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Cassandra Ellis #2
Two Wrongs Don't Make a Write
Author Cassie Ellis wants to meet her boyfriend's father, even though he thinks it's a bad idea. For the past nine years, Detective James Whittaker avoided contact with his father after a city-wide scandal made the elder Whittaker retire from the Baltimore Police force in shame.When Whittaker's father is suddenly accused of killing the very police officer that exposed his past crimes, Cassie risks her own reputation -- not to mention her life -- to solve the murder.This novel is the sequel to "Dead to Writes."
- GenresMystery
257 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
60 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Wiley
25 books29 followersCathy Wiley is the author of the Fatal Food Festival series, featuring a former celebrity chef who's trying to regain her career. There have been three short stories in this series published in the Destination Murders anthologies, and the first full-length novel, Claws of Death, will come out on July 29th.
She’s also written two other mystery novels set in Baltimore, Maryland, and has had almost a dozen short stories included in anthologies, one of which was a 2015 finalist for a Derringer Award.
She lives outside of Baltimore with one spoiled cat and an equally spoiled husband. For more information, visit www.cathywiley.com.
She’s also written two other mystery novels set in Baltimore, Maryland, and has had almost a dozen short stories included in anthologies, one of which was a 2015 finalist for a Derringer Award.
She lives outside of Baltimore with one spoiled cat and an equally spoiled husband. For more information, visit www.cathywiley.com.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 4, 2012
This review is based on a copy of the book which I received free from the Publisher through the Goodreads First Reads program.
Cassie Ellis’s boyfriend is a cop who is being obstinate about her meeting his father. While their relationship is on solid ground this seems to be a speed bump.
James Whittaker as a cop is a great source of story material for Cassie although at times she forgets that she is there to observe and write about it, not be a part of the action. Women !!!
So what is James’s hang up with her meeting his father who is an excop. The very reason James is one too.
Finally he relents and takes Cassie to meet his father unannounced at a divey bar where he is the bar tender. Accused of being a dirty cop this is where he has ended up
While James is tracking down a criminal they have been after for a period of time he is advised that the criminal has been killed and James’s father has been taken in as a suspect. WHAT !!!
His father is soon released. Things start to go downhill as the bodies start to pile up – Always a good sign in a murder mystery as the deaths eliminate suspects doesn’t it.
The relationship between Cassie and James is inviting to the reader as they go back and forth at each other. But you know their love is overall controlling their actions.
I can’t tell you whodunnit. But I can say you will enjoy reading this book
Cassie Ellis’s boyfriend is a cop who is being obstinate about her meeting his father. While their relationship is on solid ground this seems to be a speed bump.
James Whittaker as a cop is a great source of story material for Cassie although at times she forgets that she is there to observe and write about it, not be a part of the action. Women !!!
So what is James’s hang up with her meeting his father who is an excop. The very reason James is one too.
Finally he relents and takes Cassie to meet his father unannounced at a divey bar where he is the bar tender. Accused of being a dirty cop this is where he has ended up
While James is tracking down a criminal they have been after for a period of time he is advised that the criminal has been killed and James’s father has been taken in as a suspect. WHAT !!!
His father is soon released. Things start to go downhill as the bodies start to pile up – Always a good sign in a murder mystery as the deaths eliminate suspects doesn’t it.
The relationship between Cassie and James is inviting to the reader as they go back and forth at each other. But you know their love is overall controlling their actions.
I can’t tell you whodunnit. But I can say you will enjoy reading this book
November 12, 2011
Two Wrongs Don't Make a Write is the second in the Cassandra Ellis series by Cathy Wiley. I loved the first book in the series, Dead to Writes, but found the second something of a letdown. I still love the protagonist, Cassie Ellis, a mystery writer with a quick wit, and her relationship with police detective Whitaker but I found both the plot and the relationship too predictable. However, Wiley's style remains highly readable, and I still plan on reading the next book in the series when it comes out. Hopefully, Wiley will be back in stride and the book will offer more surprises to go along with her very pleasant prose.
November 3, 2011
Cassie Ellis is a mystery book author. She’s meticulous about her research even going so far as to take lessons on shooting a gun and the proper stance associated with each particular gun being shot. She visits the places around Baltimore where the action in her book takes place and listens to the police scanner religiously to pick up correct police jargon. It certainly doesn’t hurt that she’s dating hunky James Whittaker, an upstanding and well-respected cop on the Baltimore police force who follows the rules and regulations to the letter. When Whittaker's father is suddenly accused of killing the very police officer that exposed his past crimes, Cassie decides to investigate personally much to the consternation of her boyfriend, James.
I don’t usually read many mysteries, but when the publisher offered a copy for review, I thought it would be a nice break from my usual fantasy genre. I’m glad I accepted. The author does a very good job of letting the reader get to know both Cassie and James. She’s stubborn; he’s overprotective, and between the two of them, misunderstandings happen. I could definitely feel the frustration of both of these characters. They each think they’re doing the best thing for the other. James’s father is also a unique secondary character. I liked him, but I wanted to shout, “what were you thinking?” when the plot revealed some interesting tidbits about him. This is exactly what every author hopes for—that your readers become so engaged in the characters that they think they know best.
The writing is clear and concise and the plot moves along nicely. I read the book in two sittings. Ms. Wiley uses the clever ploy of letting Cassie write a scene in her head to let the reader in on some information that we would not normally know. In this way, the story is not blogged down with back story or filler. There is no over the top violence in the book. I did not read the first book in this series, but there was enough clues in book 2 to make me want to go and purchase book 1. However, this book was thoroughly enjoyable without having read book 1. If you enjoy a cozy mystery, I would definite recommend you pick up a copy of “Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Write.” Recommended.
I don’t usually read many mysteries, but when the publisher offered a copy for review, I thought it would be a nice break from my usual fantasy genre. I’m glad I accepted. The author does a very good job of letting the reader get to know both Cassie and James. She’s stubborn; he’s overprotective, and between the two of them, misunderstandings happen. I could definitely feel the frustration of both of these characters. They each think they’re doing the best thing for the other. James’s father is also a unique secondary character. I liked him, but I wanted to shout, “what were you thinking?” when the plot revealed some interesting tidbits about him. This is exactly what every author hopes for—that your readers become so engaged in the characters that they think they know best.
The writing is clear and concise and the plot moves along nicely. I read the book in two sittings. Ms. Wiley uses the clever ploy of letting Cassie write a scene in her head to let the reader in on some information that we would not normally know. In this way, the story is not blogged down with back story or filler. There is no over the top violence in the book. I did not read the first book in this series, but there was enough clues in book 2 to make me want to go and purchase book 1. However, this book was thoroughly enjoyable without having read book 1. If you enjoy a cozy mystery, I would definite recommend you pick up a copy of “Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Write.” Recommended.
January 16, 2012
I enjoyed this second book in the Cassandra Ellis series even more than the first. The characters (primary, secondary, and one-time) are all very intriguing and I enjoy the relationships Cassie has with James, her father, and her best friend, even when they seem a bit too good to be truly believable (I never forget that they are, indeed, fictional characters *g*). I found the plot in this book to be a lot of fun and it kept me guessing throughout. I turned pages quickly to find out what happened and finished the book in record time (the fact that I was having computer issues that kept me from being constantly distracted by the internet had nothing to do with it *g*). There were a few things I found hard to swallow or a little too predictable, but (imho) that's pretty typical of the genre. There's only so many ways to write a mystery and the characters who people them. I'm not a big fan of "cozy mysteries" but this is a very enjoyable series and I look forward to the next one!
February 19, 2012
Writer Cassie tries to solve some more murders as the father of her detective boyfriend James is a suspect. I enjoyed getting to know James’ family. I also liked the addition of Bryan and hope to see more of him. Michelle sounds like an ideal friend; I can relate to her sappiness and tendency to cry over commercials and such. And, I really like Cassie’s dad and James’ work partner. As always, I appreciate the care and concern Cassie has for her cat Donner. I just find myself not fully rooting for Cassie and James as characters or as a couple. I don’t dislike them; I just don’t like them as much as I want to like them. Also, I continue to find the times when Cassie writes in her head to be rather distracting and unnecessary to the story. Overall, it was a nice mystery, though.
July 24, 2012
Cassie is working on her next book, and is having some issues putting things into place. In the meantime, her boyfriend's father is a 'person on interest' in the murders of two police officers. When Cassie closes in on the truth, her life is put in danger when the killer starts gunning for her!
Charming book! It's not a slapstick comedy suspense like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, and it's not the deep, dark suspense you'll find from James Patterson. It's a nice balance right in the middle!
Cassie is a doll! She takes things in stride and doesn't give in easily. She also doesn't take herself too seriously, which IMHO makes her more 'real'.
Charming book! It's not a slapstick comedy suspense like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, and it's not the deep, dark suspense you'll find from James Patterson. It's a nice balance right in the middle!
Cassie is a doll! She takes things in stride and doesn't give in easily. She also doesn't take herself too seriously, which IMHO makes her more 'real'.
March 1, 2014
Writer Cassie and police detective James have been dating for two months, and Cassie has decided it is time to meet James' father, a man he hasn't talked to much since he was kicked off the force for being a corrupt cop years ago. But when a body is found and James' father had ties to the victim, Cassie steps in to find out what is really happening. I love these characters, and they are great to spent time around. The plot is a bit slow at first, but it picks up as it goes a long. Lots of fun overall.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
May 13, 2013
This is book two in the series and picks up shortly after book one ends. Enjoyable story maintains the intrigue of the first book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews