Title: The Girl With the Gold Bikini
Author: Lisa Walker
Published: February 1st 2020, Wakefield Press
Status: Read January 2020 courtesy Wakefield Press
++++++
My Thoughts:
Lisa Walker delivers a sharp-witted, delightful romp with her latest novel, The Girl With the Gold Bikini.
Having deferred her law degree and forgone a backpacking tour around Asia with her best friends, Olivia Grace is fulfilling a childhood dream by working as a private investigator-in-training on Queensland’s Gold Coast. Working for her entrepreneurial (and attractive) former neighbour, she is disappointed to be mostly running internet searches, rather than saving the day like her idols Princess Leia, Nancy Drew, and Veronica Mars, so when Rosco finally assigns her a case, following a suspected cheating husband, she’s determined to prove her worth.
Olivia soon finds herself careering between the Gold Coast and Byron Bay with a handbag full of disguises, including a gold bikini, filched from her grandmother’s closet, in an effort to ascertain just what the husband, a Byron Bay yogi, is up to and what it has to do with speed dating, a chain of McSushi restaurants, a group of marine life activists, and a missing surfing champion. It’s a fun, at times madcap, mystery adventure as Olivia gets herself tied up in knots -literally – trying to solve the case, but it has the occasional serious edge with reference to an assault, workplace sexual harassment, and racism.
Walker’s quirky sense of humour will be familiar to those who have read her previously published books. Short chapters contribute to the fast pace, and the mystery is well plotted with a satisfying conclusion.
Olivia is an engaging protagonist, only eighteen she is full of youthful optimism and confidence. Walker alludes to the fact that Olivia isn’t the body ‘ideal’, but she’s generally unbothered by it, (and rocks that gold bikini as a Gold Coast meter maid regardless). Olivia’s crush on her boss, and childhood friend Rosco, has an endearing awkwardness to it, and introduces a light element of romance. I enjoyed the banter, and the ‘insider’ references to Star Wars the pair share.
The Girl with the Gold Bikini is an entertaining and witty novel, suitable for both YA and adult audiences, and a terrific summer read.
++++++
Available from Wakefield Press
Or from your preferred retailer via Booko I Book Depository
Also by Lisa Walker reviewed at Book’d Out
book'd out 
Feb 04, 2020 @ 21:51:26
I absolutely adored this book. I’m glad you enjoyed it, too!
Olivia was such a delight to read. She is one of the most relatable characters I’ve read lately.
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Feb 04, 2020 @ 21:51:45
This sounds like a fun read, I’ll add it to the list.
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Feb 04, 2020 @ 22:35:42
This theme and plot would get me armchair traveling and I like that! This sounds like an author I can add to my to-read list.
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Feb 05, 2020 @ 05:37:19
This book sounds sweet and like it’s a fun read. Not much out there with female PIs these days.
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Feb 05, 2020 @ 09:58:12
Thanks so much Shellyrae, great to hear you enjoyed it!
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Feb 05, 2020 @ 17:48:22
This does sound like a good read. I haven’t come across her books but I think I’d be very happy to read this one. Hmm a golden bikini and a meter maid.
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Feb 05, 2020 @ 20:37:16
I enjoyed the previous books I read by this author so I may need to give this a go!
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Feb 05, 2020 @ 21:59:17
It’s not available on kindle, I’ll have to wait for the library, it’s on order, so maybe around June lol
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Feb 08, 2020 @ 11:00:30
I’ll admit, the title initially put me off this one, but based on your great review it sounds like it has much more to offer than my first impressions, and I should put Lisa Walker’s writing on my radar.
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