Murder of a Botoxed Blonde

A Scumble River Mystery

By: Denise Swanson

Narrated by: Christine Leto

A health spa complete with tofu turkey and "Dress for Sexcess" lectures is the last place school psychologist Skye Denison wants to spend Thanksgiving. But when her best friend Trixie Frayne convinces her to take a complimentary weekend at the new Scumble River Spa, Skye accepts her fate and prepares to be slathered, wrapped, and roasted-until a murder ruins the good time.

©2007 Denise Swanson Stybr (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The best traditional mystery series being written today." (CrimeSpree magazine)

"I enjoy every minute of every book of this series." (Charlaine Harris)

If you like Evanovich you'll like this.

Would you listen to Murder of a Botoxed Blonde again? Why?

Yes Its funny and light fun.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes. There were many possible suspects and I liked how the murder was resolved.

Have you listened to any of Christine Leto’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't yet.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When skye argues with her ex boyfriend.

Any additional comments?

I wish audible had the first book in the series.

Typical Fun Scumble River, but voices changed

Basically I like all the Scumble River mysteries. I very much enjoyed finally seeing some progress in Skye's love life too. The mystery was ok but I confess to enjoying the characters as the primary attraction. So that may be why it bothered me that although most of the voices have not changed, May and Bunny sounded totally different. Was so weird after getting used to everyone to hear Skye sound like she always did than her mother suddenly sound completely unlike herself. I think the previous voices were much better. I hope this resolves by the next book. The story line being set in a spa gives lots of opportunities for various comments to be made about Skye's weight, appearance etc. I confess to be a bit bored having to dwell on her chubbiness all the time. I also remember Skye commenting at some point (might not have been this book) about eating healthy despite no longer dieting. Skye does a lot of eating (even when it is forbidden at the spa) and she is always chowing down McDonald's, or piles of meat potatoes and gravy, or bags of candy and chips. I think she's a little deluded. But in the beginning of the book especially I was getting tired of people being so rude to her. Some unresolved threads from previous books do get wrapped up in the one, which is nice. As usual I plan to go on to the next in the series.

Murder of a Botoxed Blonde

Murder of a Botoxed Blonde was my first Denise Swanson mystery. I liked the narrator and the characters; and enjoyed the plot and the conclusion to the book. I will be getting the next Scumble River mystery to try very soon. I wish Audible had the first books in the series but as of now they only have the newest Scumble River books. If you like Cozy Mysteries then I would suggest you give this one a try. Even though this book is late in the series and I have not read the first books I was not lost, the author does a great job of keeping up new readers.

Story is Okay. Why did narrator change the voices?

Would you try another book from Denise Swanson and/or Christine Leto?

Yes. I really like this series. Swanson knows her stuff when it comes to school psychology. It's a little unbelievable that a town as small as Scumble River has so many murders though.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

This book wasn't that exciting. The ending was predictable.

How could the performance have been better?

One of the reasons I listen to this series on Audible is Leto's performance as a narrator. I was so disappointed that she changed the voices for some of the characters in this book. Bunny and Mae's voices were grating and not much different in my opinion. I am listening to these in series order so hopefully she'll go back to the voices in the previous books again.

Mixed

The mystery is pretty good. I thought the writing and narration was immature. Perhaps the narration was good, but I didnt like it because it matched the characters, who I did not like.

Really weird changes.

I agree wit hither reviewers that complained about the narrator. She been great thus far but when you go and completely change a characters voice after doing it a certain way for so many of those series, it's really off putting. Hope it was just a fluke.

A new spa means a new murder in Scrumble River

Denise Swanson delivers another solid mystery to a great series. Skye is back with the rest of the Scrumble River characters. A health spa serves as a background to murder and mayhem. I enjoyed the plot line and the characters. I like the cliffhanger at the end. I look forward to my next trip to Scrumble River.

I love a Scumble River Mystery

What made the experience of listening to Murder of a Botoxed Blonde the most enjoyable?

I really like the reader; she is a fitting voice for Skye, the main character. The plot is a good one, and Denise Swanson's writing is clever.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love Skye, the protagonist. I think most Scumble River readers will agree, as we like to follow her escapades!

Which character – as performed by Christine Leto – was your favorite?

Christine Leto IS Skye's voice, as far as I am concerned. Even when I read the Scumble River books that are not on audiotape, I "hear" Christine Leto

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I really enjoyed this twists and turns at the spa. What a great setting!

Any additional comments?

I'd love to have all of the Scumble River books on audiotape! As they are not all available, that is my suggestion! They have an audience.

Loved the story but

it was a great continuation of Skye's story but the changed in the narrator's depiction of Bunny was very off-putting.

Changed character voices???

Why do characters’ voices have to change in the middle of a series??? Several books in, and I’ve grown accustomed to Wally, May, and Bunny. Now none of them sound the same, and I feel like they were more fun with the original voices.
I will continue to listen to the rest of the books. I enjoy the story and the narrator.