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.

Book Review: Engaged in Danger (Jamie Quinn Cozy Mystery Book 4) by Barbara Venkataraman

This is a fun, engaging female lawyer mystery series.

Engaged in Danger (Jamie Quinn Cozy Mystery Book 4)
by Barbara Venkataraman

File Size: 570 KB
Print Length: 242 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publication Date: September 11, 2015
ASIN: B0159LGVHA
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Women Sleuth
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Finally, life is good for reluctant family law attorney, Jamie Quinn--her father may get his visa soon, her boyfriend is the bomb, and her law practice is growing like crazy--but when she agrees to take on a high-profile divorce case, everything falls apart. What looked like an opportunity to work with her friend Grace and make some serious bucks has turned into a deadly game, one that could destroy their friendship and tear their town apart. Why couldn't Jamie just leave well enough alone?

Review:
Jamie has settled into a nice routine with enough clients to stay busy and still leave time to spend with her boyfriend, Kip. But Jamie is alarmed when Kip announces he is traveling across the world to serve on a team to help save the wombat population in Australia (not that Jamie knows what a wombat is). That is one stress in her life, but then another walks into her office in the form of a high society wife seeking to divorce her wealthy, powerful and controlling husband.

Jamie doesn’t quite feel up to taking on the case but she may be one of the few attorneys in town who doesn’t have a conflict. The case would require intense financial forensic investigation so Jamie seeks the help of her best friend, Grace. They agree to team up to take the wife’s case and, of course, Jamie plans to bring her PI friend Duke in to help.

Meanwhile, closer to home, Jamie is helping her neighbors who have taken in their niece after her parents died in a small plane accident. Jamie agrees to try to determine who owned the plane as it appears there may be a case for improper maintenance.

As Jamie and Grace push along the investigation of the wealthy husband they determine he may be laundering money and they are concerned about his connections with the Russian mob. More surprising is the trail of contacts that begin to connect the plane crash to the money connections of the husband.

As an attorney, I can easily follow the issues but it wouldn’t require a legal background to enjoy the suspense and cozy warmth of this series. There is extra fun for me as this involves a South Florida attorney in areas I am familiar with, and also includes songs and book references that are familiar to me.

This is book four and although it could be read as a stand-alone, I do recommend the earlier books so the reader can learn the characters and enjoy Jamie's propensity for trouble and trouble solving. I like the characters and the good, realistic mystery. I really enjoy the light, easy read of this mystery series and recommend it to those who enjoy cozy mystery.

I received this title from the author for an honest review.