Graduate student Raina Sun is trying to keep her head above water as the bills roll in when her dashing college adviser cons her out of several months of rent. But her quest to get her money back sets into a motion a streak of bad luck.
First, she finds the dead body of an ex-lover and becomes the prime suspect to his murder. The only man she ever loved reappears as the lead detective to the … detective to the case and wants to reignite their passion (or at least he’s sending out smoke signals).
Her life careens out of control as her grandma moves into Raina’s postage-stamp-sized apartment, dragging a red suitcase and trouble.
Raina summons her sleuthing skills to extract herself before things get dicey. There is no place for an amateur when it comes to murder.
For readers who like cozy mysteries, quirky characters, and a dash of humor.
Raina Sun Mystery series
Book 1: Raining Men and Corpses
Book 2: Gusty Lovers and Cadavers, is available for the special launch price of $0.99.
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Funny
Did not think it was very well thought out; disjointed in some ways, but ok for a cozy mystery.
Entertaining and fun read
Great book!
Fun, light , easy to read and fast paced. Perfect sleuth cozy story.i would read another one by this author.
Just a few too many characters and subtle references to previous books – that I had not read. Nice read but not really enough to make me come back for more.
Well developed story line and characters
Cute story
Fun read!
a llittle differently on the realistic side with characters made me laugh
Enjoyed very much, was entertaining
Really enjoyed reading.
I liked it so well that I purchased all of the other books in the series. A very good read. Highly recommended.
easy read
A quick read about a quirky heroine.
“Raining Men and Corpses” earns 4/5 Secrets and Lies!
I am new to Anne R. Tan’s Raina Sun Mystery series, and after seeing several 4/5-star reviews, I knew it time to get in by reading book 1 right away. Ok, this was a great place to start: Regrettable loans? Ex-boyfriend’s body? ‘Person of interest’? Lead detective is also an ex? All this and the arrival of her grandmother make for a fun tale. As with many first books, the introduction of characters and their connections along with any backstory delays diving into the murder mystery and the investigation, but I stayed with it and weeded through all those details and found the mystery entertaining. Some twists and enough complexity to delight my inner “Sherlock,” but by the final resolution, I had it figured out. Anne’s variety of characters are in the beginning stages, but so much was provided that by the end I think I knew them well. Raine is strong and determined, but vulnerable and some of the ‘bad luck’ may have been from her own doing…bad decisions? Po Po was fun, a bit trying at times, and reminiscent of my own grandmother’s nature. The love interest? I’m not sure I would be cordial, but healing…that might be a good thing definitely a love/hate dynamic for future books. I enjoyed the references to her Chinese heritage (a unique focus) and the dynamic with her grandmother. i enjoyed this enough that reading the rest of the series a necessity.
I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book, but I found it delightful. I loved Raina and her Po Po. They are very likeable characters. There were several suspects and motives. I didn’t figure out who the murderer was until the end. There is plenty of romantic angst and action. Raina seems to find trouble wherever she goes and often Po Po is not far behind. I would read more by this author.
Rainy does not seem to have great luck with men, but excellent luck in grandma po po. Friend Eden seems like the reporter she is. Loyal when useful or necessary, otherwise . . . 50/50. If a man or a story was a better deal….. Ex Holden borrowed money, or black mailed to help his sister’s gambling debts.
Made the wrong choice about someone , and ended up dead – poisoned per former husband of Rainey, Matthew.
With a growing number of embarrassed exes, and swindled department funds, whodunnit?
Can Rainey rely on her friends any more than the men in her life? Thank goodness for trouble making, grandma po po.
This was a fun and enjoyable contemporary cozy mystery! It’s written and plotted well. Some readers have likened it to Ivanovich’s Plum series, but I’d found the protagonist and characters in this book to be somewhat more realistic, more appealing, and more relatable than those in the Plum series, though I’d generally enjoyed the early books in the Plum series, also.
I’m currently reading the second book of this series, enjoying it just as much as this first book, and planning to read more of this series, also. Discovering a little gem of a series like this is quite exciting! Tan is a true talent, and I enjoy the way she writes.
Slow read