Bad to the Bone (Casey Jones Mysteries #4)

I don't know what's in the water in Seattle, but I thought this book was excellent. I like my mysteries with a little meat on them and Casey Jones is certainly a meaty character--and all woman, to boot. She's independent and sassy and doesn't listen to people who think she should cross her legs and act like a lady. The only thing I enjoyed more than Bad to the Bone is Better Off Dead. This is an excellent series, and I eagerly await the next installment. Go get 'em, Casey!!!

Casey Jones made her first appearance in 'Death of a Dream Maker' which Katy Munger wrote under the name of Gallagher Gray. At the time, Casey was a bit of comic relief, a badass girl PI with more moxie than brains. In the Casey Jones books that Munger has written under her own moniker, however, Casey is a much more complex character, with each book revealing more of the anger and the passion that drives her. The cover copy compares Katy Munger to Janet Evanovich and Sue Grafton, but I find Casey Jones more interesting, complex, (and yes, sexy) than Stephanie Plum or Kinsey Milhone could ever hope to be. For depth of characterization, I'd compare this book more to Robert Crais than to Evanovich or Grafton, and you don't get a much higher compliment in my book. Oh, and since I live in North Carolina, I love the settings, although I don't think Katy Munger does full justice to South of the Border. For that matter, I don't think ANYONE can do justice to SOB, which has to be seen to be believed.

Casey Jones made her first appearance in 'Death of a Dream Maker' by Katy Munger (who, at that time, was writing under the name of Gallagher Gray) At the time, Casey was just a big, badass girl PI with more moxie than brains. Beginning with "Legwork", Casey has gotten tougher and sexier, but the character has also gotten deeper and more complex with every book, revealing more and more of the reasons behind the anger that drives her. The book cover mentions Janet Evanovich and Sue Grafton, but Casey is a lot more interesting to me than either Stephanie Plum or Kinsey Millhone ever were. I would compare Katy Munger's work more to Robert Crais due to the depth of characterization and the way she digs deeper into the character with every book. "Bad to the Bone" is the best Munger yet. Check it out. And all the other ones as well. Dusty

I've enjoyed all the Casey Jones books written by Katy Munger, and I really thought she would never be able to top Money to Burn. Man, was I ever wrong. Bad to the Bone was an absolute delight from beginning to end. I read the entire book in one evening (and night). I can do without sleep when a book is this good! The plot, characters......Heck the entire book was just perfect. I wouldn't change a word. Casey Jones kicks some major butt in this one. :) I was so pleased to get a glimpse into Casey's past life, and I really liked the way she handled it. These books are darned good mysteries, but they are just flat-out great fiction. If you are in the mood for humor in a PERFECT book, buy this book now. If you haven't read the rest of the series, go ahead and order them at the same time. You'll be back, and this will save you postage. ;)

I have liked all of Munger's Casey Jones books to date a whole lot, but have sometimes felt as if she could not decide whether to be a hardboiled or mainstream writer. Her books have been walking a fine line, but Bad to the Bone seems much harder and darker than the other books and that puts it solidly in my camp. It is a true PI novel in that Casey figures out pretty early who her main suspect is and there are not a bunch of red herrings or suspects like in an Agatha Christie book. But the villian is great, especially if you have ever known someone like this particular villian which I would guess most people have. You really want Casey to bring this person down and that keeps you turning the pages. Munger is very funny as usual but there are also some scenes that made cry and some that were downright scary. The jail scene had me howling. I also liked the way Munger changed Casey in this book and showed us that she is less than perfect. I recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed her previous books or to readers who like PI novels with an edge.