Review: Brandy with a serious side
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 4, 2013
I picked up the first Brandy Alexander book when I was looking for a romantic mystery series several years ago. Someone on the Amazon romance forum suggested this series and I promptly bought all three paperback books. I read the first, No Such Thing As A Secret and enjoyed the mystery and the character interactions. By the end of the second book I was feeling a definite attachment to Brandy and her friends and wanted to see where the main relationship was headed. With each book the characters became more real and well-developed, and the mysteries got better. By the end of book three Brandy and the gang were definitely "in my life" and I spent time thinking about them even when I wasn't reading. I then had to wait for book four for almost a year!Why am I drawn to these characters? I can't say for sure. There is a mix of reality and farce in Brandy's adventures, and the humor is combined with serious situations in the mysteries. One thing that is obvious by the end of book 2- Brandy isn't a stagnant character--doing and saying the same things over and over for a laugh. She grows and matures through the books, while keeping some of her klutzy charm. As Brandy grows, the mysteries in the books become more serious and more relevant. Book four, No Such Thing As A Free Ride, deals with runaway teens and life on the streets. There are no easy answers or quick fixes offered. This book, No Such Thing as a Lost Cause, deals with dog fighting. Parts of it aren't easy to read, but it's well-done and well-researched.But for me, the key to the books is the way I connect with the characters. I've watched Nick and Brandy grow closer through five books now, and I care about them and their problems. Fredman somehow writes these characters so they feel real to me. That doesn't mean I think there are many Nick's around. But given the character Fredman has written, he is consistent and believable.If I've heard correctly, there is one more book to go. I don't know when that one will be out, but I'll wait as patiently as possible for the conclusion.