Average 3 ⭐️ More violence and gore than in the other titles of the series. Mostly for shock violence most of it is not plot driven but fills in holes in the narrative. The culprit wasn't obvious but not an out of nowhere villain. So so. ( )

In this installment of the Sam Jones mysteries, Sam takes an oddly front page and back seat role in her own series. In the ominous prologue, Sam wakes up chained in a dungeon. She's held captive for unknown reasons and in a bad state. As we wind our way through the novel, we find a plot filled featuring her actor-boyfriend, a BBC Mini-Series filming, a starlet with an unpopular view on fur, animal rights activists making threats and an obvious case of mistaken identity...

In past stories, Sam took a far more active role in tracking down her mystery. In this story, being a victim in need of hospitalization and tracking down a mystery don't go together. Much to Lauren Henderson's credit, she avoids turning Sam into some tart-noir super-sleuth. Don't get me wrong, it still fits the bill for a light summer read, it's just the weakest so far in the series. ( )

Apparently Ms Henderson is a leading light of something called Tart Noir. Well noir it is not. Laddette Crime is probably a better description. Lots of mostly off stage sex and violence. mixed with plenty of onstage soft drugs and alchol. it bounces along the cynicism of Noir replaced with the flippancy of a Heroine who knows she is invunerable. I was not even emotionally involved during an attempted rape scene...
Not objectionable just too damned lightwight. ( )