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Indigo #1
Heiress on Fire
After accidentally blowing up her husband, can Indigo get back on her four-inch heels? In this madcap debut, One for the Money meets Crazy Rich Asians with a little Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries thrown in.
The marriage of Aussie billion-heiress Indigo-Daisy-Violet-Amber Hasluck-Royce-Jones-Bombberg to conscientious reconstructive surgeon Dr Richard Bombberg has come to a spectacular end. In the middle of a cocktail party, Indigo set him and a mysterious redhead on fire. And then blew them and her penthouse up. All terrible accidents.
When detectives discover explosive device remains in the charred penthouse, they're gunning for Indigo. Unless she can remain upright, stuff her dignity into her Chanel clutch and uncover the mystery redhead's identity, she's going to jail.
To help Indigo, her semi-retired, semi-Buddhist, supermodel mother hires Esmerelda, a recent graduate of the model mentor prison program, as Indigo's personal assistant. Indigo and Esmerelda traverse Sydney's upper-class underbelly picking locks, outsmarting bankers and leprechauns, beating up feared gangsters, breaking into hospitals, setting a cathedral on fire (another terrible accident), bribing a giant fireman and some other stuff.
How hard can all this be for an heiress and a felon?
The marriage of Aussie billion-heiress Indigo-Daisy-Violet-Amber Hasluck-Royce-Jones-Bombberg to conscientious reconstructive surgeon Dr Richard Bombberg has come to a spectacular end. In the middle of a cocktail party, Indigo set him and a mysterious redhead on fire. And then blew them and her penthouse up. All terrible accidents.
When detectives discover explosive device remains in the charred penthouse, they're gunning for Indigo. Unless she can remain upright, stuff her dignity into her Chanel clutch and uncover the mystery redhead's identity, she's going to jail.
To help Indigo, her semi-retired, semi-Buddhist, supermodel mother hires Esmerelda, a recent graduate of the model mentor prison program, as Indigo's personal assistant. Indigo and Esmerelda traverse Sydney's upper-class underbelly picking locks, outsmarting bankers and leprechauns, beating up feared gangsters, breaking into hospitals, setting a cathedral on fire (another terrible accident), bribing a giant fireman and some other stuff.
How hard can all this be for an heiress and a felon?
432 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2021
25 people are currently reading
595 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
November 9, 2020
Thank you Better Reading for this ARC. I only apply for books that I think I'd enjoy.
The blurb for this sounded fun and exciting and could've been compared to a Sophie Kinsella book. The storyline was refreshing and unique and I really looked forward to reading it.
This book hooks you from the first page or 2 and I love that, however my enjoyment waned very quickly.
I found the book repetitive to the point where I'm rolling my eyes at every fashion house name drop. I have pictured Esmeraldas phone to be the size of a small TV seeing it was mentioned at least 3 times in a 100 pages, first time was funny but the 3rd was too much.
A lot of dialogue, unnecessary dialogue actually and then followed up with the protagonist thoughts on every conversation, as a reader I'd like to be able to think for myself what they are feeling.
For what could've been a great story, I found it lacked substance and humor. I stopped at around page 150.
Whilst this is my personal opinion, I trust that others may find it enjoyable. The great thing about books and authors is they're not a one size fits all and as readers we all have different genres and writing preference.
The blurb for this sounded fun and exciting and could've been compared to a Sophie Kinsella book. The storyline was refreshing and unique and I really looked forward to reading it.
This book hooks you from the first page or 2 and I love that, however my enjoyment waned very quickly.
I found the book repetitive to the point where I'm rolling my eyes at every fashion house name drop. I have pictured Esmeraldas phone to be the size of a small TV seeing it was mentioned at least 3 times in a 100 pages, first time was funny but the 3rd was too much.
A lot of dialogue, unnecessary dialogue actually and then followed up with the protagonist thoughts on every conversation, as a reader I'd like to be able to think for myself what they are feeling.
For what could've been a great story, I found it lacked substance and humor. I stopped at around page 150.
Whilst this is my personal opinion, I trust that others may find it enjoyable. The great thing about books and authors is they're not a one size fits all and as readers we all have different genres and writing preference.
January 25, 2021
This book was so much fun! I loved the characters, the way it was written and the setting in my hometown of Sydney. It was the prefect summer beach read and I hope that we see more of Indigo and Esmerelda soon.
Indigo is a billionaire heiress, and the number one suspect in the murder of her husband Richard. But it was an accident, a comedy of errors that lead to the fire during her lavish and exclusive cocktail party. But the police arrive and tell her that there was more involved that she thought. Along with her new personal shopper/assistant, Esmerelda (whose previous home was behind bars in Silverwater), she sets out to prove her innocence. What she discovers is that she really didn't know Richard at all. Her search for the truth leads he to some seedy and not so legal establishments in Sydney, and to the conclusion that many people could want him dead.
Indigo and Esmerelda are hilarious! Indigo's lack of real world knowledge and Esmerelda's delight at being around money are definite highlights of this book. I was laughing so much while reading this book and I loved it.
Indigo is a billionaire heiress, and the number one suspect in the murder of her husband Richard. But it was an accident, a comedy of errors that lead to the fire during her lavish and exclusive cocktail party. But the police arrive and tell her that there was more involved that she thought. Along with her new personal shopper/assistant, Esmerelda (whose previous home was behind bars in Silverwater), she sets out to prove her innocence. What she discovers is that she really didn't know Richard at all. Her search for the truth leads he to some seedy and not so legal establishments in Sydney, and to the conclusion that many people could want him dead.
Indigo and Esmerelda are hilarious! Indigo's lack of real world knowledge and Esmerelda's delight at being around money are definite highlights of this book. I was laughing so much while reading this book and I loved it.
November 28, 2022
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3.5 stars
A brash mystery tale with lashings of drama injected into the lively storyline, Heiress on Fire is the debut release from Kellie McCourt. With plenty of fashion, parties, accidents and sticky situations for the enigmatic lead character Indigo-Daisy-Violet-Amber-Hasluck-Royce-Jones-Bombberg to contend with, Heiress on Fire is a boisterous adventure tale.
Meet Australian billionaire heiress Indigo-Daisy-Violet-Amber-Hasluck-Royce-Jones-Bombberg. Indigo is married to a reconstructive surgeon. In a drastic turn of events, Indigo’s doctor husband dies at a cocktail party when she accidently sets him on fire. Indigo must set out to prove that this terrible event was an accident and that she did not deliberately set out to kill her husband. But the detectives assigned to this unusual case discover that a bomb was the cause of this awful accident. With the authorities suspicious of Indigo, this heiress knows that it is only a matter of time before she is sent to jail. But Indigo’s mother hires a personal assistant to help exonerate Indigo of the charges against her. Together, Indigo and her new mentor Esmerelda take on Sydney’s elite and the underworld of this upper-class society as they try to prove that Indigo is simply a heiress, not a criminal.
Sydneysider Kellie McCourt released her debut novel, Heiress on Fire in January 2021. This year’s release of Murder Most Fancy encouraged me to give Heiress on Fire my time. I’m glad I turned to this book first, as it gave me an essential introduction and background to lead character Indigo-Daisy-Violet-Amber-Hasluck-Royce-Jones-Bombberg’s colourful life. Heiress on Fire is definitely a book for fans of satirical murder mysteries, such as Miss Fisher or Stephanie Plum.
What I appreciated the most about Heiress on Fire was the fact that it is set in Australia. Although I reside on the west coast, I still enjoyed the local setting of Kellie McCourt’s novel. McCourt places emphasis on the super wealthy and this story provided a fascinating insight into high society Sydney. This world is contrasted to the dark underbelly that pervades the same city, which we witness through lead character Indigo’s sticky situation involving her husband’s untimely demise. McCourt teases out this well-timed murder mystery and cosy whodunnit nicely, providing plenty of speculation around this perplexing case. Heiress on Fire was quite a whirlwind read for me. I mostly enjoyed getting caught up in drama, escapades, innuendo and general shenanigans of the cast of this novel, headed by the colourful Indigo.
Heiress on Fire marks the beginning of sure-fire hit series for Kellie McCourt!
3.5 stars
A brash mystery tale with lashings of drama injected into the lively storyline, Heiress on Fire is the debut release from Kellie McCourt. With plenty of fashion, parties, accidents and sticky situations for the enigmatic lead character Indigo-Daisy-Violet-Amber-Hasluck-Royce-Jones-Bombberg to contend with, Heiress on Fire is a boisterous adventure tale.
Meet Australian billionaire heiress Indigo-Daisy-Violet-Amber-Hasluck-Royce-Jones-Bombberg. Indigo is married to a reconstructive surgeon. In a drastic turn of events, Indigo’s doctor husband dies at a cocktail party when she accidently sets him on fire. Indigo must set out to prove that this terrible event was an accident and that she did not deliberately set out to kill her husband. But the detectives assigned to this unusual case discover that a bomb was the cause of this awful accident. With the authorities suspicious of Indigo, this heiress knows that it is only a matter of time before she is sent to jail. But Indigo’s mother hires a personal assistant to help exonerate Indigo of the charges against her. Together, Indigo and her new mentor Esmerelda take on Sydney’s elite and the underworld of this upper-class society as they try to prove that Indigo is simply a heiress, not a criminal.
Sydneysider Kellie McCourt released her debut novel, Heiress on Fire in January 2021. This year’s release of Murder Most Fancy encouraged me to give Heiress on Fire my time. I’m glad I turned to this book first, as it gave me an essential introduction and background to lead character Indigo-Daisy-Violet-Amber-Hasluck-Royce-Jones-Bombberg’s colourful life. Heiress on Fire is definitely a book for fans of satirical murder mysteries, such as Miss Fisher or Stephanie Plum.
What I appreciated the most about Heiress on Fire was the fact that it is set in Australia. Although I reside on the west coast, I still enjoyed the local setting of Kellie McCourt’s novel. McCourt places emphasis on the super wealthy and this story provided a fascinating insight into high society Sydney. This world is contrasted to the dark underbelly that pervades the same city, which we witness through lead character Indigo’s sticky situation involving her husband’s untimely demise. McCourt teases out this well-timed murder mystery and cosy whodunnit nicely, providing plenty of speculation around this perplexing case. Heiress on Fire was quite a whirlwind read for me. I mostly enjoyed getting caught up in drama, escapades, innuendo and general shenanigans of the cast of this novel, headed by the colourful Indigo.
Heiress on Fire marks the beginning of sure-fire hit series for Kellie McCourt!
April 8, 2021
A tonne of pretentious unbelievable nonsense. I eye rolled my way through this one.
April 18, 2021
4.5!! 🤗🤗
January 6, 2021
One For The Money meets Crazy Rich Asians with a little Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries thrown in. With such a promising recommendation how could I go past the debut novel, Heiress On Fire, from Aussie author Kellie McCourt? It’s simple, I couldn’t so I dove head first into a different world. I had fun spending time with protagonist Indigo Daisy Violet Amber Hasluck Royce Jones Bombberg as she embarked on her madcap adventures that were reminiscent of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum in the One For The Money series.
Like all good mysteries, Heiress On Fire starts with a bang and this bang is a bomb. A bomb that goes off at Indigo’s and her husband’s, Dr Richard Blombberg, North Shore penthouse apartment during a cocktail party. As I formerly lived in Sydney, I enjoyed the many references, especially the chapter on Bankstown. I wasn’t a North Shore resident so it was a window into a world I will never inhabit. At its heart, this is an Australian read that captures contrasting lifestyles.
Indigo is Australia’s answer to Stephanie Plum, albeit an affluent, classier version. Obscenely wealthy as Indigo does not work and she has maids. Maids! Indigo has no desire or need to cook or clean and, she has someone to style her hair. Imagine, someone to do your hair every morning! I can only dream of such luxuries. Surprisingly, being affluent has its down sides. Indigo has led an extremely sheltered childhood and that continued to adulthood when she married the wealthy plastic surgeon. When life gets too much for Indigo, which seems to be always after the demise of her husband, she faints. A lot. To the point it became irritating. Explaining it as a family trait didn’t make it more bearable. At other times, many day to day experiences escape Indigo’s understanding, which provided a lot of humour when people tried to explain things to her.
One such person was Esmerelda, who is clearly Lulu from the Stephanie Plum series. Esmerelda comes from the mentor prison program which on reflection, does not make sense. Why would Indigo’s mother hire this person instead of a professional pa? No matter, Esmerelda provides a lot of laughs with her street cred and insider knowledge. She is the ying to Indigo’s yang, sharing a different point of view, often more crazier than not. Together the pair make a riotous pair of investigators as they try to solve the mystery of the bombing. Dealing with sex workers and gangsters, breaking into hospitals or starting a fire become all in a day’s work for Indigo and Esmerelda.
If you have read the Stephanie Plum series, you know there is a love triangle and Heiress On Fire follows suit. She may be a new widow yet; Indigo finds herself attracted to two men. Local law enforcement agent Burns and her brother-in-law, James. I found myself rooting for Burns as James really didn’t have much to do in the storyline. All he seemed to do was make Indigo melt.
This is a must read for fans of Janet Evanovich or those looking for a fun, easy read to while away the long summer days.
Thanks to Harper Collins Australia for the opportunity to read this book.
Like all good mysteries, Heiress On Fire starts with a bang and this bang is a bomb. A bomb that goes off at Indigo’s and her husband’s, Dr Richard Blombberg, North Shore penthouse apartment during a cocktail party. As I formerly lived in Sydney, I enjoyed the many references, especially the chapter on Bankstown. I wasn’t a North Shore resident so it was a window into a world I will never inhabit. At its heart, this is an Australian read that captures contrasting lifestyles.
Indigo is Australia’s answer to Stephanie Plum, albeit an affluent, classier version. Obscenely wealthy as Indigo does not work and she has maids. Maids! Indigo has no desire or need to cook or clean and, she has someone to style her hair. Imagine, someone to do your hair every morning! I can only dream of such luxuries. Surprisingly, being affluent has its down sides. Indigo has led an extremely sheltered childhood and that continued to adulthood when she married the wealthy plastic surgeon. When life gets too much for Indigo, which seems to be always after the demise of her husband, she faints. A lot. To the point it became irritating. Explaining it as a family trait didn’t make it more bearable. At other times, many day to day experiences escape Indigo’s understanding, which provided a lot of humour when people tried to explain things to her.
One such person was Esmerelda, who is clearly Lulu from the Stephanie Plum series. Esmerelda comes from the mentor prison program which on reflection, does not make sense. Why would Indigo’s mother hire this person instead of a professional pa? No matter, Esmerelda provides a lot of laughs with her street cred and insider knowledge. She is the ying to Indigo’s yang, sharing a different point of view, often more crazier than not. Together the pair make a riotous pair of investigators as they try to solve the mystery of the bombing. Dealing with sex workers and gangsters, breaking into hospitals or starting a fire become all in a day’s work for Indigo and Esmerelda.
If you have read the Stephanie Plum series, you know there is a love triangle and Heiress On Fire follows suit. She may be a new widow yet; Indigo finds herself attracted to two men. Local law enforcement agent Burns and her brother-in-law, James. I found myself rooting for Burns as James really didn’t have much to do in the storyline. All he seemed to do was make Indigo melt.
This is a must read for fans of Janet Evanovich or those looking for a fun, easy read to while away the long summer days.
Thanks to Harper Collins Australia for the opportunity to read this book.
November 16, 2020
Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Australia for an electronic ARC of this book.
It's an easy funny entertaining read about Indigo, a wife of famous Sydney plastic surgeon, Richard. Indigo left being a suspect of the explosion at her own penthouse which killed Richard and one of their guest, Crystal. This incident made Indigo stepped into a new crazy funny adventure with her new personal assistant, Esmeralda. These two characters got me to have a few too many chuckles. Definitely a new read of hilarious crime fiction to be added into your list.
It's an easy funny entertaining read about Indigo, a wife of famous Sydney plastic surgeon, Richard. Indigo left being a suspect of the explosion at her own penthouse which killed Richard and one of their guest, Crystal. This incident made Indigo stepped into a new crazy funny adventure with her new personal assistant, Esmeralda. These two characters got me to have a few too many chuckles. Definitely a new read of hilarious crime fiction to be added into your list.
February 4, 2021
I absolutely loved this fun and fast paced book. Let’s face it. I wanted to read this based on the cover and tag line alone. This was my first read of 2021 and did not disappoint.
April 18, 2021
Closer to a 4.5! Met all expectations, very enjoyable from start to finish!!
June 2, 2021
A great read. Hard to put down. The characters and storyline will have you hooked from the first chapter.
January 4, 2021
Thank you Harlequin for sending us a copy to read and review.
A funny sarcastic adventure with equal measures of comedy and crime and an abundance of quirky players in this campy romp.
Indigo is the wife of a very successful Sydney plastic surgeon, Richard.
During a fabulous cocktail party, Richard and a mysterious guest are set on fire and then the penthouse blows up.
Indigo states it’s a terrible accident, she’s the one that started the inferno and is the number one suspect.
To help her claim her innocence, Indigo’s supermodel mother Cat, hires Esmeralda, a model prisoner on parole as her personal assistant.
Now the duo are on the hunt for the truth getting into all sorts of capers and shenanigans wanting the one answer to the question, “what really happened?”
A sharp witty murder mystery with a satirical heroine and a cast of quirky fun characters in exploits of drama, escapades and sticky situations.
The lead character, Indigo is fun, full of tenacity, lots of good luck, likeable and very easy to enjoy and you can’t help but want to get completely involved in her life.
With all her madness, in an endearing way, I can see this going into a series of many books with the heiress and her many enterprises.
Something else that was fun, was it had attention grabbing chapter titles.
Overall it was an entertaining experience that comes highly recommended.
A funny sarcastic adventure with equal measures of comedy and crime and an abundance of quirky players in this campy romp.
Indigo is the wife of a very successful Sydney plastic surgeon, Richard.
During a fabulous cocktail party, Richard and a mysterious guest are set on fire and then the penthouse blows up.
Indigo states it’s a terrible accident, she’s the one that started the inferno and is the number one suspect.
To help her claim her innocence, Indigo’s supermodel mother Cat, hires Esmeralda, a model prisoner on parole as her personal assistant.
Now the duo are on the hunt for the truth getting into all sorts of capers and shenanigans wanting the one answer to the question, “what really happened?”
A sharp witty murder mystery with a satirical heroine and a cast of quirky fun characters in exploits of drama, escapades and sticky situations.
The lead character, Indigo is fun, full of tenacity, lots of good luck, likeable and very easy to enjoy and you can’t help but want to get completely involved in her life.
With all her madness, in an endearing way, I can see this going into a series of many books with the heiress and her many enterprises.
Something else that was fun, was it had attention grabbing chapter titles.
Overall it was an entertaining experience that comes highly recommended.
April 21, 2021
4.5 stars
Life for Australian billionaire heiress Indigo Daisy Violet Amber Hasluck Royce Jones Bombberg is looking worse than committing the ultimate fashion faux pas. She’s just managed to blow her penthouse up after setting her reconstructive surgeon husband Dr Richard Bombberg and a woman she doesn’t know on fire.
.
Shunned by high society and dubbed ‘Heiress on Fire’, she’s innocent but needs to prove it. With the police and popular opinion convinced she’s done it; Indigo needs to work out who the mysterious woman was. Enter Esmerlda. She couldn’t be more different to Indigo, but as they are drawn into the underbelly of Sydney’s high society; this recently released felon may just be exactly who Indigo needs to clear her name.
.
Heiress on Fire by Kellie McCourt is an absolute cracker of a debut novel. It is laugh out loud funny and it had me hooked from the very first page.
.
The writing is excellent and engaging in this work of contemporary fiction. Thankfully the writing of plot doesn’t taken itself too seriously or try too hard which means that it comes across as authentic and laugh out laugh funny rather than as trying too hard and being obnoxious like I find so much contemporary fiction does.
.
As good an all as the plot is; the characters are next level. You immediately felt at ease with them, like you’ve known them forever. McCourt really did excel herself with them and I liked that for all the rich socialites, there were plenty of every day people. For not only does this prove that money doesn’t always buy sense; but that the contrasting of lifestyles between the haves and have nots can lead to some very funny and heart warming moments.
.
A huge shout out to book reviewers @happyvalley_booksread for bringing this great book to my attention. I ravished Heiress on Fire in one sitting and couldn’t put it down. This new release is an absolute must read and I cannot wait to see what McCourt comes out with next; especially if it involves a series or at least a sequel, about Indigo and Esmeralda fighting crime in the lives of Sydney’s rich and famous. A highly recommended book that is well deserving of 4.5 stars.
To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo and @kt_elder on Instagram.
Life for Australian billionaire heiress Indigo Daisy Violet Amber Hasluck Royce Jones Bombberg is looking worse than committing the ultimate fashion faux pas. She’s just managed to blow her penthouse up after setting her reconstructive surgeon husband Dr Richard Bombberg and a woman she doesn’t know on fire.
.
Shunned by high society and dubbed ‘Heiress on Fire’, she’s innocent but needs to prove it. With the police and popular opinion convinced she’s done it; Indigo needs to work out who the mysterious woman was. Enter Esmerlda. She couldn’t be more different to Indigo, but as they are drawn into the underbelly of Sydney’s high society; this recently released felon may just be exactly who Indigo needs to clear her name.
.
Heiress on Fire by Kellie McCourt is an absolute cracker of a debut novel. It is laugh out loud funny and it had me hooked from the very first page.
.
The writing is excellent and engaging in this work of contemporary fiction. Thankfully the writing of plot doesn’t taken itself too seriously or try too hard which means that it comes across as authentic and laugh out laugh funny rather than as trying too hard and being obnoxious like I find so much contemporary fiction does.
.
As good an all as the plot is; the characters are next level. You immediately felt at ease with them, like you’ve known them forever. McCourt really did excel herself with them and I liked that for all the rich socialites, there were plenty of every day people. For not only does this prove that money doesn’t always buy sense; but that the contrasting of lifestyles between the haves and have nots can lead to some very funny and heart warming moments.
.
A huge shout out to book reviewers @happyvalley_booksread for bringing this great book to my attention. I ravished Heiress on Fire in one sitting and couldn’t put it down. This new release is an absolute must read and I cannot wait to see what McCourt comes out with next; especially if it involves a series or at least a sequel, about Indigo and Esmeralda fighting crime in the lives of Sydney’s rich and famous. A highly recommended book that is well deserving of 4.5 stars.
To play along with my book bingo and to see what else I’m reading, go to #ktbookbingo and @kt_elder on Instagram.
January 10, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book.
Indigo is a heiress, married to a top reconstructive surgeon, Dr Richard Bomburg. After throwing a dinner party in which two people, including Dr Bomburg, die from a fire and an explosion, Indigo finds herself as the main suspect.
The book follows Indigo's journey to prove her innocence, and find the real murderer.
I enjoyed this book! The humour was right up my alley, dripping with sarcasm. The author, Kellie McCourt, certainly knows her high end products, and the accuracy of the descriptions made for entertaining reading. I loved Esmerelda's character, and I think she was the hero of the book. I found scenes without her in it a bit disappointing, because I felt she just added so much to the story.
Some of the scenes were over-described, and there were repetitive parts within the story. That being said, Kellie McCourt has done an excellent job with the characters, and has managed to make the main character (despite being a spoiled heiress), and a personal assistant criminal quite likeable.
I appreciated the wrap up at the end of the book, and the addressing of many questions left unanswered. I would read another book by this author, and I would definitely read another book in this series.
Indigo is a heiress, married to a top reconstructive surgeon, Dr Richard Bomburg. After throwing a dinner party in which two people, including Dr Bomburg, die from a fire and an explosion, Indigo finds herself as the main suspect.
The book follows Indigo's journey to prove her innocence, and find the real murderer.
I enjoyed this book! The humour was right up my alley, dripping with sarcasm. The author, Kellie McCourt, certainly knows her high end products, and the accuracy of the descriptions made for entertaining reading. I loved Esmerelda's character, and I think she was the hero of the book. I found scenes without her in it a bit disappointing, because I felt she just added so much to the story.
Some of the scenes were over-described, and there were repetitive parts within the story. That being said, Kellie McCourt has done an excellent job with the characters, and has managed to make the main character (despite being a spoiled heiress), and a personal assistant criminal quite likeable.
I appreciated the wrap up at the end of the book, and the addressing of many questions left unanswered. I would read another book by this author, and I would definitely read another book in this series.
January 18, 2021
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital arc of this book, all opinions expressed here are my own.
Heiress on Fire by Kellie McCourt is an entertaining read that would be perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series.
Indigo accidentally blows up her penthouse, complete with her “bran muffin” husband inside. What follows is a quest for innocence featuring: a well connected grandmother, a former model mother, a hot police detective, sex workers (not prostitutes), Bob the Builder (from a motorcycle gang, not the cartoon), illegal plastic surgeries, an undead family complete with a hot but shady brother in law and a probably criminal personal shopper/assistant called Esmerelda.
Honestly Esmerelda was probably my favourite character amongst this cast of crazies. This was a fun, easy three star read.
Heiress on Fire by Kellie McCourt is an entertaining read that would be perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series.
Indigo accidentally blows up her penthouse, complete with her “bran muffin” husband inside. What follows is a quest for innocence featuring: a well connected grandmother, a former model mother, a hot police detective, sex workers (not prostitutes), Bob the Builder (from a motorcycle gang, not the cartoon), illegal plastic surgeries, an undead family complete with a hot but shady brother in law and a probably criminal personal shopper/assistant called Esmerelda.
Honestly Esmerelda was probably my favourite character amongst this cast of crazies. This was a fun, easy three star read.
April 30, 2021
This story centres around a female billionaire whose husband has recently died in suspicious circumstances. Together with her personal assistant she hurtles around Sydney, trying to figure out what happened and clear her name.
I was dubious when I started reading but it turned out to be a really entertaining and fun journey. The author uses hyperbole and caricature to create a story that races along with various twist and turns, while revealing main characters who are funny and endearing.
I enjoyed the book and I'm waiting for Kellie McCourt's next offering.
I was dubious when I started reading but it turned out to be a really entertaining and fun journey. The author uses hyperbole and caricature to create a story that races along with various twist and turns, while revealing main characters who are funny and endearing.
I enjoyed the book and I'm waiting for Kellie McCourt's next offering.
May 12, 2022
4.5*
Heiress on Fire is an uproarious mystery-adventure set among Sydney's über rich.
Full review to come.
Heiress on Fire is an uproarious mystery-adventure set among Sydney's über rich.
Full review to come.
March 16, 2021
I don’t usually read mystery/detective book. But I am glad I read this one. It was funny, and light... and didn’t I mentioned funny?
February 23, 2022
Not a writing style that I enjoy and far too many words and not enough action.
April 15, 2024
Not the BEST read ever.
But a sincere read that I did giggle too more than a few times.
Nice size print too so an easy quickie.
I was a bit dazed and confused through some areas but did enjoy the characterisations 🧡
Whether or not i grab the next Heiress adventure though.....
I would like a spin off for Esmerelda. I enjoyed her the most
But a sincere read that I did giggle too more than a few times.
Nice size print too so an easy quickie.
I was a bit dazed and confused through some areas but did enjoy the characterisations 🧡
Whether or not i grab the next Heiress adventure though.....
I would like a spin off for Esmerelda. I enjoyed her the most
August 26, 2022
Sit back and relax while unlikely duo Indigo, a heiress, and her excon personal shopper, Esmeralda, figure out who killed Indigo’s husband. Such a fun read, and the reviews are true this is One for the Money combined with Crazy Rich Asians.
May 28, 2021
I must possess an intense self-hatred, for I can think of no other reason as to why I read this book.
The characters are fucking awful. I genuinely despise them. The way they're written. The way they act. Every facet of their existence irks me.
It's just written so poorly that I can't help but wonder if it's all ironic. That would at least explain some things. Apologies if I sound pretentious but who on earth ends their book with a roll call of the various characters and plot points that were not addressed?
just regret.
If it weren't for the fact that I despise not finishing things, I would have stopped reading this within the first couple of chapters.
The characters are fucking awful. I genuinely despise them. The way they're written. The way they act. Every facet of their existence irks me.
It's just written so poorly that I can't help but wonder if it's all ironic. That would at least explain some things. Apologies if I sound pretentious but who on earth ends their book with a roll call of the various characters and plot points that were not addressed?
just regret.
If it weren't for the fact that I despise not finishing things, I would have stopped reading this within the first couple of chapters.
November 21, 2020
A romping read!! Witty writing with entertaining characters, taking you on an adventure of two women with unlikely partnership to solve a scandalous mystery. It's so funny you will keep turning the pages.
February 16, 2021
I was privileged to receive an advanced reading copy of this book, and so grateful I did! What a bundle of fun from front cover to back. I rarely engage in murder mystery novels, but what girl can go past an accidental murderess, Chanel and champagne??
Well done on your debut, Kellie. xx
Well done on your debut, Kellie. xx
October 14, 2021
Terrible. Trying way too hard to be funny! Very annoying. I couldn't finish it, in fact, I didn't get very far at all. What a waste of time!
January 31, 2021
I am in love with this book. It’s utterly hilarious and I am not exaggerating when I say every sentence had me laughing out loud. It was very rare to find murder mysteries with humor in them.
All the main characters were brilliant and their witty remarks are truly rib tickling.
This starts with Aussie billion-heiress Indigo-Daisy-Violet-Amber Hasluck-Royce-Jones-Bombberg setting fire to her penthouse. The fire had killed her plastic surgeon husband Dr. Richard Bombberg, guest Crystal and sent another guest into a coma. Esemerelda who was out on parole became personal assistant/shopper to Indigo much to the annoyance of Indigo.
Indigo and Esmerelda were great characters and they both like chalk and cheese. Indigo swathed in designer wear, sophisticated, grew up in a bubble and lacked real world knowledge whereas Esmerelda was street smart, always dressed in jeans, eats tons of food and spits out expletives at lightning speed. Their unlikely partnership took the book to the next level.
To prove Indigo’s innocence, they both had to take adventures, go to places like escort services looking for work, which must be the last place you think heiress would go to. They had to chase a dangerous biker gang, elicit info from them.
Indigo’s supermodel mom Catherine and formidable grandmother were great and quirky at best. Indigo soon learnt nothing what it appears in her life, shocked at how she was kept in dark by the people she loved most.
Overall, it was a very heartwarming, side splitting funny story I would gladly pick for re-reading again.
All the main characters were brilliant and their witty remarks are truly rib tickling.
This starts with Aussie billion-heiress Indigo-Daisy-Violet-Amber Hasluck-Royce-Jones-Bombberg setting fire to her penthouse. The fire had killed her plastic surgeon husband Dr. Richard Bombberg, guest Crystal and sent another guest into a coma. Esemerelda who was out on parole became personal assistant/shopper to Indigo much to the annoyance of Indigo.
Indigo and Esmerelda were great characters and they both like chalk and cheese. Indigo swathed in designer wear, sophisticated, grew up in a bubble and lacked real world knowledge whereas Esmerelda was street smart, always dressed in jeans, eats tons of food and spits out expletives at lightning speed. Their unlikely partnership took the book to the next level.
To prove Indigo’s innocence, they both had to take adventures, go to places like escort services looking for work, which must be the last place you think heiress would go to. They had to chase a dangerous biker gang, elicit info from them.
Indigo’s supermodel mom Catherine and formidable grandmother were great and quirky at best. Indigo soon learnt nothing what it appears in her life, shocked at how she was kept in dark by the people she loved most.
Overall, it was a very heartwarming, side splitting funny story I would gladly pick for re-reading again.
March 1, 2021
Spoiler free review
We follow Indigo-Daisy-Violet-Amber-Hasluck-Royce-Jones-Bombberg
As she, along with her personal shopper/assistant Esmeralda, try to find out who is responsible for her husband's death as well as the destruction of their fabulous penthouse. She needs to clear her name as she is currently the top suspect due to a very unfortunate set of circumstances.
I loved this one! It really did feel like an old-school whodunnit type mystery but set in the glamour of high society Sydney. I'll be honest that I'm not usually a huge fan of books set in Australia, I'm not sure why but I've always found them a bit too close to home to seperate from the fiction side of things. This one however was so outrageous and fun that it really sucked me in.
I felt like there were a good amount of red herrings and it definitely kept me guessing throughout. I wasn't overly surprised by the outcome but it was well done and wrapped most things up nicely. I'm not certain if there are plans for more books in this world but I genuinely hope so, there was definitely an open ended feel to it.
Definitely for fans of Stephanie Plum as this has this same sense of humour and laugh out loud situations. Bigger than life side characters and everyone being just a little bit suspicious make this a fun read all the way through.
Thank you so much to @harpercollinsaustralia
For sending me a copy I'm exchange for a review, I really enjoyed this book.
We follow Indigo-Daisy-Violet-Amber-Hasluck-Royce-Jones-Bombberg
As she, along with her personal shopper/assistant Esmeralda, try to find out who is responsible for her husband's death as well as the destruction of their fabulous penthouse. She needs to clear her name as she is currently the top suspect due to a very unfortunate set of circumstances.
I loved this one! It really did feel like an old-school whodunnit type mystery but set in the glamour of high society Sydney. I'll be honest that I'm not usually a huge fan of books set in Australia, I'm not sure why but I've always found them a bit too close to home to seperate from the fiction side of things. This one however was so outrageous and fun that it really sucked me in.
I felt like there were a good amount of red herrings and it definitely kept me guessing throughout. I wasn't overly surprised by the outcome but it was well done and wrapped most things up nicely. I'm not certain if there are plans for more books in this world but I genuinely hope so, there was definitely an open ended feel to it.
Definitely for fans of Stephanie Plum as this has this same sense of humour and laugh out loud situations. Bigger than life side characters and everyone being just a little bit suspicious make this a fun read all the way through.
Thank you so much to @harpercollinsaustralia
For sending me a copy I'm exchange for a review, I really enjoyed this book.
November 12, 2020
Thank you to Better Reading and Harlequin for my advanced copy of Heiress on Fire by Kellie McCourt.
I loved this book. A fun read from start to finish.
Great snappy chapter titles, too.
The characters are quirky and the dialogue and situations had me laughing out loud many times.
The first page had me hooked. I wanted to know why Indigo - the Heiress on Fire - was hunkered down in the pool house in her mother's garden, clothes unchanged for several days and drinking cheap wine.
'Who knew a $50 bottle of wine could taste so good?'
The first few paragraphs plants the reader straight into a setting of wealth, even if we failed to register it with the title.
Loved the interaction between Indigo and Esmerelda, her newly appointed PA/Personal shopper. Add a sexy detective and Indigo's family to the mix - her mother, Cat, ex supermodel and vegan, and her terrifying grandmother, the family matriarch and all is set for a fun ride in search of the truth regarding the accidental blowing up of Indigo's husband.
Particularly liked the grandmother's Chesterfield of Doom. (I know a sofa just like it)
I can't wait to read more from this author. And I'm rather hoping these characters appear again in a bit of light sleuthing.
I could see this being made into a fun movie
I loved this book. A fun read from start to finish.
Great snappy chapter titles, too.
The characters are quirky and the dialogue and situations had me laughing out loud many times.
The first page had me hooked. I wanted to know why Indigo - the Heiress on Fire - was hunkered down in the pool house in her mother's garden, clothes unchanged for several days and drinking cheap wine.
'Who knew a $50 bottle of wine could taste so good?'
The first few paragraphs plants the reader straight into a setting of wealth, even if we failed to register it with the title.
Loved the interaction between Indigo and Esmerelda, her newly appointed PA/Personal shopper. Add a sexy detective and Indigo's family to the mix - her mother, Cat, ex supermodel and vegan, and her terrifying grandmother, the family matriarch and all is set for a fun ride in search of the truth regarding the accidental blowing up of Indigo's husband.
Particularly liked the grandmother's Chesterfield of Doom. (I know a sofa just like it)
I can't wait to read more from this author. And I'm rather hoping these characters appear again in a bit of light sleuthing.
I could see this being made into a fun movie
November 3, 2021
This book was a library recommendation and didn’t disappoint.
The writing style and voice reminded me a bit of author Janet Evanovich. I think just because the characters are super quirky and the storylines are action packed and paced similarly.
The book takes place in Australia and now more than ever I want to take a trip there. The two main characters, Indigo and her sidekick Esmerelda, go on outrageous adventures throughout Australia. There’s murder, high fashion and luxury, great family dynamics, and the start of budding romances and friendships.
Indigo and Esmerelda come from two very different worlds and their friendship wraps up this story in a bow. It’s fresh, funny, and fabulous.
Also, I love that the author is including AAPI characters as main characters. We deserve diverse characters who are like ourselves and the people in our lives!
Their friendship made me think…who is my sidekick in life? The person who has my back and can anticipate my thoughts etc. And of course, my side kicks would be my sisters. We can read each other’s minds…super fun, but also eerie. Who are the side kicks in your life? Do you have an Esmerelda to your Indigo? Is your Esmerelda as awesome and kick ass?
The writing style and voice reminded me a bit of author Janet Evanovich. I think just because the characters are super quirky and the storylines are action packed and paced similarly.
The book takes place in Australia and now more than ever I want to take a trip there. The two main characters, Indigo and her sidekick Esmerelda, go on outrageous adventures throughout Australia. There’s murder, high fashion and luxury, great family dynamics, and the start of budding romances and friendships.
Indigo and Esmerelda come from two very different worlds and their friendship wraps up this story in a bow. It’s fresh, funny, and fabulous.
Also, I love that the author is including AAPI characters as main characters. We deserve diverse characters who are like ourselves and the people in our lives!
Their friendship made me think…who is my sidekick in life? The person who has my back and can anticipate my thoughts etc. And of course, my side kicks would be my sisters. We can read each other’s minds…super fun, but also eerie. Who are the side kicks in your life? Do you have an Esmerelda to your Indigo? Is your Esmerelda as awesome and kick ass?
March 12, 2022
Hilarious good fun.
I wanna see a 20 something year old Toni Collette in the title role of the screen adaptation, whether big or small. She'd kill.
Metaphorically.
I needed this to get out of a rut I'd dug myself into with a 12 months in 12 months challenge I set myself this year (2022). January wasn't that much an issue, I read that entry pretty much in two or three days. February, however, was a tragic English love triangle and I found myself across the halfway point loving or sympathising with neither of the three main characters.
In fact, I kept wondering what happened to the brother of the female protagonist.
Anyway I decided this looked decidedly like a fun and breezy read and I dove for it. Though to be fair, two weeks into March and I'm still stalling on my February book, you know it ain't going to end well.
And it was. Fun and breezy. Not entirely believable but I'm willing to suspend my disbelief for the entertainment. I think being an adopted Sydneysider for the last five years gave me extra appreciation for a socialite in the same city.
And to be fair, before this I was stuck in a series of plot-less, steam-filled, smutty romances so anything would have been more believable.
I wanna see a 20 something year old Toni Collette in the title role of the screen adaptation, whether big or small. She'd kill.
Metaphorically.
I needed this to get out of a rut I'd dug myself into with a 12 months in 12 months challenge I set myself this year (2022). January wasn't that much an issue, I read that entry pretty much in two or three days. February, however, was a tragic English love triangle and I found myself across the halfway point loving or sympathising with neither of the three main characters.
In fact, I kept wondering what happened to the brother of the female protagonist.
Anyway I decided this looked decidedly like a fun and breezy read and I dove for it. Though to be fair, two weeks into March and I'm still stalling on my February book, you know it ain't going to end well.
And it was. Fun and breezy. Not entirely believable but I'm willing to suspend my disbelief for the entertainment. I think being an adopted Sydneysider for the last five years gave me extra appreciation for a socialite in the same city.
And to be fair, before this I was stuck in a series of plot-less, steam-filled, smutty romances so anything would have been more believable.
October 24, 2020
Thank you Better Reading for an advanced copy of Heiress On Fire by Kellie McCourt for my honest review. This is a debut??? What the hell! How is this hilarious, perfectly written, sarcastic, fast paced novel the first book from this author?? Billion-heiress (insert 7 names) Blombberg has accidentally blown up her husband, destroyed her penthouse and is now living in her famous ex model, semi-Buddhist mother’s pool house trying to avoid being arrested by the hottest detective in town. Now throw in a street savey , taser holding, model punching ex con, “ personal shopper”, a whole bunch of sex workers, a gangster in witness protection and a saucy brother-in-law and you have just a few of the characters in this hilarious, sharp, designer shoe of a murder mystery, that is filled with so many laugh out loud moments & wtf moments that made it so hard to put down & get anything else done! Move over Janet Evanavich because Author Kellie McCourt is going to give you a run for your money! I’m just sorry for you all that this book isn’t released until January 21 and you will have to wait until then. #BRPreview ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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