Missing Mark by Julie Kramer

4 stars
R- 3 ish
Sequel to Stalking Susan

I'm likin' the title theme.

Once again Riley Spatz is digging up stories for the ratings sweep.... and sometimes that's a little too literal.

When she sees an ad in the paper-- "Wedding dress for sale- Never worn"-- she thinks she may have hit upon a good story. Because audiences love weddings. The research proves it.

She has no idea what she's getting into.

Add to that a crazy neighbor who may or may not be up to something suspicious, a return of Shep-- now a K-9 crime dog-- to her life, and a missing prize fish.... well, whoever said her life was boring?

There was a little bit of the whole "the characters have forgotten what they learned and how they grew in the last story" but not too annoying.

Riley's still maybe not the world's most likeable person and there was a bit of "hello, why didn't you think of that, Riley??", but hey. It's a good mystery.

:D

Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer

5 Stars
R- 2
Reader's Choice

Okay, so I honestly had to check the "about the author" to make sure this wasn't connected to the Monkee Wrench mysteries! LOL

It's not, though. :D

Riley Spartz is a tv newscaster on the hunt for a new big story. Preferally one not involving her this time.

While Riley isn't always an overly likeable character, I did really enjoy the story and look forward to reading the sequel-- Missing Mark.

Oh, and a quick warning-- there is NO ROMANTIC RESOLUTION at the end of this book. None. Well, not really, anyway. :D

I really enjoyed this mystery/thriller and definitely recommend it. It is a little creepy, but not any more so than your average episode of Criminal Minds.

Why wasn't Riley likeable I hear you asking... Well, Riley is a reporter... and she reminds me of why I decided in my high school journalism class that being a reporter wasn't for me. It wasn't that I felt I couldn't be that ruthless, it was that I was worried I could. Riley will do a lot of things for a story... even some that may be going too far. I figured I wouldn't like myself a whole lot if I pursued that line of work.

She does have a lot of redeeming characteristics, though, and I felt like she got more likeable as the book went on.

My one big peeve-- it took most of the book for me to pin down when it was taking place. Which was really annoying since they kept bringing up the dates of cold case murders. It was driving me crazy that I didn't know how much time had passed, 'cause let's face it, that's an important detail if you're looking at possible serial killings. A simple date at the heading of the first chapter or something would have solved it.

Really though, that's all probably me being OCD. It was a really good book. :D