Murder, Served Simply

Maybe, without the addition of a forced love triangle, an old lover she had more chemistry with than the new - majorly absent - one, and a main character that could seem to make up her mind about what she wanted, I could have actually enjoyed this story.

While I didn't love the way everyone knew the amateur sleuth was sleuthing, or how she decided she just had to be involved after knowing the victim for an hour, the story does have a performance murder, which is one type I really like. (Though I do prefer dancing over acting.) Also, I like Oliver and think he was a wonderful addition to the story.

But Angie was so insufferable every time Ryan (her old lover) and Mitchell (her new ‘boyfriend') were brought up. Her decision was a forgone conclusion and there was no need for this horrible subplot. (And her mom was really unpleasant the entire time culminating in that.) (And, honestly, I am so tired of these mysteries that seem to want to focus more on the romantic life and times of the main character than any mystery they're solving.)

The mystery itself...honestly, while I did suspect someone else, the culprit really didn't surprise me - I just was hoping for a happier ending and this...wasn't. I tried to ignore them as a suspect for the same reason I wanted to ignore the killer in the last book I read. Because I didn't think the author would be that cruel. (And the way Angie figured it all out - based on one unconnected thing someone said to her...felt like a copout and liked it belonged more on a TV show.)