Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, has returned to her family law practice after a hiatus due to the death of her mother. It’s business as usual until a bitter divorce case turns into a murder investigation, and Jamie’s client becomes the prime suspect. When she can’t untangle truth from lies, Jamie enlists the help of Duke Broussard, her favorite private investigator, to try to clear her client’s … name. And she’s hoping that, in his spare time, he can help her find her long-lost father.
A preview of the next Jamie Quinn mystery, “Peril in the Park,” can be found at the end of the book.
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The Case of the Killer Divorce is an interesting story. The story concentrated mostly of the personal life of the main character. The mystery was more in the background and was light of details. I did enjoy the story but would have liked more attention and details for the mystery. I like the characters.
While continuing her search for the Dad who doesn’t know she exists, Jamie again becomes embroiled in a murder case, when the spouse of her client in a bitter divorce ends up dead of a drug overdose.
This cosy mystery offers a little romance, lots of family drama and a rollicking good time as Duke, Jamie her friends work to find Dad and uncover a murderer.
A great, short read.
I really am enjoying these stories…each one has been easy to read and the characters are likable.
Jaime is a family lawyer who deals with a lot of divorces…in this book she is dealing with a really bad divorce case…where the wife doesn’t want the husband to see his 2 daughters every Friday…
There was a twist to the killing that I didn’t see coming…
Jaime now has a love interest and I believe he is going to be good for her…
It is easy to relate to Jaime but my favourite character has to be Marmaduke “Duke”, the private investigator…he is so funny…
Again on a side note: I really can’t stress enough that the author, Barbara Venkataraman, should consider changing the cover art…it’s not really appealing to the books…
Another great book within the Jamie Quinn series. I love how these book stand alone but also really develop the characters as a series when read together. I read the forth book first, and going back now, it’s great to see this. This mystery series is quirky and hilarious. Jamie is a great down to earth main character, with many spunky friends and clients to liven up her life.
In the second book in this series, you will find yourself emotionally charged. From anticipation of what will happen next … the suspense is exciting … to the heart warming moments that will bring tears to your eyes. You will find yourself flipping the pages quickly.
Once again you enjoy the delightful relationships in Jamie Quinn’s life … her friendship with Grace and her “working relationship” with Duke, and you have to smile when an old romance rekindles and warms your heart for Jamie.
This may be a short cozy mystery, but there is enough happening throughout the pages that you will be entertained and looking forward to the next Jamie Quinn adventure.
Thank you to the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I am so happy I was given the opportunity to read this delightful story.
This is a nice quick read with a murder and who-done-it. Jamie is back with her bff, her high school boyfriend, a kooky client getting a divorce and suddenly turning into the main suspect when the ex turns up dead, her client’s current laidback boyfriend, her mysterious father now has a name and Duke the sleazy PI.
Another fun mystery that has lots going on. This is a cute story about a divorce lawyer who found a taste for solving mysteries. Jamie Quinn has flaws, but they don’t take away from the story. They add some character and twists to the story that are rather fun. I think if you like a quick, fun mystery that will make your heart smile at the end that you will enjoy this book.
This book was given to me by the author for an honest review.
3+ stars to Barbara Venkataraman’s The Case of the Killer Divorce, her second novella in the “Jamie Quinn Mystery” e-book series. It fell a little short of a 4 because it’s not quite a traditional cozy mystery or romance mystery given there’s very little romance and a small cast of characters involved in the murder. But it had some good fun, quirky characters and sharp dialogue so it was better than a 3 in my world. (I rarely give out a 5 just to set the scale).
Story
Jamie’s a family law attorney who took off a couple of years when her mother passed away. In the first book in the series, she’s thrust into a criminal case to save her cousin, but in this second book, she’s helping her client Becca get through what seems like a rough divorce from her husband Joe — that is, until Joe turns up dead from an overdose of Becca’s sleeping pills hidden in a Tylenol bottle. Did Joe accidentally kill himself? Was it Becca hoping to ensure she retained fully custody of their children? Or was it Becca’s new boyfriend (and previously a good friend of Joe’s) trying to get the ex out of the picture?
In this short novella, readers experience drama both in and out of the courtroom with this case, including Jamie’s budding friendships with the DA Nick and PI Duke. Throw in her Aunt Peg and her criminal lawyer best friend Grace and Jamie’s got tons of folks to help her get through her re-acclimation to the legal world. But in this book, we learn Jamie never knew her father and is looking to find out more about him. When she stumbles upon a few leads, and a gift from her late mother, Jamie’s world begins to turn upside down as she embraces all sorts of change in her life.
Strengths
For a novella, there is a lot of action and multiple side-stories packed into the plot. It’s quick-paced and you’ll find yourself enjoying the read in about 60 to 90 minutes — perfect for when you can’t fall asleep quickly but are afraid to start an entire new 300 page novel that threatens to keep you awake all night! The characters are funny and the easy dialogue makes you feel like you’re talking to or reading about a friend. It’s simple and straightforward without any fluffy language that attempts to send you off into complex literary bliss — which is a good thing when you just want a fun little mystery to solve.
Suggestions
I am not sure I’d call it a mystery though! There is certainly an element of “who killed Joe” and “will Jamie find her father” but if you’re a traditional cozy mystery buff, this may seem out of character. It’s still a good story, but doesn’t have a cast of 5 or 6 characters who could be the killer, and you don’t get a lot of clues to try to figure it out yourself. I’d like to see maybe one more potential suspect to build up a little more suspense and reader involvement in the story (but that’s just me!).
Final Thoughts
I enjoy the series. It’s fun and easy to read. Jamie seems very real and Duke is a blast. I can hear his accent and see him parading around whenever he’s in a scene. I look forward to watching this series build and grow into a more substantial story.
Jamie Quinn Mystery Collection: Box Set Books 1 – 3: I enjoyed these books by an author new to me. I had been collecting her books over the years and finally decided to read them. Entertaining and funny and good suspense are a few descriptors to pop into my head. The main characters are a perfect fit: two female lawyers (they’re likable); one Cajun PI; and a couple of love interests. With each story, most of these characters grew more likable and complex. The other main characters are added as the stories go along. Grace and Duke are the perfect characters to make this series full of interest and humor.
There are many stories being followed along with the main plot. A continuous series that doesn’t have any cliffhangers; just moves along a time line. The story lines hold the reader’s interest and there’s humor throughout the books. There’s no crazy situations, like that lovable Plum character, but realistic happenings. There’s no silly/stupid dialog or formulas, just plain entertainment. The writer’s style is laid back, almost as if you’re on the porch gossipin while sippin yur iced tea. Well written and quickly read, but still substantial enough to make reading these books worthwhile. Needs a little editing, but nothing that distracts from reading. 4*
Death by Didgeridoo #1 – This is my first read by this author and I like it. A good introduction to a few main characters of the series. Well written and easily read, fast paced and interesting; it was easy to sit down and finish quickly. All of the characters are likable, realistic and entertaining; think of Moonlighting for the humor and a male character. 4*
The Case of the Killer Divorce #2 – This story picks up about six months after where Didgeridoo finished. Well written with plenty of suspense, the reader can’t help but enjoy the story. The humor is good and the characters keep developing. 4*
Peril in the Park #3 – This story picks up about six months later from the ending of Killer Divorce. Boy, there’s a neat twist to one of on going the background stories! There’s also a fun surprise involving someone’s dad that makes the future books a must read; we know the ending to that story, but it’s the path taken that interesting. Plenty of humor and everyone has more added to their characters/stories. 4*
Another fun, cozy mystery by Barbara Venkataraman. Jamie is back to work after taking time off when her mother passed away. She has a client, Becca, who is going through a bit of a messy divorce. Becca doesn’t want her husband to get any time with their children. She wants the kids, the house and her new boyfriend. The husband ends up dead and Jamie’s client is a suspect. She again ends up in the middle of a homicide and in need of Duke and Grace’s help. Jamie has also gotten information from her Aunt that might help her find her father. She finds out that he doesn’t even know she exists so he didn’t abandon her as she grew up thinking. This book follows Jamie on her hunt for her Dad and the killer of her clients husband.
The author did a great job of adding more depth to the characters as well as adding some new ones. This was an easy, quick read. If you enjoy a fun, cozy mystery then this is a book for you.
In this book, Jaime has returned to practicing family law. She is drawn into another murder. Jaime uses her contacts, who include, my favorite, Duke, who is a PI who maybe isn’t all on the up and up, but he’s a loyal friend and good PI.
I really enjoy the writing style of the author and I recommend this book for people who like a not very scary murder mystery.
This is shaping up to be a great series!
Jamie is a family law attorney in a small (one person) practice. She attended law school with her BFF, Grace, who is a lawyer in a prestigious law firm and has awesome connections. Duke is a playboy and P.I. who, besides being a client and friend, Jamie keeps on retainer for his creative investigative skills.
Representing the wife, Becca Solomon, in a hostile divorce case; Jamie is suddenly taken out of her element when her client is accused of murdering her not yet ex-husband, Joe. Jamie reaches out to her BFF, Grace, for help. Grace connects Jamie with Susan Boyle, a criminal attorney who was until recently with the prosecutor’s office, to assist representing Becca. I was pleasantly surprised at the reveal of the murderer in this intriguing whodunit.
Jamie has never known her father, even is name. Duke and Grace, using one of her contacts, is able to find the name of her father and much, much more. That mystery may be even more intriguing than the murder mystery at hand. This book is a must read if you enjoy multi-mysteries in book.
Barbara Venkataraman is a gifted storyteller in my favorite genre of cozy mysteries. Jamie, Grace, and Duke are such wonderful characters. I am looking forward to reading more of this series to see how they will handle the next case that comes Jamie’s way. If you enjoy a well-written, fun, and easy read, this is a book for you.
Jamie is going to have to change her field of law if this keeps up! This was fun to read! I enjoyed her date and how she views herself and her athletic abilities! That was funny! I, however, can completely relate! I am glad that she is continuing with Duke’s PI services. He seems quite talented. I am enjoying reading about her adventures into criminal law!
This book is part of a 3-story mystery/suspense collection evolving around Jamie Quinn. Jamie is a ‘reluctant’ lawyer, specializing in family law. This is book 2 of the collection.
Again, the story is told completely from Jamie’s point of view and is well written/fast moving. This one revolves around a contentious divorce. Jamie is representing the wife Becca. Becca left her husband for his friend Charlie. (My opinion, the spouses are both mentally ill with major addictions and poor Charlie gets caught in the fall-out.) Once again, Jamie is involved in helping a client evade homicide/murder charges with the aid of her heavily liquored PI friend Marmaduke (Duke.)
The story gets a little silly in parts, but, it doesn’t detract from the story. (Just gets a bit ‘rambly’ in parts.) Like the first book, there’s zero graphic scenes or profanity in the story; thus, I’d allow youngsters from 12+ to read this one. (Any younger they probably wouldn’t understand all the nuances.) I have to admit I figured out pretty fast ‘who-dunnit’ — still a fast, easy, entertaining read. The ending was sweet. It’s on KU, so give it a try.
In the Case of the Killer Divorce, Jamie Quinn is back to work as a family lawyer. Her new client, Becca, is in the middle of a bitter divorce battle. As if divorce isn’t hard enough Becca has already moved on with her new boyfriend which was her soon to be ex-husband friend. The husband is fighting Becca, especially where their two daughters are concerned. Jamie receives news that Becca’s husband has died from an overdose. Becca soon becomes a suspect of killing her husband. Becca also starts to exhibit some strange behaviors making Jamie question her Becca’s innocence. Jamile enlist help from her PI friend Duke to find out what really happened to the husband and if it was murder who committed the murder.
I really enjoyed this mystery. I liked that Jamie has become a stronger person in this book even though she still misses her mother she has gotten back to work. Private Investigator Duke is really entertaining, I am glad he has returned to the series. The suspect pool is limited but there are several red-herrings that allow the suspense to continue to the end of the story. An addition to the mystery Jamie meets her high school boyfriend, Kip, whom she hasn’t seen in many years. Kip has recently moved back to the area. Kip adds a personal aspect for Jamie to the story.
I purchased the box set of books 1-3. The is my review of the individual book, the opinions are that of my own and in no way have been influenced.
“ The Case of the Killer Divorce” earns 5/5 Cuba Libre Cocktails!
This is truly a delightful, entertaining series! Jamie Quinn may be a bit quirky with some low self-esteem issues, but one can easily identify with this young woman just trying to find her way. She loves her family, is loyal to her friends and clients, misses her mom who recently died, and discovers she is a lot more capable than she ever imagined…very realistic from her first-person narrative. This book is a quick read, or ‘listen’ in my case, but not short at all on enjoyment. I enjoyed the history lesson into anti-Castro protests and the contemporary take on refugees. Narrator Carrie Lee Martz lends a marvelous skill hitting the mark with her somewhat dry, but enjoyable tone for Jamie Quinn. She also provides a fun southern drawl for ‘Duke’ the PI, and bubbly tone for BFF Grace enriching the experience.