Fast Women

Publisher and industry reviews

UK Kirkus review

Nell Dysart, newly divorced, underweight and desperate for a change of scene, applies for a job at a local detective agency. Gabe McKenna is a stressed-out, messed-up detective whose astrology-dependent wife has decided that they are no longer destined to be together. Love, slow to develop, finally explodes in a riot of passion and sexual athletics amidst a climate of revenge, blackmail, murder and pottery. Crusie's fourth novel is a fast-paced, hugely entertaining crime story. It begins as a fairly conventional romantic novel (skinny female victim with no self-confidence struggling to find her way in the world again meets hunky detective who is bitter about love and life). Then it appears that someone is blackmailing one of Gabe McKenna's clients and he is hired to find out whom it is. As the investigation proceeds and love blossoms, the novel transcends its romantic limitations and takes on a more colourful and inventive form. Nell and Gabe's relationship comes to life against a backdrop of unhappy marriages and dysfunctional villains. Throw in some missing diamonds, a couple of frozen bodies and a neurotic dog and you have a comic, feelgood story with lashings of good sex. Indeed, the thrills lie more in the bedroom antics of its two main characters than in the details of the crimes. Crusie's sex scenes are funny and inventive and drive the 'will they won't they get it together/stay together' plot structure to a pleasurable end. Crusie's comic touch consistently works well in heightening the dramatic scenes and her dialogue is incisive and well paced. Great fun. (Kirkus UK)