Book Review: Jeopardy in July: A Jamie Quinn Mystery by Barbara Venkataraman

I really enjoyed this fun, quick mystery.

Jeopardy in July: A Jamie Quinn Mystery

(Jamie Quinn Cozy Mystery Book 5)

by Barbara Venkataraman

File Size: 1150 KB

Print Length: 220 pages

Publication Date: March 26, 2017

ASIN: B06XWJK9TP
Genre: Cozy Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Old people were dying at an alarming rate at La Vida Boca, a posh assisted living facility in Boca Raton, Florida. With its sterling reputation, dedicated staff, and top-notch medical care, none of the deaths are considered suspicious, but when members of the poker club start to die under strange circumstances, attorney Jamie Quinn finds herself once again embroiled in a mystery. With help from her new friend, Jessie Sandler, and her favorite P.I., Duke Broussard, Jamie uncovers a crime that took place forty years earlier. Can she stop the killer in time? Or is she in danger of becoming the next victim?

Review:
Jamie is missing her almost fiancé Kip and wondering if she needs a change from being a divorce lawyer. After all, even a divorce attorney who has seen it all might be a bit depressed about being called to assist a client in an assisted living facility who is seeking divorce. Jamie went to La Vida Boca but she never got to meet the client who had just recently died. She meets a friend and some of the elderly characters instead. When she is offered the chance to do some estate planning and probate work she thinks that is a switch in law niches that maybe she could make.

One of Jamie’s prior clients raises a concern about an inherited art work that turns out to be a copy. She calls in her favorite PI, Duke, to try to search the history of the piece. In her usual Jamie style, she stumbles onto clues and into trouble. Soon Jamie is teaming up with her nemesis, the local District Attorney, and her friend at the FBI as the paths to the art forgery cross with a long time FBI man-hunt for an art swindler. Jamie is the new FBI secret weapon.

While investigating the mystery, Jamie is a little distracted by twin disappointments. First, Kip announces he may be away for another month to research another strange critter. Then Jamie is told there is no news on her father’s visa application which means his a delay in her meeting him in the states.

Danger threatens as another resident at La Vida Boca is found dead and Jamie begins to think the deaths are not just old age. Can Jamie uncover the murderer before someone else – maybe her-- dies?

Once again, I completely enjoyed this engaging mystery. I like the legal aspects which are familiar to me and the plot is enhanced with some quirky elderly residents in addition to Jamie’s usual friends. There are references to songs, books and TV shows from the boomer generation that make this fun for readers of a more mature age (like me).

The writing flows well and this reads quickly. It offers laughs and snorts. I recommend this series to readers who enjoy fun, cozy mysteries.

I picked this up while on promo at the invitation of the author.