What do you think?
Rate this book
AKA Investigations #2
Also Known As DNA
ASIN moved from less recent edition
"A treat to read. It was touching; suspenseful; joyful; and most of all, hilarious. Thank you, Kelli Jae Baeli, for such endearing entertainment."
"…in true AKA Investigations style, events conspire to spiral out of control, testing the fortitude, depth of feeling and sheer courage of each of the characters. Nail-biting action and heart-stopping tension take the reader on a roller-coaster ride through the pages, piling one catastrophe on top of another and testing the characters to the limit. I wasn't sure they'd all make it out alive in this one, but it sure had me turning the pages to find out. Baeli is at the top of her game here, delivering a book at once touching and full of odd, often humorous bits of wisdom and a storyline of exciting misadventure and action."
"The author writes wonderful dialog that is keen, witty and original. This book was a blessing and a curse. -A blessing because it was so satisfying, but a curse because I was sad for it to end. So...I read it once, went back and read "Armchair Detective" again and then read it again. Simply put, this book was one of the best reads I've had in a while. The phrase, "I couldn't put it down" has lost its significance due to over use, but I'll say that I couldn't wait to get into bed at night and get my Baeli fix before falling asleep. As for the plot - it is riveting! This is a fantastic book!"
Newly ensconced in the house on Manor Lane, Jobeth and Phoebe are enjoying the city of Lakewood, Colorado and Jobeth’s newly licensed AKA Investigations. After a fresh start in the Denver Metro region, life seems idyllic and full of promise. The dream is soon shattered by ghosts from the past, appearing to tear the fabric of love and trust.
With the company of their friend, Detective Ginger Grant, a crescendoing battle of survival will test their courage, as they discover the darker permutations of DNA.
"I had no idea what a wild ride the author had in store. One of the best things about the book is Baeli's commitment to the ending. So many authors build up tension in their novels only to resolve everything in a matter of 15 pages. This is so frustrating and just plain lazy in my opinion. The last 15% of the book is wrought with tension, and I was surprised and captivated the whole time."
"A treat to read. It was touching; suspenseful; joyful; and most of all, hilarious. Thank you, Kelli Jae Baeli, for such endearing entertainment."
"…in true AKA Investigations style, events conspire to spiral out of control, testing the fortitude, depth of feeling and sheer courage of each of the characters. Nail-biting action and heart-stopping tension take the reader on a roller-coaster ride through the pages, piling one catastrophe on top of another and testing the characters to the limit. I wasn't sure they'd all make it out alive in this one, but it sure had me turning the pages to find out. Baeli is at the top of her game here, delivering a book at once touching and full of odd, often humorous bits of wisdom and a storyline of exciting misadventure and action."
"The author writes wonderful dialog that is keen, witty and original. This book was a blessing and a curse. -A blessing because it was so satisfying, but a curse because I was sad for it to end. So...I read it once, went back and read "Armchair Detective" again and then read it again. Simply put, this book was one of the best reads I've had in a while. The phrase, "I couldn't put it down" has lost its significance due to over use, but I'll say that I couldn't wait to get into bed at night and get my Baeli fix before falling asleep. As for the plot - it is riveting! This is a fantastic book!"
Newly ensconced in the house on Manor Lane, Jobeth and Phoebe are enjoying the city of Lakewood, Colorado and Jobeth’s newly licensed AKA Investigations. After a fresh start in the Denver Metro region, life seems idyllic and full of promise. The dream is soon shattered by ghosts from the past, appearing to tear the fabric of love and trust.
With the company of their friend, Detective Ginger Grant, a crescendoing battle of survival will test their courage, as they discover the darker permutations of DNA.
"I had no idea what a wild ride the author had in store. One of the best things about the book is Baeli's commitment to the ending. So many authors build up tension in their novels only to resolve everything in a matter of 15 pages. This is so frustrating and just plain lazy in my opinion. The last 15% of the book is wrought with tension, and I was surprised and captivated the whole time."
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
14 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Kelli Jae Baeli
123 books146 followers"To me, failing to learn to use the tools one’s craft shows laziness and disrespect for the reader. There are, however, no issues of that sort where Baeli’s writing is concerned. It’s rare to these days to find a writer whose style is technically so nearly perfect, but who’s also a damned good storyteller. I doubt if she is even capable of writing poorly." ~W. Spice
Even after 36 novels, I always try to write the sort of book I would want to read. My favorite thing to do is take a common trope and turn it on its ear. Where you expect a zig, I give you a zag. In my pages, you will find strong female characters, ethical dilemmas, and realistic storylines often filled with adventure and intense pacing, tempered by witty dialog, and happy endings. All are hallmarks of my work.
As a Bestselling Genre-Hopping Indie Author, I’ve enjoyed a sales position in the top 5% of lesbian writers, but I write crossover and mainstream fiction and have authored 26 nonfiction books, as well. All 36 of my FemFic novels have been bestsellers in the genres of domestic suspense, domestic thriller, women's adventure, romantic suspense, apocalyptic, speculative, lesfic, lesbian romance, and science fiction. I’m also a mixed-media artist (mostly clay and abstract painting) and former performing singer-songwriter with over 200 songs.
My wife, Melissa Walker-Baeli, is a budding author in her own right, and we have several co-writing projects coming soon. We live with two dogs, (Noodle and Whatnot) and two cats, (Poppet and Chicklet) on ten acres in the gorgeous Northwoods of Michigan.
Even after 36 novels, I always try to write the sort of book I would want to read. My favorite thing to do is take a common trope and turn it on its ear. Where you expect a zig, I give you a zag. In my pages, you will find strong female characters, ethical dilemmas, and realistic storylines often filled with adventure and intense pacing, tempered by witty dialog, and happy endings. All are hallmarks of my work.
As a Bestselling Genre-Hopping Indie Author, I’ve enjoyed a sales position in the top 5% of lesbian writers, but I write crossover and mainstream fiction and have authored 26 nonfiction books, as well. All 36 of my FemFic novels have been bestsellers in the genres of domestic suspense, domestic thriller, women's adventure, romantic suspense, apocalyptic, speculative, lesfic, lesbian romance, and science fiction. I’m also a mixed-media artist (mostly clay and abstract painting) and former performing singer-songwriter with over 200 songs.
My wife, Melissa Walker-Baeli, is a budding author in her own right, and we have several co-writing projects coming soon. We live with two dogs, (Noodle and Whatnot) and two cats, (Poppet and Chicklet) on ten acres in the gorgeous Northwoods of Michigan.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 14, 2019
Omg I love this series.
I am so in love with Jobeth, Phoebe, Ginger, and Izzy. Not only did they have me laughing, they had me in tears and again holding my breath. I loved how Ginger and Izzy met and watching their relationship develop. This storyline had me hooked since page one. I can't believe I took so long to read this series. I definitely recommend this series.
I am so in love with Jobeth, Phoebe, Ginger, and Izzy. Not only did they have me laughing, they had me in tears and again holding my breath. I loved how Ginger and Izzy met and watching their relationship develop. This storyline had me hooked since page one. I can't believe I took so long to read this series. I definitely recommend this series.
June 10, 2016
Not sure what to write this time. I'll start with copy and pasting what I wrote while I was reading:
"Hmm, now I know I'll probably ending up hating this book or giving it 1 star. Why? Because this is the sixth book I've read by Baeli (I think), and this is the first 5 star sex scene I've read by her. I mean . . . most of the time when that happens so early in a book, I hate the rest of the book. Right, okay then. I'll give this 1/3rd of the book 5 stars. I guess worst rating it could get now is 2.33333333333333333 (32% done)"
I had this plan, see, I was going to start rating by thirds. Since I had found something to say at roughly 33%, so I figured I'd force myself to remember to add something, anything at 66%. But . . . my plan kind of failed. Not because I forgot, not because I had nothing to say, but because I read 33-100% of the book in one go. So . . . that says something or other. That I couldn't stop reading.
Right. One of the things I did think of writing at the 66% mark, I mean, I thought of it at 36%, but figured I could add it at 66%. The fact that I was reading a mystery book and . . . I had just realized at the 36 percent mark that the mystery part of the story seemed to have failed to get started. Sure, there were some mysterious things occurring, and some investigations. But neither make a mystery in and of themselves. And they weren't connected. The mysterious things, I mean, involved strange texts and the like. The investigations involved Jobeth working on some cases in a 'so I did this, and then testified in court, and stuff' - as in, there were no mysteries to solve there.
By this point, as in after the book was over, I have to wonder if I overlooked the mystery. Sure, at roughly ... crap I can't remember. Okay, the book split at some point and it became a soap opera type of melodrama, then some death scenes occurred unexpectedly out of the blue (as opposed to expectedly out of the blue). I'm not really sure if I can label what happened in the second half of the book a specific genre. Thriller, maybe. Suspense. But not mystery. Not romantic intrigue. Hell, the plot for the second half was lifted straight from a soap opera (not literally, I mean, elements were like elements you might see on a soap opera). Unexpected relatives. Mistaken identities. Crazed insane murder attempts. Etc.
So:
Romance: the romance between Jobeth and Phoebe proceeded naturally from the first book. Baring a soap opera bump. They had successfully moved from fling to couple to more or less partners in love. I guess that's why there was the added many many POV's added. I'll get to that later.
There were two more couples in this book. Several other romances, meaning one of the women from the first book played a larger role in this book, and attempted to find a mate. So dated a lot. Names would probably help, but if I gave the names . . bloody hell. I've already given too much away as it is. hmms. So I go back and add spoiler tags. Okay. Added.
So then, the police detective in that other book takes larger role in this one. Even has her own POV. So many bloody point of views. Right. So, this Detective Ginger Grant followed Jobeth and Phoebe when they moved from Oklahoma to Colorado (one: first time I realized the first book was sent in Oklahoma; two: judging by the number of books I've read set in Colorado, specifically around Denver, Colorado must be the lesbian mecca of the world). She was in a dead in job, so what the hell, lets uproot and move. Nothing keeping her in Oklahoma. And her rich friend, Phoebe, has connections in Denver and so she can get a job there. And does.
The dynamic between Jobeth, Phoebe, and Ginger was odd. In that, sure there was that epilogue at the end of the book that told, not showed, that they got all friendly with each other, but the transition from 'cop related to the mystery' to 'best-friend-forever' was . . . weak. But, whatever.
Right. So. Ginger is one half of the second couple in the book. Also one of the point of views. The other half also has a point of view. She's one of the unexpected mysterious guests who I can't even mention without being all spoilery.
And the other, or third, couple in the book pop up in the second half. Man and woman, strange I know. I can't even mention their identities without being spoilery. I can mention one, at least, is related to one of the people previously a member of the main cast.
POV: Good god. Maybe I'm forgetting something, but I recall that the first book had one point of view. As in, the first book was told from the point of view of Jobeth. Second book? Well, Jobeth still has her scenes. As does Ginger. As does Izzy. As does Megan (I really had no desire to read Megan's POV and didn't care to read it). I might be forgetting a point of view somewhere along the way. Also, it wasn't always immediately easy to tell whose point of view I was suddenly in. Though it became quickly apparent before anything important occurred. And, I think, the POV kept from shifting mid-paragraph, and probably kept from shifting within the same chapter. If I recall correctly. So that was good. The 80 billion point of views was not, but, bah.
Mystery: What mystery?
Suspense: Good grief, what a melodrama. Also, considering that two of the three people being 'tricked' were investigators, the fact that none of them caught on is . . . confusing. Granted Jobeth was distracted because of being all emotional, and Ginger didn't even realize there was an issue for a week or half. Izzy gets a pass as she was a new-comer to the whole thing and seemed to oddly disappear right around when the issue came up. You know, that issue I can't mention or spoil stuff.
Sex: I mentioned somewhere above that one of the sex scenes caught me off guard and was quite interesting/intriguing/good. The rest were on par with previous ones. As in, they occurred. And I wasn't blown away by them. Nor was I horrified, disgusted, or otherwise sad to be alive. Or something.
"Hmm, now I know I'll probably ending up hating this book or giving it 1 star. Why? Because this is the sixth book I've read by Baeli (I think), and this is the first 5 star sex scene I've read by her. I mean . . . most of the time when that happens so early in a book, I hate the rest of the book. Right, okay then. I'll give this 1/3rd of the book 5 stars. I guess worst rating it could get now is 2.33333333333333333 (32% done)"
I had this plan, see, I was going to start rating by thirds. Since I had found something to say at roughly 33%, so I figured I'd force myself to remember to add something, anything at 66%. But . . . my plan kind of failed. Not because I forgot, not because I had nothing to say, but because I read 33-100% of the book in one go. So . . . that says something or other. That I couldn't stop reading.
Right. One of the things I did think of writing at the 66% mark, I mean, I thought of it at 36%, but figured I could add it at 66%. The fact that I was reading a mystery book and . . . I had just realized at the 36 percent mark that the mystery part of the story seemed to have failed to get started. Sure, there were some mysterious things occurring, and some investigations. But neither make a mystery in and of themselves. And they weren't connected. The mysterious things, I mean, involved strange texts and the like. The investigations involved Jobeth working on some cases in a 'so I did this, and then testified in court, and stuff' - as in, there were no mysteries to solve there.
By this point, as in after the book was over, I have to wonder if I overlooked the mystery. Sure, at roughly ... crap I can't remember. Okay, the book split at some point and it became a soap opera type of melodrama, then some death scenes occurred unexpectedly out of the blue (as opposed to expectedly out of the blue). I'm not really sure if I can label what happened in the second half of the book a specific genre. Thriller, maybe. Suspense. But not mystery. Not romantic intrigue. Hell, the plot for the second half was lifted straight from a soap opera (not literally, I mean, elements were like elements you might see on a soap opera). Unexpected relatives. Mistaken identities. Crazed insane murder attempts. Etc.
So:
Romance: the romance between Jobeth and Phoebe proceeded naturally from the first book. Baring a soap opera bump. They had successfully moved from fling to couple to more or less partners in love. I guess that's why there was the added many many POV's added. I'll get to that later.
There were two more couples in this book. Several other romances, meaning one of the women from the first book played a larger role in this book, and attempted to find a mate. So dated a lot. Names would probably help, but if I gave the names . . bloody hell. I've already given too much away as it is. hmms. So I go back and add spoiler tags. Okay. Added.
So then, the police detective in that other book takes larger role in this one. Even has her own POV. So many bloody point of views. Right. So, this Detective Ginger Grant followed Jobeth and Phoebe when they moved from Oklahoma to Colorado (one: first time I realized the first book was sent in Oklahoma; two: judging by the number of books I've read set in Colorado, specifically around Denver, Colorado must be the lesbian mecca of the world). She was in a dead in job, so what the hell, lets uproot and move. Nothing keeping her in Oklahoma. And her rich friend, Phoebe, has connections in Denver and so she can get a job there. And does.
The dynamic between Jobeth, Phoebe, and Ginger was odd. In that, sure there was that epilogue at the end of the book that told, not showed, that they got all friendly with each other, but the transition from 'cop related to the mystery' to 'best-friend-forever' was . . . weak. But, whatever.
Right. So. Ginger is one half of the second couple in the book. Also one of the point of views. The other half also has a point of view. She's one of the unexpected mysterious guests who I can't even mention without being all spoilery.
And the other, or third, couple in the book pop up in the second half. Man and woman, strange I know. I can't even mention their identities without being spoilery. I can mention one, at least, is related to one of the people previously a member of the main cast.
POV: Good god. Maybe I'm forgetting something, but I recall that the first book had one point of view. As in, the first book was told from the point of view of Jobeth. Second book? Well, Jobeth still has her scenes. As does Ginger. As does Izzy. As does Megan (I really had no desire to read Megan's POV and didn't care to read it). I might be forgetting a point of view somewhere along the way. Also, it wasn't always immediately easy to tell whose point of view I was suddenly in. Though it became quickly apparent before anything important occurred. And, I think, the POV kept from shifting mid-paragraph, and probably kept from shifting within the same chapter. If I recall correctly. So that was good. The 80 billion point of views was not, but, bah.
Mystery: What mystery?
Suspense: Good grief, what a melodrama. Also, considering that two of the three people being 'tricked' were investigators, the fact that none of them caught on is . . . confusing. Granted Jobeth was distracted because of being all emotional, and Ginger didn't even realize there was an issue for a week or half. Izzy gets a pass as she was a new-comer to the whole thing and seemed to oddly disappear right around when the issue came up. You know, that issue I can't mention or spoil stuff.
Sex: I mentioned somewhere above that one of the sex scenes caught me off guard and was quite interesting/intriguing/good. The rest were on par with previous ones. As in, they occurred. And I wasn't blown away by them. Nor was I horrified, disgusted, or otherwise sad to be alive. Or something.
January 6, 2021
Okay, Book 2 of Baeli’s AKA Investigative Series kept me as entertained as the first one. Just as with the first book, this one also is in first person and she nails it.
No spoiler alert to be found here. But I can tell you that I laughed so hard I think I probably snorted right out loud a couple of times. The manner in which she has her main characters playing off one another is brilliant. This one has more twists to offer that not just surprised me, but if possible, added so much more depth to the original characters for me and new ones.
I enjoy a good detective story with dazzling humor and don’t forget the romance. Check off the boxes here. All combined to make a fun and entertaining story, just sayin’.
No spoiler alert to be found here. But I can tell you that I laughed so hard I think I probably snorted right out loud a couple of times. The manner in which she has her main characters playing off one another is brilliant. This one has more twists to offer that not just surprised me, but if possible, added so much more depth to the original characters for me and new ones.
I enjoy a good detective story with dazzling humor and don’t forget the romance. Check off the boxes here. All combined to make a fun and entertaining story, just sayin’.
August 27, 2022
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: established couple, full-time writer, character with a disability, butch character; UNICORN: more than 2 POVs, twins (possibly other categories)
Jobeth, Phoebe, and Ginger moved to Colorado for a new start, and many surprises were discovered between the three of them. One had a sibling they never knew about, one had a secret twin, and one had a surprising age-gap romance begin. So much happened in the second book, and it was one helluva ride! It was more serious and dramatic than the first novel, but it was also more compelling. Great read.
Jobeth, Phoebe, and Ginger moved to Colorado for a new start, and many surprises were discovered between the three of them. One had a sibling they never knew about, one had a secret twin, and one had a surprising age-gap romance begin. So much happened in the second book, and it was one helluva ride! It was more serious and dramatic than the first novel, but it was also more compelling. Great read.
December 11, 2017
it's has action love mystery drama and lots of funny dialogue I love it... after so long I read a book that actually made me laugh out loud...
November 1, 2012
Jobeth O’Brien and her partner, Phoebe McMasters, are enjoying a peaceful life together on Manor Lane in Colorado after moving from Oklahoma. Jobeth has her P.I License and has her own agency, AKA Investigations. Their new start together is suddenly interrupted by ghosts from the past.
First of all, Jobeth’s estranged sister Izzy turns up out of the blue. At first Jobeth and Izzy don’t appear to get on too well together. But as they get to know one another, that changes. Izzy turns out to be more like Jobeth than either of them thought.
Phoebe’s past comes back to haunt her. In fact, it causes heartbreak for both Phoebe and Jobeth in a big way.
Ginger, Jobeth and Phoebe’s detective friend, has moved to Colorado with them and occupies the cottage behind their house. Ginger is looking for love. Will she find it? Ginger and Izzy appear to get on well together. But Izzy is a lot younger than Ginger and she’s not into relationships. Will Ginger get her heart broken?
It will take the ingenuity of all four of these women to get rid of the ghosts from the past. But will they be able to keep themselves alive to outwit the deranged felons?
Even though the plot to this story stretched my imagination a bit, I actually thoroughly enjoyed the story.
I loved Jobeth, Phoebe and Ginger from Armchair Detective and to have them back again is a true pleasure. Izzy has joined the three other women and her character has fit right in with the others. They all interact so well together and play an essential part in furthering the story.
I don’t want to add any spoilers in here, but suffice it say that the story is a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns throughout. There are so many ups and downs, the book is a real page turner from start to finish.
There is a mixture of humor, gut wrenching terror and emotional heartbreak amongst the action and romance. If anything, this story is even better than the first one. Both books are standalone, but I would strongly advise reading Armchair Detective first. It gives more of the characters background. Plus you would be missing out on another good book if you don’t.
I’m hoping there will be another in this series soon.
First of all, Jobeth’s estranged sister Izzy turns up out of the blue. At first Jobeth and Izzy don’t appear to get on too well together. But as they get to know one another, that changes. Izzy turns out to be more like Jobeth than either of them thought.
Phoebe’s past comes back to haunt her. In fact, it causes heartbreak for both Phoebe and Jobeth in a big way.
Ginger, Jobeth and Phoebe’s detective friend, has moved to Colorado with them and occupies the cottage behind their house. Ginger is looking for love. Will she find it? Ginger and Izzy appear to get on well together. But Izzy is a lot younger than Ginger and she’s not into relationships. Will Ginger get her heart broken?
It will take the ingenuity of all four of these women to get rid of the ghosts from the past. But will they be able to keep themselves alive to outwit the deranged felons?
Even though the plot to this story stretched my imagination a bit, I actually thoroughly enjoyed the story.
I loved Jobeth, Phoebe and Ginger from Armchair Detective and to have them back again is a true pleasure. Izzy has joined the three other women and her character has fit right in with the others. They all interact so well together and play an essential part in furthering the story.
I don’t want to add any spoilers in here, but suffice it say that the story is a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns throughout. There are so many ups and downs, the book is a real page turner from start to finish.
There is a mixture of humor, gut wrenching terror and emotional heartbreak amongst the action and romance. If anything, this story is even better than the first one. Both books are standalone, but I would strongly advise reading Armchair Detective first. It gives more of the characters background. Plus you would be missing out on another good book if you don’t.
I’m hoping there will be another in this series soon.
September 21, 2011
I started this book with only a little trepidation, because we all know how series fiction can lose its life, even beginning with the second book. Also Known as DNA is the second book in Baeli's new AKA Investigations series--and I can say I shouldn't have been concerned...it's a series i am very much looking forward to. I read it immediately after the first, since i loved that one so much, i wanted more...and to my delight, found that this book was every bit as good as the first--and in some ways, even better--though I'm not sure how that can work, since i thought the first was just about perfect. This one has a bit more humor in it, but that doesn't affect the drama of it adversely at all. Baeli is very good at balancing laughter and tears, entertainment and intensity. She also managed, in this book, to bring new environments into the mix, so that the setting almost becomes a character, too. And another change in the second book, was the use of both first person and third person omniscient point of view. It worked very well in this book, and expanded the possibilities immensely. She also introduced some new characters and themes, all of which i absolutely LOVED, and all were just as engaging and inventive as the last book. I actually read this book straight through on a Friday night and had to go to bed the next morning to sleep, because i could not stop reading it! It's the very definition of a page-turner. IT had adventure, incredible challenges, interesting twists, and always, that wonderfully delightful banter between characters and the consistently interesting development of their relationships. I came away so satisfied, and yet still longing for more. Can't wait for #3 in the series!! I just can't find a thing negative to say about this book, or about Baeli as an author. I'm so excited to have found her. Thank you, Kelli Jae Baeli for sharing your incredible talent with the world. (Are you single?)
August 7, 2012
This book was even more gripping than the first! I feel like i've known the characters for a long time and hated to come to the end of the book. This is the first time in reading a book, that i purposely took breaks from the reading to digest all that had happened before continuing on. It was just one shocker after another and amazingly engaging. Izzy's character was so well done that it seemed like i knew her better than the other protagonists. Absolutely LOVE her!
Like the first book, you will experience a wide range of emotions while reading this. It's intelligent, hot, and witty and will have you laughing with the characters, angry, sad, and in love right along with them. I am still amazed at this author's ability to break the mold of the predictable lesfic genre. She is in my authors of all times and you are missing a gem by not catching up on her work.
There were 3 small plot things that annoyed me by the end. 1 - there was no explanation to why the bike was run off the road by the person that did it. they wouldn't have known each other at that point. 2 - the timeline for the day of the seminar doesn't add up. too many things happened simultaneously to have all happened within the same day by the same people. and 3 - the confrontation with the enemy. the chasing, captures and recaptures and mountains, etc... was frustrating. 4 skilled people, especially those 4 should not have been portrayed as that stupid and helpless. For the first time in any of her books, i found myself saying 'oh, come on!'
but that's just me, and was all towards the end of the book, and since so much before it was so thoroughly enjoyable, it's was easy to overlook ;)
definitely read this book, and read Armchair Detective first. Both are well worth the time and money and better than most of the other books of this genre.
Like the first book, you will experience a wide range of emotions while reading this. It's intelligent, hot, and witty and will have you laughing with the characters, angry, sad, and in love right along with them. I am still amazed at this author's ability to break the mold of the predictable lesfic genre. She is in my authors of all times and you are missing a gem by not catching up on her work.
There were 3 small plot things that annoyed me by the end. 1 - there was no explanation to why the bike was run off the road by the person that did it. they wouldn't have known each other at that point. 2 - the timeline for the day of the seminar doesn't add up. too many things happened simultaneously to have all happened within the same day by the same people. and 3 - the confrontation with the enemy. the chasing, captures and recaptures and mountains, etc... was frustrating. 4 skilled people, especially those 4 should not have been portrayed as that stupid and helpless. For the first time in any of her books, i found myself saying 'oh, come on!'
but that's just me, and was all towards the end of the book, and since so much before it was so thoroughly enjoyable, it's was easy to overlook ;)
definitely read this book, and read Armchair Detective first. Both are well worth the time and money and better than most of the other books of this genre.
June 22, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series so when I sat down to read this one I was sure I was in for a treat.
And I was right.
This book features the two main characters from the first book, this time ensconced in a different city and getting on with the job of being happy and working as Private Investigators. This time however, two more, very interesting and appealing characters are added to the mix and the narrative swaps easily between each viewpoint, adding depth and interest.
Then, in true AKA Investigations style, events conspire to spiral out of control, testing the fortitude, depth of feeling and sheer courage of each of the characters. Nail-biting action and heart-stopping tension take the reader on a roller-coaster ride through the pages, piling one catastrophe on top of another and testing the characters to the limit. I wasn't sure they'd all make it out alive in this one, but it sure had me turning the pages to find out. Baeli is at the top of her game here, delivering a book at once touching and full of odd, often humorous bits of wisdom and a storyline of exciting misadventure and action.
There's something about the main character's voice that delights me every time - self-depreciating humour and phrasing that reminds me of all the best pulp PI fiction but is at the same time refreshing and entertaining in this unashamedly lesbian adventure story.
You really should read it!
And I was right.
This book features the two main characters from the first book, this time ensconced in a different city and getting on with the job of being happy and working as Private Investigators. This time however, two more, very interesting and appealing characters are added to the mix and the narrative swaps easily between each viewpoint, adding depth and interest.
Then, in true AKA Investigations style, events conspire to spiral out of control, testing the fortitude, depth of feeling and sheer courage of each of the characters. Nail-biting action and heart-stopping tension take the reader on a roller-coaster ride through the pages, piling one catastrophe on top of another and testing the characters to the limit. I wasn't sure they'd all make it out alive in this one, but it sure had me turning the pages to find out. Baeli is at the top of her game here, delivering a book at once touching and full of odd, often humorous bits of wisdom and a storyline of exciting misadventure and action.
There's something about the main character's voice that delights me every time - self-depreciating humour and phrasing that reminds me of all the best pulp PI fiction but is at the same time refreshing and entertaining in this unashamedly lesbian adventure story.
You really should read it!
February 27, 2017
I really enjoyed the first book in this series and I was enjoying this book until the story became totally implausible because the characters became unbelievable.
I was clear there was something seriously wrong with Phoebe, but I just couldn’t believe that none of the main characters tried to find out what was happening. OK Jobeth was initially upset and heartbroken, but then she did nothing. She is an experienced PI and ex Military Police, how could she not investigate. Ginger is a very experience detective, it is impossible to believe that they wouldn’t try to do something.
Spoiler warning
Eventually they did investigate but by then I was so annoyed that the revelation of the evil identical twin was just a cliché too far. This was followed by a comedy of errors when they had the opportunities to finish off Megan and get help, they constantly made the wrong decisions. A very frustrating read!
I was clear there was something seriously wrong with Phoebe, but I just couldn’t believe that none of the main characters tried to find out what was happening. OK Jobeth was initially upset and heartbroken, but then she did nothing. She is an experienced PI and ex Military Police, how could she not investigate. Ginger is a very experience detective, it is impossible to believe that they wouldn’t try to do something.
Spoiler warning
Eventually they did investigate but by then I was so annoyed that the revelation of the evil identical twin was just a cliché too far. This was followed by a comedy of errors when they had the opportunities to finish off Megan and get help, they constantly made the wrong decisions. A very frustrating read!
May 11, 2012
I loved the first one and had to read this one right away (and read it all in one away). I think this book has it all: laughter, romance, suspence, etc. I cannot wait for the third book that I hope will be out sometime this year!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews