Revenge of the Gypsy Queen (Tracy Eaton Mystery)

This book was nominated for the "Big 3" in the mystery field: Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity. The plot twists and turns start when Traci and her up-tight husband Drew fly to NYC for Drew's sister's wedding. Traci is stuck sitting next to a woman who has to compare Traci to her famous mother, movie-actress Martha Collins. Think of Martha as a combination Debbi Reyonlds / Liz Taylor (as if you could get those two in a room together). So, Traci, not quite the movie star's daughter she is expected to be, ends up spending time with her in-laws in New York City. The bride is kidnapped. And the in-laws are acting strange...stranger than usual. Tracy decides it is up to her to find the bride. Kris Neri creates a world of crazy characters that play off each other like a dysfunctional pinball machine. Hum, that doesn't really make sense, but my point is: it's a fun and zany ride. Once you read the first chapter, you're hooked and you'll be a fan of Kris Neri's Tracy Eaton!

Kris Neri brings a wonderfully witty new series to the contemporary mystery genre. The debut delightfully introduces the series characters in a humorous, hectic way. The lead character and sleuth is Tracy Eaton, a mystery writer with an optimistic outlook on life. Her husband Drew is an attorney and her parents are eccentric Hollywood stars that liven up the storyline.As the mystery begins, Tracy is discussing what has already happened, but not in detail. She then takes the reader back to the beginning and later picks the story back up where the reader came in. There is nothing confusing about this at all because it is done in an amusing manner. When Tracy and her husband Drew came to New York to attend Drew's sister's wedding, what they expected was a vacation of sorts and the usual wedding chaos. What they get is family secrets, kidnapping, panic and danger. First, a family member Tracy never heard of shows up and has the family acting odd. Then, when Marisa is kidnapped before her wedding and her fiancé is contacted about a very unusual ransom, Drew's family gets even odder, if that's possible. Tracy isn't just left out of the family decisions because she is an in-law, her ability and intelligence is also doubted. Instead of getting bent, Tracy lets the excitement of a real mystery case initiate her into finding Marisa. Along the way, she finds some engaging cohorts to help her sleuth and pull off capers.Revenge of the Gypsy Queen is told in the first person by the lead character. Usually, when a story is written in the first person, I feel the story is being told to me. Not this time. Tracy's voice made me feel included in this madcap menagerie. It was a wonderful experience.

What a great addition to the mystery genre! Although Kris Neri has been writing mystery short stories for some time, this is the first book in the Tracy Eaton series. This book is fast moving, delightfully funny, and extremely witty. Tracy Eaton and her husband Drew fly to New York for her sister-in-law's wedding. The fun begins when her sister-in-law is kidnapped and her "overly polished" in-laws don't want to involve the police. Tracy, a mystery writer herself, has a once in a life-time chance to find the kidnappers. After all, isn't this what she writes about?! Throw in a very amusing cast of characters... movie star parents, old money in-laws, mafia bosses, a ballerina, and a miss-placed southern cop, you have a wonderful read! Tracy Eaton's smart mouth and wit will keep you smiling throughout the book. This is a refreashing debut mystery.

Revenge of the Gypsy Queen is an enjoyable romp with sleuth wannabe, Tracy Eaton. In this first installment, we find Tracy in New York with plans to attend the wedding of her sister-in-law, Marisa. All is well until the bride is kidnapped and the family seems more concerned with cover up then recovery . Tracy swings into action, and with the help of loveable Uncle Philly, they scour the city, running into any number of memorable characters. This book contains wonderful dialogue and a plot that keeps you guessing. I highly recommend it!

Kris Neri has scored a bullseye with her first novel, introducing protagonist Tracy Eaton, along with a wonderful cast of characters. Neri keeps us turning the page to find out what happens next as amateur sleuth Tracy Eaton takes on her in-laws, the mob and the city of New York. Great read and great fun. Looking forward to the next book.