Sharp Shooter – Marianne Delacourt
Allen & Unwin Arena, 2009
313 pages
RRP: AU$29.99
ISBN: 978-1-74175-931-0

Reviewed by Liz Grzyb

I’d been looking for a copy of this book for a while – even though it is set in Perth, Sharp Shooter isn’t that easy to come across here yet. When I finally ran it to earth, it was in no less than the bookshop in the international airport! I snapped it up, along with my water and muesli bar to keep me company to Dubai. It was the perfect airplane read – fast-paced, interesting and lively heroine, and set in the city I was just leaving!

As a chick-lit crime fan, the magic words “for fans of Janet Evanovich” on the cover made this a must-read for me. But Tara Sharp is a lot more than just another cookie-cutter feisty P.I. She’s got an interesting talent for seeing people’s auras and their relationships with others – a skill which she needs to hone if it’s to be any use. Tara is pulled into a complex crime world which initially seems more suited to sassy Sydney than lil’ old Perth, but Delacourt grounds the story smack-bang in the Western suburbs. (For those not in the know, that’s the expensive bit between the Swan River and the ocean.)

I enjoyed reading about Tara’s exploits. She’s not a stereotypical heroine, and doesn’t subscribe to those outdated notions of femininity, no matter what her parents may wish for her! There’s a lot of action, a hint of spicy romance here and there, and more than once I had to apologise to my fellow passengers for
snorting with laughter.

This is definitely worth a read. Perthites will enjoy playing spotto with suburbs and landmarks, and while others have said that the setting lacks a true depiction of Perth, I disagree. I can’t wait for the next instalment of Tara!