{"id":1620721,"date":"2025-08-27T23:20:49","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T03:20:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/?p=1620721"},"modified":"2025-08-27T23:20:49","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T03:20:49","slug":"nancy-screw-the-case-of-the-dirty-benjamins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/divine.ca\/en\/nancy-screw-the-case-of-the-dirty-benjamins\/","title":{"rendered":"DIVINE Reads: Nancy Screw & The Case of the Dirty Benjamins by Jane Laboucane"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nancy Screw & The Case of the Dirty Benjamins: About the Book<\/h3>\n

As a full-time private investigator and part-time dominatrix, Nancy is single. By choice. She’s married to her job, but it’s an open relationship-an arrangement she takes full advantage of. When Nancy’s approached about a suspected financial crime that could bring down a children’s charity, she finds herself investigating two handsome and haughty financiers-blue-eyed, black-haired twins Barron and Theodore Benjamin. The brothers are the toast of Toronto-known as much for their rugged good looks as they are for their ruthless behaviour in the boardroom.<\/p>\n

As Nancy tries to get to the bottom of the brothers’ dodgy business dealings, she stumbles into a world of high-stakes finance and uncovers more than a case of treacherous white-collar crime. With a closet full of different disguises and the help of her elderly sidekick, Mrs. Jones, Nancy pledges to do whatever it takes to solve the case-including getting down and dirty with the main suspects.<\/p>\n

Nancy Screw & The Case of the Dirty Benjamins<\/a> is the first novel in a campy detective series centered on Nancy Screw, a Toronto-based detective who does dominatrix work on the side. With a closet full of different disguises and the help of her trusted elderly sidekick, Mrs. Jones, Nancy will do whatever it takes to solve the case.<\/p>\n

The Review<\/a><\/h3>\n
\"Nancy
Photo: Jill Schneiderman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you\u2019ve ever wondered what might happen if the disguises of the hit show Alias<\/em> collided with the playful crime-solving of Janet Evanovich\u2019s Stephanie Plum<\/em> series, you\u2019ll find the answer in Nancy Screw & the Case of the Dirty Benjamins.<\/em><\/p>\n

This fast-paced read blends mystery with just enough grit to keep the pages turning. It doesn\u2019t go as far into the risqu\u00e9 territory as Fifty Shades<\/em>, but the heat is there, balanced by Laboucane\u2019s expert storytelling. The fact that Nancy Screw is a dominatrix feels integral to her character and adds depth to the story rather than coming across as exploitative.<\/p>\n

As a Torontonian, I appreciated how the city itself becomes part of the narrative. Rather than serving as a vague backdrop, Toronto is woven into the plot in a way that grounds the book and makes it feel fresh. Readers will enjoy spotting familiar streets, neighbourhoods, and restaurants in the middle of the action.<\/p>\n

If there\u2019s one critique, it\u2019s that the ending felt a little rushed. The final chapters wrap things up quickly, and a few more pages could have given both the mystery and the characters more breathing room. A touch more humour would also have elevated the finale, especially since the book flirts with camp and wit throughout.<\/p>\n

That said, Nancy Screw & the Case of the Dirty Benjamins<\/em> is still a fun ride that delivers exactly what it promises: a mix of intrigue and playful adventure. Nancy Screw herself is a well-developed character who leaves you wanting more, which makes it even more exciting that this is the start of a series. It\u2019s the kind of book you can polish off in a weekend, and if you\u2019re a fan of fast-moving mysteries with a twist, it\u2019s well worth the read.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nancy Screw & The Case of the Dirty Benjamins: About the Book As a full-time private investigator and part-time dominatrix, Nancy is single. By choice. She’s married to her job,…<\/div>\n
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