In the Belly of Jonah is a fast-paced mystery with a likable protagonist and an intricately woven narrative brimming with bizarre yet believable twists. The first in a series, the book expertly lays the groundwork for Liv Bergen, amateur sleuth, and her love interest, FBI Agent Streeter Pierce.
Liv becomes involved in the investigation of the murder of Jill Brannigan, a summer intern at the … limestone mine Liv manages near Fort Collins, Colorado (a breathtaking setting that unwittingly becomes an accessory to crime). In doing so, she inadvertently puts her friends, her family, and herself at risk of being swallowed in the belly of a madman bloated with perverse appetites for women, surrealistic art, and renown.
Perhaps a bit too daring (and at times irreverent) for her own good, ¿Boots,¿ as Liv¿s eight siblings call her, soon realizes she has a knack for outsmarting and tracking down the Venus de Milo murderer¿and she enjoys it! As the gripping plot of In the Belly of Jonah unfolds, Liv Bergen takes her place alongside the best female crime-solvers as a woman with smarts, self-confidence, and intuitive savvy.
For twenty-five years, Sam Brannan has run a division in the mining company that was founded by her grandfather, father, and uncle in 1944. She lives with her family in Rapid City, South Dakota. In the Belly of Jonah is her first novel.
more
Liv Bergen is the spunky, smart, and self-confident manager of a limestone mine in Fort Collins, Colorado. But, when one of her summer interns becomes the next victim of the Venus de Milo murderer, Liv becomes embroiled in an FBI investigation that puts, not only herself, but her family and friends in peril. In the Belly of Jonah, Sandra Brannan’s first book in the Liv Bergen series, is a fast paced mystery that kept me up late reading.
In Liv Bergen, Brannan has written a strong female lead who is immediately likeable and is someone who you almost wish lived next door. When reading In the Belly of Jonah, I got up close and personal with Liv through Brannan’s excellent use of the first-person point-of-view. This helped build the intimacy between myself and her protagonist, leaving me connected enough to Liv to keep me reading to see what happens to her. While I’m on the subject of character point-of-view, Brannan also gives the killer his own point-of-view, which gave me a glimpse into his twisted mind, fueling the desire to see him meet his downfall in the end.
The plot for In the Belly of Jonah was innovative, but the murders tend to be pretty brutal. Although Brannan doesn’t describe the gore in detail, those with a vivid imagination will no doubt be able to visualize the gruesome nature of the victims’ deaths.
All in all, this was an enjoyable book loaded with great characters. Brannan’s writing is sharp and concise, and she weaves the threads of her tail into a coherent story that keeps the pages turning. In the Belly of Jonah is a good start to the Liv Bergen series.
Starting to read a book, by an author with whom you are unfamiliar, is always an adventure. I started reading IN THE BELLY OF JONAH sometime before midnight, kept on reading till I’m not quite sure when, before I lost the fight to keep my eyes open. I was nearly halfway through the book when my vision blurred beyond another word. Yes, it is that good.
Crime scenes don’t come with neon signs and arrows pointing the way. More often than not they are quite inscrutable. Clues start out as a meaningless jumble of bits and pieces that may or may not belong to the victim, or to the perpetrator. It takes a trained eye, a lot of science, and a well-developed sense of intuition and imagination to put it all together, and find out just whodoneit. It also takes more than one person to put the murder puzzle together. There. I’ve told you everything you need to know about this book without a single spoiler.
Sandra Brannan has crafted this tale of a serial killer in such a way that even when you figure out just who is doing the monstrous deeds, there are still surprises to be found. I wouldn’t classify this as a cozy mystery, but it is not the usual hard-boiled crime drama either. It’s a book you can share with your mom.