Sparkle Hayter has worked extensively in television and also writes
and performs stand up comedy. Nice Girls Finish Last is her second
novel in a series of four featuring ANN (All News Network) television
reporter/producer Robin Hudson.This thirty-seven year old auburn beauty
brings new meaning, character and oomph to the (largely self-depracating)
current vogue for books about single, professional twenty and
thirtysomething women on the dating game (which are presumably
scribed by women of a similar description). The shoutline on the
front cover quips; ‘knocks Bridget Jones off the scales and steals
her fags’ and it would appear that even Ginger Spice could learn a
thing or two about girl power from this feisty chick. For red-headed
Robin is positively injected with sparkle and wit. She really is funny,
clever and beautiful and she’s determined to maintain a PMA – positive
mental attitude – realistically recognising that this must be the key
to success.
It is precisely this attitude that sets her apart from the rest of her
single-mingle sisters who just love to whinge and whinge thinking
everybody – and anybody – else will listen and moreover be interested
and sympathetic to their imagined plights. By contrast Robin’s problems
are multifarious and hyper-real. Unlike her British counterpart Bridget
she doesn’t have time to smoke, let alone count the cancer-sticks.
Not only does our spunky heroine have several ex-lovers, lovers and
lovers-to-be to contend with, she has to suffer the daily trauma of
her vile boss with a smile whilst trying to avoid her holier-than-thou,
super-critical Aunt Maureen. All this, and she’s investigating a series
of murders for the Special Reports Unit which are all somehow linked to
the local S&M; scene. And why exactly does a guillotine keep appearing
outside her front door? Armed only with a glue gun and a sarcastic bite
Robin is determined to survive.
Perfect summer-reading, Nice Girls Finish Last is an ideal companion for
the beach or the plane; a quick, easy and hugely entertaining read. Written with humour, punch
and panache Nice Girls Finish Last hosts a whole cast of tenderly drawn
and quirky characters such as: Mistress Anya and her slave Charles; Louise
Bryant, surely the most cossetted cat in New York; Tamayo Scheinman, a
truly bizarre work colleague and a new and mysterious neighbour who Robin
just can’t quite fathom.
Not quite a riot but this is certainly a giggle.
Reviewed by Victoria Williams
