34 year old Jesse Morgan Jackson
is not having a good year. Her mom says that since Jesse has always done things
early she is just having a mid-life crisis. Jesse would not agree, but the past
month has been especially difficult with the death of her best friend and
business partner, Joey Catronio.
Five years ago they formed a
partnership with Joey doing the street stuff and Jesse doing the computer stuff
in the office. With his sudden death, Jesse is struggling personally and
professionally. She's determined to keep the business going, but she doesn't
truly know what she is doing. The bills are mounting and she isn't about to go
back to retail or lose their secretary Bernice her job. So, when Beverly
Gafford calls looking for somebody to find her ex-husband, Lawrence James
Gafford, Jesse works hard to land what clearly is going to be a difficult
client.
After a lot of questions it
gradually comes out that supposedly Lawrence Gafford never came back with their
daughter after his visitation weekend was over. Beverly knows next to nothing
about her ex these days and makes it clear that she likes it that way. Getting
any information out of her is very difficult and she just expects her daughter to
be found at the snap of her fingers with no effort on her part. It becomes
clear that Beverly is more trouble than Jesse needs right now, but she desperately
needs the money and takes the case. A case that threatens to overwhelm her
from the start.
Fortunately, before his
death, Joey had hired on an experienced investigator by the name of Byron
Montgomery. Unfortunately, he never told Jesse about that so she is very surprised
when Bryon shows up ready to begin work. The former Houston police officer brings plenty of experience and has an employment
contract. He is also easy on the eyes and it has been awhile for Jesse. The attraction
is definitely there on her part and she suspects the feeling might be mutual.
Not that she has time for
much of any romance in or out of the office with what will happen in this
confusing and complicated case. A case that will take Jesse all across North
Texas and deep into Oklahoma on a trail full of dead ends and misdirection. If
that wasn't enough, she still has to show up for dinner at Mom and Dad's house.
At least there isn't a grandmother to shoot dinner.
Reminiscent of Janet
Evanovich’s long running Stephanie Plum series, Private Spies: A
Jesse Morgan Mystery is highly entertaining and occasionally laugh out
loud funny. The slowness of the pace at the beginning provides the author time
to develop the Jesse Morgan character for readers before the action
significantly intensifies on many fronts. Published under the author's own name
and though her publicity company, “Breakthrough Promotions,” this debut novel
of the series is a complicated and well done effort from start to finish.
Private Spies: A Jesse Morgan
Mystery
PJ Nunn
Tidal Wave (division of
Breakthrough Promotions)
June 2013
ISBN# 978-0615832562
E-Book (also available as a
paperback)
212 Pages
$2.99
Material was picked up
during the author’s recent free read promotion in conjunction with the release
of her novel Angel Killer from Oak Tree Press. While I do consider PJ Nunn a
friend and recently offered her a spot to guest blog here, I had no idea prior
to publication she was working on a book or books. I provided zero editorial assistance
on her novels and therefore felt comfortable reviewing this book.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2013
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5 comments:
Sounds like a good read, Kevin, but I would expect nothing less from PJ. She's a multi-talented class act.
Yep. She also remembered to thank you and a bunch of other people in the acknowledgement.
Wow, thanks Kevin! That means a lot coming from you =)
Good and glad to say so.
Way to go, P.J. I'm off to download it to my Kindle for PC right now.
Lots of luck to you!
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