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Roxane Weary #2
What You Want To See
The thrilling follow up to The Last Place You Look, starring troubled and determined private investigator, Roxane Weary
Marin Strasser has a secret. Her fiancée thinks her secret is that she’s having an affair, and he hires P.I. Roxane Weary to prove it.Then, just days into the case, Marin is shot to death on a side street in an apparent mugging. But soon enough the police begin to focus on Roxane's client for Marin’s death, so she starts to dig deeper into Marin’s life—discovering that the elegant woman she’s been following has a past and a half, including two previous marriages, an adult son fresh out of prison, and a criminal record of her own. The trail leads to a crew of con artists, an ugly real estate scam that defrauds unsuspecting elderly homeowners out of their property, and the suspicious accident of a wealthy older woman who lives just down the street from where Marin was killed.
With Roxane’s client facing a murder indictment, the scammers threaten Roxane's mother by ensnaring her house in their web of fraud unless Roxane drops the case, and it becomes clear that the stakes are as high as the secrets run deep.
Marin Strasser has a secret. Her fiancée thinks her secret is that she’s having an affair, and he hires P.I. Roxane Weary to prove it.Then, just days into the case, Marin is shot to death on a side street in an apparent mugging. But soon enough the police begin to focus on Roxane's client for Marin’s death, so she starts to dig deeper into Marin’s life—discovering that the elegant woman she’s been following has a past and a half, including two previous marriages, an adult son fresh out of prison, and a criminal record of her own. The trail leads to a crew of con artists, an ugly real estate scam that defrauds unsuspecting elderly homeowners out of their property, and the suspicious accident of a wealthy older woman who lives just down the street from where Marin was killed.
With Roxane’s client facing a murder indictment, the scammers threaten Roxane's mother by ensnaring her house in their web of fraud unless Roxane drops the case, and it becomes clear that the stakes are as high as the secrets run deep.
294 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2018
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April 7, 2018
4.5 stars
As good as book one!
Multilayered PI centered mystery. This series is led by a compelling heroine who has depth, heart, and a whole lot of snark!
Roxane Weary is down on her luck. The buzz over her last case has died down, and she is once again struggling to make a living as a PI. Therefore, she is back to taking on small, easy cases like following a woman who appears to be cheating on her fiance. But this case has depth, and when the woman is murdered, Roxane digs for answers, and in doing so, finds herself in grave danger.
I wouldn’t say that you need to read The Last Place You Look in order to read What You Want to See, but doing so would add another layer.
I had extremely high expectations for this book. Seriously, Roxane Weary was one character that kept popping up in my head long after I read The Last Place You Look. What You Want to See does not disappoint. Roxane is back, much in the same state as book one, except for maybe not quite as drunk or dependent on alcohol. She is much more conscious about the choices she makes but still struggles with making the right choice. Her demons are very much present, she is torn between her feelings for her former lovers Catherine and Tom. Her dead father is still very much in her head, and family drama is still brewing.
What I love about this series is Roxane, which is due to Lepionka’s writing style. Roxane’s voice is extremely compelling, and I especially love her snarkiness. Lepionka writes Roxane’s character intelligently. Her voice is strong and her moxie shines through. I hope I don’t have to wait too long to read the next book in this series. I highly recommend this series!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2018
awww, why, thank YOU!
if you haven't read lepionka's debut, The Last Place You Look, which is the first book in this series, you should go do that now. the rest of us are gonna hang out here and reminisce about it and then i'm gonna talk about the new one.
sigh, remember The Last Place You Look? that was awesome, right?
okay, that’s enough reminiscing. onto What You Want To See.
first, what you want to know - is this book as good as her debut? yes. in fact, it is even better.
the “sophomore slump” can happen for a number of reasons; either an author just writes the same damn book again and hopes no one notices, or they go too far in another direction in order to avoid writing the same damn book again and end up alienating fans of the debut, or the author/publisher miscalculates what made the first book work and doubles down in the wrong direction.
i think we all agree that we ♥ roxane weary most of all, and couldn’t wait to see what that boozy sleuth was going to get into next.
welllllll - let’s just say that lepionka hasn’t fallen into the trap of writing the same damn book again, because roxane is a slightly reformed version of herself this time out. she’s as stubborn and funny and likable a character as she was in The Last Place You Look, but with her father’s death a little further in her rearview, she’s not drowning her grief in whiskey as much, and she’s making more responsible decisions when it comes to her personal life and relationships with her family, tom, and catherine. she’s even become something like a mentor/role model/cool surrogate aunt to a teenage girl.
i know, i know - that the private investigator character will also be a self-destructive blackout drunk is a pretty deeply-ingrained convention of the genre, but an ohio-based bisexual female PI is already playing against type, so let’s allow her to lead a somewhat healthier life without judgment. after all, there's a point where excess stops being cute:
or at least compromises productivity, no matter what all those noir classics’ll have you believe, and i think it shows great maturity in roxane to be switching her drink of choice from whiskey to tea. okay, sometimes tea with a little whiskey in it. okay, sometimes also just whiskey. rome wasn’t built in a day.
don’t worry - she's still the same roxane we fell in love with, she’s just a little more stable. and she needs to be in a better headspace because this case gets even more complicated than her last when an investigation into a suspected cheating spouse ends in murrrrrderrrrr, exposing a web of criminal activity that catches the attention of “about ten different jurisdictions,” and tom, keeping his promise to the memory of roxane’s dad, tries to make sure roxane’s not the eleventh.
so, once again it’s lone wolf roxane being thin blue lined out of an investigation, pursuing the case on her own and managing to dig up a ton of dirt despite the lack of professional cooperation and resources. but wolves run in packs for a reason, and what she discovers puts both roxane and those close to her in danger.
dunh dunh DUNH
there’s absolutely no sophomore slump here - it’s a much more complex mystery plot with a wholly satisfying resolution, and the writing and character work are excellent - while roxane is slightly changed from where we left her in The Last Place You Look, she’s still utterly badass and ready to take on the world, or at least the city:
There were only so many mysteries out there that needed solving, even in a city like Columbus.
let’s hope she finds many, many more.
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btw - peanut butter, sriracha, and shredded carrot sandwich? that is my new favorite recipe.
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are you jelly???
come to my blog!
September 26, 2022
Last year I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with Roxane Weary, P.I. extraordinaire to the public and problem child to her family. It's been a hot minute since I was introduced to such a fabulously flawed main character, so Roxy and I bonded immediately and have been mates ever since The Last Place You Look. I'd be lying if I said What You Want To See wasn't one of my most anticipated sequels of 2018, and I'll be darned if Lepionka didn't deliver another solid entry to the series. These books are an interesting take on the procedural, because you are able to feel as if you're solving the cases alongside of Roxane without the pacing issues that some crime fiction of this sort seem to face.
Book #2 takes place shortly after the events of book #1 wrap up, and I love that the author didn't abandon the "disposable" characters from case #1. It seems so easy to dump anyone who's not a lead cast member after each installment has been wrapped, but I feel taking some of these characters (mainly Shelby and her dad) only increased my love of the personal side of Roxy's daily interactions. If I'm being honest, the plot sequencing and development in each of these cases are superb, but what has truly kept me coming back is the stellar character development the author has attained. Roxane, her family, and her lovers are all as real to me as this donut I'm eating in Shelby's honor. Also, I love donuts and I eat them at any chance I get.
In case you're new to the series, you may be unaware that our main character is bisexual. This opens up new doors that many authors in the mystery/suspense/thriller genre have yet to explore, and while I was skeptical in the first book due to the overwhelming onslaught of a past and present lover being introduced all at once, I have to take my hat off to Kristen; she 100% new what she was doing and how this set up would work. In the previous novel, we get a lot more of Tom and more of a mysterious backstory on Cat. In the sequel, Cat is front and center and we see an entirely new side to this part of Roxane's private life. When I first saw Cat jumping back in I wanted to scream "No girl PROTECT YOUR HEART!" but again, I'll be darned if Lepionka didn't completely sway my opinion in 320 pages. I adored the characterization in Cat and where the book left things between the love triangle.
The case pertaining to this individual book was intriguing and complex, and I have to say there was one twist in the end that I did not see coming. My only complaint here, and it isn’t with the author because she has no control over this, but I wish the synopsis was a little more vague and brief. You pretty much know everything that happens in the entire book because of it, and I think there would have been a bit more suspense and build up if some of those details were left out and up to the reader to find out along the way. Overall, a highly enjoyable read and even better than the first one!
*I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
Book #2 takes place shortly after the events of book #1 wrap up, and I love that the author didn't abandon the "disposable" characters from case #1. It seems so easy to dump anyone who's not a lead cast member after each installment has been wrapped, but I feel taking some of these characters (mainly Shelby and her dad) only increased my love of the personal side of Roxy's daily interactions. If I'm being honest, the plot sequencing and development in each of these cases are superb, but what has truly kept me coming back is the stellar character development the author has attained. Roxane, her family, and her lovers are all as real to me as this donut I'm eating in Shelby's honor. Also, I love donuts and I eat them at any chance I get.
In case you're new to the series, you may be unaware that our main character is bisexual. This opens up new doors that many authors in the mystery/suspense/thriller genre have yet to explore, and while I was skeptical in the first book due to the overwhelming onslaught of a past and present lover being introduced all at once, I have to take my hat off to Kristen; she 100% new what she was doing and how this set up would work. In the previous novel, we get a lot more of Tom and more of a mysterious backstory on Cat. In the sequel, Cat is front and center and we see an entirely new side to this part of Roxane's private life. When I first saw Cat jumping back in I wanted to scream "No girl PROTECT YOUR HEART!" but again, I'll be darned if Lepionka didn't completely sway my opinion in 320 pages. I adored the characterization in Cat and where the book left things between the love triangle.
The case pertaining to this individual book was intriguing and complex, and I have to say there was one twist in the end that I did not see coming. My only complaint here, and it isn’t with the author because she has no control over this, but I wish the synopsis was a little more vague and brief. You pretty much know everything that happens in the entire book because of it, and I think there would have been a bit more suspense and build up if some of those details were left out and up to the reader to find out along the way. Overall, a highly enjoyable read and even better than the first one!
*I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
August 19, 2018
Book two of the highly popular Roxane Weary series.
Roxane is a private investigator who despite her own hard-fought successes, still lives in the shadows of her father’s legacy.
Arthur is her latest client. He’s employed Roxane to follow his fiancée Marin. He’s got a gut feeling Marin is hiding something from him and intends to find out what it is...or even worse, who it is that’s occupying her time and mind!
Uh-Oh! Marin has just been discovered dead and Arthur now finds himself on the top of potential suspects list.
What started off as a very promising follow up, quickly splintered off in so many directions I couldn’t keep up. I had such a hard time keeping all the characters straight...there were just too many!
I love Roxane’s character and reading anything that involved her personal life. She alone saved this read for me.
If you’re a fan of the series or just of Roxane Weary, I hope you enjoy!
A buddy read with Susanne!🌸
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Kristen Lepionka for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review
Roxane is a private investigator who despite her own hard-fought successes, still lives in the shadows of her father’s legacy.
Arthur is her latest client. He’s employed Roxane to follow his fiancée Marin. He’s got a gut feeling Marin is hiding something from him and intends to find out what it is...or even worse, who it is that’s occupying her time and mind!
Uh-Oh! Marin has just been discovered dead and Arthur now finds himself on the top of potential suspects list.
What started off as a very promising follow up, quickly splintered off in so many directions I couldn’t keep up. I had such a hard time keeping all the characters straight...there were just too many!
I love Roxane’s character and reading anything that involved her personal life. She alone saved this read for me.
If you’re a fan of the series or just of Roxane Weary, I hope you enjoy!
A buddy read with Susanne!🌸
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Kristen Lepionka for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review
April 19, 2018
This is a standard detective novel. Which right now, is a good thing, because I’m sick and tired of weird psychological thrillers. Something straight forward is exactly what the doctor ordered!
Roxanne Weary is a detective and she takes on a standard PI case, checking on a fiancée’s fidelity. When the check bounces and she stops tailing the woman, the fiancée turns up dead later that day. From there, things get really strange in a good way. This is a fast paced book with lots of action.
I haven’t read the first book in the series. To be honest, I should have paid attention to the other reviews that recommend you read it first. I liked Roxanne. She’s tough, the kind of PI that doesn’t back down when the police tell her to “uninvolve” herself. But there were some gaps in my understanding of her personal life from not having read book 1.
There are a lot of characters here and every now and then I’d have to pause to remind myself how they fit in. But overall, it’s a fast, engaging read. I’ll definitely be going back to catch up on the first book and reading the next in the series.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this novel.
Roxanne Weary is a detective and she takes on a standard PI case, checking on a fiancée’s fidelity. When the check bounces and she stops tailing the woman, the fiancée turns up dead later that day. From there, things get really strange in a good way. This is a fast paced book with lots of action.
I haven’t read the first book in the series. To be honest, I should have paid attention to the other reviews that recommend you read it first. I liked Roxanne. She’s tough, the kind of PI that doesn’t back down when the police tell her to “uninvolve” herself. But there were some gaps in my understanding of her personal life from not having read book 1.
There are a lot of characters here and every now and then I’d have to pause to remind myself how they fit in. But overall, it’s a fast, engaging read. I’ll definitely be going back to catch up on the first book and reading the next in the series.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this novel.
April 16, 2018
What You Want To See by Kristen Lepionka is another one of my favorite series!
I love Roxane Weary's sassiness and her DGAF attitude :). I love the tough women that know how to handle the bad guys! ;).
A very intriguing mystery with cleverly layered characters that adds a whole lot of bang to this mystery's buck ;).
If you enjoy Robert Bryznda's series Erika Foster I definitely would recommend this one!
Roxane is a private investigator that is still struggling with her father's death along with the loss of her former lovers Catherine and Tom. Roxane is assigned a case following a woman who may be cheating on her fiance. But, of course no case is EVER easy for Roxane. Roxane soon finds herself in a whole mess of murders that keep adding up. Can she help solve this can and figure out the underlying web of lies?
I really enjoy Lepionka's writing and she definitely knows how to draw her readers in.
Overall, 4 stars!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date: 5/1/18
Published to GR: 4/15/18
I love Roxane Weary's sassiness and her DGAF attitude :). I love the tough women that know how to handle the bad guys! ;).
A very intriguing mystery with cleverly layered characters that adds a whole lot of bang to this mystery's buck ;).
If you enjoy Robert Bryznda's series Erika Foster I definitely would recommend this one!
Roxane is a private investigator that is still struggling with her father's death along with the loss of her former lovers Catherine and Tom. Roxane is assigned a case following a woman who may be cheating on her fiance. But, of course no case is EVER easy for Roxane. Roxane soon finds herself in a whole mess of murders that keep adding up. Can she help solve this can and figure out the underlying web of lies?
I really enjoy Lepionka's writing and she definitely knows how to draw her readers in.
Overall, 4 stars!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
Publication date: 5/1/18
Published to GR: 4/15/18
December 26, 2018
This is the second in the PI Roxane Weary series set in Columbus, Ohio. It proves the debut which I loved was no fluke and that Kristen Lepionka is a gifted crime fiction writer. I will not dwell on the plot as that is comprehensively covered in the blurb for the book. It is the author's strengths in characterisation that make this a stand out series. The bi-sexual Weary is a grippingly complex character, with her awkward but close relationship with Tony, acting as a role model for the young Shelby even though the role does not come easy for her, her loneliness, and her inherent attraction to Catherine, even though she knows the woman is no good for her. Lepionka writes a complex plot with a mesmerising bunch of new characters, the mysterious Marin Strasser, a woman with an apparently bare history, a client, Arthur Ungless with a print shop suspected of murder that she is convinced is innocent. Loved the portrayal of the psychotic Nate, the dangerous Tony Pomp, and Agnes with her mental health issues. A fantastic read with plenty of twists and intrigue, cannot wait for the next one in the series.
November 27, 2018
“I thought about how she deserved better than she’d gotten: a dead husband who could be a real asshole sometimes when he was alive, three borderline fuckup kids who drank too much and end up hurting the people they were supposed to care about.”
This was a fantastic follow up to The Last Place You Look I enjoyed being back with Roxane, wrapped up in another dangerous case she should really stay out of!
After the end of her last case, Roxane is pretty messed up, drinking more than usual and constantly paranoid. So when a client asks her to follow his fiancé as he believes she is cheating, Roxane thinks she has a nice easy case.
“The reason that so many people seem to have a quarter life crisis around age twenty five or so is that, finally, the brain is developed enough to understand that your life isn’t actually how you thought it would be.”
That is until the woman she was following - Marin Strasser, turns up shot dead. What follows is a string of crimes all interconnected. It turns out Marin pissed off a lot of people, but who actually killed her?
A thriller full of action, you are left guessing until the very end. I also love Roxane, she is relatable and flawed, and just great. This is a series I will be continuing to follow.
“I didn’t have a problem with drinking, I told myself, but with everything else. I had an unhappiness problem. A loneliness one.”
This was a fantastic follow up to The Last Place You Look I enjoyed being back with Roxane, wrapped up in another dangerous case she should really stay out of!
After the end of her last case, Roxane is pretty messed up, drinking more than usual and constantly paranoid. So when a client asks her to follow his fiancé as he believes she is cheating, Roxane thinks she has a nice easy case.
“The reason that so many people seem to have a quarter life crisis around age twenty five or so is that, finally, the brain is developed enough to understand that your life isn’t actually how you thought it would be.”
That is until the woman she was following - Marin Strasser, turns up shot dead. What follows is a string of crimes all interconnected. It turns out Marin pissed off a lot of people, but who actually killed her?
A thriller full of action, you are left guessing until the very end. I also love Roxane, she is relatable and flawed, and just great. This is a series I will be continuing to follow.
“I didn’t have a problem with drinking, I told myself, but with everything else. I had an unhappiness problem. A loneliness one.”
July 8, 2018
3 Stars.
Roxane Weary has been hired to solve another case. This time it’s to follow a woman whose fiancé believes the love of his life, Marin Strasser, is cheating on him and he just has to know the truth. After a few days of finding nothing to corroborate her client’s claims - Rox discovers that his check bounces, so she quits the case and that’s when it happens: Marin Strasser is found dead and her client of course, is the main suspect. Then, Roxane feels compelled to prove his innocence, until he gets shot and wind up in the hospital.
Thereafter this case takes some crazy twists and turns that spin around and around, none of which you would expect and caused my eyes to roll, more than once. Frankly, in my opinion, Rox’s detective work throughout appeared to be sheer luck and nothing else.
In “What You Want to See,” Roxane’s personal life is highlighted. She is caught between Tom, a really great guy and Catherine, who is all wrong for her! Unfortunately, I felt as though the author, Kristen Lepionka, was trying to push the readers towards Catherine and though I should be all for it, I’m just not. Sorry guys, but Tom is just awesome, so pick him Rox!!
If you like books about female detectives, you might like this series.
I read this with Kaceey. Thank for keeping me company during this one! :)
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Kristen Lepionka for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 7.8.18.
Roxane Weary has been hired to solve another case. This time it’s to follow a woman whose fiancé believes the love of his life, Marin Strasser, is cheating on him and he just has to know the truth. After a few days of finding nothing to corroborate her client’s claims - Rox discovers that his check bounces, so she quits the case and that’s when it happens: Marin Strasser is found dead and her client of course, is the main suspect. Then, Roxane feels compelled to prove his innocence, until he gets shot and wind up in the hospital.
Thereafter this case takes some crazy twists and turns that spin around and around, none of which you would expect and caused my eyes to roll, more than once. Frankly, in my opinion, Rox’s detective work throughout appeared to be sheer luck and nothing else.
In “What You Want to See,” Roxane’s personal life is highlighted. She is caught between Tom, a really great guy and Catherine, who is all wrong for her! Unfortunately, I felt as though the author, Kristen Lepionka, was trying to push the readers towards Catherine and though I should be all for it, I’m just not. Sorry guys, but Tom is just awesome, so pick him Rox!!
If you like books about female detectives, you might like this series.
I read this with Kaceey. Thank for keeping me company during this one! :)
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Kristen Lepionka for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 7.8.18.
February 4, 2020
3.5 stars
I read The Last Place You Look and What You Want To See back to back and enjoyed both stories. Our main character Roxane is interesting and a little rough around the edges for me. She is broken, closed off and fills some of the emptiness she feels with alcohol. I am not a big fan of the hard-drinking snarky female character but Roxane is growing on me. She is softer and trying to stay sober her in What You Want To See.
Roxane has some interesting relationships here that bring something a little different to the story. I am glad to see the characters from The Last Place You Look here in this story. The mystery here didn't hold my attention however, I love the dynamics between Roxane and the characters in her personal life.
I received a copy on NetGalley
I read The Last Place You Look and What You Want To See back to back and enjoyed both stories. Our main character Roxane is interesting and a little rough around the edges for me. She is broken, closed off and fills some of the emptiness she feels with alcohol. I am not a big fan of the hard-drinking snarky female character but Roxane is growing on me. She is softer and trying to stay sober her in What You Want To See.
Roxane has some interesting relationships here that bring something a little different to the story. I am glad to see the characters from The Last Place You Look here in this story. The mystery here didn't hold my attention however, I love the dynamics between Roxane and the characters in her personal life.
I received a copy on NetGalley
May 5, 2018
When Roxane Weary takes on a case, trailing a woman to see if she's cheating on her much older fiance, things take a turn when the woman she's following gets murdered. Who killed Marin Strasser? Was it the fiance, like everyone things? That's what Roxane wants to know...
I loved the first Roxane Weary book, The Last Place You Look, so this one was a no brainer.
What You Want to See is a murder mystery with a lot of other stuff muddying the waters. It sure as hell looks like the fiance did it. But what the hell is going on at that print shop? And what's with the former employee, Leila? And Marin's son, Nate?
Roxane has her shit together a little more than in the last book but still makes a dog's breakfast of the case, running afoul of the cops and other bad elements. She's still conflicted over her feelings for Tom and her feeling for Catherine but not disastrously so like in the last book.
Kristen Lepionka wove another great tale here. I thought I knew who killed Marin a couple different times but she pulled the rug out from under me, a great feature in a mystery. It would have been easy for Roxane to coast into this book relatively unscathed after the last book but she's clearly changed. I loved that she's become sort of a mother figure to Shelby and is trying to stay out of Tom's life while still having feelings for him. The way she handled Catherine in this book was a step in the right direction after the way she handled things in the last one.
What You Want to See was a great sophomore effort from Kristen Lepionka. Her Ohio setting is almost a character unto itself and Roxane is well on her way to being one of my favorite sleuths. Four out of five stars.
I loved the first Roxane Weary book, The Last Place You Look, so this one was a no brainer.
What You Want to See is a murder mystery with a lot of other stuff muddying the waters. It sure as hell looks like the fiance did it. But what the hell is going on at that print shop? And what's with the former employee, Leila? And Marin's son, Nate?
Roxane has her shit together a little more than in the last book but still makes a dog's breakfast of the case, running afoul of the cops and other bad elements. She's still conflicted over her feelings for Tom and her feeling for Catherine but not disastrously so like in the last book.
Kristen Lepionka wove another great tale here. I thought I knew who killed Marin a couple different times but she pulled the rug out from under me, a great feature in a mystery. It would have been easy for Roxane to coast into this book relatively unscathed after the last book but she's clearly changed. I loved that she's become sort of a mother figure to Shelby and is trying to stay out of Tom's life while still having feelings for him. The way she handled Catherine in this book was a step in the right direction after the way she handled things in the last one.
What You Want to See was a great sophomore effort from Kristen Lepionka. Her Ohio setting is almost a character unto itself and Roxane is well on her way to being one of my favorite sleuths. Four out of five stars.
July 23, 2019
2019 Best Private Eye Novel - Shamus Award Nominees:
• Wrong Light, by Matt Coyle (Oceanview)
• What You Want to See, by Kristen Lepionka (Minotaur)
• The Widows of Malabar Hill, by Sujata Massey (Soho Crime)
• Baby’s First Felony, by John Straley (Soho Crime)
• Cut You Down, by Sam Wiebe (Quercus)
“What You Want To See” by Kristen Lepionka is the second book of a series featuring the bisexual private investigator Roxane Weary. The story takes place on the mean streets of Columbus, Ohio, the hot bed city of Midwestern crime.
As the book opens, Roxane is coping with her grief after her father’s recent death and a breakup. She is working very little and drinking quite a lot. These events must refer back to book one of the series and it may be a good idea to read book one first..
In an interview, Ms. Lepionka states “I fell in love with the private investigator subgenre of crime fiction by way of Robert B. Parker, Dennis Lehane, Sara Paretsky, Sue Grafton, and Liza Cody. Parker’s PI character Spenser (after whom one of my cats is named!) was the first one I read, and it made me want to write a private investigator of my own. We’re talking about age 12 here — I was a weird kid. There is a huge variety in the types of cases PIs get to investigate, and I wanted to do that too.”
Now on a new case, her employer Arthur thinks his fiancée is cheating on him so he asks Roxane to follow his soon to be wife when the woman is suddenly murdered. However as Roxanne starts to investigate things get more complicated and the body count rises. Arthur’s fiancée was a lot more complicated than she at first seemed and Roxanne needs to find out exactly what she is wrapped up in.
Ms. Lepionka makes the book a bit more complicated than it needs to be. The narrative and writing style should appeal to the fans of Sue Grafton’s earlier work. If you’re looking for a strong woman problem solver, this series is for you.
• Wrong Light, by Matt Coyle (Oceanview)
• What You Want to See, by Kristen Lepionka (Minotaur)
• The Widows of Malabar Hill, by Sujata Massey (Soho Crime)
• Baby’s First Felony, by John Straley (Soho Crime)
• Cut You Down, by Sam Wiebe (Quercus)
“What You Want To See” by Kristen Lepionka is the second book of a series featuring the bisexual private investigator Roxane Weary. The story takes place on the mean streets of Columbus, Ohio, the hot bed city of Midwestern crime.
As the book opens, Roxane is coping with her grief after her father’s recent death and a breakup. She is working very little and drinking quite a lot. These events must refer back to book one of the series and it may be a good idea to read book one first..
In an interview, Ms. Lepionka states “I fell in love with the private investigator subgenre of crime fiction by way of Robert B. Parker, Dennis Lehane, Sara Paretsky, Sue Grafton, and Liza Cody. Parker’s PI character Spenser (after whom one of my cats is named!) was the first one I read, and it made me want to write a private investigator of my own. We’re talking about age 12 here — I was a weird kid. There is a huge variety in the types of cases PIs get to investigate, and I wanted to do that too.”
Now on a new case, her employer Arthur thinks his fiancée is cheating on him so he asks Roxane to follow his soon to be wife when the woman is suddenly murdered. However as Roxanne starts to investigate things get more complicated and the body count rises. Arthur’s fiancée was a lot more complicated than she at first seemed and Roxanne needs to find out exactly what she is wrapped up in.
Ms. Lepionka makes the book a bit more complicated than it needs to be. The narrative and writing style should appeal to the fans of Sue Grafton’s earlier work. If you’re looking for a strong woman problem solver, this series is for you.
May 1, 2018
Roxane Weary is hired by Arthur Ungless, owner of a print shop, to track his fiance, Marin, whom he believes is cheating on him. But her case devolves quickly, between a bounced check and Tom (Roxane's dad's former partner) and a rude cop named Sanko showing up on Roxane's doorstep with the news that Marin is dead. Not only that, they make it pretty clear that they want Roxane to stay out of it. But this is "pathologically nosy" Roxane we are talking about. Stay out of it she cannot. So Roxane continues to work Arthur's case--as the husband, he's the main suspect after all. Roxane is determined he's innocent: a perspective not shared by Tom and Sanko. As she digs deeper into Marin's life, she discovers that she led quite the double life, and Roxane finds herself lost in a world of antiques dealing, wealthy families, and a lot of danger.
I loved this book. I love the first person aspect. The Roxane Weary series is straight-up great mystery writing. No unreliable narrator, no chapters that alternate POV or time periods, no gimmicks--just an excellent protagonist and a strong plot. It makes you long for mysteries of old (think Kinsey Millhone). The ways I love Roxane cannot truly be enumerated--she's a female lead in a mystery series, for one. She's smart, witty, and sarcastic. She's bisexual, but this characteristic is just who she is, not her main defining element or the entire defining point of the novel. As a bisexual female, I cannot stress how amazing this is in literature. To have bisexual representation (and have that representation be intelligent, funny, and not portrayed as evil and deviant), well, it's wonderful. She has relationships of all kinds and works on figuring out herself, just like any other person. Gasp! Imagine that. I couldn't love Roxane more (or Kristen Lepionka for creating this character). Also, Roxane calls waffles "golden beauty" and well, what more do you need in your PI? She's the Leslie Knope of private investigators.
I was worried that the second Roxane Weary novel wouldn't stand up to the first, but I was anxious for no reason. The second book is just as wonderful and intricately crafted as the first, and we get to see Roxane both struggling and growing professionally and personally. The case is a great one--it had me frantically reading and totally shocked me at the end, which I love. So rarely can a detective novel keep me guessing to the anymore. Marin Strasser is quite the character, and her web of lies pulls in a whole host of supporting characters.
We also see Roxane navigating new territory with Tom, her former lover (and, as mentioned, her dad's ex-partner), and get appearances again from the appealing Weary brothers and Roxane's mom. Roxane is still working on her relationships--not just romantic ones, but life ones, and you'll be touched as she figures out trying to be a "surrogate aunt" to Shelby, who appeared in book one. Watching her let her guard down at times is enjoyable.
The case is still mainly the star, though, and it won't disappoint. It's complicated and intriguing and everything comes together in ways that will make you gasp and keep you riveted. I was definitely shocked several times while reading. Not to mention I love it when an author can write a character that I truly hate--you know they've done a good job when you can feel that anger viscerally through the pages!
Overall, I have nothing bad to say about this book. Maybe that it's over, and I have to wait now for a (hopeful!!) book three? I love Roxane. I feel kinship toward her for sure, this sarcastic, bisexual PI whose still navigating the world around her. The mystery in this book won't disappoint, nor will the characters. If you haven't read the first Roxane Weary novel, I do recommend reading it first (mostly because it's also so good - my review here ), but this will stand on its own. Highly recommend - 4.5+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you); it is available everywhere as 05/01/2018.
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I loved this book. I love the first person aspect. The Roxane Weary series is straight-up great mystery writing. No unreliable narrator, no chapters that alternate POV or time periods, no gimmicks--just an excellent protagonist and a strong plot. It makes you long for mysteries of old (think Kinsey Millhone). The ways I love Roxane cannot truly be enumerated--she's a female lead in a mystery series, for one. She's smart, witty, and sarcastic. She's bisexual, but this characteristic is just who she is, not her main defining element or the entire defining point of the novel. As a bisexual female, I cannot stress how amazing this is in literature. To have bisexual representation (and have that representation be intelligent, funny, and not portrayed as evil and deviant), well, it's wonderful. She has relationships of all kinds and works on figuring out herself, just like any other person. Gasp! Imagine that. I couldn't love Roxane more (or Kristen Lepionka for creating this character). Also, Roxane calls waffles "golden beauty" and well, what more do you need in your PI? She's the Leslie Knope of private investigators.
I was worried that the second Roxane Weary novel wouldn't stand up to the first, but I was anxious for no reason. The second book is just as wonderful and intricately crafted as the first, and we get to see Roxane both struggling and growing professionally and personally. The case is a great one--it had me frantically reading and totally shocked me at the end, which I love. So rarely can a detective novel keep me guessing to the anymore. Marin Strasser is quite the character, and her web of lies pulls in a whole host of supporting characters.
We also see Roxane navigating new territory with Tom, her former lover (and, as mentioned, her dad's ex-partner), and get appearances again from the appealing Weary brothers and Roxane's mom. Roxane is still working on her relationships--not just romantic ones, but life ones, and you'll be touched as she figures out trying to be a "surrogate aunt" to Shelby, who appeared in book one. Watching her let her guard down at times is enjoyable.
The case is still mainly the star, though, and it won't disappoint. It's complicated and intriguing and everything comes together in ways that will make you gasp and keep you riveted. I was definitely shocked several times while reading. Not to mention I love it when an author can write a character that I truly hate--you know they've done a good job when you can feel that anger viscerally through the pages!
Overall, I have nothing bad to say about this book. Maybe that it's over, and I have to wait now for a (hopeful!!) book three? I love Roxane. I feel kinship toward her for sure, this sarcastic, bisexual PI whose still navigating the world around her. The mystery in this book won't disappoint, nor will the characters. If you haven't read the first Roxane Weary novel, I do recommend reading it first (mostly because it's also so good - my review here ), but this will stand on its own. Highly recommend - 4.5+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you); it is available everywhere as 05/01/2018.
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June 15, 2018
3.5 stars
I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first, but it did not suffer from second book syndrome. I think it was more a situation of me not being as into this particular case. It was still good and twisty and all that fun stuff. But it just didn't intrigue me quite as much.
Roxane is still this complex, flawed, amazing PI. She is bisexual - a rep done right, by the way. She's an alcoholic and her dad died recently - all the makings of a fucked up protagonist who just happens to be phenomenal at her job. I love to root for her. And there's no way I won't be reading the next book. I enjoy Roxane a hell of a lot more than I typically enjoy the lead investigator in random mysteries.
This one picks up shortly after the ending of the first book. I won't deny my brain needed a reminder of some things. It took me a minute to realize who a few characters were that returned from the first book. It really had been a long time since I'd read the first, but once I remembered who these two returnees were, I was all for them showing up again. The way things play out give us a new side to Roxane with this personal storyline that adds more to her character.
Anyway, on to the plot! Roxane had been working a case of a possible cheating fiancé when the check didn't go through so she dropped the case entirely. That is until she gets a knock on her door from Tom and detective Sanko. Apparently...that fiancé Roxane was investigating is now dead. And Tom (yes..that Tom from book 1 who used to be her father's partner) brought the detective investigating to Roxane's to make introductions. It's not Tom's case..he is there just to get Roxane to cooperate with Sanko's questions. Of course, the case intrigues Roxane to the point of her investigating the dead woman herself. It soon becomes clear that this woman wasn't all that honest to begin with...
I enjoyed how storylines continued from the first book involving several characters. It was interesting to see the way Roxane's personal life is playing out. I enjoyed the case to an extent, but I can't seem to get over how much less intriguing it was. The suspense wasn't as strong. I really think this was me just not enjoying this case as much. I will still be on board for the third book. Roxane is outstanding and the writing is so realistic. It's hard not to still appreciate the hell out of this.
I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first, but it did not suffer from second book syndrome. I think it was more a situation of me not being as into this particular case. It was still good and twisty and all that fun stuff. But it just didn't intrigue me quite as much.
Roxane is still this complex, flawed, amazing PI. She is bisexual - a rep done right, by the way. She's an alcoholic and her dad died recently - all the makings of a fucked up protagonist who just happens to be phenomenal at her job. I love to root for her. And there's no way I won't be reading the next book. I enjoy Roxane a hell of a lot more than I typically enjoy the lead investigator in random mysteries.
This one picks up shortly after the ending of the first book. I won't deny my brain needed a reminder of some things. It took me a minute to realize who a few characters were that returned from the first book. It really had been a long time since I'd read the first, but once I remembered who these two returnees were, I was all for them showing up again. The way things play out give us a new side to Roxane with this personal storyline that adds more to her character.
Anyway, on to the plot! Roxane had been working a case of a possible cheating fiancé when the check didn't go through so she dropped the case entirely. That is until she gets a knock on her door from Tom and detective Sanko. Apparently...that fiancé Roxane was investigating is now dead. And Tom (yes..that Tom from book 1 who used to be her father's partner) brought the detective investigating to Roxane's to make introductions. It's not Tom's case..he is there just to get Roxane to cooperate with Sanko's questions. Of course, the case intrigues Roxane to the point of her investigating the dead woman herself. It soon becomes clear that this woman wasn't all that honest to begin with...
I enjoyed how storylines continued from the first book involving several characters. It was interesting to see the way Roxane's personal life is playing out. I enjoyed the case to an extent, but I can't seem to get over how much less intriguing it was. The suspense wasn't as strong. I really think this was me just not enjoying this case as much. I will still be on board for the third book. Roxane is outstanding and the writing is so realistic. It's hard not to still appreciate the hell out of this.
May 13, 2019
This second entry in the series featuring Roxane Weary—Columbus, Ohio’s bisexual, hard-drinking private eye—is just as good as the first book, The Last Place You Look. It begins with a routine tailing job—a suspicious fiancee wants Roxane to follow his mysterious lady friend—but this “simple” job soon devolves into a snake’s nest of malice and motives involving secret identities, real estate fraud, lonewolf psychopaths, professional criminal enterprises, and (of course) a dead body or two.
As I said, What You Want See is just as good as the first book in the series. I’ve decided that the fact that I didn’t like it as much is probably my fault, not Ms. Lepionka’s.
Lepionka’s first book, The Last Place You Look, had a plot shaped the way I like my mysteries shaped: circular, with dangers accumulating toward the center, like a whirlpool, a bull’s eye, a narrowing gyre. As the detective grows closer to the middle of the action, hazards accumulate, and, when she reaches the center (the climax), she herself becomes the ultimate target, the locus of evil and rage.
This time, though, Lepionka chose to do something else, something more sophisticated. The structure of What You Want to See resembles an active mine field. She shows us a detective whose case—and whose life—is subject to chaotic disruptions. Three times Roxane must deal with what feel like violent random events—the strafing of a storefront by automatic fire, a car crash, a standoff and shootout near the Statehouse. These three events—particularly the first and second—are presented masterfully, so much so that they temporarily confuse the reader (at least this reader) into thinking Lepionka has for once lost control of her artful prose, that her style—always controlled, elegant—has descended into chaos too.
But no. She wants the reader to see a disoriented Roxane, a Roxane coping with chaos: in shock, losing her bearings; initially defensive, but gradually gaining control; and then opening herself up to help and friendship and love. Lepionka shows us a Roxane who is becoming a better detective, and the things that make her a better detective make her a richer human being as well.
So like I said, the fault isn’t hers, its mine. Just because the structure of What You Want to See isn’t just like Poe’s “Descent into the Maelstrom” doesn’t mean that isn’t a helluva book.
May 4, 2018
Another buddy read w my girl Jamie! What You Want to See by Kristen Lepionka was a solid 4 star read for me! This book is the 2nd in the series so I would suggest reading The Last Place You Look first!
I love Kristen’s writing! She is so current and funny that I actually chuckled while reading this one. Roxane is a private investigator and after her last big case she is trying calm her life down. She doesn’t drink nearly as much as she use to. She’s single now but both of her ex’s make an appearance in What You Want to See.
Arthur, an older man, comes to Roxane to have her investigate and follow his soon to be wife. He thinks she may be cheating on him. Roxane follows her for a few days but the wife doesn’t show any signs of cheating. A few days later, the wife is dead 😱. That’s all I’m really going to say! The mystery was well done and I was extremely surprised by the end! I enjoyed book 2 in the Roxane Weary series and will be on the look out for book 3 😊
I love Kristen’s writing! She is so current and funny that I actually chuckled while reading this one. Roxane is a private investigator and after her last big case she is trying calm her life down. She doesn’t drink nearly as much as she use to. She’s single now but both of her ex’s make an appearance in What You Want to See.
Arthur, an older man, comes to Roxane to have her investigate and follow his soon to be wife. He thinks she may be cheating on him. Roxane follows her for a few days but the wife doesn’t show any signs of cheating. A few days later, the wife is dead 😱. That’s all I’m really going to say! The mystery was well done and I was extremely surprised by the end! I enjoyed book 2 in the Roxane Weary series and will be on the look out for book 3 😊
March 11, 2024
This is an excellent follow-up to a brilliant debut. Roxane is given a very different case, but several of the really good elements and characters from the first book make a return, keeping the overall series rhythm while allowing the individual books to feel distinct (and self-contained! I will never stop banging the drum for authors that keep each book in a series capable of standing alone!) but part of a greater whole.
This time around the mystery is a little closer to home, and instead of missing, someone's dead. But death has a way of opening all the doors on even the most compartmentalised life, and while they lead to some wildly unexpected places, not once did the action feel implausible or overblown.
Some great series development as well as a satisfying mystery, and chalk me up as super satisfied again. This really is one of the best series available if you're into the genre.
This time around the mystery is a little closer to home, and instead of missing, someone's dead. But death has a way of opening all the doors on even the most compartmentalised life, and while they lead to some wildly unexpected places, not once did the action feel implausible or overblown.
Some great series development as well as a satisfying mystery, and chalk me up as super satisfied again. This really is one of the best series available if you're into the genre.
January 27, 2018
Brilliant follow up to Kristen Lepionka's excellent debut The Last Place You Look, featuring once again main protagonist Roxane Weary, a character I now love more than I did the first time.
Intriguing mystery elements around well rounded and cleverly layered characters equals genuinely absorbing reading material.
Proper and full review nearer to publication.
Intriguing mystery elements around well rounded and cleverly layered characters equals genuinely absorbing reading material.
Proper and full review nearer to publication.
June 18, 2018
Having read and enjoyed The Last Place You Look I was delighted to be able to read and review book two in the Roxane Weary series, What You Want To See.
Roxane is such a great female lead. She is a private investigator, but bless her, she has a tough time of it. She has her own issues, but these lend themselves well to her character development. In this book, she definitely has her work cut out for her!
Tasked with investigating Marin Strasser, she’s not expecting to hear Marin has been gunned down in a suspected mugging. The investigation takes a turn for the worse when Marin’s fiancée becomes a suspect. What follows is a journey into the past, on a road paved with secrets and lies.
As usual, there is excellent characterisation. Roxane is flawed but so damn likeable that its hard not to root for her the whole way along. Throw in some property fraud and some shady alliances and you have a really interesting crime thriller.
What You Want To see is a great book, and aptly titled. I loved being back in Roxane’s world, and I’m already looking forward to the next one. If you haven’t read it yet, it is definitely one to add to your list!
Recommeded for sure!
Roxane is such a great female lead. She is a private investigator, but bless her, she has a tough time of it. She has her own issues, but these lend themselves well to her character development. In this book, she definitely has her work cut out for her!
Tasked with investigating Marin Strasser, she’s not expecting to hear Marin has been gunned down in a suspected mugging. The investigation takes a turn for the worse when Marin’s fiancée becomes a suspect. What follows is a journey into the past, on a road paved with secrets and lies.
As usual, there is excellent characterisation. Roxane is flawed but so damn likeable that its hard not to root for her the whole way along. Throw in some property fraud and some shady alliances and you have a really interesting crime thriller.
What You Want To see is a great book, and aptly titled. I loved being back in Roxane’s world, and I’m already looking forward to the next one. If you haven’t read it yet, it is definitely one to add to your list!
Recommeded for sure!
May 22, 2019
Phew. What a bummer man. Thankfully Roxane Weary can hold up a book all on her own.
Too many:
• Unnecessary characters
• Plot holes
• Loose ends
Missing in Action:
• SEX
• A good title
• Appealing cover
• SEX
Too many:
• Unnecessary characters
• Plot holes
• Loose ends
Missing in Action:
• SEX
• A good title
• Appealing cover
• SEX
October 3, 2018
Have you ever run holding hands?... Not your jolly breezy way of mild running when you gracefully run in tandem, but the desperate run for the life of it, running as fast as you can, and the other person, a bit ahead, holding your hand and pulling you, and you are stumbling, nearly falling but not letting the hand go... because you can't.
So I ran it. I ran with Roxane. At times I was out of breath, I wanted to stop, but I couldn't, I had to run.
Roxane is messed up as ever, and that's what makes her who she is.
This was written quite well, much neater, much more put together than the first book in the series.
The plot was interesting, not just intriguing. And the way it unfolded, was just great. Well, I think so, anyway :)))
There were a few times when I had to stop, take a deep breath and think... because I was just as puzzled as Roxane trying to work it all out. But those few moments did not bring the whole thing down. Good twists, good approach.
So, yes, impatiently awaiting for the third book and hope more to come!
So I ran it. I ran with Roxane. At times I was out of breath, I wanted to stop, but I couldn't, I had to run.
Roxane is messed up as ever, and that's what makes her who she is.
This was written quite well, much neater, much more put together than the first book in the series.
The plot was interesting, not just intriguing. And the way it unfolded, was just great. Well, I think so, anyway :)))
There were a few times when I had to stop, take a deep breath and think... because I was just as puzzled as Roxane trying to work it all out. But those few moments did not bring the whole thing down. Good twists, good approach.
So, yes, impatiently awaiting for the third book and hope more to come!
March 10, 2021
'What You Want To See' is the second book in the Roxane Weary series. She is a private detective with a drinking problem. She has a mother and two brothers, and her father was killed in the line of duty as a police officer a year ago. She also is bisexual, which complicates her life as you can imagine. She is maintaining a friends-with-benefits relationship with Tom, her father's partner on the force, and also with Catherine in an on-and-off highly fraught relationship, during the course of events.
I recommend beginning with the first book, The Last Place You Look, before reading this novel as various continuing characters and their relationships with Roxane are explained in more depth. However, if all you need is an interesting and exciting new private detective mystery series, I think 'What You Want To See' is a great story for a weekend read! I really liked it.
Roxane has a new client. Arthur Ungless, owner of a print shop, has become suspicious of his fiancee, Marin Strasser. Is she cheating on him? Roxane follows her and does some research - it looks like Marin IS cheating - but not in the way Arthur thinks. But before Roxane can disentangle the strange activities and family connections Marin is involved with - her body is found! Marin has been shot to death. Plus, Tom and his new partner, Sanko, warn Roxane off of the case.
Roxane is irritated. She is not going to be treated like an amateur, especially an annoying amateur. She has already discovered that Marin was leading a double life. The cops might think Arthur murdered Marin too, and she likes Arthur, so she is going to clear him if she can. Marin's former associates appear to be a lot of bad guys, and any one of them could have had a reason to kill her. Uncovering the truth is obviously going to be dangerous, but she isn't going to stop!
I think this mystery series is really really good!
I recommend beginning with the first book, The Last Place You Look, before reading this novel as various continuing characters and their relationships with Roxane are explained in more depth. However, if all you need is an interesting and exciting new private detective mystery series, I think 'What You Want To See' is a great story for a weekend read! I really liked it.
Roxane has a new client. Arthur Ungless, owner of a print shop, has become suspicious of his fiancee, Marin Strasser. Is she cheating on him? Roxane follows her and does some research - it looks like Marin IS cheating - but not in the way Arthur thinks. But before Roxane can disentangle the strange activities and family connections Marin is involved with - her body is found! Marin has been shot to death. Plus, Tom and his new partner, Sanko, warn Roxane off of the case.
Roxane is irritated. She is not going to be treated like an amateur, especially an annoying amateur. She has already discovered that Marin was leading a double life. The cops might think Arthur murdered Marin too, and she likes Arthur, so she is going to clear him if she can. Marin's former associates appear to be a lot of bad guys, and any one of them could have had a reason to kill her. Uncovering the truth is obviously going to be dangerous, but she isn't going to stop!
I think this mystery series is really really good!
July 3, 2018
First Sentence: Urban renewal was in the air on Bryden Road.
Who is Marin Strasser? PI Roxane Weary job is to find the answer to that question. Her client, who hired her suspecting his wife, Marin, was having an affair, is charged with murder after Marin was seen arguing with a man that resulted in her being shot. Roxane doesn't believe her client is guilty. The more she digs into Marin's background, the more she finds Marin was not who she appeared to be.
What a great opening which establishes the author's very matter-of-fact voice and a strong sense of place. Her imagery is equally strong—"Surveillance work was nothing but an odd, shaded view into someone's life, like watching television with the sound off." Lepionka's wry humor is nicely done—"…my mother, Geneviere, was saying while she poked at something in the oven. I stood at the counter with a cutting board and a jumbo Vidalia in front of me, because she was an eternal optimist and still thought I'd learned how to chop an onion properly at some point in my life."
The nice thing about Roxane's family is its normalcy. Some members get on better than others. There are squabbles and insecurities, support and love. Her family even extends to her friend, and former lover, Tom, about whose new girlfriend Roxane is conflicted—"She was girlfriend material, but she wasn't a partner. …She wasn't bone-deep loyal. She wasn't ride-or-die. Or maybe I just didn't want to like her after all." Although Roxane is independent, smart, and capable, she is also vulnerable which makes her even more human. A question provides a revealing statement about her—"Do you like being a detective?" …It almost didn't matter if I liked it, because it was the only thing I could do. I needed to do it, whether I wanted to or not."—and the self-justification of one who drinks too much—"I liked whiskey. … I didn't have a problem with drinking, I told myself, but with everything else. I had an unhappiness problem."
What an interesting trail the plot leads us down. It has a strong sense of reality in that, although there is a mystery, it's also about relationships which have highs and lows, which work and don't work. Lepionka is very good at shifting gears in the level of intensity and it's very effective. The story builds on itself, layer-upon-layer, even though there is a questionable procedural detail of having the police cross jurisdictions without notifying the other department, but that's a very small point.
"What You Want to See" is very well done with complex characters, and dramatic climax followed by an unexpected twist.
WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE: A Roxane Weary Novel (PI-Roxane Weary-Ohio-Contemp) - VG
Lepionka, Kristen – 2nd in series
Minotaur Books – May 2018
Who is Marin Strasser? PI Roxane Weary job is to find the answer to that question. Her client, who hired her suspecting his wife, Marin, was having an affair, is charged with murder after Marin was seen arguing with a man that resulted in her being shot. Roxane doesn't believe her client is guilty. The more she digs into Marin's background, the more she finds Marin was not who she appeared to be.
What a great opening which establishes the author's very matter-of-fact voice and a strong sense of place. Her imagery is equally strong—"Surveillance work was nothing but an odd, shaded view into someone's life, like watching television with the sound off." Lepionka's wry humor is nicely done—"…my mother, Geneviere, was saying while she poked at something in the oven. I stood at the counter with a cutting board and a jumbo Vidalia in front of me, because she was an eternal optimist and still thought I'd learned how to chop an onion properly at some point in my life."
The nice thing about Roxane's family is its normalcy. Some members get on better than others. There are squabbles and insecurities, support and love. Her family even extends to her friend, and former lover, Tom, about whose new girlfriend Roxane is conflicted—"She was girlfriend material, but she wasn't a partner. …She wasn't bone-deep loyal. She wasn't ride-or-die. Or maybe I just didn't want to like her after all." Although Roxane is independent, smart, and capable, she is also vulnerable which makes her even more human. A question provides a revealing statement about her—"Do you like being a detective?" …It almost didn't matter if I liked it, because it was the only thing I could do. I needed to do it, whether I wanted to or not."—and the self-justification of one who drinks too much—"I liked whiskey. … I didn't have a problem with drinking, I told myself, but with everything else. I had an unhappiness problem."
What an interesting trail the plot leads us down. It has a strong sense of reality in that, although there is a mystery, it's also about relationships which have highs and lows, which work and don't work. Lepionka is very good at shifting gears in the level of intensity and it's very effective. The story builds on itself, layer-upon-layer, even though there is a questionable procedural detail of having the police cross jurisdictions without notifying the other department, but that's a very small point.
"What You Want to See" is very well done with complex characters, and dramatic climax followed by an unexpected twist.
WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE: A Roxane Weary Novel (PI-Roxane Weary-Ohio-Contemp) - VG
Lepionka, Kristen – 2nd in series
Minotaur Books – May 2018
November 8, 2019
4.5! Happy (& a little surprised) to report that this was just as good, maybe better, then the first! It’s (in some ways a typical) private detective procedural, where you learn & try to decipher each clue with Roxanne. But the intricate story & the exceedingly realistic characters in the book, absolutely set these apart from the norm. Even if you’re getting a little sick of the whole PI thing, if you like suspense I totally recommend you give these a chance (plz start with the 1st!) I’ll pick up the next 1 ASAP, & I hope there are even several more to come!
November 11, 2020
I fielded two job offers, one from a law firm and the other from a big security agency in town. I didn’t take either of them too seriously. The money would have been nice, but I didn’t love the idea of someone else telling me what to do, not after being the one in charge of what I did for the past ten years. As it was, I had a hard time listening to myself.
Columbus-based printer Arthur Ungless, hires PI Roxane Weary to check out his fiancée, a younger woman named Marin Strasser, to see if she is being unfaithful. After uneventfully shadowing her for days, her former boyfriend-with-benefits, Tom, a detective who knew her late father in the police, approaches her as Strasser’s body has been found, to warn her off.
Thus begins an engaging mystery, as told in first person by Roxane with a razor-sharp wit, as she follows numerous leads to the fiancée, and her links to stolen antiques and property fraud.
High Street Antiquities…was a glorified junk shop, packed wall-to-wall with artefacts spanning the entire breadth of American history, stacked haphazardly around narrow aisles. It resembled a place about to get burned down for the insurance money.
When Arthur is shot outside his printing office and a young woman is gunned down, Roxane hears of Strasser’s earlier marriage to yet another older man, the late Bill Harlow, leading her to other members of his family.
They were fraternal twins, fiftyish, bespectacled, attractive in that way that money made you attractive, whether you were or not.
This was one of the most entertaining and intelligent books I have read in a long time. I have never visited Columbus OH but as the names of districts had me googling, I hope one day to address that: Olde Towne East, Rush Run, Victorian Village, Italian Village, Upper Arlington, Hocking Hills. Add a host of colourful characters, sexual ambivalence and laugh-out-loud moments as Roxane is drawn deeper into the mire, close friends and family members dragged along with it.
Suzy Kinnaman led me over to the front porch, where we sat in those plastic Adirondack chairs that make you lean back awkwardly. A few seconds later, the garage door closed. It did not escape my notice that Sam’s family did not want me in their home or around their stuff, even the items that no longer sparked joy.
Verdict: will definitely chase up by more by this author and her wonderful MC, Roxane Weary, PI.
Columbus-based printer Arthur Ungless, hires PI Roxane Weary to check out his fiancée, a younger woman named Marin Strasser, to see if she is being unfaithful. After uneventfully shadowing her for days, her former boyfriend-with-benefits, Tom, a detective who knew her late father in the police, approaches her as Strasser’s body has been found, to warn her off.
Thus begins an engaging mystery, as told in first person by Roxane with a razor-sharp wit, as she follows numerous leads to the fiancée, and her links to stolen antiques and property fraud.
High Street Antiquities…was a glorified junk shop, packed wall-to-wall with artefacts spanning the entire breadth of American history, stacked haphazardly around narrow aisles. It resembled a place about to get burned down for the insurance money.
When Arthur is shot outside his printing office and a young woman is gunned down, Roxane hears of Strasser’s earlier marriage to yet another older man, the late Bill Harlow, leading her to other members of his family.
They were fraternal twins, fiftyish, bespectacled, attractive in that way that money made you attractive, whether you were or not.
This was one of the most entertaining and intelligent books I have read in a long time. I have never visited Columbus OH but as the names of districts had me googling, I hope one day to address that: Olde Towne East, Rush Run, Victorian Village, Italian Village, Upper Arlington, Hocking Hills. Add a host of colourful characters, sexual ambivalence and laugh-out-loud moments as Roxane is drawn deeper into the mire, close friends and family members dragged along with it.
Suzy Kinnaman led me over to the front porch, where we sat in those plastic Adirondack chairs that make you lean back awkwardly. A few seconds later, the garage door closed. It did not escape my notice that Sam’s family did not want me in their home or around their stuff, even the items that no longer sparked joy.
Verdict: will definitely chase up by more by this author and her wonderful MC, Roxane Weary, PI.
June 21, 2018
Another terrific tale of Private Eye Roxane Weary, the 2nd in the series. This time, Roxane has been hired to follow Marin Strasser whose fiancee - print shop owner Arthur Ungless - thinks is having an affair. Just as her investigation gets under way, Marin is gunned down in the street after an argument in a restaurant with Arthur and the police believe he was the killer.
Although warned to stay out of the case, Roxane believes her client is innocent and then discovers Marin had stolen thousands of dollars from Arthur's bank account, giving the police more reason to believe they've got their man.
At the end of the first book in this series, Roxane was coping with her policeman father's death and the loss of her former lovers Catherine and Tom. The latter now has a new girlfriend who Roxane thinks is completely wrong for him, but Tom's girlfriend wants Roxane as her BFF!
As the story swings between her unconventional love life and her inquiries into Marin's background, there are more murders, including a shooting at Arthur's print shop which leads Roxane to investigate a former employee named Leila and the discovery that Marin has as son called Nate, who is out to avenge his mother's death.
Although there are several other threads to the story - from property scams, antique thefts and society's care of the elderly - the action is fast-paced and crammed into just 300 pages. While Roxane does refer to her previous detective work, the author takes time to explain some of her background so that this story can be read as a stand alone. But, take my advice and start with the series opener "The Last Place You Look". Believe me, once you've read these books, you'll thank me!
Highly recommended.
Although warned to stay out of the case, Roxane believes her client is innocent and then discovers Marin had stolen thousands of dollars from Arthur's bank account, giving the police more reason to believe they've got their man.
At the end of the first book in this series, Roxane was coping with her policeman father's death and the loss of her former lovers Catherine and Tom. The latter now has a new girlfriend who Roxane thinks is completely wrong for him, but Tom's girlfriend wants Roxane as her BFF!
As the story swings between her unconventional love life and her inquiries into Marin's background, there are more murders, including a shooting at Arthur's print shop which leads Roxane to investigate a former employee named Leila and the discovery that Marin has as son called Nate, who is out to avenge his mother's death.
Although there are several other threads to the story - from property scams, antique thefts and society's care of the elderly - the action is fast-paced and crammed into just 300 pages. While Roxane does refer to her previous detective work, the author takes time to explain some of her background so that this story can be read as a stand alone. But, take my advice and start with the series opener "The Last Place You Look". Believe me, once you've read these books, you'll thank me!
Highly recommended.
July 13, 2019
This was better than average. And I'll read #3. In this very crowded genre, Roxane Weary stands out. Not for her identity politics label either. It's because she's multi-faceted in her moods, rationalizing, pushiness, flawed factors- all of it. The opposite of flat and just a sleuth, investigator, dick. She comes alive as a whole and very real human.
And the writing skill is nearly a 5 star. For me, it was. In fact, if I had not known that she had passed in 2017 I would have surmised this was Sue Grafton under another name. It's in Columbus Ohio instead of Santa Clara- but I feel this individual is quite close to Kinsey. Sisters in more ways that one. Only Roxane is more modern and edgy. Not pretending to be edgy either. Nor as any affected attachment to growing maturity/ age/ self-identity. She truly is.
The plot is extremely convoluted. To the point that you know of at least 3 or 4 other major crimes and all their dithers and courses before you begin to get a window into the original Marin case searching. And the Marin character herself! She was no flimsy victim of shallow depth either. By the ending you certainly saw a life picture in 10 mirrors. Many, many characters reflect- family, in-laws, troubled strangers accidentally or chaos event met- whatever. All written well. Far beyond the average series of independent or small association detective ploys. There must be 100's, if not 1000's of these genre series (so many amateur efforts) out there now. Many self-published or printed.
Quite beyond the plot forms there are more than 2 or 3 aspects of this writing that are nearly 5 star. The unique "thoughts" used as place setters or time between observation hang-ons. Like the time Roxane is put into a tailing and waiting mode to some subjects and views the typical midwestern plastic bag and empty trashed water bottle tornado blowing across the street opening. Numerous delicious placements and surrounds like that one worded succinctly and sublime for the "real". I loved that quality and would read more of hers for that alone. And I do not know Columbus but have been there and I loved her using the buildings "known" and the territory so described. She excels at this description. Many fail miserably that try to get the ambiance of a smaller city "place", IMHO.
It loses a bit for me in the love interest ploys. Like within the last partings, bickerings between her and Tom about how to avoid the "strangeness" of aftermath. With Catherine too. It puts into the emotional a reality, sure. Yet I just think it is too heavy and often for Roxane. Looking to how/ what she ends up involving her family, neighbors, friends within! She would be too busy fixing the afterwards to have such parsing nice-nice sensibilities, IMHO. But it helps to pull in the Chick Lit. readers, I'd guess. And if you are in love with someone, you most often do not put them in situations that serve them up bodily injury. Roxane has the habit of doing just that in nearly every case. In this one, injury incurs nearly for the full circle. Very good for the hospital business.
Start with book #1 and take this series on. It's a keeper. Very, very similar to Sue Grafton in her ambivalence of "eyes". Reminds me immensely of the earliest Kinsey when she found her second husband in the tryst with his friend. Although Kinsey was mentally and physically in a much more structured and "norm" centered era "think"- than the present. Now it's the opposite. Down is up and up is down for mores. The living arrangements are progressing to be similar too. I can absolutely see what is coming in #3. That 18 year old is going to be Roxane's organizer. Some one who actually shops and cooks on top of it.
Lastly, all who like action will love this one as well. So much action that it could make an interesting and fast paced movie. Chases, accidents, shoot outs, crazy old lady home - lots of visuals.
And the writing skill is nearly a 5 star. For me, it was. In fact, if I had not known that she had passed in 2017 I would have surmised this was Sue Grafton under another name. It's in Columbus Ohio instead of Santa Clara- but I feel this individual is quite close to Kinsey. Sisters in more ways that one. Only Roxane is more modern and edgy. Not pretending to be edgy either. Nor as any affected attachment to growing maturity/ age/ self-identity. She truly is.
The plot is extremely convoluted. To the point that you know of at least 3 or 4 other major crimes and all their dithers and courses before you begin to get a window into the original Marin case searching. And the Marin character herself! She was no flimsy victim of shallow depth either. By the ending you certainly saw a life picture in 10 mirrors. Many, many characters reflect- family, in-laws, troubled strangers accidentally or chaos event met- whatever. All written well. Far beyond the average series of independent or small association detective ploys. There must be 100's, if not 1000's of these genre series (so many amateur efforts) out there now. Many self-published or printed.
Quite beyond the plot forms there are more than 2 or 3 aspects of this writing that are nearly 5 star. The unique "thoughts" used as place setters or time between observation hang-ons. Like the time Roxane is put into a tailing and waiting mode to some subjects and views the typical midwestern plastic bag and empty trashed water bottle tornado blowing across the street opening. Numerous delicious placements and surrounds like that one worded succinctly and sublime for the "real". I loved that quality and would read more of hers for that alone. And I do not know Columbus but have been there and I loved her using the buildings "known" and the territory so described. She excels at this description. Many fail miserably that try to get the ambiance of a smaller city "place", IMHO.
It loses a bit for me in the love interest ploys. Like within the last partings, bickerings between her and Tom about how to avoid the "strangeness" of aftermath. With Catherine too. It puts into the emotional a reality, sure. Yet I just think it is too heavy and often for Roxane. Looking to how/ what she ends up involving her family, neighbors, friends within! She would be too busy fixing the afterwards to have such parsing nice-nice sensibilities, IMHO. But it helps to pull in the Chick Lit. readers, I'd guess. And if you are in love with someone, you most often do not put them in situations that serve them up bodily injury. Roxane has the habit of doing just that in nearly every case. In this one, injury incurs nearly for the full circle. Very good for the hospital business.
Start with book #1 and take this series on. It's a keeper. Very, very similar to Sue Grafton in her ambivalence of "eyes". Reminds me immensely of the earliest Kinsey when she found her second husband in the tryst with his friend. Although Kinsey was mentally and physically in a much more structured and "norm" centered era "think"- than the present. Now it's the opposite. Down is up and up is down for mores. The living arrangements are progressing to be similar too. I can absolutely see what is coming in #3. That 18 year old is going to be Roxane's organizer. Some one who actually shops and cooks on top of it.
Lastly, all who like action will love this one as well. So much action that it could make an interesting and fast paced movie. Chases, accidents, shoot outs, crazy old lady home - lots of visuals.
December 30, 2020
What You Want to See was a fantastic read featuring an intriguing plot centered around the death of a woman with a mysterious past.
Following potentially cheating spouses is an easy job for P.I. Roxane Weary, but her case gets complicated when the woman she's following, Marin Strasser, turns up dead and the cops like Roxane's client for the murder. But Roxane doesn't believe her client is guilty so she begins digging into Marin's life uncovering a criminal past. When the case leads to a group of con artists who target Roxane's mother to get Roxane to back off, Roxane is more determined than ever to solve the case.
Marin's death proved to be an interesting case as the more Roxane looked into the woman's life, the more secrets she uncovered. At first Roxane couldn't find any actual information about the woman which meant she had to explore some unlikely avenues. From a pawn shop to a mental institution, Marin's past proved difficult to track down. After the introduction of the group of con artists, the pacing picked up and things got even more interesting. The ending of the book was suspenseful and action-packed with a few unexpected twists.
Roxane continues to be a kickass character who since the events of the first book has pulled herself together a bit. Her life is still somewhat of a mess, but significantly less so than in The Last Place You Look. Roxane's personal relationships with Tom and Catherine continue to be interesting and I love the bisexual rep in this series with Roxane's character. Work wise, Roxane is a very good at what she does and is willing to employ unorthodox methods to get the job done. I enjoyed watching her puzzle out what was going on and solving the case.
Overall I really enjoyed What You Want to See and I'm looking forward to reading the next book, The Stories You Tell, soon. I highly recommend this series if you're looking for some great mysteries with a kickass female lead.
Following potentially cheating spouses is an easy job for P.I. Roxane Weary, but her case gets complicated when the woman she's following, Marin Strasser, turns up dead and the cops like Roxane's client for the murder. But Roxane doesn't believe her client is guilty so she begins digging into Marin's life uncovering a criminal past. When the case leads to a group of con artists who target Roxane's mother to get Roxane to back off, Roxane is more determined than ever to solve the case.
Marin's death proved to be an interesting case as the more Roxane looked into the woman's life, the more secrets she uncovered. At first Roxane couldn't find any actual information about the woman which meant she had to explore some unlikely avenues. From a pawn shop to a mental institution, Marin's past proved difficult to track down. After the introduction of the group of con artists, the pacing picked up and things got even more interesting. The ending of the book was suspenseful and action-packed with a few unexpected twists.
Roxane continues to be a kickass character who since the events of the first book has pulled herself together a bit. Her life is still somewhat of a mess, but significantly less so than in The Last Place You Look. Roxane's personal relationships with Tom and Catherine continue to be interesting and I love the bisexual rep in this series with Roxane's character. Work wise, Roxane is a very good at what she does and is willing to employ unorthodox methods to get the job done. I enjoyed watching her puzzle out what was going on and solving the case.
Overall I really enjoyed What You Want to See and I'm looking forward to reading the next book, The Stories You Tell, soon. I highly recommend this series if you're looking for some great mysteries with a kickass female lead.
November 23, 2020
That was quite the noir story. But with a female private eye which seemed less traditional. Even though this was the 2nd in the series, it wasn’t too difficult to read without reading the first. I think I missed out on some character development but not enough to harm the flow of the story. I have to admit that she’s not my favorite PI but I did like a lot of the other characters. Tom being the best in my opinion but he needs to get rid of that girlfriend of his. She seems like a space cadet.
May 4, 2018
What You Want to See should have been an auspicious return for likeable PI Roxane Weary, who made such a favorable impression in The Last Place You Look. Roxane is a scrappy survivor in the Kinsey Millhone mode, eschewing domesticity and fashionable dress and hiding a tender interior under her prickly demeanor. Her second appearance is initially promising, as Roxane pursues a putatively unfaithful wife, Marin, for her gormless client, Arthur in the classic PI tradition. Marin is a classic, delicate blonde who bears more than a passing resemblance to Roxane's shifty, unfaithful love interest, Catherine, whom she renounces at the end of Book 1. Much more could have been made of Marin, whom we only know from the reactions of those who either loved or hated her, a la Rebecca or Laura. But she quickly devolves into a run-of-the-mill villain and the book veers off into a cluttered narrative with no less than 39 named characters who have dialog in a 292-page book. At one point, Roxane gets out a pack of index cards and writes down the names of the people she has to deal with. As a reader, you will want to do the same thing. I recommend you buy a pack of 50, because there are some characters who are deceased before the narrative begins, but you will need to know who they are.
The author is at her best in her characterization of Roxane and the other love of her life, steady-eddy Tom. Their dialog at the end of the book is very fine. Prior to that, Roxane appears to be on the road to recovery from her alcoholism (shared by her late father) by simply breaking her shot glass and declaring "I'm lonely" (which may be overly optimistic in its prognosis.) Tom has little to say here, but he is a well-drawn and believable character. Catherine is the most complex personage so far, and may be showing Roxane "what she wants to see" in contrast to her blatant selfishness and total unreliability in Book 1. Similarly, beautiful blonde Marin showed Roxane's client, Arthur, what he wanted to see and not much more.
In contrast to the main characters' excellent development, the author's powers of description are quite limited and so we get very little sense of the ambiance in Columbus, Ohio, if indeed there is any. Lepionka might consider studying the work of Loren Estleman who makes the rutted streets of Detroit shine like glass. And even the characters are somewhat marred by this weakness: "her pale green eyes" is a phrase repeated four times in the description of Catherine, sometimes on adjacent pages. I get it already.
In terms of the plot, instead of description and summarization, we have all these extraneous characters trooping in, complete with names and speaking parts. So rather than summarize a phone call in which we learn that a minor character has not been seen in the office lately (dum-de-dum-dum), the author gives the person who answers the phone a name--Emily-and half a page of dialog. We don't need this. We don't need Charlotte, or Molly, or Simon, or Janet, or Miss Zahra, to name a few. Speaking of names, suburban women who are described as dressing in "lululemon outfits that cost more than my whole wardrobe" do not name their daughters Brandy. Try Chloe or Emma. But we don't need her either. The cumulative effect of all this clutter is to obscure the well-written action scenes, make us work to follow the crime scenarios, and ultimately care less who the murderer(s) turns out to be, who, by the way, is (are) not interesting at all. Murderers need character development too.
I pre-ordered this book with great anticipation from my local independent bookseller and paid cold hard cash for it. My review may be biased because it cost me the price of a couple of beers and a hamburger. I did not follow Kinsey Millhone all the way through the alphabet, and I may not follow Roxane Weary to book 3. I wish her well, though.
The author is at her best in her characterization of Roxane and the other love of her life, steady-eddy Tom. Their dialog at the end of the book is very fine. Prior to that, Roxane appears to be on the road to recovery from her alcoholism (shared by her late father) by simply breaking her shot glass and declaring "I'm lonely" (which may be overly optimistic in its prognosis.) Tom has little to say here, but he is a well-drawn and believable character. Catherine is the most complex personage so far, and may be showing Roxane "what she wants to see" in contrast to her blatant selfishness and total unreliability in Book 1. Similarly, beautiful blonde Marin showed Roxane's client, Arthur, what he wanted to see and not much more.
In contrast to the main characters' excellent development, the author's powers of description are quite limited and so we get very little sense of the ambiance in Columbus, Ohio, if indeed there is any. Lepionka might consider studying the work of Loren Estleman who makes the rutted streets of Detroit shine like glass. And even the characters are somewhat marred by this weakness: "her pale green eyes" is a phrase repeated four times in the description of Catherine, sometimes on adjacent pages. I get it already.
In terms of the plot, instead of description and summarization, we have all these extraneous characters trooping in, complete with names and speaking parts. So rather than summarize a phone call in which we learn that a minor character has not been seen in the office lately (dum-de-dum-dum), the author gives the person who answers the phone a name--Emily-and half a page of dialog. We don't need this. We don't need Charlotte, or Molly, or Simon, or Janet, or Miss Zahra, to name a few. Speaking of names, suburban women who are described as dressing in "lululemon outfits that cost more than my whole wardrobe" do not name their daughters Brandy. Try Chloe or Emma. But we don't need her either. The cumulative effect of all this clutter is to obscure the well-written action scenes, make us work to follow the crime scenarios, and ultimately care less who the murderer(s) turns out to be, who, by the way, is (are) not interesting at all. Murderers need character development too.
I pre-ordered this book with great anticipation from my local independent bookseller and paid cold hard cash for it. My review may be biased because it cost me the price of a couple of beers and a hamburger. I did not follow Kinsey Millhone all the way through the alphabet, and I may not follow Roxane Weary to book 3. I wish her well, though.
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