Cynthia B. (grammybee) -
Helpful Score: 2
Gretchen Archer's book, Double Whammy, is unlike most other mysteries of the cozy variety that I have ever read. I enjoyed this book SO much that I read it twice from the day that I received it as a free book won on Goodreads. This author is such an intelligent writer with describing people, places, situations, events, etc. so clearly that you can just picture them in your mind's eye. Ms. Archer's talent to give such emotion to her main character was outstanding. I found every character to be described so well that I had a mental picture of each. The story is written wonderfully well, with a very unique, unusual and extremely interesting story that hints as to where the story is going, but then takes you to another conclusion soon afterwards and something that I just adored about the book. I do not want to know who the true criminal is until the very end of a book and this book kept me guessing all along the way. There is not only the normal cozy type mystery here, but a lot of raw emotions, kindness, bantering, joking, responding to one's self, (which I found very amusing)joking and teasing from one character to another, and making the book a real treat to read as you just never quite new what was around the next corner or the next page. The book is warm, friendly, has compassion, and all these other components to make the central character totally believable in almost an unbelievable way-Davis Way to be exact!!!
I can well imagine this story's main character as a real live person and almost felt as though she was truly alive and living in Pine Apple or Biloxi by the time the story ended. Descriptions were so well done and every story line and incident was tied up nicely somewhere along the line if not at the end of the book. To me, this signifies an intelligent writer who has done her homework and tons of research and who possesses the insight as to what the reader is looking for throughout the entire book, even if said reader wasn't sure what that was until it was told!!!
I am truly looking forward to reading the next books in this series as I cant wait to find out where the next adventures will be taking place and to see how our new friend, Davis, will help to make the world a better place. I have read a LOT of books over the years, and this is one author that I plan on following no matter what she writes. I love cozy mysteries, mystery and thrillers, adventure, etc. and have been exposed to many authors during my lifetime, but Ms. Archer seemed to write about everything that makes a good cozy mystery/mystery-intrigue/adventure/including a touch of romance (this book has all of those components and more) and has it all tied up in one book where I laughed out loud many times even in public and an occasional tear in my eye soon after. But with this main character, you just know that more mystery and adventures will follow with that bit of humor and romance intertwined in the story. I liked this book so much that I just may read it again (a third time) to make sure that I didn't miss one single thing that she wrote.
I can well imagine this story's main character as a real live person and almost felt as though she was truly alive and living in Pine Apple or Biloxi by the time the story ended. Descriptions were so well done and every story line and incident was tied up nicely somewhere along the line if not at the end of the book. To me, this signifies an intelligent writer who has done her homework and tons of research and who possesses the insight as to what the reader is looking for throughout the entire book, even if said reader wasn't sure what that was until it was told!!!
I am truly looking forward to reading the next books in this series as I cant wait to find out where the next adventures will be taking place and to see how our new friend, Davis, will help to make the world a better place. I have read a LOT of books over the years, and this is one author that I plan on following no matter what she writes. I love cozy mysteries, mystery and thrillers, adventure, etc. and have been exposed to many authors during my lifetime, but Ms. Archer seemed to write about everything that makes a good cozy mystery/mystery-intrigue/adventure/including a touch of romance (this book has all of those components and more) and has it all tied up in one book where I laughed out loud many times even in public and an occasional tear in my eye soon after. But with this main character, you just know that more mystery and adventures will follow with that bit of humor and romance intertwined in the story. I liked this book so much that I just may read it again (a third time) to make sure that I didn't miss one single thing that she wrote.
