2¢ Worth: A mystery washes up to cute coastal Tupelo Landing when the town cheapskate curmudgeon pops up dead. Now all the funky fabulous townsfolk are suspects. It's a good thing plucky perceptive Mo LoBeau and her best friend Dale are on the case. Three Times Lucky took awhile to hook me but it was worth the build up. It's full of wonderful eccentric characters and clever snappy dialogue and similes. I applauded and admired Mo's quick wit and sassy tongue.
Whisper: I also really dug the message tucked underneath the story and mystery about family, circumstances, and loving what you've got.
Whippersnappers: There is of course murder and one of the characters is an alcoholic who abuses members of his family. But I would still recommend it to any tweens I know. In fact, it would be a great opportunity to point out how to spot that sort of behavior.
Word love: She used poppycock! Love it.
Whodunit verdict: While the main culprit was evident, his motivations and assistants were a fun surprise I did not see coming.
Words aloud: The best part of Three Times Lucky is the narrator Michal Friedman. She IS Mo. She not only NAILS the spunky oh-so-Southern Mo but she effortlessly and perfectly animates all the other colorful characters of Tupelo Landing, North Carolina. I liked her voice so much that I instantly hit the internet to investigate the gal behind Mo. What I found, honestly broke my heart a bit. After five+ years of trying to have a baby, Michal Friedman died of complications after delivering two healthy babies (by Cesarean) on November 25th 2011. *sigh* It makes my heart hurt every time I think about it. I too tried for years and had my baby via Cesarean. Her babies Reverie and Jackson are being raised by their father Jay Snyder. You can donate and read more about the babies at TheSnyderTwins.com. I know I will be honoring Michal by seeking out more of her audiobooks.
Wind-up: Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage (published by Penguin Audio) is read by Michal Friedman and is 7 hours and 57 minutes long. Audiobook rating: 4 stars. Narrator rating: 5 stars.
Review Copyright © of Tales of Whimsy.com
This sounds wonderful! Thanks for the great review. :^)
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
DeleteI have this book and need to read it now...lovely thoughts on your part!
ReplyDeleteThank you sweetie :)
DeleteHadn't heard about the book before and now I'm moved to find the audio. What a heartbreaking story about the narrator. Thanks for reviewing it - glad your blog is in my reader :-)
ReplyDeleteAw :) I love hearing that and am honored to be in your reader :)
DeleteI read this in print and loved it for its wonderful setting and quirky characters. I'm going to check out the site for Friedman's twins.
ReplyDeleteYou should so sample the audio and see what you think of her interpretation of Mo. She really gives life to her.
DeleteAWESOME! I am going to pick this one up on audio :) I love quirky fun mysteries!
ReplyDeleteYay!
DeleteWhat a heartbreaking story about the narrator! That's awful. But the book sounds cute and fun!
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteOooh seriously, BECAUSE of the use of the word poppycock I'm going to get this one! No joke! Ad if the narrator was 5 stars???? WIN!!!! Some sound so "robotic" to me!!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Right?
DeleteI'm that way too.
It's such a good replacement to sh*t too! :)
I feel you on robotic ;)
Cute cover...and I LOVE crazy, eccentric people, snappy dialogue, and mysteries. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMy heart leaked when I heard the rest of Mo's story. Oh, my. Life just isn't fair sometimes. :(
Me too!
DeleteKooky people and mysteries float my boat.
It sure isn't.
I've been waiting for you to post this review! I actually had this book checked out from the library a few weeks ago but took it back before I had a chance to read it. Now you've not only convinced me to read it but to definitely get the audio! Such a sad, sad story about the narrator though. My heart goes out to her family and those two sweet babies.
ReplyDeleteAmy! Hi! Yay!!!!
DeleteSo glad you're trying the audio.
I know right?
Me too!
Oh, this sounds like fun! I'm on the lookout for good audiobooks with great narrators, I'll definitely be looking for this one!
ReplyDeleteOh yay! :)
DeleteHmmm... this sounds really cute. I've not heard of it or the author though. Nevertheless... sounds like a fun read. :-)
ReplyDelete:) It's a cutie. I bet you'd like it.
DeleteI think this is the author's first work of fiction.
DeleteFantastic review. Sounds like a story I'd really appreciate. My heart too, breaks for the narrator of the audio who lost her life during childbirth. Its so rare for that to happen these days. I wish she were still around to raise though twins of hers. At least they still have a loving father. What a sad background story.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI feel the same.
It's kind of cool that she was a narrator and singer and when they grow up they will have her voice to listen to.
Oh that is heartbreaking! Those poor babies growing up without their mother:( I hope that she at least got to see & hold them...
ReplyDeleteSadly she didn't :(
Delete:(
DeleteOh my, that is awful. My heart goes to those to kids.
ReplyDeleteI'll think about Three Times Lucky. I haven't tried listening to Middle-Grade audio books but I'll give it a go!
Welcome Sydney! :)
DeleteMine too :)
I am becoming quite the MG audio fan.
The stories are short, sweet, and fun.
They don't require the same huge commitment a 18 hour audios do.
Plus, I love adding books to my library I can share with my kiddo some day. :)
DeleteOh fun! I have this in book format and have not got to it yet.
ReplyDeleteOh you'll enjoy it :)
DeleteIt's so sad to hear about the narrator. I think it's wonderful that you are sharing her story.
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
DeleteI didn't think I could talk about how excellent she was without sharing her story.
As sorry it's hard commenting from iPad. I love that you pointed out that the book can be a teaching opportunity and I can see the cover grabbing a kids attention. I see a lot more ya authors starting to write middle grade so I'm sure we will see the genre get even more attention.
ReplyDeleteNo worries.
DeleteExtra Cari comments make my day.
Thanks :)
The cover is so cute and fits the story so well.
I'm falling in love with MG audios and hope you're right. I hope we do see lots more MG.
Poppycock is such a fun word to say! It definitely sticks out.
ReplyDeleteIt does :) I love that it has a bit of innocent shock value.
DeleteYes, I also like narrators who brings the characters to life! :)
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteI'm glad you liked this one! I've had my eye on it, and now it sounds even cuter!
ReplyDeleteThat breaks my heart, too, to hear about the narrator. So sad! :(
Oh you'd like it! :)
DeleteHow are you Blue?
This one sounds fun! I feel like my life is full of eccentric characters lately. It's sad about the reader though, I checked out the website and the twins are precious
ReplyDeleteYour real or literary life is full of eccentric characters? :)
DeleteThey certainly are precious.
Thank you for the FR on goodreads. New follower on GFC
ReplyDeleteYour blog has a very pretty look and this particular review makes the book sound amazing! Poppycock!! - Really??
I'm a newbie comparatively and Would love it if you drop by & give me your feedback on my blog!
DDS @ b00k r3vi3ws
http://b00kr3vi3ws.blogspot.in/
Thank you for accepting, stopping by, and commenting! :)
DeleteWe were all newbies once.
I'm on my way now.
Great review! This sounds like such a fun story!
ReplyDeleteThat is so heartbreaking about the narrator. :(
It truly is!
Delete:)
I love fun stories like this, and having a narrator who gets the characters and can embody that sense of fun makes the audio versions even better. That is horrible about the narrator's fate. You never want to hear that about anyone.
ReplyDeleteAmen. You said it exactly. You never want to hear that.
DeleteThe story is great.
Something I bet your kiddos would love.
Oh no - that is so very sad to hear... death by childbirth is so rare these days that it is always such a horrible shock when you hear of it. But thanks to your review, I will for sure be seeking out this audiobook, or any other one read by her!
ReplyDeleteIt is isn't it?
DeleteSo hard.
Yay! I am SO glad to hear that.
Use of poppycock makes me want to read it all the more. Interesting murder mysteries are always good.
ReplyDeleteSo sad to hear about the narrator. When things like this happen, it just reminds me of how fragile we humans can be.
Right? That's how I am.
DeleteYou're so right. We are.
This one sounds like it would be fun...while lying on the beach enjoying the warm weather....:) You find the best audios!!!
ReplyDeleteYes!
DeleteSomething you can share with the kiddos after your done or listen to in the car.
Enjoy!
And thank you :)
I've wondered about this one as it sounded quirky and fun yet heart breaking...gotta love when the balance of things teeters just so. Such a sad story behind the voice of the audiobook though....my regards to the family.
ReplyDeleteYou're right on the quirky and fun :)
DeleteMe too.
Makes me want to hug her husband.
This sounds like A LOT of fun and I love eccentric characters!
ReplyDeleteYou gotttta check this one out then ;)
DeleteOh my goodness. That's the saddest story ever. I'm heartbroken over the narrator's story. I'm in your same shoes, as you know, and in fact had major complications during Littlebug's delivery. Things could have gone in a completely different direction. What a sad loss, for everyone. She sounds like her talents will be deeply missed by so many. :(
ReplyDeleteDefinitely want to listen to this instead of simply reading. Thank you for such a touching review. <3
Right?
DeleteI was heartbroken too.
And yes - she will be missed.
She was soo talented.
Her voice had this fantastic youthful quality.
That is such a sad story about Michal. Thank you for sharing, though.
ReplyDeleteI know right? She was really was an awesome narrator.
DeleteI am listening to this right now. I'm about 2/3 of the way in and I think I've figured it out. It's a really cute book.
ReplyDeleteSad about the narrator. She does such a wonderful job.
It is tragic. She's wonderful.
DeleteLet me know if you figured it out.
I knew who did it but the why was a mystery to me all the way to the end.