I read this book because it was the next in line, alphabetically, on my tiny library's shelves. it ended up being about what you'd expect from the title and cover illustration: A light PI-style mystery based on movie stars and musicians with complicated back stories, told through detailed descriptions of name brands, wines, the various beautiful characters, and sexual tensions. If your ideal escape is Malibu, or Beverly hills or a winery in Barcelona, then this book offers a pleasant afternoon escape. As for me, i hope my library doesn't stock too many more from this author or getting through the a's might require more than a glass of the various wines she describes. This book was so disappointing! The first two-thirds of the book were slow and then the mystery finally begins to unravel but there is never a true climax. The characters are so underdeveloped... Especially the villain and his motives. In a good mystery, you never guess the outcome but when the truth comes out, it somehow makes perfect sense. The exact opposite is true here: the outcome is obvious and predictable but still completely unrealistic and forced. Spanish is my native tongue and I've spent a lot of time in Spain so I was particularly annoyed by the innacuracies in the language and cultural references. Aren't editors supposed to check this? Is it so hard to find a Spanish speaker to run things by? In general, the story is flat and the writing cheesy. From the cover I expected a light but fun read. What I got was a boring and poorly written cheese fest.
What do You think about Reencontro Em Barcelona (2011)?
liked how the characters all connected in someway. Somewhat predictable, with a happy ending.
—Lucy
just an ok read...skimmed last third of book
—brina
