humor to it, but could also get serious and emotional. The plot proper, that is, the stalking and Bobbi's investigation of it, was done well. However, I do think it could have gotten to the point a little earlier - the novel needs a good 70 pages before the action gets going. In the end, the crime plot is pretty obvious and easy to solve as a reader. However, all of this together would have still made me give the book maybe 4/5 stars.
What was bad, or at least very confusing: the treatment and self-image of Bobbi as a trans*woman. Disclaimer: I am not trans*, I am not at all queer, so maybe the mistake is on my part ... But I have read plenty of queer books, and I rarely had such a weird feeling in my stomach. Something did not add up for me, I and do think that is a sign of bad representation. But I will be glad if someone corrects me on this. Also: the author Renee James is - as far as I understand - not trans*, but gender-fluid or gender non-conforming. So this is not own voices.
Basically, my issue was with Bobbi, despite having undergone surgery and hormone treatment, acting like she is a man. When she is misgendered as a man, she actually makes apologies: "He probably saw me as an Amazonian woman." - he saw you as a woman and called you a man? In contrast, when someone genuinely compliments her: "You are trans*? I would have never guessed.", she deducts out of nowhere: "A lie, of course." There are other instances: "It is not hard to find the transgender in the room.", "I am not a woman, not a man, but a little of both.", worrying that she needs to be more ladylike. Bobbi is surprised when people find her voice feminine, she checks her body for femininity each morning and constantly refers to people noticing her trans-sexuality as "they read me", as if discovering a big, dirty secret. There are many mentions of her being "oversized" or "not a real woman" in contrast to "natural", "genetic" and "genuine" women. Momentarily, all this "I look like a man / manly woman" had me so confused, I thought we were talking about transvestites, rather than transgender... Or is the lesson here that not all trans*people pass as their gender?
In stark contrast, she at times acts like a woman with no issues. She takes no offense at being called "cunt", because at least a cunt is female. She also says things like: "from one woman to another" and "I am glad to be a woman." Interestingly enough, all of the trans*scene of Chicago that is introduces in this novel, even at big talks and events, seems to consist solely of m-to-f trans*people. Where are the trans*men? Do they not count?
The cherry on top of the weird-representation-cake was the end of the book, where Bobbi literally spells out the "lesson" she learned - and I assume the readers are to learn as well: "I finally understand that it is dangerous to be a woman." Is that really the message you want to send? "Be careful out there, especially scantly dressed, because as a woman, you are constantly in danger"? Is that what you want to teach young girls? Rather than, maybe: People, men, are idiots and sex-driven assholes, defend yourself!
As I said: something about this: "I look like a man, not like a real woman" after 12 years of hormones and surgery combined with a vulnerability of "all woman are victims" did not add up for me. So, 2,5/5 stars - at best.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions expressed above are my own.
October 16, 2017
Who can you trust when you are the victim of a stalker?
The central character of this novel is forty-something Bonnie Logan, a transgender woman running a high class, and extremely successful hairdressing salon in Chicago. Bonnie transitioned a number of years before the story begins and now has a close, sisterly relationship with her (his) ex-wife Betsy and Betsy's daughter Roberta from a subsequent relationship.
I hope I haven't lost you, as it becomes more complex as Bonnie's transgender friend Cecilia, and the lost love of her life, Phil, are added to the mix.
Life for a transgender woman in Chicago is not easy and the author I am sure draws on her own experience in this most macho city. In Bonnie's case, she is a woman who, due to her height and build is instantly recognised as a 'tranny', that most derogatory of insults and her passage is not helped by the combination of a high libido and a big mouth! Cecilia has warned her many times to moderate both her sex life and her straight-talking and suddenly Bonnie comes to appreciate the wisdom of her friend's advice.
It is difficult to give any detail of the plot without spoiling it for other readers, so I will limit the details to the fact that Bonnie was viciously raped some years before and now is the victim of a stalker who may or may not is connected to that rape. Her habit of alienating her sexual partners mean that the stalker may be any one of them - hence the list of seven suspects.
This is a very readable book with the suspense building satisfyingly as it progresses. I cannot say that I warmed to Bonnie, she is too abrasive for that, but I did have sympathy for the difficulties of her life. I also found some of the sexual passages rather more graphic than comfortable, but no doubt they were necessary to put across the lives and choices made by women like Bonnie.
A good read and an insight into the issues facing those who find their bodies do not match their gender identity, and who make the far from easy decision to transition.
Pashtpaws
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
The central character of this novel is forty-something Bonnie Logan, a transgender woman running a high class, and extremely successful hairdressing salon in Chicago. Bonnie transitioned a number of years before the story begins and now has a close, sisterly relationship with her (his) ex-wife Betsy and Betsy's daughter Roberta from a subsequent relationship.
I hope I haven't lost you, as it becomes more complex as Bonnie's transgender friend Cecilia, and the lost love of her life, Phil, are added to the mix.
Life for a transgender woman in Chicago is not easy and the author I am sure draws on her own experience in this most macho city. In Bonnie's case, she is a woman who, due to her height and build is instantly recognised as a 'tranny', that most derogatory of insults and her passage is not helped by the combination of a high libido and a big mouth! Cecilia has warned her many times to moderate both her sex life and her straight-talking and suddenly Bonnie comes to appreciate the wisdom of her friend's advice.
It is difficult to give any detail of the plot without spoiling it for other readers, so I will limit the details to the fact that Bonnie was viciously raped some years before and now is the victim of a stalker who may or may not is connected to that rape. Her habit of alienating her sexual partners mean that the stalker may be any one of them - hence the list of seven suspects.
This is a very readable book with the suspense building satisfyingly as it progresses. I cannot say that I warmed to Bonnie, she is too abrasive for that, but I did have sympathy for the difficulties of her life. I also found some of the sexual passages rather more graphic than comfortable, but no doubt they were necessary to put across the lives and choices made by women like Bonnie.
A good read and an insight into the issues facing those who find their bodies do not match their gender identity, and who make the far from easy decision to transition.
Pashtpaws
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
October 14, 2017
Many thanks to Netgalley for this book. I didn't know such a series existed, I should have started with the first volume, but I don't think I lost much. There are enough references about other dramatic episodes in Bobbi's life to fill in the gaps. And you can't help liking the novel and the character.
Bobbi is unique, she's a survivor, reckless and outspoken. Are these female or male features? Is fighting back and seeking revenge testosterone driven or estrogen driven behaviour? Bobbi blames her feistiness on her belated transition (in her thirties) and she often mistrusts her instincts. One thing she trusts and that is the magic of numbers three and seven. When her life is once again (the third time, I presume) turned upside down, she hunts down the possible suspects and comes short of finding the seventh. It's only her shortsightedness, because I began to suspect who that might be from their first encounter, which was disappointing.
Anyway, after another gory kidnapping and rape, Bobbi accepts her vulnerability, something that makes her more feminine than short skirts or generous cleavage.
Bobbi is unique, she's a survivor, reckless and outspoken. Are these female or male features? Is fighting back and seeking revenge testosterone driven or estrogen driven behaviour? Bobbi blames her feistiness on her belated transition (in her thirties) and she often mistrusts her instincts. One thing she trusts and that is the magic of numbers three and seven. When her life is once again (the third time, I presume) turned upside down, she hunts down the possible suspects and comes short of finding the seventh. It's only her shortsightedness, because I began to suspect who that might be from their first encounter, which was disappointing.
Anyway, after another gory kidnapping and rape, Bobbi accepts her vulnerability, something that makes her more feminine than short skirts or generous cleavage.
October 9, 2017
I appreciate the depths James has dug to create the character of Bobbi and her world. Seven Suspects has the good, gripping feel of classic pulp fiction set in contemporary Chicago.The story contains graphic brutality that reveals the depravity of humankind--revenge, the belief that one person's ideals are the most correct for all of society, and that anything different must be removed by any means possible. Bobbi just wants to be Bobbi, warts and all, with friends and lovers often as confused by their realities as she is. She's a good hair dresser, savvy businesswoman, kind, someone more confident in who she's become than most people reckon during a lifetime. But someone wants her out of the way, and it's up to her to figure it out, suspect by suspect, reinventing stalking and turning the tables. Seven Suspects is a thriller that will keep you turning pages, laughing, working, crying, infuriated and hurt, as Bobbi struggles to right her world.
January 8, 2018
How these books really work for me is as a character study and how a character grows and changes and in the context of Bobbi Logan, how she metamorphosed from a man into a strong confident woman. In the context of the trilogy (thus far) we have run the gamut of emotion as well as all the stages the protagonist has gone through on this journey and it was great to get more of the story with this installment.
The "thriller" portion of the book is decent as well with someone following her, vandalizing her business and just terrorizing her. Who is the suspect? Well, she narrows it down to seven people. Just when she seems to eliminate them all, well lets just say you need to read this one to find out.
I will say that you should read them in order since there are details and plot points that develop over the course of the three books.
I received this book in exchange for an unbiased review from Net Galley.
The "thriller" portion of the book is decent as well with someone following her, vandalizing her business and just terrorizing her. Who is the suspect? Well, she narrows it down to seven people. Just when she seems to eliminate them all, well lets just say you need to read this one to find out.
I will say that you should read them in order since there are details and plot points that develop over the course of the three books.
I received this book in exchange for an unbiased review from Net Galley.
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