From the massive archive….
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
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, 2021
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