Large Target: A Josephine Fuller Mystery

In Large Target by Lynne Murray, Josephine Fuller returns, this time with an even bigger problem to handle. Jo is under a tremendous amount of stress, doing research to renew a grant that was set in place by the person who held her job with Alicia Mudrone. As if the stress from the grant research is not enough Alicia, Jo's boss, has asked her to research The Feather Heart Profject, the foundation that the daughter of a friend Stephanie works for. All hell breaks loose when Stephanie's father is kidnapped. Jo is sucked into the kidnapping mystery but still must find a way to keep up with the duties of her new job. Will Jo be able to do it all or is the former employee going to get the job when she comes back to reclaim it? Josephine is so great. She is getting more confident in this new job. Finding herself in new situations is helping her to realize who she really is. She still doesn't take crap from anyone and is very independent. Jo is a lady with a real compassionate heart and it comes out even more so in this book. She is really developing along and she evolves with each new situation. Stephanie is a one of my favorite character in this Josephine Fuller Mystery. As a plus size teen, Stephanie was treated poorly for her looks. She could never live up to her mother's standards. As an adult, she works with a foundation to help people who are dying. Jo helps her to see that it doesn't matter what she looks like as long as she is happy. Stephanie's character shows great growth eventually becoming more confident in her looks. This book in general left me with the same feelings as the first book Larger than Death. The women in this story had self-esteem issues and Jo was always there to help. I have the other two books in the series and I hope more comes out of it. So far I am finding all of the Josephine Fuller mysteries hard to put down. Jo's character is easy to relate to no matter what your size. These are the best books books I have read in a long time. Reviewed by Krista for BBW Reviews

I read Larger Than Death and immediately got my hands on Large Target - I wasn't disappointed. I'm eagerly awaiting more books about Jo Fuller!I think these are the first books I've ever read featuring a character who is into size acceptance, and the dialogue between the Jo and those pushing diets at her really rang true for me.The books are certainly of interest to any mystery fan, not just those of us who are fat - they're good stories and very entertaining for anyone.

Lynne Murray brings us the second Josephine Fuller mystery, the first being Larger Than Death. If you are wondering about the reoccurring word "Large" in the titles, there is a reason for it. Josephine Fuller is a plus size bombshell investigator of sorts, and all through the mystery the subject of her weight is acknowledged, in both Josephine's spoken thoughts and by others. I have read other plus size mysteries and this one is a little more serious about the weight issue than those I have read. Anyway, back to the mystery, Josephine is back in sunny San Diego and ready to go to work. She is doing some investigating for Alicia Madrone, a rich woman who gives out charitable grants, but before she does, she wants to know everything about beneficiary. In this case the beneficiary is a group that Mrs. Madrone's friend's daughter is helping. In fact the mother, Sally, feels her married daughter is spending too much time at the hospital with dying patients and not enough with her husband and daughter. Josephine is introduced to this well to do, slightly snobbish family at a party, and a memorable party it is. Later two of the people Josephine has met, meet up with murder and kidnapping. After a close call, Josephine decides to further her field of investigation and find out why someone wants her to give up this family and go home. During the mystery she has an out-of-town visitor, has to deal with some personal issues, and worries about the permanence of her job. During the party scene, Josephine's defensiveness and quick wit revealed. It's also where I met many characters at once and found myself confused, and later even more characters are introduced, which made me back track and reread the ones already mentioned. The mystery was pretty good. I started putting two and two together quite a ways into the story line, but Lynne's skill at creating doubt is very professional. The characters were well written, but it was hard to remember everything about each one of them so, like I said there was some backtracking. I do like Josephine. She is independent, smart and sassy. She's very up front, calls it as she sees it, and makes no apologies. Large Target is a great mystery with an impressive story line that takes a quick mind to keep up with it.

Lynne Murray's LARGE TARGET is a delight. Her newest novel combines wit, suspense and poignancy. I laughed and I cried and the book became a part of me. I feel like Josephine Fuller is my friend. This is definitely a book worth reading...maybe even more than once. Jaqueline Girdner

Josephine Fuller is a philanthropic troubleshooter who judges the worthiness of candidates to receive a charitable grant from wealthy society matron Alicia Medrone. Josephine knows that her being big sized makes much of the population uncomfortable so they try to ignore her presence. This enables her efficiently and effectively to perform her job. She also considers her boss a friend and never hesitates when Alicia asks for a favor. The daughter of Alicia's best friend is spending a lot of time away from her husband and daughter while caring for dying people. Josephine is to determine whether Amy is behaving rationally. From almost the start, Josephine realizes that Amy and her family don't even approach what most people would consider normal behavior. While meeting with Amy at the Feather Heart Project, a non-profit organization helping dying people and their families, Josephine learns that someone kidnapped Amy's father, a lecherous and retired admiral, and is demanding a million-dollar ransom. Later, the two women find the murdered corpse of the admiral's friend and business partner. Josephine begins to make inquiries in order to protect Amy and ease Alicia's mind even though that means becoming involved in another situation that will put her in deadly danger. Lynn Murray has created a fascinating lead character that maintains a positive self-image despite society's disapproval of oversized individuals. It is Josephine's healthy confidence that hooks the audience especially when the amateur sleuth helps other people. The mystery is a winner because Josephine turns LARGE TARGET into a fast-paced, exciting and believable story line filled with heart. This is only the second installment in what looks to be another delightful amateur sleuth series that will have a long-term run.