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Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries #2
Cash Kills
There’s no such thing as free money…
Angelina Bonaparte—Milwaukee’s feisty 50-something private investigator with a penchant for sexy lingerie—is back, and this time, the stakes are higher than ever.
Bosnian War refugee Adriana Johnson grew up poor—so poor, her parents couldn’t afford to buy her clothes, much less send her to college. So when her parents are killed in a bungled robbery attempt, Adriana is stunned to learn they have left her millions. Suspicious of the source of her inheritance, she turns to PI Angelina Bonaparte to investigate. But when Angie arrives to interview Adriana’s parents’ attorney, he’s missing, and his secretary is dead on the floor in front of the big mahogany desk. Angie’s lover, homicide detective Ted Wukowski, is dispatched to the scene, and they are once again thrown together in a desperate search for a killer.
Now it’s up to Angie to find out where the money came from, who wanted the legal secretary dead and why, and the link between Bosnian War artifacts found in the Johnsons’ attic and the missing attorney. But someone will go to any lengths to stop Adriana from getting the cash. As the search widens and secrets are uncovered, Angie’s own life is in danger, and so is her heart.
Winner of the 2013 Benjamin Franklin Silver Digital Award from the Independent Book Publishers Association.
Librarian's note: See alternate cover edition of ISBN 0998755729 here.
Angelina Bonaparte—Milwaukee’s feisty 50-something private investigator with a penchant for sexy lingerie—is back, and this time, the stakes are higher than ever.
Bosnian War refugee Adriana Johnson grew up poor—so poor, her parents couldn’t afford to buy her clothes, much less send her to college. So when her parents are killed in a bungled robbery attempt, Adriana is stunned to learn they have left her millions. Suspicious of the source of her inheritance, she turns to PI Angelina Bonaparte to investigate. But when Angie arrives to interview Adriana’s parents’ attorney, he’s missing, and his secretary is dead on the floor in front of the big mahogany desk. Angie’s lover, homicide detective Ted Wukowski, is dispatched to the scene, and they are once again thrown together in a desperate search for a killer.
Now it’s up to Angie to find out where the money came from, who wanted the legal secretary dead and why, and the link between Bosnian War artifacts found in the Johnsons’ attic and the missing attorney. But someone will go to any lengths to stop Adriana from getting the cash. As the search widens and secrets are uncovered, Angie’s own life is in danger, and so is her heart.
Winner of the 2013 Benjamin Franklin Silver Digital Award from the Independent Book Publishers Association.
Librarian's note: See alternate cover edition of ISBN 0998755729 here.
342 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2014
906 people are currently reading
793 people want to read
About the author
Nanci Rathbun
6 books105 followersI am a lifelong reader of mysteries – historical, contemporary, futuristic, paranormal, hard-boiled, cozy … you can find them all on my bookshelves and in my e-readers. I bring logic and planning to my writing from my first career as an IT project manager, and attention to characters and dialog from my second career as a Congregationalist minister. (My books are not Christian fiction, but they contain no explicit violence or sexual scenes, nor bad language beyond an occasional mild curse word.)
I grew up an Army brat, and have lived in Germany, France and Korea, as well as several states in the U.S. After my dad retired from the service, our family settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I raised my daughter and son there, while working at AT&T. I never expected to move after taking early retirement, but when my second grandchild was on the way, I wanted to be closer. One of my greatest joys is hearing my three granddaughters shout ‘Nana’ and run to me when I come in their front door in Fort Collins, Colorado.
My Maltipoo, Teeny, and I now live in Wellington, Colorado USA. No matter where I make my home, I will always be a Green Bay Packers fan.
I grew up an Army brat, and have lived in Germany, France and Korea, as well as several states in the U.S. After my dad retired from the service, our family settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I raised my daughter and son there, while working at AT&T. I never expected to move after taking early retirement, but when my second grandchild was on the way, I wanted to be closer. One of my greatest joys is hearing my three granddaughters shout ‘Nana’ and run to me when I come in their front door in Fort Collins, Colorado.
My Maltipoo, Teeny, and I now live in Wellington, Colorado USA. No matter where I make my home, I will always be a Green Bay Packers fan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
March 21, 2021
When I was handed an ARC of the fourth novel in this series, I took a step back to discover the characters, the author, and the specifics of the collection. Nanci Rathbun continues to build an interesting collection of novels, with Angelina Bonaparte front and centre in this second piece of the series. A middle-aged woman with a spark for life and love of uncovering truths, Bonaparte is once again pulled into the centre of a curious case, this time involving a massive inheritance from a couple who appeared barely able to rub two coins together. When looking a little deeper, there is an entire organisation propping them up, which begs the question as to who they were and what they believed. Toss in some murder and you have the perfect story to keep the reader guessing. Rathbun does a decent job yet again and will appeal to those who enjoyed her debut novel.
Angelina Bonaparte (don’t forget the ‘tay’ on the last syllable) is still basking in the limelight from her last major case, which included discovering a new beau who works on the Milwaukee PD’s Homicide Squad. She’s tending to her own business when a referral crosses her desk. A young woman, Adriana Johnson, and her lawyer ask for some help to look into the mysterious inheritance that she was supplies by her parents, who were murdered. The Johnsons ran a small shop until their demise the week before, appearing to barley make ends meet. How did they come upon such money and is it legitimate?
Bonaparte is always up for a challenge and takes the case, thinking that there could be some fun challenges within the hunt for the truth. As she explores a little more, Bonaparte learns that the Johnsons (anglicising their name) were part of the Serbian community in Milwaukee, which is not alarming on the surface. However, there is an odd net cast around some within the group, including proof that they had massive monetary investments around the state of Wisconsin and used a few innocuous players as namesakes on these accounts. Additionally, Bonaparte discovers that the Johnsons had some extremely rare and seemingly valuable items hidden away, with some Cyrillic writing affixed to them.
While poking around, Bonaparte tips her hand, perhaps a little too readily, which creates some waves. Before she knows it, Adriana’s lawyer is missing and his secretary is found with her head blown in. This is, again, outside of Bonaparte’s usual work of following cheating husbands and fraudulent insurance claims. As she does some of her own research about connections to the former Yugoslavia, Bonaparte finds herself targeted specifically, which worries and angers her beau, Detective W. T. “Ted” Wukowski.
There’s something obviously wrong here and Bonaparte is not going to stop until she discovers the truth. She’ll have to play her cards right, not only to catch a killer and bring down an organisation, but to make it through to Thanksgiving, when her family hopes to meet this dashing new man in her life. It’s a jam-packed story with little time for wondering and high on the danger for the slick Angie Bonaparte.
As I mentioned above, I am pushing through the first three books in this series in order to get to the ARC before its publication date. While Nanci Rathbun’s style is not entirely in line with what I usually read in the genre, it is still quite good and on point when I need it to be. Not quite cozy, but with hints of ‘more refined grit’, Rathbun takes the reader into some of Milwaukee’s underbelly without getting too caught up in the darkest corners of crime, as some authors are eager to do.
Angelina Bonaparte is a strong protagonist whose life has tossed her many a curveball, though she is stronger for it. She is able to balance her work with a burgeoning love interest in Wukowski, which is on full display in some saccharine moments that will make some readers roll their eyes. While she admits that her age leaves her outside the realms of ability of some PIs, Bonaparte does not shy away from conflict or getting to the heart of the matter. Her ever curious mind leads her down many a path and the large ‘Sicilian-American’ family keeps her knowing that she is loved and protected. Her many facets keep the reader curious throughout this reading journey.
The collection of secondary characters is strong and varied, particularly in the discovery of the Serbian angle throughout. Rathbun not only peppers the narrative with those who hail from the former Yugoslavia, but she uses them as vessels to help educate the reader about the history and ongoing struggles as it relates to the region’s history. Add to this, a variety of names that grace the pages of the novel and the reader is in for a real treat. There is little time to rest, as the action is ongoing and the characters propel the story forward with ease.
As with many books, I like my review to get to the heart of the matter, the story as a whole. While I was of mixed sentiments with the first novel, this piece grew a little more on me. I enjoyed its flow and pace, though the somewhat dichotomous ‘grit and saccharine’ nature of the piece left me wanting more of the former and a scaling back of the latter. I admit that this second novel worked much better for me than the series debut (perhaps because I was expecting what I got?), but I am still hungering for more. Decent writing prevailed throughout, even with some predictability. The balance of short and longer chapters left me always wanting a little more, even if some moments had me rolling my eyes. I liked how Rathbun worked the history into this novel and kept the reader educated and informed throughout. Now to see what’s next, as Angelina Bonaparte is one who attracts drama, true to her Sicilian ancestry.
Kudos, Madam Rathbun, for keeping me intrigued. Onto the last of the ‘backstory novels’, before I can sink my teeth into the real job for which you sought me out.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Angelina Bonaparte (don’t forget the ‘tay’ on the last syllable) is still basking in the limelight from her last major case, which included discovering a new beau who works on the Milwaukee PD’s Homicide Squad. She’s tending to her own business when a referral crosses her desk. A young woman, Adriana Johnson, and her lawyer ask for some help to look into the mysterious inheritance that she was supplies by her parents, who were murdered. The Johnsons ran a small shop until their demise the week before, appearing to barley make ends meet. How did they come upon such money and is it legitimate?
Bonaparte is always up for a challenge and takes the case, thinking that there could be some fun challenges within the hunt for the truth. As she explores a little more, Bonaparte learns that the Johnsons (anglicising their name) were part of the Serbian community in Milwaukee, which is not alarming on the surface. However, there is an odd net cast around some within the group, including proof that they had massive monetary investments around the state of Wisconsin and used a few innocuous players as namesakes on these accounts. Additionally, Bonaparte discovers that the Johnsons had some extremely rare and seemingly valuable items hidden away, with some Cyrillic writing affixed to them.
While poking around, Bonaparte tips her hand, perhaps a little too readily, which creates some waves. Before she knows it, Adriana’s lawyer is missing and his secretary is found with her head blown in. This is, again, outside of Bonaparte’s usual work of following cheating husbands and fraudulent insurance claims. As she does some of her own research about connections to the former Yugoslavia, Bonaparte finds herself targeted specifically, which worries and angers her beau, Detective W. T. “Ted” Wukowski.
There’s something obviously wrong here and Bonaparte is not going to stop until she discovers the truth. She’ll have to play her cards right, not only to catch a killer and bring down an organisation, but to make it through to Thanksgiving, when her family hopes to meet this dashing new man in her life. It’s a jam-packed story with little time for wondering and high on the danger for the slick Angie Bonaparte.
As I mentioned above, I am pushing through the first three books in this series in order to get to the ARC before its publication date. While Nanci Rathbun’s style is not entirely in line with what I usually read in the genre, it is still quite good and on point when I need it to be. Not quite cozy, but with hints of ‘more refined grit’, Rathbun takes the reader into some of Milwaukee’s underbelly without getting too caught up in the darkest corners of crime, as some authors are eager to do.
Angelina Bonaparte is a strong protagonist whose life has tossed her many a curveball, though she is stronger for it. She is able to balance her work with a burgeoning love interest in Wukowski, which is on full display in some saccharine moments that will make some readers roll their eyes. While she admits that her age leaves her outside the realms of ability of some PIs, Bonaparte does not shy away from conflict or getting to the heart of the matter. Her ever curious mind leads her down many a path and the large ‘Sicilian-American’ family keeps her knowing that she is loved and protected. Her many facets keep the reader curious throughout this reading journey.
The collection of secondary characters is strong and varied, particularly in the discovery of the Serbian angle throughout. Rathbun not only peppers the narrative with those who hail from the former Yugoslavia, but she uses them as vessels to help educate the reader about the history and ongoing struggles as it relates to the region’s history. Add to this, a variety of names that grace the pages of the novel and the reader is in for a real treat. There is little time to rest, as the action is ongoing and the characters propel the story forward with ease.
As with many books, I like my review to get to the heart of the matter, the story as a whole. While I was of mixed sentiments with the first novel, this piece grew a little more on me. I enjoyed its flow and pace, though the somewhat dichotomous ‘grit and saccharine’ nature of the piece left me wanting more of the former and a scaling back of the latter. I admit that this second novel worked much better for me than the series debut (perhaps because I was expecting what I got?), but I am still hungering for more. Decent writing prevailed throughout, even with some predictability. The balance of short and longer chapters left me always wanting a little more, even if some moments had me rolling my eyes. I liked how Rathbun worked the history into this novel and kept the reader educated and informed throughout. Now to see what’s next, as Angelina Bonaparte is one who attracts drama, true to her Sicilian ancestry.
Kudos, Madam Rathbun, for keeping me intrigued. Onto the last of the ‘backstory novels’, before I can sink my teeth into the real job for which you sought me out.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
July 19, 2014
I read this book toward blurbing it for the author, a fellow Milwaukeean. But the book's setting, much as I loved recognizing the references, wasn't what I enjoyed the most. Angelina Bonaparte grabbed me on the first page, much like Sue Grafton's P.I. Kinsey Millhone did so many years ago. I'm hoping Angie will be around as long!
November 5, 2018
With the first Angelina Bonaparte book, Truth Kills, I discovered a new series with a very original lead character. Indeed, we don’t often encounter a private investigator, whose work is not all that glamorous – Angie does a lot of background checking, she’s smart and loving, trim and fit and her most important characteristic is the fact that she’s very fashionable – so much so that in this second book, when Angie was thinking about “what to wear”, it started to get a bit repetitive. I realize this is part of Angie, to ‘strategize’ her clothes with her activities, and in my opinion, we could have done with a bit less fashion, a bit more plot line, which in a nutshell is about a young woman, Adriana, whose immigrated Serbian parents were killed and left her to inherit millions of dollars from suspicious origins. So she asks Angie to find out where the money comes from.
I do applaud the author for bringing the subject matter of the Yugoslav Wars to our attention. These terrible massacres happened in Europe, within close proximity of the most civilized and wealthiest countries in the world. This is a frightening thought. War can happen anywhere.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, especially for the variety of characters, a mixture of people of all ages, who come across genuine and authentic. I like Angie in particular. She is good soul, wanting to help those in need, but not fooled by the fakers. ***3.75***
I do applaud the author for bringing the subject matter of the Yugoslav Wars to our attention. These terrible massacres happened in Europe, within close proximity of the most civilized and wealthiest countries in the world. This is a frightening thought. War can happen anywhere.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, especially for the variety of characters, a mixture of people of all ages, who come across genuine and authentic. I like Angie in particular. She is good soul, wanting to help those in need, but not fooled by the fakers. ***3.75***
August 12, 2018
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: July 1, 2017
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, slight gore, mature content)
Pages: 342
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: After surviving a bullet, Angelina Bonaparte was certain she could handle any case that came her way. But when her next client walks through the door with an unexplainable seven-figure inheritance after the death of her parents, the private investigator wonders if she's in over her head. After all, when she visits her client's family attorney, Angelina discovers yet another bloody crime scene.
With the help of her new flame, Angelina follows the clues into an underworld of war-plundered artifacts, stolen treasures, and deadly consequences. As their last lead grows colder, the PI must catch the killer before an endless cycle of murderous greed gets her client killed.
Cash Kills is the second book in the suspenseful Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries series. If you like hard-as-painted-nails female detectives, historical mysteries, and twists and turns you won’t see coming, then you’ll love Nanci Rathbun’s loaded crime thriller.
Overall, I really like this mystery. I felt the characters were well developed, the mystery was really well done and while I guessed the ending I usually do in 99.9% of mysteries. I felt that the book was very well written overall and that the pacing and plot were well done and kept me intrigued throughout the entirety of the whole book.
However, I had some personal annoyances. I usually DNF books where the female character goes into depth describing her clothing and/or body, especially the intimate parts. I feel that has no place in books outside of romance or erotica novels and it personally irritates me when I read it. I feel that when a book is from a characters POV that the character shouldn’t be explaining how well they look in a mirror. It’s off-putting.
Verdict: Some off-putting elements didn’t deter me from reading this mystery book.
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: July 1, 2017
Genre: Mystery
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, slight gore, mature content)
Pages: 342
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: After surviving a bullet, Angelina Bonaparte was certain she could handle any case that came her way. But when her next client walks through the door with an unexplainable seven-figure inheritance after the death of her parents, the private investigator wonders if she's in over her head. After all, when she visits her client's family attorney, Angelina discovers yet another bloody crime scene.
With the help of her new flame, Angelina follows the clues into an underworld of war-plundered artifacts, stolen treasures, and deadly consequences. As their last lead grows colder, the PI must catch the killer before an endless cycle of murderous greed gets her client killed.
Cash Kills is the second book in the suspenseful Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries series. If you like hard-as-painted-nails female detectives, historical mysteries, and twists and turns you won’t see coming, then you’ll love Nanci Rathbun’s loaded crime thriller.
Overall, I really like this mystery. I felt the characters were well developed, the mystery was really well done and while I guessed the ending I usually do in 99.9% of mysteries. I felt that the book was very well written overall and that the pacing and plot were well done and kept me intrigued throughout the entirety of the whole book.
However, I had some personal annoyances. I usually DNF books where the female character goes into depth describing her clothing and/or body, especially the intimate parts. I feel that has no place in books outside of romance or erotica novels and it personally irritates me when I read it. I feel that when a book is from a characters POV that the character shouldn’t be explaining how well they look in a mirror. It’s off-putting.
Verdict: Some off-putting elements didn’t deter me from reading this mystery book.
October 12, 2018
Audiobook Review
Nanci Rathbun has quickly become one of my new favorite authors! The Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries is definitely in my
Top 10 favorite mystery audiobooks. I am hooked. Angie is smart, sexy, witty, and sassy. I strive to be her when I am in my 50's.
Cash Kills is a smartly written, complex murder mystery with several jaw-dropping layers to the story. When Adriana Johnson's parents are found murder execution style in the local store, her world turns upside down. Adriana learns of multiple secret bank accounts totaling in the millions and asks PI Angie Bonaparte to investigate where the funds originated from. This leads Ang down a dangerous path into Bosnian war crimes and more.
This fast-paced, edge of your seat story is brought to life by narrator Kieren Calland Metts. Metts imbodies Angelina Bonaparte. She navigates the complex story and its characters flawlessly.
Nanci Rathbun has quickly become one of my new favorite authors! The Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries is definitely in my
Top 10 favorite mystery audiobooks. I am hooked. Angie is smart, sexy, witty, and sassy. I strive to be her when I am in my 50's.
Cash Kills is a smartly written, complex murder mystery with several jaw-dropping layers to the story. When Adriana Johnson's parents are found murder execution style in the local store, her world turns upside down. Adriana learns of multiple secret bank accounts totaling in the millions and asks PI Angie Bonaparte to investigate where the funds originated from. This leads Ang down a dangerous path into Bosnian war crimes and more.
This fast-paced, edge of your seat story is brought to life by narrator Kieren Calland Metts. Metts imbodies Angelina Bonaparte. She navigates the complex story and its characters flawlessly.
March 1, 2021
5 Star Review! Cash Kills is the second book in the Angelina Bonaparte Mystery Series. Private investigator Angie and her love interest, Detective Wokowski are at times at odds in solving a multiple murder case that brings to light the long lasting effects of war-in this case between Serbian and Bosniak cultures in the 80's.
I feel that I learn something new with each novel I read by author Nanci Rathbun.
I recommend this book and the series to anyone who enjoys mysteries, loves to know more about police procedures and detective work and enjoys to read novels where the characters are so well written you would love to know them in real life!
I feel that I learn something new with each novel I read by author Nanci Rathbun.
I recommend this book and the series to anyone who enjoys mysteries, loves to know more about police procedures and detective work and enjoys to read novels where the characters are so well written you would love to know them in real life!
October 30, 2018
Note: Even though this is Book 2, it works fine as a stand alone novel.
Private instigator Angeline Bonaparte is growing on me. I was on the fence in Book 1, but I like her better in this story. She’s a bit more mature and not as lacking in confidence as in Book 1. The plot is tighter than Book 1 and the mystery takes a bit more to solve. I also enjoy the continuing relationship between Angie and Ted Wukowski.
I didn’t care for all the fashion name drops and the repeated descriptions of Angie’s underwear. I don’t care that much about her matching bra and panties, even if Ted does. I liked that a 50+ year old single woman enjoys her sexuality, but I don’t need to know her daily choice in under garments. I don’t pay attention to fashion name brands, so dropping those names to describe what characters are wearing was boring for me. Honestly, I’m not going to go google what this type of hat is or that type of jacket.
Back to the plot: Adriana Johnson is a young adult who recently lost both her parents in an apparent robbery gone bad. Now she’s inherited millions of dollars but she’s got lots of questions. Her family didn’t live like they had money so Adriana has suspicions about where this money came from. Considering her family has a bloody past, I think this prudent of her. Adriana has a mix of distrusting nature and innocence. She doesn’t know how to do her own makeup but she’s wise enough to hire a PI to look into this money.
It’s a small cast this time, so it soon becomes apparent who’s the bad guy, but tracking that person down and keeping Adriana safe isn’t so easy. Most of this tale is about the hunt which I liked. Angie carries concealed & knows how to handle her gun, which is great. The fact that she feels she needs to repeat this was a little tiring. Angie had a chip on her shoulder about women working in traditionally male jobs in Book 1; she’s still got that chip in this book. I don’t mind the point being made, but to keep hammering away at it is a little tiring.
Ted and Angie continue to circle each other, figuring out just how deep their romance really is. I liked the back and forth between them. It’s quite sweet how their families get pulled into it. I didn’t feel that Angie should have to apologize to her dad, but I also could see how a traditional Italian family might take the minor ‘scandal’. This tale ends on a sweet, happy note. 4/5 stars.
The Narration: Kieren Calland Metts did OK with this narration. Her pacing is a little slow but she has a very good voice for Angie Bonaparte. Her masculine voices are better than in Book 1 but could still use a little more masculinity. Metts accents are hesitant and muddied. Also, and I don’t think this falls on the narrator, but there are several moments in the book where the author explains how certain names are pronounced. With an audiobook version, there’s no need to spell out how to pronounce Adriana, etc. Metts has great little kid voices and a perfect elderly woman voice for Ted’s mother. 3/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Nanci Rathbun. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Private instigator Angeline Bonaparte is growing on me. I was on the fence in Book 1, but I like her better in this story. She’s a bit more mature and not as lacking in confidence as in Book 1. The plot is tighter than Book 1 and the mystery takes a bit more to solve. I also enjoy the continuing relationship between Angie and Ted Wukowski.
I didn’t care for all the fashion name drops and the repeated descriptions of Angie’s underwear. I don’t care that much about her matching bra and panties, even if Ted does. I liked that a 50+ year old single woman enjoys her sexuality, but I don’t need to know her daily choice in under garments. I don’t pay attention to fashion name brands, so dropping those names to describe what characters are wearing was boring for me. Honestly, I’m not going to go google what this type of hat is or that type of jacket.
Back to the plot: Adriana Johnson is a young adult who recently lost both her parents in an apparent robbery gone bad. Now she’s inherited millions of dollars but she’s got lots of questions. Her family didn’t live like they had money so Adriana has suspicions about where this money came from. Considering her family has a bloody past, I think this prudent of her. Adriana has a mix of distrusting nature and innocence. She doesn’t know how to do her own makeup but she’s wise enough to hire a PI to look into this money.
It’s a small cast this time, so it soon becomes apparent who’s the bad guy, but tracking that person down and keeping Adriana safe isn’t so easy. Most of this tale is about the hunt which I liked. Angie carries concealed & knows how to handle her gun, which is great. The fact that she feels she needs to repeat this was a little tiring. Angie had a chip on her shoulder about women working in traditionally male jobs in Book 1; she’s still got that chip in this book. I don’t mind the point being made, but to keep hammering away at it is a little tiring.
Ted and Angie continue to circle each other, figuring out just how deep their romance really is. I liked the back and forth between them. It’s quite sweet how their families get pulled into it. I didn’t feel that Angie should have to apologize to her dad, but I also could see how a traditional Italian family might take the minor ‘scandal’. This tale ends on a sweet, happy note. 4/5 stars.
The Narration: Kieren Calland Metts did OK with this narration. Her pacing is a little slow but she has a very good voice for Angie Bonaparte. Her masculine voices are better than in Book 1 but could still use a little more masculinity. Metts accents are hesitant and muddied. Also, and I don’t think this falls on the narrator, but there are several moments in the book where the author explains how certain names are pronounced. With an audiobook version, there’s no need to spell out how to pronounce Adriana, etc. Metts has great little kid voices and a perfect elderly woman voice for Ted’s mother. 3/5 stars.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Nanci Rathbun. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
October 22, 2018
This is the second volume in the Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries series, and I enjoyed it as much as, if not more than, the first volume. You don’t need to have listened to (or read) the first volume to understand what is going on, but some characters are easier to understand if you know the first book.
This time, we meet with a lot of the characters from the first volume, but the case Angelina is investigating is a lot more serious and dangerous than the first one.
This book is quite political, but it is not about US politics. It is about war, and what that does to people — the victims as much as the perpetrators.
Here, we deal with an especially heinous post war crime. In German, we’d say: Leichen pflastern seinen Weg, which means as much as that there is a high body count where the killer is near.
It isn’t obvious from the start who is the killer, and even once it is, it takes a while to understand what exactly is behind all of this.
Angelina herself is a lot happier than she was when we got to know her, and there is a reason for that (which I won’t go into).
She is still very much obsessed with her clothes and her looks, and again all those detailed descriptions are totally lost on me, but that is the only beef I have with the story.
Again, there’s a quotation at the beginning of each chapter, and again, I was tempted to look them up. I like this way to start a chapter.
The characters become more distinguished, especially Angelina’s love interest.
Once again, Kieren Calland Metts does a perfect job at narrating the story.
Now, I can’t judge the pronunciation of the Polish words and words in the other foreign languages, but they sounded good to me. My impression was, that Kieren has done her homework and informed herself about the pronunciation.
Again, I enjoyed listening to this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves a good detective story/mystery.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Nanci Rathbun. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
This time, we meet with a lot of the characters from the first volume, but the case Angelina is investigating is a lot more serious and dangerous than the first one.
This book is quite political, but it is not about US politics. It is about war, and what that does to people — the victims as much as the perpetrators.
Here, we deal with an especially heinous post war crime. In German, we’d say: Leichen pflastern seinen Weg, which means as much as that there is a high body count where the killer is near.
It isn’t obvious from the start who is the killer, and even once it is, it takes a while to understand what exactly is behind all of this.
Angelina herself is a lot happier than she was when we got to know her, and there is a reason for that (which I won’t go into).
She is still very much obsessed with her clothes and her looks, and again all those detailed descriptions are totally lost on me, but that is the only beef I have with the story.
Again, there’s a quotation at the beginning of each chapter, and again, I was tempted to look them up. I like this way to start a chapter.
The characters become more distinguished, especially Angelina’s love interest.
Once again, Kieren Calland Metts does a perfect job at narrating the story.
Now, I can’t judge the pronunciation of the Polish words and words in the other foreign languages, but they sounded good to me. My impression was, that Kieren has done her homework and informed herself about the pronunciation.
Again, I enjoyed listening to this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves a good detective story/mystery.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Nanci Rathbun. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
May 14, 2018
( Format : Audiobook )
"A little silver dragon breathing fire."
This, the second of the Angelina Bonaparte mystery stories, sees the 50 years old private eye of Scicilian background continuing to explore her relationship with the detective of Polish parents whilst investigating the strange case of a young woman apparently becoming the beneficiary of multi millions after her always impoverished parents are murdered in a shooting at their small shop. The woman is upset - she had always been denied everything whilst growing up, even education, on the grounds that they could not afford it, and the family had lived very frugally. Why, with such a fortune in the bank? And where had the money come from in the first place?
An interesting investigative story which, sadly, is almost swamped by the close following of Ms.Bonaparte's personal life. This reader would have preferred a little more about the mystery and fewer references to everything eaten or worn (and, in particular, the underwear) by the P.I. But overall it is an enjoyable, easy listen cozy book, quite well read by Kristen Collard Metts. Her voicings of the other characters is variable: sometimes distinguished by an altered accent rather than tone or timbre and occasionally well differentiated, sometimes actually lost altogether during the course of a onveration. But her real difficulty is in attempting to naturally voice male protagonists. Apart from this, she reads with clarity, paces herself well
and has good intonation.
My thanks to the rights holder of Cash Kills, for freely gifting me a complimentary copy, at my request, via Audiobook Boom. It seems that Ms.Bonaparte is finally, at 50 and with a stable love life again, growing up. She infuriates me - but I still enjoy the stories.
"A little silver dragon breathing fire."
This, the second of the Angelina Bonaparte mystery stories, sees the 50 years old private eye of Scicilian background continuing to explore her relationship with the detective of Polish parents whilst investigating the strange case of a young woman apparently becoming the beneficiary of multi millions after her always impoverished parents are murdered in a shooting at their small shop. The woman is upset - she had always been denied everything whilst growing up, even education, on the grounds that they could not afford it, and the family had lived very frugally. Why, with such a fortune in the bank? And where had the money come from in the first place?
An interesting investigative story which, sadly, is almost swamped by the close following of Ms.Bonaparte's personal life. This reader would have preferred a little more about the mystery and fewer references to everything eaten or worn (and, in particular, the underwear) by the P.I. But overall it is an enjoyable, easy listen cozy book, quite well read by Kristen Collard Metts. Her voicings of the other characters is variable: sometimes distinguished by an altered accent rather than tone or timbre and occasionally well differentiated, sometimes actually lost altogether during the course of a onveration. But her real difficulty is in attempting to naturally voice male protagonists. Apart from this, she reads with clarity, paces herself well
and has good intonation.
My thanks to the rights holder of Cash Kills, for freely gifting me a complimentary copy, at my request, via Audiobook Boom. It seems that Ms.Bonaparte is finally, at 50 and with a stable love life again, growing up. She infuriates me - but I still enjoy the stories.
February 25, 2016
Hey there Guys and Dolls,
Angelina Bonaparte Milwaukee’s best dressed private eye is back in the deep end of detective work with murder and money on the books. When her office mate, accountant Susan Neh, brings her a new client, Adriana Johnson. Adriana’s parents, immigrants from the former Yugoslavia, were murdered only a week earlier, in a robbery at their small hardware store. Where did all the money left to Adriana come from, surely there’s not that much in selling a few nails and a hammer? Adriana is suspicious about her newfound status and hires Angie to discover the nature of her deceased parents’ wealth.
Her parent’s attorney, Herman Petrovitch is missing, and Angie finds his secretary Dragana dead on the office floor when she arrives for an interview. She will need to keep Adriana out of danger, while working to discover where the trail of money and murder leads. Ted Wukowski homicide detective and Angie’s main squeeze warns her against investigating the murder. Of course the savvy sleuth refuses to listen and she gets caught up in the dangerous and deadly dealings of the case. Author Nanci Rathbun has done it once again with her snappy dialogue and descriptions! Yours truly looks forward once again to more sparks flying off the page. Make mine a double and get ready to read another tale about Ms. Bonaparte.
Angelina Bonaparte Milwaukee’s best dressed private eye is back in the deep end of detective work with murder and money on the books. When her office mate, accountant Susan Neh, brings her a new client, Adriana Johnson. Adriana’s parents, immigrants from the former Yugoslavia, were murdered only a week earlier, in a robbery at their small hardware store. Where did all the money left to Adriana come from, surely there’s not that much in selling a few nails and a hammer? Adriana is suspicious about her newfound status and hires Angie to discover the nature of her deceased parents’ wealth.
Her parent’s attorney, Herman Petrovitch is missing, and Angie finds his secretary Dragana dead on the office floor when she arrives for an interview. She will need to keep Adriana out of danger, while working to discover where the trail of money and murder leads. Ted Wukowski homicide detective and Angie’s main squeeze warns her against investigating the murder. Of course the savvy sleuth refuses to listen and she gets caught up in the dangerous and deadly dealings of the case. Author Nanci Rathbun has done it once again with her snappy dialogue and descriptions! Yours truly looks forward once again to more sparks flying off the page. Make mine a double and get ready to read another tale about Ms. Bonaparte.
November 3, 2014
Mystery , Secrets, Suspense and murder all set the stage for this book! I was captivated and intrigued that I couldn't put it down. This whodunit will keep you guessing till the very end.
October 29, 2018
4.5 STARS. Audio book review. Author Nancy Rathbun is back with a second book in the Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries series. CASH KILLS comes to readers with a new, enticing mystery, a steadily increasing body count, and a relationship for main character Angie that’s moving to the next level. Though the book is part of a series (and I loved book one, Truth Kills), it easily stands alone with Rathbun giving plenty of background to get readers up-to-date.
“Put not your trust in money, but put your money in trust.”-- Oliver Windell Holmes
CASH KILLS has a fascinating premise and readers really want to know what’s up with this woman and all that money – and so does Angelina! Once the digging begins, people start dying and an intricate and long existing web of criminal activity begins to get exposed. This story goes into some dark places as it pulls in dealing with the treatment of Muslims and victims of Sarajevo. Rathbun took me out of my cozy novel comfort zone by bringing reality in – and it brought me to tears. The author even provides some notes at the end with sources/resources for information about Sarajevo. CASH KILLS has a diverse cast of characters and raises cultural awareness not only with the story line, but with the basic cast of characters and their Sicilian and Polish roots.
Readers get to better know Angie’s family and the dynamic of her tightly knit Sicilian family. As is the case in the prior book, women of a certain age will enjoy Angie’s relationships with her now adult children and her grandchildren. The best part is that though Angie cherishes her roles as daughter, mom, and grandma, she still retains her femininity, identity, and sexuality. And wow – her sense of style! It is fun that readers always know exactly how Angelina looks. Some may not care for that level of detail, but I find it fun hearing her fashion choices made depending on the vibe of each situation.
Since our fifty-something Angie comes from a mafia family, it’s often a bit of a quandary for her to separate herself from the mafia ways of getting information, providing protection, and financing deals. Angie is clever enough to use those perks legally to help her investigations, but it’s the mafia, so she really doesn’t have a choice. Ted Wukowski, Angie’s policeman boyfriend, also must cleverly deal with his girlfriend’s mafia ties and propensity for finding dead people. This provides plenty of opportunity for misunderstanding and make-ups.
“While I missed the sensual pleasure of handling catalog cards in their narrow wooden drawers, I appreciated being able to search based on key words.”
BONUS POINTS AWARDED: Angelina is a former librarian, and it comes through as the good thing it is, loud and clear. Her vocabulary (she uses sybarite! Yaaass!) is fabulous and her thought process leads her to find answers at an academic library, which gives readers the awesome character of Lilly the librarian! She is cast in the positive, helpful light where she belongs and is a hoot; I really hope Lilly returns in the next installment.
“A morning without caffeine is simply not worth living.”
Yes, bonus, bonus points are being awarded. Angie repeatedly gives credit where credit is due and that’s to her morning coffee. She is a woman after my own heart. That is all.
My only gripe with CASH KILLS is that readers get an info dump, via the police, that spells out the complicated scheme behind the money and murders. It's logical that Angie would learn the information that way, but it felt forced. Even so, I highly recommend this series thus far, especially to women approaching or in mid-life. We rarely find ourselves in books as kick-ass main characters, and Angelina shows us that we are capable and even formidable in all kinds of roles. She’s a great reminder that we can define ourselves however we want.
ABOUT THE NARRATION: Narrator Kieran Calland Metts returns to perform CASH KILLS and IS the voice of Angelina Bonaparte. In book one, she continues the choice to be very matter-of-fact in voicing Angelina whether she’s talking about a gory death scene or a sexy love scene. Metts makes Angelina sound pragmatic, slightly sarcastic, but not unemotional – perfect to match Angie’s librarian background. (After all, librarians see and deal with a lot of s**t and must solve the problems without falling to pieces.) There are a few places where Metts falls out of her accent, but she voices the international characters well. Technically, there are some uneven volume issues here and there, but overall, Metts does an excellent job and makes me more than ready to listen to the next installment in the Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries series, HONOR KILLS.
Thank you to Audiobookworm Promotions and the author for providing me an audio download in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give. This full review and other special features on Hall Ways Blog.
“Put not your trust in money, but put your money in trust.”-- Oliver Windell Holmes
CASH KILLS has a fascinating premise and readers really want to know what’s up with this woman and all that money – and so does Angelina! Once the digging begins, people start dying and an intricate and long existing web of criminal activity begins to get exposed. This story goes into some dark places as it pulls in dealing with the treatment of Muslims and victims of Sarajevo. Rathbun took me out of my cozy novel comfort zone by bringing reality in – and it brought me to tears. The author even provides some notes at the end with sources/resources for information about Sarajevo. CASH KILLS has a diverse cast of characters and raises cultural awareness not only with the story line, but with the basic cast of characters and their Sicilian and Polish roots.
Readers get to better know Angie’s family and the dynamic of her tightly knit Sicilian family. As is the case in the prior book, women of a certain age will enjoy Angie’s relationships with her now adult children and her grandchildren. The best part is that though Angie cherishes her roles as daughter, mom, and grandma, she still retains her femininity, identity, and sexuality. And wow – her sense of style! It is fun that readers always know exactly how Angelina looks. Some may not care for that level of detail, but I find it fun hearing her fashion choices made depending on the vibe of each situation.
Since our fifty-something Angie comes from a mafia family, it’s often a bit of a quandary for her to separate herself from the mafia ways of getting information, providing protection, and financing deals. Angie is clever enough to use those perks legally to help her investigations, but it’s the mafia, so she really doesn’t have a choice. Ted Wukowski, Angie’s policeman boyfriend, also must cleverly deal with his girlfriend’s mafia ties and propensity for finding dead people. This provides plenty of opportunity for misunderstanding and make-ups.
“While I missed the sensual pleasure of handling catalog cards in their narrow wooden drawers, I appreciated being able to search based on key words.”
BONUS POINTS AWARDED: Angelina is a former librarian, and it comes through as the good thing it is, loud and clear. Her vocabulary (she uses sybarite! Yaaass!) is fabulous and her thought process leads her to find answers at an academic library, which gives readers the awesome character of Lilly the librarian! She is cast in the positive, helpful light where she belongs and is a hoot; I really hope Lilly returns in the next installment.
“A morning without caffeine is simply not worth living.”
Yes, bonus, bonus points are being awarded. Angie repeatedly gives credit where credit is due and that’s to her morning coffee. She is a woman after my own heart. That is all.
My only gripe with CASH KILLS is that readers get an info dump, via the police, that spells out the complicated scheme behind the money and murders. It's logical that Angie would learn the information that way, but it felt forced. Even so, I highly recommend this series thus far, especially to women approaching or in mid-life. We rarely find ourselves in books as kick-ass main characters, and Angelina shows us that we are capable and even formidable in all kinds of roles. She’s a great reminder that we can define ourselves however we want.
ABOUT THE NARRATION: Narrator Kieran Calland Metts returns to perform CASH KILLS and IS the voice of Angelina Bonaparte. In book one, she continues the choice to be very matter-of-fact in voicing Angelina whether she’s talking about a gory death scene or a sexy love scene. Metts makes Angelina sound pragmatic, slightly sarcastic, but not unemotional – perfect to match Angie’s librarian background. (After all, librarians see and deal with a lot of s**t and must solve the problems without falling to pieces.) There are a few places where Metts falls out of her accent, but she voices the international characters well. Technically, there are some uneven volume issues here and there, but overall, Metts does an excellent job and makes me more than ready to listen to the next installment in the Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries series, HONOR KILLS.
Thank you to Audiobookworm Promotions and the author for providing me an audio download in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give. This full review and other special features on Hall Ways Blog.
October 27, 2018
CASH KILLS is the second book in the Angelina Bonaparte Mystery series. Though each mystery stands on its own, I believe it would be best to read each book in the series and in the order of release as there are other arcing storylines (romance and family).
So, before we get to the story about Adriana and her parents’ murder, and I have a story to tell. You may have noticed that there were no reviews posted the week before last and very few this past week. That’s because I didn’t read anything for a whole week. I haven’t written a review for two weeks until today. My process is to do all of my posting in scheduling on Saturday morning. Instead I have been sitting and asking “why.” The source of my angst is murder! More specifically, murder-suicide which means never knowing the answer to “why.” The murderer took the answers with him. One of my co-workers was killed and we are left with why. I have come to the conclusion that this is actually why I like mysteries. We are not left with why. The authors will tell us. Here, in real life, we have to wait until the mysteries are revealed in heaven after our own passing to find out the answers to why. Now, on to my review. (R.I.P. Cathy Kramarcik)
I have fallen madly in love with Angelina Bonaparte – and will never pronounce it incorrectly again, by the way. Her supporting team, Ted Wukowski, Bobbie Russell, and Susan Neh are amazing and the kind of friends everyone should have, along with Bart Matthews (I’m always humming “I Have Friends in Low Places” when he’s around) and his secretary, Bertha Conti.
CASH KILLS is full of action and sweetness. It is emotion-filled and informative. It is gritty and entertaining. This is definitely a story to keep you turning the pages (or driving the miles). I know I didn’t want to turn off the car when I got to work (or home), just so I could find out one more bit of the puzzle.
I’m looking forward to the third book in the series and hope there will be many more!
Narration: Kieren Callan Metts did another superb job of handling multiple character, personalities, and accents. Her presentation was enjoyable and entertaining.
Note: While I received this book as a gifted audiobook copy, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Final note: I have said before, that I am most impressed when an author is able to instill some history into a story and educate while entertaining. Ms. Rathbun added this note at the end of the book: "Although I am not a historian, I took pains to make the impact of the Bosnian War realistic, especially in regards to Professor Kolar's memories. Of particular help in that regard is REMEMBER SARAJEVO, an online pamphlet with journalist Roger Richards' account of his time in Sarajevo in 1992. The photographs and his story are hauntingly real. I encourage you to read this small, but powerful document." I did take the time to read the pamphlet and appreciated the expansion to my own understanding of the realities of the history that has repeated and will continue to repeat as long as evil is allowed to flourish.
Title: CASH KILLS
Series: Angelina Bonaparte #2
Category /Genre: Modern Detective; Mystery
Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content
Listenability: OK for ears
Received from: Nanci Rathbun (as an Audible gifted copy)
So, before we get to the story about Adriana and her parents’ murder, and I have a story to tell. You may have noticed that there were no reviews posted the week before last and very few this past week. That’s because I didn’t read anything for a whole week. I haven’t written a review for two weeks until today. My process is to do all of my posting in scheduling on Saturday morning. Instead I have been sitting and asking “why.” The source of my angst is murder! More specifically, murder-suicide which means never knowing the answer to “why.” The murderer took the answers with him. One of my co-workers was killed and we are left with why. I have come to the conclusion that this is actually why I like mysteries. We are not left with why. The authors will tell us. Here, in real life, we have to wait until the mysteries are revealed in heaven after our own passing to find out the answers to why. Now, on to my review. (R.I.P. Cathy Kramarcik)
I have fallen madly in love with Angelina Bonaparte – and will never pronounce it incorrectly again, by the way. Her supporting team, Ted Wukowski, Bobbie Russell, and Susan Neh are amazing and the kind of friends everyone should have, along with Bart Matthews (I’m always humming “I Have Friends in Low Places” when he’s around) and his secretary, Bertha Conti.
CASH KILLS is full of action and sweetness. It is emotion-filled and informative. It is gritty and entertaining. This is definitely a story to keep you turning the pages (or driving the miles). I know I didn’t want to turn off the car when I got to work (or home), just so I could find out one more bit of the puzzle.
I’m looking forward to the third book in the series and hope there will be many more!
Narration: Kieren Callan Metts did another superb job of handling multiple character, personalities, and accents. Her presentation was enjoyable and entertaining.
Note: While I received this book as a gifted audiobook copy, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Final note: I have said before, that I am most impressed when an author is able to instill some history into a story and educate while entertaining. Ms. Rathbun added this note at the end of the book: "Although I am not a historian, I took pains to make the impact of the Bosnian War realistic, especially in regards to Professor Kolar's memories. Of particular help in that regard is REMEMBER SARAJEVO, an online pamphlet with journalist Roger Richards' account of his time in Sarajevo in 1992. The photographs and his story are hauntingly real. I encourage you to read this small, but powerful document." I did take the time to read the pamphlet and appreciated the expansion to my own understanding of the realities of the history that has repeated and will continue to repeat as long as evil is allowed to flourish.
Title: CASH KILLS
Series: Angelina Bonaparte #2
Category /Genre: Modern Detective; Mystery
Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content
Listenability: OK for ears
Received from: Nanci Rathbun (as an Audible gifted copy)
October 28, 2018
A Private Investigator has its pros and cons. You work long hours and sometimes can get so wrapped up in work that it becomes difficult to have a relationship because most of your cases are about infidelity or adultery. You end up doing things that you have never thought you’d ever end up doing, i.e. digging in someone else’s garbage, bird watching, pulling an all-nighter surveillance stakeout, and impersonating vendors to get the information that you seek for another person. This information can make or break someone’s life…and most of the time, it’s the latter. Would you still want a job like that if it meant that you could possibly dangle your life in someone else’s hands? You would knowingly be putting yourself in danger against who knows…the mafia/mob, gang related group, jealous spouses, and the list goes on and on.
Angelina Bonaparte barely escaped with her life thanks to her new friend and partner-in-crime, Bobbie. After the last fiasco with a cheating spouse and a dead girlfriend—Angelina has a lot of heat from family and friends regarding her safety. Just returning back to work after the healing, Angie may not be out of the clear yet. A new client, Adrianna, has inherited a large sum of money from the passing of both her mother and father, but she has no idea how they could have come to earn that much over their lifetime. Thinking that it may be illegally obtained money that her parents were killed over, she runs straight into Angie. Angie knows that she is in over her head when more people connected to Adrianna’s parents are executed, but she can’t turn away her services from Adrianna. You could say that the connection that she makes with Adrianna is more of a motherly one than anything else—which is why she can’t back out and let her fend for herself.
Rathbun has an entertaining mystery with this second installment. Character development is fantastic and the story-line flows well. This crime mystery takes readers on a dangerous path to find a killer who has hid themselves for over ten years. Readers will find interest in the satire engulfed in the book as well as the mystery leading up to finding who the killer is. While the killer’s identity in this book isn’t really the main focal point, the reason why they are happening is the mystery that will keep readers gripping to the words in this story. This narrator seems to have a little trouble with some voice differentiation, but others were captivating. Since this review is complimenting the audiobook, it appears that the story is well-written with the voice relay being clear and flowing effortlessly. If you are a reader of crime mysteries, this may be something to pick up the next time you are looking for a book to read. This is the second installment in the Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries. While this book can be read as a standalone, some of the character backgrounds and history carries over directly from the previous installment.
An audiobook was provided to Turning Another Page by Audiobookworm Promotions and in no way affects the honesty of this review. We provide a four-star rating to Cash Kills by Nanci Rathbun.
Angelina Bonaparte barely escaped with her life thanks to her new friend and partner-in-crime, Bobbie. After the last fiasco with a cheating spouse and a dead girlfriend—Angelina has a lot of heat from family and friends regarding her safety. Just returning back to work after the healing, Angie may not be out of the clear yet. A new client, Adrianna, has inherited a large sum of money from the passing of both her mother and father, but she has no idea how they could have come to earn that much over their lifetime. Thinking that it may be illegally obtained money that her parents were killed over, she runs straight into Angie. Angie knows that she is in over her head when more people connected to Adrianna’s parents are executed, but she can’t turn away her services from Adrianna. You could say that the connection that she makes with Adrianna is more of a motherly one than anything else—which is why she can’t back out and let her fend for herself.
Rathbun has an entertaining mystery with this second installment. Character development is fantastic and the story-line flows well. This crime mystery takes readers on a dangerous path to find a killer who has hid themselves for over ten years. Readers will find interest in the satire engulfed in the book as well as the mystery leading up to finding who the killer is. While the killer’s identity in this book isn’t really the main focal point, the reason why they are happening is the mystery that will keep readers gripping to the words in this story. This narrator seems to have a little trouble with some voice differentiation, but others were captivating. Since this review is complimenting the audiobook, it appears that the story is well-written with the voice relay being clear and flowing effortlessly. If you are a reader of crime mysteries, this may be something to pick up the next time you are looking for a book to read. This is the second installment in the Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries. While this book can be read as a standalone, some of the character backgrounds and history carries over directly from the previous installment.
An audiobook was provided to Turning Another Page by Audiobookworm Promotions and in no way affects the honesty of this review. We provide a four-star rating to Cash Kills by Nanci Rathbun.
June 3, 2021
Milwaukee, WI. Prospect Ave: AB Investigations; Neh Accountants. Susan Neh (Japanese-American, accountant) introduced Adriana Johnson (Yugoslavian, client) to PI Angelina “Angie” Sofia Bonaparte (Sicilian, 50+, investigator, UW-Madison; MS; library science).
Herman Petrovitch (aka Uncle, attorney, executor, Marquette Law School; JD, Belgrade Law School) spoke with Angie over the phone.
Law Offices of Herman Petrovitch, S.C. Suite # 203. Angie went to see Herman Petrovitch.
When she opened the door & walked in & Dragana Zupan’s (nee Osmanović) body lay on the floor with the back of her head blown off & blood/pieces of body parts everywhere.
Angie called 911.
Detective W. T. “Ted” Wukowski (Polish, Wenceslas Tadeusz, Milwaukee PD VCD, Angie’s lover) & Detective Joe Ignowski (Milwaukee PD VCD partner) arrived at the crime scene.
Johnson’s Neighborhood Hardware Store. Another execution.
Milwaukee, WI. Prospect Ave: AB Investigations; Neh Accountants. Susan Neh (Japanese-American, accountant) introduced Adriana Johnson (Yugoslavian, client) to PI Angelina “Angie” Sofia Bonaparte (Sicilian, 50+, investigator, UW-Madison; MS; library science).
Herman Petrovitch (aka Uncle, attorney, executor, Marquette Law School; JD, Belgrade Law School) spoke with Angie over the phone.
Law Offices of Herman Petrovitch, S.C. Suite # 203. Angie went to see Herman Petrovitch.
When she opened the door & walked in & Dragana Zupan’s (nee Osmanović) body lay on the floor with the back of her head blown off & blood/pieces of body parts everywhere.
Angie called 911.
Detective W. T. “Ted” Wukowski (Polish, Wenceslas Tadeusz, Milwaukee PD VCD, Angie’s lover) &
Detective Joe Ignowski (Milwaukee PD VCD partner) arrived at the crime scene.
Johnson’s Neighborhood Hardware Store. Another execution.
John Johnson & Yvonne Johnson’s blood/brain matter were splattered all over the checkout counter front wall.
Officer Opansky (Milwaukee PD) & Officer Julio Rodriguez (Mexican-American, Milwaukee PD) arrived & Angie had to explain what she was doing in the store.
Detective Ted Wukowski (Milwaukee PD Homicide) told PI Angelina “Angie” Bonaparte Lieutenant Reynolds called & said there is dead body on the Lakefront Trail.
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written who-dunnit cozy murder mystery book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge set of unique characters & facts to keep track of. This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini-TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an amazingly easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Dark Chocolate Press LLC; 2 edition; BookZio; Amazon Digital Services LLC. Kindle Mobi; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Herman Petrovitch (aka Uncle, attorney, executor, Marquette Law School; JD, Belgrade Law School) spoke with Angie over the phone.
Law Offices of Herman Petrovitch, S.C. Suite # 203. Angie went to see Herman Petrovitch.
When she opened the door & walked in & Dragana Zupan’s (nee Osmanović) body lay on the floor with the back of her head blown off & blood/pieces of body parts everywhere.
Angie called 911.
Detective W. T. “Ted” Wukowski (Polish, Wenceslas Tadeusz, Milwaukee PD VCD, Angie’s lover) & Detective Joe Ignowski (Milwaukee PD VCD partner) arrived at the crime scene.
Johnson’s Neighborhood Hardware Store. Another execution.
Milwaukee, WI. Prospect Ave: AB Investigations; Neh Accountants. Susan Neh (Japanese-American, accountant) introduced Adriana Johnson (Yugoslavian, client) to PI Angelina “Angie” Sofia Bonaparte (Sicilian, 50+, investigator, UW-Madison; MS; library science).
Herman Petrovitch (aka Uncle, attorney, executor, Marquette Law School; JD, Belgrade Law School) spoke with Angie over the phone.
Law Offices of Herman Petrovitch, S.C. Suite # 203. Angie went to see Herman Petrovitch.
When she opened the door & walked in & Dragana Zupan’s (nee Osmanović) body lay on the floor with the back of her head blown off & blood/pieces of body parts everywhere.
Angie called 911.
Detective W. T. “Ted” Wukowski (Polish, Wenceslas Tadeusz, Milwaukee PD VCD, Angie’s lover) &
Detective Joe Ignowski (Milwaukee PD VCD partner) arrived at the crime scene.
Johnson’s Neighborhood Hardware Store. Another execution.
John Johnson & Yvonne Johnson’s blood/brain matter were splattered all over the checkout counter front wall.
Officer Opansky (Milwaukee PD) & Officer Julio Rodriguez (Mexican-American, Milwaukee PD) arrived & Angie had to explain what she was doing in the store.
Detective Ted Wukowski (Milwaukee PD Homicide) told PI Angelina “Angie” Bonaparte Lieutenant Reynolds called & said there is dead body on the Lakefront Trail.
I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.
An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written who-dunnit cozy murder mystery book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge set of unique characters & facts to keep track of. This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini-TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an amazingly easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Dark Chocolate Press LLC; 2 edition; BookZio; Amazon Digital Services LLC. Kindle Mobi; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
September 16, 2018
If there were just one thing I could praise about this book, it would be the protagonist. Angelina Bonaparte is the class of protagonist you don't see often. A middle-aged divorcee, with grown-up children and grandkids of their own, who decided that she wanted to do something different with her life and got herself a P.I. license. A woman who is not afraid of her body, who carry a healthy sexual life and who makes no secret about how she keeps herself fit and attractive: she works for it.
But it would be unjust to the rest of the things that makes this an amazing book. The plot is fantastic, the writing compelling and perfectly paced, so you simply don't want to stop.
And the simply glorious multiculturality of it! Angelina is of Sicilian origin, her boyfriend, Polish, her associated, Japanese, her client, Serbian. And it feels like a truly necessary and refreshing, so welcoming slice of life!
I'll say this: I'm dying to submerge myself in the rest of the series. Here to a new favourite author.
Regarding Kieren Calland Metts narration, what can I say? It's superb. There are so many characters, so many different accents, and it must have been terribly difficult to manage and keep everybody straight, but she does it. Amazing job!
But it would be unjust to the rest of the things that makes this an amazing book. The plot is fantastic, the writing compelling and perfectly paced, so you simply don't want to stop.
And the simply glorious multiculturality of it! Angelina is of Sicilian origin, her boyfriend, Polish, her associated, Japanese, her client, Serbian. And it feels like a truly necessary and refreshing, so welcoming slice of life!
I'll say this: I'm dying to submerge myself in the rest of the series. Here to a new favourite author.
Regarding Kieren Calland Metts narration, what can I say? It's superb. There are so many characters, so many different accents, and it must have been terribly difficult to manage and keep everybody straight, but she does it. Amazing job!
October 2, 2019
Cash Kills, my second read from author Nanci Rathbun. I originally got this book back in December of 2018 & one thing lead to another and I never got around to reading it until now. Now I’ve been given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it and since I own both the Audible & Kindle editions I was able to follow along while being read to. Written in first person, Kieren Calland Metts’s talented narration adds to the well-written book's enjoyment. Extremely well written, the characters, even the minor ones, are well developed with an attention-grabbing storyline. I’m a character reader, I get into the characters. Who and what they are. Why they do the things they do. The things that make the reader get invested into the characters and thereby the story. I’ll be reading more from this author! Better yet this is the first book in a multi-book series that I look forward to reading. Next up is Honor Kills. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
June 4, 2024
Audiobook: I enjoyed the second book in the "Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries" series as much as the first one. Adriana Johnson was told by her parents that there wasn't any money for anything other than necessities as she was growing up. After her parents were murdered, Andriana couldn't understand where the money for her inheritance came from, so she hired Angelina to find out. The mystery was very complicated with many surprises. That this mystery had its roots in actual history added panache. I liked trying to solve the mystery before the reveal as each clue was unveiled. I admired the intelligent and feisty character of Angelina Bonaparte. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Kieren Calland Metts' narration was entertaining, and her performance kept my attention. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review which included my opinions.
March 7, 2021
(4.5) I really enjoyed book 2. I am more comfortable with the narrator. I can just see Angie and you can bet I would hire her. These books bring you in, you were on Angies shoulder, meeting her family, friends partaking in her life. She is smart, snarky, intelligent, compassionate with no room for fools. I love the twisted mind of Nanci there is no straight line, we are taken down a twisted path with subplots and surprises all woven together in this fascinating book. An atrocious time history is brought to light and handled with class woven in the pages of this mystery. What about Wukowski, the detective that she is getting to know better?? I am right there with her waffling. I am really glad I gave the narrator a second chance. I can just here Angie pronouncing her name :) Highly recommend this twisted tale.
June 16, 2018
Disclaimer.
I had requested and received audible version of this book for free from the author, in exchange for an unbiased review.
What I liked about the book -
This is a very well written noir mystery novel that holds your attention throughout. The characters have depth and are multi-layered. The story is well paced and kept me interested in knowing what happens next. I am now eagerly waiting for the next book in this series.
What I disliked about the book -
Nothing about this book. I wish I had read the first book beforehand. I will do that now.
Narration -
Narration by Kieren Calland Metts is very well done. All the characters voices are unique and delivery is perfect.
I had requested and received audible version of this book for free from the author, in exchange for an unbiased review.
What I liked about the book -
This is a very well written noir mystery novel that holds your attention throughout. The characters have depth and are multi-layered. The story is well paced and kept me interested in knowing what happens next. I am now eagerly waiting for the next book in this series.
What I disliked about the book -
Nothing about this book. I wish I had read the first book beforehand. I will do that now.
Narration -
Narration by Kieren Calland Metts is very well done. All the characters voices are unique and delivery is perfect.
August 14, 2019
I enjoyed book one of this series, but was on the fence about whether I was engaged enough with the cast of characters that I would want to continue through the series. By the end of book 2, I was invested. Rathbun fleshes out more members of the Bonaparte dramatis personae, while ratcheting up the mystery and the storytelling.
Bonaparte's office mate, an accountant, refers a client of hers that wants to know where the source of the money her parents left her after their murders. They'd always lived as if they were quite poor, but the client inherited an impressive sum and it's making her uneasy.
I could nitpick on some details, but the story was too enjoyable for me to want to. I received a free copy of this audiobook and have voluntarily left this review.
Bonaparte's office mate, an accountant, refers a client of hers that wants to know where the source of the money her parents left her after their murders. They'd always lived as if they were quite poor, but the client inherited an impressive sum and it's making her uneasy.
I could nitpick on some details, but the story was too enjoyable for me to want to. I received a free copy of this audiobook and have voluntarily left this review.
November 13, 2021
Cash Kills (Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries #2) was a great read by Nanci Rathbun. Adriana Johnson is a Bosnian War refugee who grew up poor. Her parents are killed in a botched robbery attempt. Adriana is stunned to learn that they left her millions of dollars. She is suspicious of where the money came from and turns to Angelina Bonaparte to investigate. Angie arrives to interview Adriana's parents attorney, she finds him missing and his secretary dead in his office. Angie must find out where the money came from and who killed the secretary. She also needs to find the link between the Bosnian War artifacts found in the Johnson's attic and the missing attorney. I enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by the author.
September 5, 2018
Excellent!
This is very well-written, amazingly interesting, and exceptional book. The author weaves multiple themes into an engaging story. Many times I stopped reading to contemplate thoughts by various characters. This is a very good book if you just want to read it as interesting entertainment. This book can also be extremely thought-provoking if you allow it to be. I have read the book that preceded this one, but I believe this one could be read as a stand-alone and still be an excellent book. However, I strongly feel that If you read this, you'll be compelled to read more by this author.
This is very well-written, amazingly interesting, and exceptional book. The author weaves multiple themes into an engaging story. Many times I stopped reading to contemplate thoughts by various characters. This is a very good book if you just want to read it as interesting entertainment. This book can also be extremely thought-provoking if you allow it to be. I have read the book that preceded this one, but I believe this one could be read as a stand-alone and still be an excellent book. However, I strongly feel that If you read this, you'll be compelled to read more by this author.
December 1, 2018
This book is a solid mystery with strong ties to historical events. I was totally engrossed in the storyline as Angelina began to unravel the mysteries surrounding not only the deaths of her clients parents, but also the questionable inheritance her client was left. There were no cliffhangers in terms of the resolution of the case.
I do like the overarching storyline that deals with the relationships between the characters. I look forward to seeing where this goes.
I enjoyed the solid performance by Kieran Calland Metts!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.
I do like the overarching storyline that deals with the relationships between the characters. I look forward to seeing where this goes.
I enjoyed the solid performance by Kieran Calland Metts!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.
February 4, 2020
Cash Kills is an interesting book about a middle aged female private eye investigating an unexpected inheritance with deadly results. The story is entertaining with a fair amount of twists. There are also some slow moments. I really could care less about the main characters choice of underwear, and I find her eagerness to give her poor client new clothes and a makeover to be rather shallow. There are also some loose ends that may not get tied up in a future book.
The narrator of the audiobook does a very good job and fits the story nicely.
I listened to this book as part of the box set, which I got a complimentary copy of. This is my honest and voluntary review.
The narrator of the audiobook does a very good job and fits the story nicely.
I listened to this book as part of the box set, which I got a complimentary copy of. This is my honest and voluntary review.
August 5, 2018
This was an entertaining and trilling mystery! This is the second book in the series, but the first one I've personally listened to, and I LOVED IT. Loved the writing, and the narration brought the story to life for me. Lots of action, the characters are real, the situations believable, and I was engrossed in the story from beginning to end. Don't mess with a strong Italian lady, she'll mince ya!! :) Great story and I'd definitely recommend this one for sure! :)
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
March 19, 2020
Great plot
I liked the book which had many subplots in it, making the plots intertwine so you had to remember who was who and that made it a great exercise. Great characters. I still mourn Sarajevo which once a peaceful place that hosted the Winter Olympics prior to the Olympics moving next to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, seeing Olympic venues riddled with bullet holes and rubble from artillery or bombs. The human side came out about the suffering and fear people had, real people, whom we often forget were caught somewhere in the middle.
I liked the book which had many subplots in it, making the plots intertwine so you had to remember who was who and that made it a great exercise. Great characters. I still mourn Sarajevo which once a peaceful place that hosted the Winter Olympics prior to the Olympics moving next to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, seeing Olympic venues riddled with bullet holes and rubble from artillery or bombs. The human side came out about the suffering and fear people had, real people, whom we often forget were caught somewhere in the middle.
February 9, 2022
There is almost everything to like about this book. I thought the plot and all the background and current day relevance of the Bosnian war was fascinating and excellent. I like all the characters, and they grow, which makes for enjoyable reading of a series.
Cavils: 1. That whole chase scene where Bobbie pulls Angie up into the back of a moving truck by pulling her along with the scarf is just plain stupid. (Stephanie Plum-y)
2. STOP WITH ALL THE BRAS AND THONGS DETAIL!! We get that Angie is hot and sexy. Just stop!!!
Cavils: 1. That whole chase scene where Bobbie pulls Angie up into the back of a moving truck by pulling her along with the scarf is just plain stupid. (Stephanie Plum-y)
2. STOP WITH ALL THE BRAS AND THONGS DETAIL!! We get that Angie is hot and sexy. Just stop!!!
March 22, 2018
I'm having a good time with the Angelina Bonaparte mysteries. I like the interaction of the characters, especially Angie and Wukowski, but more importantly, I like how Angie makes friends on the job and off and incorporates them into her life. Angie is a good person and I would enjoy knowing someone like her in real life. My only negative comment is that that aren't more of these books in the series (yet)!
September 9, 2018
Angelina Bonaparte is going to face another difficult and dangerous case when she mets Adriana Johnson, a recent orphan with some money problems. Angelina will face some evil things related with Yugoslavia’s war during the 1990. She will meet some interesting people and she will work with Ted Wukoski, while they work in their relationship. Good audiobook. I received a free copy of this audiobook and am leaving this review voluntarily.
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