The author sent me an ARC of this book (epub format) in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Plot
(by Goodreads)
Journalist Brenda Contay Doesn’t Look For Trouble-But It Keeps Finding Her
When she said “yes” too often in college, she became “the anything goes girl.” Pretty soon her sex life figured in locker-room graffiti.
But when Brenda Contay makes it big on local TV as WDIG’s Lightning Rod reporter, everything seems to be turning around for her. Except succeeding in tabloid TV because your butt looks good in Levis isn’t much different from “anything goes.”
That’s why Brenda quits television to learn the truth behind an old lover’s death. Vince Soublik drowned recently, off a tiny island in the Pacific. But All-State swimmers like Vince don’t just drown.
When she gets to the island, Brenda learns that Vince’s death was collateral damage in a scandal of global proportions. And since it involves one of the ten richest men in America, Brenda’s chance of living to break the story is next to zero.
But you never can tell about “the anything goes girl”-she just hates to lose.
| Genre(s): | Literature & Fiction > Women’s Fiction > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Women Sleuths Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Mystery > Women Sleuths |
| Series: | A Brenda Contay Novel of Suspense, #1 |
| Length: | 358 pages |
| Release date: | 2013-12-17 |
Teaser
“He got sick and drowned,” Gordon said. “He never radioed there was trouble.”
“Vince Soublik drowned? He was an All-State freestyler.”
“His parents don’t get it either.”
Seeing Elaine with the atlas, Brenda remembered Joyce Delarossa reading the paper at her desk-A local guy died on some island.
My Opinion
This book introduces you first to Vince Soublik, a fatality on a remote island. Journalist Brenda Contay used to know him and her instincts tell her that she needs to find out the truth.
With The Anything Goes Girl, Barry Knister has created a suspense story that introduces several important characters, if they are good or bad can be learned as the story proceeds. It is a quite compelling read that draws you slowly closer to Brenda and the case. Barry Knister paints the characters’ mindsets, integrating them in the plot, you want to find the truth and/or reasons why as much as Brenda. Brenda is believable and determined. The story develops from being on the slowish side to a faster and steady (really enjoyable) flow.
This is a book for you if you like suspense stories with believable characters and psychological aspects, and if you appreciate determined female amateur sleuths.
Recommended.
In brief:
| Cover | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ |
| Writing | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ |
| Plot | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ |
| Characters | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ |
| Mood | Suspenseful |
| Pace | Steady |
| POV | Third person – past tense |
| Language |  – 😳 |
| Violence | 😳 |
| Sexual content | 😳 |
About the author
Barry Knister was a university professor before turning to full-time writing. His first novel, The Dating Service was published by Berkley. His second, Just Bill is a novel for adults about dogs and owners, and was published by Gold Mountain Press. Knister has published two previous novels in the Brenda Contay suspense series. The first (The Anything Goes Girl) draws on his years as a Peace Corps Volunteer. The second (Deep North) is set in the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota, where he fishes each spring. Knister is the past secretary of Detroit Working Writers, and served as the director of the Cranbrook Summer Writers Conference. He lives outside Detroit with his wife, Barbara, and their Aussie shepherd, Skylar.
Connect with the author:
Amazon: Barry Knister
Please take a look at my statement on reading in My train of thoughts on …reading. Now I am asking you. 🙂
My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you? What did you think about The Anything Goes Girl? Or – if you did not yet read The Anything Goes Girl – are you now interested in reading it yourself?
I am looking forward to reading your comments. 🙂
10 Statements – Barry Knister
My train of thoughts on... 