Diana Killian
Author of Corpse Pose
About the Author
Series
Works by Diana Killian
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Killian, Diana
- Legal name
- Browne, Diana
- Other names
- Browne, D.L.
Dunne, Colin - Birthdate
- 1960
- Gender
- female
- Short biography
- Diana Killian Website: www.girl-detective.net
- Nationality
- USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Reviews
Anna Jolie Alexander (aka AJ) is 35, newly divorced, and working at a fast-paced job in Manhattan when she receives a telephone call from Detective Jake Oberlin of the Stillbrook, NJ Police Department. AJ learns that her aunt, Diantha Mason was apparently strangled with a yoga tie in her yoga studio, Sacred Balance and her body was arranged in the yoga pose Corpse Pose. Since AJ's mom was hardly a steadying influence in her life as AJ was growing up, AJ viewed Diantha as a mom-figure and show more looked up to her.
Still smarting from her divorce and the discovery that her ex-husband, Andy was gay, AJ heads to Stillbrook in the company of her actress mum, Elysia Alexander. As Diantha's primary heir, AJ stood to gain a fortune - and detective Oberlin seems to have his sights set on her, only AJ is not sure if it's as a suspected murderer or potential girlfriend. While AJ is the prime beneficiary of her aunt's will, Diantha did leave several not-so-insignificant bequests to various friends and members of the Sacred Balance studio. With Elysia's help, AJ begins to investigate her aunt's death and learns that her yoga-loving aunt did make some enemies due to her inflexible views, particularly of the local dairy farming community.
I would give this book roughly 4.5 stars. I particularly enjoyed the banter between AJ and Elysia and the way their relationship begins to evolve. I appreciated that Elysia wasn't simply a vapid actress and had intelligence and wit along with AJ. I also liked learning interesting yoga & healthy-living tidbits. I will definitely continue to read this series. show less
Still smarting from her divorce and the discovery that her ex-husband, Andy was gay, AJ heads to Stillbrook in the company of her actress mum, Elysia Alexander. As Diantha's primary heir, AJ stood to gain a fortune - and detective Oberlin seems to have his sights set on her, only AJ is not sure if it's as a suspected murderer or potential girlfriend. While AJ is the prime beneficiary of her aunt's will, Diantha did leave several not-so-insignificant bequests to various friends and members of the Sacred Balance studio. With Elysia's help, AJ begins to investigate her aunt's death and learns that her yoga-loving aunt did make some enemies due to her inflexible views, particularly of the local dairy farming community.
I would give this book roughly 4.5 stars. I particularly enjoyed the banter between AJ and Elysia and the way their relationship begins to evolve. I appreciated that Elysia wasn't simply a vapid actress and had intelligence and wit along with AJ. I also liked learning interesting yoga & healthy-living tidbits. I will definitely continue to read this series. show less
I do love finding a new-to-me author and series, especially when it's a good series that is going to have me looking for the next book and the next after that...I already have DIAL OM FOR MURDER on the WWBL.
I liked how well the character appealed to me, even the poopy ones. By appeal, I mean I either wanted to join A J learning to get back into yoga, give A J's mom an hug with her lovably aggravating ways, and/or smack the crap out of bitchy Lily who isn't nice to anyone and she's lead yoga show more instructor!
The amateur sleuth angle was well played. A J wanted to find out who killed her much loved and aunt and she felt compelled to rein her mother, the self-proclaimed pro sleuth since she'd played one on BBC back in the day.
Yoga is a neat premise for the series. It helped mellow A J after being dumped by her husband for another man (yikes!) and helped ease her aching back that she'd needed medical help prior to revisiting. It helped calm the nerves of several of the characters. And I learned that there's such a thing as Doga, dog yoga...yep, how cool is that?
Five stretchy beans..... show less
I liked how well the character appealed to me, even the poopy ones. By appeal, I mean I either wanted to join A J learning to get back into yoga, give A J's mom an hug with her lovably aggravating ways, and/or smack the crap out of bitchy Lily who isn't nice to anyone and she's lead yoga show more instructor!
The amateur sleuth angle was well played. A J wanted to find out who killed her much loved and aunt and she felt compelled to rein her mother, the self-proclaimed pro sleuth since she'd played one on BBC back in the day.
Yoga is a neat premise for the series. It helped mellow A J after being dumped by her husband for another man (yikes!) and helped ease her aching back that she'd needed medical help prior to revisiting. It helped calm the nerves of several of the characters. And I learned that there's such a thing as Doga, dog yoga...yep, how cool is that?
Five stretchy beans..... show less
I had discovered some time ago, that one of my favorite authors had written stories under a different pen name so I just knew that I had to give those books a try.
For the most part, Corpse Pose did not disappoint, and rose to the challenge of entertaining me for hours on end. It came armed with a very likable heroine named A.J. Alexander. She is a strong, independent woman whose personal life had taken a rather unfortunate nose dive, and her professional life was threatening to follow suit. show more
Still, she rises to the challenge of tackling her beloved aunt's funeral in bum-fuck-nowhere New Jersey, tailed by her quirky mother (Elysia "Easy" Mason-Alexander), and eventually ends up entangled in a messy murder investigation. Never let it be said though, that Easy Mason would shy away from getting her hands dirty. After all she had been a regular on the weekly detective show 221B Baker Street.
If you're wondering how soon a freelance marketing consultant, and her "more celebrity than thespian" mother would get in trouble during a real-life murder investigation? The answer is: instantly. Elysia of course, would protest vehemently, and possibly even throw in some motivational quotes of questionable origin, that she'd nevertheless attribute to the Bard.
Its one major downside however, lies in the relative lack of action in the romance department. There is plenty of teasing going on, especially given detective Jake Oberlin's rather clumsy overtures, and A.J.'s woefully ignorant reactions to them. But ultimately, there was not enough explicit, steamy sex, which the author('s alter-ego) is especially adept at writing.
Score: 3.3 / 5 stars
There are plenty of hilarious quotes to have you laughing in stitches:
=====================================
Review of book 2: Dial Om for Murder
Review of book 3: Murder on the Eightfold Path
Review of book 4: Death in a Difficult Position show less
For the most part, Corpse Pose did not disappoint, and rose to the challenge of entertaining me for hours on end. It came armed with a very likable heroine named A.J. Alexander. She is a strong, independent woman whose personal life had taken a rather unfortunate nose dive, and her professional life was threatening to follow suit. show more
Still, she rises to the challenge of tackling her beloved aunt's funeral in bum-fuck-nowhere New Jersey, tailed by her quirky mother (Elysia "Easy" Mason-Alexander), and eventually ends up entangled in a messy murder investigation. Never let it be said though, that Easy Mason would shy away from getting her hands dirty. After all she had been a regular on the weekly detective show 221B Baker Street.
If you're wondering how soon a freelance marketing consultant, and her "more celebrity than thespian" mother would get in trouble during a real-life murder investigation? The answer is: instantly. Elysia of course, would protest vehemently, and possibly even throw in some motivational quotes of questionable origin, that she'd nevertheless attribute to the Bard.
“But what would your motive be?”
“Oh, motive!” Elysia sketched another graceful, taloned gesture.
“There has to be a motive. You’re already rich.”
Elysia cooed, “As the Bard says, ‘You can never be too rich or too thin.’ ”
“The Bard didn’t say that.”
“I’m sure he did, pumpkin, though possibly not in so many words.”
Its one major downside however, lies in the relative lack of action in the romance department. There is plenty of teasing going on, especially given detective Jake Oberlin's rather clumsy overtures, and A.J.'s woefully ignorant reactions to them. But ultimately, there was not enough explicit, steamy sex, which the author('s alter-ego) is especially adept at writing.
Score: 3.3 / 5 stars
There are plenty of hilarious quotes to have you laughing in stitches:
For a shocked moment A.J. lay on the sidewalk wondering if she’d finally had it. After the initial disastrous contact of soft body on sidewalk, she wasn’t feeling much of anything-that might be good, though. Above her the streets lamps were doing an unpleasant whirly thing.
“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” Elysia was saying, clopping back across the street.
“Jesus Christ!” exclaimed Detective Oberlin.
It was like a religious revival, A.J. thought. She blinked up, trying to focus, and Detective Oberlin’s face swam into her line of vision. He was joined by Elysia, and then the alarmed face of his dinner companion.
“Wow,” said Oberlin’s friend-apparently an atheist.
“It was yellow. I’d stake my reputation on it.”
Her reputation as what? A.J. wondered. TV sleuth or innocent bystander?
"Look, sweetheart, I know you're feeling a little... lost, but you need to come back to town and have your nervous breakdown in a civilized place."
=====================================
Review of book 2: Dial Om for Murder
Review of book 3: Murder on the Eightfold Path
Review of book 4: Death in a Difficult Position show less
A.J. is baffled: since when did Yoga became a mortal sin?! Granted, those newfangled TV churches will say anything for a good rating. So as any logical adult she sets up for a negotiation with the charming reverend Goode (oh the irony!) of the New Dawn Church. Not quite unexpectedly, the preacher is quite firm in his position, and rather unexpectedly handsy in his approach... is that a religious thing?
What does come unexpectedly is Lily Martin, A.J.'s archnemesis in all things yoga, asking show more for help in hiring a P.I. to unmask the infamous reverend. Turns out, that Goode doesn't just have it out for the Sacred Ballance yoga studio... and then he dies a rather gruesome death, by the prickle of a pen. As marketing schemes go, offing enemies does not do the Yoga Meridian any good, and its manager (Lily) is now prime suspect. A.J. would rather keep her nose clean this time around, but Lily has specifically asked for help, and A.J's mother's meddling is of course unstoppable.
The author of Evangelism Theology doesn't think so.
After the 3rd installment of the series I had more or less decided to drop it. The murder mystery investigations were OKAY, but the romantic aspects of the story left much to be desired. We get a LOOOT of teasing, and close to no rewards.
For those of you who manage to avoid storms in teacups, you may have missed that the author of this novel also writes crime novels of the M/M romantic persuasion, under the pseudonym Josh Lanyon; one of my absolute favorite writers. Which is of course my entire motivation for picking up this series in the first place. The writing style once again rose up to my expectation, with plenty of snarky/funny one-liners to choose from. See my status updates for examples, I can't be bothered to look for new ones.
The romantic subplot however... was lukewarm at best, and even there I'm being mightily generous. I felt zero tingles in my throat, the butterflies in my stomach were deeply asleep, and all the characters' teasing about Jake proposing to A.J. led nowhere. Not that there is anything wrong with a marriage-less relationship if that's what both (all?) participants wish for. The problem is that both Jake AND A.J. wanted more... but were too busy pussyfooting around the subject to do anything about it.
Just to double check, I reread The Dark Tide, and yes, it still delivered plenty of fangirl squeals from me, inspite of the number of rereads. So it's not the author in general, but this series in particular. *pouts*
Score: 2.3/5 stars
In the end, the resolution of the murder mystery was disappointing, the romantic subplot flopped big time... and after checking the publication years, I couldn't even blame inexperience. The last book from the Adrien English series was published 3 years before this one. And I know it was not a one off series.
I'm hoping the reason for the lack of any conclusion in the romance department was that another book was planned, and then dropped due to poor sales or something. Be as it may, I'm done with these modern cosy mysteries. It's back to Miss Marple for me.
====================
Review of book 1: Corpse Pose
Review of book 2: Dial Om for Murder
Review of book 3: Murder on the Eightfold Path show less
What does come unexpectedly is Lily Martin, A.J.'s archnemesis in all things yoga, asking show more for help in hiring a P.I. to unmask the infamous reverend. Turns out, that Goode doesn't just have it out for the Sacred Ballance yoga studio... and then he dies a rather gruesome death, by the prickle of a pen. As marketing schemes go, offing enemies does not do the Yoga Meridian any good, and its manager (Lily) is now prime suspect. A.J. would rather keep her nose clean this time around, but Lily has specifically asked for help, and A.J's mother's meddling is of course unstoppable.
The author of Evangelism Theology doesn't think so.
After the 3rd installment of the series I had more or less decided to drop it. The murder mystery investigations were OKAY, but the romantic aspects of the story left much to be desired. We get a LOOOT of teasing, and close to no rewards.
For those of you who manage to avoid storms in teacups, you may have missed that the author of this novel also writes crime novels of the M/M romantic persuasion, under the pseudonym Josh Lanyon; one of my absolute favorite writers. Which is of course my entire motivation for picking up this series in the first place. The writing style once again rose up to my expectation, with plenty of snarky/funny one-liners to choose from. See my status updates for examples, I can't be bothered to look for new ones.
The romantic subplot however... was lukewarm at best, and even there I'm being mightily generous. I felt zero tingles in my throat, the butterflies in my stomach were deeply asleep, and all the characters' teasing about Jake proposing to A.J. led nowhere. Not that there is anything wrong with a marriage-less relationship if that's what both (all?) participants wish for. The problem is that both Jake AND A.J. wanted more... but were too busy pussyfooting around the subject to do anything about it.
Just to double check, I reread The Dark Tide, and yes, it still delivered plenty of fangirl squeals from me, inspite of the number of rereads. So it's not the author in general, but this series in particular. *pouts*
Score: 2.3/5 stars
In the end, the resolution of the murder mystery was disappointing, the romantic subplot flopped big time... and after checking the publication years, I couldn't even blame inexperience. The last book from the Adrien English series was published 3 years before this one. And I know it was not a one off series.
I'm hoping the reason for the lack of any conclusion in the romance department was that another book was planned, and then dropped due to poor sales or something. Be as it may, I'm done with these modern cosy mysteries. It's back to Miss Marple for me.
====================
Review of book 1: Corpse Pose
Review of book 2: Dial Om for Murder
Review of book 3: Murder on the Eightfold Path show less
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