Getting Lucky

Robyn Guthrie

by D.C. Brod

When a young reporter is killed in a hit and run accident, freelance writer Robyn Guthrie agrees to finish one of the stories the reporter had been writing for the local newspaper. But nothing is as simple as it seems when she finds out about shady land deals, an old high school nemesis, and Robyn's aging mother.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 18, 2011

About the author

DC Brod, author of Getting Lucky, has written fiction most of her life, but didn't think she had a novel in her until she graduated from Nothern Illinois University with an MA in journalism. It was then that she decided if she could spend 120 pages discussing postal oppression of the radical press, she could write a novel. She was right.

"Caper fans will relish Brod's offbeat stand-alone thriller. Illinois freelance writer Robyn Guthrie can no longer afford to keep her elderly mother, Lizzie, in an assisted living facility. Desperate to come up with the cash somehow, Robyn considers a variety of illegal acts. In the end, she seeks to kill two birds with one stone by trying to retrieve a large amount of Lizzie's savings that were lost in a real estate scam from the con man responsible, Bull Severn. Fortunately, Robyn's shady accountant, ex-jockey Mick Hughes, has access to Bull and, more importantly, to Bull's prize possession, a racehorse called Bull's Blood. Mick, who has financial troubles of his own, takes seriously Robyn's half-baked notion of holding Sassy, a goat to whom Bull's Blood is emotionally attached, for ransom. Brod (Heartstone) expertly blends suspenseful action with characters readers will care for, in particular her sympathetic and plausible lead."
-- Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

". . . In the end, though, what stands out most is the surprisingly affecting portrait of a woman caught in the midst of a parent's sad but sure mental decline."
-- Booklist

"Brod expertly blends suspenseful action with characters readers will care for, in particular the sympathetic and plausible lead."
-- Publishers Weekly on Getting Sassy

Reviews

[Vicki Sansum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the Getting Sassy and enjoyed it. Getting Lucky is a slower read, I wanted the story to move a little faster.

The author is adept at keeping her characterizations consistent with their actions being believable. However, for me, there were too many coincidences in the plot to make the story believable, otherwise I would have given it another star.

I will probably read the next book, though, to see what happens with Robyn and Mitch.

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like both these gals, DC and Robyn! And you gotta love Mom!! Just read this back to back with Getting Sassy and have figured her name is Robyn because she steals from the rotten rich to help the victims they cheated. There is a moral to these fun stories. Lucky was an arrogant egotist - Trump must have been her inspiration for this character- they sound identical. What I liked most of all, having read this second book in the series right after the first one, is that she didn’t rehash the first one in this. Usually authors practically rewrite the previous book. Glad to see she has written a bunch more.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent characterization, crisp dialogue and an enjoyable plot line. This would be a great beach read; it certainly helped me get through the slow arrival of spring. Brod touches a lot of bases that could easily have complicated the plot and detracted from the story however she stays focused. The subplot of what to do about Mom will ring true for many readers. In fact, that was one of the things that made this so appealing - the subplot didn't take over and Mom had issues without being obnoxious. Kudos to the author for an entertaining read.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable mystery, focusing on the green industry and housing. Robyn is a freelance journalist reporting on a new green housing development. The original writer died in a hit-and-run so she takes over the soft reporting article. But the feel good story isn't as good as it sounds. There are twists and turns, a high school nemesis, more deaths, and the mob. As part of a series, Robyn's personal story takes part of the book as well, ending with a satisfying continuing storyline.

[Olivia Brackett · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting perspective to write from, one that I haven't ever read from, which is maybe why the book continued to intrigue me. It would've gotten higher had the biggest surprise been the ending and not all the loose ends getting tied up. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to others.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting Lucky by DC Brod
4 STARS
This book was about finding what killed a reporter. Was it just a drunk who ran her down? Or was it because of a story she was working on? What was she working on.
Robyn is having coffee with her mom at their favorite place, when Robyn gets the news of Clair death. Robyn takes her mom back to her assited living apartment.
Robyn is a freelance writer for the paper. She takes over the one article that clair was assigned and also follow through on the hit and run of Clair.
Clair was writing on a new green housing development. Robyn tried to learn
and follow Clair's trail. Robyn finds some pictures on her camera of a meeting being of two guys.
Robyn sees her boyfriend Mick at a restraunt with a younger woman. Robyn at 40 does not want kids. Mick is not sure he wants kids or not. He is not ready to make sure of that decision right now. So they are cooling off.
Mick is still a big help to Robyn and they are not yet ready to lose their friendship.
Robyn's mom wants to buy a house and live in it with Robyn. Her mom is starting to have problems with her memory.
Robyn & Mick get called by his new secratary to help because a john died in her sister's apartment. She is trying to get out of that life, but if her sister finds out he was at their apartment she would be homeless. Robyn had just
had dinner with him about the housing development and lunch with his wife Kat an old high school rival. So they ended up moving the body and putting it in his car in a parking lot.
Their is laughter and serious mystery. It is a nice story and I would like to see more of the characters Robyn and Mick. I was lent this ebook in exchange of honest review from Netgalley.
Dec.11,2011 PUB Tyrus Books
http://readalot-rhonda1111.blogspot.c...

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading out of my genre-comfort zone for sometime now. I have discovered series and authors of other genres that I am excited to continue, and other that I have disliked. Reading Getting Lucky was like a warm homecoming. Comfortable and welcoming like old family and friends.

This is a crime novel, but not anything like a police procedural. There’s a hodgepodge cast of characters, all with their little quirks. Some are stereotypes, others are unexpected, but all are just what they need to be to get this story across. And really, there are no cops involved.

I did not read the first in the series, Getting Sassy. There are some things I feel like I missed. Like the fortune that Robyn’s mother has. I would love to know where that came from! Though there were some questions, I didn’t miss enough to not enjoy this book. Robyn is a reporter, not a police officer, so her moral compass can skew a little, which makes her fun. Mick, her maybe-ex-boyfriend, has mob connections. Her mom is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. There’s a kind of shady feel to the book, like Robyn bends any and all rules to reach her final goal. Which, honestly, is kind of refreshing! I’m used to fairly straight-laced cop-types who do their job by the book. Robyn is sometimes off the grid and kept me guessing a lot!

Though Getting Lucky was slow going at first, once the plot got established, it moved at a nice even pace through to the end. And even though it was fairly predictable, I enjoyed it thoroughly. It left me with that happy euphoria after eating that welcome-home dinner of all your favorite foods—completely satisfied.


4 Trees: Enjoyable, fun, and easy read

Get to reading,
Richard

*This book was provided to me by the publicist*

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting Lucky is part of the Getting Even series and a sequel to Getting Sassy.
Robyn Guthrie is a writer working freelance for Weekly News and Record in Fowler, Illinois and reasonably happy in her work-a-day life. When her fellow writer Clair Powel l is killed in a hit and run accident Robyn agrees to take on her story about a green community with the condition that she can also investigate Clair’s death.
The story starts off as promotional piece about Cedar Ridge with the interviews of the architect Glenn Patchen and the founders of Green Haven Foundation Joseph and Kat Kendrick. But in a meeting with Joseph Kendrick they are interrupted by Ed Leoni, a man with a shady past and possible mob ties. In the progress of writing the story Robyn discovers a cover-up about toxic soil quality in the new community and the possibility that Joseph Kendrick is knowingly involved. She also finds out that Clair knew of the conspiracy and was threatening to expose the cover-up. Was her death murder or an accident?
With the help of her on and off boyfriend Mick Hughes, Robyn digs deeper in to the conspiracy and ends up stepping on the toes of the mob with possible deadly ramifications. Thrown into the mix is Robyn’s demanding and forgetful mother Lizzie who lives in a retirement community and is badgering Robyn to buy a house for them to live together, and a retired EPA agent who is also compiling evidence of wrong-doing.
D. C. Brod draws her reader into the story with believable characters and a storyline that keeps your attention to the very end. Hopefully she will continue the series so we can all follow the investigations and antics Robyn gets herself involved in.

[Jenn Ravey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robyn Guthrie is 40-something, caring for her ailing but sharp-tongued mother and stumbling through the complexities of a relationship on the brink of ruin. Her one solace? Her dog Bix and her job. As a freelance reporter, Robyn has a fair amount of autonomy until Claire, a reporter at the Fowler News and Record, is killed by a hit-and-run driver. Robyn feels a kinship with Claire because Claire was a dog owner as well and was actually killed while out walking her pup. Everyone else thinks the accident was a random hit and run, but Robyn is curious... Claire was working on a story about a community of eco-built homes in Cedar Ridge, and Robyn retraces her steps to figure out just what was going on in the development.

The last time I browsed NetGalley, I saw this book and grabbed it up mostly because of the cover and description. I kept reading because DC Brod wrote an intelligent, odd little mystery with a sense of humor that is more than a run-of-the-mill whodunit. Instead, it's a novel of relationships. Robyn's mother wants them to buy a home together, while Robyn is trying to figure out whether her boyfriend is ok with her desire not to have children. Robyn knows what she wants, but voicing it isn't always easy, even for such a strong-willed woman. The mystery is not an afterthought, however, and Robyn's journalistic investigation reminded me how much fun books with good reporters in them can be. This is most definitely a series you want to keep an eye on.

Read this: if you aren't a huge mystery lover but want to give one a try. For you mystery lovers: grab it. You won't regret it.

[Gloria Feit · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest in the Robyn Guthrie series has the free-lance writer involved in a couple of story lines. To begin with, she is asked to pick up on a story for a weekly newspaper after the original reporter dies following a hit-and-run accident. The story involves a new development in town based on extreme “green” principles: almost 100 per cent energy independent, among other features, using solar power.

Robyn is obsessed in finding the one responsible for the reporter’s death and becomes overly involved with the real estate development, which leads to various complications further into the plot. The author uses several devices to offset the seriousness of what essentially is a murder/crime plot, including the by-play between Robyn and her mother, as well as her on-again-off-again relationship with her present lover, a former jockey turned talented accountant and apparent man-of-the-world when it comes to knowing anyone who is anybody.

The novel is written in the first person, told from Robyn’s point of view. There are some excellent wise-cracks throughout the story. However, this reader, at least, could have done with less information about Robyn’s love life, or lack thereof, and more in-depth analysis of the main characters, who seemed more like stick figures than major players. However, with that caveat, the novel is recommended.

[Joan Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book, I instantly knew I was going to like it. The main character, Robyn Gutherie, learned that a colleague had been killed while walking her dog. Robyn's first thought was, "How's Snoop?" That hooked me in. Fortunately Snoop was okay. That's not giving away too much as you'll learn of Snoop's fate very early.

Robyn is a 40 something, single, working woman who is responsible for the care of her elderly mother. She lives alone with her dog, Bix. As a freelance writer, she delves into some very interesting and shady topics including a green real estate scheme that turned black. The book is well written with good characterization and excellent plot. Furthermore, it's funny. It's hard to find a funny book these days. Those that try often fail. DC Brod succeeds very well. I found myself laughing out loud and reading passages to my husband.

As soon as I finished Getting Lucky which I loved from the beginning to the end, I read her first book in this series, Getting Sassy. It, too, did not disappoint.

I'd recommend this book to all my friends who want a light, fun, entertaining read.

As for me, I'm going to try and find more books by DC Brod!

[Mary Chrapliwy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was an unexpected treat. I expected it to be an ordinary reporter-uncovers-story tale, but it was more than that.

Robyn Guthrie takes over the case load of a coworker who is killed in a hit-and-run accident. She finds one story intriguing enough to throw herself into it wholeheartedly, uncovering things below the surface that form the remainder of this story. I don't want to say more as it would spoil the plot for perceptive readers of this review.

Written in first person point of view, we see the entire story only from Robyn's point of view. Fortunately, her point of view is an entertaining one. Robyn is witty and sarcastic, seeing the humorous side of things. She is an entirely likable character paired up with others in the story who are so well created that they come alive in the story; they are utterly believable.

This was a well written entertaining tale. It's apparently part of a series of books featuring Robyn Guthrie, but you can read this as a stand alone - no need to start with book one.

[Donna Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book of a trilogy that author DC Brod is finishing this year. I had the opportunity to meet her last year when our Book Club had read "getting Sassy," the first book, and she came to talk to us and answer questions. Then, we got notice that she was book signing for this book in November 2011, so I went to pick a copy up and have her sign it. I just finished reading it. There are reoccurring characters, including Robyn, her mom, and Mick (from Book 1) --- this one deals with a journalist that has died due to a hit and run, and Robyn, along with the reader, starts to think it might not just be a horrible accident --- there's intrigue in an Erin Brockovich type of story, and I found it amusing again. As good as her first one --- her forte, I think, is the dialogue --- very real, and she has a terrific sense of humor, esp. with the mom. What a character! I'm anxious now to read the last book ---- very enjoyable read.

[Jaylia3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freelance writer Robyn Guthrie has her heart in the right place, but she’s not above bending or even breaking the law to achieve her (mostly) noble ends. After a young reporter is killed in a hit and run accident Robyn is given one of her stories to finish, an article about an environmentally friendly “green” housing development that’s being constructed in her small suburban Chicago town, but completing the story becomes secondary to other considerations that Robyn uncovers in her investigation. Meanwhile Robyn is also dealing with a mother who would like to buy and share a house, a boyfriend who is on the fence about their relationship, a high school nemesis who hasn’t changed that much, and a mobster who is way too interested in her life. A murder is solved, but it’s almost accidental and somewhat incidental to the plot. This is the second book to feature Robyn--a chatty, friendly first person narrator--but it’s not necessary to read the first in order to enjoy it.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting Lucky is the sequel to Getting Sassy. I have not read Getting Sassy and you do not have to read it to enjoy Getting Lucky. There is plenty of action in this novel centered on a freelance writer,Robyn Guthrie, who is trying to solve a colleague's death. The plot centers around a "green" housing development.

Robyn is a realistic main character. She is in her forties whose main challenge is life is her aging mother who is living in an assisted living facility. She is facing a future without her beau as she has decided it is too late to contemplate having children.

There are lots of interesting characters and plenty of action. I'm looking forward to reading more Robyn Guthrie adventures.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had liked the previous Robin Guthrie book (Getting Sassy), so looked forward to this sequel, which in the end proved mildly disappointing. Her relationship with Mick seemed awkward, as did the land deal plot - one of those books that seemed a better proposal than final product; I was ready for the whole thing to be over at least an hour before "This has been an Audible production" appeared. My recommendation is to read the other book first, even though other reviewers have said the book works as a stands-alone work. The change of narrators isn't necessarily a bad thing, just different.

[Naomi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate that I am the first to review this book on Goodreads, but I wasn't crazy about this book at all. The first thing that drew me to this book, was that it is set in an area where I live. However, I thought the book was really superficially written and the story bounced around. I really wasn't impressed at all. If it wasn't that I was reading it for a challenge and a committment to Netgalley to give it a fully researched review, I probably would have shelved the book after the first 200 pages.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly interesting Murder Mystery with a female protagonist, but this has been done many times before by many different authors. It's pretty familiar territory, and has been used from the Nancy Drew series, through V.I. Warshawski and Sue Grafton. If you are a fan of these type of novels, GETTING LUCKY is right up your alley.
The novel is set in a fictional suburb of Chicago, Fowler, Illinois. However, there really is a 'Fowler', but it is in downstate Illinois just west of Beardstown and almost to Quincy, IL.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Getting Sassy. It was quirky and fun, if not a little superficial. Getting Lucky was similar but not nearly as good. I found myself skimming to get to the conclusion and then was disappointed. I rated 3 stars because I enjoyed it over-all and would recommend it but I'm not going to rush to re-read it

[K.d. Lassiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a doomsday machine to prevent, but one of the millions of greed motivated little corruptions that slowly eat away at the social and ecological fabric. Brod has reached full stride in her writing. Her characters drive the story and the place and people seem all to real. And easy, satisfying read. Her best to date.

[Grey853 · Rating 2 out of 5]

When another reporter is killed, free lance writer Robyn Guthrie takes over the story about a green community. Meanwhile, she's also trying to find out if it was really an accident or a story that got her killed.

While I liked Robyn, I thought the story was not only predictable, but unrealistic. You just don't screw over the mob and expect to walk away with happily ever after.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always enjoy reading books about newspapers reporters, including the huge world of stringers and freelancers. The writing is solid, concise, specific. While I admit to frustration with the aging mom and year for Robyn to set more limits, that part of the plot is realistic for so many today.

[Martin Maenza · Rating 2 out of 5]

For my review please visit my blog: Martin's View: Getting Lucky.

[Jenine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pace had me and I liked the conflict setup. The payoff was too clean for me.

[Carol]

Lent to me by Julia. Fun, easy read. Good pacing, ok story line about a green development and a dead reporter. I would read another by this author.