Review of Renee Pawlish‘s This Doesn’t Happen In The Movies

True to its description, this book delivers a wannabe detective, a femme fatale and an non-stop adventure.  Guy Noir, my favorite detective, would be proud to work a case with the fledgling  Reed Ferguson.  Both of them are in love with all things film noir and model their style after that genre.

At first, I didn’t really like the character of Reed Ferguson.  A rich boy trying to be a detective and then I thought about it, if I won the lottery tomorrow, what would I be doing?  Traveling and writing every summer; plus I would have the coolest classroom ever . (Yes, I am a masochist and would continue teaching.) He is doing what many of us would be doing if the lack of money wasn’t standing in the way. Reed is also smart enough to know when he is being played and doesn’t fall for the book’s femme fatale, no matter how hard or drunkenly the women tries.

Despite, my initial reaction to Reed, the book sucked me into its world and didn’t let go until the case was resolved. The last couple of pages were nice, but tied up loose ends that weren’t really loose to begin with.  Reed’s world is tidy, but not without problems. That is to be expected in a shiny new world.  Reed’s neighbors, Ace and Deuce, are good guys, but how they pay their rent being idiots and working at a video store is beyond me.Yes, it is a small thing, but small things can throw a reader off. Maybe there is some secret the brothers have that Pawlish is saving for the future.

There are intricate twists and turns, but in the end both Ferguson and the bad guys get it.  Ferguson receives his dose of reality and all is set right in the universe until of course his next case.  And I do hope there will be a next one.

You can learn more about Renee Pawlish on her website or follow her on Twitter.  Her books are available on Smashwords and Amazon.