Ex-police officer Alex Quick has been hired to go to Venice by a young family friend Sandro Grainger when he is sure that one of his friends is a thief. He realizes this after a dinner party at his uncle's a pair of valuable items have gone missing. This is rather odd as all of the guests are well off in one way or another, so why would they steal? As Alex is now a writer for art books and magazines in Venice, and has received a new commission, she decides to go ahead and take Sandro's offer for a job as a pseudo-detective, but not before one of the dinner guests is found murdered. Before she even heads to Venice, she learns that one of the dinner guests is found murdered.

This is where the review takes a turn.

As I hadn't had the opportunity to read the first two books in the series, I wasn't completely clear of Alex's past, although the reason she left the employ of the police is briefly explained. There were twists and turns along the way that kept the book rather interesting for a while. However, I realized that by 39% into the book that I wasn't able to continue. There were so many characters and situations and I couldn't connect. This is my first DNF read. I have put this review down for a few days so that I could try and read the book again, but I just could not. I hope the best for the author and hope that others can find something that I could not.

Many thanks to Severn House Publishers and to NetGalley for this ARC to review; this is my honest opinion.

Interesting easy to read book by author Susan Moody, also known as Susan Elizabeth Horwood and known as the Step-mother of Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. Moody has her own titles as does her step daughter, but Moody’s are more of the book type of titles.

This book, Quick on the Draw, is the third book with character Alex Quick, a former police detective as its star character. Alex has a very young and very handsome friend who calls upon her to help save him from his Uncle’s wrath. After holding a dinner party in a swanky apartment on loan from his uncle, Sandro finds some very expensive baubles missing. Well, maybe not baubles, more like an outrageously expensive ring and painting missing. He needs to get them back in the apartment before his uncle misses them. Even more so, one of his friends has sticky fingers and he wants to know which one it was. As a former cop, he feels Alex is his answer and begs her to help.

There is a lot to this story. I guess you could call them twists and turns but my best description would be that while this is not heavy reading there are enough things occurring that you do need to concentrate. You’ll notice I said this was easy to read and I would still describe it that way. It kept my attention well enough to move along quite quickly, no pun about the character’s name intended.
Much of this story takes place in Vienna and since Alex also has a background in art, the art conversation and scene descriptions are very enjoyable. The characters were well-defined. Alex was defined enough that I found I liked her very well and when a reader begins to like a character, well…they are usually hooked.

Susan Moody has several other books too. Check them out.

***This book was provided to me by NetGalley. All opinions are definitely my own.

Bookaholic
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Review will post on Bookaholic on 8/18/18

Ripe with atmosphere, this is a well-plotted mystery set in the art world of Venice. Alexandra Quick, and ex-police officer, is hired to go to Venice. She ends up with multiple clients, as several plot threads converge, and she deals with a kidnapping, murder, and art theft. While it is a rather spectacular pile of crime, Susan Moody manages to keep the plot believable and entertaining.

This is an easy-to-read book with beautiful descriptions of Venice. The story felt familiar somehow - like I'd read it before. The characters weren't especially interesting but the story had a nice twist to it. An ok mystery.

An easy to read an intriguing murder mystery.

This is the third book featuring Alessandra Quick, a former police detective who now writes articles for art books and magazines. Although I have not read either of the previous books, this did not detract from following the plot and the characters.

Alessandra is approached by a cousin of hers, a young, very attractive Italian called Sandro Grainger. He has recently held a dinner party at the Venetian house of his rich uncle Cesare. Back in London he has seen some valuable items in a pawn shop and recognised them as belonging to his uncle. He asks Alessandra whether she could investigate which of his young, rich friends who were at the party could have taken them.

Alessandro is reluctant to help but as she has received a commission to do some work in Venice agrees to look into the thefts. Before she arrives in Venice however, one of the young ladies present at the dinner party is murdered and then Sandro himself is kidnapped and a ransom is demanded his safe return.

Alessandro cannot resist becoming involved in the mystery and ends up becoming almost a victim herself. She is captured and held a prisoner in a room but manages to escape by undoing her binds. This was the main part of the plot that I found implausible but the whole story is enjoyable to read and has an unlikely ending.

Despite the storyline, this was quite a light book to read but I felt I needed to know more about Alessandro and her previous career. Maybe that would have been more apparent if I had read the previous books in the series. However, the book was well-written and worth reading.

Dexter

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

Former D.I. Alex Quick helps a family friend when he discovers that items have gone missing from the home of his uncle when he held a dinner party. He is concerned that one of his friends may be guilty. Then one of the dinner guests is found dead.
An okay, easy read, with quite a bit of decription of Venice involved, but I am not sure I care much for any of the characters.

Another predictable story... it was ok, maybe a beach read but too many books too little time for me to suggest this as a read... ordinary

I found the plot to be somewhat complicated, and felt that I was constantly checking back to see who was who. Set mainly in Venice, there were some lovely descriptions of places, buildings and people. It made me want to visit.
Alex is an odd character and I felt that I never really got to know her.
Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.

A good read, slightly lighthearted plot but still entertaining and enjoyable.with a twist in the end. Set mostly in Venice and this is described beautifully.