Official Review: The Girl and the Gangster

Please use this sub-forum to discuss any crime, thriller, mystery or horror books or series.
Forum rules
Authors and publishers are not able to post replies in the review topics.
Post Reply
User avatar
tortoise keeper
Posts: 145
Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 09:36
Bookshelf Size: 23
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tortoise-keeper.html
Latest Review: "Undead Redhead" by Jen Frankel
Reading Device: B0192AFG7A

Official Review: The Girl and the Gangster

Post by tortoise keeper »

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Girl and the Gangster" by Cheryl Upchurch.]
Book Cover
3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review


The Girl and the Gangster by Cheryl Upchurch is a fast-paced mystery focused around the story protagonist Sara Kelley. The book follows Sara, her brother Jack, and various family and friends, through their escapades running a detective agency in St. Louis, Missouri. The story is primarily told in first person by Sara. Sara is fearless, funny, and always getting into some type of trouble. In the first few pages of the book a criminal enters the agency, and attempts to shoot Sara because he blames her for his prison sentence.

The book does not slow down from there, and continues on an entertaining, though sometimes convoluted path dealing with blackmail, kidnappings, shootings, and mobsters. Sara has a long distance relationship with a Las Vegas FBI agent, but is introduced to Anthony Cunnelli, the young, handsome new boss of the local crime family and there is an immediate attraction. Though romance is not the main theme of the book, Sara is pulled by her feelings for both men throughout the story.

I did find the plot hard to follow at times. There were a lot of random characters briefly introduced, and some not referred to again, or if they were, not until the resolution of the story. Others were brought in as having been met "on a previous case" often with just enough back story given that I felt like there was a previous book that I had missed reading. Also, every person and case, no matter how obscure the characters dealt with in the story were all tied in a little too neatly at the end of the book.

That being said, I enjoyed the story, and on more than one occasion laughed to myself about the humorous situations in which the characters had gotten themselves involved. The book did not try to take itself too seriously, which in my opinion, was one of it's best qualities. It was fast-paced, with a lot of action, and entertaining dialog. The main characters were likable and well developed, leaving a lot of potential for additional books about them.

Overall the storyline was creative, and I would be happy to read more about Sara and her adventures. I would rate this novel 3 out of 4 stars. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a light hearted, fast-paced mystery, with multiple characters, and plot twists.

******
The Girl and the Gangster
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes

Like tortoise keeper's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: "Undead Redhead" by Jen Frankel
User avatar
kimmyschemy06
Posts: 2598
Joined: 20 Oct 2015, 20:49
Currently Reading: The Searching Three
Bookshelf Size: 694
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kimmyschemy06.html
Latest Review: Kazi Boku by M. Poyhonen

Post by kimmyschemy06 »

Sounds like an interesting book with interesting protagonist. Romance in a crime story always adds a different flavor :) Good job on the review.
User avatar
tortoise keeper
Posts: 145
Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 09:36
Bookshelf Size: 23
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tortoise-keeper.html
Latest Review: "Undead Redhead" by Jen Frankel
Reading Device: B0192AFG7A

Post by tortoise keeper »

Thank you! I appreciate that. :)
Latest Review: "Undead Redhead" by Jen Frankel
User avatar
Shelle
Posts: 306
Joined: 26 Jan 2016, 14:52
Currently Reading: For the Love
Bookshelf Size: 57
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-shelle.html
Latest Review: A Positive Thought a Day Keeps the Negative Away by Dr. Curtis E. Smith
Reading Device: B00I15SB16

Post by Shelle »

Good review! This sounds like a fun, fast-paced book. I like quirky characters and unexpected plot twists.
A book is a gift you can open again and again.
-Garrison Keillor
User avatar
tortoise keeper
Posts: 145
Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 09:36
Bookshelf Size: 23
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tortoise-keeper.html
Latest Review: "Undead Redhead" by Jen Frankel
Reading Device: B0192AFG7A

Post by tortoise keeper »

Thank you so much!
Latest Review: "Undead Redhead" by Jen Frankel
User avatar
Heidi M Simone
Official Reviewer Representative
Posts: 7054
Joined: 17 Jul 2015, 20:19
Favorite Book: Harry Potter
Currently Reading: Beyond the Wand
Bookshelf Size: 556
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-heidi-m-simone.html
Latest Review: Lugares Amables by Lidice Megla
Publishing Contest Votes: 27
fav_author_id: 0

Post by Heidi M Simone »

Great review, sounds like a fun read! Even with the aspects you mentioned that could be improved, I'm glad that you seemed to enjoy the book!
Congratulations to the author for receiving a good review! :tiphat:
Heidi
Official Reviewer Representative

"There is nothing as powerful as a mother’s love, and nothing as healing as a child’s soul." – Unknown
User avatar
tortoise keeper
Posts: 145
Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 09:36
Bookshelf Size: 23
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tortoise-keeper.html
Latest Review: "Undead Redhead" by Jen Frankel
Reading Device: B0192AFG7A

Post by tortoise keeper »

Thank you! I appreciate your comments!
Latest Review: "Undead Redhead" by Jen Frankel
User avatar
Heidi M Simone
Official Reviewer Representative
Posts: 7054
Joined: 17 Jul 2015, 20:19
Favorite Book: Harry Potter
Currently Reading: Beyond the Wand
Bookshelf Size: 556
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-heidi-m-simone.html
Latest Review: Lugares Amables by Lidice Megla
Publishing Contest Votes: 27
fav_author_id: 0

Post by Heidi M Simone »

tortoise keeper wrote:Thank you! I appreciate your comments!
:handgestures-thumbup:
Heidi
Official Reviewer Representative

"There is nothing as powerful as a mother’s love, and nothing as healing as a child’s soul." – Unknown
CrescentMoon
Posts: 1319
Joined: 08 May 2014, 22:50
Currently Reading: Superhighway
Bookshelf Size: 87
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-crescentmoon.html
Latest Review: "Letorian Descendants- Casey Blane Series (Book 1)" by Jodi Ann Fahey

Post by CrescentMoon »

Oh I remember reading the blurb for this book and thinking that it sounded really interesting. This sounds like a story that is fast-paced, funny, and hard to put down. I love mystery books too with a little romance on the side. Great review!
Latest Review: "Letorian Descendants- Casey Blane Series (Book 1)" by Jodi Ann Fahey
User avatar
tortoise keeper
Posts: 145
Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 09:36
Bookshelf Size: 23
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tortoise-keeper.html
Latest Review: "Undead Redhead" by Jen Frankel
Reading Device: B0192AFG7A

Post by tortoise keeper »

Thank you. It was a pretty good book. I just had a little trouble keeping the characters straight.
Latest Review: "Undead Redhead" by Jen Frankel
User avatar
Kia
Posts: 351
Joined: 19 Feb 2016, 17:40
Currently Reading: Damaged Goods
Bookshelf Size: 46
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kia.html
Latest Review: Wheel of Katarnum by James Calliotte
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU

Post by Kia »

I'm not much for crime novels, but this one sounds really interesting. Good job on the review.
"Yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it you can either run from it, or learn from it."- Rafiki
User avatar
tortoise keeper
Posts: 145
Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 09:36
Bookshelf Size: 23
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tortoise-keeper.html
Latest Review: "Undead Redhead" by Jen Frankel
Reading Device: B0192AFG7A

Post by tortoise keeper »

Thank you! It was a little muddled but had a lot of humor in it which I liked. I hope you like it too.
Latest Review: "Undead Redhead" by Jen Frankel
Post Reply

Return to “Crime, Thrillers, Mystery and Horror Books”