Death by Denim by Linda Gerber

Death by Denim - book three of the Death By series by Linda Gerber (Possible spoilers of Death by Bikini and Death by Latte).

Aphra Connolly now knows what is like living on-the-run. After the events of Death by Latte, Aphra and her mom have been living under the radar in Lyon, France; without contact with her father or with the boy who started it all: Seth.

See, until a year ago, Aphra lived a very normal, borderline boring life in an Island resort owned by her dad, she was a little lonely, and she missed her Mom (who hadn't come with them when they moved to the Island). Then the Mulos arrived and their son Seth pretty much changed Aphra's life, not only because they sort of fell in love but because the Mulos were the key to uncover things Aphra didn't know about her mom, like the fact that she is in fact a super-secret CIA agent.

Now, after living with her CIA agent Mom, Aphra is a bit on the edge all the time, vigilant and aware of her surroundings. So, when she realizes that a man has been following her for a while, she and her Mom pick up and leave Lyon to seek help from the Agency. In Paris, Aphra realizes that there is only one way for her life to go back to normal: to stop The Mole, the criminal boss who has been hunting her, her mom and the Mulos.

Will she see Seth again? Will she feel safe again?

Well, that's what Death by Denim is here for!

At this point I'm not sure if they are going to be more Death by/Aphra Connolly books, but Death by Denim does brings to an end this Mole narrative arc; however, for me, the book felt a little flat. Don't get me wrong, Linda Gerber is a very good writer, her characters are engaging and the story itself is good, but in the end I wasn't charmed with the book, and I had no trouble putting it down between chapters.

Also, since this is the third book, you're already able to pick up the pattern of them - mostly in the fact that Aphra often jumps to a bad conclusion early on and then has to work her way out of it.

All in all, Death by Denim is an enjoyable read, though.

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Death by Latte by Linda Gerber

After barely escaping with her life, Aphra Connolly has made it to Seattle, to finally reconnect with her mother, whom she hasn't seen in four years. The only problem is that her mother doesn't want her there. Aphra's mom Natalie is a former CIA operative who still has ties to the Agency and is trying to protect both her family - Aphra and her dad - and the Mulos, former members of a sleeper cell of a terrorist group known as The Mole.

Aphra's presence in Seattle complicates everything, especially because, without her knowning, the Agency and the Mole have been monitoring her, thinking that if they keep a tags on her long enough she will lead them to the Mulos' son Seth.

After Natalie's pardner is murdered - by a unconscious cup of coffee - Aphra comes face to face with two people, one she never wanted to see again: Agent Watts, her nemesis from the first book Death by Bikini; and one she very much longed to see: Seth... only that Seth is acting strange too, and demanding to have back a ring he gave her the last time they said goodbye.

What will happen next? Will Aphra reconnect with her Mom? with Seth? or will the bad guys triumph over the good guys for once?. And, who are the bad guys, anyway?

These and more questions swirl about Death By Latte.

I found it harder to get into this book then what I did with he first one, but it does pick up. If anything, the book is a bit short, it drags a little at the beginning and then it packs a lot of action in the second half of the book.

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(just barely)

Death By Bikini by Linda Gerber

Death by Bikini is the first book in the Death by Series (followed by Death by Latte and Death by Denim) an introduces us to Aphra Conolly who, at sixteen, lives on a remote island resort her father owns.

On the surface it looks like a dream come true, with exclusive guests dropping by for weeks on end, and the beach and all, but Aphra isn't really happy, she keeps wondering why her beloved mother Natalie didn't come with her and her father to the island, why she hasn't contacted her in four years.

Then, in the midst of the low season, some mysterious guests arrive, The Smiths. Mom, Dad and Adam. Adam who's hot, nice and 17. Aphra is wondering if it's wise to get involved with Adam when he's going to be leaving soon, when one of the other guests turns up death.

Who exactly are the Smiths, and what have they to do with Aphra's mom?

Lots of dangerous secrets and one little island!

It's a very enjoyable book, Aphra is smart and capable if a little cold at times, and, like I said, 'Adam' is fairly likable, there are plenty of secrets going about some of which are answered by the end of the book while new ones arise.

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