Author: Tracy Whitwell
Series: Sex, spooks...
Type of read: Indie author
Stars:
You can buy the book via Amazon UK and in paperback on her website
You can find Tracy on twitter and her website
Meet Tanz, a thirty-something, northern, lusty, cash-strapped, failing actress with a penchant for cocktails. When, with her bank balance dwindling fast, she decides to work in a local New-Age shop in north London and starts hearing voices, a journey begins that brings spooks, laughter, a cast of millions (well, tens... ) mortal danger and some very pleasant shenanigans with a young Irish barman called Pat. Join the mad ride that is Tanz's life, today. And bring a bottle.
Despite this being an ARC review site, I wasn't asked to
review this novel. After having read it however I contacted the author, who I
can tell is just as much of a character as the ones she writes and notified her
I'd be reviewing regardless of her opinion… but did she have an opinion and
would she like to share? Thankfully either the bad guy isn't based on anyone
she's close to or she took to me as I seem to still be alive, and even got the
cool title of "sexy book-mafia"! Woohoo go me!
I wanted to share this though as I think it deserves to be
shown off.
I found this novel on a free special offer on Amazon UK at the start
of the year but it has sat neglected on my kindle since. I wanted to read
something a bit different and I am so glad I picked this book up.
The book is light, funny and doesn't take itself too
seriously which I found a refreshing change. The plot floated along, slow
enough that there were times to just hang out with random cool characters from
the point of view's, Tanz's, life, but still felt scripted enough that I knew
where I was going, and hung on for the ride. I particularly liked the character
of Milo, the funny best friend who, while not really having much to add to the
plot except a sense of fun and life from before the events of the book, would
have left a devastating hole if he were to be removed. I hope to see him take a
larger role in future books.
A large part of the plot centred around work, whether as an
actress, a till assistant in a spiritual shop, or a slight unbelieving and very
bemused medium blurting out messages from beyond the grave! At the beginning of
the novel Tanz has no idea on the mediumship front, merely taking a till job in
a shop until her next acting break comes along. I feel the disbelief in this
was essential to me having such an easy time believing the events later on in
the book as the spooks get serious. I had time to go from non-existent to
creepy-coincidence, to get-in-there-and-kick-ass-girl!
The side plots in between work of drinking, sex and sex
while drinking were great fun. I imaging the author had fun
"researching" the drinking side, possibly the sex as well.
Having since spoken with the author and found out several of
the characters are based on her life I love this book even more. A diamond in
the rough, I hope we get more soon.
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