Synopses & Reviews
Roxy Abruzzo barely escaped big trouble in her first adventure, Nancy Martins totally charming series debut,
Foxy Roxy. Now Roxy is determined to stay on the straight and narrow. . .except that with Sage, her daughter, about to start college, and the architectural salvage business she owns slowing down in the recession, her cashflow is not so great. So shes been doing a few jobs here and there for her uncle Carmine, one of the last oldtime mob bosses in Pittsburgh, who makes requests from behind bars through his naive lawyer Marvin Weiss.
Scaring a gambler behind in his debts, getting back Carmines money, taking a small percentage for her troubleRoxy has no problem with these kinds of jobs. She can almost convince herself that theyre not illegal. But when Marvin asks her to kidnap someone and hold her for ransom, she says no fastits a felony (or a set-up), and someone might get hurt. But she cant help doing a little snooping around the intended victim, just in case someone else takes the job. And then of course she finds herself suspect number one when the woman gets killed.
Peppered as usual with Martins oddball cast of characters and witty one-liners, the second Roxy Abruzzo mystery is even more funny, more frantic, and flat out more fabulous than the first.
Review
Praise for Foxy Roxy
“A hilarious combination of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum and Lisa Scottolines Bennie Rosato”
---(New Orleans) Times-Picayune
“Light years away from Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, and is grittier and more sexual than Laura Lippmans Tess Monaghan.”
---Pittsburgh Tribune Review
“In this stellar first in a new series, Martin introduces Roxy Abruzzo, ultra-sexy Pittsburgh sleuth and owner of Bada Bling Architectural Salvage. . . . A tough girl like Evanovichs Stephanie Plum, if with an edgier vibe . . . A wild cat-and-mouse game with a killer that will leave Martins fans clamoring for more.”
---Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“An unusual frame story, well-drawn characters, and an interesting mystery are pluses for this Pittsburgh-set crime novel.”
---Booklist
“Verdict: This new series by the author of the best-selling Blackbird Sisters Mysteries introduces a tough-as-nails heroine. . . . A clever and naughty mystery.”
---Library Journal
“Her architectural-salvage business involves Roxy Abruzzo in a number of exciting finds, including an unexpected case of murder. . . . Martins change of sleuths . . . to gritty Pittsburgh tough gal Roxy is a definite improvement.”
---Kirkus Reviews
Review
Praise for Sticky Fingers
“Guaranteed to delight tough girls and tough-girl fans everywhere.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Martins wacky second Roxy Abruzzo mystery improves on the excellent first entry.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Synopsis
Roxy Abruzzo stays one step ahead of trouble----especially now that her cash flow is less than stellar, and she's "doing favors" for her slippery uncle Carmine, one of the last old-time Mob bosses in Pittsburgh.
With her sidekick, Nooch, and her thieving pitbull, Rooney, Roxy hustles the mean streets collecting debts for Uncle Carmine and keeping his customers in line. With her daughter's college tuition to pay, Roxy can almost convince herself that the shady jobs are legal. But when Carmine's consigliere offers Roxy a contract to kidnap someone, that's a line she wont cross.
Trouble is the kidnapping happens anyway, and when the victim turns up murdered, Roxys number one on the police hit parade. To protect herself, she investigates and soon learns the victim had a big secret---or two. Add a rock singer with a penchant for dinosaur bones and throw in a pesky paleontologist, plus an ex-nun with a mustache problem---not to mention a sexy chef with a taste for whatever Roxy dishes up---and you've got a caper full of quirky characters and laugh-out-loud mayhem.
Peppered as usual with Nancy Martins sharp one-liners, Sticky Fingers---the second Roxy Abruzzo mystery---is even tastier than the first.
Synopsis
Roxy Abruzzo has to be careful to stay one step ahead of trouble—especially now that a limited cash flow has her collecting debts for her uncle Carmine, one of the last old-time Mob bosses in Pittsburgh. With her daughters college tuition to pay, Roxy can almost convince herself that the jobs arent illegal.
But when Carmines consigliere offers Roxy a contract to kidnap someone, thats one line she wont cross. Trouble is that when the kidnapping victim turns up murdered, Roxys number one on the police hit parade. To protect herself, she investigates and soon learns the victim had a big secret—or two.
Add a rock singer, a pesky paleontologist, and a sexy chef with a taste for whatever Roxy dishes up, and youve got a caper full of laugh-out-loud mayhem. Peppered with one-liners, Sticky Fingers—the second Roxy Abruzzo mystery—is even tastier than the first.
About the Author
Nancy Martin, winner of the Lifetime Achievement award for mystery writing from RT Book Reviews, is also the author of the bestselling Blackbird Sisters mysteries. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Visit her online at www.NancyMartinMysteries.com.