Under different circumstances, a week at a rustic lesbian retreat would undoubtedly bring much-needed rest and tranquility. But unless she can track down a ruthless killer, Cassidy James may be headed for another sort of peace and quiet—the kind that comes with headstones!!!
Someone is trying to kill Dr. Allison Crane, head physician at a Portland women’s clinic and president of Women On Top, the influential lesbian organization to which she has willed her substantial estate. Reviewing the evidence, Private Investigator Cassidy James quickly deduces that the culprit is someone close to Allison—someone who knows the intimate details of her daily life.
Posing as Allison’s new girlfriend, Cassidy accompanies her to a Women On Top retreat deep in the Oregon wilderness, hoping to lure the would-be murderer into the open. With danger lurking just outside their cabin, the undercover detective discovers that the alluring Allison wants her under-the-sheets as well—and the feeling is overwhelmingly mutual...
2,5 stars It's starting to lose my attention. I probably won't continue this series after this book. It just all feels so meh that I'm not even curious how it'll end.
Alright, I'm not really sure anyone even reads these, but at least some other time when I come back to check maybe I'll find my opinion has changed?
This book is slightly better than its predecessors in the mystery department. This time, it was actually very suspenseful, I found myself trying to GUESS who the killer is for once this time... right up until this big, red, glaring sign hit me square in the face. I'm sorry, but I'm not sure if Cassidy has selective hearing, memory, or is just dumb? I figured out the wannabe-killer the moment I saw this little clue.
All in all though, the first half of the book before that bomb hit me was enjoyable, and even afterwards it was enjoyable, this book like its predecessors is super light. I'm halfway through the 5th book in this series, and so far it is as mysterious as the fourth book, still haven't figured out who the criminal is so I'm holding out hope that it'll be a good plot twist this time!
"Fourth Down" works out a way for Cass to have a week away from men. While previous books were light on male characters, this time they hardly exist. Someone is trying to kill Dr. Allison Crane, President of Women on Top, a group promoting lesbians in the business world. It seems that the would-be assassin can only be one of a small group of women working with WOT, many of whom have been romantically linked with Allison at one time or another. Cass finds herself joining the WOT members at their annual week-long retreat at Eagle's Nest outside Portland. The murder attempts continue and Cass is finding it difficult to whittle down the list of suspect - the reader, however, is not so much given a clue as bludgeoned with it just over the half way mark. In a secondary storyline Cass finds herself torn between her desire to stay true to her lover, Maggie, and a strong attraction to Allison, not helped by Allison making several plays for Cass's romantic attention. The ending more or less solves itself, it just requires Cass to be there. Another enjoyable read.
The blurb on the back of the book is misleading - this is really not a romance/connection novel. The writing is not great. Harlequin Romance or LGBT, without the romance.
Best in the series, so far. As usual, Cass is relentless in pursuit of the criminal. As usual, too, the book is sexy, but, this time, without any actual sex. Also, as usual, there's a great, interesting cast of characters. What's unusual, though, is Cass resisting her devastatingly alluring client's attempts to seduce her. So, she really does love Maggie!
Great setting; intriguing mystery with plenty of twists and turns; diverse characters, some you love, some you wanna say "Boo, hiss," plenty of suspense, with just enough humor to balance; sexy, even without an actual sex scene; very satisfying conclusion. what's not to love?
Eh.... but, there are eight of 'em, so, I'm powering through.... :) At least it wasn't wicked long or anything. Unfortunately I sorta guessed (and I was very, very, very right) who dun it about 100 pages before the end of the book. Oops...