I read this book a few months ago and liked it so well I immediately sent fan mail. :>)
It's a fun, fast-paced cozy mystery with a little side of romance--the old-fashioned kind. Okay, so not *every* one of the wild action scenes was...entirely plausible, but who cares? It's zany, funny and well-written. The characters jump off the page; they are lovable, a little crazy and a lot of fun.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Sally_Bennett_Author
Posted July 21, 2011
The author caught my attention as soon as the monkeys showed up, and she never let me go. The tongue-in-cheek stereotypes (New Jersey wiseguys nicknamed "Frankie" [after Frank Sinatra], "Elvis" [a look-alike], and "No Toes") and crazy plot twists make for a great page turner. The implausibility of Barbara Marr's life going off the rails like this just adds to the charm.
It's more of a cozy than an action-thriller for most of the way, but I had to reset my expectations toward the end, where the comedy diminished and the action ratcheted up. Overall a good combination, with the writing style so enjoyable that I was able to overlook the typos, which tend to bog me down in a less interesting book.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 5, 2012
Who doesn't like a murder mystery that includes the mob, monkeys, and a heroine who is housewive with a husband and a couple of kids. There's lots of humor and having an ex boyfried show up adds some interest to the story. I will be reading her next book.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Meet Barbara Marr-- mother, wife, and snoop. After her husband leaves her, Barb needs to find something that will distract her from her woes. That something arrives in the form of monkeys in her trees early one morning. Barb has always felt there was something wrong about the empty house next door, and after hearing what sounded like monkeys, she decided she had to investigate closer. Barb's snooping not only puts herself in danger, but also a few of her closest friends. And Barb will learn very soon, that the house next door isn't the only one that's been keeping a secret.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.YvonneReviews
Posted December 11, 2010
Suburban housewife Barbara Marr is not having a good day. In fact, it's something straight out of the movies she so loves to watch. Her husband suddenly walks out on her and their three daughters, she's turning 45 and now there are monkeys running wild around her backyard.
After hearing strange noises coming from the vacant house next to hers, Barbara does some snooping and finds a rotting dead head. She wonders just what is going on in the small town of Rustic Woods, Virginia. With the help of her friends, Barbara starts to do some investigating. She's determined to get an explanation for the monkeys and the dead head, but when her neighbors decide not to talk, she knows something very big and very bad is going on in Rustic Woods. When she starts to receive death threats, Barbara fights back and refuses to back down until she gets some answers.
This is a rip-roaring, laugh out loud, cozy mystery. I couldn't put my ereader down. The characters are off beat with a wide range of different personalities - loveable ones to not quite so loveable. From bumbling mobsters to a cop who bares a striking resemblance to Brad Pitt.
The story is fast-paced, fun and with quite a few twists all rolled into one cute adventure. There was one scene in the book that scared this animal lover, but I kept reading and I'm glad I did. I do hope there will be more Barbara Marr stories in the future. I already miss Barbara and her wacky friends and family.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 25, 2012
Karen Cantwell's "Take the Monkeys and Run" is a fast paced mystery with trigger happy dialogue that has a little to do with monkeys and a lot to do with the laugh-out-loud antics of one suburbanite soccer mom/obsessed movie buff, who finds her imagination running wild when monkeys and a human head are discovered at the house next door. With the help of some neighborhood friends and an old flame from college, she unravels layers of hilarity and insanity, as well as secrets her husband has been keeping for their entire marriage. If you're in the dumps, this book will certainly brighten your day!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 15, 2012
Loved the book. I find Karen Cantwell's sense of humor tickles my funny bone.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 1, 2011
T. J. IN KY MY LIFE IN THE BURBS SHOULD BE SO FULL OF CRAZY EXCITEMENT. IT REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING LIKE LUCY AND ETHEL GONE WILD. REALLY WAS ALOT OF FUN!
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 22, 2011
this is an easy, laugh out loud book
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.GraceKrispy
Posted April 10, 2011
The first in the Barbara Marr Murder Mystery series, this book by Karen Cantwell is a hoot. Barb is zany, outlandish, and doesn't always make the best choices, so she's a lot of fun to follow. She says and does things we all think about sometimes. She's a typical mom with three girls and a bit -ok, more than a bit- of a movie fetish. Barb sees things in terms of how characters in a movie would react, which adds some nice color commentary. I found this tact to be a clever way to tie the storyline in with Barb's character, and it really helps you get a more developed picture of what Barb is like. It also leaves a lot of potential for future storylines. The wacky premise and kooky cast of characters is reminiscent of those found in books written by Jennifer Crusie and Jane Heller. If you prefer realistic mysteries, then this may not be your best choice. This book is pure fun and silliness, and what I consider to be complete "brain candy." I know, for me, indulging in brain candy is a really relaxing and entertaining way to spend some free time.
Along the line of these types of stories, the writing style is a bit quirky, with some interesting grammar constructs. In a story of this genre, this informal and offbeat writing doesn't seem out of place. The storyline gets a little more outlandish on each new page turned. The sometimes eccentric secondary characters add color to the story, and the descriptions of each character allow you to really picture them. There is some predictability to the plot, and some of the male characters, in particular, seem cliche, but it's all in line with the genre of the story. The ending is satisfying in the way that is typical of this type of book, and it prepares you to read the next story in the series.
Overall, a zany and fun adventure in which to immerse yourself!
@ MotherLode blog
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 13, 2011
Desperate Houswives goes NCIS. Definitely belongs on your just for fun list to read in between the heavier books.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 31, 2011
This review is from: Take the Monkeys and Run
(A Barbara Marr Murder Mystery)
Who hasn't had monkeys in their backyard? Or FBI agents under foot? But it's the way Barbara Marr takes it all in stride, slinging side splitting one-liners that makes me proud to be a "Barbara." It's easy to see why this novel was a semi-finalist in the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest. Karen Cantwell's writing is an acquired taste... as soon as you acquire one Barbara Marr mystery, you'll want them all. I can't wait for Citizen Insane.
I read for pleasure - Take the Monkeys and Run is pure pleasure.
Barbara Silkstone
The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three-Quarters
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 5, 2011
This book was poorly written and just plain silly.
1 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.LCEvans
Posted December 8, 2010
Heroine Barbara Marr is an amateur sleuth with a family, a bossy mother, and an ex boyfriend who would like to get back into her life now that Barbara's husband is suddenly sending mixed signals. It isn't as if Barbara deliberately sets out to delve into her neighborhood's mysterious past, but who can blame her for getting a little involved--okay, a lot involved--when the trees near her house are suddenly filled with monkeys.
Funny situations, quirky characters, and a lot of twists and turns make for a very amusing story. Take the Monkeys and Run is an over-the-top suburban adventure that made me laugh out loud in places. My favorite scene was the one where Barbara was driving her daughters and her mom home from a trip to Washington, D.C. and she was stopped for speeding. To say more, would be a spoiler. Let me just say, as a mom, I can certainly relate and it was pretty funny
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 20, 2013
A quick light read with some humor mixed in.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.ShellyRR
Posted March 8, 2013
This was a fun book to read.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.swan353
Posted March 8, 2013
This is a fun book. I highly recommend this to anyone that wants a light read. Fast moving and enjoyable charactors.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 8, 2013
This was not a good book. Definitely would not recommend it.
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Posted March 6, 2013
This series is so much fun waiting for the next one! Hurry Please :D
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 1, 2013
Cute reminds me of a movie called True Lies.
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