Sadly, this book is not for me. There was too much swearing and outdated 80s references. I had to DNF this one. I would not recommend and will not read more in the series.

Thank you, Net Galley and Boomerang Books for the opportunity to read and offer my review.

One for the Money is a tasty recipe for an old-fashioned mystery. Toss in a little Jessica Fletcher (Murder She Wrote) and a sprinkling of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and you have a wonderfully entertaining read.

Cat Calaban is a more “mature”, unlicensed as yet, sleuth. I say sleuth, she says private detective - some of this/some of that. Really not much difference when she inserts herself into a murder investigation. One the police likely wouldn’t have even investigated without her insistent prodding, since it was the death of an apparent homeless person found in Cat’s own apartment building. As you can imagine, this could go wrong in so many ways and it does from time to time, especially when she crosses Detective Fricke (assigned to the case) and a lengthy list of suspects.

However, Cat has skills! Some learned by raising three kids. Anyone who has children knows you have to have an inquiring mind and she certainly has that in abundance. In fact, at some points in the case her inquiring mind seems on the verge of tipping over into fantasy, but she stops at the precipice, hones in and solves the case.

Was this great literature? Maybe not, but it certainly was fun! I understand there are three more books in the series. I’m looking forward to having a gin and tonic with Cat and her neighbors.
#NetGalley, #ONEFORTHEMONEY

Recently widowed, Cat Caliban has lived through what our society deems a woman’s usual existence; daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, etc but now she wants to stretch her legs and expand her boundaries. What better way to accomplish that than by buying an apartment house in a rundown area of Cincinnati and deciding to hang out her shingle as a private investigator? Never mind that she lacks even the most basic knowledge and skills required to be a licensed P.I. That’s what the public library is for. When Cat finds one of her tenants has been stabbed to death with her own knife she considers it an omen that her new career choice is the right one for her and she sets out to catch herself a killer.

“One for the Money” is set in the mid-1980s and Cat’s personae is one of a middle-aged, salty tongued woman who could give any sailor a run for his money in the language department. She’s witty, sarcastic and an all ‘round hoot. And then there’s Cat’s close friends and family and the people she meets in the course of her investigation. All told, there are so many characters in this story that you need a program to keep track of who’s who. The plot is original but gets bogged down with unnecessary details and too many characters to keep track of. And who really cares what Cat is wearing? How and why is that important? It’s not as if she is a fashion plate showing off some designers creations. The significance of her wardrobe choices totally escapes me.

Where this novel shines is in the dialogue. Author D. B. Borton has either lived among the street people or spent lots of time studying the street vernacular because the dialogue is absolutely spot on in its authenticity and accuracy, including the dropped syllables. It’s as if you can actually “hear” the accents and the unique manner in which information is exchanged on the street. This aspect alone is sufficient to recommend “One for the Money” as a worthwhile and entertaining read.

Originally published in 1993, this and two other titles by Borton are being reissued this year.

My thanks to NetGalley and to author D. B. Borton for the privilege of previewing “One for the Money”. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#ONEFORTHEMONEY #NetGalley

D.B. Borton’s One for the Money is a classic cozy mystery set in Cincinnati. Widower Cat Caliban is set on starting over and becoming a private investigator following her husband’s death when the perfect first case comes to her - a murder in the apartment above hers, in the building she owns.

Borton’s mystery is fun and easy-going. Reminiscent of the tv series Rosemary & Thyme, it was a joy to read Cat discovering her craft as an investigator and making friends along the way.