| Title | : | Gilt Trip (Boston Uncommons Mystery #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1611944678 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781611944679 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 204 |
| Publication | : | First published September 26, 2014 |
Eja Kane joins a dojo hoping to shape up and zone out before her wedding to Deming Swann. Instead of sweat and spiritual healing, she finds a simmering cauldron of sex, jealousy, and greed.
When a con-woman’s corpse literally drops at her feet, Eja and the entire Swann clan plunge into a nasty bullion scam that imperils Deming’s clients and snares even the virtuous in its grip.
Gilt Trip (Boston Uncommons Mystery #3) Reviews
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Gilt Trip, Book 3 of The Boston Uncommons Mysteries, Arlene Kay
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: Contemporary romance, Romantic suspense/mystery
I hadn’t read the first two books – though I intend to now! but that didn’t stop me following and loving this story. Arlene gives enough backstory that we can fill in the gaps in Eja and Deming’s relationship. I love Eja, proud, hardworking and independent and with a fierce intelligence she’s known Deming and his family since she and their daughter CeCe were in preschool. The Swanns are on a different social scale to Eja, and Deming was a real playboy, notorious for his relationships with different ladies. Now he’s with Eja and they're planning the wedding but at times Eja still lacks confidence in herself and is waiting for it all to go wrong. Deming is truly in love though, and does lots of little things to reassure her. He understands her, and isn’t afraid of her intelligence and curiosity, only afraid it’ll lead her into danger. Eja is an author writing mysteries so every little thing could be the start of a new best seller for her....and Deming's mother is a willing sidekick in her inquiries. She’s out to surprise Deming with a wedding gift of a fit Eja, after all what can you buy a man who has everything. He knows exercise and Eja aren’t bed mates so will see just what a sacrifice this has been for her. His mum goes along to the Dojo with Eja, and after one session they enter the changing area and find one of the Dojo members collapsed. She dies in Eja’s arms and Eja is determined to find out who killed her. Its a fun mystery, full of hints at who might have done it, possible motives and clues that suggest different people. It turns out there’s not just murder involved but other criminal acts, and it adds in more possible suspects. Eja and her mum in law to be are hot on the trail, with Deming and his dad in despair at times at how they skirt round the edge of danger. At times Eja is in real danger and Deming and she butt heads. She won’t be told what she can and can’t do, needs to make her own decisions, but he does finally make her understand his fear and that its just that, not control over her that motivates him.
There’s some nice cameos from the ladies in his past, who sneer at Eja for not fitting the mold, and tell her she won’t last. Some of the people who they seek information from turn out to have suspicious motives, and it becomes a dangerous time for Eja, with first threats and then physical actions on her life. I love Eja, she’s the perfect heroine, sharp and intelligent, not afraid to stand up for herself, and not one of the willowy, vacuous beauties that typically were attached to Deming. He’s a great guy too, and I understood his fear for Eja. Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread etc. could be an accurate description of her – she just can’t seem to stop herself though. His parents are great too and provide perfect counterparts and allies for them. I love the humour, the love between Eja and Deming, the little jokes and snark Eja comes out with, and of course the jealous exes, I always like to see a few of those! Overall its a cracking read, one I’d reread and makes a great time to pass away a few hours. And no – I didn’t guess who was behind the murder...
Stars: Five, a novel I could easily re read.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers -
I hadn’t read the first two books in the Boston Common series so I was hoping I wouldn’t get lost. Arlene Kay gave just enough back story for the readers to be up to date but without giving away pervious mysteries in the other two books. I found Eja, Deming, Anika and the endless cast of characters to be life like so when something happened to the characters I would cheer or cringe.
Eja is a great character because she has flaws, she is proud, works hard and desire to keep her independence even thought her fiancés Deming wants to wrap her in bubble wrap and keep her lock in the house. Deming Swann and Eja are from completely different social scale that causes Eja to question her relationship but she isn’t afraid or too proud to mention it to Deming from time to time. Eja decides to join a DoJo as a wedding present for the man who has everything but instead of working on her kicks she is trying to discover who murdered this woman and why.
Demings mother and partner in crime Anika Swann helps Eja to find out who is the murderer and why. This mystery will have you reading into the night with its snarky humor, the endless questions of who and why. I love a good mystery along with never figuring out who the murder is until the very end of the book. However I little disappointed because the author had so many fingers pointing into too many directions that when the murder is discovered it was anticlimactic and almost a low point in a fun book. I didn’t guess who was behind the murders and I guess for that reason alone it made it a great murder mystery because who likes figuring out the murder in the first few chapters.
I love the humor, subtle jokes Eja sends towards Deming along with her jealousy towards he’s endless ex-girlfriends. Who make appearances though out the book reminding Eja she won’t last as Deming tells her he waited a long time for her and she isn’t going anywhere.
This is a fun mystery series that will be added among my go to books when I want something fun to read.
ARC From Netgallery. -
Love mysteries with a heavy dose of romance. How about a novel replete with sophisticated, witty dialog? And oh, BTW, does the prospect of meeting some of the most well-developed characters you'll ever read tickle your fancy? If the answer to any of these is yes do nothing until you've hit "purchase" next to Arlene Kay's latest romantic mystery masterpiece, "Gilt Trip!" Move over Nick and Nora Charles... make way for Eja Kane and Deming Swann--the most engaging, clever and beautiful pair of young sleuths you'll ever meet! These novels are far more than good mysteries. They're a feast for the hungry mystery readers palate! I thoroughly enjoyed "Swann Dive" and "Mantrap," the first two novels in this series, so being completely captivated by "Gilt Trip" came as no surprise. Author Kay's returning stellar cast coupled with her signature collection of potential suspects left me wanting more as I know they will you! I refuse to tease you with a spoiler but will leave you hanging in anticipation... Buy it today and ENJOY!
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Arlene has written another fun novel featuring the Swanns of Boston. No, that's an upper class family, not the boats on the pond in the Public Gardens. There's murder afoot and Deming Swann's fiancé, Eja, is out to solve it. Her future mother-in-law, as well as Deming, are her allies and there are multiple suspects to keep you guessing. Read this soon, or you'll have to live with your Gilt.
