Passion, Betrayal And Killer Highlights (2007) - Plot & Excerpts
This was one of two Davis books that I read within a twenty four hour period this weekend, with the only reason I didn't finish the third one being that at some point I did have to sleep. These books were that addicting. This book picks up where the last left off, with Sophie trying to help her sister Leah while also attempting to win back the affections of Anatoly, the guy she mistook for a homicidal murderer in book one. (Hey, a girl can make a mistake, right?) I'm going to be somewhat spoilerish and say that this book has one of the the cutest sex scenes I've read in a while and that for Anatoly to have that type of equipment, I can see where Sophie gave in. (Once you read the book you'll understand what I'm talking about!)Part of what I've liked about this series is that Sophie isn't your typical heroine. It's not easy to find a series with a character that's Jewish with a mixed heritage of white and black parents, but what makes this so good is that at no point does Davis really throw it in our faces in this series or put anyone on a platform. Sophie has nothing to prove about her heritage and her acceptance of herself is as simple as breathing. I've read books that try to pen a character with a varying degree of uniqueness, but so many of them make these things something that seems to be the most important thing to the character despite whatever else is going on. Davis doesn't do that, which is why I could see Sophie stepping out of the pages into real life. The mystery here is fairly good and despite seeing her as annoying in the previous book, I adored Sophie's sister Leah in this entry. She goes through a lot of changes as a character and you can't help but cheer her on. You could probably read this without having read the first book in the series, as I originally started with the fifth book (Vows, Vendettas and a Little Black Dress) without much difficulty. You'll miss out on some of the character details, but the mystery is self-contained enough to where you can still have fun reading it. This is absolutely worth putting on your TBR pile.
I began this book on audio immediately after finishing the first (which literally got me hooked to this series). I loved the first one SO much that I may have had really really high expectations. Having said that, this book was good, but didn't pick up in my opinion till the last third. Also for some reason, Sophie's compulsive lying and inability to almost never have a serious moment really began to ware on me. Though they are her main traits (which I found funny in the first book)I think it was rubbing me the wrong way just because it was so slow. Once I hit that last third of the book however, it was all the things I fell in love with from the first book; multiple twists, motives, suspects, action, and suspense. This wasn't the absolutely greatest, but I am so in love with this series I gave it 4 stars anyways because of its strong finish. Also, one of the things I love so much about this author is that she is descriptive without being boring. I always have the clearest picture in my mind of what everyone looks like, what they are doing, and where they are. It feels more like Im watching a movie than listening to a book. I'm very much looking forward to the next one, so clearly the slow pace hasn't caused me to shy away.If you like cozy mysteries combined with sarcastic, witty, and at times crude humor,lots of twists, and multiple suspects till the very end- then this is your book!
What do You think about Passion, Betrayal And Killer Highlights (2007)?
With a title like this, it didn't have to be good! I started this late one night/early one morning after finishing Laura Lippman's What the Dead Know--which was simply too unsettling to send your subconscious off into 5-6 hours of obsessing over--and it was just the trick. Main character Sophie Katz is a mystery writer cum-slightly incompetent but well-intentioned detective (a la Stephanie Plum as bounty hunter in Janet Evanovich's series) whose sister has just learned that her husband is having an affair. Later that same day, the sister discovers the murdered body of said philandering husband and quickly assumes Slot #1 on the police suspect list. As a mystery it's not all that strong, but that's not really what it's marketed as. Instead, it's a chick-lit fiction title (it's published by Red Dress Ink, so it's not like you weren't warned) that has the silly, fun, brash sort of stuff you'd expect. My favorite line from the book is main character Sophie Katz's announcement that, "Yeah, but I'm invincible. After the nuclear holocaust, it's gonna be me, Cher and the cockroaches" (p. 190). If it's top-notch detective fiction you're looking for, look elsewhere. However, if it's just good-hearted escapism, these are some fun folks with whom to spend an evening or two.
—Julie H.
I somehow managed to transpose books 2 and 3 in this series, but I was easy to figure out the gaps. A great story that will really keep you guessing who did it and why. Like the others, it's filled with comedy, suspense and a little romance.I am not a fan of Sophie's sister, who's accused of murder in this one, but she does lighten up a bit in this one and we get to see more from Sophie's very Jewish mother, who's a real hoot. And not to forget Anatoly, their relationship picks up in this book. A fun fun series. Nothing to deep here, but a great read. Gabra Zackman does an amazing job telling the audio version of this story. She's fantastic.
—Kath
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! If was a bright, funny mystery novel featuring half black-half Jewish mystery writer Sophie Katz. Her wanna be Martha Stewart sister, Leah is accused of the murder of her husband Bob.But Sophie is convinced of Leah's innocence. She hires the handsome Russian PI Anatoly to help investigate Bob's murder. The two of them uncover facts about Bob's double life and the two of them get closer together as well.Like I said, this book was fun. I loved the characterizations of the two sisters, Sophie to coffee addict and Leah the wanna be perfect wife whose idols are Martha Stewart and Emily Post. This is chick-lit mystery done right.
—Tina
