Diane Stingley
Teoksen Dress You Up in My Love tekijä
Tekijän teokset
Merkitty avainsanalla
Yleistieto
- Sukupuoli
- female
Jäseniä
Kirja-arvosteluja
"The Case of the Invisible Dog" is the first in a proposed series of Shirley Homes mysteries and it feels like a first book. The pacing is erratic and quite a lot of time is spent setting the stage. The book isn't as bad as some reviewers make it sound, really, but it isn't good either.
We are reading Tammy Norman's account of the case, a formula that echoes Conan Doyle. Sherlock solves and Watson writes. But Tammy isn't Watson. She has no particular skills or experience. Watson was a warrior and crack shot, remember. Tammy maintains an internal dialogue with her shrink Phil that should have been cut out of the book entirely. Other characters include Myra, Shirley's sister, is a fat slob who dresses in outlandish clothes, plays golf, and serves no useful purpose unless Ms Stingley attempting a send up of Mark Gatiss. There is also a mysterious Dr. Morgan who ghosts in and out, a galumphing taxi driver, and a Moriarty-like "Woman in the Limousine."
The biggest problem is that Shirley is an idiot, not a savant. She has none of Holmes' skills of observation and analysis. She is thoroughly rude and disliked by people around her including Mrs. Hobson downstairs. Tammy learns to manage her through locutions like: You really did have the right idea, Shirley. It took me a while to figure out that when you said X it meant that Y was going on and that the next step should be Z. That kind of manipulation is ok once or twice but by the end, Tammy's verbal pushes were all that moved the plot along.
There is a possibility that Ms Singley will read all of these negative reviews and that the second book of the series "The Case of the Purple Goldfish," due out in Feb 2016, will be better than this one. Read the reviews. If they are good, skip the dog and start with the fish.
I received a review copy of "The Case of the Invisible Dog: A Shirley Homes Mystery" by Diane Stingley (Random House – Alibi) through NetGalley.com.… (lisätietoja)
We are reading Tammy Norman's account of the case, a formula that echoes Conan Doyle. Sherlock solves and Watson writes. But Tammy isn't Watson. She has no particular skills or experience. Watson was a warrior and crack shot, remember. Tammy maintains an internal dialogue with her shrink Phil that should have been cut out of the book entirely. Other characters include Myra, Shirley's sister, is a fat slob who dresses in outlandish clothes, plays golf, and serves no useful purpose unless Ms Stingley attempting a send up of Mark Gatiss. There is also a mysterious Dr. Morgan who ghosts in and out, a galumphing taxi driver, and a Moriarty-like "Woman in the Limousine."
The biggest problem is that Shirley is an idiot, not a savant. She has none of Holmes' skills of observation and analysis. She is thoroughly rude and disliked by people around her including Mrs. Hobson downstairs. Tammy learns to manage her through locutions like: You really did have the right idea, Shirley. It took me a while to figure out that when you said X it meant that Y was going on and that the next step should be Z. That kind of manipulation is ok once or twice but by the end, Tammy's verbal pushes were all that moved the plot along.
There is a possibility that Ms Singley will read all of these negative reviews and that the second book of the series "The Case of the Purple Goldfish," due out in Feb 2016, will be better than this one. Read the reviews. If they are good, skip the dog and start with the fish.
I received a review copy of "The Case of the Invisible Dog: A Shirley Homes Mystery" by Diane Stingley (Random House – Alibi) through NetGalley.com.… (lisätietoja)
Since moving home from LA, Tammy Norman has worked one menial job after another, and just recently, has been fired from her latest position. She has applied to work as an assistant for Shirley Homes who is like a private detective. Although a little scatterbrained, Tammy just can't pass on the money offered by Shirley and decided to give the position a try. After all, it can't be that bad can it? What troubles can a scatterbrained old lady possibly get into.
Shirley's first case involves a man who cannot sleep because he is constantly being awakened in the middle of the night by a barking dog, which he cannot find. No one else is able to hear the dog, so he thinks he is going crazy. Of course Shirley believes him and she is off on her first case taking Tammy along for the ride. Not long after getting involved, they end up in the police stations, murder is committed and along the way accidentally end up solving the case.
You will either love or hate Shirley, but in the end you will find the murder to be sort of a pleasant surprise. If you read lots of mysteries and are a fan of Sherlock Holmes you should give this story a try.… (lisätietoja)
Shirley's first case involves a man who cannot sleep because he is constantly being awakened in the middle of the night by a barking dog, which he cannot find. No one else is able to hear the dog, so he thinks he is going crazy. Of course Shirley believes him and she is off on her first case taking Tammy along for the ride. Not long after getting involved, they end up in the police stations, murder is committed and along the way accidentally end up solving the case.
You will either love or hate Shirley, but in the end you will find the murder to be sort of a pleasant surprise. If you read lots of mysteries and are a fan of Sherlock Holmes you should give this story a try.… (lisätietoja)
The Case of the Invisible Dog by Diane Stingley is the first book in A Shirley Homes Mystery series. Tammy Norman is twenty-eight and has many issues. Tammy does not know what she wants to do with her life and has trouble committing. Tammy was fired from her job as a receptionist after calling in sick for five days and being seen by a co-worker out renting a DVD. She is now waitressing, but Tammy is not a people person. Tammy has seen Shirley Homes’ ad in the classified for a few weeks and decides to apply. To apply she has to send a written letter without a resume. Tammy gets a return letter with a set time for an interview. When she arrives at Shirley’s office, there is a note saying not to disturb her. It is all a test. After making Tammy wait a certain amount of time to see what she would do, Shirley comes out of her office (where she was watching Tammy through the keyhole) and offers Tammy the job as her assistant. Tammy accepts the position because the salary is quite good. What is Shirley’s occupation? Tammy will not find out for two weeks.
Shirley Homes is rich and very eccentric. She has a scientific mind and believes she is better than everyone else. Shirley talks down to people and insults them (she is very obtuse). Shirley also believes she is the great-great-granddaughter of Sherlock Holmes (yes, the fictional character). Shirley believes that Sherlock Holmes was a real person and that his enemies have wiped him out of existence. Shirley is a private investigator (she does not have a license, but does have a cane and deerstalker cap). Shirley recruits her first client from the Mrs. Hobson’s bakery (on the first floor of their building). Matt Peterman is being kept awake at night from a barking dog. None of his neighbors have a dog and do not hear the barking. Matt lives on a street with five houses. Only three of them are occupied. One house has an elderly couple and the other home is inhabited by the Brown’s who just moved into the neighborhood. Shirley is excited to solve her first case. The next day they are visited by Detective Brad Owen. Matt Peterman was shot in the alley behind his office. A few days later something happens to the elderly couple that live in the same neighborhood. What is going on? Despite being told by the police to stay out of the investigation, Shirley and Tammy are determined to solve the case.
The Case of the Invisible Dog sounded like a cute book, but I was very, very disappointed. Shirley Homes inane prattle really got on my nerves. I found the whole thing idiotic (I am sorry, but it is very true). This book could have done with some serious editing and revisions. This book is twice as long as it needs to be and we are left without a real ending. The book ended with solving part of the puzzle, but left the reader with questions. There are also long sections where Tammy is talking to her psychiatrist that really do not contribute much to the book. I give The Case of the Invisible Dog 2 out of 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of The Case of the Invisible Dog from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are strictly my own.… (lisätietoja)
Shirley Homes is rich and very eccentric. She has a scientific mind and believes she is better than everyone else. Shirley talks down to people and insults them (she is very obtuse). Shirley also believes she is the great-great-granddaughter of Sherlock Holmes (yes, the fictional character). Shirley believes that Sherlock Holmes was a real person and that his enemies have wiped him out of existence. Shirley is a private investigator (she does not have a license, but does have a cane and deerstalker cap). Shirley recruits her first client from the Mrs. Hobson’s bakery (on the first floor of their building). Matt Peterman is being kept awake at night from a barking dog. None of his neighbors have a dog and do not hear the barking. Matt lives on a street with five houses. Only three of them are occupied. One house has an elderly couple and the other home is inhabited by the Brown’s who just moved into the neighborhood. Shirley is excited to solve her first case. The next day they are visited by Detective Brad Owen. Matt Peterman was shot in the alley behind his office. A few days later something happens to the elderly couple that live in the same neighborhood. What is going on? Despite being told by the police to stay out of the investigation, Shirley and Tammy are determined to solve the case.
The Case of the Invisible Dog sounded like a cute book, but I was very, very disappointed. Shirley Homes inane prattle really got on my nerves. I found the whole thing idiotic (I am sorry, but it is very true). This book could have done with some serious editing and revisions. This book is twice as long as it needs to be and we are left without a real ending. The book ended with solving part of the puzzle, but left the reader with questions. There are also long sections where Tammy is talking to her psychiatrist that really do not contribute much to the book. I give The Case of the Invisible Dog 2 out of 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of The Case of the Invisible Dog from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are strictly my own.… (lisätietoja)
Tilastot
- Teokset
- 4
- Jäseniä
- 70
- Suosituimmuussija
- #248,179
- Arvio (tähdet)
- 2.7
- Kirja-arvosteluja
- 7
- ISBN:t
- 5
- Kielet
- 1
I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley.