Real life only goes on getting grimmer, so I was in dire need of some reasonably light-hearted escapist reading – and came upon this cheerful cover and breezy blurb. So I went for it – would I regret my off-the-cuff decision?
BLURB: New Jersey prosecutor Sandy Moss is tired of petty criminals, and a new job at a glitzy Los Angeles law firm seems the perfect career move. Putting 3,000 miles between her and her ex-boyfriend is just an added bonus. But on Sandy’s first morning as a family attorney, she inadvertently kills her new career stone dead when she offends her boss during a meeting with the firm’s top celebrity client, charismatic TV star Patrick McNabb. But that’s not as dead as Patrick’s soon-to-be ex-wife, Patsy, is that evening, when she’s discovered shot by an arrow, her husband standing over her. Did Patrick really kill his wife in a dispute over a pair of shoes? All signs point to yes. But Patrick is determined to clear his name, using all the legal skills he’s learned from playing a lawyer on TV, and to Sandy’s deep dismay, she’s the only person he’ll allow to help . . .
REVIEW: It was very soon apparent that Copperman is no novice – the slick introduction that had me rooting for gutsy Sandy within a handful of pages, and the perfect pacing indicated a writer with experience and talent. I enjoyed the initial twist that got Sandy emboiled in the business of trying to defend a client who is deluded into thinking he can get himself out of the unholy mess he finds himself in, because he’s an actor.
Inevitably, while strong characterisation and a well described backdrop are always important, the vital ingredient in a well-told murder mystery is the plotting. It has to be nicely twisty, with several enjoyable surprises along the way, and the final denouement giving one final revelation that neatly ties up the case, leaving the reader satisfied with the ending. That’s the ideal, anyway. Often enough, I’ll happily settle with a cast of intriguing characters, or interesting setting and give the author a pass on the rather ordinary, straightforward murder mystery. However I didn’t have to rein in any expectations regarding Inherit the Shoes – there were all sorts of surprises along the way. And one, in particular, still gives me a buzz of pleasure whenever I think about it.
In the middle of a rather harrowing court case where Sandy has been thrown in at the deep end, she is also struggling to find her feet as a new arrival to the area. I enjoyed her sense of disorientation as she tries to grapple with a different road network and far more traffic, making even the drive to work more of a challenge. All in all, I came away from this story with a real sense of enjoyment at a really well-crafted murder mystery peopled with strong and memorable characters. This classy start to a very promising series is highly recommended for fans of the genre, who like their murder mysteries with plenty of entertaining twists. While I obtained an arc of Inherit the Shoes from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
Brainfluff 
This sounds like a fun way to start the year, and very different from what you usually read. I’ll have to remember this when I need a more upbeat story😁
I particularly liked the tone – it was generally upbeat and quite funny, while dealing with a gripping murder mystery – which is a difficult thing to pull off!
Courtroom drama plus the glitz of Hollywood sounds like a good recipe for an entertaining story, indeed! Thank you so much for showcasing this! 🙂
It was such a delight, Maddalena – and certainly exceeded all my expectations.
I’m glad you had a pleasant experience reading something out of your normal comfort zone. This really does sound like a perfect read for when you need an escape from reality.
It was ideal, Suzanne:). And these days, I’m alll about the escape!
This sounds great – especially that little buzz when you think of one of the plot points.
Lynn 😀
Oh yes – this was a delightful surprise. I expected some light-hearted escapism, but I didn’t expect such a well crafted, gripping whodunit.
I have this one on my list. It sounds really good.
I hope you enjoy it, too, Yvonne:)).
Well this sounds like Sandy is in a real mess. Fantastic review!
Thank you, Anne:). Oh, Sandy flounders to a degree – but without coming across as unduly vapid or victimised. And a lot of it is funny…
I have read a few books by Copperman and always enjoyed them but this one is new to me. I like the sound of it and that Sandy isn’t perfect. I will have to add this to my TBR.
I haven’t read any of Copperman’s books before – but I certainly will be tracking down more of his writing now:).