Double Endorsement

Rating:
Summary: Clever and Exciting: a must read by author Mr. McAleer!
Review: "Double Endorsement" is a cleverly written novel about a brilliant Private Investigator, James Hillton, and his coy colleague, Attorney Madeline LaCroix. With an array cast of compelling characters, author Andrew McAleer takes the reader through a classic "who-done-it," keeping the reader on his or her toes.
A perfect read for a snowy day, or a day at the beach!

Rating:
Summary: A Series with Potential
Review: There is a tinge of MOONLIGHTING about this second novel in Mr. McAleer's PI series, the result of introducing a blond bombshell who at first glance appears to personify the cliche. Whether Sophia Blossom will turn out in subsequent installments to be more than she appears remains to be seen.

This book makes no pretense of being anything other than entertainment. The dialogue is snappy and silly and lots of fun, the mystery sufficiently convoluted and the pacing adequate to keep the reader engaged. No one wallows in despair or self-analysis, and the characters are as quirky as this kind of fiction requires.

The main drawback of the work is that it definitely would have benefited from the services of a competent editor. Various misspellings and grammar stumbles aside, the plot gapes in several places. A partial explanation of one such--the question of how our hero and his intrepid assistant managed to masquerade as grad students--does arise later but not in a way that is satisfactory. It certainly doesn't speak well of James Hilton's talent for subterfuge.

This series has considerable potential, as Mr. McAleer has a deft hand with the kind of dialogue that makes it work. His characters are amusing, and his economical writing style doesn't bog the reader down. Hopefully, he'll find a good editor for book three.

Rating:
Summary: A great read!
Review: What a great read! I discovered McAleer's book after a buddy's recommendation. I love well-written series infused with humor and wit. Double Endorsement is not only a delight to read, but zooms along at a Nascar pace. From the clever PI to his able colleague to the blonde babe who lights up the pages, the characters lend sizzle and flash. A yummy treat, I'm looking forward to the author's next outing.