First in a new series from national bestselling author Kylie Logan, The Scent of Murder is a riveting mystery following Jazz Ramsey as she trains cadaver dogs. The way Jazz Ramsey figures it, life is pretty good. She owns her own home in one of Cleveland’s most diverse, artsy, and interesting neighborhoods. She has a job she likes as an administrative assistant at an all-girls school, and a … all-girls school, and a volunteer interest she’s passionate about–Jazz is a cadaver dog handler.
Jazz is working with Luther, a cadaver dog in training. Luther is still learning cadaver work, so Jazz is putting him through his paces at an abandoned building that will soon be turned into pricey condos. When Luther signals a find, Jazz is stunned to see the body of a young woman who is dressed in black and wearing the kind of make-up and jewelry Jazz used to see on the Goth kids back in high school.
She’s even more shocked when she realizes that beneath the tattoos and the piercings and all that pale make up is a familiar face.
The lead detective on the case is an old lover, and the murdered woman is a former student. Jazz finds herself sucked into the case, obsessed with learning the truth.
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Whilst this was a well written and researched story, I have to admit I was a bit confused at just why jazz got involved!
Jazz had a tenuous link to the victim from working at her school and finding the body but she didn’t work for the police or have any investigation history, so I was a bit lost as to why she decided to shoehorn herself into the investigation.
She does seem to cover a lot of the same ground as Nick, as we find out after the fact. If she just asked him he could have told her what she went to great lengths to find out. Although why he would want to is another mystery. The relationship between Nick and Jazz was also quite vague. They appear to have broken up as a joint decision but when we first meet Jazz, you assume he must have cheated on her or something because of all the vague comments she makes. They both lacked in the effort department that it takes to make a relationship work.
But other than that I did enjoy the story. I would have preferred the cadaver dogs to be more involved in the story, they really only seemed to be a plot device to insert Jazz into the story.
Very much a regular mystery – not a cozy mystery. No real gore [though the MC trains cadaver dogs, so that may change], but a lot more language than is typical for a cozy and the story-line is definitely not cozy. Though the MC’s penchant for running off and doing what the cops should be doing because of her blatant disregard of the police and their work [enter her ex that is….hold on….A COP] is absolutely a cozy trope.
That said, I really liked this book [Jazz’s running off everywhere aside] and I liked the story and how the person killed changed over the course of the book. And there were a lot of good red herrings that kept you guessing. And I didn’t figure it out until Jazz did which made for a really good read/listen. The narrator was also pretty good so there is bonus points there.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
What a great start for this series by Kylie Logan!
Jazz Ramsey trains cadaver dogs and works at St. Catherine’s Preparatory Academy, an all-girls school as an administrative assistant. Her two worlds collide when she finds the body of a former student while putting a dog through its paces. The tragic find also brings former lover, Detective Nick Kolesov back into her life. Pulled in many different directions Jazz needs to find the truth. What was Florie Allen involved in? and who thought killing her was the answer?
I liked Jazz Ramsey right away. She is smart, thoughtful and driven whether working at the school, training dogs, or searching for a killer. Best friend, Sarah Carrington, is an art teacher at the school and a great sounding board for Jazz, both in her investigation and in life. She knows what happened between Jazz and Nick and tries to steer Jazz through the fire of dealing with him again. Detective Nick is not over Jazz at all, he wants to be around her but he doesn’t want her digging into his case. These characters are very well developed for the first book in the series but the author has left plenty of room for growth.
Ms. Logan’s writing style is descriptive and informative. I am not familiar with Cleveland but her words pulled me there and I was able to visualize and get the feeling of each setting from St. Catherine’s to the dilapidated building where the body was found, the new school Florie was attending and even the office of a group Florie was working for. The descriptions were also clear for the characters. I envisioned every one clearly. They were distinct and believable.
The mystery was very entertaining but I was able to focus and pull out the killer well before Jazz or Nick. A set of clues were found in an interesting and unexpected way, but I was already on the “scent” of the correct person. Complex mysteries are hard to have in the first book of a series because the author has a huge lift by introducing the characters, some of the back history, and all their connections along with setting the time and place. She did an excellent job of this.
I really enjoyed the training for cadaver dogs. I wish there had been a few more sessions between the dog Jazz was currently working with, Luther. Hopefully, there will be more in future books.
I absolutely loved the ending and can’t wait for book two of this series.
I’ve always enjoy Kylie Logan’s books and I love dogs, so this series seemed like a natural fit for me. I liked getting to know Jazz as a protagonist. The author left some teasers in regards to Jazz’s past that I wonder if they will be explained in the future books. The mystery was captivating and the characters entertaining. The subject of a cadaver dog trainer as a cozy mystery protagonist is new to me – and I always enjoy when there is a unique element to a cozy that I haven’t seen before.
Jazz Ramsey is working on training Luther, a cadaver dog, in a construction site in her native Cleveland. She has already planted something for him to find, but Luther indicates a find in a completely different room. Sure enough, he’s found a body. Even worse, it is the body of a former student at the all-girls school where Jazz works. Jazz’s former boyfriend Nick has been assigned the case, and Jazz knows it is in good hands. But she still can’t help but wonder what it was that lead the girl to her death. As she begins poking around, she begins to uncover secrets. Can she find out what got the young woman killed?
I’ve enjoyed several other books by Kylie Logan in the past, so I am not surprised I enjoyed this one. But I am surprised by just how much I enjoyed it. This is a little more serious than some of her other books, but that is no reason not to pick up the book. The characters are compelling; even those we don’t spend much time with come across as real. Jazz herself is fully formed and a wonderful main character. The plot is strong with a steady helping of twists and clues to guide us to the logical conclusion. The writing makes Cleveland come alive without distracting from the characters or the plot in any way. This is a solid debut that already has me anxious for more.
The Scent of Murder is the latest novel by Kylie Logan. We are introduced to Jazz Ramsey who works as an administrative assistant to Sister Eileen Flannery, the founder and principal of St. Catherine’s Preparatory Academy. In her spare time, Jazz trains cadaver/rescue dogs and runs to work off her excess energy. Jazz has lost her father and her dog in the last year. She is close to her mother and two brothers plus she has a close friend in Sarah Carrington. I like that the author took the time to establish the main character plus her family and close friends. I did find, though, that Jazz is hard to connect with as a reader. I wanted her to be more relatable instead of distant. I like that the author is a descriptive writer who describes the characters, the setting, homes, dog searches and more. We are given just the right amount of detail. I could picture Cleveland and its various diverse neighborhoods. It was interesting to learn about the training of cadaver/rescue dogs and how they conduct searches. I hope there will be more of it in future books. The mystery was straightforward with a couple of suspects and good clues to aid readers in solving the crime before the reveal. I think Jazz needed more of a reason to investigate Florie’s death. I do want readers to know that the story contains foul language and the story is darker than most cozy mysteries. My favorite phrase from The Scent of Murder is “. . . she knew holidays weren’t dates on a calendar, but the time spent with family.” I thought that was a lovely sentiment. The Scent of Murder is a good start to this new cozy mystery series. The Scent of Murder has a strong female protagonist, good friends, a loving family, a curious mystery, and some cute canines.
At 35 Jazz Ramsey is settled. She has her own home, a job she likes, and an outside interest she’s committed to —a cadaver dog trainer/handler. Then she finds a body and decides to investigate and it’s on! Really great characters and the beginning of a series with a future. Recommend.
The Scent of Murder by Kylie Logan is the first book in a new mystery series by Ms. Logan. The synopsis of the story led me to believe that this book would be about cadaver dogs and their training but this was only a small piece of the story.
I found myself unable to connect with Jazz throughout the story. She totally confused me as to why she investigated the girl’s death. Her ex-boyfriend, Nick, was the detective on the murder and seemed to be handling the case quite well. I also didn’t understand her on-again, off-again attitude toward Nick throughout the book. The break up seemed have been consensual since they both “couldn’t find the time” to be together. The plot moved smoothly and the clues provided made it clear to the identity of the murderer. Ms. Logan’s descriptive writing did paint a clear picture of Cleveland and it’s many cultural neighborhoods. All in all it was an interesting read and I give it 3.5 stars.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Minotaur Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
I received book 3 of the Jazz Ramsey series not realizing it was part of a series so of course, I had to start at the beginning! The Scent of Murder by Kylie Logan is book 1, and I thought it was a great start to a new-to-me series. I loved the fact that Jazz trains cadaver dogs, and this actually felt a bit like Kathryn Casey’s Detective Clara Jefferies series to me for some reason. The writing is simple but engaging, and it is a super quick read that you can finish in one sitting. I didn’t have the book, but I was able to snag the audiobook from my library and I have zero complaints. The narrator is Emily Pike Stewart, and unfortunately, it doesn’t look like she narrates the rest of the series, but I really enjoyed her for this book. She was just how I would want and expect Jazz to sound, and her voice made for a very pleasant listening experience. I ended up having to stop and come back to it, but it was easy for me to catch back up to what was going on, and it has a very easy plot to follow along with.
I was also surprised by the ending of The Scent of Murder, and while I wasn’t trying to sleuth along with her, I still don’t know if I would have seen the end coming. There is an interesting cast of characters and there are definitely some that are more trustworthy than others. I was thoroughly engrossed in the story, and it helps that I absolutely loved Jazz. She is just the type of tenacious, strong-willed character that I love to see as a lead in novels, and I already know I am going to love this whole series. I had a lot of fun listening to this and it is on the serious side while also having a nice dose of wit and humor. I can’t wait to see what book 2 will bring me!
Of it were possible I would give this book more than five . This story is fantastic and I’m sure others have given it fewer stars because the book was not centered on the dogs more. I loved all aspects of this book and cannot wait for book 2. I felt the book was well written but there could have been more info about the characters. Great job Kylie Logan! Enjoy!
Jazz Ramsey is living the good life. She has a great job as an administrative assistant at an all-girls school. But her passion lies in her volunteer work …. she trains and handles cadaver dogs.
One night with Luther, a cadaver dog in training, she puts him through his training paces. She’s hidden an item in an upstairs of a warehouse, turns him loose and waits to hear his 3 yips meaning he’s found something. She hears his yips … but he’s in an entirely different part of the building.
Imagine her surprise to find that Luther has found a body of a woman. She is dressed all in black, covered in tattoos and piercings and pale face makeup … she has the look of a Goth.
And…. she knows the victim.
The murder victim is a former student and the detective in charge is a man she has a history with.
Jazz can’t help herself… she decides to do a little investigating on her own. She talks to family, friends, school friends, old boyfriends, fellow students, and instructors.
What she learns is that the young woman had a lot of secrets …and several that could be the motive for murder.
This is the beginning of a mystery series, with a spotlight on the tightly woven plot and the mostly likeable, if not secretive, skillfully drawn characters. The dogs are a big bonus. I like how Jazz’s personal life is a part of the story… and how well it’s balanced with the professional. Lots of action … lots of suspects … and a hint of a developing romance make this one a keeper. I look forward to read the second in this series …. THE SECRET OF BONES.
Many thanks to the author / Minotaur Books /St Martin’s Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
I thought this book was good. I hope that there will be more to go with it. As a fellow dog lover, I really love the mantra Jazz Ramsey has always preached:”There’s nothing better for what ails you than a furry body and wagging tails.”
The story is framed around a murder of a young woman who was a student at the all girls school that Jazz Ramsey works at. Jazz was the one to find the body as she was training a dog for cadaver searches. The dog found the body instead of the tooth that was hidden for him. And since Jazz knew the victim, she felt like she had to find out what happened.
It was a cozy mystery with twists and turns galore. I enjoyed trying to figure out who killed the young woman, and was very surprised at the end to find I was wrong about the killer!
A great read that I would recommend to any mystery lover!
The Scent of Murder (Jazz Ramsey #1) by Kylie Logan is a twisted murder mystery that takes you down unexpected paths and keeps you wondering. I’ve just discovered this author and will be checking out her back list while anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.
I picked this audiobook because it has a dog in the story and enjoyed listening to the story about or Jazz Ramsey is thirty-five years old and owns her own home in one of Cleveland’s most diverse, artsy, and interesting neighborhoods. She has a job she likes as an administrative assistant at an all-girls school, and a volunteer interest she’s passionate about being a cadaver dog handler.
Jazz is working with Luther, a cadaver dog in training. Luther is still learning cadaver work, so Jazz is putting him through his paces at an abandoned building that will soon be turned into pricey condos. Luther signals a find and Jazz is stunned to see the body of a young woman who is dressed in black and wearing the kind of make-up and jewelry that Jazz used to see on the Goth kids back in high school.
This has a lot of twists and turns and kept me guessing.
Jazz is a dog trainer who also works at a Catholic girls school that she used to attend. When she discovers the body of a young girl who used to be one of her students, she immediately goes into detective mode. I’m a sucker for a story with a dog and this one did not disappoint.
Jazz Ramsey is training a cadaver dog, Luther. Luther is still fairly new to his training so Jazz takes him to the abandoned building to put his through the paces. Luther, however, finds the real body of someone that Jazz knows. The lead detective on the case just happens to be Jazz’s ex-boyfriend, Nick. Can Jazz help solve the murder, will she Nick be able to move past their past history?
This is a great start to a series. This is the first book of this type that I have read. I really enjoyed learning more about the training of cadaver dogs. The author Kylie Logan uses a very descriptive writing style helps the reader picture what is taking place and how every character looks. The characters are very realistic and interesting. The mystery is well written with several well placed red herrings and keeps the reader engaged until the end. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I recommend this book to all mystery lovers.
I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book supplied by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.
A wonderful debut to the Jazz Ramsey Mysteries that kept me glued to the book from beginning to end and turning the pages as fast as I could to see what was going to happen. I felt a connection with Jazz, an administrative assistant at an all girls school who loves training cadaver dogs.
This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys well-crafted must-solve mysteries with interesting characters, twists and turns. I can’t wait to see what happens next with Jazz and the folks in Cleveland. I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
THE SCENT OF MURDER by Kylie Logan
The First Jazz Ramsey Mystery
It’s an ordinary night in Cleveland, Ohio when Jazz Ramsey enters an old building to train a new cadaver dog. Jazz puts Luther through his paces, waiting for him to find the tooth she hid upstairs. But before he even heads to the second floor Luther signals a find; not a tooth, but the body of a young woman. The soon to be posh condo is now a crime scene. The detective in charge is a former lover, the dead woman is a former student, and Jazz’s life just got a lot more complicated.
I enjoyed meeting Jazz as well as her friends and family. I love the close bond Jazz has with her brothers and mother and I appreciate the grief they all feel and adjustments they must make after the loss of their dad, especially as my dad died a year ago as well. One of my favorite characters is Sister Eileen, who had me laughing out loud at one point! Of course, I am enamored with Luther, a smart, charming German Shepherd who I hope we continue to see in future books.
The mystery was very interesting, especially as the victim’s personality was slowly revealed, layer by layer. Like Cleveland itself, there’s a grittiness here, but a strength and an indomitable will to survive. I will admit to knowing who the murderer was fairly early on, but that did not diminish my continued interest in the story.
There is one issue I feel compelled to address, even though its inclusion did not mar the plot. At the memorial service the school girls release balloons as a tribute. As someone concerned about the environment and wildlife I feel the need to bring awareness to the dangers this activity causes. Balloons don’t go to heaven, or even outer space. They fall to earth as litter. Some animals mistake the remains as food, which can hurt or even kill them, or they may be entangled by the balloon strings, which can also lead to death. I hope Jazz learns of these dangers and perhaps even educates people in a future book.
THE SCENT OF MURDER is an engaging start to a new series. Interesting, likable, yet flawed characters inhabit the pages which showcases a small urban enclave.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.
As a huge fan of forensics and criminal investigations, I was instantly drawn to the synopsis of this story. And what about that cover! While I had the impression that this was going to largely focus on the relationship, interactions, and utilization between the handler and the dog, the dogs ultimately aren’t concentrated on much, honestly to the point of being inconsequential. There was interesting information provided about their training, but I really wanted more, especially the gritty details about the field of work. However, personal preference aside, this is a really solid and engaging mystery that set the stage for a new series that I am looking forward to continuing.
Jazz is in the process of training Luther when they accidentally stumble upon the body of a young woman who graduated years earlier from the Catholic girls school Jazz currently works at as an administrator. Jazz’s likability and charisma help to guide her as she embarks in her own private investigation to determine not just who murdered Florie, but also what was really going on in Florie’s life that may have led to her untimely demise. Jazz’s ex-boyfriend, Nick, is the lead detective on the case, which definitely created some mildly antagonistic interactions that will provide interesting fodder for future stories to come.
Overall, this was a well-plotted and fast-paced mystery that has fantastic potential for a more immersive experience as the series progresses.
Many thanks to the author and Minotaur Books for providing me with a free book in exchange for my honest and thoughtful opinion. This review and more special features can be found on That’s What She’s Reading blog at thatswhatshesreading.com.
3.5 Stars
I was pretty excited to read The Scent of Murder. I was excited to learn about how cadaver dogs are trained. In all the books I have read, I don’t think that I have read a book where cadaver dogs (or their training) was mentioned. I was also in the mood for a good mystery. The Scent of Murder delivered on the mystery but didn’t deliver on cadaver dogs.
I thought The Scent of Murder’s plotline was predictable but well written. The author did a great job of having Jazz follow the trail of evidence to Florie’s killer. I was able to call everything that happened in the book. But, that isn’t a bad thing.
I do wish that more emphasis had been put on the cadaver dog training. I was fascinated by it. The training that the dogs went through, when showed, was fascinating. I was disappointed when there were only a handful of scenes involving the dogs.
I did like Jazz, but I couldn’t quite believe the situations that she got herself into. Like being in the car line at her school and hopping into an ex-student’s car to grill her about Florie. That made me go “WTF” Another example is when she approached a student at lunch and had a conversation about her lack of a love life. The student was around 14 years old. Again, another “WTH” moment. I was also a little iffy about her obsession with finding Florie’s murder.
The Scent of Murder was a solid but predictable mystery. I did figure out who the murderer was halfway through the book. But that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the wannabe second chance romance between Jazz and Nick. Neither of them seemed to be trying too hard to make time for the other. I will say that Jazz did do a better job at investigating Florie’s murder than Nick did. He seemed always to be one step behind her.
The end of The Scent of Murder was ok. It went the way I thought it would. I do like that the author left it open for another book. Maybe in this one, there will be more emphasis on the cadaver dog training!!