Sharp Turn – Marianne Delacourt (Tara Sharp #2)
Allen & Unwin, 2010
288 pages
RRP: AU$29.99
ISBN: 9781742370033

Reviewed by Liz Grzyb

Tara Sharp, a private detective who can see auras, is the protagonist of Marianne Delacourt’s captivating, funny and exciting series that started with Sharp Shooter. Sharp Turn is an excellent continuation of the series, following Tara as she falls in and out of trouble, becoming more used to using her abilities in investigating.

Tara is an immensely likable character, both interesting enough to follow and not too full of herself that she doesn’t strike a chord with the audience. We catch up with Tara’s various sidekicks, some of whom we met in Sharp Shooter. This motley crew help to create shenanigans as Tara is caught up in a couple of risky cases and is threatened by a figure she hoped was in her past.

The comparisons between Delacourt’s Tara Sharp and Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum are somewhat inevitable, since both are feisty women who aren’t afraid to stand up for themselves and go after the prize. Both have romantic dilemmas and comic escapades while evading life-threatening bad guys, but I find Tara to be much more down to earth than Stephanie. Maybe it’s because the series is set in my hometown of Perth, and Tara is very much an Aussie through and through.

Those who read chick lit, paranormal, humour and mystery will thoroughly enjoy Sharp Turn. I can’t wait for the next instalment, although according to the Tara Sharp website, we have to wait until October next year for that pleasure! At least it looks like there are at least two more novels scheduled after Sharp Turn for us to get our fix.