by Cynthia Chow & Larissa Reinhart
This week we have a review of the latest Maizie Albright mystery by Larissa Reinhart, along with a fun guest post by Larissa about the dog in this book. Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase the book from Amazon.
19 CRIMINALS: A Maizie Albright Star Detective Book by Larissa Reinhart
Review by Cynthia Chow
Maizie Albright may no longer be the teen actress star of Julia Pinkerton Teen Detective, nor a celebrity who spiraled her way into a scandal, but her acting skills still come in handy. A private investigator working as a honey trap for Albright Security Solutions (the acronym is regrettable but often appropriate), Maizie is testing out her client’s fears that her husband is a cheater.
Unfortunately, Amanda Hearn doesn’t wait for her investigator’s report before crashing the sports and dog-friendly bar with a gun and her massive bullmastiff, Cuddles. Since his owner gets herself carted away by a SWAT team, Maizie suddenly finds herself dogsitting a 200-pound lapdog, one who doesn’t trust her boyfriend Wyatt Nash. Maizie herself is beginning to question why she just spotted Nash lunching at the Waffle Haus with another woman, one who may be involved in yet another of her cases. Derek Johnson believes that his wife Kristi is acting odd and that there is something about her job as a secret shopper that doesn’t ring true. This could definitely be the case, considering that she now seems to be spending time with Maizie’s own significant other.
Maizie can’t believe that Nash would ever betray her, even though she has indirectly been the cause of her own former manager/current mother buying out his detective agency and causing him to now be employed by her father. Nash at least seems somewhat happier investigating corporate espionage for DeerNose Apparel, who have been plagued by hunting clothing design acts of sabotage (although Maizie herself would love to rock pink sequined fishing overalls). Working under the supervision of her boss Annie, Maizie and her own team of a former hairstylist and ex-nail technician manage to Three Stooges their way into an investigation that involves murder, arson, and kidnapping.
This eighth in the series leaves behind Maizie’s hilarious and fascinating life as a former teen celebrity, focusing instead on her equally entertaining new career as a budding investigator. That doesn’t mean that the hostage negotiation training she went through for an acting role doesn’t come in handy though, as do her stunt acting skills. Being ordered by a judge to live in Georgia near her father and far away from the Hollywood world where her life exploded has proven to be a boon to her happiness, as without her narcissistic mother controlling her life Maizie has found a saner and anti-Instagram lifestyle. The banter between Maizie and her besties is witty and always a delight, and the plot moves swiftly along and proves to be extremely grounded and compelling. When Maizie and Nash work together they are an unstoppable and extremely effective detecting duo no matter how much their styles may differ. Maizie’s life in Black Pine continues to expand and feels extraordinarily real, blending aspects of the celebrity world with gun-friendly sport-hunting corporations.
The Dog Who Destroyed My Homework
By Larissa Reinhart
Pictured is Cuddles, who showed up in chapter one of 19 CRIMINALS. Cuddles is a Bullmastiff. I didn’t expect him to show up in chapter one. And I really didn’t expect him to hijack my entire book.
Cuddles
This is often how I start a story—with a vague understanding of the plot and letting my subconscious create the beginning. The magic of it can be fun. I’m often taken by surprise. That surprise often uproots my vague understanding of the plot. So I shouldn’t have been shocked by what happened next.
Cuddles is trained to attack, but has an immediate affinity for Maizie. When his owner gets in trouble with the law, Cuddles latches onto Maizie, and she’s forced to not only care for him but figure out a way to (somewhat) control him.
This kind of responsibility is good for Maizie, I think. She’s got a lot of growing to do. In every book, along with solving the mystery, her growth is always a goal. I aim for incremental growth over the series—challenges to growth provide good thematic (and comedic) moments.
By the eighth book, Maizie’s come a long way, baby. However, Cuddles throws a monkey wrench into her plans. It’s difficult to solve murders and spy on your boyfriend when a gigantic, slobbery, ferocious dog is riding shotgun. Not to mention, it’s impossible to eat a donut in peace. Eating anything becomes a challenge.
Cuddles also threw a monkey wrench into my plans. I was writing a Mr. & Mrs. Smith-style mystery. Now it’s a Turner & Hooch meets Mr. & Mrs. Smith-style mystery.
Hopefully, Maizie learns some life lessons from taking care of Cuddles. Hopefully, he can learn to not destroy the company car and local businesses (good luck with that).
I never set out to write a book with Cuddles as one of the main characters, but here he is. He’s one of those supporting characters who steals scenes (and chicken sandwiches). And I hope you love him as much as I do!
To enter to win a copy of 19 CRIMINALS, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “19” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen February 24, 2024. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify. A new episode went up this week.
You can also click here to purchase this book.
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.
Sounds interesting! Count me in!
Love dogs in my stories. Cuddles sounds like
a hoot – sloppy but fun. Want to read.
thanks. txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
The book sounds amazing! Cuddles is so adorable?? I love bullmastiffs. When I was a kid, there was a pet store that we went to and the owner had two that they brought to work with them. I loved going to the pet store so I could pet them. I was so sad when they closed.
Hey Joannie! My neighbor’s bullmastiffs were sweethearts! I hope you find another pet store with bullmastiffs so you can pet them again! LOL
Thank you Cynthia for reviewing 19! I’m so honored!
I hope everyone enjoys learning more about Maizie’s newest case & Cuddles, too. Good luck in the drawing!
Sounds like a book I would enjoy reading. Adding to my TBR list.
diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks so much for hosting Cuddles, Maizie Albright, & myself today KRL! And HUGE THANKS to Cynthia Chow for that wonderful review. I am so thrilled!
I’ve been hearing a lot about this one, would love to get a copy! tWarner419@aol.com
We have a winner!