Blog Tour: Last Diner Standing by Terri L. Austin (review)

Last Diner Standing
written by Terri L. Austin
published by Henery Press

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iBooks, Book Depository, Goodreads

Why did I pick this book: I participated in the blog tour hosted by CLP Blog Tours. (I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)

Did I enjoy this book: I did enjoy this book. It was a fun read that kept me interested from beginning to the end.

Last Diner Standing is the first book I have read by Terri L. Austin. I will have to pick up more by her, especially Diners, Dives & Dead Ends. I really want to know about Rose’s past. Anyway … onto this book …we meet Rose at Ma’s Diner where she receives a phone call that her best friend Janelle is in jail for attempted murder. So starts Rose’s quest to prove her friend innocent. She is a private investigator, but not really. She is only doing this for her friend. She wants to find out who put Janelle’s ex-husband in a comma, almost killing him.

Rose is a great detective. She is thoroughly, sneaky, and gets the information. She’s not afraid to break into someone’s house or car. She’s not afraid to get talk to the people involved. She’s not afraid to ask the tough questions. It’s pretty cool considering she is a college student without a major who works at a diner and pisses her socialite mother off in the process. All sorts of fun! The cast of characters and suspects is quite extensive. I was confused a bit in the beginning but I got to know most of them by the end. There are still a few that I’m not sure about. I did enjoy some of the nicknames. Those were creative.

I did not see the end coming at all! What a surprise! I love it when I don’t guess the killer. However, I did think the end wrapped up rather neatly.

Also, I felt like the diner breakfast/lunch war was a bit of a throwaway. I would have thought it would have played a much more prominent role in the book considering the title.

Would I recommend it: I would recommend this book if you enjoy fun whodunits and chick lit.

Will I read it again: I will not.

About the book – from Goodreads: Rose Strickland is having a blue Christmas. Her friend is arrested for attempted murder, her sexy bad guy crush is marked by a hit man, and her boss is locked in an epic smackdown with a rival diner. Determined to save those she loves, Rose embarks on an investigation more tangled than a box of last year’s tree lights. With her eclectic gang at the ready, Rose stumbles across dead bodies, ex-cons, chop shops, jealous girlfriends, jilted lovers, and a gaggle of strippers in a battle for freedom she might not survive.

About the author: As a girl, Terri L. Austin thought she’d outgrow dreaming up stories and creating imaginary friends. Instead, she’s made a career of it. She met her own Prince Charming and together they live in Missouri. She loves to hear from readers.

Find Ms. Austin here: web, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads