Guest Review: The Escape Diaries – Juliet Rosetti

Introducing the hilarious new heroine, Mazie Maguire, in Juliet Rosetti’s irresistible debut novel that follows the outrageous adventure of a woman on the run.

Wrongly convicted of killing her philandering husband, Mazie Maguire is three years into her life sentence when fate intervenes—in the form of a tornado. Just like that, she’s on the other side of the fence, running through swamps and cornfields, big box stores and suburban subdivisions. Hoping to find out who really murdered her husband, Mazie must stay a few steps ahead of both the law and her mother-in-law, who would like nothing better than to personally administer Mazie the death penalty via lethal snickerdoodle. With the Feds in hot pursuit and the national media hyping her story, Mazie stumbles upon a vast political conspiracy and a man who might just be worth a conjugal visit—if she survives.

Series:
Release Date:  December 10, 2013
Publisher:  Loveswept (Random House)
Source:  NetGalley
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Reviewer’s Thoughts:

Hilarious, well-written, sweet love story, interesting, are all appropriate when describing The Escape Diaries. Main character Mazie Maguire, convicted of killing her husband, escapes from prison during a freak tornado using tips she learned from her fellow inmates and from watching The Fugitive.  What Mazie finds on the run is not what she expected.  Instead of turning her in, people are cheering her on and helping her elude the authorities.  One member of her fan club is an intrepid photojournalist/ jack of all trades and is the key to finding the evidence Mazie needs to clear her name.  It doesn’t hurt that he is super sexy.

Mazie’s story is less romance and more mystery. Although Labeck shapes up to a valid love interest, what drives the story is not their relationship it is Mazie’s quest to find out who killed her husband and to stay out of jail.  I loved Mazie as a character, she’s funny and resourceful.  There are several places where I had to suspend belief, for instance the idea that the public would aid a convicted murderer with her escape plans and how she continually thwarts the authorities.  However, those are minor issues and I have dealt with less believable plot devices for the sake of a good story.  The murder subplot is pretty intricate and in some ways takes away from the relationship that develops between Labeck and Mazie but overall, The Escape Diaries is an enjoyable read.