Her Book Self

As Indie in Summer continues this week, I'm pleased to feature a book I read recently that is not only one of my new favorite independent works, but is one of the most fun mystery novels I've read in years.  At $2.99* for the Kindle eBook, I was hooked by the title and price tag alone, but a great bargain is just one of many things this fabulous work has going for it!

Barbara Marr is an average wife, mother, and movie aficionado, but when her husband moves out her solid foundation is shaken. A sleepless night leads to observing the abandoned house in her neighborhood, and when a moving truck arrives at the suspicious house in the middle of the night - followed by monkeys populating her backyard the next day - Barb is determined to figure out what's going on. Her amateur sleuthing soon turns up a grisly scene, and talk of the mafia is buzzing around her block. Barb could be suffering from an overactive imagination, but she's not ready to give up easily. Add in a police officer who looks like Brad Pitt, Barb's private investigator ex-boyfriend, and her walk-out husband who keeps walking back in and the mysteries pile up as high as the laughter.

Take the Monkeys and Run is a smart and witty book that is as charming as it is suspenseful. The plot twists and turns are delightfully unpredictable and layered with a great blend of intrigue and comedy. Barbara Marr was a freshly unique protagonist, too. She is an everyday woman yet there is nothing vanilla about her character or her life. Facing extraordinary circumstances, she summons both courage and brain power while demonstrating the strength of her heart as well as her sense of humor.

Karen Cantwell excels at creating a fun and engaging novel with this work. The characters were well-developed, the story well-told, and even though the plot wraps up nicely, I left the book eager for more. Cantwell is definitely an author to keep an eye on and if her future works are as entertaining as Take the Monkeys and Run, a long and successful writing career is surely in her future!

I love books that cross genres and this one was a great blend of comedy, mystery, family, and cozy romance.  It's a book that will appeal to a wide range of audiences and if you're looking for a great eBook bargain or a starter to indie fiction - Take the Monkeys and Run is a great recommendation.  Along with seeking out more Barbara Marr stories in the future, I'm pleased to announce my interview with Karen Cantwell that will be appearing later this week!

*I bought the Kindle copy for $2.99 but it looks like it's currently on Amazon for $0.99 - Go buy it!!