High Anxiety (A Kate Holly Case)

Charlotte Hughs writes great suspense mysteries. She also injects a level of humor to make her characters more "human". But the plot twists are diabolical and keep me reading. I can hardly wait for her next book to hit the stands!

The 3rd installment in the Kate Holly series. Kate is still attracting "crazies" and her (ex)husband, Jay, is still not happy about it. Mona is a little stressed because she has a rash, so she refuses to be seen in public. Kate needs someone to man the office for her and resorts to calling a temp agency. The new temp is a little odd, but in Kate's life, who isn't? Her neighbor Bitsy Stout is out to save Kate from the depths of Hell and drives Kate even a little more craz...more The 3rd installment in the Kate Holly series. Kate is still attracting "crazies" and her (ex)husband, Jay, is still not happy about it. Mona is a little stressed because she has a rash, so she refuses to be seen in public. Kate needs someone to man the office for her and resorts to calling a temp agency. The new temp is a little odd, but in Kate's life, who isn't? Her neighbor Bitsy Stout is out to save Kate from the depths of Hell and drives Kate even a little more crazy if that is possible. Each book in this series has found me more and more interested. Although it seems like nothing exciting seems to happen in the book--Kate sees patients with problems, she has a mother (and family) that drive her crazy, she and Jay keep trying to work things out, etc.--I find myself pulled in and wanting to keep reading. Some things are just so outrageous that I can't help but laugh out loud. So, Kate did have a "are you really that stupid?" moment, but it wasn't terrible. I understood the reasoning for it, but it did bug me just a little--she should be smarter than that. I really enjoyed this one and once I started reading I couldn't put it down--it only took me a day to finish. If you like the series, you'll like this one, too.

Psychologist Kate Holly and her zany cast of characters are back in this third installment in the //Crazy// series. As she's finished nursing her injured ex-husband firefighter Jay Rush back to health, Kate's looking forward to some R & R herself. Yet, just as an out-of-control blaze takes Jay out of town, pure insanity explodes in her own life. Forced to hire temp Abigail Davis when her best friend and receptionist, Mona Epps, breaks out in a horrible case of stress-induced hives, Kate has no idea her life is going to take such a dangerous turn. Between dealing with crazed gun-toting senior citizens and a client obsessed with cleanliness after he accidentially falls in a sewer vat, Kate fails to recognize just how dangerous Abigail may be. Soon, the deranged temp is dressing like Kate, talking like her and driving by her house. Kate starts to wonder just how far the young lady will go in her effort to emulate Kate. //High Anxiety// will appeal to the type of readers who like their romance funny, fast, and ultimately throwaway. Not one for the bookshelf to be picked up over and over like a treasured memento , instead this book will be passed from friend to friend as even non-readers will enjoy the silly antics of Kate and her quirky cast of friends, clients, and family. For me this wonderful tale by Charlotte Hughes made a day at the DMV much less painful. Reviewed by Lanine Bradley

This is the third installment of Hughes' Kate Holly series, after What Looks Like Crazy and Nutcase. These stories feature Kate who is a psychologist, her ex-husband/current boyfriend Jay, her best friend and receptionist Mona and of course her female dog named Mike, as well as her zany other friends, family neighbors and patients. Kate helps out a colleague with her anger management group which is held in a church basement, taking Mona with her, and after one of the members pulls out a gun Kate rushes in to disarm her and the gun goes off, the bullet ending up in a picture of Jesus. Kate is called everything from a hero to an atheist. After this event Mona breaks out with a rash that is blamed on stress and refuses to go out in public. After one day of her Mom, Dixie stepping in to help and trying to cure patients in the waiting room, Kate knows she must hire a temporary receptionist until Mona returns. This is where the fun and danger begins. Be careful you may find yourself laughing out loud. [...]

Psychologist Kate Holley wonders if she is as big a Nutcase as some of her patients ever since her former husband Jay Rush the firefighter became her lover again in spite of her obsessive compulsive fear of his profession ever since her father was taken from her by the Fire Gods. While Jay is fighting a forest fire in Florida, her best friend and receptionist, Mona Epps is on sick leave so the High Anxiety shrink hires a temporary assistant Abigail Davis. However, although Abigail is competent she changes her wardrobe and hairstyle to emulate Kate. When she begins to get involved in Kate's personal life, the psychologist knows in this case What Looks Like Crazy is crazy. Although she has other issues and is worried about Jay, Kate knows Abigail is at the top of the list as her temp is stalking every aspect of her life. This is an exciting fast-paced madcap thriller that balances humor with the seriousness of a deranged stalker. The story line is fast-paced whenever the plot focuses on Abigail who clearly needs help. When the subplot involves other clients, neighbors or mom it is over the top with fun eccentricity. Readers will enjoy Kate's third case mostly because of Abigail, whose needs turn potentially dangerous. Harriet Klausner