Little White Lies (The Pippa Hunnechurch Mystery Series #1) (ISBN 0805423710)

Amazon.com Review:
There's nothing wrong with a little white lie... or is there? Pippa Hunnechurch is convinced she can revive her dying corporate-recruiting business if she just makes the right contacts. But, when the indomitable Brit links her career with a high-powered headhunter who's known for shading the truth, little white lies lead to disaster--and murder. As the well-paced plot unfolds, Pippa resorts to some unusual methods to investigate the crime: sending a male stripper to shock one suspect, and surprising another with a case of live crabs. British phrases and terminology add a quirky twist to this American tale, whether it's Pippa "wagging her adorable bum" or soothing herself with a hot "cuppa." There's a strong spiritual theme as well, but the authors skillfully avoid falling into preachiness and pat answers. All the elements for a successful suspense novel are in place, but in the end, it's the character of Pippa that hooks the reader. Whether she's whipping up an English trifle, dodging gunfire, fending off amorous advances, or breaking into an office under the cover of darkness, Pippa has all the earmarks of compelling the same sort of reader loyalty that Agatha Christie's Miss Marple or Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone engender. Delightful dialogue, understated humor, and the right blend of romance and suspense guarantee the craving for a sequel. --Cindy Crosby

Very good but no consequences shown:
I really enjoyed this book. But the whole time I was waiting to find out how Pippa's lies would catch up with her. Then the end came and I didn't see any real consequences to her sin, nor to the lies the "blue chip" women told. I was waiting for Pippa's conversion, her realization that her "little white lies" were sinful but I didn't see that. At the end Gloria did something I would not have expected a Christian to do, it seemed out of character to her previous Christian witness.

Not Exactly "Wowed":
Although I think the basic premise of the story was good, I was really a bit disappointed by the transparency of the plot, as well as some of the plodding narrative. I did find that the intended spiritual message, was in fact present, albeit slightly unconvincing. Sorry, but I just wasn't *pulled in* at any point, to this story. I've heard that Pippa Hunnechurch may appear again in a future novel by Ron and Janet Benrey. As an avid mystery reader, and especially of those with a British flair, I'd be willing to give this character another try. So hopefully, Pippa's second time out will be a much smoother and enjoyable read.

Very Slow:
I really enjoyed the Benreys' other series and so I decided to give this one a try. While the book wasn't bad, it was very slow. It seemed to take forever to get interesting and really plodded along. Nothing exciting really happened until the very end. While you don't necessarily know which of four women is the murderer, its pretty clear what will happen. The Christian message was also pretty weak. I might try another in the series, but I won't buy it. Pippa isn't an unlikeable character, but the plot just moves too slow to really pull you in. I keep putting the book down and then completely forgetting about it.

Please Read BEFORE You Buy!:
The book was poorly written. There was too much emphasis on tiny characteristics of the characters and not enough focus on Christianity. It is supposed to be a story about finding God, and if it is, then I missed that point. The characters have no depth and it is hard to get into, for the plot is too dumb. I don't like to use childish language, but I can find no other to describe my disappointment. There was no suspence to the plot, with a very predictable ending. Please, save your money, borrow it from the library.

Glad I didn't buy this book:
The characters were not believable and the plot was transparent. I didn't care for the main character. It seemed as if the authors wrote the book and, afterwards, went through and added what they believed were British sayings. It was clear from the beginning that the book was written by an American. I also think the character of the secretary was not at all believable. At the end of the book she turns into a completely different person. In short- I'm glad that I got this book from the library, and I probably will not read a sequal.