Social Crimes

Rating:
Summary: "Sublime and subversive."
Review: "I literally could not put this book down. It is not only a fabulous read, but you feel like this author really knows the world she is writing about from the inside, and I learned a lot. Jo Slater is a great character and I found myself rooting for her against all my better instincts. You have to love a book whose first sentence is: "Murder was never my goal in life." It is sublime and subversive. What a tour de force! I can't wait for the sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Not a good read
Review: Boring, predictable, and unimaginative. Don't waste your time. You knew from the beginning what was going to happen, and it did. I sometimes got lost in the middle of a sentence (they were do long) and had to re-read it. Skipped over whole pages of junk, and still got the point. Save your money for a better book!

Rating:
Summary: Predictable, but I couldn't put it down
Review: I don't normally read "beach fiction", but something about this story caught my attention. I read about it in a magazine (New York?) and when I saw it in a window, I couldn't resist.
While the main character, Jo, starts out fairly sympathetic, she becomes something that isn't very attractive. I understand that the author wanted to demonstrate exactly how desperate and petty this woman becomes, but I couldn't help but wish she would either; shut up, deal with it, and/or get herself together.
I understood fairly quickly the similarities that were being played out through Jo's life and Marie-Antionette's. It came to be a little much when she just happened to find a prostitute who was "the twin" of Monique, exactly what happened in the affair of the necklace. In the same story, we are to see Jo go from the Queen to the scheming penniless aristocrat, back to the Queen. Only this time, Marie-Antionette wins, she escapes the guillotine, makes an overwhelmingly triumphant return to society and assumes her former role.
The final scene at the ball is a bit much. The author literally tells us who each of the characters would be in the life of Marie-Antoinette. I think the author assumed that her readers wouldn't "get it" on their own so she spells it out. This was a bit insulting to the reader and indulgent of the author.
All things cosidered, I do recommend this book for the simple fact that I uderstood why Jo did what she did and was even hoping she would succeed even though I did't really like her.
It is a good book for people who want something but haven't really considered what it costs.

Rating:
Summary: Not so sweet revenge
Review: One of the leaders of the New York social set, Jo Slater,is devastated when her philandering, millionaire husband dies and leaves his entire fortune to his mistress, young, beautiful French Countess Monique de Passy, who befriended Jo with the express purpose of ferreting out her closest secrets so that she might put together a huge swindle. Jo finds herself penniless after a lifetime of having nothing but the best and is hard put to raise enough money to eke out an existence. It's a fascinating tale which gives amazing insights to the lives of the VERY rich and famous and also to the workings of the mind of that most dangerous of creatures..a woman wronged who is out for revenge in a big way! It's a quick, funny and highly enjoyable short read.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect for the beach -- if you don't mind staying up late!
Review: This was a juicy read with fantastic plotting. I was biting my nails at the inevitable outcome. Look forward to reading her next one. My favorite NYC book yet.

Rating:
Summary: Social Crimes my favorite
Review: I could not put this book down. I bought all my friends copies!I have read two of her other books and can honestly say this one is the best. Leslie

Rating:
Summary: Very enjoyable until the very end
Review: I thought that this book was very entertaining and kept my interest. However, I felt let down at the end because the author essentially told what was going to happen and it did. I was expecting some sort of twist that I didn't expect. Other than that, it was a quick and enjoyable read.

Rating:
Summary: Revenge is always bittersweet
Review: The book is a quick read. It's very smart, sharp, funny, shocking, glamorous. It involves the reader greatly. Highly recommend this one.