The Full Scoop Review Series: Portrait of a Dead Guy by Larissa Reinhart

Welcome to our next edition of 

The Full Scoop Review Series!

Today we're taking a bite of Larissa Reinhart's Portrait of a Dead Guy and here's the whole scoop and nothing but the scoop!

Our rating system is all about our taste in books so here's how we rate each element (from lowest possible rating to highest possible rating):

Gagging
Mostly Edible
Decent
Tasty
Delightful
Delicious

To find out the over-all number of scoops this book received, see the bottom of the review.  Even though we have 6 possible rating levels for story elements, our over-all rating is out of a maximum of 5 scoops.  Please keep in mind that this is representative of our delicate palate and our appetite may differ from yours. Hope you enjoy!

The Cover: Rating: Delightful
Comments:  Cleverly artistic cover that doesn’t misfire!

The First Line: Rating:  Tasty
Comments:  As a small town southern girl, I can verify its validity. Great effort.

The Plot: Rating:  Delicious
Comments:  A sweet, southern stroke of brilliance.  If there’s one thing we do right in the south it’s funerals and food.  This book cooks up some morbid mayhem that will leave you asking for seconds.  Accurate to a fault (cause now the world knows about our southern eccentricities).  Action, humor, mystery and a dash of romance all packed into one quirky creation.  Trust me when I tell you—don’t miss this one.

The Writing: Rating: Delicious
Comments:  Downright darling dialogue, characters that will stick with you like a large southern breakfast, and a quality production from the get go.  This author has created a world you’ll be eager to visit again.

The Hero: Rating: Delightful
Comments:  Hot, mysterious, ex-military with gorgeous curls and Prussian blue eyes.  You had me at dimples.  Sigh.

The Heroine: Rating: Delicious
Comments:  How can you not love a red-cowgirl-boot-wearing gal named Cherry?  She may be short in stature but this paintbrush wielding fireball is not short on spunk or witty dialogue.  I’d love to tuck her into my pocket for those occasions when I need a great comeback line.  Simply put, the world needs more Cherry.

Other Notable Characters: Rating: Tasty
Comments: Shawna—the strange allergy bearing nemesis you’ll love to hate.  Tater—the under-appreciated family pet.

The Ending: Rating: Delightful
Comments:  Surprising Suspects?  We got ‘em.  Humorous Intrigue?  We got it.  Frolicking Fun?  By the bushel.  Happy for now ending?  You betcha.  This reader coming back for more?  No way I’d miss it.

The Over-all Scoop Rating: 4.50 Scoops

About the Author:

Larissa began her writing career in second grade when she sold her first publication to her neighbor for a nickel. After moving around the Midwest, South, and Japan, she now lives in Georgia with her husband, young daughters, and Biscuit, a Cairn terrier. Although she speaks without an accent, her writing is known to have a Southern drawl. 

Her debut novel, PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY, is a 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner, a 2012 The Emily finalist, and a 2012 Daphne du Maurier Award finalist. 

Visit her on the web here:

http://larissareinhart.com/

The Blurb:

In Halo, Georgia, folks know Cherry Tucker as big in mouth, small in stature, and able to sketch a portrait faster than buckshot rips from a ten gauge -- but commissions are scarce. So when the well-heeled Branson family wants to memorialize their murdered son in a coffin portrait, Cherry scrambles to win their patronage from her small town rival.

As the clock ticks toward the deadline, Cherry faces more trouble than just a controversial subject. Her rival wants to ruin her reputation, her ex-flame wants to rekindle the fire, and someone’s setting her up to take the fall. Mix in her flaky family, an illegal gambling ring, and outwitting a killer on a spree, Cherry finds herself painted into a corner she’ll be lucky to survive.

 Pick up a copy today!  Click here.