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A Sedona O'Hala Mystery #1
Executive Lunch
Sedona is given the opportunity of a play an up-and-coming executive with all the trappings of wealth with someone else footing the bill. The find out who is stealing company funds before the criminals find out that their program is being debugged.
Sedona runs into danger, the corporate glass ceiling, and an occasional chance at romance in her quest.
Sedona runs into danger, the corporate glass ceiling, and an occasional chance at romance in her quest.
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First published November 9, 2009
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270 people want to read
About the author
Maria E. Schneider
36 books161 followersIf you were a character from a book, who would you be??
I'd be a dream catcher, the mystic woven spheres of the American Indian, catching the bad dreams and letting through only the good.
I'd be a dream weaver, she who tells stories woven from bits of dust and starlight.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 3, 2010
Some might remember a movie called "The Hot Rock" starring Robert Redford during his prime. This was based on a book from Donald Westlake's "comic caper" series featuring John Dortmunder. Dormunder and his crew always had the perfect plan. They executed it almost flawlessly. Yet always came up empty handed in the end.
Sedona O'Hala seems like the mirror image of Westlake's Dortmunder, at least if series opener "Executive Lunch" is representative of what we can expect. It starts with O'Hala stumbling into what may or may not be a mugging-in-progress in her office hallway. Somehow she saves the day, fighting off multiple attackers. Management seems to think this makes her the perfect person to help them uncover who's been behind some financial shenanigans at the office. Reluctantly she goes along. Her plans are, at best, vague. She fumbles and bumbles along. Yet in the end she gets her man.
But there are some qualities O'Hala and Dortmunder have in common. Both have you chuckling on every page and you're hoping in the end they'll succeed. At least if success means making it through relatively unscathed.
Sedona O'Hala seems like the mirror image of Westlake's Dortmunder, at least if series opener "Executive Lunch" is representative of what we can expect. It starts with O'Hala stumbling into what may or may not be a mugging-in-progress in her office hallway. Somehow she saves the day, fighting off multiple attackers. Management seems to think this makes her the perfect person to help them uncover who's been behind some financial shenanigans at the office. Reluctantly she goes along. Her plans are, at best, vague. She fumbles and bumbles along. Yet in the end she gets her man.
But there are some qualities O'Hala and Dortmunder have in common. Both have you chuckling on every page and you're hoping in the end they'll succeed. At least if success means making it through relatively unscathed.
September 25, 2010
not very good at all. boring characters, slim plot.
June 7, 2010
A fun and fast paced mystery with a few laugh out loud moments. I had great fun reading this.
July 27, 2015
Re-read 7/2015 Just as good as remembered! Now on to the next, Executive Retention!
July 12, 2016
I gave up on it. It was that bad.
October 16, 2018
This is the first book I have read by author Maria E, Schneider - and it will most definitely not be my last. So pleased I found this gem. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It is a delightful. lighthearted mystery with an excellent cast of characters. The heroine, Sedona, is genuine, down to earth and kindhearted with a very strong sense of fair play and compassion. I especially enjoyed the 'side plot" around the domestic abuse and loved how determined Sedona was to help Marilyn while allowing her to retain a sense of self respect. I felt as though Marilyn was portrayed very honestly and realistically as she struggled to find the strength to leave an abusive situation. Sedona provided friendship and safety without being preachy or superior.
The corporate mystery was filled with quirky, humorous characters and enough twists. to keep you guessing.
I am glad that this is a series as I am looking forward to Sedona's next adventure.
It is a delightful. lighthearted mystery with an excellent cast of characters. The heroine, Sedona, is genuine, down to earth and kindhearted with a very strong sense of fair play and compassion. I especially enjoyed the 'side plot" around the domestic abuse and loved how determined Sedona was to help Marilyn while allowing her to retain a sense of self respect. I felt as though Marilyn was portrayed very honestly and realistically as she struggled to find the strength to leave an abusive situation. Sedona provided friendship and safety without being preachy or superior.
The corporate mystery was filled with quirky, humorous characters and enough twists. to keep you guessing.
I am glad that this is a series as I am looking forward to Sedona's next adventure.
January 13, 2022
Sedona O'Hale is the girl who takes on muggers, writes great computer code, what she is not is an up-and-coming corporate exec.
But she is asked to go undercover (with all the trimmings - condo, hot car, great clothes) to find a thief. Follow her lead as she helps investigate who is stealing from Strandfrost.
Easy read with lots of laughs.
But she is asked to go undercover (with all the trimmings - condo, hot car, great clothes) to find a thief. Follow her lead as she helps investigate who is stealing from Strandfrost.
Easy read with lots of laughs.
November 23, 2014
Executive Lunch by Maria E. Schneider is the first book in the Sedona O’Hala Mystery book series and I thought it was really good. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
In this first book, we meet Sedona O’Hala, who works for Standfrost, finds herself involved in corporate espionage. She goes undercover, becoming part of the management team in the company, to try to help figure out who is skimming the company and how. She has no experience in either management or undercover work, but she is willing to give it her best shot. She really doesn’t mind the perks of being management and could get used to living that type of lifestyle, but she does have problems with some of her coworkers.
Sedona is a character that you can really like and enjoy reading about. She is spunky and brave and hard-headed but she also has a softer side. She is loyal to her friends and those people she see as being needy and will go out of her way to help them. She is funny and witty and sarcastic, a great combination. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the things she says and thinks.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book is that it is a cozy mystery, but not a murder mystery. Most of the cozies I read revolve around a murder and how a group of friends try to solve it. And I really enjoy those. But I think this book is refreshing because it revolves around corporate wrongdoings. I really like that. The book is suspenseful and there are plenty of suspects to consider as the culprit. There are twists and turns along the way and there was a surprise towards the end that I never saw coming. I really enjoyed that.
Another thing I enjoyed about the book is the way Sedona tries to help an abused woman. It demonstrates how women being abused continue to return to the abuser and how hard it is to get the abused to stop the cycle. I feel this is a good reminder of a social problem that exists in our world today and one that cannot be stressed enough.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted, well-plotted cozy mystery. This is the first book I have read by this author but I plan on reading her other two books in the series.
In this first book, we meet Sedona O’Hala, who works for Standfrost, finds herself involved in corporate espionage. She goes undercover, becoming part of the management team in the company, to try to help figure out who is skimming the company and how. She has no experience in either management or undercover work, but she is willing to give it her best shot. She really doesn’t mind the perks of being management and could get used to living that type of lifestyle, but she does have problems with some of her coworkers.
Sedona is a character that you can really like and enjoy reading about. She is spunky and brave and hard-headed but she also has a softer side. She is loyal to her friends and those people she see as being needy and will go out of her way to help them. She is funny and witty and sarcastic, a great combination. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the things she says and thinks.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book is that it is a cozy mystery, but not a murder mystery. Most of the cozies I read revolve around a murder and how a group of friends try to solve it. And I really enjoy those. But I think this book is refreshing because it revolves around corporate wrongdoings. I really like that. The book is suspenseful and there are plenty of suspects to consider as the culprit. There are twists and turns along the way and there was a surprise towards the end that I never saw coming. I really enjoyed that.
Another thing I enjoyed about the book is the way Sedona tries to help an abused woman. It demonstrates how women being abused continue to return to the abuser and how hard it is to get the abused to stop the cycle. I feel this is a good reminder of a social problem that exists in our world today and one that cannot be stressed enough.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted, well-plotted cozy mystery. This is the first book I have read by this author but I plan on reading her other two books in the series.
January 31, 2017
I received a free kindle copy of Executive Lunch by Maria E. Schneider in a goodreads promotion in exchange for a fair review.
In an attack, Sedona describes the Bull-man: "His eyes were devoid of anything but mean."
Her brother, Sean drove her home from the office after the attack. She was cut & bruised & had a black eye. She was so sore she missed work a couple of days. Her friend Suzy came to visit.
"You can't blame Dr. Stanley one bit. You ripped part of his beard out, Suzy. He has to shave now because the spot never grew back. What did you expect him to do, forget the incident?"
"She sniffed & fluffed her frizzy ginger curls. 'He fired me as a patient & refused to be my doctor...When he recommended Dr. Evans, he could have just left the beard incident out of the history. Besides, I told Dr. Stanley I was ready for the epidural. He should have listened to me.'
"She shrugged & grinned back at me. 'Maybe not. You better get some more rest. You look like you were in a room full of pregnant women who didn't get their epidurals."
Going undercover into a restaurant Sedona realized. "Granted, I couldn’t see under the table, but there were roaches waiting to crawl up my leg.
Women can feel roaches from blocks away, and I knew they were there."
Sedona is helping Marilyn, a victim of spousal abuse. She's giving her a cleaning & shopping for groceries job. She tells her: "I can't fix your problems,
Marilyn. If you want some kind of help, ask me for it. Maybe someday you'll clean enough houses you can make your own future."
"Her eyes shut down again. The future wasn't a place she visited often." Sedona needed to find Marilyn's address to make sure she was safe from her abusive spouse. "I knew stereotyping was a dangerous assumption. A lot of well to do men beat their wives. Income was not a big differentiator with bullies."
I gave it five stars. It kept me guessing from start to finish.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Executive-Lunch...
In an attack, Sedona describes the Bull-man: "His eyes were devoid of anything but mean."
Her brother, Sean drove her home from the office after the attack. She was cut & bruised & had a black eye. She was so sore she missed work a couple of days. Her friend Suzy came to visit.
"You can't blame Dr. Stanley one bit. You ripped part of his beard out, Suzy. He has to shave now because the spot never grew back. What did you expect him to do, forget the incident?"
"She sniffed & fluffed her frizzy ginger curls. 'He fired me as a patient & refused to be my doctor...When he recommended Dr. Evans, he could have just left the beard incident out of the history. Besides, I told Dr. Stanley I was ready for the epidural. He should have listened to me.'
"She shrugged & grinned back at me. 'Maybe not. You better get some more rest. You look like you were in a room full of pregnant women who didn't get their epidurals."
Going undercover into a restaurant Sedona realized. "Granted, I couldn’t see under the table, but there were roaches waiting to crawl up my leg.
Women can feel roaches from blocks away, and I knew they were there."
Sedona is helping Marilyn, a victim of spousal abuse. She's giving her a cleaning & shopping for groceries job. She tells her: "I can't fix your problems,
Marilyn. If you want some kind of help, ask me for it. Maybe someday you'll clean enough houses you can make your own future."
"Her eyes shut down again. The future wasn't a place she visited often." Sedona needed to find Marilyn's address to make sure she was safe from her abusive spouse. "I knew stereotyping was a dangerous assumption. A lot of well to do men beat their wives. Income was not a big differentiator with bullies."
I gave it five stars. It kept me guessing from start to finish.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Executive-Lunch...
July 30, 2011
Sedona appears to be a mild mannered lab assistant at Strandfrost, a computer development firm, but when some thugs enter the business she turns into Superwoman to save her colleagues and sends the crooks running for their lives.
Her efforts are rewarded when she is approached by board of Strandfrost with an opportunity to good to refuse. They will set her up in a home and lifestyle of an rising executive in the company but she needs to find out what the thugs were after. They know company funds are being diverted, they know one of the players, but not enough to shut the operation down.
She agrees to help the board and put herself in danger but quickly learns she can trust no one. Maybe not even the ones who are supposed to be helping her. She could lose her job or even her life if she doesn't uncover whose behind the executive rip off!
Sedona turns from Superwoman back to her true identity of Superklutz and the fun begins. She trips over, runs into, falls on top of everything and anyone. This is a fast paced romp into the corporate world that will have you laughing out loud. With just enough surprises to keep you guessing who-dun-it until the very end. A well written, lively mystery and a great escape for your pleasure. You will be left looking forward to your next visit with Sedona O'Hala.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Her efforts are rewarded when she is approached by board of Strandfrost with an opportunity to good to refuse. They will set her up in a home and lifestyle of an rising executive in the company but she needs to find out what the thugs were after. They know company funds are being diverted, they know one of the players, but not enough to shut the operation down.
She agrees to help the board and put herself in danger but quickly learns she can trust no one. Maybe not even the ones who are supposed to be helping her. She could lose her job or even her life if she doesn't uncover whose behind the executive rip off!
Sedona turns from Superwoman back to her true identity of Superklutz and the fun begins. She trips over, runs into, falls on top of everything and anyone. This is a fast paced romp into the corporate world that will have you laughing out loud. With just enough surprises to keep you guessing who-dun-it until the very end. A well written, lively mystery and a great escape for your pleasure. You will be left looking forward to your next visit with Sedona O'Hala.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
March 12, 2016
Executive Lunch by Maria E. Schneider is the first book in A Sedona O’Hala Mystery series. Sedona O’Hala writes computer code and does testing at Strandfrost. She is an independent young lady who is able to take care of herself. She proves this when three men attack enter the company and attack two employees. The Strandfrost board asks her to pose as an executive (with all the trappings—i.e. clothes, car, and apartment paid for by them) to find out what the men wanted. They know that someone is stealing company funds, but they do not know all the players in the game. Sedona is reluctant to accept their offer. She is happy with current job, but she eventually agrees to help. Steve Huntington is new to the board of directors and will be her contact. Steve sets her up with his new condo, a car, and appropriate clothing. But can Sedona act the part? Will she be able to find the thieves before they discover her deception?
Executive Lunch was just too silly for me. Sedona first is portrayed as an independent woman who can defeat criminals and then she is an idiotic klutz (a contradiction). I had a hard time getting into this book and found myself finally skimming in order to get through it (especially the parts about her job). The writing style made it hard to read (at least for me). This is just not my type of book. I give Executive Lunch 2 out of 5 stars. The book was just lacking for me (in details, character development, plot).
I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Executive Lunch was just too silly for me. Sedona first is portrayed as an independent woman who can defeat criminals and then she is an idiotic klutz (a contradiction). I had a hard time getting into this book and found myself finally skimming in order to get through it (especially the parts about her job). The writing style made it hard to read (at least for me). This is just not my type of book. I give Executive Lunch 2 out of 5 stars. The book was just lacking for me (in details, character development, plot).
I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2015
This was the first book of Maria Schneider's I read, and I loved it. So much that I wrote my first fan letter to an author. Then I read everything else by Ms Schneider that I could get my hands on. I'm a cozy reader, so this series hits the sweet spot of my taste in books. I loved every one of them. But Maria Schneider is such a versatile author that she has books in multiple genres, some of which I'd never ventured into before. Even so, I've enjoyed every single one of her books. The characterizations, plot, locale, and pacing all carry your interest through the entire book. There is one scene in this book where Sedona first meets the bad guys that stands out in my memory as perhaps the best scene I've ever read in any book ever.
So if this is the first time you are picking up a Maria Schneider book, you are in for a treat. And better yet, you then have a bunch more treats waiting for you. I can only hope that Ms Schneider has a long, profitable, and prolific career so that she can continue to supply me with wonderful things to read.
So if this is the first time you are picking up a Maria Schneider book, you are in for a treat. And better yet, you then have a bunch more treats waiting for you. I can only hope that Ms Schneider has a long, profitable, and prolific career so that she can continue to supply me with wonderful things to read.
June 9, 2016
Steve Huntington, corporate investigator, literally runs into Sedona O'Hala while on the job at Standfrost. His plans to turn her from lab equipment tester to female executive whose team include her old boss (Turbo) and former lab techs has Sedona coming up against the old boys clubs on two fronts.
To flesh out the 'up and coming executive' role, Sedona's entire life is turned upside down when she's suddenly living in a fancy condo, driving a Mercedes SUV, having her wardrobe upgraded, her hair cut and styled, and attending corporate conferences doing sales demonstrations .
Being the only girl of protective older brothers in a Catholic household, Sedona's learned to hold her own physically and socially. Helping brother Sean's friend with a batter wife project puts Sedona in danger too.
Romantic interests from 2 men make life interesting for Sedona who's not used to all the attention!
Great characters, good plot, and there are at least another 2 books in this series to look forward to.
To flesh out the 'up and coming executive' role, Sedona's entire life is turned upside down when she's suddenly living in a fancy condo, driving a Mercedes SUV, having her wardrobe upgraded, her hair cut and styled, and attending corporate conferences doing sales demonstrations .
Being the only girl of protective older brothers in a Catholic household, Sedona's learned to hold her own physically and socially. Helping brother Sean's friend with a batter wife project puts Sedona in danger too.
Romantic interests from 2 men make life interesting for Sedona who's not used to all the attention!
Great characters, good plot, and there are at least another 2 books in this series to look forward to.
December 20, 2011
Sedona O'Hala is a electronic technician. or lab rat, for a company named Strandfrost, Walking into work one morning, she finds herself mugged at the reception desk.
This kicks off a fast-paced, at times funny, romp to find out who is stealing the company blind. The Feds have been called in and a plan has been devised, a plan that requires Sedona to be promoted to Manager so that the crooks will contact her...
As we all know many plans are geared to fail and it seems like this one is...until Sedona starts noticing other discrepancies within the firm. With the Federal agents, and a contracted specialist who looks just like the mugger...Sedona is watching her back!
This was a very entertaining book that was easy to lose yourself in. I look forward to reading more by Ms. Schneider.
This kicks off a fast-paced, at times funny, romp to find out who is stealing the company blind. The Feds have been called in and a plan has been devised, a plan that requires Sedona to be promoted to Manager so that the crooks will contact her...
As we all know many plans are geared to fail and it seems like this one is...until Sedona starts noticing other discrepancies within the firm. With the Federal agents, and a contracted specialist who looks just like the mugger...Sedona is watching her back!
This was a very entertaining book that was easy to lose yourself in. I look forward to reading more by Ms. Schneider.
August 12, 2011
I read this series out of order and this is my third Sedona O'Hala mystery. I enjoyed it just as much, if not more than the other two.
Sedona is a character that I can really enjoy following - she tends to jump in with both feet before checking that there is water in the pool but she has lots of character and stands by her convictions. She also makes me laugh, which is an awesome thing. We all need to laugh.
It is a shame that there are only three in this cozy mystery series because I could certainly read more of them.
Sedona is a character that I can really enjoy following - she tends to jump in with both feet before checking that there is water in the pool but she has lots of character and stands by her convictions. She also makes me laugh, which is an awesome thing. We all need to laugh.
It is a shame that there are only three in this cozy mystery series because I could certainly read more of them.
November 15, 2013
Sedona O'Hala is a computer coder in the Strandfrost company, when she becomes involved in someone stealing from the company. Sedona agrees to work as the inside person, as Steve Huntington investigates the stealing. Sedona is witty, quirky and likable but the story is a bit wordy. And, cause the story to drag. The secondary characters are different and interesting but too many to actually keep track of. The series does have potential and Sendona is fun.
January 19, 2016
This was really good. I loved the characters, and the main character is a pretty smart lady who doesn't put up with a lot of BS or office politics. Of course, that makes it harder for her to get the job she needs to do done, but she manages in spite of all the screw-offs she works with. I really liked this one and have looked at continuing the series, but I'm gonna have to get rich first as this series is priced out of my budget!
December 10, 2015
This is the first book in the Sedona O'Hale Mysteries, I really enjoyed it, I really like Sedona. She works for a computer firm, but when something bad happens, she gets herself involved in something she probably wished she hadn't. But in the meantime, she also gets a "promotion" of sorts, which includes a bit of investigating. She is a funny character, and the book has a lot of laugh out loud moments. I will definitely look for the next in the series.
January 7, 2013
This book took me forever to read! I was expecting it to be funny and it really wasn't. It was written fine and the main character was smart which I appreciated, but it didn't grab me until about 50% of the way through and by that point, I just wanted it over. I don't know that I would be eager to read another book of the series.
September 7, 2010
I LOVE Sedona O'Hala! She had me laughing out loud on nearly every page. If you enjoy humorous mysteries, check this one out now.
January 9, 2012
Diffently a fun and quick read. Not to long or short. reat to take you away from life when you need it.
June 17, 2013
Fun, fast paced, but minimal romance.
May 11, 2014
Pretty boring. Hard to follow all the characters. Doubt I'll read any of the author's other books.
October 20, 2015
I did like Sedona but could not follow the story. Too many characters to follow, no progress. I just gave up.
April 1, 2011
Sedona is a bright new heroine. Smart, curious and a lot of fun to read.
April 27, 2015
Not a stellar book but fun....easy read
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews