ESTHER SCHINDLER SAYS CUT, PASTE, KILL IS “PERFECT SUMMER READING.” AND SUMMER STARTS IN 2 WEEKS.

Lomax and Biggs and I have gotten some great reviews along the way, but this one’s a killer.

Esther Schindler is one of the top reviewers on Amazon. She ranks #106 out of about a zillion. So when Esther gives your new book 5 stars, you want to share it with the world, and shout out — “look everybody — Cut, Paste, Kill made Schindler’s list.”

Here it is in its entirety:

Perfect, PERFECT escapist mystery reading
By Esther Schindler (Scottsdale, AZ USA)
June 8, 2010

The only mystery left in my brain, after reading this latest novel by Marshall Karp, is why his books aren't stuffed into the best-seller racks in airport bookstores. Perhaps it's because a high Karp Book Density might disturb all the flight attendants, with so many passengers giggling throughout the trip. But truly... Karp has been one of my best discoveries of the past few years. His mysteries are non-obvious, the plots are engaging, and the wise-cracking duo of Lomax & Biggs -- police detectives in Los Angeles -- make me crack up. When the author offered me an Advance Reading Copy of Cut, Paste, Kill, I said ever-so-decorously, "YES YES YES!"

In this novel, the detectives need to solve a "scrapbooking" mystery. The serial killer leaves behind at each murder scene a well-crafted scrapbook documenting the victim's sins and evidence about why the individual needed to be punished. Lomax and Biggs have to figure out who's killing these people and put the murderer behind bars... even if they personally agree with the killer's sentiments.

That doesn't sound like the ingredients for a book that will make you laugh out loud in the middle of a crowded plane (even if you have been denied your god-given right to free peanuts). But Karp's characters are truly wonderful, and their wisecracking balances the hard facts of the murder case. (Early in the story, they are teamed up with a female FBI agent; they're asked if they have a problem working with a woman. "'Hell no,' Terry said. "At the end of a tough day chasing bad guys we don't care if our boss goes home and slips into a sexy little cocktail dress. It'll be almost like working for J. Edgar Hoover himself.'") Karp's strength, though, is that these aren't cardboard comedians; I have become extremely fond of the recurring characters and I want to know what happens next in their lives. The storytelling pace is infectious, causing a reliable "I'll read just one more chapter before I go to sleep... well maybe just another..." even with an 8am meeting scheduled the next day.

Incidentally, you wouldn't have to read all the previous books in the series to appreciate this novel. If you're a dedicated scrapbook fan, for instance, you will certainly enjoy Cut, Paste, Kill without the earlier novels' back story about Lomax's romance or their movie deal gone sour. It stands alone rather well, which is becoming unique in the mystery genre. I doubt you will be able to resist going back to read the other books in the series later... but it's fine to read them out of order.

The bottom line is that this is perfect summer reading -- ideal for a lazy Sunday afternoon or a holiday beach read. If you want a great "entertain me!" murder mystery, I don't think you can do better than Cut, Paste, Kill. Highly recommended... at least for people who like to giggle.

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For those of you who are willing to take Esther’s word for it, here’s a link to buy the book now.

Marshall posted on June 8, 2010 4:07 PM