Member Review
Review by
Della B, Reviewer
Talented Amateur is an exciting debut novel by Maryn Scott filled with Mexican cartels, kidnappings, family revenge and romance. The storyline is well composed with a number of twists and turns to keep you guessing on what will happen next. I could not put this book down and read it in one very late night sitting.
Peel Primm always wanted to be a spy like Emma Peel of the Avengers. For the younger generation, The Avengers was a wildly popular British black and white television show which ran from 1961 to 1969. Peel Primm never did end up becoming a spy. Instead she became a librarian. Yes, from one end of the excitement spectrum to the opposite end. This definitely tickled my irony funny bone.
Peel is all alone in the world until one day she finds a birth certificate for her late grandfather who was adopted into the family. Being a natural researcher Peel finds out her grandfather spent time in Mexico. Looking for any family connections to herself she makes a phone call to a local library in Mexico. This is when Peel falls down the rabbit hole. At this point you will have to read the book to find out the rest.
I found the story was very solid in its composition. I did not have to suspend any beliefs in order to accept what was happening on the page. The writing was smooth and flowing. The dialogue between the two main characters was witty and droll and very amusing at times. It offset the tension very nicely.
I am eager to see what Scott’s next novel will be like as she has set a high bar for herself. Talented Amateur is an engaging novel which I highly recommend.
I was given a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review.
Peel Primm always wanted to be a spy like Emma Peel of the Avengers. For the younger generation, The Avengers was a wildly popular British black and white television show which ran from 1961 to 1969. Peel Primm never did end up becoming a spy. Instead she became a librarian. Yes, from one end of the excitement spectrum to the opposite end. This definitely tickled my irony funny bone.
Peel is all alone in the world until one day she finds a birth certificate for her late grandfather who was adopted into the family. Being a natural researcher Peel finds out her grandfather spent time in Mexico. Looking for any family connections to herself she makes a phone call to a local library in Mexico. This is when Peel falls down the rabbit hole. At this point you will have to read the book to find out the rest.
I found the story was very solid in its composition. I did not have to suspend any beliefs in order to accept what was happening on the page. The writing was smooth and flowing. The dialogue between the two main characters was witty and droll and very amusing at times. It offset the tension very nicely.
I am eager to see what Scott’s next novel will be like as she has set a high bar for herself. Talented Amateur is an engaging novel which I highly recommend.
I was given a free ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review.
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
