Bye, Bye Love

Bye, Bye Love: A Cat DeLuca Mystery By K.J. Larsen Poisoned Pen Press April 2015

Review by Cynthia Chow

Even though Cat DeLuca was raised in a family of cops, catching her husband cheating on her led Cat to create a detective agency specializing in catching philanderers with their pants down. Cat is proud of Pants on Fire Detective Agency, but she gets little respect from the Chicago Police Department who regard her as the local “hootchie stalker.” So when Cat stumbles across a body that disappears before the police find it, it’s not too surprising that Captain Bob Maxfield disbelieves her claims and writes it off as a bad prank.

Before it went AWOL Cat was able to discover that even without a face the body did have an ID, one that unfortunately led back to Uncle Joey. As did an envelope full of cash, something that does not bode well for the Ferrari-driving Chicago police officer. Even after Cat is proved right about there being a murder, Captain Bob’s disrespect immediately incites her into going rogue and conducting her own investigation. Aided by her beagle partner Inga and her human assistant Cleo Jones, Cat stalks a mobster, adopts a dead man’s dog, and invades a biker bar without a sweater or a thought-out plan.

While the investigative plots of these mysteries are always intricate and surprising, it is the chaotic lives of the DeLuca family that make these novels so enjoyable. After thirty-five years of marriage, Mama DeLuca has decided that her Bridgeport Cook County Courthouse ceremony didn’t actually count, so she has basically hustled Cat’s father into an extravagant second wedding and exotic honeymoon. If she can make it a double wedding with Cat stuffed into her grandmother’s bridal dress, all the better. Even more terrifying is the impending dinner with the parents of Cat’s FBI agent boyfriend Chance Savino, as the anti-gun, hippie, vegan Savinos are the polar opposites of the right-wing, meat-snarfing DeLucas. A train wreck would be an optimistic outcome.

I can’t emphasize enough the hilarity and fun that comes out of reading this fourth in the Cat DeLuca series written by three sisters. Raise amidst a family of male cops, Cat is quick to react when she feels dismissed or slighted; the results may not be rational, but they are always hysterical. Despite the agita her family may bring, Cat is loyal to a fault and loves them unconditionally. The Chicago setting, rife with mobsters, cops, and criminals, only adds to the humor as they seem to be contemporaries as much as rivals. Humor, action, and a swift-moving plot all ensure an enjoyable ride for readers in this series that continues to grow stronger with every entry.

Move over Stephanie Plum, there is a new PI in town. The owner of Chicago’s Pants on Fire Detective Agency is smokin'. Cat “DeLucky” DeLuca is smart, sassy, and has enough brass to cover when things don't go as planned. This is good, because Cat is a disaster magnet, and things rarely (never) go as planned. Luckily, her crazy Italian family (all Chicago cops except for her mother and baby-machine sister) and Cleo, her gun-toting assistant, have her back.

While out running with her beagle Inga, Cat stumbles over the faceless dead body of Bernie Love, the Provenza family's financial wizard. In his pocket lies an envelope full of cash, with her Uncle Joey's name on it. Moments later, Cat is zapped by a rolex wearing thug dressed as a city employee. By the time the cops arrive, the body is long gone. No body – no investigation.

Certain of what she saw, and determined to vindicate The Pants on Fire Detective Agency, Cat starts her own investigation. Meanwhile, the murderer is anxious to silence the only witness to his crime – permanently.

Bye Bye Love is an outstanding mystery. K J Larsen is a talented writer, who knows just how to turn a phrase to maximize humor. Not only was I laughing as I read, I frequently paused to share passages with my husband. I absolutely loved Cat's zany family and friends. Each was unique and memorable, including the animal members of the cast. Cat's family members are loving and supportive, even when their help (interference) is more embarrassing than helpful. Animal loving mystery readers will relish Inga and Dixie, who both play an important role in solving the crime and saving the day. The mystery aspect of the novel is engaging, with enough red herrings to satisfy any armchair detective.

With fantastic laugh-out-loud humor, unforgettable characters, a delightful and thrilling mystery, and a snarky but loveable heroine, Bye Bye Love is a winner. If you enjoy Janet Evanovich, you will have a great time reading K J Larsen.

Bye Bye Love is the fourth Cat DeLuca mystery.

I received a copy of Bye Bye Love from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

In this latest adventure, Cat DeLuca is on the trail of a body snatcher and what ensues is a rip-roaring laugh out loud riot of hilarity. I enjoyed the pacing of this story as the suspects and clues were presented in a manner that kept me involved in all aspects of this finely-tuned mystery. This book was so engaging with the humorous banter between Cat and those that crossed her path and the action-filled drama that kept me glued to the pages until the last cannoli was eaten. The gang is back from her brothers to Cleo who cracks me up to Uncle Joey to Tino to Max and you can’t forget her parents. The author is very good at making feel at home with the DeLuca family and I simply love this lovable dysfunctional and eccentrically tight-knit family. The wait for this book was so worth it and I look forward to more exciting and amusing times in the next book in this fabulous series.

What a hoot this book was. I laughed out loud several times and smiled a lot while reading this one. There are some of the most quirkiest characters I have come upon in a long time showing up in this story. Cleo always wanting to shoot someone and cousin Tommy, dumb as a box of rocks are just two of the major ones. Loved the name of Cat's detective agency, Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire. Some of the terms the author came up wanted me to write them down so I could use them just in everyday conversation.

How Cat is able to get anything done surrounded by idiots just makes the story that much more hilariously entertaining. I have truly enjoyed the about three hours it took me to read this book. And, I just realized this was book number three in the series. This definitely did not take away any of the story and I was able to follow along without any problems. I will definitely go back and read the first three because the antics involved were downright spit your drink out your nose funny.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Net Galley for providing me with this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.