Happy Never After (Callahan Garrity Mysteries Book 4)

I wasn't sure what to expect when I ordered the Callahan Garrity series. I have long been a fan of Mary Kay Andrews but since some of my favorite authors now had some less than stellar early books, I just kept my fingers crossed. Much to my surprise, I am thoroughly enjoying this series. I like her characters, the plot twists and turns, the humor and earthiness. Although some of the language is not politically correct, sadly it is accurate to the times. I am awaiting novels 6, 7, and 8 in the series and have loved 1-5. Can't wait!For reference (in case you like to read them in order like I do), the 1st is Every Crooked Nanny, the 2nd is To Live and Die in Dixie, the 3rd is Homemade Sin, the 4th is Happy Never After, the 5th is Heart Trouble, the 6th is Strange Brew, the 7th is Midnight Clear, and the 8th is Irish Eyes. Phew!

Happy Never After was rereleased this year and is the 4th book in the Callahan Garrity series. In this book from the series, Callahan is tasked with finding the third member of a now defunct girl group from the 60s called the Velvet Teens. The other two members of the group, her cousin and sister, have not seen her for 20 years. The search is on as a movie producer wants to use some of the Velvet Teens' old songs in a movie and possibly record new tracks with the group. Unfortunately along the way someone gets murdered and Callahan's investigative work changes from looking for a missing band member to trying to figure out whodunit. This book is a fun read; just remember as you are investing time in the book that it was written in the 90s. Things like the internet weren't around. The author references looking people up in the yellow pages and paying extraordinary sums for calls made on a car phone. It's a trip down a technological memory lane as well as a great mystery. I'm looking forward to the next books in the series that are schedule to be rereleased in October 2013.

What a read! Mary Kay Andrews does it again! She holds attention to her details until the final moment when Garrity solves the mystery, against all odds (and the police department). You do not want to miss this!

Being a fan of MKA, this was the book that started it. I've read all of her books for entertainment between some of the "heavy" murder mysteries I read.

This is more like Sue Grafton. The dialog has tightened up. My favorite line "Rita, she's alright. You ask me if she did do it the dude probably needed killing." The plot construction is not as tight as Grafton. We are not convinced that the only way to prove Rita innocent is to find the real killer so the page-turning tension doesn't build up. It's a series of interviews which are used to bring in memorable characters and a lot of information about pop music of the sixties. The sub-plot of the two divorced couples and their daughters was more compelling. I was not sure from reading it if this was next in the series after Every Dead Nanny. Did Home-Made Sin and To Live and Die in Dixie come in between? I'll have fun finding out.

I love all of Mary Kay Andrew’s books!

Another good read with Callahan! I enjoyed another romp through her life. Easy to read, easy to pick up at night and read yourself to sleep.

Every story in this series is different. This storyline is very good. Great series for a light read. Callahan remains the same