Hasta la Vista, Lola!

This is the second book in the Lola Cruz Mystery series, featuring California private investigator Lola Cruz.

In this installment, Lola has been the victim of identity theft by one Rosie Gonzales, and moreover, Rosie has been murdered. The question is, did the killer mean to murder Rosie, or Lola?

Investigating this disturbing crime keeps Lola from advancing her relationship with the very hot Jack Callaghan, but not from her obsessing over going to the next level with him.

Evaluation: The first book had more charm, humor, and substance than this one, which seemed to me to be too focused on sexual frisson.

Dolores 'Lola' Cruz is a Hispanic version of Stephanie Plum with all that entails. Lola is a private detective with a close and strange family. She's single and thinks a lot about sex, especially with her sort of boyfriend Jack who both drives her crazy and drives her wild. They keep starting make out sessions and then are interrupted before any anything serious happens. Lola both wants Jack, and doesn't really trust him because she thinks he's a bit of a player, which is one of the main plot lines.

Lola has just successfully completed an assignment, catching a wife performing yoga positions with her instructor that more closely resemble the Kama Sutra, apparently in a room with a view... . After going home, Lola finds her entire family show more at her house and is worried that her brother in the Army was killed. To her great relief but utter confusion he wasn't the one reported dead, she herself was. Turns out, some woman had stolen Lola's identity and then was murdered in an alley. Lola decides to become her own client and find out how this woman stole her identity and why, and which Lola was the intended victim.

Overall it is a fun enjoyable story, almost a cozy mystery. There were quite a few Spanish phrases scattered throughout the book, especially when Lola was conversing with her family. Some of the phrases I knew or could get the gist of, others where translated nicely and a few left no clue what the heck they meant. While I was irritated by the last, I think translating every phrase would have been annoying as well. So I think Ramirez did a good balance and for those who really need to know, can look them up. If you like cozy mysteries, Stephanie Plum or even Kinsey Milhone I think you'd like these as well. show less