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Deborah C. (Seattle, WA)
Another great read from Abbi Waxman!
Abbi Waxman's books are all different, but each one is funny and heartwarming, with wonderful, quirky characters. One Death at a Time is no exception. Natasha Mason (who goes by her last name) is a recovering alcoholic who meets crotchety former actress Julia Mann at an AA meeting. Shortly after Mason agrees to act as Julia's personal assistant, the cops come calling. It turns out Julia is the prime suspect in the murder of a longtime enemy. Unfortunately for Julia, she has no recollection of what happened the night of the murder because she was blackout drunk.
Since the cops don't seem to be looking for any
…more other suspects, Julia, Mason, and an assorted cast of characters have to do their own detective work to clear Julia's name.
It was a lot of fun to follow along as Julia and her gang leapt from one improbable situation to another. A very enjoyable plot together with well-drawn and interesting characters made for a great read. I wish Abbi would write more sequels, because I always want to spend more time with her characters! (less)What a fun ride! I really enjoyed this mystery, full of strong female characters and witty repartee. It made me laugh out loud several times. I really liked Mason as a character, someone who'd screwed up in the past and struggles with impulse control, but is committed to working the 12 step system and to helping her new sponsee to make choices to support her sobriety. I don't have any first hand experience with AA or with the disease of addiction, but I appreciated that the book acknowledges that people can do well for a long time, relapse, and still get back up to start again, and that it's not a
…more straightforward path.
While their sobriety brings the two main characters together, there's much more action to the book. It kind of made me think of a great buddy-cop movie from the 80s or like the tv show Moonlighting - two strong, different characters who argue but who like and respect each other a lot.
There's also a great supporting cast of characters, all of whom fill stereotypical roles, but felt different than the usual stereotypes.
There are multiple deaths and mysteries, so a lot to untangle with this book. If this duo - and their supporting cast - went on to other adventures, I'd happily read another tale of their exploits.
The one thing that stood out to me as a semi-negative (and it isn't even a negative, just an observation) is that the book felt long. I don't know what the page count is on this book, so will be curious to see how long it is when it's released. It felt long. Not inappropriately so, just that it took me a while to get through. Still enjoyed it though! (less)Yes, it's a mystery but the beauty of this book is in its dialogue!! Cheeky, irreverent and totally real. You can "hear" the conversations!! Didn't want this to end because I had a wonderful time getting to know the characters and delight in their wit and attitude.
Patricia L. (Seward, AK)
One Death at a Time
Natalie Mason is described as "an unusually pretty woman of twenty-five with extremely short hair and striking features that might have been overwhelming had they been paired with a more elaborate hairstyle…" In Hollywood everyone is judged first by their looks and second by their issues. Mason's issue is alcohol, which she is being forced to address by attending daily AA meetings while working as an Uber driver and delivery person. A child of Hollywood, Mason has been oblivious to its' glitz, glamour and underbelly. But that changes when Julia enters the room.
Julia Mann is a former Hollywood star turned
…more convicted murderer, turned parolee, turned lawyer for the underdog, with a drinking problem. Her attendance at AA is mandated because after waking up from an alcohol induced black out, she found a body floating in her pool. She can't recall why or how it got there.
One Death at a Time is the story of Julia, Mason and friends trying to solve two murders. While Waxman's storyline may be long with extraneous details, the fast, irreverent, smart, sassy dialog moves the plot at lightening speed. Her characters are well defined and memorable. One Death at a Time is recommended for those who seek a fast read about glamourous people who aren't above a little self-deprecation and laugh out loud humor. (less)I really enjoyed this smart mystery based in LA's Hollywood scene! Abbi Waxman has the gift of creating quirky, relatable characters and this was true for main character Mason. I loved her dynamic with actress Julia, and how they bonded as recovering alcoholics.
They team up to solve the murder of a director who was found dead in the pool of Julia's mansion. Although she's 90 certain she didn't kill him, Julia has no idea how he ended up dead. They were former friends turned enemies, yet she had no strong motive to kill him. Julia enlists her team of assistants to solve the crime, and Mason gets pulled into some
…more shenanigans that are somewhat dangerous, but highly entertaining.
This novel was a wild, enjoyable ride! I had a bit of trouble keeping track of all of the characters, but still had fun with the story. I am not a big movie buff so some of the movie details were lost on me, but could see how this aspect would appeal to many readers. I adored the house chef Claudia and the many pets that appeared throughout the story! I recommend this novel and hope Abbi Waxman writes more in the mystery genre! (less)One Death at a Time is a bit of a departure for Waxman and it is well done. There is signature Waxman pacing and strong female characters written with smart, funny dialog, but this time in the service of a buddy comedy/mystery. I enjoyed Mason, Julia and the whole cast, and look forward to (hopefully) a sequel. Highly enjoyable.
For fans of books like: Mother Daughter Murder Night; Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers; Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone; Killers of a Certain Age
Patricia G. (Washington, DC)
A fun twisty mystery novel
In the detective-mystery genre, the "Odd Couple" pairing is tried and true, but Abby Waxman uses it well in her newest novel "One Death at a Time". Natasha Mason is three-years-sober and twenty-something; Julia Mann is a fabulously famous, perennially gorgeous seventy-something ex-actress who has fallen off the wagon and is accused of murder (again). Naturally, they meet at an AA meeting in Los Angeles and instantly dislike each other.
However, Mason needs a job and Julia needs help finding the actual murderer. As with most fiction, a certain suspension of reality is required to enjoy the story. On top of all
…more her other amazing traits, Julia is brilliant enough to have obtained a law degree while she was serving a lengthy prison sentence. She has also been able to keep her immense fortune intact, and her high-level Hollywood contacts current. Mason has ninja-level fighting skills from some unknown background. Both have attitude to spare, and grudgingly accept each other, and find that they work well together.
The remainder of the cast of characters, including a housekeeper who is also an incredible chef, a personal assistant with a photographic memory, and a new, young and very attractive attorney who makes Mason's life complicated add to the fun. Waxman certainly has familiarity with Hollywood in general, and Hollywood players specifically. Any reader will enjoy the wild ride through the hills with this crew.
There are laugh out loud moments and plenty of action throughout the novel as the plot winds its way to the big reveal of the actual murderers. This is a perfect, fun escapist book to curl up with. So many plot lines were left open at the end that I highly suspect a sequel is in the works, which I look forward to. (less)Waxman has created a compelling murder mystery featuring a whole bevy of memorable characters in Hollywood. While this one is set in modern times, it has an old Hollywood nostalgic and glamorous feel. There are writers, producers, movie remakes, intrigue, legal cases, fast cars, attacks, disguises, and murder all in the mix.
Natasha Mason is leading an AA meeting when a retired actress, Julia, checks in. The stories can be wild at meetings, and Julia's is no different. She's found a dead man in her pool, and she can't remember anything about that night.
It is a race to see if they will figure out who the
…more murderer is before someone else ends up dead. I quite enjoyed this one! (less)
