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Carlotta Carlyle #2
The Snake Tattoo
Carlotta Carlyle, ex-cop, struggling private eye, and 6'1" of long tall redhead, takes any case that walks through the door. This time the door opens twice. First in is her old partner, Lieutenant Mooney of the Boston police, unfairly charged with brutality, suspended, and desperate. The witness who can clear him is a hooker with a snake tattoo...and she's vanished.
The second client is a teenager with a missing wallet and a split lip. He's been roughed up on the Boston streets while searching for his runaway girlfriend. He's too young to be a client, and Carlotta should have turned him down. Shoulda, woulda, coulda...didn't.
Both investigation send Carlotta into Boston's Combat Zone and the dark alleys of the human heart. Hookers don't disappear and kids don't take off with good reason. Now Carlotta is coming face to face with the evil that men do, and what is she going to do about it? Tackle it head on....
The second client is a teenager with a missing wallet and a split lip. He's been roughed up on the Boston streets while searching for his runaway girlfriend. He's too young to be a client, and Carlotta should have turned him down. Shoulda, woulda, coulda...didn't.
Both investigation send Carlotta into Boston's Combat Zone and the dark alleys of the human heart. Hookers don't disappear and kids don't take off with good reason. Now Carlotta is coming face to face with the evil that men do, and what is she going to do about it? Tackle it head on....
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
246 people are currently reading
422 people want to read
About the author
Linda Barnes
79 books224 followersLinda Barnes is an American mystery writer, born and raised in Detroit, and graduated from Boston University"s School of Theater. She is best known for her series featuring Carlotta Carlyle, a 6'1" redheaded detective from Boston. Carlotta Carlyle is often compared to the hard-boiled female detectives created by Sue Grafton and Sara Paretsky. Her new novel, "The Perfect Ghost," which will be published in April, 2013, is her first stand-alone mystery.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
October 1, 2013
I don't like the term "chick lit", although I use it frequently, generally for aesthetic purposes. (It sounds better than "women's lit" or "feminist lit", in my opinion.) I use it to describe a vast amount of stuff that probably isn't chick lit, including everything from Camille Paglia to romance novels. Generally, I don't read a lot of chick lit, although I certainly don't have a problem reading women authors. Some of my favorite authors are women.
(Holy shit, that sounds awful...)
Okay, let me start over: In the rather amorphous and generally sexist-labelled genre of "chick lit", I have come to find that women who write in historically predominantly male-dominated genres (science fiction, horror, mystery) often bring to the genre an interesting and often fresh take. Not always, of course. Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight" series "girl"-ifies vampires and werewolves to the point that they are no longer threatening. They are warm and fuzzy creatures who have been de-fanged and de-clawed. Vampires and werewolves are SUPPOSED to be terrifying. They are NOT supposed to be warm and fuzzy. Then again, Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series is an interesting and fun twist on the vampire mythos. Female readers can swoon over the romantic bits and the the vampires are STILL scary.
Within the mystery genre, women have made quite a name for themselves. Writers like Sue Grafton, Sara Paretsky, and Marcia Muller have introduced some tough female private eyes into the genre while still managing to maintain their feminine side. Even authors like Janet Evanovich and Casey Daniels, who tend to write more comedy than crime, have brought a new twist to detective fiction.
Linda Barnes is somewhere between Grafton and Evanovich. Her private eye, Carlotta Carlyle, is a tough, hard-boiled Boston P.I./ cab driver with a sassy streak. In her novel "The Snake Tattoo" (written in 1989, and I'm not sure where it falls in the series), starts off with Carlyle settling in for the night before being awakened by her cop-friend, Lieutenant Mooney, who is being investigated by Internal Affairs. Mooney insists he is innocent, and Carlyle believes him, only partly because she secretly has the hots for him. She takes on his case. Almost simultaneously, she takes on a case of a young suburban runaway girl.
I'll be honest, Barnes's novel started off like an Evanovich novel---silly, comedic, with a focus mainly on handbags and hair-dos, which is exactly the kind of chick lit I'm NOT into---but then gradually takes on a darker, more noir-ish edge, like Grafton, which is the kind of chick lit I like. Basically, "The Snake Tattoo" is just a good detective novel, and Carlotta Carlyle will be a fictional detective I will check out again in the near future.
(Holy shit, that sounds awful...)
Okay, let me start over: In the rather amorphous and generally sexist-labelled genre of "chick lit", I have come to find that women who write in historically predominantly male-dominated genres (science fiction, horror, mystery) often bring to the genre an interesting and often fresh take. Not always, of course. Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight" series "girl"-ifies vampires and werewolves to the point that they are no longer threatening. They are warm and fuzzy creatures who have been de-fanged and de-clawed. Vampires and werewolves are SUPPOSED to be terrifying. They are NOT supposed to be warm and fuzzy. Then again, Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series is an interesting and fun twist on the vampire mythos. Female readers can swoon over the romantic bits and the the vampires are STILL scary.
Within the mystery genre, women have made quite a name for themselves. Writers like Sue Grafton, Sara Paretsky, and Marcia Muller have introduced some tough female private eyes into the genre while still managing to maintain their feminine side. Even authors like Janet Evanovich and Casey Daniels, who tend to write more comedy than crime, have brought a new twist to detective fiction.
Linda Barnes is somewhere between Grafton and Evanovich. Her private eye, Carlotta Carlyle, is a tough, hard-boiled Boston P.I./ cab driver with a sassy streak. In her novel "The Snake Tattoo" (written in 1989, and I'm not sure where it falls in the series), starts off with Carlyle settling in for the night before being awakened by her cop-friend, Lieutenant Mooney, who is being investigated by Internal Affairs. Mooney insists he is innocent, and Carlyle believes him, only partly because she secretly has the hots for him. She takes on his case. Almost simultaneously, she takes on a case of a young suburban runaway girl.
I'll be honest, Barnes's novel started off like an Evanovich novel---silly, comedic, with a focus mainly on handbags and hair-dos, which is exactly the kind of chick lit I'm NOT into---but then gradually takes on a darker, more noir-ish edge, like Grafton, which is the kind of chick lit I like. Basically, "The Snake Tattoo" is just a good detective novel, and Carlotta Carlyle will be a fictional detective I will check out again in the near future.
October 7, 2020
"I fully intended to until I saw that sign. Once inside a high school, hospital, jail—anyplace they keep you prisoner—I turn ornery. I do whatever they tell you not to do. I’m a truant at heart."
~ Linda Barnes, The Snake Tattoo
I'd forgotten how much I love Carlotta Carlyle and I'm frankly shocked (shocked!) that I haven't read all of these already. I distinctly remember looking for the next one.
As good as the best of the genre, Carlotta makes me (almost) tolerate Boston, even. I'm thrilled to have found her again.
~ Linda Barnes, The Snake Tattoo
I'd forgotten how much I love Carlotta Carlyle and I'm frankly shocked (shocked!) that I haven't read all of these already. I distinctly remember looking for the next one.
As good as the best of the genre, Carlotta makes me (almost) tolerate Boston, even. I'm thrilled to have found her again.
October 29, 2020
Carlotta Carlyle, ex-Boston cop and now PI, takes on two cases. One is for her former boss, Detective Mooney, who got into a bar fight with a stranger. The stranger ended up in a coma and Mooney on suspension so its up to Carlotta to find a missing witness that can clear his name. Simultaneously, she takes a case for a young prep school boy with a bloody lip looking for his missing friend, a young girl from a privileged home with with parents unaware that she's missing. Set in the Combat Zone in Boston, an area not for the faint of heart, Carlotta is up to her neck in mayhem. Definately a book that keeps your interest while providing interesting characters and humor.....Warshawski, Milhone and Plumish.
October 29, 2023
Not a bad second outing for Carlotta Carlyle. Heck, I even learned about a big bank robbery right here in my home town, carried out by the local cops! I'm a little confused by some of her relationships but then again, I think Carlotta is too, so that's fair. Looking forward to her next outing.
March 17, 2018
My favourite part of the first book was Carlotta’s relationship with her ‘little sister’ Paolina. This was only a tiny part of the book, but it was enough for me to try this one in the hope the author would make more of the two ‘girls’.
Unfortunately, within the first few pages it turns out Paolina has gone to Bogota and the book is going to have to ‘stand’ on Carlotta alone. To make matters worse we then got the saga of the twin plumbers. Not an encouraging start to the book.
The case, actually two cases, progresses in a typical PI style with Carlotta asking questions and not getting anywhere. At one point it s clear somebody doesn’t want her investigating as she is run off the road, but to be honest it is all fairly boring. There was nothing really wrong with the story, it was just so ordinary, nothing made it special and to exacerbate my boredom I had to put up with Sam again.
Eventually there is a little ‘light at the end’ and we see glimpses of Carlotta being a ‘badass’ PI, prepared to do what it takes to get it done. I think without the incidents protecting Valerie I may have only given 1 star at the end.
Unfortunately, within the first few pages it turns out Paolina has gone to Bogota and the book is going to have to ‘stand’ on Carlotta alone. To make matters worse we then got the saga of the twin plumbers. Not an encouraging start to the book.
The case, actually two cases, progresses in a typical PI style with Carlotta asking questions and not getting anywhere. At one point it s clear somebody doesn’t want her investigating as she is run off the road, but to be honest it is all fairly boring. There was nothing really wrong with the story, it was just so ordinary, nothing made it special and to exacerbate my boredom I had to put up with Sam again.
Eventually there is a little ‘light at the end’ and we see glimpses of Carlotta being a ‘badass’ PI, prepared to do what it takes to get it done. I think without the incidents protecting Valerie I may have only given 1 star at the end.
May 9, 2009
as i said i like this series - like characters and dialogue - listening on cd and like the interpretation of the reader c.j. critt.
December 26, 2023
I have a feeling I'm going to keep reading this series while being irritated by it. I will say, I've read three books now and so far I like each book better than the rest. I hope that means the author is improving as she goes along. They are easy to listen to, I like mysteries, and they typically aren't on hold at the library - all the reasons I'll most likely continue reading. At this point in time almost every book I want to read is months out on hold, so it's nice to have something that's readily available.
Mooney has a problem and approaches Carlotta for help. He has been suspended for excessive force. Mooney says the guy had a knife, but none of the witnesses can or will confirm it. Mooney knows there was a prostitute who saw the exchange and knows about the knife, but now he can't find her. Carlotta offers to help.
While looking for the sex worker, Carlotta comes across a high school kid searching for his girlfriend. He wants Carlotta to help find her. Carlotta is now working two cases searching for missing people. She also reconnects with Sam, the random guy that she randomly sleeps with and who has like five lines of dialogue.
I don't like when we're just told about characters and we're supposed to care about them without the author actually showing us what they're like. That's one of my big issues with this book. Especially with regards to Sam. It's stupid. It's probably why I'm liking the later books better, I actually know the characters more.
I get annoyed with the whole Paulina thing too. I don't know why it has to mention her "little sister" and how she'd murder the world to save Paulina, over and over again in each book. It's annoying and I would prefer if Paulina wasn't a part of the book.
The book ends with
Mooney has a problem and approaches Carlotta for help. He has been suspended for excessive force. Mooney says the guy had a knife, but none of the witnesses can or will confirm it. Mooney knows there was a prostitute who saw the exchange and knows about the knife, but now he can't find her. Carlotta offers to help.
While looking for the sex worker, Carlotta comes across a high school kid searching for his girlfriend. He wants Carlotta to help find her. Carlotta is now working two cases searching for missing people. She also reconnects with Sam, the random guy that she randomly sleeps with and who has like five lines of dialogue.
I don't like when we're just told about characters and we're supposed to care about them without the author actually showing us what they're like. That's one of my big issues with this book. Especially with regards to Sam. It's stupid. It's probably why I'm liking the later books better, I actually know the characters more.
I get annoyed with the whole Paulina thing too. I don't know why it has to mention her "little sister" and how she'd murder the world to save Paulina, over and over again in each book. It's annoying and I would prefer if Paulina wasn't a part of the book.
The book ends with
December 5, 2022
The 1990s was a great period for American crime fiction, with the emergence of a band of strong, independent and resourceful female private investigators such as Sarah Paretsky’s
V I Warshawski, and Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone. Another member of that group, although one who seemed to draw less recognition than her counterparts, was Carlotta Carlyle, the tall, flame-headed, guitar playing protagonist of an entertaining series of novels by Linda Barnes.
Based in Boston, Carlotta is, like many of her fictional PIs, a former cop. One of the pitfalls of the private sector is that the work doesn’t always flow smoothly, so to help make ends meet, Carlotta can often be found on the night shift driving a cab, which also gives her access to unconventional sources of information. She has also maintained friendships with several of her former colleagues on the local force, although one of the reasons she had quit was the all too prevalent spectre of corruption, and the influence of local politics.
After a relatively lean period, she suddenly finds herself with two cases to follow. One is brought to her by a former colleague who has been suspended following allegations tat he beat up a suspect arrested after an altercation in a bar. The other is to find a teenaged girl who seems to have run away from home and her exclusive private school.
The stories are related in the first person by Carlotta, and she has an engaging style. The action moves at a brisk pace, peppered with Carlotta’s wry observations on the city around her and the shady characters whom she encounters. The plots are well constructed, and watertight. There are no frills, just clear, concise storytelling.
V I Warshawski, and Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone. Another member of that group, although one who seemed to draw less recognition than her counterparts, was Carlotta Carlyle, the tall, flame-headed, guitar playing protagonist of an entertaining series of novels by Linda Barnes.
Based in Boston, Carlotta is, like many of her fictional PIs, a former cop. One of the pitfalls of the private sector is that the work doesn’t always flow smoothly, so to help make ends meet, Carlotta can often be found on the night shift driving a cab, which also gives her access to unconventional sources of information. She has also maintained friendships with several of her former colleagues on the local force, although one of the reasons she had quit was the all too prevalent spectre of corruption, and the influence of local politics.
After a relatively lean period, she suddenly finds herself with two cases to follow. One is brought to her by a former colleague who has been suspended following allegations tat he beat up a suspect arrested after an altercation in a bar. The other is to find a teenaged girl who seems to have run away from home and her exclusive private school.
The stories are related in the first person by Carlotta, and she has an engaging style. The action moves at a brisk pace, peppered with Carlotta’s wry observations on the city around her and the shady characters whom she encounters. The plots are well constructed, and watertight. There are no frills, just clear, concise storytelling.
December 1, 2023
Lieutenant Mooney is in deep trouble after a fracas in a local bar which left his attacker in a coma. He swears that the man had a knife and that there was a witness, a hooker with a snake tattoo on her leg. Unfortunately both have gone missing.
P.I. Carlotta Carlyle has no sooner agreed to investigate than she literally bumps into another case – a teenager who has just been mugged and robbed wants her to find a missing friend, 14-year-old Valerie Haslam. She's definitely missing but no-one Carlotta talks to seems to have any idea why. According to her father this is not the first time it has happened and he expects she will be back when whatever was on her mind gets solved.
As for the hooker, Carlotta is pretty sure she knows who she was, but she's definitely disappeared off the radar.
And then Valerie is spotted in a shady part of town and she looks like she's engaged in the world's oldest profession. Something's off.
With Paolina away in Bogota she's pretty much absent from the book – a pity, as the relationship between them was one of the more interesting aspects of”A Trouble of Fools”.
One of the sidebar plots concerns Carlotta getting a new bathroom installed – it's quite funny.
It's a solid procedural and a thoroughly enjoyed it.
3 Stars.
P.I. Carlotta Carlyle has no sooner agreed to investigate than she literally bumps into another case – a teenager who has just been mugged and robbed wants her to find a missing friend, 14-year-old Valerie Haslam. She's definitely missing but no-one Carlotta talks to seems to have any idea why. According to her father this is not the first time it has happened and he expects she will be back when whatever was on her mind gets solved.
As for the hooker, Carlotta is pretty sure she knows who she was, but she's definitely disappeared off the radar.
And then Valerie is spotted in a shady part of town and she looks like she's engaged in the world's oldest profession. Something's off.
With Paolina away in Bogota she's pretty much absent from the book – a pity, as the relationship between them was one of the more interesting aspects of”A Trouble of Fools”.
One of the sidebar plots concerns Carlotta getting a new bathroom installed – it's quite funny.
It's a solid procedural and a thoroughly enjoyed it.
3 Stars.
November 7, 2025
I can't remember reading this when it first came out, and years later, here's what appeals to me:
Carlotta's voice. Always engaging.
Roz's quirks. Always amusing even when a bit out there.
Linda Barness deep knowledge of the Greater Boston landscape, history, and culture.
Carlotta's Jewish background and Yiddish sayings. Her relationship with Paolina, which is going to get deeper and more fraught in future books (as Paolina becomes a teenager AND finds out more about her family's troubled past).
The mysteries themselves are well-written, and this one has a thematic connection between the two investigations (the missing witness of the title and the missing girl whose teen neighbor hires Carlotta to find her) that is emotionally deep, almost devastating at the end.
What I don't like so much is the superficial treatment of Gloria and her brothers (the recurring Black characters in the series) and Gianelli (the sex object). Mooney is much more real to me, and I hate it that nice guys finish last.
Carlotta's voice. Always engaging.
Roz's quirks. Always amusing even when a bit out there.
Linda Barness deep knowledge of the Greater Boston landscape, history, and culture.
Carlotta's Jewish background and Yiddish sayings. Her relationship with Paolina, which is going to get deeper and more fraught in future books (as Paolina becomes a teenager AND finds out more about her family's troubled past).
The mysteries themselves are well-written, and this one has a thematic connection between the two investigations (the missing witness of the title and the missing girl whose teen neighbor hires Carlotta to find her) that is emotionally deep, almost devastating at the end.
What I don't like so much is the superficial treatment of Gloria and her brothers (the recurring Black characters in the series) and Gianelli (the sex object). Mooney is much more real to me, and I hate it that nice guys finish last.
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June 26, 2020 3.82 · Rating details · 1,324 ratings · 57 reviews
Carlotta Carlyle, ex-cop, struggling private eye, and 6'1" of long tall redhead, takes any case that walks through the door. This time the door opens twice. First in is her old partner, Lieutenant Mooney of the Boston police, unfairly charged with brutality, suspended, and desperate. The witness who can clear him is a hooker with a snake tattoo...and she's vanished.
The second client is a teenager with a missing wallet and a split lip. He's been roughed up on the Boston streets while searching for his runaway girlfriend. He's too young to be a client, and Carlotta should have turned him down. Shoulda, woulda, coulda...didn't.
Both investigation send Carlotta into Boston's Combat Zone and the dark alleys of the human heart. Hookers don't disappear and kids don't take off with good reason. Now Carlotta is coming face to face with the evil that men do, and what is she going to do about it? Tackle it head on....
Very Good.
Carlotta Carlyle, ex-cop, struggling private eye, and 6'1" of long tall redhead, takes any case that walks through the door. This time the door opens twice. First in is her old partner, Lieutenant Mooney of the Boston police, unfairly charged with brutality, suspended, and desperate. The witness who can clear him is a hooker with a snake tattoo...and she's vanished.
The second client is a teenager with a missing wallet and a split lip. He's been roughed up on the Boston streets while searching for his runaway girlfriend. He's too young to be a client, and Carlotta should have turned him down. Shoulda, woulda, coulda...didn't.
Both investigation send Carlotta into Boston's Combat Zone and the dark alleys of the human heart. Hookers don't disappear and kids don't take off with good reason. Now Carlotta is coming face to face with the evil that men do, and what is she going to do about it? Tackle it head on....
Very Good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2020
Revisting Carlotta Carlysle books by Linda Barnes is putting a comfy sweater. A first read The Snake Tattoo books nearly thirty years ago and still retains the same zip and fun that made it stand out all these years ago. Carlysle, private eye who also drives a taxi finds herself looking for a missing teenage girl while trying to help her cop buddy Mooney who is suspended for allegedly hitting a prisoner. The reader is transported back to Boston in the 1980s as the author nicely balances all the story's numerous strands until the end. If you are fan of female detectives I would highly recommend you check this series out.
January 14, 2022
Linda Barnes writes a female protagonist with many of the same qualities as Janet Evanovich, Sue Grafton and Sarah Paretsky's lead characters. Smart, sassy and unwilling to take crap from anyone they encounter. Carlotta Carlyle takes on cases other people might not touch and driving a Boston Cab to make living expenses. It's a fascinating look at the raw underbelly of Boston and a funny suspenseful plot populated with eccentric characters. If you've been reading ponderous literature, this book is a great fast-paced holiday from having to consider the deep inner meaning of the author's intentions.
April 26, 2023
I have been wanting to read the Carlotta Carlyle Mystery Series by Linda Barnes for quite a while and "The Snake Tattoo" did not disappoint! Following two separate cases of a missing Witness for her former Police Supervisor and a Teenager Runaway are really compelling. There is great humor with Carlotta and her Roommate Roz, who is basically like an 80's punk artist. I love it! The ending of the book with the running theme of the Bathroom getting fixed has a great and hilarious resolution at the end!
November 10, 2025
This is a quick read and involves the reputation of Carlotta's Boston Police friend Lieutenant Mooney and a missing teen.
She is able to search for a missing witness Janine (with the temporary tattoos) and the missing teen in the same place and not surprisingly finds them both. Her disguise is driving a cab which nobody seems to see as a threat or a suspicious item in their world.
I like Carlotta and enjoy her approach to finding people and defending the weak. Her roommate Rox ads color and comedy to the tale.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
She is able to search for a missing witness Janine (with the temporary tattoos) and the missing teen in the same place and not surprisingly finds them both. Her disguise is driving a cab which nobody seems to see as a threat or a suspicious item in their world.
I like Carlotta and enjoy her approach to finding people and defending the weak. Her roommate Rox ads color and comedy to the tale.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
February 19, 2019
I'm trying to think of this as an hysterical instead of outdated as I am enjoying the characters in this series. This was written in the 80's (pre - cel phone) and it's hard not to yell out in my head "Just call for help!" The narrator takes some getting used to also as she had done the Stephanie Plum series and her voice is very distinct. Over all it is interesting and will continue with the series
June 7, 2019
I read some of this series years ago, when I lived in the Cambridge/Somerville area during the actual time period in which they're set. Now that I no longer live there (though I hope to return one day), I'm enjoying them even more if only because the descriptions of the locales bring back such memories for me. (I frequently drove out Route 2 to Lincoln and back for one reason or another, and sometimes every day for short periods of employment.) I plan to read the entire series eventually. I'll probably be sorry there aren't more.
February 22, 2022
I just discovered this author and her Carlotta Carlyle series, and thoroughly enjoyed this book - plan to read 'em all (eventually). Carlotta's professional life - as ex-cop-now-private-eye + part-time cab driver - is complicated; and her personal life is filled with interesting characters, especially her housemate, which added some nice humor. I love these older detective stories requiring using smarts and intuition vs. relying on cell phones and Google. This is my kind of detective series.
December 8, 2021
Going back home, Carlotta meets with Mooney again, unbearable dialogue about Mooney’s trial. In Carlotta’s home, she tours Mooney through the new bathroom that was destroyed in the previous two chapters. Inspecting the room, Mooney starts laughing maniacally, being asked why he’s laughing. Mooney says that every appliance in the room is stolen, and is why the room is so colorful.
December 23, 2022
Private investigator, ex cop and taxi driver, Carlotta is called upon by her former boss to look into the incident that has him suspended from the Boston police force. She is seeking out a whore with a snake tattoo. Concurrently there is a case of a missing, priveileged, 14 year old. Two quite different cases that lead in a similar direction.
June 27, 2024
The Snake Tattoo
I like the Carlotta Carlyle Mysteries. I've read two so far and plan to read the rest of the series. The main recurring characters are interesting and multilayered. Carlotta feels real as I'm reading and I like her sense of humor. The mystery part is layered with the characters personalities. Life.is not simple and that's what makes the mysteries believable.
I like the Carlotta Carlyle Mysteries. I've read two so far and plan to read the rest of the series. The main recurring characters are interesting and multilayered. Carlotta feels real as I'm reading and I like her sense of humor. The mystery part is layered with the characters personalities. Life.is not simple and that's what makes the mysteries believable.
May 24, 2017
This one was really good. She ended up taking two cases that had nothing in common, a young girl had disappeared and then a case that envolved her old boss who was being framed.
Kept you in your chair, read it in about 14 hours.
Kept you in your chair, read it in about 14 hours.
January 25, 2018
P. I. Done right!
This was a very easy read, well written and it flowed smoothly. My first Barnes work and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I very much like Carlotta's character. She felt real from the start.
This was a very easy read, well written and it flowed smoothly. My first Barnes work and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I very much like Carlotta's character. She felt real from the start.
June 21, 2018
Carlotta Carlyle, private investigator and taxi driver in Boston, searches for a missing teenager
and for a witness to a fracas involving her old mentor on the police force, Joe Mooney. The book has well-developed characters and moves right along.
and for a witness to a fracas involving her old mentor on the police force, Joe Mooney. The book has well-developed characters and moves right along.
July 25, 2020
My first Carlotta Carlyle mystery. It was merely OK. I had hoped that, since she's based in Boston, that she might be on a par with Spenser, but no. I won't go out of my way to look for others in this series.
November 30, 2020
I love the way Linda Barnes writes and I love her characters. They are varied and interesting. There are a couple of mysteries in this book, well-told, with some darkness but also with some fun woven in. Very entertaining!!
April 28, 2021
Reminds me of Ross McDonald. He surveyed the dark underbelly of upper-class southern California. Barnes examines the dark underbelly of upper-class Boston. I thought better of the book this second time around.
May 28, 2021
Private detective Carlotta is looking for the hooker who may be able to clear her policeman friend of shooting an unarmed man. What she finds is a preppy teen trying to find his missing friend. She goes on to solve both mysteries.
July 25, 2018
Enjoyed this book. Nothing over seriously but just a easy and fun read. First book I have read of Ms. Barnes. Going to look for rest of the series.
February 25, 2020
Good storyline...and no grammatical errors.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews