Disappearing Nightly

A struggling New York actress tries to solve the mystery of the disappearing magicians assistants in a world where she thought magic didn't exist in real life.

This book was so much fun, so much fun. The characters were all hilarious but still somehow believable, the mystery was actually somewhat challenging, the dialog was snappy and fun and the hint of a romance was handled wonderfully and did not feel forced or intrusive at all as it often can in these kinds of books. I also found the take on magic in this world to be quite interesting and want to see more of it.

However the characters are the true stars here and I fell in love with them immediately and hope at least some of them show up in future books. I want to know more about show more these people and I want to spend more time with them, as much as I can. I almost want to be Esther, and that is a rare thing for me in a book, especially an urban fantasy one. Or Delilah, Delilah is freaking awesome as well.

I loved this book, it was so much fun and I am so looking forward to reading the rest. show less

This book is brain candy, and I love it. First, Esther's Jewish, which makes for a nice change. Second, the book is refreshingly free of any Speshulness on Esther's part; she screws up, but she's clever and gets by on her own merits. Third, it's basically angst free. The author figures out how to be funny without being obnoxious. Honestly, it reminds me of those 30s comedies like Bringing Up Baby, with the smartass heroine and her bemused hero. And the chemistry between Esther and Lopez, her love interest, is delicious.

3.5 stars, but I am rounding up. Why is this author not getting more attention? Laura Resnick is a recent discovery for me Fallen from Grace Fallen from Grace suffers from a really bad cover and not enough buzz -- I think the cover turns readers away (it shouldn't, the story is great). Disappearing Nightly suffers similarly. Apparently The Esther Diamond series has quite a few books in it (5!) and she has an epic fantasy series also. But I never see Resnick's books turn up on my GR friends' TBR list. Why? Resnick is a talented writer -- she is funny and makes great observations about human beings. She knows how to slowly pull her writers in to her stories, there is no "bam" feeling with her stories and the reader is in. But that doesn't show more lessen the enjoyment.

Lately, urban fantasy is hit or miss with me. Disappearing Nightly held my interest through the entire book and that is saying a lot for me lately. The dialogue is witty, the characters are well developed, and the world is more urban than fantasy -- but still fun.

The setting is NYC among actors and various types of performers. The feel of the book is funny crime fiction that intersects with the magic world. The set up and scenes are funny and then the interactions with the characters is funny. There is a Stephanie Plum feel but with less slap stick and more substance. The characters are slowly introduced with time to get to know each one. Resnick builds her story slowly, nothing happens too easily or swiftly.

What is unique about Esther (the main character) is that she is not amazingly beautiful with mad fighting skills. She is pretty average in appearance and defense skills, yet somehow she is still appealing to the man she is interested in and able to survive some encounters she gets herself into.

For romance lovers there is a hint of attraction and romance, but no true satisfaction is had. This is a fun, quick read and I just don't understand why this series and author do not receive more attention. I definitely plan on reading the next one in this series. I don't have that desperate need to move on to #2, but it is nice knowing that #2 is there and I want to read it. I will leave you with a few funny quotes that demonstrate what a fun read this is:

"I looked between him and the fire. 'Did you .. did you .. Is that magic?' He seemed faintly puzzled as he waved a hand holding a remote. 'No, I've switched it on.' "

"Men can rarely resist a sultry beauty with tears in her eyes. Especially if they haven't yet realized she's got a penis under that tight red skirt."

" 'We confront Evil.' 'Well', I said. 'Uh-huh. I see.' If someone ever tells you he's a member of a worldwide club whose mission is to confront Evil, I defy you to come up with a pithy reply on the spot."

"I was letting a sexy, employed, straight single man whom I really liked leave my apartment with a brief wave and no plans for a date. It was just barely possible, I mused, that I wasn't running my life as well as I might." show less

I absolutely *loved* this book!

It's a quick, fun paranormal read about Esther Diamond, who has a role playing a green nymph in the Off-Off-Off Broadway show "Sorceror!" When the show's star, Golly Gee, truly disappears during a magic-show type disappearing act, it doesn't take Esther long to figure out that something strange is going on -- especially when she finds out that other people have also gone missing during the same type of acts.

This book is full of quirky characters who are truly fun and well-developed -- from the three-hundred-plus-year-old Max to the creepy Hieronymus, from Dolly the Dancing Cowgirl and Delilah the beautiful transvestite, to Satsy (aka Saturated Fat) the obese cross-dresser to the tight-lipped Herlihy.

Read show more it! It's too good to pass up. My only complaint is that the second book in the series, DOPPELGANGSTERS, didn't come out from Luna Books in December 2006 as planned. Fortunately, DAW is publishing it in 2008. I can't wait! show less

An okay paranormal romance where the main character is an underemployed actress who gets sucked into a mystery where the participants in stage-magic shows are literally disappearing into thin air. As high concept the novel is respectable enough, but Resnick is not as clever as she thinks she is; in particular, the reveal of the antagonist made me think "idiot plot."

My first foray into Laura Resnick's catalog. The book is a fun one with a good balance of tension and humor and some rather crazy characters, but I suppose that's New York. The book is a good lesson in dialog, as group conversations frequently avoid the direct topic of conversation with fun side conversations going on. Characters interrupt each other and change subjects all the time. It's like reading in the rapids.

The title is clever, and the rest of the titles in the series look similarly fun.

3.5 stars, but I am rounding up. Why is this author not getting more attention? Laura Resnick is a recent discovery for me [b:Fallen from Grace|1531433|Fallen from Grace|Laura Leone|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327914469s/1531433.jpg|1523477] Fallen from Grace suffers from a really bad cover and not enough buzz -- I think the cover turns readers away (it shouldn't, the story is great). Disappearing Nightly suffers similarly. Apparently The Esther Diamond series has quite a few books in it (5!) and she has an epic fantasy series also. But I never see Resnick's books turn up on my GR friends' TBR list. Why? Resnick is a talented writer -- she is funny and makes great observations about human beings. She knows how to slowly pull her show more writers in to her stories, there is no "bam" feeling with her stories and the reader is in. But that doesn't lessen the enjoyment.

Lately, urban fantasy is hit or miss with me. Disappearing Nightly held my interest through the entire book and that is saying a lot for me lately. The dialogue is witty, the characters are well developed, and the world is more urban than fantasy -- but still fun.

The setting is NYC among actors and various types of performers. The feel of the book is funny crime fiction that intersects with the magic world. The set up and scenes are funny and then the interactions with the characters is funny. There is a Stephanie Plum feel but with less slap stick and more substance. The characters are slowly introduced with time to get to know each one. Resnick builds her story slowly, nothing happens too easily or swiftly.

What is unique about Esther (the main character) is that she is not amazingly beautiful with mad fighting skills. She is pretty average in appearance and defense skills, yet somehow she is still appealing to the man she is interested in and able to survive some encounters she gets herself into.

For romance lovers there is a hint of attraction and romance, but no true satisfaction is had. This is a fun, quick read and I just don't understand why this series and author do not receive more attention. I definitely plan on reading the next one in this series. I don't have that desperate need to move on to #2, but it is nice knowing that #2 is there and I want to read it. I will leave you with a few funny quotes that demonstrate what a fun read this is:

"I looked between him and the fire. 'Did you .. did you .. Is that magic?' He seemed faintly puzzled as he waved a hand holding a remote. 'No, I've switched it on.' "

"Men can rarely resist a sultry beauty with tears in her eyes. Especially if they haven't yet realized she's got a penis under that tight red skirt."

" 'We confront Evil.' 'Well', I said. 'Uh-huh. I see.' If someone ever tells you he's a member of a worldwide club whose mission is to confront Evil, I defy you to come up with a pithy reply on the spot."

"I was letting a sexy, employed, straight single man whom I really liked leave my apartment with a brief wave and no plans for a date. It was just barely possible, I mused, that I wasn't running my life as well as I might."

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