Rated of 5
by Julia H. (Excelsior, MN) Orginal Sin
I really enjoyed reading Original Sin. Lucy Hamilton's seemingly banal life as a fairly new mom and housewife belies the fantastic memories of her past life as Sally Sin. The book flows between her paranoia over being a mom and leaving Theo at preschool to her days as a spy for USAWMD, a story that eventually comes together in Lucy's present life. I loved Lucy, she felt like a real mom with real worries about Theo. And even though her nemesis Ian Blackford returns, I didn't feel like she was ready to throw over her marriage with her unsuspecting husband Will, either. I am definitely looking forward to the next story and wonder if her British neighbor Tom has some secrets of his own.
Rated of 5
by Karen R. (Columbus, OH) Motherhood vs. Spy
I really enjoyed this book. It was well written, and I loved how the main character, who was a spy before being a mother, discusses how difficult being a mother is compared to being a spy. I look forward to more Sally Sin novels. Sally is a very compelling character.
Rated of 5
by Carrol Ann S. (Ventura, CA) What FUN !
'Original Sin' is the perfect book to take you away, to clear your thoughts, to enjoy, totally excluding your surroundings. Lucy Hamilton, wife of a not too inquisitive husband who adores her, mother of the most handsome toddler on earth.......aka Sally Sin, Agent 26, exceptional spy. What a woman!
How do you follow nine years of intrigue and danger with the life of a stay-at-home mom? Ever vigilant, suspicious, trying to act normal, all the while flashing back to deadly (possibly) assignments. Once a spy, can you ever retire, can you refuse to help when the agency needs you?
Beth McMullen has a sure winner in Sally Sin and I eagerly await more of her adventures.
Rated of 5
by Patricia S. (Yankton, SD) Housewife/mother/spy - Oh My!
Espionage with a side of Thomas the train and a big dollop of humor, Original Sin is a homerun first novel by Beth McMullen. Sally Sin is a delight and the most entertaining housewife/mother/spy I have ever encountered in the pages of a novel. And there are just enough loose notorious characters, mystery concerning Sally’s past, and concern for her future for a second Sally Sin adventure – Maybe a whole series I hope.
Rated of 5
by Katherine Y. (Albuquerque, NM) Fun Idea, Terrible Execution
I selected this book based on my enjoyment of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. The concept of this book seemed to hold the same promise for humorous crime solving. Given the large publicity campaign cited on the back of the book, I can't believe the publisher didn't spend a little more time working with the author on the actual text. The author fails to follow one of the first rules of writing which is to "show, not tell." In her telling of this tale she manages to make being a mother sound boring (and the three-year-old sound like a total brat) and then she makes being a spy sound boring. When she tries to deal with events in the past and in the present in the same paragraph - it is very confusing and a light book of this type really should not require re-reading to sort out when something occurred. Finally, the main character's husband actually says, "Lucy, come to California, move into my house, and marry me. If you don't, I think I might die." Every smart woman who would laugh if a man said this to her should avoid this book.
Rated of 5
by Helen M. (Petaluma, CA) Unbelieveable
I hung in there and read the whole book but for me it was just unbelievable. Lucy and Sally are way too far apart. She has a husband and child and is a spy? Each character could evolve into a great subject for a book but I just could not grasp that they worked together. So, sadly, instead of laughing, which I would have loved, I was puzzled.
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of 5
by Julia H. (Excelsior, MN) 
of 5
by Karen R. (Columbus, OH) 
of 5
by Katherine Y. (Albuquerque, NM) 
of 5
by Helen M. (Petaluma, CA) 
