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Lucky O'Toole #5
Lucky Catch
Trouble always comes in threes.
At least that’s what Lucky O’Toole, the VP of Customer Relations for Las Vegas’ primo Strip casino/hotel, the Babylon, has heard for years from her mother. So, tonight, when Teddie, her former lover shows up at her office unannounced and very unexpected, her father offers Teddie a job at the Babylon, she is called to deal with a pig in residence at one of the hotels most exclusive and opulent suites, and Lucky’s current lover, Jean-Charles Bouclet stops answering his phone leaving Lucky to handle his five-year-old son, Lucky figures she has tonight’s compliment of chaos covered.
As usual, she is a tad optimistic.
With a cadre of celebrity chefs with the maturity of teenagers in Vegas for a televised cook-off, a prized Alba truffle in the Babylon’s care, and her mother’s pregnancy racing toward the inevitable, what could go wrong?
When the truffle is stolen from the walk-in in Jean-Charles’ gourmet burger joint at the Babylon and a young chef apparently killed with a smoking gun is found in Jean-Charles’ food truck on the back lot, trouble takes a sinister turn.
And Jean-Charles still isn’t answering his phone.
Another body is discovered. This one stuffed in an oven at Jean-Charles’ eponymous restaurant and set to broil.
Desperate to put a lid on the body count and more than frantic over her AWOL lover, Lucky uses her Vegas contacts to search in places and in ways the police wouldn’t or couldn’t. Teddie insists on riding shotgun. Lucky hasn’t the time nor the resolve to say no. She’s never been able to resist Teddie … not really. With danger dogging their heels, Lucky finds herself falling once again under his spell as they traverse Vegas, being drawn deeper and deeper into the highly competitive world of high-end eateries and the battle for the very rare, most highly prized gourmet foodstuffs.
Would somebody really kill for a truffle?
In a heartbeat.
And when Lucky’s path crosses the killer’s… will her goose be cooked?
At least that’s what Lucky O’Toole, the VP of Customer Relations for Las Vegas’ primo Strip casino/hotel, the Babylon, has heard for years from her mother. So, tonight, when Teddie, her former lover shows up at her office unannounced and very unexpected, her father offers Teddie a job at the Babylon, she is called to deal with a pig in residence at one of the hotels most exclusive and opulent suites, and Lucky’s current lover, Jean-Charles Bouclet stops answering his phone leaving Lucky to handle his five-year-old son, Lucky figures she has tonight’s compliment of chaos covered.
As usual, she is a tad optimistic.
With a cadre of celebrity chefs with the maturity of teenagers in Vegas for a televised cook-off, a prized Alba truffle in the Babylon’s care, and her mother’s pregnancy racing toward the inevitable, what could go wrong?
When the truffle is stolen from the walk-in in Jean-Charles’ gourmet burger joint at the Babylon and a young chef apparently killed with a smoking gun is found in Jean-Charles’ food truck on the back lot, trouble takes a sinister turn.
And Jean-Charles still isn’t answering his phone.
Another body is discovered. This one stuffed in an oven at Jean-Charles’ eponymous restaurant and set to broil.
Desperate to put a lid on the body count and more than frantic over her AWOL lover, Lucky uses her Vegas contacts to search in places and in ways the police wouldn’t or couldn’t. Teddie insists on riding shotgun. Lucky hasn’t the time nor the resolve to say no. She’s never been able to resist Teddie … not really. With danger dogging their heels, Lucky finds herself falling once again under his spell as they traverse Vegas, being drawn deeper and deeper into the highly competitive world of high-end eateries and the battle for the very rare, most highly prized gourmet foodstuffs.
Would somebody really kill for a truffle?
In a heartbeat.
And when Lucky’s path crosses the killer’s… will her goose be cooked?
374 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2014
291 people are currently reading
1667 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Coonts
34 books890 followersGet a free bundle of novellas ripped from the headlines of Lucky O'Toole's world: http://deborahcoonts.com/lucky-offer/
Deborah Coonts swears she was switched at birth. Coming from a family of homebodies, Deborah is the odd woman out, happiest with a passport, a high-limit credit card, her computer, and changing scenery outside her window. Goaded by an insatiable curiosity, she flies airplanes, rides motorcycles, travels the world, and pretends to be more of a badass than she probably is. Deborah is the author of the Lucky O’Toole Vegas Adventure series, a romantic mystery romp through Sin City. Wanna Get Lucky?, the first in the series, was a New York Times Notable Crime Novel and a double RITA™ Award Finalist. She has also penned the Kate Sawyer Medical Thriller series, the Brinda Rose Humorous Mystery series, as well as a couple of standalones. Although often on an adventure, you can always track her down at www.deborahcoonts.com.
Deborah Coonts swears she was switched at birth. Coming from a family of homebodies, Deborah is the odd woman out, happiest with a passport, a high-limit credit card, her computer, and changing scenery outside her window. Goaded by an insatiable curiosity, she flies airplanes, rides motorcycles, travels the world, and pretends to be more of a badass than she probably is. Deborah is the author of the Lucky O’Toole Vegas Adventure series, a romantic mystery romp through Sin City. Wanna Get Lucky?, the first in the series, was a New York Times Notable Crime Novel and a double RITA™ Award Finalist. She has also penned the Kate Sawyer Medical Thriller series, the Brinda Rose Humorous Mystery series, as well as a couple of standalones. Although often on an adventure, you can always track her down at www.deborahcoonts.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
May 30, 2016
Go away Teddie. I am so sick of you
June 16, 2023
4 stars for the actual mystery part. 3 stars for Lucky’s continued whining about Teddy. I’ve complained about this ad nauseam so I’m not going to do it again.
Oh, and as much as I love Las Vegas, if the Babylon were a real hotel I’d definitely stay away from it! Way too many murders there! Lol.
Oh, and as much as I love Las Vegas, if the Babylon were a real hotel I’d definitely stay away from it! Way too many murders there! Lol.
September 3, 2018
After going through heartbreak, murder, and more than a little Wild Turkey, Lucky O’Toole is back again in the fifth installment of the series.
With a new French chef as her lover, an ex back in town, and a sibling on the way, Lucky’s personal life is already pushing her limits. And with a celebrity chef cook-off just around the corner, work isn’t much better. Add a murder or two, a missing chef, and a flock of turkeys on the loose, and you have a story that might just be too good to eat.
I would have preferred to give this book a 2.5/5, but since that isn’t possible, I decided to round down. I have read most of the previous books in this series, and I feel that this one wasn’t as good in comparison. The events seemed to be too all-over-the-place, making it less enjoyable to follow the main story. I don’t think it needed to be so complex. Though I enjoy feeling part of the main character’s personal life, a balance is needed.
I have since started the next book in the series, which seems to be better so far. However, if the story starts giving me the same problems, I may drop the series.
With a new French chef as her lover, an ex back in town, and a sibling on the way, Lucky’s personal life is already pushing her limits. And with a celebrity chef cook-off just around the corner, work isn’t much better. Add a murder or two, a missing chef, and a flock of turkeys on the loose, and you have a story that might just be too good to eat.
I would have preferred to give this book a 2.5/5, but since that isn’t possible, I decided to round down. I have read most of the previous books in this series, and I feel that this one wasn’t as good in comparison. The events seemed to be too all-over-the-place, making it less enjoyable to follow the main story. I don’t think it needed to be so complex. Though I enjoy feeling part of the main character’s personal life, a balance is needed.
I have since started the next book in the series, which seems to be better so far. However, if the story starts giving me the same problems, I may drop the series.
July 23, 2021
*This is a review for the audiobook version*
FYI: this is a series you should definitely do in order!
It picks up at the exact moment the previous book left off which was cool.
Lucky's got dead bodies, food contests and a love life in turmoil. Lots of stuff going on.
This particular book didn't wasn't as funny as the previous ones as I think it was a bit more serious. It's a middle book spanning the bridge of in b/w for Lucky's character story development.
I do hope she & Teddy can become friends again. And I'd like Derek to return as I like that character too.
FYI: this is a series you should definitely do in order!
It picks up at the exact moment the previous book left off which was cool.
Lucky's got dead bodies, food contests and a love life in turmoil. Lots of stuff going on.
This particular book didn't wasn't as funny as the previous ones as I think it was a bit more serious. It's a middle book spanning the bridge of in b/w for Lucky's character story development.
I do hope she & Teddy can become friends again. And I'd like Derek to return as I like that character too.
September 2, 2014
I received a copy of Lucky Catch in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve read all of the Lucky books so far in this series, and I highly recommend them all! I was so excited to get back into Lucky’s world, and it came at the perfect time – I was reading this one during my trip to Vegas! So we meet back up with Lucky after her breakup with Teddie and in the beginning stages of her relationship with Jean-Charles, who quickly becomes a suspect in a rash of brutal murders. Coonts has an effortless style of writing, one chapter blending seamlessly into the next, and I was shocked my two and half hour plane ride went as fast as it did while reading this! There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes, as well as a wide range of characters who kept me guessing on which one was the real killer. If you’re a fan of mystery, the Lucky series is not one to miss!
I’ve read all of the Lucky books so far in this series, and I highly recommend them all! I was so excited to get back into Lucky’s world, and it came at the perfect time – I was reading this one during my trip to Vegas! So we meet back up with Lucky after her breakup with Teddie and in the beginning stages of her relationship with Jean-Charles, who quickly becomes a suspect in a rash of brutal murders. Coonts has an effortless style of writing, one chapter blending seamlessly into the next, and I was shocked my two and half hour plane ride went as fast as it did while reading this! There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes, as well as a wide range of characters who kept me guessing on which one was the real killer. If you’re a fan of mystery, the Lucky series is not one to miss!
September 12, 2019
In the realm of Lucky books, this one was good but not great. I am so done with Teddy and was not a fan that he reared his head again. How Lucky proceeds with him may cause me to re-think continuing with the series. Only time will tell. The mystery itself was decent but got a little lost in the personal shenanigans and since those involved Teddy, I wasn’t a fan. I wouldn’t recommend starting the series with this book.
The narration on the audio was decent but not great— definitely better than the previous narrator but I felt like this one read with a bit too much melodrama in her voice. I probably will stick to print version from now on.
The narration on the audio was decent but not great— definitely better than the previous narrator but I felt like this one read with a bit too much melodrama in her voice. I probably will stick to print version from now on.
February 27, 2018
I discovered this series a week ago and have kept reading as I am enjoying Lucky’s adventures. This book wasn’t quite as good as the others but still fun. I love the author’s combination of humor, sarcasm and mystery, though I felt this one dragged a little more with Lucky’s personal crisis and subsequent self reflection. Thankfully Lucky seemed to get her mojo back by the end of the book and I will continue my binge reading.
One major gripe - The Teddie issue. Having read all the books in one go I feel a bit more invested in the characters and I seem to have taken Teddie’s betrayal personally and now just want Lucky to tell him he has blown it and move on. If he wanted to dump her to get busy with groupies on tour he really isn’t worth the time, heartache and multiple books worth of introspection we seem to be set for with his return to Vegas. I liked Lucky with Teddie but some things are unforgivable and continuing the do I or don’t I love him will just ruin the series. Lucky deserves someone who doesn’t need hindsight to see how great she is. Jean Claude is a great way to move on and there are lots of other characters to keep the story fun and help Lucky continue her crazy life in Vegas.
One major gripe - The Teddie issue. Having read all the books in one go I feel a bit more invested in the characters and I seem to have taken Teddie’s betrayal personally and now just want Lucky to tell him he has blown it and move on. If he wanted to dump her to get busy with groupies on tour he really isn’t worth the time, heartache and multiple books worth of introspection we seem to be set for with his return to Vegas. I liked Lucky with Teddie but some things are unforgivable and continuing the do I or don’t I love him will just ruin the series. Lucky deserves someone who doesn’t need hindsight to see how great she is. Jean Claude is a great way to move on and there are lots of other characters to keep the story fun and help Lucky continue her crazy life in Vegas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2017
Lucky O’Toole is the VP of Customer Relations for Babylon, the most over-the-top casino and resort in Vegas, so she’s accustomed to handing problems. Besides, her mother, Mona, formerly the proprietor of a bordello, is now married to Lucky’s boss and father, and is pregnant, which presents its own unique set of problems for her.
With a bunch of chefs with huge egos in town for a competition, and an expensive truffle to be safeguarded, she doesn’t need any more complications. Hah! She should be so lucky.
Her ex, Teddy, shows up wanting a favor, and her current, Jean-Charles Bouclet, is playing games with her. Are you thinking that Lucky’s plate is full? Wrong. A young chef ends up murdered and in one of Jean-Charles’ food trucks, and he’s suddenly incommunicado, and a thousand live turkeys that Mona ordered for Thanksgiving have been delivered and everyone’s looking to Lucky for answers.
Lucky Catch by Deborah Coonts once more takes us into the roiling underbelly of Las Vegas, as Lucky tries to find a killer, retrieve a missing truffle, and keep from strangling her mom. This is Lucky O’Toole at her best; witty, irreverent, and up to her eyeballs in trouble. Coonts knows Vegas, and she has her characters nailed. As usual, you’ll spend as much time laughing as you do cringing. Don’t miss this one.
I received this book as a gift.
With a bunch of chefs with huge egos in town for a competition, and an expensive truffle to be safeguarded, she doesn’t need any more complications. Hah! She should be so lucky.
Her ex, Teddy, shows up wanting a favor, and her current, Jean-Charles Bouclet, is playing games with her. Are you thinking that Lucky’s plate is full? Wrong. A young chef ends up murdered and in one of Jean-Charles’ food trucks, and he’s suddenly incommunicado, and a thousand live turkeys that Mona ordered for Thanksgiving have been delivered and everyone’s looking to Lucky for answers.
Lucky Catch by Deborah Coonts once more takes us into the roiling underbelly of Las Vegas, as Lucky tries to find a killer, retrieve a missing truffle, and keep from strangling her mom. This is Lucky O’Toole at her best; witty, irreverent, and up to her eyeballs in trouble. Coonts knows Vegas, and she has her characters nailed. As usual, you’ll spend as much time laughing as you do cringing. Don’t miss this one.
I received this book as a gift.
June 25, 2017
As with all of the Lucky O'Toole books, this one has a lot going on. A lot. It starts where the last book left off, with Lucky's ex (ex-best friend, ex-boyfriend, ex-lover, ex-love of her life), Teddie, the female impersonator, arriving back in Vegas. He's fresh off his tour and ready to walk back into Lucky's life. Except that she's already with someone else, Jean-Charles, a chef in her father's casino. Too bad he seems to be involved in something shady. He's disappeared along with a truffle that is supposed to be featured in a cooking competition. Then there's her mother's pregnancy and the dead bodies that keep popping up.
I did not like Teddie in this book. And it is a fairly active dislike. It feels like Coonts is setting it up for be part of a love triangle but i'm hoping that's not the case.
I did not like Teddie in this book. And it is a fairly active dislike. It feels like Coonts is setting it up for be part of a love triangle but i'm hoping that's not the case.
July 15, 2022
This is a fun, dependable series that I enjoy. The Vegas setting offers some creative, entertaining and - obviously - over-the-top situations that add spice to a mystery story.
I love most of the charactes, especially Lucky, and enjoy visiting with them in each next book. I wish the author would sort out Lucky's love-life so she can stop having to deal with idiot men and can get back to being a kick-ass "handler" of the ridiculous situations and people who come to the strip casino and resort she is the VP of Customer Relations for. That aspect is much more fun than her multiple and annoying suitors.
I listen to these books on audio and the narrator is excellent. I laugh out loud every time Lucky's foul-mouthed parrot has a scene. The supporting characters in this series are also terrific. Just a fun, light entertaining series.
I love most of the charactes, especially Lucky, and enjoy visiting with them in each next book. I wish the author would sort out Lucky's love-life so she can stop having to deal with idiot men and can get back to being a kick-ass "handler" of the ridiculous situations and people who come to the strip casino and resort she is the VP of Customer Relations for. That aspect is much more fun than her multiple and annoying suitors.
I listen to these books on audio and the narrator is excellent. I laugh out loud every time Lucky's foul-mouthed parrot has a scene. The supporting characters in this series are also terrific. Just a fun, light entertaining series.
August 28, 2022
Lucky O'Toole is the Vice President of customer relations at the Babylon, a premier Vegas casino and hotel. What does that mean? She gets all the major problems to solve and doesn't have much of a life in between.
A group of celebrity chefs arrives in town for a cooking challenge and they seem to have it in for each other and all the maturity of a college frat house.
Meanwhile her new love interest, the French chef, Jean Charles goes missing and is being framed for murder and a gourmet food cheating scheme.
Then just for interest, Lucky's old flame shows up back in town and wants to rekindle the relationship. Uh oh!
If you like Janet Evonavich and CSI shows this might be the story for you!
Lots of humor and crazy antics, detailed plot keeps you guessing all the way.
A group of celebrity chefs arrives in town for a cooking challenge and they seem to have it in for each other and all the maturity of a college frat house.
Meanwhile her new love interest, the French chef, Jean Charles goes missing and is being framed for murder and a gourmet food cheating scheme.
Then just for interest, Lucky's old flame shows up back in town and wants to rekindle the relationship. Uh oh!
If you like Janet Evonavich and CSI shows this might be the story for you!
Lots of humor and crazy antics, detailed plot keeps you guessing all the way.
August 22, 2021
I love Vegas and I love Lucky O’Toole. This series is a delight to read. This is the 5th book and it just keeps getting more interesting. Teddie is back and Lucky’s relationship with Jean-Charles is heating up. This could get interesting. But bodies are piling up and Jean-Charles is not answering her calls. The police are looking for him too. Never a dull moment in Vegas and the Babylon. An enjoyable cast of characters and a great mystery all rolled into one great read. Definitely full of interesting plot twists and a great ending. Can’t wait to read the next one. I’m definitely hooked.
June 27, 2020
As Lucky's romance with Jean-Charles heats up there's unwanted complications like murder, Mona, Teddie, and a prized truffle. With a culinary twist, Lucky & Romeo try to get to the bottom of the homicides and newfangled technology following food shipments. Add in the beautiful Jeremy Whitlock & the Big Boss and it's a recipe for disaster. Another fantastic whodunit & a side of romance with a few surprises. It is Vegas baby!
July 28, 2020
Very entertaining series. I got the first book somewhere and got hooked on the series. I just bought 8 more, all the way to 2020. If you want to read books that make you laugh and give you a different look at Las Vegas, this is for you. They make you forget about everything and Lucky is a very fun woman. I love all the characters and as she falls in and out and in love, you will be rooting for one guy or the other. Love this series.
May 26, 2021
This is a great series for lovers of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books - the titular Lucky is funny and irreverent, even when dealing with death and dismemberment, and the supporting characters are a wild and crazy bunch. I haven't read prior novels in the series - this one was available from my library and I was looking for lighthearted/silly - but that didn't detract from my enjoyment.
3.5 stars, rounded up
3.5 stars, rounded up
December 28, 2024
Up to this book I enjoyed the series a lot, especially liked the MC. Unfortunately in this book there are so many occult/esoteric/mystic references I struggled to finish it. Additionally the crimes were especially gruesome and graphic enough (luckily not too detailed descriptions) that alone would ensure I won’t re-read it. As it is I’m going to delete the book from my library and am very unsure about continuing the series. The future will tell if I’ll be curious enough to overlook my issues.
April 20, 2018
I’ve given up
I’ve followed this series from the beginning with some mild interest and amusement. But in this book, by page 84, there have been 2 gruesome deaths and a missing lover, but somehow that doesn’t seem to be the focus of the story. Maybe I’m just tired of all the side stories, but I’m not going to finish this book.
I’ve followed this series from the beginning with some mild interest and amusement. But in this book, by page 84, there have been 2 gruesome deaths and a missing lover, but somehow that doesn’t seem to be the focus of the story. Maybe I’m just tired of all the side stories, but I’m not going to finish this book.
Read
October 22, 2019This has been an entertaining series--a troubleshooter at a glamorous Las Vegas hotel who wears designer clothes, drives exotic sports cars, has quirky parents, and solves murders. However this book was confusing with some key information withheld from the readers. And Lucky's romantic life got confused by an abrupt change of attitude. I am not sure how many of these I will read.
May 26, 2020
If you are in five books like I am , you know that Lucky is going to get her man. "I would have gotten way with it if it wasn't for Lucky" so said the murder I think. The main story line is going to be wrapped up in the second to last chapter. But it is the crazy cast of characters the weave in and out that I enjoy the most. Even a fitly talking parrot has some good laughs.
April 28, 2019
Lucky takes you on another crazy adventure. Oh, but throw in the man who broke her heart and the current man in her life and she has more on her plate than ever. Oh, but wait her mother Mona is also up to some crazy stuff that will cause Lucky to have to be on her toes as usual.
November 29, 2021
Teddy started out an amusing character who truly wanted to improve Lucky's life.
Now he's just some obnoxious stalker whose tight butt won't let her move on to someone better.
Hopefully the next book has less about how gorgeous he is, and more of Lucky rolling her eyes and ignoring him.
Now he's just some obnoxious stalker whose tight butt won't let her move on to someone better.
Hopefully the next book has less about how gorgeous he is, and more of Lucky rolling her eyes and ignoring him.
May 15, 2017
Solid edition to the Lucky O Toole series. I was getting a bit tired of Lucky's 'poor me' attitude, so I was glad when she started getting back to her usual kick ass self.
January 29, 2019
I liked this Lucky series book even more than the previous one. Exciting and fun until the end!
March 24, 2019
This wasn't my favorite in the series, but it's a good addition to it. I found Lucky a little weak in this one. But the mystery was good.
July 13, 2019
Very good book
I love Lucky the more you read the more real she becomes. From badass to heartbreak you can truly relate to her
I love Lucky the more you read the more real she becomes. From badass to heartbreak you can truly relate to her
August 7, 2019
The fifth book in the Lucky O’Toole series starts immediately after the fourth, an interesting conceit. Again, the appeal to me is the Las Vegas setting, which is well-suited for crime and murder.
September 9, 2019
Another great Lucky O'Toole book. Can't wait to read #6 to see what new mischief her mom is up to and what crazy mystery into which she gets enveloped. Love the handsome men in Lucky's life.
September 20, 2020
Another great romp through Las Vegas with Lucky O’Toole!
June 4, 2021
The adventure continues and of course ends on a cliffhanger.
November 12, 2024
Yet another delicious and fantastic read. What an interesting, high octane adventure with Lucky, Romeo and plenty more wonderfully crafted characters bringing Vegas to life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews