Quarter Finalist

Assessment:

Plot: This excellent new work has it all: an engaging plot, an extremely likable hero with a crime-solving canine partner, and a generous amount of humor. It's a light-hearted mystery in the style of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels. The plot is clever and fast-paced.

Prose/Style: The author is a superb writer who balances action, humor, and dialogue perfectly. The writing here is engaging and familiar, so the reader feels like they're connecting with an old friend.

Originality: This is a highly original work with distinctive characters and an inventive storyline.

Character Development/Execution: There are many, many things to love about this work, but the one crucial component that makes this story work so well is its first-person perspective. This allows the reader to enter Cyn's self-deprecating, quirky mind which will cause the reader fall in love with her.

Blurb: Delightfully clever and decidedly fun, readers will fall in love with Cynthia Sharp and her canine partner, Sgt. Winnifred Pupperson - the best crime-fighting duo since Batman and Robin.

Date Submitted: July 08, 2021