[Book Review] Veronica Mars: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas & Jennifer Graham

Ten years after graduating high school in Neptune, California, Veronica Mars is back working as a private investigator while her dad, Keith, is recovering from serious injuries because of a car accident. Money is getting tight, and Veronica is feeling a bit guilty about not being able to properly pay her collegue Cindy Mackenzie ("Mac"). That is until they are given a pretty big case that is attached to a good sum of money. Two girls have gone missing during spring break, both were last seen in a mansion that is owned by a man with some serious criminal ties. Veronica is thrown into dangerous situations that involve drug cartels and organized crime. Situations that surprisingly tie into her past, something she prefers not to have to think about.


4.5 STARS 

I loved this so much, and it makes me want to grab my Veronica Mars discs off the shelves and re-watch it. Veronica Mars is one of my favorite shows, so I picked up a copy of this book (and the second one) almost immediately when I heard about them. I love that the story continues from the show and movie because I always want more Veronica Mars mysteries.

I am not sure if I can read this book completely unbiased, because I've watched both the books and movie, but I feel as if the characters were written pretty well. Veronica's snark, determination, and soft heart come through pretty well on the page, just as it did on television. Keith's protectiveness and overall connection with Veronica also came through well on the page. I loved seeing Mac and Wallace again, but I suspect to someone who hasn't seen the show they were undeveloped since you do not get too much of them. However, someone who loves the books, seeing them, and Weevil, again was so much fun. I do wish we got more Logan, who I absolutely love. I am hoping we see a little more of him in the next book.

The writing was really great, and it immediately put me back into the world and story that I am so familiar with, but in a format that was completely new to me. The humor is still there, and amazing, the tension and fear for Veronica (and the other character's) safety, is still there. But it's different, reading it versus watching it on television. I really liked getting a new Veronica Mars mystery, and although I prefer watching the mystery versus reading it (I really love the actors) if this is the way I am getting Veronica Mars stories from now on, I'll take it.

The mystery itself had me interested, it of course reminded me a lot of Veronica Mars episodes, and just like the episodes I felt like I could not stop reading (or watching- in case of the show) until I found out the solution to the mystery. Some parts are a little slow, but I read this book in a day so it's easy to push past some of the slower parts.

Overall, I loved this book so much. I cannot wait to pick up the second one and I hope more are written and published soon. The next book, Mr. Kiss and Tell, came out in 2015, so I am getting impatient waiting for more!

 

Thanks for reading!