• Sticks and Stones

  • A Cat DeLuca Mystery
  • By: K. J. Larsen
  • Narrated by: Vanessa Hart
  • Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (36 ratings)

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Sticks and Stones  By  cover art

Sticks and Stones

By: K. J. Larsen
Narrated by: Vanessa Hart
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Publisher's summary

Sticks and stones may break my bones - or they might actually kill me.

What does a woman do when she discovers her husband is an incurable cheater? If she’s Cat DeLuca, she launches the Pants on Fire Detective Agency. Now Cat does what two years of unholy matrimony taught her to do: she catches cheaters. When a client, Cleo Jones, shoots her cheating husband’s bum full of buckshot, he disappears, taking her money, dog, and sister with him. Private Investigator Cat DeLuca promises to retrieve the dog and money if her client stops shooting at Walter. Cleo agrees. The detective finds the dog and a mysterious bag full of cash. And then she finds Walter. His very dead body is still warm.

The case is a slam dunk for the cops who arrest Cleo for the killing. She had motive and opportunity, and a dozen witnesses heard her scream bloody murder. One even made a video.

Cat DeLuca is determined to prove her client’s innocence, and it’s not an easy job. Walter was an unsavory character. Over the years he had acquired numerous enemies. Now, Cat will have to sift through all the ones who didn’t pull the trigger. Her investigation leads to four players with secrets: a childhood friend, a gambler, a construction tycoon, and a legendary Chicago designer.

When forensic evidence suggests the detective knows more about the murder than she’s telling, Cat faces the certain loss of her agency.

Cat DeLuca is smart and charming, but she’s an unlikely heroine, and her partner, a beagle named Inga, is quite likely to eat the evidence. Sticks and Stones delivers steamy romance, intrigue, and laugh-out-loud humor for a wickedly delicious read.

©2011 K. J. Larsen (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Janet Evanovich fans will relate to the humor and crazy characters, but under the fun is a well-crafted plot with all the elements of a classic whodunit.” ( Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Sticks and Stones

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Quit after 2.5 hours, wasn't going anywhere

Would you try another book from K. J. Larsen and/or Vanessa Hart?

Nope, trying to be like Janet Evanovich and just not up to that challenge. Delucca is no Stephanie Plum.

What was most disappointing about K. J. Larsen’s story?

Very drawn out and didn't go anywhere, totally missed the boat on this one.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Concept was good but not developed well at all.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not quite as good as her first book

What did you like best about Sticks and Stones? What did you like least?

It's a light-hearted mystery along the lines of the Janet Evanovich's by the numbers (Stephanie Plum) novels. Unfortunately, I found it a little less enjoyable than Larsen's first novel: Liar Liar.

Any additional comments?

Narration is very good and fitting with the character and story.

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