‘No good deed goes unpunished as they say.’
In Brandy Alexander’s case, no good deed goes without finding a body and a crime to solve. After work she joins her friend, Whit, to celebrate his Judge of the Year nomination. When she goes to return his jacket he left in the bar she finds herself smack in the middle of a crime scene. The doors to his home and security gates are wide open, his dog is … and security gates are wide open, his dog is nowhere to be found, the safe is empty, an ex-wife is standing at the top of the stairs and the Judge is facedown in a pool of blood.
The problems only get bigger. The list of gang members the judge sentenced is longer than the line waiting for king cakes at Mardi Gras.
Besides a list of felons with a long reach for revenge, the police find the Judge had a list of ex-wives, girlfriends and women he had wronged, not to mention enough gambling debts to rival the National deficit.
Brandy is front and center at the crime scene when her ex boyfriend, NOPD Captain Dante Deedler, shows up. Will they reconcile their differences when she finds information regarding the case? Will Dante be willing to set aside differences and let her help the police in the investigation?
New Orleans has long had a reputation for crime and corruption. Has Brandy stumbled into a world where doing a good deed might get her good and dead?
There’s no place like New Orleans to have a good crime!
The book opens, we find ourselves in a New Orleans restaurant frequented by the city’s political elite. The ambience suggests not only the aroma of food but also the stink of corruption that comes with power. Brandy Alexander works at the Fraud detection Unit in the city, and her skills to ‘detect discrepancies in patterns’ would be crucial to solve this case. Told in her voice, the murder of her friend Whit at the pinnacle of his career—just as he’s achieved his Judge of the Year nomination—is a mystery laced with humor.
Identifying the culprit is made complicated by the number of characters who may have motive and opportunity. The victim had a healthy appetite for women—his campaign manager, Justine, was about to become wife number four, and his one of the ex-wives is standing at the top of the stairs when he is found face down in a pool of blood. For an extra twist, the safe is empty. Then a computer disappears along with the secrets it contains.
Brandy’s ex boyfriend, NOPD Captain Dante Deedler is assigned to the case. Can they reconcile their differences and join hands to advance this investigation?
What’s a mystery without food? So, as a special treat, a praline recipe is included at the end.
Five stars.
What a great book! It’s like being in New Orleans!
This review is for the audio book.
I really enjoyed this book, in fact I have loved every book in this fun and wacky series so far and this book is no exception. The characters are what make it a great hit with me, they are all unique, likeable and funny and with the stories set in New Orleans where anything can and usually does happen, I would highly recommend. The mystery was cleverly worked out, with lots of suspects and motives and I must admit I didn’t guess the killer. The story is all told by Brandy, so no jumping around to different characters. I like stories written this way and think it works because the plot unfolds with the character, it just a nice well written plot. Throw in some cute dogs, that in a way help to solve the murder and the hours will just fly by in chuckles.
When a friend leaves the bar early forgetting his coat, Brandy volunteers to drop it off for him as it’s on her way home. She arrives to find his front door open, his ex wife up stairs in the bedroom, him laying dead downstairs and his Schnauzer missing. Whit was a judge, could somebody he put in jail be the culprit? With a dog missing there is no way Brandy is going to stand on the side lines. The police have a number of suspects and motives to have them chasing there tails. Can Brandy come at the case from a different angle and find the killer with some furry help?
I like the narrator, she gives the characters there own unique accents to bring the story to life.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
rescue-dogs, Schnauzer, law-enforcement, murder-investigation, NOLA, amateur-sleuth
How can I NOT love this book? It’s got a murder investigation in NOLA with NOPD, a female amateur sleuth, pet rescue, Schnauzers, places and foods I love, and learning about tunnels in the city that’s below sea level! The story is great, too! Good plot complete with surprising twists and devilish red herrings, not to mention that the characters really are. Great read!
Colleen mooney has a flare for the Cozy Mysteries and they are all centered in New Orleans, her hometown. You will love this one!
Highly recommend this book!
There is nothing better than a good book frst thing in the morning! I highly recommend this book from Colleen Mooney! You’ll be highly etertained teh whole way through!
This PG13 cleverly crafted who-done-it filled almost two weeks of free time but could be read in a day. I was given a paperback and this voluntary review is my own opinion.
What a fun romp through New Orleans.
New Orleans can be like a small town in many ways. Especially with folks who either attended the Catholic high schools or played ball with or against them, etc. Detective Taylor and Defense attorney Jiff both mention a sort of six degrees of separation.
This can get a bit sticky when romance or high handed deals are added into the mix.
Old friends might be more frenemies over time – especially if one got The Girl, and the other got girls. Especially if one does not draw the line at his neighbors’ fence line.
Loves, loyalties, friendships and lives are all at stake – and the clues might be gone with the dogs.
Another exciting Brandy Alexander KU read!