I try not to judge books by the covers--but, I will admit that the cover
for Not So Picture Perfect was just quirky enough to catch my interest
and gain the book a spot on my often-too-crowded reading list. What did
I think of Not So Picture Perfect by Amber C. Carlyle? I received a complimentary copy of this book for use in my review. All opinions are my own.
Quick Summary of Not So Picture Perfect. New Orleans native and private investigator Yumi Matthews finds herself steeped in a murder investigation – a far cry from the vision of reuniting people with their missing loved ones. Still, she devotes herself to investigating these supposedly unsolvable mysteries as a way to distract herself from the haunting disappearance of her own brother 10 years ago. Yet, while at this latest crime scene, she unveils a bizarre clue into her brother’s cold case, which terrifies and excites her all at once. As she digs deeper into the case, the lines between reality and fantasy blur, causing her to question everything she knows. A cast of strangers gather around her, from the familiar Detective Joshua Boulliard to the new, and possibly dangerous, Ash. How far is she willing to go to discover the truth surrounding these mysterious clues?
Not So Picture Perfect is the first book of the between the veil series. While the book is a stand alone story; readers will be left with questions and enough character interest for future books. As I read this book, I initially felt that I entered the story in book 2 or 3 of the series (as I sometimes do)--and it took me a long time to accept that I wasn't going to know as much as I would have liked about the characters or their pasts. I assume that the author will fill readers in and share more about the characters pasts as the series progresses--but, I would have liked more details in this book.
The author did create a unique storyline. Carlyle created a unique blend of the supernatural with a real world mystery. The story moves quickly and readers are pulled into Yumi's adventures. The book offers enough surprises to keep readers interested and locked into Yumi's story.
Would I recommend Not So Picture Perfect? While I would have liked more background information and fewer unexplained interactions and scenes--the story is still a good one. If you like a quick, easy to read mystery with a mix of supernatural and human elements--this is a fun series opener.
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About the author:
Horror, Fantasy, Humor
Nothing thrills me more than a wonderful blend of those three elements, and that’s what I strive to bring to the words in my books: whether it’s an urban fantasy suspense/mystery, or a fantasy short story taking the reader down a dark and wayward road. Life is rarely so black and white to be just any one of these things, and humor can be as dark as it can be light.
It also has a great way of cutting the tension, even if not everyone finds it funny. That’s okay. It’s good that we’re all different in the end.
But, no need to fret. I try to incorporate my own weird, and probably twisted humor, into the things I discuss. Some are things that catch my fancy that I just need to share, others are serious topics that I can’t help myself but state. Most times, they will be the little things that inspire me to keep writing. I pull inspiration from my shows, movies, and games (video, board, and tabletop RPGs). The littlest thing can spark my brain into running a marathon disseminating the information until it resembles what it needs it to.
I want to share my passions in this world, and that’s more than just my own writings. I love to be engrossed by a world that let’s me walk its own twisted paths. It doesn’t have to be glamorous, and it doesn’t have to be happy. But it has to be a good story, and the best stories have to be shared. I want to share my best stories with you, and I want to share the stories by others that move me.
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