Rating: 
Summary: A tabloid reporter tackles a real mystery
Review: A lot of books have covers that don't seem right, but this one is perfect (so why doesn't Amazon.com have a picture?). It's full of great characters and lots of snappy dialog. Reading this made me think of old episodes of Moonlighting -- with a monster on the side. It's not going to change your life, but it's fast and fun
Rating:
Summary: Fun, funny, and a fantastic mystery!
Review: I found this book in the science fiction section, but it's really a mystery -- and one of the most enjoyable mysteries I've read in years!
Young reporter Savvy McKinnon writes for a sleezoid paper, where there are stories about Elvis sightings and UFOs in every issue. It's an awful job, and Savvy wants out, but soon she suspects there might be some truth behind one of the strange stories. When Savvy gets her chance to investigate reports of a monster in a fishing lake, she soon discovers that some real -- and deadly -- is going on. A series of deaths and disappearance have taken place. Along with a local kid and a monster-loving English teacher, Savvy sets out to find the real story.
The solution to the mystery is even stranger than the stories in Savvy's paper.
The author plays the book with a smidgen of romance, and a great light touch. Savvy McKinnon is a wonderful, likable character, who worries about her weight while sneaking slices of pie at a greasy spoon and suspects everyone in sight. She's a smart, sassy addition to the ranks of mystery slueths.
Here's hoping we see a lot more of Savvy McKinnon and of News from the Edge!
Kary
Rating:
Summary: Fun, funny, and a fantastic mystery!
Review: I found this book in the science fiction section, but it's really a mystery -- and one of the most enjoyable mysteries I've read in years!Young reporter Savvy McKinnon writes for a sleezoid paper, where there are stories about Elvis sightings and UFOs in every issue. It's an awful job, and Savvy wants out, but soon she suspects there might be some truth behind one of the strange stories. When Savvy gets her chance to investigate reports of a monster in a fishing lake, she soon discovers that some real -- and deadly -- is going on. A series of deaths and disappearance have taken place. Along with a local kid and a monster-loving English teacher, Savvy sets out to find the real story.The solution to the mystery is even stranger than the stories in Savvy's paper.The author plays the book with a smidgen of romance, and a great light touch. Savvy McKinnon is a wonderful, likable character, who worries about her weight while sneaking slices of pie at a greasy spoon and suspects everyone in sight. She's a smart, sassy addition to the ranks of mystery slueths.Here's hoping we see a lot more of Savvy McKinnon and of News from the Edge!Kary
Rating: 
Summary: Introducing Savvy Skye
Review: In keeping with the tradition of trying to alert readers to books they would probably overlook, this week I am recommending THE MONSTER OF MINNESOTA by Mark Sumner.Billed as a cross between the Cat Who... books and the X-Files, this is the story of Savannah McKinnon, a writer for a notorious supermarket tabloid. Although she works for a tabloid, Savvy wants to get into serious journalism. When she gets a tip off the line about a lake monster that involves several deaths, Savvy goes out and does the almost unthinkable; she lands a field assignment. But things don't go quite the way she had hoped. First, her source turns out to be a kid. Then other bits of the case go sour. But there are still the bodies, the monster rumors, and a new chemical plant that seems to be killing of the fishing trade; a trade that keeps the town alive. Slowly Savvy begins to put together the pieces and her chances or a serious story. THE MONSTER OF MINNESOTA is the first in a series called News From the Edge. The ending leaves plenty of room for Savvy to continue on her journalistic path. This book is really a mystery with an element of the fantastic and written by an author who seems to understand the genres. Savvy is a talented and interesting character. As with a modern trend in mysteries Savvy has her sights set on an equally interesting man. He runs a small weekly paper that she often submits articles to (which displeases her boss at the tabloid). The two have an interesting relationship that promises further development if the series continues.
Rating:
Summary: Nice
Review: Not a big "You HAVE to read this!", something quick and amusing to read when you're bored. Especially cool if you're in to cryptozoology.
Rating:
Summary: Nice
Review: Not a big "You HAVE to read this!", something quick and amusing to read when you're bored. Especially cool if you're in to cryptozoology.
Rating:
Summary: Nice
Review: Not a big "You HAVE to read this!", something quick and amusing to read when you're bored. Especially cool if you're in to cryptozoology.
Rating:
Summary: Cozy mystery with an X-Files twist
Review: The blurb on the jacket says this is a cross between the "cat who" books and the "x-files." I don't think that's quite right, but there's definitely a nice mix of good cozy mystery with a slice of sci-fi strangness. Unlike a lot of mysteries I've read, it fits together well and the solution actually works. Skip one of those mystery series that's been run into the ground and try this instead
Rating: 
Summary: A cute, light, and quick read.
Review: The story is cute. Read it if you want something quick and not too deep. The characters are developed only as far as they need to be. There is a loose end that isn't tied up at the climax (one of the deaths isn't explained), but otherwise, it is cleanly written.
Rating: 
Summary: Bland, cliched, redundant
Review: This book "tries too hard" to be about a sleazy tabloid. All the tabloid cliches are there (staff photographer doctors lizard photos, Bigfoot is considered a "big story," the gossip columnist is dressed loud and tacky). If the author had researched tabloids, he'd know that the National Enquirer, et al, have not covered Elvis, Bigfoot, or aliens since the 1970s. And the Weekly World News is a parody. Worse, this story is told first person by a bullying, unlikeable character mouthing noir cliches, like she stepped out of a 1940s movie. And she's ALWAYS talking about her tangled hair and "too-tight" clothes. Okay, so maybe the author is trying to "build empathy" with his female readers -- but he's made his point. No need to keep telling us the character "feels fat" and has "tangled hair." I wanted to shave her head already. The story ranges from dull to moments of okay. As can be expected, this gal reporter hates working for a tabloid, wants a Pulitzer, hopes this story will be her big break out of "tabloid hell," lies to her fat Italian editor (shades of Kolchak's Tony Vinchenzo?), yada yada, chiche, chiche. There's also the usual politically correct stuff. ... redneck sheriffs, ... chemical plant, good environmental conscious Native Americans. If you're hip to PC cliches, you've guess the villain, and his supporters, as they show up. No surprises in this paint by number non-mystery.
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