Bye-Bye, Black Sheep

by Ayelet Waldman

Book Overview

A new arrival in the bestselling mystery series. Private Investigators Juliet Applebaum and Al Hockey finally have a steady stream of clients coming through their garage-turned-office. But they'll realize it's no child's play tracking down the killer of a gorgeous transsexual's sister.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 042521639X
• ISBN13: 9780425216392
• Release Date: July 2007
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.2" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

compatriot Juliette

I eagerly await the release of each new Mommy Track book like I do Harry Potter! What I enjoy so much about Ayelet Waldman's heroine character, Juliet, is that I see myself in her. I, too, am a stay-at-home mom and life is anything but boring. Granted, she is much more of a sophisticated sleuth than I am, her character is one with whom moms can relate. Heck, even my 60-year old father loves her books! Her books are fun, quick reads that are hard to put down and will make you laugh out loud. And, that's a good thing in between reading my children their books, locating missing socks (my claim to sleuthing), and chasing after my busy brood.

Excellent characterization and swift action make for an involving leisure choice.

Ayelet Waldman's latest addition to her 'Mommy-Track Mysteries' requires no prior familiarity to prove satisfyingly vivid. Partners Juliet and Al are finally seeing their fledgling detective agency soaring with business; but even though they're seeing many types of cases, Heavenly has come to Juliet with something new: a dead sister and uncaring police - something far different from the usual insurance sleuth work. Heavenly is determined to solve the mystery, and brings Juliet and Al into danger in this exploration of a California sexual underground. Excellent characterization and swift action make for an involving leisure choice. Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch

Overall, A Good Read

I'm a long-time Ayelet Waldman fan so I enjoyed "Bye-Bye, Black Sheep" even though the ending is not clear cut. I didn't mind that, though, nor did I feel let down because that really is how life is. It kept the book from being formulaic. I liked that she didn't stereotype the "street girls", just wrote them so that they're believable and real. And, yes, she was on her soapbox but I think she showed an insider's understanding of the true difficulties that some people experience. I also liked the plot twists because I truly had no clue who the killer was until the end. I DON'T think the book had as many funny parts as Waldman's books normally do, however, to me, it was still a good read.

wonderful private investigative tale

In Los Angeles private investigator Juliet Applebaum and her spouse screenwriter Peter raise three small children Ruby, Isaac, and Sadie. As Peter has met some recent success with classics like The Cannibals Vacation and Flesh Eaters with its nth number of sequels, Juliet and her sleuthing partner Al Hockey have actually begun to turn a profit. Due to the eighty-four minutes of maternal bliss known as The Lion King, Juliet with only Sadie stops at the garage turned office where Al introduces her to their newest client, gorgeous Miss Heavenly, who the sleuth realizes is a transvestite. After dumping Sadie on Al's wife, Juliet asks Miss Heavenly what can she do for her? Heavenly explains her cousin Sister Pauline sent her to hire the detective to look into the homicide of her sister Violetta Spees, a drug addict hooker, killed six months ago as the police have done nothing. Though she and Al prefer to avoid homicides as they do not have the proper equipment or crime scene information to conduct that type of investigation, she agrees to see LAPD lead detective Jarin and make inquiries not realizing how depressingly personal the case becomes. The seventh Mommy-Track Mystery is a wonderful private investigative tale that contains an eccentric delightful support cast including Heavenly and her family and of course the three kids. The story line is fast-paced even the interludes with Ruby, Isaac, and Sadie, each making demands on their mommy the sleuth. The case is terrific as Juliet begins to piece together what most likely went down, but cannot fully prove what she believes happened to Violetta. Ayelet Waldman provides a wonderful tale as her heroine has several issues to decide once the inquiry begins to focus. Harriet Klausner