A Good Man Gone (Mercy Watts Mysteries Book One)

It could have been a much better read without all the unnecessary cursing

Was excited to read a full length novel after having read the Mercy Watts short stories and I was not disappointed.  A good fast paced crime novel.  Love that Mercy and what a problem to having - looking like Marilyn.  This book reminded me of the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series which I have enjoyed. I will be waiting for the next book.

This was such a fun book, nice and fast paced with lots of laughs. The cast of characters is diverse and entertaining. I love Mercy and wish i could take things in stride the way she does. I really enjoyed the mystery, all the twists, turns and false leads that frustrated Mercy kept me flipping the pages. I am definitely going to read the other Mercy Watts books. I want to see what other trouble she gets into!

Typical whodoneit figured the ending midway did not like the language skimmed a page or two three. If you like detective stories this might be for you

... I got very tired of reading about how the size of her chest affected everything that happens in her life.

This is a fun humorous, mystery series. I wish they were longer. Chick lit. Rather tame. Cozy and enjoyable. For readers 16 and up. AD

I was immediately hooked after reading the first chapter. I felt so bad for Gavin's wife and then I had to know the truth behind his death. I liked Mercy, and laughed when she wore her mom's cloths and drove her dad's car. I can remember watching my mom getting dressed and wishing I could be like her. It is funny how adults think differently then their younger selves. I really liked the supporting characters and I was hoping that none of them would die. I also really enjoyed the mystery and the ending. I was surprised at the killer, and I liked how the author used family as a central theme. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review, however all opinions are my own. I would like to read the rest of this series.

Mercy Watts is a sassy nurse, who just happens to look exactly like Marilyn Monroe, and often ends up working as a detective under her father's orders. She really just needs to admit to herself that she loves to play detective, instead of constantly denying it. You can tell that she gets a thrill out of her sleuthing. Her parents are away on vacation, so she thinks that she can get a break from playing detective, until a family friend drops dead of a supposed myocardial infarction (a.k.a. heart attack). Her father suspects foul play, and puts Mercy on the case until he and his wife can get home to take over. He is correct. Mercy now finds herself trying to follow Gavin's final days, to uncover the case on which he was working, and hopefully also his murderer. She finds help via her unusual relatives and friends (acquaintances?) and starts to piece together the story. As you meet her family members, you can see from where she gets her saucy side. It would be impossible to grow up in that kind of environment and not turn out that way! The crazy characters help to keep the story entertaining. I found myself snickering out loud several times. 'A Good Man Gone' is actually a part of a series of mysteries that center around Mercy Watts. This is the only one that I have read at this point. It definitely works as a stand alone book, but just may whet your appetite for more! I am going to keep an eye open for more mysteries, because Mercy is a fun change of pace for me. I received a complimentary ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

With a retired detective for a Dad and a Mom that looks like Marilyn Monroe, an Aunt that is a Nun and another that speaks her mind. This witty mystery is light hearted, enticing and full of quick wit with suspense. I hope everyone would enjoy this as much as I did.

A really fun book with irreverent heroine and a jolly good mystery. I'm so glad it was well edited and proofread, it's so refreshing to read a book without countless typos.  I'll definitely read more by this author. In fact, that's what I'm going to do right now. 

I really enjoyed this book. It was the first book I had read written by A.W.Hartoin .I will check out more of his books.

Will not finish reading because of the valgaraty!

Mercy Watts is a part-time nurse. She works through an agency that places her in hospitals around St. Louis, Missouri, that are short staffed or over loaded with patients. But when she's not at work, she's often getting sucked into odd jobs for her dad, a highly decorated and now retired St. Louis PD detective. Mercy couldn't care less about her dad's new PI service, until her parents go on vacation and her dad's former partner dies under mysterious circumstances. Now it's left to Mercy to uncover the truth before it's too late. A Good Man Gone is the first book in the Mercy Watts Mysteries series. It follows Mercy around her life as she tries to use the investigative skills she's picked up from watching her father work over the years to track down killers. Unlike most cozy mysteries, this series boasts a fairly large cast. Besides Mercy and her parents, there are her dads three friends (two now since one is the victim), her mother's best friend, Mercy's Aunt, her two godmothers, her boyfriend, and her 'cousin' (by marriage, not by blood) Chuck, who's basically the son her father never had. In addition to these 11 'regulars', you also meet various other police detectives and people around St. Louis that Mercy deals with during her investigations. The story takes place in the Midwest, and unlike most cozy mysteries, actually includes quite a bit of out-of-town travel. The characters are all complex and quirky in their own ways and it lends well to the storyline. There's more than just murder and romance going on in this series, and that really makes me interested to continue reading it despite the rather confusing cover and somewhat slow beginning. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes their mysterys with a side of colorful characters. Curio Street Reads Rating: 4.5 stars www.CurioStreetReads.wordpress.com

Lively with fun characters.

Looking for more

Maybe a little too much attetion was paid to how this character looked (but that is part of the story I guess) and I kept wanting the author to get off that subject and get on with the story. But it kept me interested and wanting to read the next book.

Interesting Book, really!

I really enjoyed this book. It made me laugh, and I loved the characters. Will definitely be checking out the 2nd book in this series.

Can't wait to read more from this author .

At least the characters have rather slapstick presonalities. I felt this was not a great adventure but more like an escapade for the detective. Mercy Watts should stick to her nursing profession.

Ood book enjoyed i alot loved the monroe angle had a lot of laughts but still a good mystery i enjoyed it alot andthink u wull also give it a read