Rapunzel, a mystery penned by Molly Greene, finds two former college friends coming together to solve the murder of a young chemical engineer. The action kicks off when wannabe investigative journalist Bree Butler arrives to find her interview subject very much dead. She immediately becomes a suspect in the case and ends up seeking the assistance of Gen Delacourt, a lawyer who now works as a private investigator.
The narrative shifts back and forth between each woman’s point of view as they seek to clear Bree’s name while also uncovering what really happened. Along the way, Bree ends up spending time with the CEO of the company the murdered man worked for. The peril Bree finds herself in throughout the story drives it forward, and I found her to be the most engaging of the two main characters.
As a reader who covets an author’s ability to develop a sense of place, Greene’s ability to create a realistic atmosphere functioned to draw me through the novel. The scenes take place in and around San Francisco’s Bay Area and are filled with rich and believable detail. The author spares no expense in giving her characters a grand stage to walk upon.
Initially, my reader radar sounded in the early chapters of Rapunzel. Bree’s grand entrance is marked by her tripping awkwardly ala Anastasia Steele of E.L. James Fifty Shades of Grey. Later, she takes a helicopter ride with CEO Vonnegon and compares it to feeling like Cinderella. Other shades of Christian Grey also surface regarding the assertion, “I’d like to know what’s on the inside. Who he is on the outside if obvious.” Finally, he apologizes for taking calls in front of Bree, which also raised a little Fifty Shades deju vu.
While the mystery does unfold practically flawlessly, I found myself wanting to make more of a connection with the characters and thematic elements. However, I readily admit to being a reader who will forgo surface action in favor of delving into psychological traits and layered meaning. Greene’s narrative works, I just always want more.
Luckily, those minor points did not cause much detriment to an otherwise engaging read. Gen Delacourt also makes an appearance in Molly Greene’s debut novel The Mark of the Loon. It will be interesting to see how the author develops her character in future mysteries.
What qualities do you look for in a good mystery?
You can connect with Molly and her social sites via her blog or find her books on Amazon.
For more insight, read my Book Review Criteria. Please share responsibly. Jeri Walker, 2014.
This sounds more like a movie I would like to see rather than a book I would like to read. Hmmm….
exactly my thought, Cheryl! 😀
Diana, this is a very cinematic book. Molly chose a fantastic setting that would indeed make for a great filming location.
Always interesting to see characters move from story to story…for my viewpoint, I can get attached them! Good review!
Jacquie, finding characters that can move from book to book is like striking a literary gold mine when they’re good. It’s hard to say what makes that type of reader attachment happens, but we always know it when we come across it.
I like the surface view. I like to see life as it happens. You don’t get to see everyones inner workings in real life either.
Although, every now and then it is fun to sit back and know even the nuances of what is going on as well.
Jon, but when a story has too much surface it can tend to lose it’s heart, at least for me anyway. It’s not so much that I feel the need to know what ever character is thinking, or even just the main character. I’ll have to do a post on how stories originate from daydreams or nightdreams. That will help clarify what I’m trying to get at. Surface story is great, and a mystery definitely needs a strong plot. I just also want a good dose of thematic material to flesh it the surface story as well.
I love all kinds of novels, so I think that with a mystery, one can be forgiven in depth character development as long as the plot is strong. That said there does need to be at least one character who is believable and preferably like able. It seems that Molly has done this. I will definitely check it out, as I love novels set in the Bay Area. Thanks for the review Jeri.
A.K., so good to see you back at blogging. I can see how Molly’s story holds a special appeal to you now that you’re finally back in California and feeling settled.
Ironically Cheryl’s comment hit on exactly what I was thinking re: a movie. One, because it’s set so close to me in San Francisco (which I LOVE), the helicopter ride and obviously a beautiful character. Isn’t interesting how a book cover alone can spin your head around with interest upon first glance or have you moving on to another selection. A fantastically written review, Jeri! You definitely enticed me because of that 🙂
Mike, I really like the look that Molly is going with for her book covers now. Very striking and heavy on primary colors.
I do like mysteries and having lived in the SF bay area would enjoy that setting. I might add this one to my kindle–but gosh, I have such a long list of books for next year already.
Jagoda, there can only be one solution… read more books! I’m singing up for Audible for the coming year. That way I can squeeze an extra book in every month while I’m out walking the dog.
Thank you so much, Jeri, for the lovely review and your kind words. Now you’ve got me thinking that perhaps I should bring Bree back again and see what kind of trouble she can stir up. Thanks again, I deeply appreciate your time and generosity!
Molly, it’s always a pleasure 🙂
I’m always looking for a concrete sense of both TIME and PLACE. This goes for all kinds of fiction as the setting for the story makes the rest of the tale work. That and, of course, credible characters. I’ve read entirely too many mysteries where the characters behaved irrationally or the leapt to conclusion without real evidence. Mysteries are hard to write because of the details. That’s where the veracity — and the devil — lives.
Candy, I am so in awe of Molly and authors such as yourself who can plot a good mystery. In soooo many ways I wish my WIP hasn’t morphed into a bit of a mystery because it really is a tricky genre.
I love murder mysteries! I’d even be willing to do a review and feature you on my blog, Molly Greene, in exchange for a copy of Rapunzel.
BTW, I loved Fifty Shades of Grey, too, Jeri. 😉
I’d like that too, Lorraine, thanks so much for offering! I’ll track you down via your website, or you can email me at [email protected] and we’ll make arrangements. Yaaay!
Molly, that’s wonderful – I’ll email you soon!
Thanks, Jeri, for introducing the two of us!
Merry Christmas, ladies! 🙂
Lorraine, that will be great if you end up reading Molly’s book 🙂
I do love a good mystery. The fact that it’s based in San Francisco intrigues even more. I haven’t read Shades Of Gray so it wouldn’t be something that would interfere with the pleasure of this read. 🙂
Susan, that’s right. Molly is writing about your neck of the woods. Her sense of place really does the area justice.
I really enjoy the historical fiction genre – books that are deeply rooted in enough facts to make me believe it really did (or could) happen.
Dan, the book in question is contemporary 😉
Sounds like a good book to me. As Jeri knows,I alternate between bestsellers and intellectual reading. At the moment I’m relaxing and I have the feeling Rapunzel will do the trick.
Can’t help adding: Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair:-)
Catarina, it will hit the spot if you’re in the mood for a good mystery.
As I’ve said before mysteries and thrillers are what I mainly read for fun and my form of meditation. You escape the cares of the world. For me a mystery has to grab me from the beginning. Not a lot of explaining upfront. Get to something happening right away. Also, it makes me crazy when an author has 3 or 4 subplots going and I have to go back and keep reading the last part of the thread of a subplot. That’s what I like about Lawrence Block and his character Matt Scudder. I just bought reprints of his early novels from the 1970’s when Scudder was a more disreputable character (the later Scudder novels aren’t as well done). Block tells one story that unfolds over the course of the book. I’ve also notice that the best-known authors start repeating themselves and — let’s face it — padding their books. I’m always on the look-out for new authors. Anybody?
Jeannette, I myself have just started exploring the mystery genre more in depth. I’m sure if I find some must reads, I’ll be sure to review them here.
Sounds like a very interesting book. I may need to check it out.
Jason, I hope you do give Rapunzel look. You would probably also like Molly’s book on blogging as well. Blog It! is full of great tips. I learned a number of new things from it.
I can see where San Fran would make a terrific backdrop for a mystery novel. It’s such a compelling city!
I love the cover to this book. It really draws you in.
Doreen, yes Molly certainly picked a striking cover. A reader takes one look at the woman on the cover and instantly wants to know more about her.
Very good review! I personally like when characters go from story to story so I definitely need to check this book out. I’m going to put on my list of 2014 reading. Thanks for the review.
Niekka, I haven’t read too many books where the characters go from story to story. I mostly read stand alone books, but I did have an obsession with Anne Rice’s witch and vampire books when I was in high school. That’s probably the most I ever read characters that inhabited different books.
Sounds like an excellent read for the holidays. I can always enjoy a good mystery.
Debra, that would be so cool if you gave Molly’s book a read. She’s an indie author to keep our eye on.
Oh, I completely missed this post from you! grrr. Oh well, better late than never! I love Molly and subscribe to her blog. I haven’t read this book yet, but I love mysteries and it sounds interesting. I enjoy character pov switching (most of the time, if done well) so this would be intriguing. You did a really good review, Jeri.
Beth, I’ve been following Molly’s blog for quite awhile too. Thanks for saying my review was good. I went back and forth on whether or not to include the Fifty Shades deja vu part, but in the end, I always convince myself to go with the dominant impressions I had while reading a book.
Thank you for the fantastic review, I think that is a perfect book to read when I have a break. I haven’t read this type of books for ages!
Oksana, it really is nice just to sit down and read a book for the sheer pleasure of getting away from the world.
I like mysteries and having being a native from San Francisco, the setting couldn’t be better. Many times I will read a book that the characters are from the bay area because I miss my home state so much. This book looks like a definite read.
I like a mystery to be a mystery. One where that you don’t see the ending coming right from the start. Hate when that happens.