Review: Listening to Loose Screw with Kindle Robot
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 08 20, 2011
With all the usual qualifications as to robot reading, this book comes off well on Kindle. It follows the path of the increasingly prevalent generic mystery, girl talk with best friend about boys, girl worries about self and about self vis-a-vis boy, temporary denouement with boy (nature determined by overall intentions for  for series), subordinate mystery plot to serve romantic purposes. Some of these books are very, very successful, others are routine, run of the mill efforts, others never rise to the level of general readability. Of course, there are many gradations within these categories and, completely  outside the boundaries of this type are the romances created by such Masters/Mistresses of the detective story as Dorothy Sayers for whom romance (Lord Peters love for the reluctant Harriet Vane)is intrinsic to classic mysteries.With that in mind, I am sure any potential reader should take my star ratings with the usual tablespoon of salt. I am growing weary of this sub-genre as it becomes an increasingly popular fashion among writers (presumably because it is increasingly popular with readers). So far as I can make out this is a readable book which should bring enjoyment to those who are delighted by this kind of book. The lead character needs work from the author to become more of a substantial figure and more credible as a person who would generate respect from others in her social environment. The animal character, it is essential these days to have the right kind of dog or cat, or assortment of these and perhaps horses, cows or others, to share one's living space, is about right. He is a big but non-aggressive dog, who will, no doubt, be given even more space as the series proceeds. The best friend is a bit nebulous but has been given the basic characteristics which can be built upon to make her properly eccentric with the usual heart of gold. Whether the heroin's on-again, off-again, newspaper career will engender an interesting feature is yet to be shown; her basic identity in this book is as owner of an antique shop (with her best friend being a neighbor with a book shop).All in all, the author and her readers, should look forward to additional books in the series. This one shows promise for the future.