ebook, 256 pages
Published May 17th 2011 by Melville House Publishing (first published 2009)
Thirty-seven year old interior designer, Charlotte Wolfe liked making money from her clients but she seemed to hate making overly expensive acquisitions for them, especially the ever-so-ridiculously demanding trophy wives with their me-me, more-more attitudes. In fact, over-the-top wealth and possessions angers Charlotte to the point that sometimes she just has to do something about it; something more than therapy and yoga. She's taken up murdering some of the more blatant ones! How does she decide which ones?
What's known as the Upper East Side or UES, the richest 1.8 square miles in the US, as listed in Craig's list is Charlotte's hunting ground. She not only finds some great bargains on upscale merchandise but that's where she finds her victims! Charlotte finds the women she calls are easily duped and let her into their apartments freely. So far the police have not connected the murders with Craigslist postings. But how long can this go on until something or someone trips Charlotte up?
Charlotte kind of annoyed me with her judgemental attitude and feeling that she could just knock off any uber-wealthy wife she felt needed killing. She thought she was doing them a favor. When the story revealed that Charlotte had grown up in a wealthy family with an emotionally demeaning mother, my sympathy for her started to grow a little. Not that I could condone her actions but the revelations made her more understandable.
Brenda Cullerton writes an entertaining, satirical look at today's wealthy, their entitlement beliefs and how by acquiring more material goods and constantly remodeling their outrageous homes is how they "re-invent" themselves. There is really not much of a mystery to the book; it's more a character study and how, if and when Charlotte will get caught. I really liked the twist at the end that bumped up my rating from 2.5 to 3***.
A review copy of the e-book was provided by NetGalley.
This sounds good. I've been wanting to read this.
ReplyDeleteHm, with the twist at least there was a small pay-off at the end!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a story from the headlines. I think I'll skip it since you weren't crazy about it.
ReplyDeleteI love it when a twist at the end can make me like it just a tad bit more!
ReplyDeleteEvery time I see this title, I think of the actual case when I guy met escorts on Craig's List and met and then murdered them. They caught him and he committed suicide.
ReplyDeleteShe sounds like she would get along with the mother from Serial Mom.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like an interesting read esp what turned Charlotte into such.
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