Sounds Like a Plan: A Novel (1)
One Missing Person. Two Rival Detectives. Infinite Chemistry. This rollicking thrill ride told in alternating “he said/she said” perspectives is an irresistible blend of mystery, sexual tension, and humor.
Jackson Jones and Mackenzie Cunningham have a lot in common. They are both hard-working private investigators with their own firms in Los Angeles, each happily single, and very good at their jobs. But when they’re together, they are like oil and water.
After they find themselves working the same missing persons case, the idea of collaborating seems about as likely as a blizzard in Beverly Hills. But once it’s clear that they have been set up to take the fall for a murder, they have no choice but to join forces and make a plan that will expose the truth.
Bickering their way from Century City to Malibu and beyond, they find it increasingly hard to deny the sparks flying between them. But with a small army of mercenaries in hot pursuit and a killer intent on covering his tracks, there’s not a lot of time to sort through their complicated feelings. Told in alternating perspectives, this rollicking, romantic thrill ride makes for a swoon-worthy mystery.
Jackson Jones and Mackenzie Cunningham have a lot in common. They are both hard-working private investigators with their own firms in Los Angeles, each happily single, and very good at their jobs. But when they’re together, they are like oil and water.
After they find themselves working the same missing persons case, the idea of collaborating seems about as likely as a blizzard in Beverly Hills. But once it’s clear that they have been set up to take the fall for a murder, they have no choice but to join forces and make a plan that will expose the truth.
Bickering their way from Century City to Malibu and beyond, they find it increasingly hard to deny the sparks flying between them. But with a small army of mercenaries in hot pursuit and a killer intent on covering his tracks, there’s not a lot of time to sort through their complicated feelings. Told in alternating perspectives, this rollicking, romantic thrill ride makes for a swoon-worthy mystery.
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Community Reviews
I am honestly perplexed by this book. Sounds Like a Plan sets readers up for a good-time with these two African American private investigators being selected for the same missing person's case unaware of the other's existence. And with promise of a big pay-day, both are eager to get started on tracking down the mysterious Ashley Cross under the guise of her sick mother wanting her to be found. As soon as they are in each other's orbit, Jackson and Mackenzie clash, each trying to out P.I. the other.
My thoughts on this book are mostly sour and full of disappointment. The premise for the story sounds fun, interesting and exciting. And while the book delivers on high action in nearly every chapter, the story prompting the action was like being sloshed with luke-warm water. Could be down to the fact that it was written by two authors which puts emphasis on my opinion that pieces didn't quite fit or felt unnecessary. And character clarity was on the grey side.
<spoiler>What troubles me about the story ironically started at the very beginning as both Jackson and Mackenzie admit to being skeptical about the case but unable to say no to the generously paid up-front incentive. As the case continues to unfold and more and more things make less sense than before, all these red flags should have set up more alarm bells for the ex-report and ex-police officer.
Most of the time, the synopsis of Sounds like a Plan felt like the backdrop just to get Jackson and Mackenzie in each other's orbits to fawn after one another. And the rest of the time, the book read like it was trying to force backstory details about the main characters at the readers. Overall, the book was a let down; as I picked up on the "set-up" vibes at the beginning, it didn't take much for me to realize who was really pulling the strings behind the Ashley case the moment the politician came into play. And unlike the main characters, I anticipated much of the events to follow.
I don't think this is the result of how often I read mystery/PI type books but more to do with the obvious bread crumbs laid down by both authors from page one. Never mind the obvious mention of race/ethnicity coming into play for two --of perhaps the only--African American private investigators in the city to be tasked with tracking down a young African American woman.
It made me wonder if the bread crumbs in the narrative were left there for each author to follow each other's leads for Jackson and Mackenzie's stories or if they were simply an oversight.
Circling back to the function or need for the extra character background for our MCs, unless there are plans for these two to be staring in a series of books where they're teaming up on cases, readers don't have to know about Jackson's ex-wife or his daughter. Mack's martial arts and his daughter taking martial arts classes felt like a weak connection. More on Mack's character, I was disappointed that edge to her character was tied to an SA from college that lead to her turning to martial arts. I felt it was enough that Mack was on the petite side that she turned to turning her stature into an advantage by enhancing her physicality with martial arts in terms of her job. </spoiler>
If readers are looking for a book to pass sometime with that doesn't take itself too serious but has action in it, I would recommend this book to them
My thoughts on this book are mostly sour and full of disappointment. The premise for the story sounds fun, interesting and exciting. And while the book delivers on high action in nearly every chapter, the story prompting the action was like being sloshed with luke-warm water. Could be down to the fact that it was written by two authors which puts emphasis on my opinion that pieces didn't quite fit or felt unnecessary. And character clarity was on the grey side.
<spoiler>What troubles me about the story ironically started at the very beginning as both Jackson and Mackenzie admit to being skeptical about the case but unable to say no to the generously paid up-front incentive. As the case continues to unfold and more and more things make less sense than before, all these red flags should have set up more alarm bells for the ex-report and ex-police officer.
Most of the time, the synopsis of Sounds like a Plan felt like the backdrop just to get Jackson and Mackenzie in each other's orbits to fawn after one another. And the rest of the time, the book read like it was trying to force backstory details about the main characters at the readers. Overall, the book was a let down; as I picked up on the "set-up" vibes at the beginning, it didn't take much for me to realize who was really pulling the strings behind the Ashley case the moment the politician came into play. And unlike the main characters, I anticipated much of the events to follow.
I don't think this is the result of how often I read mystery/PI type books but more to do with the obvious bread crumbs laid down by both authors from page one. Never mind the obvious mention of race/ethnicity coming into play for two --of perhaps the only--African American private investigators in the city to be tasked with tracking down a young African American woman.
It made me wonder if the bread crumbs in the narrative were left there for each author to follow each other's leads for Jackson and Mackenzie's stories or if they were simply an oversight.
Circling back to the function or need for the extra character background for our MCs, unless there are plans for these two to be staring in a series of books where they're teaming up on cases, readers don't have to know about Jackson's ex-wife or his daughter. Mack's martial arts and his daughter taking martial arts classes felt like a weak connection. More on Mack's character, I was disappointed that edge to her character was tied to an SA from college that lead to her turning to martial arts. I felt it was enough that Mack was on the petite side that she turned to turning her stature into an advantage by enhancing her physicality with martial arts in terms of her job. </spoiler>
If readers are looking for a book to pass sometime with that doesn't take itself too serious but has action in it, I would recommend this book to them
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