Audible Book Review: Double Dip: A Davis Way Crime Caper by Gretchen Archer

This is another entertaining installment of Davis Way mystery fun.
Double Dip: A Davis Way Crime Caper
Written by: Gretchen Archer
Narrated by: Amber Benson

Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
Series: Davis Way Crime Caper, Book 2
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:02-13-14
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Modern Detective
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
“A smart, snappy writer who hits your funny bone!” (Janet Evanovich).
It’s Davis Way’s first slot-tournament season. And it may be her last. Things are dicey at work. A personal assistant goes missing, a little old lady goes on a suspicious winning streak, and a Bellissimo executive goes gaga for Davis. She follows a disappearing slot-tournament player trail to the So Help Me God Pentecostal Church in Beehive, Alabama, then jumps headlong into a high stakes holy scandal. She’s on a losing streak at home, too. Her days, nights, and dinners run together, as Davis juggles a revolving door of uninvited guests, namely her rotten ex-ex-husband, Eddie Crawford. And Bradley Cole thinks three’s a crowd. The worst? Davis doesn’t feel so hot. Maybe it’s the banana pudding, or maybe it’s a little bundle of something else. Double Dip. A reckless ride in the fast lane, and Davis Way can’t find the brakes.
©2013 Gretchen Archer (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Davis succeeded in her first major security assignment at Bellisimo Resort and Casino in Biloxi. Now she faces another major event: the frenzied slot-tournament where a little old lady is on a winning streak. The few leads seem connected with a Pentecostal Church in Beehive, Alabama.

Bianca’s personal assistant has gone missing which puts Davis repeatedly at the beck and call of the hoity wife of the Casino boss. If that isn’t enough trouble, Davis has to juggle visitors and troubles at home. Davis decides to use her ex-mother-in-law to test a theory that the elderly are tied to the Church and fixed wins. This ends up allowing her ex-ex, Eddie, to show up unexpectedly and uninvited. Bradley doesn’t like the picture and declares an ultimatum. Meanwhile there are upset tummies - some caused by a food item that leads to death. Fortunately, or not, that isn’t Davis’ trouble and she can’t figure out how to tell Bradley there are more concerns than just her ex-ex..

There is more fun in this installment of Davis’ hijinks. She has a new co-worker, Fantasy, a woman who was Davis’ corrections officer during her incarceration in book one. Fantasy is a good ‘Mutt’ (tall, skinny and black) to set off Davis’ ‘Jeff ‘(short, curvy and redheadish).

There is plenty of emotional trouble for Davis as well as mystery to solve. The action and wit keep the reader/listener well entertained. Once again I was very pleased to have the third book ready when this one finished.

Audio Notes: The narrator changed between book one and two. Sometimes that is a major problem but it wasn’t terrible this time. Amber Benson does a good job with the voices and the story. I didn’t find her “asides” quite as effective as the first narration but everything else was just fine. I still enjoy this in audiobook format which makes for fun, quick entertainment.

I received this from Claire McKinneyPR for an honest review. This adds to my Audiobook Challenge.

Audible Review: Double Whammy: A Davis Way Crime Caper, Book 1 by Gretchen Archer

This is a fun, entertaining romp and good audio listen.

Double Whammy: A Davis Way Crime Caper, Book 1
Written by: Gretchen Archer
Narrated by: Dina Pearlman

Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
Series: Davis Way Crime Caper, Book 1
Release Date:05-14-13
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Modern Detective
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Davis Way thinks she's hit the jackpot when she lands a job as the fifth wheel on an elite security team at the fabulous Bellissimo Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. But once there, she runs straight into her ex-ex husband, a rigged slot machine, her evil twin, and a trail of dead bodies.
Davis learns the truth, and it does not set her free - in fact, it lands her in the pokey. Buried under a mistaken identity, unable to seek help from her family, her hot streak runs cold until her landlord, Bradley Cole, steps in. Make that her landlord, lawyer, and love interest. With his help, Davis must win this high-stakes game before her luck runs out.
This book is part of the Henery Press Mystery Series Collection, if you like one, you'll probably like them all! Double Whammy is the first book in the Davis Way humorous mystery series.
©2012 Gretchen Archer (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Davis Way ('it's a name, not a place') is a young thirtys, diminutive (under 5'3") ex-small-town cop from Pine Apple, Alabama. Davis worked under the police chief, her beloved father, until a huge, ugly divorce blow-up, including gun shots, resulted in her being fired. It happened the dust up was her second divorce from her now ex-ex husband, the snake, Eddie. After a year of unemployment Davis finally lands a job as elite security in the Bellissimo Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. They plan to use her unique abilities which include being a double for the boss’ high maintenance, nasty-tempered wife, Bianca. Since she is able to work well with disguises, Davis’ employment is kept low-key and she is assigned to various tasks to spy on other workers and guests and casino players.

Davis is happy to have a job even if she is nervous about her new co-workers. She has a hard time remembering names so she tends to give everyone nicknames. The two bulky brusers she works with become “Big Teeth” and “No Hair”.

Davis’ initial assignment is to determine who is cashing in on the Double Whammy jackpot machines and how they are doing it. She is dismayed when her research reveals that the most recent winner was her ex-ex and somehow he was connected with Bianca. Now she has to figure out how to disclose the details while trying to keep her distance from Eddie.

While pulling together clues Davis discovers a taciturn cab driver, George, whom she coerces to assist her. He gives her a few warnings which Davis just brushes aside. Davis finds herself a condo to rent so she will have someplace not under the surveillance ears and eyes of her employers. She begins to fall for her handsome landlord, Bradley Cole, even before she meets him. She falls head over heals when he shows up in person to rescue her from a jail mix-up when no one will identify her true name.

Gretchen Archer does a great job of creating quirky and fun characters. The southern setting provides extra material for humor. The story moves at a good pace providing a nice mix of action, personal interest and humor. I was glad to have the next two stories to listen to when this one finished. I recommend this to readers who enjoy humor with the mystery and a female PI.

Audio Notes: Dina Pearlman does a good job with the narration. She manages to capture the southern, small town character of Davis as well as the other male and female characters. I do think this would be a fun read but I recommend the audio as a fun listen to those who enjoy audiobooks.

eBook Available at Amazon.

I received this audiobook, together with the next two, from Claire McKinneyPR, for an honest review. This adds to my Audio Challenge.