Lust, Loathing and a Little Lip Gloss

By: Kyra Davis

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

Mystery writer and dabbling recreational sleuth Sophie Katz is head over heels in love - with a three-bedroom Victorian. She's just got to have it, despite a few drawbacks. Her slimy ex is the realtor. The rich, creepy seller wants her to join San Francisco's spirited Specter Society. And her first tour of the house reveals, well, a lifeless body clutching a cameo with a disturbing history of its own.

There's no way Sophie is going to give up the ghost on her dreams of stained glass and original woodwork, though--even when things become officially weird. A Society member is found with a slashed throat, and Sophie's house might as well be yelling, "GET...OUT!" She's hearing footsteps, lights are turning themselves off and her stuff keeps moving inexplicably. To top it off, boyfriend Anatoly thinks it's all in her head.

Sophie is 99 percent sure her problems are caused by someone six feet tall instead of six feet under, but the only way to be sure is to track down the killer - before he pushes her kicking and screaming to the other side.

Solve another case with Sophie.

©2009 Kyra Davis (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Slurs aplenty

The other books in the series so far were ok for light entertaining listening, although the underlying message that anyone concerned about social justice is a radical wacko wears thin pretty fast. But the MC is half black, the author continually insists. Issues like a racist Justice System don’t effect her, and therefore they don’t exist! The boorish, macho BS the MC puts up with from her BF is likewise irritating, but I could basically ignore it.

I could sort of ignore the shaming “othering” treatment of “Furries” in another book, but Davis lost me with her bigoted, tone deaf treatment of transgender people. She uses very offensive language to refer to one of the characters, and portrays her as stereotypically unbalanced and dangerous. I lost all sympathy with the MC when she couldn’t wait to out the trans character and mocked her relentlessly. Sadly, I don’t think the author’s intention was to write her MC as an anti-hero or a flawed but basically good person. Pretty sure this is just the author’s idea of normal.

Sophie Katz Rules!

I admit to being an ardent Kyra Davis fan and have all of her titles in my audio library.
The first three titles were also narrated by Gabra Zackman. Usually I love her voice and the unique way she captures all of the individual characters, their little foibles and nuances etc...but I have to agree with the previous reviewer who also noticed that Gabra's treatment of Lust, Loathing and a Little Lip Gloss was not as consistant in that she had a tendency to do this little 'up speak' thingy which after a while became quite distracting, if not a little annoying at times (sorry Gabra...nothing personal!)
Having said that, Gabra is one of my favourite narrators and she portrays Sophie Katz et al brilliantly. This latest Sophie Katz mystery is a little different..we see a more settled and mature protagonist. A woman in love and as ever, courting danger with her lovable but slightly 'Kookie' friends coming to her rescue. Highly entertaining and always intriguing. I devoured it with a voracious appetite and can't wait for Kyra's next book.

Didn't want it to end..

Lust, Loathing, and a Little Lip Gloss is another great book in the Sophie Katz series. I loved this one just as much as the others, Sophie is back..stumbling into some sort of mystery that she just must solve and I love the quick wit that makes you laugh out loud while reading. I like that her and Anatoly relationship is progessing nicley with each book. The paranormal side had me wondering how she was going to solve it without believing in ghosts, but knowing Sophie (who is to practal for that) I knew there was a way, I just couldn't see it. And that is what I love about these books..I don't have them figured out within the first few pages and it always provides a laugh. Marcus is one of my favorite characters -I laughed so hard at the restuarant scene and his shoes ;-) I have to agree with another review I read on here, after reading these books I just had to go out to starbucks and try a frappuccino! I can't say I'm a fan of them but I am a fan of Kyra Davis and Sophie Katz.
Gabra Zackman is one of the best narrators I have ever listened to. She does the voices for the characters perfectly.

Wonderful Story, Wonderful Narration

Lust, Loathing, and a Little Lip Gloss is another great book in the Sophie Katz series. I loved this one just as much as the others, Sophie is back with her stellar sleuth skills and quick wit that makes you laugh out loud while reading. Many times while reading this book I got the “is that lady crazy look” for busting out laughing in public. Anatoly is sexy and sweet as ever and I was so happy with the way these two are progressing in their relationship. The paranormal side of the story keeps it very interesting and gives a twist to the type of mystery going on. Marcus is one of my favorite characters and he is back for the fun, even if it is unknowingly. You also get a better insight on Sophie and her fathers relationship before he passed away, which develops the character of Sophie even more making you love her even more. I counted down the days between Obsession, Deceit, and Really Dark Chocolate and this book and I will do the same for the next Sophie Katz mystery. The only thing I would warn about buying this book is the amount of money you spend at Starbucks, every time I read a Sophie book I have to have a frappuccino!
Gabra Zackman is one of the best narrators I've listened to. She gets the voices for the characters perfectly.

Lust,Loathing and a Little Lip Gloss

I just loved it, if you enjoy Janet Evanovich books you will like this one too.

They are all nuts

Ms Davis is very good at coming up with oddball characters. A bit over the top, but I guess that's what makes them fun. The narrator is good, but there seemed to be a few times she got bored.

an amusing listen, in keeping with the series

I've listened to all of the books in the series and enjoyed them all. They are each diverting and funny. In this one, however, the narrator tilts her voice up at the end of sentences, frequently and in some odd places, which was a bit distracting.

Meh

The stories are getting weaker as the series goes on. They can't all be winners I guess.

Lots of fun

I don't think even Kyra Davis could object to me pointing out that this is not the sort of great literature that will change your life, your mind or your day. But it's not supposed to be. It's literary cake. Pure sugary fun. A bit of love, a bit of romance and a lot of action.

For a good time call Sophie!

Disappointing

I enjoy light reading - a heroine with redeeming traits despite her faults, an intriguing mystery to follow, additional characters to provide lightness and humor. Unfortunately, this book tried and failed on all fronts. The main character is especially disappointing, she is simply a spoiled woman with no reason to forgive the annoying attitude, no reason to believe that she deserves the guy in the end and no reason to believe that she deserves the credit for the solution of the mystery.