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Kylie Kendall Mysteries #1
The Wombat Strategy
Aussie dyke Kylie Kendall leaves tiny Australian outback Wollegudgerie pub when unknown dad leaves her 51% of his LA detective agency. Lovely enigmatic Arianna Creeling offers to buy her out, but Dr Deer, celebrity psychiatrist to the stars, hires them to investigate his stolen records, and apparent suicide of successful reviled film director client.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
6 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Claire McNab
48 books52 followersCLAIRE McNAB, 1940-2022
Claire McNab died on June 30, 2022, after a prolonged battle with Parkinson’s Disease. She also wrote under her real name, Claire Carmichael, an outpouring of children's literature, textbooks, self-help books, and plays. She became (and remains to this day) a renowned author of children’s books in Australia.
Claire McNab is the pseudonym of Claire Carmichael. She was born in 1940 in Melbourne, Australia. While pursuing a career as a high school teacher in Sydney, she began her writing career with comedy plays and textbooks. She left teaching in the mid-eighties to become a full-time writer. In her native Australia she is known for her self-help and children's books. She moved to Los Angeles in 1994 after falling in love with an American woman, and now teaches not-yet-published writers through the UCLA Writers' Extension Program. She is best known for three lesbian mystery series featuring Inspector Carol Ashton, Agent Denise Cleever and Detective Kylie Kendall. She is the recipient of the 2006 Alice B. Medal.
From the publisher's website: Claire McNab has written over 50 books and is known in her native Australia for crime fiction, children's novels, picture books, self-help, and English textbooks. Her first mystery, Lessons in Murder, was published in the U.S. in 1988. Now a Los Angeles resident, she teaches not-yet-published writers through the UCLA Extension Writers' Program. She is the author of three lesbian mystery series featuring Inspector Carol Ashton, Agent Denise Cleever and Detective Kylie Kendall. She has served as the president of Sisters in Crime and is a member of both the Mystery Writers of America and the Science Fiction Writers of America. She lives in Los Angeles and is working on the finale of the Carol Ashton series, Lethal Care.
Claire McNab died on June 30, 2022, after a prolonged battle with Parkinson’s Disease. She also wrote under her real name, Claire Carmichael, an outpouring of children's literature, textbooks, self-help books, and plays. She became (and remains to this day) a renowned author of children’s books in Australia.
Claire McNab is the pseudonym of Claire Carmichael. She was born in 1940 in Melbourne, Australia. While pursuing a career as a high school teacher in Sydney, she began her writing career with comedy plays and textbooks. She left teaching in the mid-eighties to become a full-time writer. In her native Australia she is known for her self-help and children's books. She moved to Los Angeles in 1994 after falling in love with an American woman, and now teaches not-yet-published writers through the UCLA Writers' Extension Program. She is best known for three lesbian mystery series featuring Inspector Carol Ashton, Agent Denise Cleever and Detective Kylie Kendall. She is the recipient of the 2006 Alice B. Medal.
From the publisher's website: Claire McNab has written over 50 books and is known in her native Australia for crime fiction, children's novels, picture books, self-help, and English textbooks. Her first mystery, Lessons in Murder, was published in the U.S. in 1988. Now a Los Angeles resident, she teaches not-yet-published writers through the UCLA Extension Writers' Program. She is the author of three lesbian mystery series featuring Inspector Carol Ashton, Agent Denise Cleever and Detective Kylie Kendall. She has served as the president of Sisters in Crime and is a member of both the Mystery Writers of America and the Science Fiction Writers of America. She lives in Los Angeles and is working on the finale of the Carol Ashton series, Lethal Care.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 15, 2017
This book was a quick, easy, relaxing read. It was so full of stereotypically Aussie ways of talking (noone really talks that way do they?) but it seemed to be a bit self-mocking and also a bit passive-aggressive in it's deliberate use of Australian words for things and delinerately not understanding Americanisms (like SUV which I never really knew what it was before either). The fun though slightly snarky was two-wayed enough that I think it was enjoyable rather than offensive.
The romance was light, there were no sex scenes (well the character had one but we didn't watch it as readers). The crime itself was a bit superficial (I think the murder happened at about page 120 or something out of a 200 page book). But it's possible this book was laying the groundwork for further books that will take the mystery side of it more seriously. There was a lot of local character (human and setting wise), likeable characters (I shared Kylie's fascination for Ariana I must say) and too much cleavage. I am not sure why we had to hear quite so much about so many character's well-endowedness in that department.
I know I am not making it sound fantastic but I enjoyed it. The bad guys got what they deserved. The good guys managed to fit in a quick kiss...the conflict between good guys was not too serious or angsty- in fact it was very nearly an angst free book. There was a lot of focus on a cat that happened to be in the book too. Really worth the very small investment of time it demanded of me :) I recommend this fun and funny Aussie reads to any time poor friends who want to relax!
The romance was light, there were no sex scenes (well the character had one but we didn't watch it as readers). The crime itself was a bit superficial (I think the murder happened at about page 120 or something out of a 200 page book). But it's possible this book was laying the groundwork for further books that will take the mystery side of it more seriously. There was a lot of local character (human and setting wise), likeable characters (I shared Kylie's fascination for Ariana I must say) and too much cleavage. I am not sure why we had to hear quite so much about so many character's well-endowedness in that department.
I know I am not making it sound fantastic but I enjoyed it. The bad guys got what they deserved. The good guys managed to fit in a quick kiss...the conflict between good guys was not too serious or angsty- in fact it was very nearly an angst free book. There was a lot of focus on a cat that happened to be in the book too. Really worth the very small investment of time it demanded of me :) I recommend this fun and funny Aussie reads to any time poor friends who want to relax!
Read
June 18, 2020Kylie Kendall, newly arrived in L.A. from small-town Australia, is a fresh fish compared to cold-fish, Sydney-based Carol Ashton, the protagonist of McNab’s first lesbian mystery series. To expend the metaphor, The Wombat Strategy is a pretty good catch.
Kylie has grown up in Australia and of late has worked in her mother’s pub in Wollegudgerie. But when her American father dies and leaves her his 51 percent of a private investigation business in Los Angeles, California, Kylie jumps at the chance to jump ship and head for the states. Of course, having been dumped by her girlfriend for a hairdresser might have helped, too.
When the junior partner of the business politely tries to buy her out, Kylie refuses and decides that she wants to be a PI too. The fact that this junior partner, Ariana Creeling,, is a bombshell, might have helped in Kylie’s decision, too. But Ariana agrees to sponsor her and Kylie’s nationality comes in handy almost at once when a famous Australian self-help guru hires Kendall and Creeling to solve a mystery involving the disappearance of highly confidential patient records—records that might be used to blackmail certain famous clients.
The mystery is believable enough, especially with the strange Hollywood types who seem to flock to the quack doctor for therapy. Kylie proves herself to be not only smart, but able to take care of herself in dangerous situations—criminal or sexual.
Unlike the relatively lifeless Carol Ashton, Kylie brings health to these pages with her enthusiasm and her Australian euphemisms, which McNab lays on maybe a little too thick. She’s a quick study and catches onto the PI business in short order. I like the staff of Kendall and Creeling. Ariana is mysteriously aloof and professional, and the rest of the staff are interesting in their own ways. Fran, the office manager, is pretty, dour, and a relative of Ariana’s. Melody, the receptionist, is less at her desk than away at casting calls. There are also a few other members of the staff with their own areas of expertise.
Although I hadn't noticed this in McNab’s Ashton series, the names she gives certain things are often excellent. The self-help guru has a system he calls “Slap slap Get on with it.” And the movie titles of a couple of filmmakers make me want to go out and watch them; I mean, if they really existed. A TV reality show has incognito angels competing with humans for viewer votes.
I like the title, too, which is a spoof on Robert Ludlum titles. Kylie is kind of like a wombat, small but determined and feisty.
Bottom line? Kylie is refreshing not only compared to Carol Ashton, but compared to many other lesbian sleuths as well. A good beach read that you may want to keep instead of throwing away. Call this one a 3.7--closer to a 4 than to a 3. Fair dinkum.
Note: he edition I read was a strange fish. A book club edition hardback that states in the front matter that it is a trade paperback, but also states that it is a first edition. It has a slightly different cover than other listed hardback editions. Very odd.
Another Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 930 other lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.
.
Kylie has grown up in Australia and of late has worked in her mother’s pub in Wollegudgerie. But when her American father dies and leaves her his 51 percent of a private investigation business in Los Angeles, California, Kylie jumps at the chance to jump ship and head for the states. Of course, having been dumped by her girlfriend for a hairdresser might have helped, too.
When the junior partner of the business politely tries to buy her out, Kylie refuses and decides that she wants to be a PI too. The fact that this junior partner, Ariana Creeling,, is a bombshell, might have helped in Kylie’s decision, too. But Ariana agrees to sponsor her and Kylie’s nationality comes in handy almost at once when a famous Australian self-help guru hires Kendall and Creeling to solve a mystery involving the disappearance of highly confidential patient records—records that might be used to blackmail certain famous clients.
The mystery is believable enough, especially with the strange Hollywood types who seem to flock to the quack doctor for therapy. Kylie proves herself to be not only smart, but able to take care of herself in dangerous situations—criminal or sexual.
Unlike the relatively lifeless Carol Ashton, Kylie brings health to these pages with her enthusiasm and her Australian euphemisms, which McNab lays on maybe a little too thick. She’s a quick study and catches onto the PI business in short order. I like the staff of Kendall and Creeling. Ariana is mysteriously aloof and professional, and the rest of the staff are interesting in their own ways. Fran, the office manager, is pretty, dour, and a relative of Ariana’s. Melody, the receptionist, is less at her desk than away at casting calls. There are also a few other members of the staff with their own areas of expertise.
Although I hadn't noticed this in McNab’s Ashton series, the names she gives certain things are often excellent. The self-help guru has a system he calls “Slap slap Get on with it.” And the movie titles of a couple of filmmakers make me want to go out and watch them; I mean, if they really existed. A TV reality show has incognito angels competing with humans for viewer votes.
I like the title, too, which is a spoof on Robert Ludlum titles. Kylie is kind of like a wombat, small but determined and feisty.
Bottom line? Kylie is refreshing not only compared to Carol Ashton, but compared to many other lesbian sleuths as well. A good beach read that you may want to keep instead of throwing away. Call this one a 3.7--closer to a 4 than to a 3. Fair dinkum.
Note: he edition I read was a strange fish. A book club edition hardback that states in the front matter that it is a trade paperback, but also states that it is a first edition. It has a slightly different cover than other listed hardback editions. Very odd.
Another Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 930 other lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.
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April 4, 2022
I enjoyed the Carol Ashton series. This one has more humour as well as an idiosyncratic and engaging cast of characters. Think I'm going to enjoy this series too.
July 8, 2012
Being a former P.I. plus these days writer myself ; plus a lover of Australiana, I was really looking forward to the 'Kendall mysteries" Im afraid I have to say what seems like a good scenario ; the new Aussie P.I. in downtown LA, didnt really rfeach the heights I expected.
The story was OK, the characters I thought a little underdeveloped, and the lesbian theme ; hey thats good/different, so why not develop that further - give some more insight.
Just the mention of a brief kiss on the lips .... come on, Im sure we can get into more detail than that Claire :)
The story was OK, the characters I thought a little underdeveloped, and the lesbian theme ; hey thats good/different, so why not develop that further - give some more insight.
Just the mention of a brief kiss on the lips .... come on, Im sure we can get into more detail than that Claire :)
July 15, 2018
I just loved this awesome story!
I just love Kylie’s quirky personality and her lovely Australian sayings. I even fell for the enigmatic Ariana as well and they make a really great P.I. team! Kylie is so endearing and I was happy to follow her journey as she learns the ropes of becoming a professional private investigator and as she learns to manage the affairs of the heart.
I just love Kylie’s quirky personality and her lovely Australian sayings. I even fell for the enigmatic Ariana as well and they make a really great P.I. team! Kylie is so endearing and I was happy to follow her journey as she learns the ropes of becoming a professional private investigator and as she learns to manage the affairs of the heart.
July 8, 2009
An enjoyable quick read. Though, if you're looking for a traditional "detective" novel, this isn't it. There isn't a whole heck of a lot of sleuthing going on; it almost reminds me of a prologue to chapter one and since this is the first in a series of Kylie Kendall mysteries, it makes sense.
April 30, 2012
A fun, light-weight mystery novel that centers around a young Aussie lesbian named Kylie who's looking to start a new life at the P.I. firm in L.A. that her estranged dead father left her a 51% share in.
April 22, 2010
Absolutely hysterical. And the mystery is not *entirely* predictable. Claire McNab creates wonderful characters that you can't help but like.
September 2, 2011
Enjoyed the character of Kylie. The mystery was pretty light, but overall it was an enjoyable read.
April 15, 2014
Enjoyable, light-hearted lesbian Aussie (transplanted to L.A.) mystery.
May 31, 2014
Quick. Easy. Funny. Endearing.
I reread this series once a year.
I reread this series once a year.
June 26, 2020
Really wanted to like this, enjoyed the first 50 pages. Then I realized the entire book was going to be tell over show, and L.A. lite (like Diet L.A. but with even less detail). Also I do not buy the love story at all. Not one bit.
ETA: content note:
ETA: content note:
March 16, 2022
Started rereading these because I wanted something family ;) adjacent. It's a cute little cottage cozy mystery that is a fast read. If you can get the set, do. The romance is not too angsty and just right for a mystery, the true to life is she/isn't she of queer life rang true. It was nice that the writing was light even when on heavy subjects. The only drawback could be from trying to mentally jump around the aussie verbage that is mostly explained - but takes you a bit out of the story, even if it is there for flavor. I would recommend this to any in the alphabet mafia 35+ who wants to revisit the early aughts.
June 6, 2010
I liked it well enough to order the 2nd in the series from the library. I enjoyed the quirky characters and especially enjoyed
the "Australian-ese." The author had a distinct voice. The mystery itself was pretty pedestrian, making the book a very light quick read. I am looking forward to book 2 more for meeting up with the characters
again than for any mystery involved. This was the first Kylie Kendall mystery, with a lesbian protag.
the "Australian-ese." The author had a distinct voice. The mystery itself was pretty pedestrian, making the book a very light quick read. I am looking forward to book 2 more for meeting up with the characters
again than for any mystery involved. This was the first Kylie Kendall mystery, with a lesbian protag.
Want to read
October 24, 2015According to Novelist Plus, this is the first of 5
May 17, 2021
Kylie Kendall is pure Australian, 100% lesbian, and a virtual stranger to the English language. Don't come the raw prawn with me Clare McNab - you're a bonzer Sheila but you're playing it for laughs!
A native of Wollegudgerie, where her mum runs the pub (home to a ghost known as The Whinging Lady), Kylie arrives unexpectedly in Los Angeles to take her place as 51% owner of Kendall and Creeling P.I.
Having done the Wollegudgerie Police Club self-defence course Kylie reckons she's in with a shot at detecting - after all, how hard can it be?
Kylie isn't just in search of her inheritance, she wants to put as much distance as possible between her and her ex, "Raylene, the woman I'd believed was The One."
Her new business partner, enigmatic Arianna Creeling, immediately catches Kylie's romantic attention. But Arianna, notoriously private, is going to be a tough nut to crack.
While "The Wombat Strategy" is genuinely funny it takes more than humour to carry the book and so, 40 pages in, it is a relief to actually see the plot thicken as fellow Australian Dave Deers, inventor of the Slap! Slap! Get On With It therapy, hires Kendall and Creeling to find out who has stolen his videos of celebs revealing their secrets and being slapped - I'd pay to see some of those :)
The plot is no great shakes and the mystery eventually solves itself, but there is enough of it to keep "The Wombat Strategy" moving at a great pace.
A great, fast, fun read! 3.5 Stars.
A native of Wollegudgerie, where her mum runs the pub (home to a ghost known as The Whinging Lady), Kylie arrives unexpectedly in Los Angeles to take her place as 51% owner of Kendall and Creeling P.I.
Having done the Wollegudgerie Police Club self-defence course Kylie reckons she's in with a shot at detecting - after all, how hard can it be?
Kylie isn't just in search of her inheritance, she wants to put as much distance as possible between her and her ex, "Raylene, the woman I'd believed was The One."
Her new business partner, enigmatic Arianna Creeling, immediately catches Kylie's romantic attention. But Arianna, notoriously private, is going to be a tough nut to crack.
While "The Wombat Strategy" is genuinely funny it takes more than humour to carry the book and so, 40 pages in, it is a relief to actually see the plot thicken as fellow Australian Dave Deers, inventor of the Slap! Slap! Get On With It therapy, hires Kendall and Creeling to find out who has stolen his videos of celebs revealing their secrets and being slapped - I'd pay to see some of those :)
The plot is no great shakes and the mystery eventually solves itself, but there is enough of it to keep "The Wombat Strategy" moving at a great pace.
A great, fast, fun read! 3.5 Stars.
April 17, 2018
This is a great short mystery to settle down with. The leading character, Kylie Kendall, has just inherited controlling interest in her late father's private detective agency in Los Angeles. After a hard breakup with her girlfriend, Kylie arrives from Australia determined to start a new life as a P.I. in the City of Angels. She talks the co-owner of the agency, Adriane, into taking her in as an apprentice and her first case involves a therapist to the stars that has highly sensitive files stolen by someone intent on blackmailing his clients. I liked how the story is told first person by Kylie, complete with her Australian idioms and phrases, which raises it above the usual private eye mystery. The aspect of Kylie being gay isn't central to the story but it is central to her personality, which is handled just right. The author, also having moved from Australia to California, brings authenticity to the character of Kylie. Loved the book and definitely looking forward to more of the series. G'Day!
April 18, 2023
The first book I've read by this author, and the first book in a series.
Fun short book about an Australian woman who learns her dad, who she didn't live with and had only relatively recently reconnected with, had died and left 51% of his company and 100% of his car to her. Meanwhile, Kylie Kendall's long time girlfriend cheated on her, they broke up, and her mum's getting hetched and stuff. So it's time to leave her small Australian town and head to California and look in on this new business she part owns.
That business? A Private Investigator firm. Naturally, the 49% owner wants to buy Kylie out, not have her turn up and try to be a PI. But, well....
Story follows Kylie as she flings weird Australian slang all over the place (once, when asked, admitting she didn't know what the slang meant), learns to be a PI, and goes undercover at a shrink's office where some files and stuff were stolen (more video/audio recordings of sessions).
Fun story.
Rating: 4.26
April 17 2023
Fun short book about an Australian woman who learns her dad, who she didn't live with and had only relatively recently reconnected with, had died and left 51% of his company and 100% of his car to her. Meanwhile, Kylie Kendall's long time girlfriend cheated on her, they broke up, and her mum's getting hetched and stuff. So it's time to leave her small Australian town and head to California and look in on this new business she part owns.
That business? A Private Investigator firm. Naturally, the 49% owner wants to buy Kylie out, not have her turn up and try to be a PI. But, well....
Story follows Kylie as she flings weird Australian slang all over the place (once, when asked, admitting she didn't know what the slang meant), learns to be a PI, and goes undercover at a shrink's office where some files and stuff were stolen (more video/audio recordings of sessions).
Fun story.
Rating: 4.26
April 17 2023
January 24, 2020
Super quick read, light and fun. I enjoyed Kylie’s point of view. I was a little taken aback when I realized that Kylie was more of femme, i just assumed based on her first description of herself that her grubby clothes was her normal go to every day butch attire. Turns out that first impression was a bit misleading. Also, keep an eye out for the earthquake-ness 😉😉
November 22, 2019
Very enjoyable book. Love the descriptions of the Aussie experience in the USA. Also nice mystery.
December 29, 2021
Mystery: eh. Characters: ten out of ten, would visit with again
January 25, 2023
Cute and pretty fun.
Bad guys were pretty bad, the good guys were great and it was a good time.
Bad guys were pretty bad, the good guys were great and it was a good time.
March 21, 2023
A quick, easy and fun read. Lots of quirky characters and fun interactions that carry the very basic plot. A little annoyed at how naive Kylie comes across as, but she's fun so I'll let it slide.
March 2, 2017
I loved this book. As I have lived for two years in Australia and have been to Los Angeles various times, I had many good laughs about the confusion the Australian English can cause to Americans. The whole series ist wonderful and I'm still hoping for a sequel.
June 20, 2022
Completely hooked by the quirky narrator.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews