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396 ratings | 278 reviews | avg rating:3.67

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Jennifer Oberth

Goodreads Author

Born

in Chicago, The United States

Website

http://www.jenniferoberth.com

Twitter

JenniferOberth

Genre

Mystery & Thrillers, Humor, Short Stories

Member Since

June 2011

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Jennifer Oberth is a sweet, gorgeous, intelligent gal with a great sense of humor. She likes long walks on the beach.

Oh, this is an Author Bio? In that case…

Ahem,

Jennifer Oberth is a sweet, gorgeous, intelligent gal with a great sense of humor. She likes to take long walks on the beach where she thinks up delicious ways to murder people and give them motives, means, opportunities and fake alibis.

Don't randomly ask her what she's thinking because she'll tell you. She doesn't want a repeat of that time she was with a group of strangers and she blurted out her frustration at her car. "How on earth am I expected to kill somebody in the woods without being seen when I can't turn off the automatic headlights?"

She didn't know why they shrank b ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

When you write, do you use outlines (a planner) or do you have a general idea and then just see where the characters take you (write-by-the-seat-of-your-pants method?)

Jennifer Oberth I used to write by the seat of my pants a lot more than I do nowadays. I'm actually planning for the next three Ella Westin's. (I'm going to write the…moreI used to write by the seat of my pants a lot more than I do nowadays. I'm actually planning for the next three Ella Westin's. (I'm going to write them in November.) I outline but I call it "my version of an outline" because it's not very detailed and I tend to skip a lot. I basically jot down notes I want to appear in the book or don't want to forget to include - pieces of dialogue, having a character follow the clue to this (wrong) destination, humorous moments and so on.

Having said all that, I sometimes don't follow the outline at all because the characters know what they want to do and when I force them, it doesn't work. When I follow them, it's a fun ride.

Thank you for asking!(less)

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Dear Ms. Oberth, Have you ever included personal experiences in your books, or experiences you have heard? I don't mean actually killing someone, but just part of the drama involved.

Jennifer Oberth Hi John. I can't think of a direct experience that I've had that has made it into any of my books. I tend to combine different aspects of life I've en…moreHi John. I can't think of a direct experience that I've had that has made it into any of my books. I tend to combine different aspects of life I've endured or combine different characteristics of people I've met.

I do include more generalized facets of life. The type of humor in my books is the exact same as my family's - both sides, actually. When in bad situations (whether sudden or long-term), my family makes jokes. When I was a small child, a bunch of us were in the living room while my Grandpa was painting outside the window. We all watched in horror as the ladder fell over and Grandpa very slowly fell. All the adults burst into laughter before running for the door. (Grandpa is, to this day, fine!) My family also points out the elephant in the room when, I suspect, other families would politely pretend it isn't there. Maybe that's why I lean toward writing stories with a strong family element and strong family bonds. (The family that laughs together - even at one another - stays together.)

So, quick answer to your cool question, no, not really. Of course, now I'm thinking of what I can include in my next book that I've actually lived through!

Now, there is one tiny exception to all of this. In my Masked Rider series, Jack Westin sighs a lot. That is because my mother sighs at me all the time, in complete and utter exasperation. Most of the time I have no idea why. So I use that when Jack is dealing with his six adult children.

Oh, and there is one character in one of my books that is my sister, a little exaggerated. I have a lot of fun with that character!

Thank you, John, for making me reminisce about some things I could include in my stories - and probably be so kooky that my readers would assume I made it up!(less)

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Jennifer Oberth’s books

Average rating: 4.46 · 52 ratings · 30 reviews · 18 distinct works

	Married To Murder (Ella Westin Mysteries #1) 4.29 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 2011 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ella & Jasper Shorts 4.25 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2014 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Masked Rider: Origins (The Masked Rider Mysteries, #1) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2012 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Honeymoon Homicide (Ella Westin Mystery #2) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Unpacking the Undertaker (Ella Westin Mystery #4) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2015 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Queen's Quest (Ella Westin Mystery #5) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Toxic Train (Ella Westin Mystery #3) 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2012 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bury the Boss (Ella Westin Mystery #6) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Georgia Meets Virginia (Georgia H. Mysteries, #1) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2012 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Christmas Caper (Ella Westin Mystery #7) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Jennifer Oberth…

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Jennifer Oberth's Blog

Greetings, everybody!I'm not a prolific blogger, as...

Greetings, everybody!

I'm not a prolific blogger, as you can clearly see if you scroll down a post and look at the date (you don't have to do that, seriously, it's embarrassing), but I do tweet and am fairly active on Goodreads.

I'll just leave some links here in case you want to connect with me.

And I wouldn't be a writer worth her salt if I didn't ask for you to leave reviews of my books, so p

Series by Jennifer Oberth

Ella Westin Mysteries (10 books)
by

Jennifer Oberth (Goodreads Author)

4.48 avg rating — 44 ratings

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Jennifer’s Recent Updates

Jennifer Oberth has read Halloween Cupcake Murder (Irish Village Mystery, #9.5) by Carlene O'Connor (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 19, 2026 02:20PM · 1 like · like
Jennifer Oberth has read A Dash of Death (Cocktails and Catering Mystery, #1) by Michelle Hillen Klump (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 29, 2026 03:32PM · like
Jennifer Oberth rated a book really liked it Fondue or Die (Cheese Shop Mystery, #5) by Korina Moss (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This was a fun, enjoyable read! I wish there'd been some clean-up conversation between Willa (our protagonist) and the love interest that had ghosted her for weeks or months. We're expected to root for them when she's lied to him and he's ghosted her ...more
Sep 27, 2026 07:56AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Fondue or Die by Korina Moss. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Fondue or Die by Korina Moss <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jennifer Oberth made a comment in the group Alpha Betas — Seeking beta readers for mystery set in 1875 (fun series) topic " Hi Maxwell - sent! "
Sep 23, 2026 04:19PM
Jennifer Oberth has read The Witch Is Back (Witch Way Librarian Mysteries, #6) by Angela M. Sanders (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 23, 2026 10:33AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Witch Is Back by Angela M. Sanders. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Witch Is Back by Angela M. Sanders <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jennifer Oberth joined the groups Alpha Betas and Advance & Beta Readers
Sep 21, 2026 12:26PM
Jennifer Oberth made a comment in the group Advance & Beta Readers — Seeking beta readers for mystery set in 1875 (fun series) topic " I'm in search of a couple of free beta readers for the third novel in my Masked Rider series. It's set in 1875 Maverick Flatts, Illinois. It's a myster ...more "
Sep 21, 2026 12:24PM
Jennifer Oberth made a comment in the group Free Books & Kindle & ARC & Beta Readers & Giveaway — [Free Beta] Masked Rider and the Dead Dad Deception topic " I am new to this group! I'm in search of a couple of beta readers for the third novel in my Masked Rider mystery series. It's set in 1875 Maverick Flatt ...more "
Sep 09, 2026 02:44PM
Jennifer Oberth has read Lefty Lucy (Ella Westin Mysteries Book 12) by Jennifer Oberth (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 27, 2026 12:56PM · like

More of Jennifer's books…

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Cozy Mysteries : Mystery ABC's, Round 2	12168	1144	Mar 21, 2016 12:30PM
Cozy Mysteries : Mystery ABC's, Round 3	13220	642	Apr 24, 2017 10:00AM
Cozy Mysteries : Title and Author Game, Round 7	5584	564	Feb 22, 2022 09:26AM
Cozy Mysteries : Mystery ABCs game, Round 7	5180	412	Feb 24, 2022 08:47AM

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Jennifer’s Quotes

“When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”
― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes

tags: inspirational

6809 likes

“There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.”
― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Boscombe Valley Mystery: A Sherlock Holmes Short Story

tags: deception, detection, evidence, facts, obviousness, sherlock-holmes

2571 likes

“You have a grand gift for silence, Watson. It makes you quite invaluable as a companion.”
― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Complete Sherlock Holmes

tags: sherlock-holmes, silence

1132 likes