Tara Sharp is a gust of fresh air in the local crime fiction scene. While it is wonderful that our more literary crime writers are finally getting the attention they deserve, there’s still plenty of room for fast-paced commercial female-oriented Australian crime fiction. And Marianne Delacourt (aka sci-fi writer Marianne de Pierres) has certainly nailed that brief.

Sharp Turn is the second book in this amusing crime/romance series (after Sharp Shooter). Tara is a heroine very much in the tradition of Janet Evanovich—as the cover line points out in very bold type—with a hint of the paranormal. She has an ‘unusual gift’ that allows her to read auras, making the series a good recommendation for readers of paranormal romance looking to move on.

Tara’s ability is as much a liability as an asset in her unorthodox PI business though—she’s still learning to control her unusual power and it gets her into as much trouble as it gets her out of. Likeably self deprecating and full of spunk, Tara is convincing enough if you don’t try to analyse her too deeply. And who wants to analyse deeply a book that sets out to be funny, fast and furious? This is an ideal beach read.