"Sheeeeeeeeeeeeee's Back!!"

One of the best laugh out loud, feel good books of 2005 was Sofie Metropolis. It was just soooooo on target. I love the ethnicity of different backgrounds. Each country, even segments within a country, have those wonderfully unique qualities that are endlessly fascinating. I grew up in small, remote populations in three countries, and I adored the in-jokes, the quirkiness of the Scots, English and Kentuckians. That joy of being distinct is really ladled on in Dirty Laundry - the only way to do it -- by the brilliant husband and wife writing team of Tori Carrington. They are best known for their super sizzling romances for Harlequin and the wonderful McCoy series, but Sofie Metropolis was their breakout mainstream book and I am delighted to say Sofie and the whole crew are back again.

Sofie had gotten fed up with her Greek family dictating how her life should be and struck out to be a PI. Well, she made it and now she is on the job. The streets of Astoria, Queens, New York, can relax for she is keeping them safe. Sofie has a rep for those yummy frappes, but now she is a pistol-packing mama with one itchy trigger finger. She has a new case -- a missing dry cleaner, who was laundering more than button down Oxford shirts. Seems that Mr. Clean bought a Mercedes just before he pulled his vanishing act, and he holds the secret to the books showing just what precisely was being cleansed.

The Mafia -- excuse me -- the Italian Opera Society isn't too thrilled with the situation. Sofie finds one darkly handsome Tony DiPiazza rattling her heart, in more ways than one, when he warns her to get her fingers off the trigger and the case. However, Sofie - the lass does lead a hard life -- has her libido working overtime as a hunky Australian bounty hunter, Jake Porter waltzes into her life. He is playing guardian angel to the determined Sofie and is kissing her socks offs faster than you can say Crocodile Dundee.

Sofie is not to be deterred by either delicious male, and is on the trail of the truth, which may lead to a pair of cement overshoes compliments of the Opera Society!

Once again, Tony and Lori Karayianna deliver from start to finish. It's a book that will have you howling out loud, so don't read it in the doctor's office!!

All I can say is MORE MORE!!! Keep Sofie in those antics and those one person rants, laced with the wonderful humor that is utterly charming. Pick up Sofie Metropolis if you missed her and Dirty Laundry and find just how delightful these books are. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by DeborahAnne MacGillivray
Posted April 25, 2006

Summary

Sofie Metropolis is the newest P.I. on the mean streets of Astoria, Queens. She's known for her trademark frappes and her itchy trigger finger. She even shot one of her own clients!

Well, he was trying to kill her at the time . . . and she only hit him in the knee . . . .

Sofie's hot on the trail of a missing pet ferret—wait, aren't those illegal in New York City?—and a missing dry cleaner. According to his furious wife, Aglaia, Uncle Tolly was acting odd right before he disappeared. The proof? The brand-new Mercedes Tolly just bought. And the business's books, which show that Uncle Tolly was laundering more than just clothes.

Which is where the mob comes in, in the darkly handsome figure of Tony DiPiazza. Tony's very taken with Sofie. Too bad she won't back off the money-laundering and kidnapping (or is it murder?) investigation.

Really too bad, since hunky Australian bounty hunter/man of mystery Jake Porter is hanging around again, tinkering under the hood of Sofie's car and kissing Sofie like he really means it, only she's too busy to notice.

Too busy: being attacked by a malevolent dry-cleaning bag; bailing Aglaia out of jail; airing out her apartment after an assault by noxious dog-farts; and spying on her own father. Because Sofie's mother thinks that after nearly thirty years of marriage, her husband is having an affair. Can't anyone stay faithful for five minutes?

Sofie's quest for the truth gets her into hot water—and a pair of cement overshoes. It's not her best look.