Stella Hardesty Series, No 1
Sophie Littlefield
Minotaur Books
May 25, 2010 / 0312643233
Mystery / Unl Inv / Rural Missouri-Contemporary
Amazon
Reviewed
by L. J. Roberts
First Sentence: Whuppin' ass wasn't so hard,
Stella Hardesty thought as she took aim with the little Raven .22
she took off a cheating so-of-a-bitch in Kansas City last month.
Stella Hardesty knows what it's like to live with a physically
abusive man. After taking care of her own husband, in a permanent
way, she has made an off-the-books career out of convincing other
women's men to either change their ways or clear out. She has been
very effective, in the past, but Roy Dean Shaw isn't getting the
point. Instead, he kidnaps his wife Chrissy's baby, of whom he's
not even the father. Then, Stella learns that Roy Dean is connected
to a crime gang. Still Stella, with Chrissy by her side, is determined
to save the baby.
The prologue left me fearing Littlefield's book would be cute
and folksy and the vernacular would become tiresome. Instead, it
helps establish the sense of place and there is nothing cute about
this book except the well placed humor applied with deft hand.
Stella is a wonderful character. She is a survivor in the best
sense of the word. Rather than become hardened by her experiences,
her empathy for others makes her determined to do for them what
they can't do for themselves, even if her methods are not exactly-okay
not at all-within the law. She does what the law does not; protects
women. She is not your classic heroine; she's over 50, seen hard
life and known pain, both physical and emotional. But she's tough
and smart.
Chrissy begins as her antithesis; young, cute, big-busted with
blond curls. What was refreshing was that Littlefield did not write
her as a stereotype. Chrissy provides to be someone not to be underestimated
and exemplifies the adage of not getting between a mother and her
young and I hope we see more of her in future books.
` There is great dialogue here, as long as one doesn't mind rough
language. Anything else would have been unrealistic and completely
out of character. The book is very well plotted, with a flow that
keeps you engaged from first page to last and with an originality
that catches you off guard. It's a story that, were the characters
men, you wouldn't flinch. However, being women, you are, at times,
both uncomfortable and cheering them on. There is great suspense
and really well-done action.
"A Bad Day for Sorry" surprised me and delighted me.
It won an Anthony Award for Best First Novel and it was well deserved.
It's a pleasure to know there are more books in this series.
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