Author: Jennifer Sturman
Genre: Mystery / Chick Lit
Form: Paperback (my copy)
Publisher: Red Dress Ink
'The Pact' Book Description:
What do you do when one of your close friends is about to marry a ‘nefarious troll’? No, he’s really not a troll, nothing supernatural or mythical about this one, just really wicked.
Rachel Benjamin and her friends are not all pleased with the upcoming wedding of Emma Furlong (their friend) and Richard Mallory (the nefarious troll). And no, it’s not because of the unflattering bridesmaid’s dresses that they are about to wear the next day. It's because of Richard - they hate him. Why he managed to be hated by all of Emma’s friends is for you to find out.
So when the groom-to-be was found dead, floating face down in the pool the morning of the wedding, no one is really upset – in fact, most of them are relieved. Is it suicide (highly unlikely) or murder? If it’s murder, it automatically makes almost everyone a suspect – including Rachel and her friends.
A decade ago, Rachel and her girl friends decided to make a pact – one that will keep each other safe from appalling and undeserving men – by any means necessary. Will that promise lead to murder? Only one way to find out. Join Rachel as she does some digging of her own, an investigation that will not only get tricky but will present some very interesting leads…
Book Review: The Pact
“I didn’t expect _____ to be the killer on this one. I love a good puzzle and mystery – Very appealing plot!” – My Book and My Coffee
First of all, when I first saw this book, just from reading the title ‘The Pact’, I thought that it is a romance novel. I was so happy when I saw the book tagline – “Weddings can be murder”. I knew I had to buy it, and I did. And I am not sorry that I ever did.
Oh, don’t get me wrong, I love a good romance novel, too.
The Pact is actually the first book in the “Rachel Benjamin series”. It was an easy read for me, and I definitely love the plot. I do enjoy a good mystery, and this book has it, with a dash of romance which adds to the book’s ‘want-to-read-more’ factor. I was hooked, curious about who really ‘dunnit’. I wanted to know if Emma’s friends or one of them really did take the pact too far. And if so, who’s the culprit? I also wanted to know if it was Emma’s love interest, Peter (the nefarious troll’s best man). The whole mystery is really appealing, and I applaud Jennifer Sturman for that.
Jennifer Sturman created some really cool characters here, especially Rachel and her girl friends. Rachel Benjamin’s character, an investment banker, did well as an amateur sleuth. Although, I would sure love to know more about the other characters. Just a little ‘juice’ will do to make the friendship and the whole mystery more interesting than it already is. But then I know that this is not how the story was crafted, which is really okay by me. I still love the story, and would recommend for you guys to read it if you’re up for an easy, fast-paced chick lit mystery.
