Member Reviews
Winning the lottery is not all it's cracked up to be! This is a romp of a novel with good characters and a lovely sense of humor. A good read.
I started out enjoying the premise of the story and its characters, but part way through that premise got lost in the myriad of emotions and events that the author seemed to be weaving into the story. Unfortunately the ending was not as satisfying as I would have liked, but perhaps the next installment of the series will use that as a jumping off point and it’ll ring more true for me.
This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
A blind man is lucky enough to win what is described as a Mondo Mega Jackpot worth $550 million. However, although he is also fortunate enough to form a relationship with a feisty and charming young lady at the same time, the unexpected windfall leads to jealousy, avarice and danger as various people they encounter are murdered and a child they care for is kidnapped and held for ransom.
I thought the couple were reminiscent of Tommy and Tuppence from the Agatha Christie series. At the end of the book, they were planning on setting up their own detective agency and I can foresee this as the beginning of a successful new series featuring the couple as amateur detectives. I look forward to their next adventure.
I thought this book was great fun, what a brilliant idea.I loved the main characters and the pace of the book.I wasn't really sure what I was going to get with this book, I just thought it sounded like it could be a fun read and it was but it was also more than that it was well written and the pace of the book was good making it very easy to read.No spoilers from me but if you are looking for a fairly light read with humour and great characters you've found it.Thanks to the Publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Too Lucky to Live: A Somebody’s Bound to Wind Up Dead Mystery
By Annie Hogsett
Poisoned Pen Press
May 2017
Review by Cynthia Chow
Who hasn’t dreamed of winning the lottery? For Alice Jane “Allie” Harper and Thomas Bennington III though, the prize ticket begins a nightmare of break-ins, assaults, shoot-outs, multiple murders, and kidnappings. Their first meeting was nearly as improbable as picking a winning ticket, occurring only when the part-time Cleveland Public Librarian pulled the blind English Literature professor out of the path of a distracted SUV driver. Tom only purchased the MondoMegaJacket ticket in order to teach his young neighbor Rune the folly of gambling, and the unwanted half-billion-dollar prize is accompanied by equally undesired attention from the media, felons, and the curious. Rune Davis is the first to suffer the dark side of sudden wealth when his mother is attacked, thugs chase him down, and he ends up hiding in foster care.
As Allie and Tom find themselves in a race to cash in the ticket and hide from murderous thieves, they fall into a bubble of infatuation, lust, and maybe even love. Allie’s lived a monastic life since divorcing her cheating attorney husband and giving up a socialite lifestyle, and she revelsin the bliss of a man gifted with a talent for braille. Tom finds himself similarly enchanted with down-to-earth Allie’s quick sense of humor, and he never doubts that their attraction is based on chemistry and not any dollar amount. That’s not true of others around them, as the police warn them that the enormous amount of money – even after taxes – will have no end of the number of those willing to kill for it.
This is an absolute thrill ride of a novel as Allie and Tom dodge the escalating threats caused by the one lottery ticket. What is a relief is that the ticket itself is never a game of keep away, but Allie and Tom who are the actual targets. Despite – or perhaps because of – his blindness, Tom is the epitome of the perfect man for Allie; sexy, intelligent, emotionally damaged, and completely disdainful of material wealth that is disrupting his life. Allie herself has no problem “calling in rich” to work, but she is less enamored of the paranoia and sense of danger brought by sudden wealth. The rocketing pace is interspersed with moments of blissful hot romance and absurd humor, ensuring for a continually entertaining read. This debut series is off to a fantastic start, and I can’t help but be intrigued and eager for the next installment of what is certain to be a unique new mystery.
I don't know what I was expecting but not this! Too Lucky to Live was BRILLIANT! I just loved the concept, from love at first 'sight'/ smell of soap to dark ransom plots and bodies at every turn. The concept of winning that sort of sum and people NOT being jealous seemed totally plausible. Littered with characters that I would love to be my friends an utterly fabulous read! LOVED it!
This was a fast-paced and action packed drama that grabbed my attention immediately, quickly becoming a page turner as I had to know what happens next. The writing style and tone created a comfortable story that was easy to follow. The narrative was descriptively eye catching and the dialogue engaging as the duo were racing against time and the unknown. The author did a great job in presenting a good story with elements of romance intertwined with a solid mystery filled with intrigue, suspense and a few strategically placed distractions that kept this reader glued to the pages as I had to know how this was all going to play out and boy did it ever. The character development of the duo was perfectly matched with what was happening with their interactions and that added to how well this story unfolded. This was a terrific read and I can’t wait for my next adventures with Tom, Allie and their friends.
Allie rescues blind Tom from the middle of an intersection in Cleveland, after he's startled by an angry woman in a Hummer who honked at him. Little does she know that Tom is soon to be a lottery winner and her life is going to become very different! I absolutely loved this book--quite an adventure, with some romance thrown in! I couldn't put it down until I finished it. The short chapters kept a good pace, and the challenges to this pair seem to keep coming despite what they do to stay under the radar. The main characters were very well drawn, with lots of supporting characters to add interest. What a great read!