Even though Dolled Up to Die stands alone well, I think, I would still strongly recommend that you read the series in order. So, if you haven’t already, go read Dying to Read. It’s hilarious, and I loved it!!! You can also check out my review of Dying to Read here.
Onto the brief synopsis of Dolled Up to Die:
Cate is starting to get a better handle on being an assistant private investigator. Emphasis on assistant. After her rather eventful, turn-for-the-worse earlier case, things have calmed down and been more like what her uncle originally described for the job.
That wasn’t meant to last long.
After receiving a disturbing phone call frantically telling her about a triple homicide, Cate can’t help but show up at the caller’s home. After all, the lady said that the police were taking their sweet time – which Cate found highly odd – and Cate just couldn’t ignore the woman’s need for help.
Upon arriving though, having steeled her stomach for a gruesome scene, she finds something wholly unexpected. The three murder victims?
They’re dolls.
Victimized, vandalized dolls? Yes.
But still dolls.
But not long after their discovery, Cate realizes there may be a victim in the house that did at one time have a pulse.
Despite continually being told to stay out of murder cases, Cate already senses she’s being pulled into another one…
Oh my goodness, this was fun!
Cate Kinkaid is a smart, likable, clumsy heroine that is working to do well at her new career after many life changes and a stint in unemployment. She’s grounded in faith in God, yet that doesn’t drown the story, which I appreciate. It’s enough for the narrative to show an awareness of her belief without hitting us over the head with it!
Oftentimes laugh-out-loud funny, Dolled Up to Die starts off with a hilarious bang and doesn’t stop there! I loved Cate’s sleuthing, the large, varied cast of characters (including her cat Octavia), and those moments of true suspense to ratchet up the stakes a bit.
One thing I think could get stronger is Cate’s boyfriend Mitch. There’s nothing wrong with him, really, but with such a colorful cast of suspects and clients he tends to fall a bit flat. His personality maybe needs to come across stronger? Not sure. But I still like him, and his relationship with Cate was not a detriment to the plot whatsoever.
Not perhaps as surprising as Dying to Read, Dolled Up to Die is a delight to read and just a pure bibliophile pleasure!
I’m hoping there’s more than one book left in this series, as I’m ready to follow Cate for a long time to come!! Especially if the comedy element keeps up like it has so far!
What are you waiting for? Go grab your copy and be ready to laugh!!!
*Available July 15, 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
*I received a copy of Dolled Up to Die from the Baker Publishing Group. Their generosity in no way influenced, nor sought to influence, my opinion of the novel.
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