Davis Way Cole smells T-R-O-U-B-L-E when she’s fired from half of her part-time job at the Bellissimo Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. The quarter-time job she’s left with is lulling her to sleep, exactly what she’s doing when Birdy James, centenarian director of the casino’s Lost and Found department, disappears. With five million dollars. Davis just can’t help believing Birdy didn’t do … do it, if for no other reason, she’s too old to spend it. If Davis doesn’t find the little old lady and the money fast, she’ll lose what’s left of her job, at which point, there goes her Bellissimo everything. What she needs is a good luck charm. What she gets is her home invaded by hard-headed women, a soft-hearted little man, and major carpet troubles, the combination of which sends Davis’s already suspicious mind into overdrive, and landing her between a jailhouse rock and a very hard place.A little less conversation and a lot more action are called for if Davis has any chance of saving herself, her family, her marriage, her job, and the heartbreak hotel she calls home. Thank you. Thank you very much.- – – – – – – – – – – – -DOUBLE TROUBLE by Gretchen Archer | A Henery Press Mystery. If you like one, you’ll probably like them all.
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Gretchen Archer proves once again that a huge luxury casino hotel on the Gulf is a great setting for a cozy series. Things always seem to be going crazily wrong there, what with millions of dollars and hundreds of guests passing through every day. Davis Way Cole juggles a multi-faceted, high-ranking career, family life (twins, no less, but they are not the Double Trouble but in fact very cute), and a host of nutty relatives, quirky friends, and various villains. Not to mention horrendous housekeeping debacles both at home and in the hotel at large. She does not juggle all of this with aplomb. Sometimes there are major fumbles, like keeping on the lost-and-found lady decades past her prime, only to have a huge sum of someone else’s money disappear into the “lost”….and finding it again is wherein the caper lies. Along the way there is enough slapstick and irony to make this book a real laugh out loud comedy, no matter what kind of sense of humor you have. And as always, there are some very well-placed touching moments in the mix.
I have read and enjoyed all the books in this series (Double Trouble is number nine, not counting a couple of short stories). You can jump into the series with number nine, but it’s even better to read them in order because the character development is very enjoyable to see. I particularly liked the progress Davis made in this book in her relationship with her very flaky boss—I think they might actually become real friends! Another hidden jewel right at the end is something her toddler daughter does on the second-to-last page of the book (no spoilers! but it’s a real feel-good moment!). This installment in the series is the most suspenseful one yet. There’s a lot going on, and it really keeps you guessing.
Even if this year it’s hard to get to the beach, this book will give you that great “beach read” feel. It’s your ticket to escape into a world of high stakes casinos, down-home cooking and goofy relatives, and some nail-biting suspense and peril.
Double Trouble is a light, fun read and practically impossible to put down.
(I volunteered to read an advance copy of this book. This review is completely my own work and expresses my sincere opinion of the book.)
TROUBLED TIMES!
Since I read the first Davis Way Crime Caper Book (Double Whammy), I’ve been a fan of this series! Archer is one of my all time favorite authors as she has such superb storytelling skills! She has introduced us to her fabulous unforgettable cast of characters and made them feel as though they are people we know (or may be related to) as well as continuing to introduce some quirky new characters. In DOUBLE TROUBLE, her plot is full of mischief, mayhem & murder and continues to keep you guessing about the outcome. Archer is a master at writing Davis & Fantasy getting caught in zany situations. They always remind me of Lucy & Viv – only things eventually work out in the end for Davis & Fantasy. T-R-O-U-B-L-E comes in all shapes and sizes when $5,000,000 comes up missing from the Casino! Toss in an Elvis Convention with the Elvii taking over the town as well as the Casino. Add an Old Birdy Woman, Davis’ Mom & unfortunately Davis’ ex-ex mother-in-law Bea Crawford to the mix. Now you know there’s DOUBLE T-R-O-U-B-L-E! I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Henery Press and Edelweiss. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
Davis’ first mistake was not firing Birdy James, who is old as the hills, when her boss suggested she let her go. Birdy is in charge of Lost and Found at the Bellisimo Casino where Davis works in security.
No one can find anything in Lost and found because Birdy uses the Dewey Decimal System and shorthand – her shorthand.
The Bellisimo has lost 5 million dollars – it is in lost and found.
Things go down hill from there.
Enter Davis’ Mother and her ex Mother-in-law.
Davis is in trouble – Double Trouble.
This is a fast paced, slap stick, funny book.
This is the 9th book in the Davis Way Crime Series. I say this every time; this is the funniest and best one yet. I laughed so much reading this book, and boy do we need to laugh at this time in our life.
I highly recommend this series. (less)
Davis Way and team are back, and in lots of trouble. This is the funniest book yet…and that says a lot. I would say a fast page turner but you have to take in account the laugh out loud, get a Kleenex and dry your eyes time. Mother and Bea well let’s just say they grown some stinking – county fare winning tomatoes and they come in handy. Gretchen Archer did again. Tremendous plot…and character building.
The story begins with a large sum of money missing, and with Bradley and No Hair out of town, it is up to Davis to sort it out. This one problem turns into a crazy rollercoaster of events – many issues within the casino, so many people with even more problems, damaged apartments, and basically just chaos.
I honestly do not know how Davis stays sane with all the people and personalities she has to deal with at all times, and all the ridiculous tasks she is in charge of! It does create such a fun read though, with many laugh out loud moments. A great book!
Just finished reading this 9th book in the Davis Way Crime Caper series. The Bellissimo has been reopened after the damage from Hurricane Kevin. An Elvis convention has taken over the casino, Davis is no longer working for Bianca. On top of that, five million dollars is wired to the casino by mistake. Or was it? Now it’s missing and Davis doesn’t want to tell her husband and boss, who left for a convention in Vegas. I couldn’t help myself, I had to keep reading to see what happened next. It had me laughing and shaking my head through the whole thing. Even though Davis and her team get fired, the Bellissimo gang comes through in the end. It was interesting how Gretchen Archer pulled everything together at the very end. If you enjoy reading about Stephanie Plum(Janet Evanovich), you’ll enjoy Davis Way Cole. Looking forward to the next problem they get involved in.
Gretchen archer does a fantastic job of writing funny without it being bafoonery.
I love this series! Such wonderful characters!
Like Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books, but crazier.
Davis Way Cole has just been put temporarily in charge of the Bellissimo Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi while her husband is out of town…and that of course is when Birdy James, centenarian director of the casino’s Lost and Found department, disappears. With five million dollars.
Content Warnings: fat shaming
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own.