phyllish
Written on Nov 16, 2018
My rating is 4.5 stars
I totally cracked up when Chase suggested Violet come up with a great story to explain the stitches on her chin resulting from a tangle with a weed-eater! I've been suggesting that for years whenever a friend shows up with the kind of thing that guarantees they will be asked a hundred times a day "What happened?"
Chasing Pearl was exactly what I needed. My week at work was very difficult and draining and I was looking for something to read that would be lighthearted and yet not ridiculous and it had to be a great book. No 3-star books would do. I knew within the first page that I was all set.
One of the things I was impressed with was the language. I had read stories where the author appears to be trying too hard to force the slang and it is awkward. Not so here. Violet's 1940's detectives used the lingo of the day so naturally. And Violet and her Texas family used all kinds of unique Texas expressions that had me cracking up. There is a glossary at the back in case you can't figure out some of the phrases, but I'm guessing if you read the context and think about them for a minute, you'll get it. Things like:
“Brave enough to eat in a boomtown cafe."
"So honest if he says a hen dips snuff, you can look under her wing for the can."
"Big as Brewster County."
"Rich enough to eat fried chicken all week long."
"So strong he makes Samson look like a sissy.”
Violet was such a fun character. She is so shy and introverted she is almost afraid to talk to anyone outside her family. Because she just doesn't "do" small talk. If she could script everything she said, she would be so happy!! As a writer, she gets so immersed in her work and I love the way the author showed that - I'm guessing she has had the same kinds of things happen."
This review was originally posted on Among the Reads
I was given a copy of this book for free. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.