Review: Waiting for Dead Men's Shoes by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Title: Waiting for Dead Men's Shoes Author: Lauren Baratz-Logsted Publication Date: November 29, 2012
Synopsis:
Underachiever Minette "Mini" Monroe has long dreamt of how much better life would be if only she were in charge of the world, said world being the independent bookstore in Westport, CT, where she's worked for the past half dozen years. After her beloved boss Colin Quimby is murdered, Mini gets her wish and also gets a chance to solve the case, aided by hot young Officer Michael "Mickey" Maus. Despite his unfortunate nickname - would any woman really voluntarily become part of Mini and Mickey Maus? - Mini takes a shine to him, but there's no real time for romance, not when Mini has her hands full dealing with Colin's viper's nest full of ex-wives, offspring, former business partners and current business rivals, all of whom had good reason to want to see Colin dead. Who will turn out to be the guilty party? 
~My Thoughts~

What do you do when your boss is murdered and you don't think the police have as much background on the suspects as you do? Well, you try and solve the case by yourself of course! This is just what Minette "Mini" Monroe is going to do. After her boss, Colin, is found murdered outside of the bookstore he owns, Mini  takes it upon herself to find the murderer. And if that means having to partner up with hot cop Michael "Mickey" Maus, she is going to do it (and love it). Of course, this doesn't turn out to be as easy as it seems when Colin has been married to more than one horrible woman, has several spoiled kids and an ex-partner who makes it well known that he wants revenge for being cut off. Things don't go easy for Mini and she is forced to break a few rules to solve the case.

Have I ever told you how much I love Lauren Baratz-Logsted's books? I have? Well, let me tell you again. I love them. Her characters are quirky, snarky and just plain old hilarious. These are the kinds of people I would want to be friends with. Especially Mini, she seems like my kind of girl. She loves the bookstore that she words in and even her boss, Colin. She loves to read and takes good care of her mom. But my favorite thing about Mini? Her attitude. She's quick-witted and puts it to good use. She's a little crazy, but that only makes her more lovable. She has no qualms about dressing like a fool or breaking into buildings to get the information she needs. I loved her immediately.
But what good would Mini's fun loving, snarky attitude be without someone to take it out on? Thankfully, we are in no worry of running out of victims here. Colin has a gaggle of ridiculously spoiled and snotty daughters and wives, some of whom I would have loved to smack around a few times.  But then we also have the fun characters, like Michael, who seems like he may be missing a brain cell or two and is pretty funny in his own right. The situations that Mini and Michael get themselves into and the conversations that go along with them had me giggling to myself out loud (and getting strange looks from the husband and kids for it). 
Now who here is thinking that nobody in their right mind would try and solve a brutal murder on their own? Well, I would. I think that is partly why I liked Mini so much. If someone I loved was murdered, I'd probably do the same thing. I love solving puzzles and one might say that I am a little obsessed with investigations. Ok, my husband would say that since I watch Investigation Discovery twelve hours a day. This story is realistic in the fact that some people would not just sit by and wait for the police to figure it out. If that means snooping around and putting yourself in harm's way, so be it. But seeing as how this is fiction, you know Mini is in for some fun adventures along the way.
Waiting For Dead Men's Shoes is just another example of why I love books. It sucks you in and doesn't let you go. I needed to know who the murderer was and every time I thought I had it figured out, something happened that made me rethink everything I had discovered so far. I'm holding out hope that there will be more Mini Monroe mysteries to come, I'd love to read more of her story. If you are a lover of Chick Lit like me, or if you are just looking for a quick and fun read, don't pass this one up. Trust me, you can't go wrong.

For more about Lauren Baratz-Logsted and Waiting For Dead Men's Shoes, visit her website here.

 ~Purchase~
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*I received this book for free in exchange of an honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way and all views and opinions expressed are 100% my own.