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Charlie Cooper

- (Still) underpaid undercover detective in her hometown, Springston
- Still living at her parent’s house…with the prospect of a new apartment
- Weekend trying to escape her mom’s jackfruit-tofu-eggplant diet
- 2 best friends, who needs pets? who needs hobbies?
- Special burning her eyebrows off completely this time
- Finding Mr. maybe there is still hope
- Healthy welcome to the Cooper’s starvation center

Charlie’s life in her hometown, Springston, is not by far as dull as she expected it to be. Stumbling over dead bodies, being held at gunpoint or getting kidnapped in the back of a van would actually qualify as a pretty exciting life. If you like to live on the edge.
Still, Charlie hopes her next case would not include dead people, guns or exploding cars. Well…one could at least hope.
When Celeste’s nephew, Lucas, is suspected of attempted bank robbery and CMC Services – a.k.a. Charlie and her best friends, Marge and Celeste – is called in to help, the girls launch into crime-fighting mode yet again. Apparently, Lucas could be a key witness in what seems to be the new crime wave in Springston.
Charlie soon finds herself trying to solve another murder, causing a small explosion involving one particular item in Marge’s black hole of a purse, dodging the advances of Celeste’s cousin, Eddy, and trying to get on board with her mom’s new healthy diet. All the while with Alex, Springston’s hot detective, right on her heels.
Running low on caffeine and running out of time, Charlie has to step up her game and out-step a killer.

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2018

730 people are currently reading
168 people want to read

About the author

Deany Ray

42 books183 followers
https://www.facebook.com/deanyraybooks/

Deany Ray has always wanted to be a writer so she decided to take the plunge and dive into it.
She loves writing cozy mysteries, as this is what she likes to read the most.
Her favorite activities are traveling, going to the movie theatre, meeting up with friends and having cooking sessions with her awesome mom.

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5 stars
299 (59%)
4 stars
150 (29%)
3 stars
44 (8%)
2 stars
7 (1%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
1,700 reviews35 followers
June 15, 2018
Charlie, Marge, & Celeste take on a new case when Celeste nephew is arrested and charged with possession of a fire arm outside of a bank. They hide him out in the new apartment that Charlie is planning to rent. While they are looking for clues, graceful Charlie trips over a trash bag that's not exactly concealing trash.

After the police leave the scene. The girls go and talk to Lucas, who had witnessed two guys carrying the trash bag out of a donut shop. They wind up with extra help in the investigation in the form of a pesky cousin of Celeste named Eddy who does his best to charm Charlie. They also get to meet Celeste extended family.

Between protecting Lucas, and trying to solve another murder. CMC is up to their old tricks of routing the bad guys, getting banged up, and Marge and Celest trying to get Charlie and Alex together.

Another fun story from Deany Ray that has lots of unexpected twist, and a lot of humor to make this a book that's hard to put down.
338 reviews4 followers
March 31, 2020
Another great cozy mystery story!
If you follow this series, then you know that Celeste is no one to mess with. I had no idea to what degree until someone is dumb enough to threaten one of her family members. The trio of friends rally to protect their own and neutralize the threat. In this parallel universe that these girls must live in, so begins an adventure fraught with comedy and danger. And as I have come to expect, I find myself smiling at the added touch of romance sprinkled throughout the story.
Deany Ray has a fantastic imagination. That is clear. She is a master storyteller who weaves unbelievable stories that somehow, I accept, on some level, as believable. I guess it could happen that way. I did mention the possibility of an alternate universe, didn’t I? 😊
The take-away here is that this is a well-written, fun, easy read. It is highly entertaining for those of us that enjoy a comedic, slightly romantic, whodunit.
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews55 followers
June 16, 2018
CMC are back on the case!

Another great read. Not as funny but it did have it's moments. The agency is doing fine but another job would be welcomed as she desperately wants to move into her own place. Especially now that her mother is on a no coffee, no junk food, all vegetable phase. However all those thoughts are having to take second place when two young men are arrested. Then one is badly injured by a drive by shooting. All three member of CMC àre now in sleuthing form. Why would someone want to hurt the young men? The more they find out the more they realise that there are bigger stakes. A murder! A great plot that ends in an explosive ending with the final reveal. The characters are great as always but it would be nice to have a bit more snark from the other two members.
190 reviews
June 22, 2020
Deany has written another entertaining Charlie Cooper mystery. Charlie, Marge and Celeste are joined with Celeste's cousin Eddy who is helping (ha! ha!) find out who the murderer is. The girls uncover a protection scam involving many local businesses who are forced to pay up every month and try to figure out who is in the ring. There is much action and unpredictable situations that the four get caught up in. Meanwhile Alex and Charlie continuously run into each other but don't seem to be ready to take the next step in their relationship.

This story has some edge of your seat action and suspense that made me keep reading to find out whodunit. I enjoyed the interaction among the characters and look forward to reading more books in this series
Profile Image for Barbara Hackel.
2,807 reviews46 followers
January 27, 2021
When Celeste's nephew gets involved with a bank robbery attempt, CMC steps in to investigate. Not too surprising that they come across a dead guy stuffed in a trash bag behind the bank. It becomes obvious that nephew Lucas needs protection, and before Charlie has one night in her new apartment, Lucas is hidden there for his safety. Celeste finally introduces Charlie and Marge to her family. Between a "helpful" cousin Eddy, a Uncle Hank who leaves Lucas unprotected, and an island mansion full of Celeste's relatives, it's no surprise that somebody slips up. But once again CMC gets the upper hand over police and criminals.
Funny, laugh out loud book that I was sorry to end. Good thing there are 3 1/2 more books in this great series!
100 reviews
June 16, 2018
💜 it! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Charlie, Marge and Celeste oh my! These girls rock. Excellent mystery. Loads of laughs. A touch of romance.
Deany Ray is a terrific author. Hope the next book in the series comes out soon. These books always make me smile. I hope there's more romance for Charlie and Alex. Time to step that up. 💏 Please.
I would recommend this series for anyone.
Profile Image for Donna Arthur.
Author 4 books3 followers
January 22, 2021
What a crew

This group of investigators posing as computer geeks is a fun read. You've heard the expression that if you didn't have bad luck you'd have no luck at all? Enough said. Entertaining and fast paced.
Profile Image for Mary Duiker.
94 reviews
January 13, 2022
Funny, short, and sweet

This story was filled with surprises. We got to meet many of Celeste' s family as they pursued their latest assignment of helping Celeste's nephew escape someone who tried to kill him and his college friend, Perry.
1,568 reviews7 followers
October 9, 2022
couldn’t be bothered

Well to find twenty words about this bookis going to be very . But I would say, don’t bother as it is utter stupidity.I’m. NOW going to delete the other books I have in my library from this authour.
53 reviews1 follower
July 21, 2024
Crazy good fun

You never know what is going to happen next with this trio of undercover investigators. The mother of Charlie is outright crazy at every turn as a second storyline in these books. Loving all of them.
Profile Image for Norma.
347 reviews
August 6, 2024
Another wonderful read!

I'm loving these cozy mysteries. Charlie and her team of private investigators make any mystery interesting. Throw in the sweet feels happening between Charlie and Alex and you can't put the book down.
1,344 reviews8 followers
January 9, 2025
This was the best one yet with Eddy, Celeste's cousin, helping solve the crime to save their nephew. We were able to dive into a bit of the Ortiz family, solve a murder, and get Charlie a real date with the hunky cop, Alex.
Profile Image for Susan.
1,615 reviews
July 11, 2018
really liked Charlie and pals latest adventure
422 reviews2 followers
May 13, 2020
Glazed

I really enjoyed reading this fourth book in the series. It's an enjoyable and humorous detective story. Deany Ray is an excellent writer.
Profile Image for Charlene.
1,283 reviews40 followers
June 30, 2020
a wonderful read! loved the storyline and twists and turns, complex and interesting characters! I love this series!!
Profile Image for Marcia-Lee Finocchio.
604 reviews6 followers
January 13, 2021
Three lady detectives

CMC detectives is three women who always get their man, but of course also run into problems. Funny, entertaining storyline!
911 reviews15 followers
January 18, 2021
This series is so much fun! I have been reading one book after another. Each book is a fast moving read, with a little romance, mystery and laughs. So enjoyable!
951 reviews2 followers
January 29, 2021
Another stellar performance

Dean did a great job with the plot she created and the cast of interesting characters to create something hard to put down.
137 reviews2 followers
February 11, 2021
A Wonderful novel .

I really liked this novel. It was humorous and rather life like. The three leading characters are not professional and have mishaps. Just like life.
Profile Image for Debra Webster.
Author 16 books6 followers
February 23, 2021
Fun

I laughed out loud. The author has a knack for improbable situations that are really funny. This was good medicine.
110 reviews1 follower
March 12, 2021
What a blast!

Fun characters with laugh out loud adventures. Fast read, you never know what will happen next! Just sit back and relax with this cozy read.
Profile Image for Ellen.
224 reviews11 followers
March 13, 2021
I really was enjoying it, then found it was not the complete book, so very disappointed there, am not buying it because I don't like those kind of surprises.
441 reviews
July 11, 2021
Quick read

Write-ups about this series are using the Stephanie Plum and Janet Evonovich comparisons freely. While this story is entertaining, it is no laugh fest.
390 reviews8 followers
August 23, 2021
Glazed

I found this amusing, funny and thoroughly entertaining. Every page was enjoyable and the characters also. What will they get up to next?
Profile Image for Christina.
31 reviews
September 3, 2021
Very cute

Loved this story. The characters are fun and the plot is engaging. Nice neat end. I'll be checking out more in this series.
74 reviews4 followers
October 22, 2021
Great book! I'm thoroughly falling in love with the characters in this series. It is fun to read and thoroughly entertaining.
957 reviews2 followers
April 2, 2024
Enjoyed this one too! What a fun family the two D's have. And Alex, sigh.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews

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