A decent plot with some interesting characters, but I found it hard to believe the mystery took so long to solve and the investigation seemed so amateurish. However, this does mean there is scope for growth in characters should they feature in future books. I liked the back story of the main character and thought that added depth to her role in the story.

i wasn't sure about this book. i thought it might be a fast paced thriller from the blurb but i think it didn't quite life off for me. it had some cleverly done plot points but it never quite ringed true in parts. the detective didn't seem to be doing quite what he should and missed some of the glaring things that could have got him ahead or solved certain parts. maybe i got mixed up with what i thought it would be in comparison to what i then read. and i couldn't quite decipher the characters enough to make it smooth if that makes sense.
i think this book has great potential into being a good mystery but it didn't quite capture me. i feel so bad writing a review. sometimes a book just doesn't fit. i did read it though and read right until the end so that got to mean something. i wanted to know how it would turn out.
i also know i couldn't ever write a book. not even begin to have that talent. so for that authors are amazing.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review, and boy, are you going to get honesty.

Well, I certainly wasn't expecting that when I picked up "Unwrapped" by Phyllis Picasso. And honestly, I'm still not entirely sure what "that" was, but here we are.

Phyllis Picasso's Unwrapped is like receiving a beautifully wrapped present that turns out to contain...well another box. And then another box. And then finally a pair of socks you already own.

The premise has potential - 2 murders happen a week apart, a new boss who also happens to be Jordan's husband Joe's Ex and it is the beginning of a who-dun-it. Add in a cryptic note left for Jordan to discover but unfortunately, this pivotal plot device feels about as organic as a plastic Christmas tree.

Don't even get me started on the Detective. You are literally 90% into the story before that buffoon thinks to get the surveilance video from the mall. I mean seriously? I found myself wanting to reach into the book and hand them a magnifying glass - or perhaps a basic instruction manual on how to detect things.

The most glaring issue, however, is that all the characters sound like they were born from the same vocal cord. Whether it's Jordan, the Detective, or any of the other characters, everyone speaks with identical cadence, vocabulary, and speech patterns. It's like watching a one-person show where the actor forgot to change costumes between characters.

The pacing crawls along at the speed of molasses in January. What should have been a snappy page-turner instead feels like watching paint dry in slow motion. The book isn't entirely without merit - it's just buried under layers of mediocrity like a decent meal that's been reheated one too many times.
Unwrapped feels less like a carefully crafted mystery and more like a first draft that wandered into publication by mistake. While I appreciate the author's enthusiasm, this particular gift might be better off staying under the tree.

Rating: 2.5/5 stars - For readers with unlimited patience and a high tolerance for detective work that makes you want to solve the case yourself. Bumped up to 3 stars because I'm feeling generous and the author did try.