Knock 'em Dead

A Finley Anderson Tanner Mystery #2

by Rhonda Pollero

Finley knows it can't be good news when she's awakened at 5:40 a.m. by someone knocking on her door. Her hunch proves correct. Finley's pal Jane is hysterical and clad only in a negligee. It all started when Jane went out on a blind date the previous night with a hunk named Paolo--and ended when she woke up next to his corpse. Finley knows Jane wouldn't hurt a fly, especially one with a zipper. Too bad the police don't agree...

Having survived her own ordeal of questioning and criminally bad coffee at the local cop shop, Finley's got to post bail and hire an attorney for Jane. But with most of her cash tied up in credit card debt, she knows she has to do the unthinkable: hit her mother up for money. As if attempting to thaw out the Ice Queen isn't hard enough, there's the unthinkable, part II: resisting McGarrity. Yes, dangerously sexy P.I. Liam McGarrity has offered his services...for a discounted rate. To prove her theory that Jane and Paolo were drugged by the real killer, Finley will have to buckle down and work with Liam. She'll just have to remind herself that she already has the perfect boyfriend in her FedEx pilot Patrick.

But this case is booby-trapped with more serious pitfalls than wicked temptation. For starters, there's the fact that two knives were used to kill Paolo. Then there's a suspicious string of robberies. And when someone tries to run Finley's car off the road, she's got to act quick to find a killer who wants to see her underground...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Chick Lit, Fiction, Murder Mystery, Cozy, Romance

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 2008

About the author

Rhonda Pollero also writes under the name Kelsey Roberts.

Reviews

[Tammy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book ticked me off in a BIG way. 1) The book is unresearched and contains bogus facts that triggered my legal geek button; and 2) I paid the hardcover price.

Finley Tanner is a paralegal specializing in estate and probates in the state of Florida. (Right up my alley! Except I do it in Washington.) When her best friend, Jane, shows up at her door covered in blood, she calls an attorney at her office and contacts the police. Turns out Jane went on a date that was arranged through a high class dating service. Said date shows up in a limousine, pays for a impressive dinner and provides bottomless champagne. One thing leads to another and Jane wakes up in bed with a dead man who is missing a certain, um, appendage. Jane is arrested and charged with murder. Finley is arrested for mouthing off to a police officer and obnoxiously interferring in the investigation. When bail is set and she is released, she decides to start snooping around.

Ready. Set. Mystery!

Finley grated on my nerves. She is self-centered and shallow. Frankly, she is too dumb to be a paralegal. She blatantly disobeys instructions from her employer over and over again (when she actually shows up at work) and she constantly puts the firm at risk to the point that they hire hottie investigator, Liam, to babysit her. Her boyfriend is a loser - Finley should've seen what was coming from him a mile away. Plus she has an obsession with name brand designers and shopping habits that rival Becky Bloomwood. (Shopaholic)

Strike that - Becky Bloomwood is at least lovable and learns her lesson.

The author has Finley drafting a Durable Power of Attorney for Jane, notarizing it herself and then giving it to a friend to take to the bank to immediately move Jane's assets. No one records it with the county to make it legitimate and no one questions the notary. That's so NOT how it works. (Trust me - I checked with a paralegal in Florida! I'm a nerd like that. ((Thanks Colleen!)) If this were possible, our crime rates in the fraud dept. would virtually double.

The author also has Finley obtaining confidential criminal information for a dismissed case on Westlaw. Um ... Westlaw is a legal research program. It doesn't give out individual case information, let alone confidential records. Not even possible.

I could go on and on with my griping, but it isn't worth my time or the effort. The first installment in this series was fun. The author's writing style reminds me of Janet Evanovich. But I don't like the direction she is taking the series or how she is developing her characters. Try Stephanie Plum or the Spellman series if you're looking for a fun mystery.

[Maureen DeLuca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Finley Anderson Tanner *FAT* series... A West Palm Beach paralegal who hates the gym, still rents her condo, and loves two-hour lunches with her friends. But what really gets Finley hot is hunting down deeply discounted designer goods she can wear at her upscale law firm.

I really enjoyed the first one Knock Off and I really enjoyed this one as well. In this book Finley knows it can’t be good news when she’s awakened at 5:40 A.M. by someone knocking on her door. Her hunch proves correct. Finley’s pal Jane is hysterical and clad only in a negligee. It all started when Jane went out on a blind date with a hunk named Paolo – and ended when she woke up next to his corpse. Finley knows Jane wouldn’t hurt a fly, especially one with a zipper. Too bad the police don’t agree. This is how the story begins and I have to say- it really kept my interest to finish this book and looking forward to the next in this series !

I'm very fussy when it comes to 'cozy mysteries'. Some of them drive me crazy for all of the characters they add to the book that I wind up getting lost half of the time. This series so far is nice, quick , easy and a fun read. Finley Anderson Tanner is a riot - we all know someone like her, or we wish we knew her, or we are her!

I would suggest reading the first one before the second in the series. If you want a fun read- pick this series up !

[Miko Wiropati · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars are for the fun experience I had when I read this book.

I don't know much about paralegal world, so I didn't care whether the author wrote this book based on research or not. One thing I know that I laughed over FAT's silly moves.. and that's enough for this kind of book.

This is the kind of book that I read totally just for fun.. ;)

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Finley was a very likeable character, and she was funny! Normally, I don't love books that are written in first person, but after a few pages, I forgot about that personal preference. The story was well written, and it didn't lose my attention. If you like mysteries and sassy heroines, you will enjoy this book.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knock 'Em Dead is a well-written, captivating and highly entertaining novel. There are a lot of things I love about this book; the in-depth characters and storyline, the plot, dialogue, and fantastic scenes. It had me rooting for Finley the whole way! I was glued to this book and I loved every part of it. Not only is it realistic and believable, but it's also very easy to relate to. Each character has their flaws despite their overall appearance. One thing I hated was how Finley was indecisive regarding her relationship with Patrick and the ongoing but boring pace she takes with her romantic interest. One thing readers will love is the charged sexual tension with P.I. Liam McGarrity. Sizzling hot! I can't wait to see what Rhonda Pollero has in store for the next installment. Highly recommended. 4.5/5 stars.

[annette jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

I loved the characters and their interaction. You have one of Fin,s best friends Jane, accused of a gruesome murder, so Fin and the rest of the gang rally to prove Jane.s innocence . There are a lot of twist and turns. Will Finley stay in a relationship with her boyfriend of 2 years, or will the company PI, Liam take his place. It,s a fun,fast paced read, and a solid mystery as you get to those answers!

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following the escapades of Finley Anderson Tanner as she tries to solve the mystery of who really killed the man her best friend is charged with murdering.

Fun and light in the Stephanie Plum vein, crossed with the Shopaholic. The plot isn't quite as original, especially the side story involving Finley's boyfriend Patrick, which you can predict a mile away. But still entertaining.

[Charles Duvel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first look at Rhonda Pollero's character Finley Tanner and I have to say I was rather surprised out how easy and enjoyable the reading was. I like a good humorous novel and Pollero knows how to keep it both light and amusing with a good story. I look forward to reading her other books.

[Josi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finley is such a fun character. I love her. Add in Liam and everything gets better. So much fun rereading these books.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read the first one, so I forgot some of the characters. My thoughts, in no particular order: I hate Finley's employers; they are horrible! I hate Patrick, but I should have known that he was at least cheating, if not figured out he was married. I really want the ebay seller to be his wife. I have strongly mixed feelings about Liam. I hate that we know so little about him. What is really going on with his ex? Why did he leave the police force? Now, this mystery... there were parts that were good and bad. Jane having a previous arrest, that ended up being a cover up was surprising. The dating service being an escort service with Paolo as gigolo was surprising, as was his record. I was not surprised that the owners of the dating service were bad, I just couldn't figure out how until the dvds came to light. The fact that the socialite was the killer was surprising. Also, the shrine her fiance had was creepy. I'm glad Finley broke up with Patrick without giving him time to explain and that she was able to get a raise as well as get her job back. But, I know that she won't use the extra money to improve her financial situation which is frustrating.

[Mikey ಠ◡ಠ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh.

I find myself as irritated with Finley as her employers are, she’s clearly very intelligent but supremely lazy and lacks common sense. She’s childish, immature, fat phobic, and transphobic. Also it’s clear to me the author really thinks she put here saying gay rights because Finley calls someone homophobic and has a gay neighbor. Similarly she shouldn’t write books involving law if she’s not familiar with law. Glad she researched finances and jewelry though 👍🏻 -sarcasm-

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine a fashiona with no money that doing a build your own Rolex. Well, when Jane (her best friend) is being held for murder, Finley knows she couldn't have done the deed so she starts raising money for bail and checking into the dating service that hooked Jane up with the victim. The exclusive and expensive dating service seems to have other interests that make Finley curious about the clients they had. Back to the fashiona you can learn how buy expensive on the cheap.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving this series.... Nice easy read, very funny, and the main characters make it great. It reminds me of the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series... just a paralegal instead of bounty hunters 😂👍

[Mama · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate to not finish a book, but too many cuss words and sex related talk. Not my thing, so after about 20 pages I'm moving on to the next in my TBR pile.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This girl is so funny and I love the mysteries, I can never figure them out!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - Very, Very Good

[Marjorie Snider · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read, light

[Brooke Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started slowly, but picked up pace and turned into an interesting cozy mystery. I like Finley; she cracked me up with her eBay and coffee obsessions.

[Libby]

(E-Lib) I can't put my finger on why, but this book didn't do it for me. Maybe it was because it had been so long since I read the previous book that I didn't remember (or care about) the characters. I do think that Finley was buying her used clothes from her pilot boyfriend's wife!

[The Peon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished the entire series of Finley Anderson Tanner books by Rhonda Pollero. This series was a VERY VERY simple read. It was a combination of Chick-Lit and Mystery…but mostly Chick-Lit, the mystery was much to be desired. The author’s writing is beginner level at best. Do not get me wrong, I read the books and enjoyed them to some degree, however the plots were sub par and unbelievable. The author would introduce a problem but often times would not resolve it. Another thing that was annoying was that she would literally copy and paste pages of the same information in subsequent books, which I guess would not have mattered if I did not read all the books in order. It was so obvious that I skipped several pages, not one or two but 10 to 15, at a time. In one book, Knock’em Dead, there was a character whose name was spelled several different ways throughout the book. Overall, I did enjoy the books and look forward to the next one. These books can definitely be read over the weekend, not all at once, unless you are a super reader. If you decide to read this series do not have high expectations. I recommend this series but with caution.

[Stephanie Bowen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finley is still working as a paralegal. Her best friend Jane shows up at her house covered in blood and telling about how the date she had been set up with was dead and Jane didn't remember anything about it. Finley works with all her friends and PI Liam to try to get Jane out on bail. She is given an attorney by Fantasy Dates, the company that set her up, and he's a total moron. Jane ends up staying in jail for a week. Jane takes out a loan from her mom and the mom charges interest. Jane discovers that her boyfriend of two years is married. She helps Liam solve the murder- which has now expanded to include the owners of Fantasy Dates and the moron attorney. Ends up that it was wealthy Kesley who likes to watch S&M and worked with Paolo (the dead date) to film clients of Fantasy Dates having sex and then would blackmail them so they wouldn't release the tape. End has a few holes in it. Some of the murders are lacking motive and tie-ins. Finley almost (still!) gets with Liam but not quite. That part is frustrating!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

First reviewer, Tammy: Some notes.

1. She couldn't get on Westlaw, because she has been fired from the firm and they cut iff her Access. True, she should have known better than to even try.


2. The bank never let them liquidate Jane's assets, but they will accept a notarized power of attorney. I used to deal with that all the time, when my Navy officer husband was deployed. In Florida.


3. Finley had authority figure issues, but everything she did was for someone else...her friend who had come to her for help.


Good story. Good heroine/sleuth. Recommended as a fun and funny read.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

it definately wasn't the worst book i've ever read, but it came close to the "just-plain-waste-of-time" category. however, i always feel the need to finish books i start, unless they're god awful. it was okay story-wise, but i really disliked finley. she did a great job in portraying the stupid, naive blonde who doesn't listen to what they're told and lacks in the common sense and willpower department.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing unusual here in this book.

Traditional murder mystery with an amateur who thinks they are the next Sherlock Holmes or Miss Marple with undercurrents of sexual tension.

But it was an enjoyable read.

Clue #1:

If some evil looking person says to you don't go down to the basement, then don't go down there.

I notice in these types of books the protagonist just doesn't understand that clue!

[Sondra Caserio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the followup to the novel "Knock Off". It just arrived in the mail today. Yippee!

The above I wrote when I received this book- years ago.
I forgot to update my progress but I finished it in a couple days. I wish there were a hundred more books in this series. I adore F.A.T. Her constant eBay checking and outfit descriptions show she’s a girl after my own heart.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series so far (even though I read book 3 and then books 1 and 2). This book was no exception. Can't wait for the next one. Kind of surprised it is not coming out until next year, but I guess I'm not sure when the 3rd came out, so maybe that's not as unusual as it seems to me. :)

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was fun too. I like the twists in her mysteries and the mess that is Finley's life. I mean, all she did was open her door for a friend! The heat with McGarrity is a nice bonus, and the clothes were again fabulous.

[Doris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I noted some content errors (i.e.: referencing the wrong Meg Ryan movie for its famous deli scene) but I still enjoyed this book for its humor, spunk, zany antics, sexual tension, family and shopping dynamics, entertaining friendships and intriguing mystery. I read her first, will read her next.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 stars.

[Pam]

03/16/08 purchase at MOTB -- author signing