Just Desserts

Savannah Reid, Book 1

By: G. A. McKevett

Narrated by: Dina Pearlman

Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Finding herself in over her head with a case involving a politician's infidelities, Memphis-born karate expert Detective Sergeant Savannah Reid is told that she must turn in her badge because she is overweight.

©1995 G.A. McKevett and the Kensington Publishing Corp. (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Entertaining

Would you listen to Just Desserts again? Why?

I'm currently on the 12th book in the series and love following the fun cast of characters

Good story, bad language

Would you consider the audio edition of Just Desserts to be better than the print version?

Have not read the print version

What did you like best about this story?

The story was good.

What about Dina Pearlman’s performance did you like?

Ms Pearlman was able to use different voices effectively.

Any additional comments?

I had trouble getting past the foul language, which seems to be the norm at present but is not too my liking. I believe authors could be more creative with expressing themselves and not resort to swearing as often as they do. There is a Citi credit card commercial which currently illustrates this: the first time I saw the commercial, the actor said, "... every damn day." They have since changed that commercial to say, "... every single day" and it expresses their point just as well (or even better, if you ask me.) This is my only complaint with this book.

First in the series.

This is good enough that I've got the rest of the series in my Wishlist. I love a good literary read, but when at work or driving this is the kind of listen that suits me best. It doesn't take too much concentration but fills my otherwise boring time with enjoyment.

Disappointing Book

I'd been looking forward to listening to this as I know the Desserts books are popular. And while I love a cozy mystery, I fail to see the lure of this one. Nope...I will stop with Book 1...thank you very much. Also, the narrator was irritating. I'm from the deep south but this woman was pouring it on thickly. Please!

Sweet

Savannah Reid is my kind of heroine! She's comfortable with her body, won't let others push her around, and is warm, loyal, and loving to her friends and family. She is also really funny! Loved hearing some familiar 'southernisms' coming out of her mouth. Dina Pearlman did her usual great job as a narrator - good accents without going over the top. A great start to a fun series.

Excellent beginning to a series. I'm hooked!

It isn't often that the first book in a series is really this good. The writing is excellent. The character development is superb! And the mystery is great as well! A trifecta!

The plot could very well be something in the news today. A very heavy subject - political corruption and incompetance. But, while the writer handles the issues seriously, there is enough humor to keep it from becoming too heavy. I did figure out who-dun-it, but not until the book was half over!

I really came to identify with Savannah and enjoy her take on life, crime, friends and authority.

The narrator did an excellent job. The accents were 'just right'! She made the characters come alive!

This is a great find in this genre. I'd recommend this to anyone liking a good female-detective-catching-the-bad-guy who-dun-it!

Funny

This book was so funny. It was a great little cozy mystery and I would suggest it to anyone. But there are parts of it that are very, very funny.

Confusing title for a great book

The title led me to expect a series similar to Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen series (which I enjoy), but this was really closer to a Southern version of Sue Grafton’s Millhone series (but not as dark).

I loved this book and have already downloaded the next three in the series. I’m especially excited to have found a new series with a good number of books as it’s always a bummer to find books I love only to find there are only a few in the series.

What was so great? The plot was complex enough to be interesting without being convoluted. The characters were also very likable and interesting. Best of all for me was the humor. I didn’t laugh out loud most of the time like I do reading an Evanovich Stephanie Plum book, but there was enough clever, real humor to keep the story from being too dark.

The relationships had a real feel to them too, versus the overdramatized version of relationships you often see in books so it felt like I was getting to know real people.

Also, having lived in GA for some years I was pleased that the narrator didn’t over do the Savannah accent. She did a really decent job of it and overall she did an excellent job bringing out the main character’s personality. For me the sign of a good narrator is when I forget someone is reading to me and I just recognize characters, which happened right away in this book. Savannah is someone I’d love to know so it was great fun being part of her life for a few hours. Hopefully you’ll feel the same if you try the book!

Want to read more about Savanah

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this to a friend that enjoys mysteries

What did you like best about this story?

Exciting plot line

Which character – as performed by Dina Pearlman – was your favorite?

I enjoyed all. Savanah's character was performed well

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed often while listening to this book

Entertaining but predictable.

I have just re-listen to this book and I remember why I gave this a three stars for the story,and it's because it was so predictable. But it's the first book of the series so give it some slack. The characters are engaging and interesting and the story is well written.

Now I will get the second one to see how the characters are progressing in their new venture and I hope the mystery won't be so predictable.

Dina Pearlman did a very good job with the various characters, I think she has a great ear for accents and her narration was spot on. I like her.