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Lomax & Biggs #4
Cut, Paste, Kill
When Eleanor Bellingham-Crump---a socialite responsible for the death of a ten-year-old boy---turns up murdered on the floor of a Hollywood hotel bathroom, Lomax and Biggs are confronted with a crime of artistic brutality. Along with the scissors sticking out of Eleanor's lifeless body, the two detectives find a meticulous scrapbook documenting a motive for vengeance in lurid detail. As more bodies are discovered, each one connected by the intricate scrapbooks left at the murder scenes, Mike and Terry are on the hunt for a vigilante stalking unpunished criminals. They must race to decode the meaning behind the scrapbooks before the crafty avenger has time to cut and paste the story for another kill. With laugh-out-loud humor and crackling dialogue, the chapters hurtle toward a killer finale in the most thrilling Lomax & Biggs adventure yet.
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
318 people are currently reading
376 people want to read
About the author
Marshall Karp
40 books617 followersMarshall Karp is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a TV and screenwriter, documentarian, and playwright. Working with James Patterson, Marshall cocreated and cowrote the NYPD Red series. After six bestsellers, Marshall has carried the series forward on his own, beginning with NYPD Red 7: The Murder Sorority. Marshall is also the author of Snowstorm in August, as well as the critically acclaimed Lomax and Biggs novels, featuring LAPD Detectives Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs. For over twenty years he has worked closely with the international charity Vitamin Angels, providing tens of millions of mothers and children around the globe with lifesaving vitamins and nutrients.
For more information, visit www.karpkills.com.
For more information, visit www.karpkills.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
March 10, 2023
The binge of Marshall Karp’s LAPD police procedural series trudges on! I remain impressed with all it has to offer and can only hope others will take a look at these books. Karp offers up some great mystery reading and decent cases, enveloped in dry wit, realistic banter, and wonderful pacing. Perfect for a little light reading, which always helps me between deeper and more brain-twisting stories.
After socialite Eleanor Bellingham-Crump turns up murdered in a hotel bathroom, LAPD Detectives Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs must take the case. The victim, responsible for the death of a young boy, has dodged any criminal changes as she claims diplomatic immunity. Not only was Bellingham-Crump found with a pair os scissors in her side, but there is a detailed scrapbook exploring the specifics of her crime at the scene.
When other victims turns up with the same clues—scissors and scrapbooks—Lomax and Biggs realise that there is a serial killer out there with a penchant for detail and lurid crime fighting, seeking to punish those who did not face justice for the crimes they committed. Working the scrapbooking angle, Lomax and Biggs learn of a covert purchaser who might be the best lead they have.
As the case reaches its zenith, the detectives think that they have something with which they can work, only to have a twist tossed into the middle of everything. There’s something that does not add up here and neither Lomax nor Biggs are ready to admit defeat. With some great personal drama befalling Lomax as well, this case could be a distraction from another case he must solve; how to add to his family at home. Karp does well building the drama and tension in this one, another winner for this series.
Marshall Karp keeps finding new ways to impress the reader with a unique take on murder cases. There is a definite flow to the narrative and a wonderful building up of character development, with Mike Lomax in the middle of it all. There is a great deal of personal growth for the senior LAPD detective in this book, as well as some thinking back to what was and what could be for his family. Decent secondary characters keep there story lively and offer banter to cut the tension throughout. A great novel that is as light as it is humourous, Marshall Karp has found the recipe for success and kept me flipping pages until the final reveal.
Kudos, Mr. Karp, for another great novel that left me highly impressed.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
After socialite Eleanor Bellingham-Crump turns up murdered in a hotel bathroom, LAPD Detectives Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs must take the case. The victim, responsible for the death of a young boy, has dodged any criminal changes as she claims diplomatic immunity. Not only was Bellingham-Crump found with a pair os scissors in her side, but there is a detailed scrapbook exploring the specifics of her crime at the scene.
When other victims turns up with the same clues—scissors and scrapbooks—Lomax and Biggs realise that there is a serial killer out there with a penchant for detail and lurid crime fighting, seeking to punish those who did not face justice for the crimes they committed. Working the scrapbooking angle, Lomax and Biggs learn of a covert purchaser who might be the best lead they have.
As the case reaches its zenith, the detectives think that they have something with which they can work, only to have a twist tossed into the middle of everything. There’s something that does not add up here and neither Lomax nor Biggs are ready to admit defeat. With some great personal drama befalling Lomax as well, this case could be a distraction from another case he must solve; how to add to his family at home. Karp does well building the drama and tension in this one, another winner for this series.
Marshall Karp keeps finding new ways to impress the reader with a unique take on murder cases. There is a definite flow to the narrative and a wonderful building up of character development, with Mike Lomax in the middle of it all. There is a great deal of personal growth for the senior LAPD detective in this book, as well as some thinking back to what was and what could be for his family. Decent secondary characters keep there story lively and offer banter to cut the tension throughout. A great novel that is as light as it is humourous, Marshall Karp has found the recipe for success and kept me flipping pages until the final reveal.
Kudos, Mr. Karp, for another great novel that left me highly impressed.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
February 9, 2017
Another fantastic read by Marshall Karp! If you never read any of the Lomax & Biggs series- start off with book number 1
The Rabbit Factory- it is quite a big book- but well worth the read- then continue on with this series... 2 cops, working in the California area- they are a great team- and funny as heck too!!!
The Rabbit Factory- it is quite a big book- but well worth the read- then continue on with this series... 2 cops, working in the California area- they are a great team- and funny as heck too!!! 
August 29, 2025
I picked this one up on a whim because I enjoyed "Don't Tell Me How To Die" so much. It did not disappoint. I was completely drawn in by the witty banter, laced with sarcasm, and stayed for the mystery.
August 28, 2015
It takes a certain warped, but beautiful, mind to come up with a description of a retirement home/hospice as a “five star elephant burial ground” (p. 156). Right there, one gets the picture of Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive entwined with something unnatural, death. Of course, in Cut, Paste, Kill as in the other Lomax and Biggs mysteries, there is often a wild and, often, unsettling mix of celebrities and cadavers. In one such case in Cut, Paste, Kill who would have believed that some of the unsuccessful screenwriting being perpetrated by one of the protagonists could possible foreshadow actual events.
Cut, Paste, Kill features a “scrapbooker” who creates memorabilia based on people who “get away with” spectacular crimes. But, being unsatisfied with mere vicarious recording/preserving the evidence of injustices, this “scrapbooker” decides to put, presumably, her scissors to more direct use. The first twist of this novel is that all of the victims are so “deserving” of their demises that it’s hard to believe that it is the job of the protagonists to bring the “scrapbooker” himself/herself to justice. The second twist is that the case is closed at the approximate center of the book. Obviously, the alert reader is going to be very suspicious that the wrong perpetrator has been charged. In this case, there is definite ambiguity involved. In fact, the final solution has a definite ambiguity.
Best of all, I can honestly say that I was way, way late figuring out the “scrapbooker.” I fell for any bit of misdirection offered up by Marshall Karp during this one. That seems strange considering how early I figured out Flipping Out, but I like it when that happens—especially when all the clues are there.
One of the things I’ve enjoyed about both of the Lomax and Bigg’s novels that I’ve read was the interplay between Lomax and his father, Big Jim. My own father was never as obnoxious as Big Jim happens to be (or as well off financially—grin), but I used to know that feeling of wishing the old man would just “butt out.” My Dad also knew very few boundaries with regard to my private life (at least, it seemed so at the time, but I found out later that there were some very important times when he deliberately backed off) and, sometimes, he was embarrassing to me (though, at times, he made me very proud and, right now, I’m more embarrassed about being embarrassed than by anything he did). So, that family problem seems to make these stories feel that much more real to me.
Cut, Paste, Kill features examples of both dysfunctional families and endearing families (even temporary families). It was really interesting to see Lomax becoming “domesticated” and realizing how fulfilling even a temporary relationship with a child can be. As a former foster parent and adoptive parent, I could identify with that, too. In fact, the child in question is a precocious Chinese girl and one of my adoptive children is a brilliant young woman who had one Chinese parent. So, some of the really insightful things this fictional girl understood reminded me of my own daughter. That was delightful.
In fact, I found Cut, Paste, Kill to be considerably more delightful than Flipping Out. This was just the “pick-me-up” I needed when I read it. My especial gratitude to my brother who not only introduced me to this series but gave me some of the books.
Cut, Paste, Kill features a “scrapbooker” who creates memorabilia based on people who “get away with” spectacular crimes. But, being unsatisfied with mere vicarious recording/preserving the evidence of injustices, this “scrapbooker” decides to put, presumably, her scissors to more direct use. The first twist of this novel is that all of the victims are so “deserving” of their demises that it’s hard to believe that it is the job of the protagonists to bring the “scrapbooker” himself/herself to justice. The second twist is that the case is closed at the approximate center of the book. Obviously, the alert reader is going to be very suspicious that the wrong perpetrator has been charged. In this case, there is definite ambiguity involved. In fact, the final solution has a definite ambiguity.
Best of all, I can honestly say that I was way, way late figuring out the “scrapbooker.” I fell for any bit of misdirection offered up by Marshall Karp during this one. That seems strange considering how early I figured out Flipping Out, but I like it when that happens—especially when all the clues are there.
One of the things I’ve enjoyed about both of the Lomax and Bigg’s novels that I’ve read was the interplay between Lomax and his father, Big Jim. My own father was never as obnoxious as Big Jim happens to be (or as well off financially—grin), but I used to know that feeling of wishing the old man would just “butt out.” My Dad also knew very few boundaries with regard to my private life (at least, it seemed so at the time, but I found out later that there were some very important times when he deliberately backed off) and, sometimes, he was embarrassing to me (though, at times, he made me very proud and, right now, I’m more embarrassed about being embarrassed than by anything he did). So, that family problem seems to make these stories feel that much more real to me.
Cut, Paste, Kill features examples of both dysfunctional families and endearing families (even temporary families). It was really interesting to see Lomax becoming “domesticated” and realizing how fulfilling even a temporary relationship with a child can be. As a former foster parent and adoptive parent, I could identify with that, too. In fact, the child in question is a precocious Chinese girl and one of my adoptive children is a brilliant young woman who had one Chinese parent. So, some of the really insightful things this fictional girl understood reminded me of my own daughter. That was delightful.
In fact, I found Cut, Paste, Kill to be considerably more delightful than Flipping Out. This was just the “pick-me-up” I needed when I read it. My especial gratitude to my brother who not only introduced me to this series but gave me some of the books.
October 5, 2010
Hello!! I am going to say this right off the bat: If you enjoy or love character driven fiction, a little humor in your reading (okay maybe I should say smart aleck responses and sardonic humor), a good, fun, mystery and a nice detective novel, then I have just the author for you. I didn’t know the author existed until one of the nice local librarians pointed him out to me. I know most of them (the librarians) a long time; they try to direct me to neat stuff on occasion when I look forlorn and confused, and that is just about always. I strive for consistency in all that I do. Being simple minded comes in handy on occasion.
Marshall Karp is the author of more Lomax & Biggs Mysteries: Flipping Out, Bloodthirsty, and The Rabbit Factory. I plan on going back in time and tackling Flipping Out. I also plan to make sure that I don’t miss anything else he is going to write. Here is a little bit from inside the jacket of the novel so you can get the flavor of the novel: “When Eleanor Bellingham-Crump a socialite responsible for the death of a ten-year-old boy- turns up murdered on the bathroom floor of a Hollywood Hotel, Lomax and Biggs are confronted with a crime of artistic brutality. Along with the scissors sticking out of Eleanor’s lifeless body, the two detectives find a meticulous scrapbook documenting a motive for vengeance in lurid detail.
As more bodies are discovered, each one connecting by the intricate scrapbooks left at the murder scenes, Lomax and Biggs go on the hunt for a vigilante stalking unpunished criminals. They must race to decode the meaning behind the scrapbooks before the crafty avenger has time to cut and paste the story of another kill.”
Cut, Paste, Kill is an excellent detective story that has a tremendous amount of humor, and heart. The tag teams of Lomax & Biggs are excellent foils and they keep the laughs coming nonstop. Marshall Karp has found a way to keep the entire novel equal though. An equal part wit, to an equal part detecting. One does not overshadow the other; they complement each other. That is what made this novel so interesting for me. The gags come hard and fast and so does the action and plotline. The narrative is amazing and generally I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed this novel. Cut,Paste,Kill has all the right elements for me: good fast moving storyline, excellent execution of it, I laughed a lot, and the loose ends were all wrapped up together at novel’s end. Check this novel out, laugh a little, have a good time, Cut, Paste, Kill is what good character driven is all about.
Here is the link for the official Lomax & Biggs website: http://www.lomaxandbiggs.com/
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
Marshall Karp is the author of more Lomax & Biggs Mysteries: Flipping Out, Bloodthirsty, and The Rabbit Factory. I plan on going back in time and tackling Flipping Out. I also plan to make sure that I don’t miss anything else he is going to write. Here is a little bit from inside the jacket of the novel so you can get the flavor of the novel: “When Eleanor Bellingham-Crump a socialite responsible for the death of a ten-year-old boy- turns up murdered on the bathroom floor of a Hollywood Hotel, Lomax and Biggs are confronted with a crime of artistic brutality. Along with the scissors sticking out of Eleanor’s lifeless body, the two detectives find a meticulous scrapbook documenting a motive for vengeance in lurid detail.
As more bodies are discovered, each one connecting by the intricate scrapbooks left at the murder scenes, Lomax and Biggs go on the hunt for a vigilante stalking unpunished criminals. They must race to decode the meaning behind the scrapbooks before the crafty avenger has time to cut and paste the story of another kill.”
Cut, Paste, Kill is an excellent detective story that has a tremendous amount of humor, and heart. The tag teams of Lomax & Biggs are excellent foils and they keep the laughs coming nonstop. Marshall Karp has found a way to keep the entire novel equal though. An equal part wit, to an equal part detecting. One does not overshadow the other; they complement each other. That is what made this novel so interesting for me. The gags come hard and fast and so does the action and plotline. The narrative is amazing and generally I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed this novel. Cut,Paste,Kill has all the right elements for me: good fast moving storyline, excellent execution of it, I laughed a lot, and the loose ends were all wrapped up together at novel’s end. Check this novel out, laugh a little, have a good time, Cut, Paste, Kill is what good character driven is all about.
Here is the link for the official Lomax & Biggs website: http://www.lomaxandbiggs.com/
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
September 20, 2013
A murder mystery can have a good story line but it is sometimes difficult to mix murder and humor.Karp does it pretty well but one of his main detectives, Terry Biggs is little too glib at times. But the pace is fast and the mystery is interesting and I found myself caught up in the solving of a series of avenging murders.
The wife of an English diplomat killed a 10 year boy crossing the street after he got off his school bus. Eleanor Bellingham-Crump was rip-roaring drunk and never should have been behind the wheel of her car ! Because of diplomatic immunity, she has escaped punishment for her heinous act ! But someone has taken matters into their own hands and has murdered Eleanor ! ...with a scissors to the chest and has left an interesting 'scrapbook' at the murder scene.
As Lomax & Biggs try to solve the crime, they soon discover that there have been two other similar avenging murders....with scrapbooks also left at the scene! The LAPD is asked to work with the FBI on the case because one of the other murders occurred in another state and this one involved the wife of a diplomat. Lomax and Biggs are not thrilled to be working with the Feds but they know that they must smile and play nice.
There are only a few clues at the scenes of the murders, no fingerprints just a few cat hairs and the 'scrapbooks'. I found the case interesting and Biggs' humor actually lightened up some pretty grim killings . If you don't understand ' scrapbooking', you will after this story. Karp has written a few of his own books but he has also written for television and with James Patterson.
The wife of an English diplomat killed a 10 year boy crossing the street after he got off his school bus. Eleanor Bellingham-Crump was rip-roaring drunk and never should have been behind the wheel of her car ! Because of diplomatic immunity, she has escaped punishment for her heinous act ! But someone has taken matters into their own hands and has murdered Eleanor ! ...with a scissors to the chest and has left an interesting 'scrapbook' at the murder scene.
As Lomax & Biggs try to solve the crime, they soon discover that there have been two other similar avenging murders....with scrapbooks also left at the scene! The LAPD is asked to work with the FBI on the case because one of the other murders occurred in another state and this one involved the wife of a diplomat. Lomax and Biggs are not thrilled to be working with the Feds but they know that they must smile and play nice.
There are only a few clues at the scenes of the murders, no fingerprints just a few cat hairs and the 'scrapbooks'. I found the case interesting and Biggs' humor actually lightened up some pretty grim killings . If you don't understand ' scrapbooking', you will after this story. Karp has written a few of his own books but he has also written for television and with James Patterson.
February 17, 2015
This is the 4th book in the series but the first I have read. This was awesome! It was a super fun read where I just had to keep reading!
Two LAPD cops, with fascinating backgrounds and families, are charged to deal with an unusual homicide - the killing of a murderer who got off without a charge. This leads to a great story of adventure, family love and mystery with some wonderful twists.
It got 4 stars instead of 5 just because I am very aware that people with mental health issues are not always murdering psychopaths and I always worry that books starring a mental patient as a bad guy cause them even more bad press!
Two LAPD cops, with fascinating backgrounds and families, are charged to deal with an unusual homicide - the killing of a murderer who got off without a charge. This leads to a great story of adventure, family love and mystery with some wonderful twists.
It got 4 stars instead of 5 just because I am very aware that people with mental health issues are not always murdering psychopaths and I always worry that books starring a mental patient as a bad guy cause them even more bad press!
February 5, 2016
Just when you think you know who did the murders, along comes the twist! As usual - humor, friends & family, cops and killers, and a great mystery that I have come to expect from this wonderful series!
September 9, 2016
An enjoyable, quick and easy read featuring snarky detectives Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs. Who's killing people using a sharp pair of scissors? Could it be a mad scrapbooker? Fun.
December 10, 2020
Marshall Karp works with James Patterson on various series but the Lomax & Biggs books are all his own. And they are very good. The plots are compelling, as the two L.A. detectives try to figure out what starts as a bizarre murder and turns into a serial string of bizarre murders. Lomax is the straight man, Biggs the comedian, and the banter is authentic and witty. The bit players, the bad guys, and even the victims are vividly drawn—if you’re a fan of Hiaasen quirky villains you’ll enjoy the cast. All in all an excellent read—read them all.
Cut, Paste, and Kill - Book 4 of the Lomax and Biggs series has the two L.A. detectives investigating a series of murders by a vigilante with serious scrapbooking skills. This one got pretty creepy by the end, but as usual, there is much heart and clever dialog. Story 5, Craft 5, Humor 4.
Cut, Paste, and Kill - Book 4 of the Lomax and Biggs series has the two L.A. detectives investigating a series of murders by a vigilante with serious scrapbooking skills. This one got pretty creepy by the end, but as usual, there is much heart and clever dialog. Story 5, Craft 5, Humor 4.
January 22, 2019
Somewhere in here is a decent crime novel, but it is hidden in a deluge of dialog that tries so hard to be funny, that every line is just a tired Vegas style joke. It is not Lomax & Biggs, as much as it is Milton Berle & Shecky Greene trying to one up each other with jokey quips. It gets tired very soon, and wears you out as you wait for a decent who dunnit to form. If the writer spent as much time with the plot as he did trying to be funny, you might have something here.
May 31, 2023
Another fun romp with Biggs & Lomax! Super interesting case with a quirky crime element that I really enjoyed. Banter, as always, is spot on. Big Jim & Biggs are hilarious & I LOL’d multiple times. The introduction of Sophie was sweet and it was nice seeing Lomax and Diana care for her. The ending took me by surprise in the best way.
This series is so so fun and the audiobooks are perfection!
This series is so so fun and the audiobooks are perfection!
Read
July 14, 2020Just when I thought I was reading about a serial murderer with a penchant for scrapbooks, I learned I was reading about much more. Lomax and Briggs are always entertaining as they try to unravel complex cases in Los Angeles.
April 4, 2023
The Lomax and Biggs series is fantastic! Wonderful characters who are funny and full of love. Plotlines are always unique and suspenseful. I really liked this one, as the killer leaves intricate scrapbooks at the murder scenes! So fun to read!
May 24, 2024
The previous book in the series was such a banger that this one was bound to be a disappointment. It was still good and had a few exceptional moments, but the resolution was pretty obvious for the last quarter of the book.
November 5, 2024
Another Great Book!
This fourth installment of Lomax and Biggs is another winner!! It kept me reading morning, noon, and night as I enjoyed it so much! I know you will love it also if you liked the first three books like I did!! Just enjoy!
This fourth installment of Lomax and Biggs is another winner!! It kept me reading morning, noon, and night as I enjoyed it so much! I know you will love it also if you liked the first three books like I did!! Just enjoy!
August 15, 2025
Another good read
More story on Lomax and Biggs and their families. And other good characters. This is a great series that grabs and holds with interesting murders and lovely surprising twists. Looking forward to the next one.
More story on Lomax and Biggs and their families. And other good characters. This is a great series that grabs and holds with interesting murders and lovely surprising twists. Looking forward to the next one.
November 7, 2017
Fun, easy read.
December 19, 2018
Another fun Lomax & Biggs mystery. I was in the mood for something light, engaging, and funny and this fit the bill perfectly!
April 20, 2019
Crazy twist!
Crazy... well if you read it you'll understand. Good story, funny lines, great new characters. Another win from Marshall Karp.
Crazy... well if you read it you'll understand. Good story, funny lines, great new characters. Another win from Marshall Karp.
April 3, 2020
I usually dont review but I'm going to start, this was a good book. I liked the story, the humor wasnt as witty as I'm used to, but overall decent read
September 23, 2020
Great read
I love this series. Fast pace, laugh out loud in some parts. Need a new book in the series soon.
I love this series. Fast pace, laugh out loud in some parts. Need a new book in the series soon.
February 10, 2021
Very entertaining murder mystery with a decent ending. All this and spiced with humor throughout.
October 17, 2021
I still love love this series but if I'm being honest I wasn't a fan of the multiple personality angle.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2021
Some of the jokes work. Most do not. Grittier than his other books, but that evaporates in a silly denouement.
March 27, 2023
A few twists and turns
I loved this book, but then I love Marshall Karp. This book had had more twists and turns than usual. It was a wonderful read.
I loved this book, but then I love Marshall Karp. This book had had more twists and turns than usual. It was a wonderful read.
June 26, 2023
Cut, Paste, Kill
Thoroughly enjoyed this book in the Load and Briggs series. Full of fun, comedy, and thrilling police work. highly recommend this as an enjoyable read.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book in the Load and Briggs series. Full of fun, comedy, and thrilling police work. highly recommend this as an enjoyable read.
August 1, 2023
i like the writing style... still humorous but a bit predictable... but i still like the twist
February 10, 2024
A wild story. What a twist! Started out so so but suddenly it really kept me reading. I will try another in this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews