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Rock And Roll Queen Of Bedlam: A Wise-Cracking Tale Of Secrets, Peril, And Murder! (2009)

by Marilee Brothers(Favorite Author)

3.75 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

1605420506 (ISBN13: 9781605420509)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Medallion Press, Incorporated

review 1: The publisher deserves blame for my annoyance with this book, which could have easily been better. To start with, the main title misleads by setting up expectations for the story that don't get met. Far more focus goes to the teacher-protagonist's teaching job, her abrupt romance, and the mystery at hand than to the protagonist being the rock & roll queen of anything. While the title grabs attention, it doesn't describe the story. As for the story, it needed more careful editing than it got. A few problems were minor: For instance, within a few paragraphs, a newly mentioned name kept alternating between two spellings with no explanation, and a few typos really stuck out. But the story would've benefitted most from editorial help with the "romance," which begins in an unlik... moreely scenario and develops inexplicably into a full-blown fling, even though we see so little of interest or depth to the guy in question, and yet he and the protagonist are falling for each other. I was reminded--too much--of the terrific, complicated relationship between Stephanie Plum and Ranger in Janet Evanovich's work, which author Brothers's sleuth Allegra and her unknown-quantity-of-an-infatuation Sloan seem to mimic pretty hard. Brothers has an entertaining, intriguing (if somewhat intricate) mystery here; I wish that her editor would've steered her away from similarities to Evanovich's character twosome (AND to Stephanie Plum's wacky grandma, come to think of it) and helped Brothers create a title that better described the story so I wouldn't have been waiting for the rock-and-roll queen element to show up.
review 2: Are you ready for a suspense story not about a perfect beauty or an analytical detective? How about people doing regular jobs with a few twists? Quirky townspeople, including a grandma who serves as a sexual surrogate, helpful former felons, lecherous coach and a missing student who may have ties with the Mafia. Best of all, an impulsive Special Ed teacher named Allegra, who acts before she thinks. An unexpected crime spree in the small town pairs Allegra with smart mouth detective Sloan in The Rock and Roll Queen of Bedlam. Allegra stumbles back into town after a horrible divorce. Grateful to be able to bunk with her aunt and grandma, she is willing to do the rock and roll music shows at the local nursing homes - even though the last trip bought her a walking cast for her foot. Not sexy by a long shot. Right now she needs to be major sexy since she has a line on the last eligible bachelor in town, but then all hell breaks loose. Blame it on caring too much.Sloan can’t wait to see the bossy blonde who seems to have the other detectives jumping by screaming something about false arrest. She is something from her red enraged face to her walking cast. As she stomps out of the police station, he expects never to see her again, but that is before she calls and demands her underwear returned. His only option is to make a home visit that just might involve pie, if he’s lucky. The mystery is afoot with the disappearance of Allegra’s student, Sara. With the help of her lovelorn nephew, Nick, they are on the trail of the mysterious Sara with the help of her former students who have more than a nodding acquaintance with the criminal element. The only problem is that Sloan wants to butt in and take over, just like a detective The chemistry between Sloan and Allegra is mesmerizing. Add to the story a criminal element, a missing girl, an angry boyfriend, and shady foster parents—you've got a page-turner. Allegra finds herself in predicaments that are reminiscent of Lucy Ricardo if she were living in the 21st century. Secondary characters add to the zaniness of the story while moving the plot of the story forward. They do exactly what they are supposed to do while taking nothing away from Sloan and Allegra.The Rock and Roll Queen of Bedlam is the best book I’ve read this year and I have read a lot of books already. I am giving Marilee Brothers’ book a perfect 10. In the seven years I’ve been reviewing books, I have only given four other books, a 10. I highly recommend this book, no matter what type of genre you like. An incredible fun read, you’ll laugh out loud. I guarantee it less

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