Thugs and Kisses

Reviewed by Wendy Cleveland for Reader Views (5/08) What can I say about Odelia Grey? She is a sassy, plus-sized paralegal turned amateur sleuth in Sue Ann Jaffarian's "Thugs and Kisses" which is the third novel (following "Too Big to Miss" and "The Curse of the Holy Pail") in the Odelia Grey mystery series. In this installment, Odelia attends her 30th high-school reunion (replicated as their senior prom - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea) where the class bully, Donny Oliver, is murdered. Everyone known to Donny becomes a suspect, even Odelia. Not being able to let sleeping dogs lie, she begins her own investigation despite being called a "corpse magnet" by her boyfriend Greg. In the midst of this chaos, her boss Michael Steele suddenly disappears without a trace. Knowing that this is not like him, Odelia finds herself ,with the help of her old high-school friend Sally Kipman, (who has her own grudge against Donny) investigating both of these mysteries. Are they linked? Why is everyone suddenly becoming a suspect? These and other questions make for a fast and furious read until the very end. Ms. Jaffarian's first person writing made Odelia Grey's wit and sassiness fun to read (she has killer cravings for Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies). Everyone kept telling her to keep her nose out of things, but she always wants to know more. This stubbornness put her in danger with contract assassins and tangled love relationships including her own. This book kept me on the edge of my seat. The fact that she ended each chapter with a cliff-hanger made you want to keep on going to see what happens. Even though there were a lot of characters to keep track of, I loved how everything came together in the end; some tragically, some not. Enough said. Even though Thugs and Kisses" was the third novel in the series, I found it easy to identify with the main characters. I will definitely be reading the first two books so that I can find out how Odelia became so interested in amateur sleuthing. This novel is highly recommended to those interested in a fun, suspenseful mystery. You will not be disappointed, and will become an instant fan of Odelia Grey as I am.

I loved this book, could not keep my nose out of it. Sue Ann Jaffarian has a way of putting a story together that makes it impossible to put down. I love Odelia Grey, I love her boyfriend, I love her best friend, even her jerk boss... what a great story! I almost missed a day of work, just because I wanted to finish it. Keep them coming Sue Ann!

Sue Ann Jaffarian does it again with this third offering in the Odelia Grey series. With two mysteries to solve and her love life in a confused jumble, Odelia manages to keep her wits about her (with the help of a Thin Mint or two) as she works to resolve them all. A real page-turner!

Just like the first two Odelia books; Too Big To Miss and Curse of the Holy Pail, The: An Odelia Grey Mystery (Odelia Grey Mysteries) the third book in the series is a must read as well. I have had to shelve many of my past book series due to lack of time but when Book Three of the Odelia Grey series arrived I found time. I love the personality of Odelia and can imagine being friends with her. In this latest book we find her in not only one tangled web but two with some very unexpected suspects and quite a surprising ending.

Sue Ann Jaffarian's character, Odelia Grey, is a woman I want to spend more time with. When her tyrannical boss goes missing, the high school bully is shot at her reunion and her relationship with long-time boyfriend Greg hits the skids, Odelia is the only one with the brains and the wit to hold it all together. Jaffarian weaves all three plots together seamlessly and ends with a character twist that'll thrill long-time fans. It's her best yet.