Bandit Queen Boogie

by Sparkle Hayter

Blackie and Chloe, two best friends, decide to spend the summer after graduation backpacking through Europe. One is dark and boisterous, the other blond and quiet. Together, they are an irresistible combination to men...married men to be exact. Accepting these cheaters' invitations to their hotel suites, Blackie and Chloe beat them at their own games and make off with cash and whatever valuables are at hand while the men sleep it off. When their latest victim turns up dead, the gig is up...and the Bandit Queens are on the run.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Mystery

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Sparkle Hayter is a Canadian journalist and author.

Hayter was born in Pouce Coupe, British Columbia, Canada and grew up in Edmonton, Alberta. In 1986, she graduated in film and television production from New York University. Among other things, she worked for CNN in Atlanta, WABC in New York and Global Television in Toronto. At the time of the Afghan civil war, she moved to Pakistan and then went along with the Mujahedin to Afghanistan, reporting for the Toronto Star. After this, she decided to give up journalism as a career. After her return to the U.S. she married and began her career as a comic and a writer with her first, not very successful, novel. She moved briefly to Tokyo, then on her return to New York divorced and went to live in the famous Chelsea Hotel

She then published a further 5 novels, the Robin Hudson series, which proved her breakthrough. She wrote for the New York Times Op-Ed Page, the Nation and Toronto Globe and Mail, was a regular participant on CNN's talk show "CNN & Company" and was also seen on Good Day New York, NPR, CBC, BBC and Paris Premiere. Currently she lives in Paris and is writing her next novel.

Series:
* Robin Hudson

Awards:
* Arthur Ellis Award
o Best First Novel (1995): What's a Girl Gotta Do?

Reviews

[Christine Comito · Rating 2 out of 5]

“a madcap caper of two accidental criminals” and the intertwined adventures in Europe

[Beth Weldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oops! Did not read this!

[Stefanie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

""

[Vivienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two friends travel to Europe after graduating from college. High jinks ensue, including theft, mistaken identity and accidental involvement with organized crime.

Liked - plot is linear but not predictable; great "life is so absurd" moments; many passing references to culture and society; beleivable characters; the "art squat" setting was unique; prescribing "Vitamin XXX" - the one night stand to alleviate the pain of heartbreak

Dislikes - a bit boring at times (but I can't put my finger on why).

The audience for the novel has geographical knowledge of India and Europe plus historical knowledge of France.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice piece of fluff best suited for reading poolside. Still, it was fun and the characters were an interesting departure from what I usually read. I particularly enjoyed the ironic (though still fluffy) ending. I'd recommend this book if you like chick lit and intrigue/murder mysteries and are looking for a light summer read to zip through in a couple of days.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story filled with unbelieveable coincidences involving 2 almost-graduate students, a struggling reporter, Bollywood, the Indian mafia, a British heiress, and a French bullfighter (the kind that don't hurt the bulls).

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ultimate tale of "my summer vacation was crazy and more exciting than yours" :two friends hit Europe before grad school and have a penchant for falling into crime and trouble. Sparkle Hayter (the author) weaves short stories into a quirky fun novel.

[Jennie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a light read. Entertaining, but it got kind of slow toward the middle for me. I found myself wishing they would just wrap it up already so I could move on to something else, but it wasn't a bad book.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had my doubts about a book by someone named "Sparkle Hayter," but this was a fun read, a "romp" if you will. I enjoyed their European mis-adventures. I was a little confused by the introduction of so many random characters at the beginning, but it all came together at the end.

[Emily (Heinlen) Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has great chapter names. Unfortunately, that's where my enjoyment of the book ended. I didn't like the writing style, the book was hard to read and the characters were not enjoyable or interesting. This was not my type of book.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great beginning. Great end. Great middle. There's just something tiny missing in the end, I think, and it ties up a bit too neatly. I definitely want to be Blackie and Chloe after reading this. And I also want to see if Hayter is always this good.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Sparkle Hayter's detective series better, but this was still a decent read.

[Beatrice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I might not have finished this book but it took place in France and India.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly & cute. I wish I had been able to travel with such abandon at that age with nothing tying me down.

[Merrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

the was really fun to read, it's kind of like the female version of the movie forgetting sarah marshall but with crime. I highly recommended checking it out.

[Rogue Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good girls on the loose in Europe, and become bad girls picking pockets and blackmailing perverts. Love rescues each and they return to their senses. Nice travel and always enjoy Sparkle Hayter