Book Review: Veronica Mars: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham

Publisher: Vintage Books

Published: March 2014

Pages: 336

Series: Veronica Mars #1

Summary

Ten years after graduating from high school in Neptune, California, Veronica Mars is back in the land of sun, sand, crime, and corruption. She's traded in her law degree for her old private investigating license, struggling to keep Mars Investigations afloat on the scant cash earned by catching cheating spouses until she can score her first big case. Now it's spring break, and college students descend on Neptune, transforming the beaches and boardwalks into a frenzied, week-long rave. When a girl disappears from a party, Veronica is called in to investigate. But this is not a simple missing person's case. The house the girl vanished from belongs to a man with serious criminal ties, and soon Veronica is plunged into a dangerous underworld of drugs and organized crime. And when a major break in the investigation has a shocking connection to Veronica's past, the case hits closer to home than she ever imagined.

My Thoughts...

*Caution: since the events in the book take place soon after the end of the movie, this review may contain spoilers for the series/movie.*

I came in touch with the world of Veronica Mars way late in the game, but I soon came to love this amazing young woman. Veronica is smart, sassy and brave, and this is fully respected in the book. In true Mars fashion, the mystery was intricate enough to keep me guessing until the very end and there were sufficient tension and humour to keep me turning pages well into the wee hours. 

Of course, the best thing for me was getting to see all of my favourite characters again! Veronica's best friends Mac and Wallace definitely play a good role in the story, as does her father Keith. I always liked the relationship between Veronica and her dad, and I loved seeing them come to terms with their new living order once Veronica moves back home and Keith has to face a very long recovery.

My biggest disappointment was that some of my favourite characters definitely did not get enough action time. Weevil only made a cameo appearance, and Logan was present only in a handful of long-distance calls. What is this? I NEED an epic love story!

You said it! And there is nothing epic about phone calls... I hold very high hopes for the second book though.

This book will definitely appeal more to Veronica Mars fans, but it could be a great mystery read for everyone. Knowing the characters definitely is an added value, but is not a prerequisite for liking the book or understanding the story. Filled with snarky comments and wit, this is a great read if you're looking for a good mystery with likable characters.

Rating: 4/5