Hardware: A Carlotta Carlyle Mystery

This series gets better with every book. The characters gain in complexity, the plots "thicken", you care more about what happens. Good writer, good book

Carlotta Carlyle, part-time investigator and part-time cab driver, is asked to investigate some attacks on other drivers. At the same time she decides to update her "hardware" by buying a new gun and a new computer. Her old friend, police lieutenant Mooney helps her with the former and her sometime lover Sam's friend Frank helps her with the latter. Added to this is Carlotta's angst at receiving large sums of money for her Little Sister Paolina from Paolina's mobster father which she doesn't know what to do with before Paolina goes to college. Her tenant and sidekick Roz is tired of having the money stuffed into her mattress. The plot thickens when there is an attack on Green & White, the cab company owned by Sam whose family is also connected with the Mob. All of these elements are woven into a very complex plot which is a little hard to follow at times. However, the overall book is up to Barnes' usual standards for this series and is a good read.

In keeping with the last few Carlotta Carlyle mysteries, "Hardware" is much less fun and much more serious than earlier outings. This story involves the Mob, a possible hit that targets someone near and dear to Carlotta, and a murder that affects the Green and White Cab Company, and its wonderful proprietor, Gloria.Carlotta's on-again, off-again lover, Sam Gianelli, may not be able to escape his heritage this time around--his father is head of a major Mob Family. And Sam, like it or not, is trapped in some nefarious goings-on. Only Carlotta can save him, and she is facing the wrath of two Families, not to mention the usual cast of characters, from her pre-teen and increasingly difficult "little sister," Paolina, to her raunchy roommate, Roz, to a possible new lover.All in all, the story is a good one, and Carlotta's solution to the puzzle that has threatened so many lives is brilliant. Carlotta still plays killer volleyball, still drives like a maniac (in and out of the cab), and still keeps her cool under pressure. But she has changed a great deal since the earlier books, and is a much more serious--and believeable--person than she ever was before.A good read, and a strong key to what makes Carlotta tick.

This was my first Linda Barnes novel. Her main character is interesting and intriguing. The plot flows quickly with plenty of action, yet it is by no means simplistic. She kept me turning pages and "guessing whodunnit" continuously. I'll definitely try some others. Best female PI character since P.D. James' Cordelia Gray.

i have read previous linda barnes books and they were not that long, but i enjoyed this 6th novel in the carlotta carlyle series. carlotta is a very dedicated p.i it is a pity she does not take sam her on and off again boyfriend seriously. i also like the relationship she has with her little sister paolina. all the characters are well placed and it makes for interesting reading. linda barnes keep up the good work and i look forward to reading. for anyone out there that have never read a linda barnes novel please do so.