A picture tells a story. But is it the truth?When the police find pictures of Melanie hanging up at her murdered colleague’s house, they’re convinced he was stalking her. Maybe she even killed him. Melanie was not being stalked! And she certainly didn’t kill her supposed stalker – as if. But Mel – always up for a bit of drama – jumps at the chance to go search for the real killer. When Mel’s … Mel’s ex-boyfriend, Owen, discovers her plans, he pulls out all the stops to ensure she’s safe and to win her back. No matter what happens with the murder investigation, he’s not letting her go. With the police setting their sights on Mel, he may need to jeopardize his own career on the police force to protect her.
Will Mel find the real killer before the detectives arrest her for murder?
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What a fun book this was to read! Mel is a complex character who fights with the reader when the reader simply wants to like her. The three-musketeer aspect of this book was very enjoyable. Ter is of course all the Ter she can be but Pru is a breath of fresh air to the two besties. This murder mystery keeps the reader guessing and try as one might, it was hard to pin down who did the crime before it was finally revealed.
What I couldn’t stop thinking is how this series of cozy mysteries reminds me of the Mike Hammer mysteries as penned by Mickey Spillane. I honestly believe this author has created the 21st century version of the Mike Hammer mystery! I cannot wait to read Finders not Keepers.
Picture Not Perfect has a great murder mystery, suspense, intrigue, romance and the value of friendship clearly defined. A fantastic read that would be great on a beach, in a cabin, on a rainy weekend or when commuting via public transit. An easy fun read that will appeal to any fan of mystery novels.
My Rating: 5 stars
This is the second book in the series. This time we follow school counselor Melanie, who is trying to sort out her relationship with ex-boyfriend Owen. When a teacher at her school is murdered, and numerous photos of Melanie are found in his home, she comes under suspicion by the police. Of course, when Owen (who just happens to be a police officer) says to Melanie, “You are not going to investigate this murder,” you just know she will. Especially given the success she had in solving a mystery with best friend Terri in the previous book. This time, they enlist the help of Pru, the new English lit teacher. Melanie is a cute character, but with her abundance of energy and her recklessness (“I’ll wing it”), she’s bound to get them all in trouble. As their list of suspects grows steadily, I was left guessing, and so will you!
Warnings: murder, sex scene, sexual references.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post (30 January): https://www.booksdirectonline.com/2019/01/picture-not-perfect-by-d-e-haggerty.html
4.5*
Ms. Haggerty has become a favorite for her sweet, easy reading, cozy mysteries. Picture Not Perfect was a humorous and engaging addition to this collection. I really loved Melanie “Melly”. After finishing the first book in this series, Finders, Not Keepers, and being completely charmed by Melanie, I couldn’t wait to see what was in store for her in her own story. And I wasn’t disappointed!
The antics Mel and Terri, and new side-kick Pru, get into as they try to track down a murderer are fun and crazy and had me giggling out loud a time or 2! Solving a murder is a serious business, but in the hands of these three you never know what you’re in for, other than being thoroughly entertained. With a side of romance and an ending I didn’t see coming, Picture Not Perfect kept me hooked from start to finish.
I got such a kick out of Melanie, she’s one of my new favorite characters. She’s strong and independent, daring but with a soft side she keeps hidden. I loved how Owen was there to finally tear down the wall she’d built against him.
Melanie is accused of murder!!!
Alfred Schultz, the Social Science teacher is
found dead. He had pictures of Melanie at
his house. He had been asking her out but
Melanie had always refused him but he was
not stalking her like the Detectives are trying
to implicate.
With her friends, Terri (the school librarian),
and Pru (the English teacher), Melanie sets
out on her own to discover the murderer.
The characters are artfully and cleverly
crafted, interesting, intriguing and well
defined.
The plot is a complex created puzzle with
drama, suspense and plenty of twists and
turns.
The story also address the issue of Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in adults.
Another issue address is bullying of students
on social media’s.
Murder, mystery, suspense, behavioral activities,
plus romance weaved throughout the story
make for an enjoyable, exciting adventure.
I volunteered to read Picture Not Perfect.
Thanks to the Review Crew and Kindle Unlimited
for the opportunity. My opinion is my own.
Imagine being suspected of murdering someone just because they had a bunch of pictures of you. Mel didn’t even know Al had been watching her let alone that he was stalking her so why would she kill him? She wouldn’t so she had to figure out who did before she was arrested. Knowing Mel was innocent her best friend, Terri, jumped right in to help her with the investigation. Before they knew it, their co-worker, Pru, was part of the team.
As with most cozies, there are plenty of colourful characters, numerous suspects and false leads. I found the way that Melanie was quick to jump to conclusions, going from one suspect to the next, hard to handle. She was a loveable, bullheaded, young woman who you will want to cheer for and strangle both at the same time. I liked the way these 3 women worked so well together. And I especially liked Owen’s determination in convincing Mel he loved her and didn’t care about her having ADHD.
I recommend this laugh-out-loud mystery.
I was given this book in consideration of my honest thoughts.
**This book was provided to Nerd Girl in exchange for an honest review.**
Picture Not Perfect is the second novel in D.C.Haggerty’s Not So Reluctant Detectives Series.
First, I want to say that although this is part of a series, and I haven’t read Book 1, I had no problem getting right into the story. I usually pretty much read series’ in order, but this time I didn’t have the opportunity. This book CAN be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend you read from the beginning.
Melanie is a High School Guidance Counselor, and her best friend Terri is a librarian at the same school. When a teacher from the school is found dead, the detectives tried to pin it on her. So she and her friends, Terri and Pru, a new teacher at the school go on a mad-cap adventure trying to clear her name.
I love mysteries, and I love to guess who the culprit was, but this one eluded me until confession time. The mystery was set up beautifully, and the characters were relatable.
I absolutely recommend this to anyone who loves mysteries. Solid 4.5 stars, rounded to 5.
**Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information regarding our reviews please visit our fan site: http://www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.NG **
Loved this cozy read! Mel, Terry and Pru were a team at work to solve the case, of course with a little help from their boyfriends Ryder and Owen. A story filled with sleuthing, stumbles, humor and a little romance too. With this trio on the case, its solved handily. Definitely a series you want to check out.
Fun quick read!
I liked this second in series with the quirky trio of Mel, Terri, and Pru trying to solve a mystery. I would so not have the patience for Mel and her jumping to conclusion after conclusion. But her friends and her ex/not so ex boyfriend have no problem! I little romance, a little mystery, and humor made this a fun, quick, read.
I received an ARC. This is my honest review.
Favorite Quotes:
Please, you could find danger at a knitting club full of old ladies.
Wow. You don’t jump to conclusions. You take a flying leap to them.
My Review:
I take considerable pleasure in humor, which is a talent that D.E. Haggerty puts to good use by so deftly tucking it into her cozy mysteries. I am enjoying the levity and intriguing storylines of her new series, as well as the humorous chapter titles that read like headlines. But I had a hard time enjoying her main character of Mel. Mel’s personality would be rather vexing to anyone unaccustomed to dealing with someone with an Attention Deficit or Hyperactivity issue. And Mel had a whopping dose of ADHD with many annoying and exasperating personality traits. She was fidgety, easily frustrated, emotionally immature, impulsive, stubborn, reckless, craved drama, and was loud and thoughtless of others. How she could be a successful high school guidance counselor had me scratching my head as she didn’t listen to others, lied easily, and obsessive in her thinking while prone to jump from one ridiculous far-fetched conclusion to another in attempting to prove her point. Being her friend would be an extremely difficult endeavor and only for those with endless patience and tremendous fortitude. Lucky for her, the delicious Owen had the patience of a saint, a few sexy saint. And lucky for me, I don’t have to have that anymore because retirement is swweeeet!