Cover Image: The Queen Con

The Queen Con

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I didn't read the first book in the series, but this was the third time this happened to me (requesting a book that wasn't the first in the series), and I didn't want to order the first one and maybe not like it (it has happened before).

I did enjoy this book. It was geeky, and fun and entertaining.

Was this review helpful?

MG is a bit hipper and younger than your average cozy mystery heroine, but the fun themes and overall vibes make this feel like a new cozy to appeal to younger readers. Framing the story around California's fandom, con, and drag scenes allows Molin to tread new ground and pull new readers into the genre. The pop culture references come hard and heavy, so this book may be a bit off-putting or inaccessible to those unfamiliar with the zeitgeist. A solid entry into what is sure to be a successful series.

Was this review helpful?

The follow-up to Molin's first novel starts soon after the end of The Frame-up. MG annoyed me in the first book, and she annoyed me in this one too. I had hoped she wouldn't, but she did. Though she was a tad better, in that she did actually ask for help at times and keep Matteo in the loop (mostly). What I really enjoyed, though, was the side characters. We learn more about Lawrence (hooray!) and I am so glad he stepped up more in this book. He was my favorite from the last book and it is clear he is in the center of the whole mystery.

And the Golden Arrow reveal at the end was anti-climatic for me, as I had pegged it from book one, but I'm glad the author didn't drag it out over many more books. Instead, it creates a new plot element to explore in the next book.

I'll be picking up book 3. I'm incredibly invested in the plot, even if I'm not in the main character.

Was this review helpful?

I didn't know this was a sequel when I requested it. Because of that, I never got around to reading it. It sill sounds like a series I would enjoy reading.

Was this review helpful?

I haven't read the first book in this series, but it was pretty easy to follow. This was a unique fandom story. I loved all the fan references and MG was a great character. The crime solving gang was awesome. I definitely want to look into the first book after reading this.

Was this review helpful?

I received an advance digital copy of this book from the author, 47North and Netgalley.com. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Golden Arrow series is my new favorite in the realm of Super Hero stories. It's nerdy and girly all at the same time and I loved reading it.
I look forward to more from the author and The Golden Arrow!!

5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended.

Was this review helpful?

Mystery. Romance. Comics. Drag Queens—what else do you need in a page-turning book!?

I loved Meghan Scott Molin's first book, The Frame Up—but I think I loved her second one, even more. Maybe because things between nerdy but cool MG and her cop-beau were heating up? I loved the characters, I loved the story and the mystery made this book impossible to put down!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you for the opportunity to review The Queen Con. I LOVED it!! Cracking open the pages was like returning home to old friends. MG is fun and witty. Her best friend L is fabulous. And I enjoyed seeing MG grow throughout not only in herself but in her relationships. Molin's style of writing is an easy read, and the plot/story had me turning the pages. Highly recommend this book and this author!

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to NetGalley for my free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was so disappointed in Meghan Scott Molin's second book in The Golden Arrow series, The Queen Con. I had read The Frame-Up (book 1) and loved it! It was fast-paced, read like a comic book, had characters we cared about, and infused a lot of popular Geek culture. I had high hopes for The Queen Con, but it failed miserably. The story didn't go anywhere really. The author relied too heavily on character development from the first novel simply to carry through to this one, and it did not. The story itself felt thrown together at the end, and it really took a long time to get there. I usually can read a book in a couple of days, but this one took me three weeks. I could easily put it down, which is a bad sign. I really, really wanted to like this novel, but to be fair to readers, it just isn't worth the time and effort to get through it.

Was this review helpful?

I want to say amazing things about this book. But I can only give you a mediocre review. this book was fine. But I don't want fine anymore, I want amazing and explosive! I need it!

Was this review helpful?

I wish I had better things to say about this book than "it was fine." The first chapter started out running and I really can't stand books that don't give a little setting structure or backdrop before getting into the meat of it all. People don't start out conversations that way, so why should a book?
Overall it was a light read with nice references for all those people who refer to themselves as "geeks" and, though I don't consider myself one, I enjoyed it.

Was this review helpful?

The Golden Arrow series is great fun to read if you're versed in geek girl culture--you don't need to be expert, but should have at least some knowledge of comics, anime, gaming, cos-play, sci-fi and fantasy among others to appreciate this book. In this book, MG returns to pursue the unknown vigilante, the Golden Arrow, while balancing the multiple facets of her career--a part-time comic writing gig, a budding costume design business, and liaison between Genius comics and a movie studio--and her romance with Muggle police detective Matteo. While I can't give this book 5 stars due to some continuity issues with the first book in the series (The Frame-Up), it's still a good read. Now I'm wondering when Meghan Scott Molin is going to give us a book three in the Golden Arrow Mysteries.

Was this review helpful?

This was another fast paced geeky mystery novel from Meghan Scott Molin. I really enjoyed it a lot. I loved the geeky references. Lawrence is definitely my favorite character and i can't wait to read more stories about them.

Was this review helpful?

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

Slow going with the action, with lots of side-trips, but overall a decent read. I did like the exploration of Matteo's and MG's relationship, and I thought the writing was well-done, but save for a few memorable scenes (Cleopatra's weird party, Paige's introduction), I wasn't too blown away. The Golden Arrow storyline continues to confuse me. I feel that it's always been too convoluted; simplifying, sometimes, is better. I find my attention wandering when the details get too involved.

Was this review helpful?

The Queen Con is the next adventure featuring MG and her band of friends and drag queens. Full of witty dialogue and nerdy one-liners, The Queen Con is fun, exciting, and full of action.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars!

This second book in The Golden Arrow series was as entertaining as the first one and as full of all the geeky references I love too. The first half was maybe a little slow, but the last third of the book is really action-packed and kept me at the edge of my seat.

Even though I had my suspicions about the identity of the Golden Arrow since the end of the previous book, this one managed to have me thinking those suspicions were 100% right one moment and second-guessing them the next.

I found the characters very endearing. I admit that MG frustrated me a little at certain points and I wanted to shake some sense into her a few times, but despite that, I love her. And I adore Matteo, Ryan and Lawrence.

The ending was kind of abrupt, though. It ends right after the case gets solved and leaves us hanging in a few fronts. I feel like there are several pending conversations and unfinished business between the main group of characters. But I'm hoping that has been done so on purpose to set things up for the next book (because there needs to be a next book!) and that we'll get some answers in it!

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars

I might have gone into The Queen Con with too many expectations because I didn't really enjoyed it as much as I hoped I would. I just loved The Frame-Up so much that I expected this book to wow me as well. It was nowhere near bad, and I liked it overall, but I was a bit let down.

I think that the love triangle situation was a bit unnecessary, to be honest, and we shouldn't have resorted to that as an option to keep the plot going. Also, the first half of this book just wasn't all that interesting and it took me some time to really get into things.

The second half, though, was much better. The mystery really picked up and we got to see the characters we learned to love. There were twists and turns, but if you payed enough attention you could figure some things out.

Was this review helpful?

I was so excited to see the characters from The Frame UP united in another caper, and Molin doesn’t disappoint. The Queen Con brings all the wit, twists, and nerdiness I was hoping for. What a fun whodunit!

Was this review helpful?

Solid 3 stars for me. I received an early copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley and 47North Publishing and in turn I’m giving my honest review.

It was definitely great to see MG and the gang back at it again, solving crime and taking names. I also loved that we got to see more Lawrence in this one. I’m pretty Ute he’s my favorite character so I’ll take as much of him as I can get.

Just like with the first book in the series, the pop culture references were a bit too heavy for me. Some of them served a purpose and some just felt like they were thrown in there for the sake of reminding us that MG is a “cool comic book chick unlike other girls”(which she does get called out on later so I appreciated that. Just my personal opinion though.

I didn’t see the reveal of the Mad Hatter coming, which is both good and bad. Good because I love unexpected surprises, bad because it seemed a little random. Looking back on what I read I can’t find nothing that says “oh yeah ok I see the connection/potential.” Could be just me.

Now the Golden Arrow reveal, was the complete opposite. I saw that coming a mile away (or should I say a book away). That was built up to be a bit obvious, which makes me wonder if that was the REAL GA reveal or a decoy and set up for a follow up book.

Over all it’s a quick read and decent enough that I’ll check out the next book even though I’m sure the pop culture references and slightly annoying MG rambling will be back in full force

Was this review helpful?

This was a rather fast, but fun read for me. I couldn't put it down. I loved all of the nods to different fandoms in this story. I will say that while I knew who the GA was the entire time, I had a really hard time pinpointing who The Hatter was. I kept thinking it was one person and then read more and find out it wasn't. I am a little disappointed that we didn't find out what happened to the GA at the very end.

Was this review helpful?