Random Acts of Fraud

A Holly Anna Paladin Mystery #5 

Paperback, ebook

May 19, 2017

by Christy Barritt

• Series: Holly Anna Paladin Mysteries
• Paperback: 306 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform 
• ISBN-13: 978-1546831426

Vintage-loving Holly Anna Paladin finds online dating uncouth and unbecoming. But, in an attempt to overcome her romantic slump, her BFF convinces Holly to give it a shot. When Holly is stood up on her first date, she’s halfway relieved . . . until she discovers the reason isn’t because her cyber matchup has cold feet. Instead she stumbles upon him in a classic Mustang, deader than good old-fashioned manners. 

Holly's had enough with investigating crime and leaves her ex-boyfriend, Detective Chase Dexter, to solve this mystery. But Holly is somehow connected to this murder, and someone is determined to keep her in the thick of things. She hopes it’s not Drew Williams, the handsome funeral director who’s trying to sweep her off her feet. 

Before more people are hurt, Holly is determined to unmask the pretender in her life. But can she keep her feelings for Chase locked away? Or will Holly end up losing her heart to him all over again? She must solve the case before someone pulls the plug on her profile . . . and deletes her permanently.

My thoughts:  RANDOM ACTS OF FRAUD is Ms. Barrett's fifth book in her Holly Anna Paladin Mystery series. Fans will love this latest adventure in the life of quiet, old-fashioned Holly, and her more outspoken friend.

This wasn't my favorite Holly Anna book, it seemed somewhat unfocused, and dragged a lot. Even a bit repetitive. 

What is a girl to do when someone appears to be stalking her, the dead man's family thinks that their son was madly in love with her, and she discovers that the dead man was stalking her too, photoshopping photos of her with her ex-boyfriend and replacing the ex with pictures of him! Scary. 

I didn't guess who was behind it right away and there were lots of red herrings who could have killed the man--and was threatening Holly, but whoever it was blended -- or knew how to blend -- because he or she was seemingly everywhere Holly went and knew what she was doing?

And who is this woman who shows up at the same time as the murder, claiming to be Holly's long lost cousin?  Is she for real?  

You'll need to read the book, RANDOM ACTS OF FRAUD to find out. 

Other stories in the series include:

Random Acts of Murder 

Random Acts of Deceit

Random Acts of Malice

Random Acts of Scrooge (a novella)

Random Acts of Greed

Random Acts of Fraud