I could say a lot about why Agnes and the Hitman appealed to me. There's the heroine who makes up for having the unfortunate name of Agnes Crandall by having earned the moniker Cranky Agnes in spades--by flinging frying pans at every one of her former fiances she's caught cheating on her. There's Shane the government hitman, unflappable about everything except falling head over heels for Agnes. There's a Southern branch of the mob whose family history has made for colorful (and by colorful I mean 'involving lots and lots of shooting') dynamics in the small town of Keyes for the last twenty-five years. There's ongoing attempts to sabotage the wedding Agnes is determined to host, including delivering pink flamingoes, breaking of the nearby bridge, attempted dognapping, attempted and actual murder, and *OH NOEZ* damage to the bride's wedding dress.
But really, what it boils down to is, this book is fun. It's a solidly written and excellently paced romantic comedy, polished enough that I could see the movie version playing out in my head as I read it. Agnes is hysterical, with her ongoing arguments with her subconscious playing the role of her court-appointed psychiatrist, and it's very easy to buy why Shane falls for her. Ditto the other way around, as Shane clicks very easily into the role of seeing what Agnes needs and providing it, physically and emotionally and in defense of the beleagured wedding as well. All the side characters are delightful. Hell, I even loved the flamingos.
So I'm pleased to make this book the first one I hand five stars to this year. Well done, Crusie and Mayer!
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