Death by Chick Lit

Lynn Harris has given us Lola Somerville, an endearingly flawed heroine who's professional envy is clouding her judgment and leading her into physical danger. While she hones her mystery solving skills, "who killed her authoress colleagues and is she next?" She also tries to tune out her inner voice that compares the success of her last book and press to their's, (they had more success than Lola which was unfair!) for she knows it is wrong and it is making her seem small. Also her professional jealousy is not helping with either A. Her Career, and B. Solving the murder. On the plus side A. She is alive and B. They are not.... but is she next? This book is a farcical hoot, complete with lots of careerist neurosis. Bravo Lynn Harris!

A laugh out loud satiro-mystery that gently skewers both mandal-wearing pseudo-sensitive metrosexuals, and the right-wing pseudo-ideological media vixens they (probably) secretly covet...what more could a man want from his summer reading? Lynn Harris deftly captures the ironies, idiosyncracies and pretentions of fame-frenzied New York, but always does so with a light touch and a gracious affection for even the most condemnable of her literary prey. Her ear for the language of contemporary media is exquisite, matched only by her palpable humanity. I honestly couldn't put it down.

I just finished off "Death by Chick Lit" and half a pot of coffee. What a treat to have a read that was so snappily satirical and, surprisingly (to me, having never read one of Ms. Harris's books before), so oddly familiar in parts: it re-awakened my desire to be one of Charlie's Angels (in 5th Grade during after school playtime with my friends I always had to be Sabrina because of my lame, non-feathered hair) and Nancy Drew rolled in to one. And it made me so nostalgic for New York it hurt. Thanks to LH for the fun romp through Brooklyn & the Islands Coney & Manahttan!

There's no better time than summer for reading and no better book this summer than this one -- it's fun, fast, funny. I first met the heroine, Lola, in Ms. Harris's first book, Miss Media, and fell for her (or them both) then -- and am completely head over heels now! Pay attention, book clubbers: this is one to grab. And mysterious Edgar Award nominators: take it from a former nominee, this is one for your list!

Lynn Harris has done it again, this time with a fast-paced mystery that author Lola Somerville is determined to solve. Lola is quirky, passionate, and determined to be taken seriously as a writer. In this case, that means she wants a piece of the action murdered-bestselling-chick-lit-author action, especially because she thinks being targeted for murder by this killer who's offing her friends and rivals is a sign that her star turn as an author is around the corner. Her obsession with seeing with checking for mentions herself in a chick lit gossip column is hilarious, and should ring true for those who Google themselves a little too often. There are plenty of other wacky characters here, like the woman in charge of the Jane Austen Liberation Front, which protests chick lit events, and "Reading Guy," who's often the only male around at bookstore signings. As trouble mounts, Lola's mom is looking out for her, too, getting on the internet and checking up on her daughter, to Lola's alternating chagrin and amusement. Harris will keep readers guessing . . . when they're not laughing riotously. The "cameos" by famous people like "Alexandra Coltish" (Ann Coulter) and gentle and not-so-gentle ribbing of all sorts of proscriptive books telling women when to have kids and what to do about their careers make for fun guess-who? games. She also makes fun of computer geekery, Manhattan snobs, and Lola herself. In some ways, Harris's book could be called chick lit; even though she's got a married protagonist, the things she cares about are her friendships (sometimes catty, sometimes true), her career, gossip, her garden, and, of course, murder. But whether you ultimately think the book is chick lit or not isn't that important. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, live in Brooklyn, work in publishing, or simply want a great book to take to the beach with you this summer, check out Death by Chick Lit.