Book review: Mr. Kiss and Tell by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham

The eighth book I read in 2015 is the second Veronica Mars novel, Mr. Kiss and Tell by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham.  I was a big fan of the TV series back in the day and went to opening weekend of the Kickstarted Veronica Mars movie.  This is the second book released since then, both of which pick up with the movie continuity and move forward from there.

Rob Thomas is the creator of the show so, unlike some novelizations, all the dialogue is utterly true to the characters; you can just hear the actors from the series delivering the lines.  I think it's utterly ridiculous, however, for the authors to expect the reader to believe that Veronica Mars can visit the parent of a former classmate using a false name and not be recognized.  Frankly, by this time, anyone in Neptune ought to recognize the daughter of their former sheriff considering all the times she ought to have been featured in local newscasts and newspapers for her crime-solving and involvement in various scandals.

More unfortunately, this book revisits one of the most egregious of the TV series's missteps in the Manning family, which is simultaneously wealthy and powerful and fundamentalist Christian in a beach town in southern California.  They're prominent in their church ... which no one else in town attends ... and they're part of the Quiverfull movement ... despite having only three children.  Nothing about them makes the slightest bit of sense, but you can feel the self-righteous vindictiveness flow out of Thomas' and Graham's pens.  Biker gangs? Mostly nice guys who are misunderstood, and their petty crimes are small potatoes compared to the systemic violence and corruption of society.  Prostitutes?  Brave and kind women who have taken control of their own bodies to achieve their dreams and deserve respect for their choices.  Evangelical Christians?  100% evil, beyond the pale, with no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

The Mannings' religious leanings aren't even relevant to the plot; it's just an excuse to bash Christians.  Ironically, one of the main political points raised by the story is the victimization of prostitutes, who are often assaulted or otherwise abused but are afraid to go to the police lest they be arrested because of their jobs.  You know who have been main players in efforts to stop sex trafficking and to prosecute pimps and johns instead of prostitutes?  Christian ministries.

After the Veronica Mars movie, only two novels were announced.  I don't know if there will be any further books in the series (although this book certainly sets up some intriguing changes in Neptune that I'd like to hear more about), but I'll certainly buy a third if it's published.