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Penny Post Myth Agent #1
So Much Bull
Mythology won't be the same now that Penny Post is on the job.
Growing up as a Greek-American kid in Salem, Oregon, Penny Post is used to being yanked in all directions. Her life of not being quite good enough has left her recently divorced and on the hook for cat support; but there’s still oodles of sass and can-do attitude left to drag herself home for cake after her hairstyling gig ends in a blazing bonfire. (She did warn her client that hairspray and cigarettes don’t mix; she even jabbed her brush at the No Smoking sign.)
Good news: Her Greek grandmother has a lead on a new job.
Bad news: She’ll be rubbing elbows with her first love, Luke Remis, the man who vanished for six months before reentering her life with a wicked tan, a snake tattoo, and an excessive amount of audacity.
More good news: The money means her mommy’s boy ex won’t be calling her a loser for late cat support payments.
Weird news: Her new boss is a nameless disembodied voice; an alarming number of business owners in Salem aren’t fully human; Greek mythology is real; a complex treaty keeps the worlds separate; and there’s a minotaur rampaging around the city, scoffing people like chips.
Penny’s position as a myth agent for the Labyrinth Agency means she’ll be hunting for Luke Remis (missing myth agent and Penny’s former squeeze), who was last seen pursuing the runaway minotaur. Should be a basic wellness check for the fledgling agent—until the minotaur is assassinated and suddenly Luke is on the hook for its murder. Penny’s simple assignment quickly gets a whole lot more complicated when her new orders involve apprehending Luke before the treaty between worlds disintegrates.
Growing up as a Greek-American kid in Salem, Oregon, Penny Post is used to being yanked in all directions. Her life of not being quite good enough has left her recently divorced and on the hook for cat support; but there’s still oodles of sass and can-do attitude left to drag herself home for cake after her hairstyling gig ends in a blazing bonfire. (She did warn her client that hairspray and cigarettes don’t mix; she even jabbed her brush at the No Smoking sign.)
Good news: Her Greek grandmother has a lead on a new job.
Bad news: She’ll be rubbing elbows with her first love, Luke Remis, the man who vanished for six months before reentering her life with a wicked tan, a snake tattoo, and an excessive amount of audacity.
More good news: The money means her mommy’s boy ex won’t be calling her a loser for late cat support payments.
Weird news: Her new boss is a nameless disembodied voice; an alarming number of business owners in Salem aren’t fully human; Greek mythology is real; a complex treaty keeps the worlds separate; and there’s a minotaur rampaging around the city, scoffing people like chips.
Penny’s position as a myth agent for the Labyrinth Agency means she’ll be hunting for Luke Remis (missing myth agent and Penny’s former squeeze), who was last seen pursuing the runaway minotaur. Should be a basic wellness check for the fledgling agent—until the minotaur is assassinated and suddenly Luke is on the hook for its murder. Penny’s simple assignment quickly gets a whole lot more complicated when her new orders involve apprehending Luke before the treaty between worlds disintegrates.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2021
201 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 28, 2021
This book is a fun read. Part mystery and part adventure story, So Much Bull introduces us to Penny Post and her world. There's tons of Greek mythology references. Lots of good dialog. This book took twists and turns that I didn't expect. It had a satisfying ending. If you've read anything else by Alex A. King, you will most likely enjoy this book as well. I would also recommend this book to people who enjoy plays on mythology along with a somewhat snarky heroine.
August 6, 2022
2022 bk 226. Alex A. King has done it again - created another madcap mystery with wonderfully fun characters and episodes. Penelope (Penny) has life stacked against her. A divorce, frequent lose of jobs, and the eternal gossips of all of the Greek American grannies do their best to defeat her. However, Penny has gumption, a willingness to learn, and bends to the will of her elders - who find a job for her. The grannies think it is a custodial or secretarial position. In reality - it is as a field agent for the Labyrinth. A field agent with no training who has to locate the gods and others of Greek mythology who have wondered into Salem, Oregon and don't want to go back. What can go wrong when you confront Hera? How does a day in the life of a goat sound? Fun read that had me laughing to my computer to order the next two books in the series.
November 11, 2022
I went into this expecting something along the lines of a cross between Stephanie Plum and Percy Jackson. What I wasn't expecting was for it to basically a slightly re-written Stephanie Plum - essentially it's One for the Money, but substitute Italian-American for Greek-American, the bail bonds agency for the myth agency, Morelli for Luke, Ranger for the Scandinavian bloke, Grandma Mazur for Yiayia, and so on. Penny is in almost the same situation as Stephanie, the family set-up is almost identical - it just goes on.
Somehow, despite all this (or maybe because of it - I adore Stephanie Plum), this is a readable and fairly enjoyable book. I guess the author just better hope that Janet Evanovich never sees it.
Somehow, despite all this (or maybe because of it - I adore Stephanie Plum), this is a readable and fairly enjoyable book. I guess the author just better hope that Janet Evanovich never sees it.
November 11, 2021
Ugh
I couldn't get past Chapter 5. It was like reading Stephanie Plum again. I love Stephanie Plum but not copy
cats. Sorry.
I couldn't get past Chapter 5. It was like reading Stephanie Plum again. I love Stephanie Plum but not copy
cats. Sorry.
March 3, 2024
Alex A. King practically holds a patent on snark, at least of the Greek-American-female-under-30 variety. It pairs well with speculative fiction.
In this book, all of Greek mythology is real, separated from our world by an ever-shifting labyrinth. By the way, all other culture’s mythologies are real, too. Mythical beings with their own value systems run on circular story lines – live, lust, fight, die, and be reborn again, which sometimes leads them to visit (or flee to) our world. Every culture has myth agents who monitor the border crossings and “resident aliens” while also wrangling violators back to their reality of origin.
Sound like Men in Black? That, plus Lara Croft, Percy Jackson, and more are dealt with quickly and deftly (pop culture references are another of this author’s strengths).
Penny Post, myth agent recruit, is none of the above. She’s five-foot-three with killer hair and never met a baked good she didn’t like. She’s also divorced, recently unemployed, and lives in an apartment built onto her mom and dad’s house. Her fellow myth agent is an unfairly gorgeous ex-boyfriend. Her intelligence-gathering network is the Greek gossip grapevine in Salem, Oregon as routed through her very pregnant best girlfriend. And then there are the two bickering gnomes Penny lives with – her American grandfather and her Greek grandmother – who are delightfully full characters present throughout the story.
Solving her first case leads Penny to her second case, both of which she attacks with an every-girl flair. Penny realizes she likes being a myth agent and the reader is right there with her. This is a very good and promising start to a series.
In this book, all of Greek mythology is real, separated from our world by an ever-shifting labyrinth. By the way, all other culture’s mythologies are real, too. Mythical beings with their own value systems run on circular story lines – live, lust, fight, die, and be reborn again, which sometimes leads them to visit (or flee to) our world. Every culture has myth agents who monitor the border crossings and “resident aliens” while also wrangling violators back to their reality of origin.
Sound like Men in Black? That, plus Lara Croft, Percy Jackson, and more are dealt with quickly and deftly (pop culture references are another of this author’s strengths).
Penny Post, myth agent recruit, is none of the above. She’s five-foot-three with killer hair and never met a baked good she didn’t like. She’s also divorced, recently unemployed, and lives in an apartment built onto her mom and dad’s house. Her fellow myth agent is an unfairly gorgeous ex-boyfriend. Her intelligence-gathering network is the Greek gossip grapevine in Salem, Oregon as routed through her very pregnant best girlfriend. And then there are the two bickering gnomes Penny lives with – her American grandfather and her Greek grandmother – who are delightfully full characters present throughout the story.
Solving her first case leads Penny to her second case, both of which she attacks with an every-girl flair. Penny realizes she likes being a myth agent and the reader is right there with her. This is a very good and promising start to a series.
May 11, 2022
I have enjoyed many of the series by this author which usually are set in Greece. This one is set in Salem Oregon, but the protagonist has a Greek mother and grandmother, so the Greek cultural touchstones (including vulgar Greek gestures and insults) are still present. This one has the added element of a portal between the world of mythology and Oregon. Penny is hired to be an agent for Daedalus (actually only his head) who is guarding the labyrinth which allows passage from Salem into the world of the Greek gods (and vice versa). In this one the minotaur has entered Salem and is wreaking havoc. It's a pretty funny adventure/mystery although a bit lightweight. The relationship between Penny and her family is rather reminiscent of Stephanie Plum's with her family (not necessarily a bad thing), and of course there is the requisite love interest. The second in the series is out now, so I'll check it out as well.
May 8, 2023
I guess I should have improved my knowledge of Greek mythology before reading this book. I felt a little lost at times. Actually this fun and funny mystery starts the day Penny Post loses her job at the hairdresser shop because the customer wouldn't obey the signs.
Through the ties of the Greek families in Salem Oregon, the truly frightening Grandma Remi, (grandmother of Penny's ex Luke Remis and his sister Nikki), and a big time misunderstanding about what job was available at the Labyrinth Co Penny ends up as a Myth Agent. Her oss, The Boss, is a detached head in a fish tank. Her job is to help keep the inhabitants from the world of myths from causing too much mayhem in the world in which we live.
It really does contain a fair number of Greek words although those are usually explained right after or you can find in the index at the back of the book. And the storyline does involve those Greek myths I mentioned above.
Through the ties of the Greek families in Salem Oregon, the truly frightening Grandma Remi, (grandmother of Penny's ex Luke Remis and his sister Nikki), and a big time misunderstanding about what job was available at the Labyrinth Co Penny ends up as a Myth Agent. Her oss, The Boss, is a detached head in a fish tank. Her job is to help keep the inhabitants from the world of myths from causing too much mayhem in the world in which we live.
It really does contain a fair number of Greek words although those are usually explained right after or you can find in the index at the back of the book. And the storyline does involve those Greek myths I mentioned above.
November 17, 2022
What a ride! I seldom laugh out loud over books I'm reading. This one had me doing it several times.
A thorough knowledge of Greek mythology *might* be helpful for reading this, but it might also be a hinderance. These certainly aren't the same take on the stories that I learned long ago.
One other thing definitely deserves mention. The story is set in Salem, Oregon, specifically in Salem's immigrant Greek community. I don't know much about Salem or its demographics. I do know this portrayal of a tight-knit community is a hoot! Rather than getting offended over the goofiness, just think of the tight-knit communities you know. You'll recognize many of the players.
It's a fun, quick read, and I highly recommend it.
A thorough knowledge of Greek mythology *might* be helpful for reading this, but it might also be a hinderance. These certainly aren't the same take on the stories that I learned long ago.
One other thing definitely deserves mention. The story is set in Salem, Oregon, specifically in Salem's immigrant Greek community. I don't know much about Salem or its demographics. I do know this portrayal of a tight-knit community is a hoot! Rather than getting offended over the goofiness, just think of the tight-knit communities you know. You'll recognize many of the players.
It's a fun, quick read, and I highly recommend it.
October 27, 2021
Alex A King does it again!
The author knocks it out of the park with this new series. A perfect setting in a tight knit Greek community where everyone knows everyone's business. Old business, new business and none of their business true or not. Throw in Luke and Penny with plenty of unfinished business between them to heat things up while trying to keep that thin line of Mythological business on its own side of the Labyrinth. So Much Bull did not disappoint this die hard Alex A King fan. I highly recommend this book.
The author knocks it out of the park with this new series. A perfect setting in a tight knit Greek community where everyone knows everyone's business. Old business, new business and none of their business true or not. Throw in Luke and Penny with plenty of unfinished business between them to heat things up while trying to keep that thin line of Mythological business on its own side of the Labyrinth. So Much Bull did not disappoint this die hard Alex A King fan. I highly recommend this book.
November 9, 2022
You Never Know…
This was a good book. The narrater is funny and self depreciating without it becoming tiring. The mythology theme is well done, too. It’s obvious that the author has done his homework and the characters are interesting. They come with a wide range of hopes, motives and problems.
In the end, for me anyway, the real question of a books’ worth is whether or not I’d buy the sequel. I did.
This was a good book. The narrater is funny and self depreciating without it becoming tiring. The mythology theme is well done, too. It’s obvious that the author has done his homework and the characters are interesting. They come with a wide range of hopes, motives and problems.
In the end, for me anyway, the real question of a books’ worth is whether or not I’d buy the sequel. I did.
February 4, 2023
At the start I thought this was going to be Graeco-American laugh and love but it turned into a real page-turner by taking Penny Post into a world which breaks through from Greek mythology into her world. Characters like the Minotaur, harpies and Ganymede appear on the streets of Salem, Oregon and Penny has to solve the crimes. She is rather like Stephanie Plum in her chaotic life-style but that is no bad thing. It made me smile as well as enjoy the plot.
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September 2, 2023free ebook
she is divorced , half greek, living in her parents upper apt
her grandparents live with her parents, her mom wants them gone
she lost her job at the hair salon when she was spraying the womans hair she lit a cigarette and the whole place caught fire. the woman should be ok
so she got a job and she wasnt sure what it was, but the book turned into greek mythology at this point she is looking for a man she had sex with when she was young and they think he killed the minotaur.
she is divorced , half greek, living in her parents upper apt
her grandparents live with her parents, her mom wants them gone
she lost her job at the hair salon when she was spraying the womans hair she lit a cigarette and the whole place caught fire. the woman should be ok
so she got a job and she wasnt sure what it was, but the book turned into greek mythology at this point she is looking for a man she had sex with when she was young and they think he killed the minotaur.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2021
Fun with the Gods
Absolutely hilarious! I love all of the books by this author, but this new series is now my FAVORITE! Penny is understable and relatable, all with a dash of ridiculous family ties and a hot emotionally dented ex boyfriend with all the abs. Can't wait for the next one!
Absolutely hilarious! I love all of the books by this author, but this new series is now my FAVORITE! Penny is understable and relatable, all with a dash of ridiculous family ties and a hot emotionally dented ex boyfriend with all the abs. Can't wait for the next one!
November 1, 2021
Another great series!
You will love Penny Post and the cast of characters that accompany her. It felt like Janet Evanovich combined with Sue Grafton if they were Greek.
Get ready for quite the mystery ride. You won't be able to put it down and you won't see the end coming! Can't wait for the next one.
You will love Penny Post and the cast of characters that accompany her. It felt like Janet Evanovich combined with Sue Grafton if they were Greek.
Get ready for quite the mystery ride. You won't be able to put it down and you won't see the end coming! Can't wait for the next one.
November 6, 2021
Penny needs a new job...again
Penny is newly divorced, living with her parents and currently jobless. Penny's grandmother gives her a job lead for a janitor. Penny gets the job but it certainly is not janitorial in nature. She actually is not quite ehat the job is, but it pays well, if you don't get killed.
Penny is newly divorced, living with her parents and currently jobless. Penny's grandmother gives her a job lead for a janitor. Penny gets the job but it certainly is not janitorial in nature. She actually is not quite ehat the job is, but it pays well, if you don't get killed.
November 7, 2021
More Greek fun
I love Alex A. King’s books. Her descriptions, the Greek craziness, romps around Oregon (lived there in the Portland metro area for 25 years) and always a feisty Yiayia. I love the sarcasm and wit she gives each of her Greek/American young women, who are the main characters in her books. She’s the only author I’ve read who honestly makes me laugh out loud.
I love Alex A. King’s books. Her descriptions, the Greek craziness, romps around Oregon (lived there in the Portland metro area for 25 years) and always a feisty Yiayia. I love the sarcasm and wit she gives each of her Greek/American young women, who are the main characters in her books. She’s the only author I’ve read who honestly makes me laugh out loud.
January 8, 2023
Lots of fun
Here we have a prime example of the sort of book we should give to young teenagers to help them understand how much fun reading is. The plot is well researched ,the story is interesting and there is even a little education hidden here and there. A great candidate for Netflix.
Here we have a prime example of the sort of book we should give to young teenagers to help them understand how much fun reading is. The plot is well researched ,the story is interesting and there is even a little education hidden here and there. A great candidate for Netflix.
October 27, 2024
clever & funny
After reading & appreciating Alex’s Greek Mafia series I felt long due in showing my appreciation. Knowledgable, clever & funny yet keeping light & easy reading to pick up & put down at leisure. I keep picking them up however & just about to download the 2nd in this series
After reading & appreciating Alex’s Greek Mafia series I felt long due in showing my appreciation. Knowledgable, clever & funny yet keeping light & easy reading to pick up & put down at leisure. I keep picking them up however & just about to download the 2nd in this series
October 29, 2021
Good fun read with fun characters
I love this author anyway, but a new series is very exciting. The addition of Greek mythology in this mix of Stephanie plum and Kat Makris makes this book flow really fast but give lots of detail. It also makes me want Dani's mum for my own :)
I love this author anyway, but a new series is very exciting. The addition of Greek mythology in this mix of Stephanie plum and Kat Makris makes this book flow really fast but give lots of detail. It also makes me want Dani's mum for my own :)
November 2, 2021
Brush Up On Your Greek Mythology!
As always, clever writing and fast-paced story telling had me laughing out loud from front to finish. Penny Post is my new favorite Greek heroine. At least until the next Kat Makris-with-an-s story comes out.
As always, clever writing and fast-paced story telling had me laughing out loud from front to finish. Penny Post is my new favorite Greek heroine. At least until the next Kat Makris-with-an-s story comes out.
November 5, 2021
Another hit series
Another hit series devoured in a day. Bringing mythology and Greeks together in a laugh out loud series. The beginning of a great anthology and another hit series for Alex A King
Another hit series devoured in a day. Bringing mythology and Greeks together in a laugh out loud series. The beginning of a great anthology and another hit series for Alex A King
December 14, 2021
not a sci-fi fan but ..
Okay, I I never read books that involve fantasy, magic, supernatural, or anything like that but Alex King’s books are always so well written and enjoyable that I have read and loved every book in almost every series she has written.
Okay, I I never read books that involve fantasy, magic, supernatural, or anything like that but Alex King’s books are always so well written and enjoyable that I have read and loved every book in almost every series she has written.
November 3, 2022
laugh out loud
Obviously closely mimicks the Evanovich series that I love with a big twist. You have got to love the crazy family. The mystery is mildly menacing . There are certainly some vulgar parts, but the author obviously has an appreciation for harried mothers.
Obviously closely mimicks the Evanovich series that I love with a big twist. You have got to love the crazy family. The mystery is mildly menacing . There are certainly some vulgar parts, but the author obviously has an appreciation for harried mothers.
January 19, 2023
What a pity
The idea is very good, not so the writing.
The family situations, supposedly funny, are sooo boring.
On the mythological side, well, the Minotaur is not the son of King Minos and a cow, but the son of Queen Pasifae and a bull.
The idea is very good, not so the writing.
The family situations, supposedly funny, are sooo boring.
On the mythological side, well, the Minotaur is not the son of King Minos and a cow, but the son of Queen Pasifae and a bull.
October 27, 2021
Love the characters
What a great start to a new series! I absolutely love how the Greek mythology is brought into modern day!
What a great start to a new series! I absolutely love how the Greek mythology is brought into modern day!
October 28, 2021
Laugh and giggle
I really enjoyed this book. Penny is spunky and fun. Alex A. King never disappoints. Ill be waiting for the next book.
I really enjoyed this book. Penny is spunky and fun. Alex A. King never disappoints. Ill be waiting for the next book.
December 15, 2021
Love love love
Alex never disappoints! Loved the characters and everything about this new series! Thank you for the laughs and for making me binge read book after book
Alex never disappoints! Loved the characters and everything about this new series! Thank you for the laughs and for making me binge read book after book
January 3, 2022
Fun and interesting read
This is a new series(I hope). Plenty of surprises with maybe a love interest. I love all her books and was very happy with this new one.
This is a new series(I hope). Plenty of surprises with maybe a love interest. I love all her books and was very happy with this new one.
January 12, 2022
Loved it
So much fun! Alex's best book in a while. Love the mythological characters. Very involved and marvelous. Can't wait for the next Penny novel😃
So much fun! Alex's best book in a while. Love the mythological characters. Very involved and marvelous. Can't wait for the next Penny novel😃
February 17, 2022
easy read
Fun and crazy all at once. Nice escape reading. Enjoyed the book. Wish I was Greek at least a little
Fun and crazy all at once. Nice escape reading. Enjoyed the book. Wish I was Greek at least a little
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews