A Bad Day For Sunshine by Darynda Jones

A Bad Day for Sunshine is a mystery novel with a lot of quick wit and brass. I love a story with strong female characters and Sunshine Vicram certainly fits this bill. It is the first book in the author’s Sunshine Vicram series.

The story begins with Sunshine and her daughter Aurora arriving back in her hometime of Del Sol, New Mexico to take on her elected role as Sheriff. The fact is, she didn’t even know she was on the ballot. On her first day in her new role, Sunshine learns that a local girl has been kidnapped and is missing – a situation she knows all too well and the reason she had left Del Sol to begin with. With her team of quirky officers, Sunshine sets out to find the girl and her abductor. Of course if the good looking US Marshall in town or her flame from the past Levi can offer assistance, who is she to say no?

This was a quick read, and full of intrigue and humour. The characters were likeable, and for the most part believable. I was entertained throughout the book and couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. Having listened to the audiobook version, I was amazed at how fast the narrator, Lorelei King, could switch back and forth between characters – both male and female, young and old. Her performance was both convincing and with cadence.

I thoroughly enjoyed this initial book in the series, and look forward to reading the next instalment.