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Semisweet: A Maggie and Odessa Mystery
Maggie Swift, wife, mother, and private eye in training wants to do her first solo case, unfortunately, that is news to her irascible boss, P.I. Frank McAvoy. He wants her to stick to filing and answering the phones. Maggie has other plans. With help from her best friend, dessert chef and sometimes reluctant sidekick, Odessa Wilkes, she takes on a case and her first client. The mother of a bride wants Maggie to find out the truth about the groom and her future son-in-law, who may be marrying his blushing bride for more than love. Maggie thinks there something hinky is going on when the rich and successful husband-to-be looks like a GQ cover model and his penniless fashion challenged fiancé acts like the chairwoman of his fan club. As always, Odessa has problems of her own. A psycho bug exterminator wants to kill her, and she does not even know why. Her boyfriend wants a deeper commitment. She not sure she is ready, even though she's found the perfect wedding dress.
- GenresMystery
399 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2010
4 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Jill Brock
19 books55 followersJill Brock, a native New Yorker began writing poetry and short stories in high school. She has been an avid reader since childhood.
Majoring in Fine Arts and psychology, she turned toward the creative arts therapies for her career. Later, when she returned to her love of books and writing she decided she wanted to write a book. Several attempts and manuscripts later, she had written her first, Pennywise, loosely based on her experience of running a restaurant, being one of three sisters and growing up in Queens, New York.
She began the Maggie and Odessa Mystery series because she wanted to reflect the multicultural world that surrounded her, her sense of humor and her love of mysteries. Four books into the series, she is starting a new series, she starting a New series, The Thursday Night Killer's Book Club.
She is a member of Sisters In Crime/New York Chapter.
Majoring in Fine Arts and psychology, she turned toward the creative arts therapies for her career. Later, when she returned to her love of books and writing she decided she wanted to write a book. Several attempts and manuscripts later, she had written her first, Pennywise, loosely based on her experience of running a restaurant, being one of three sisters and growing up in Queens, New York.
She began the Maggie and Odessa Mystery series because she wanted to reflect the multicultural world that surrounded her, her sense of humor and her love of mysteries. Four books into the series, she is starting a new series, she starting a New series, The Thursday Night Killer's Book Club.
She is a member of Sisters In Crime/New York Chapter.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 16, 2011
Published by CreateSpace
This is the third book in the Maggie and Odessa series, however this is the first I have read. The book is entertaining with distinctive continuing characters, as well as a mixed bag of tricky characters filling out the current book. I found it unusual and interesting that although I believe Maggie is the main character, the story is told by Odessa, like Watson to Sherlock Holmes. Maggie is ostensibly working as file clerk and receptionist for a private eye but she is determined to take on a case of her own. In "Semisweet" she gets her chance, or more correctly, she makes her chance. Odessa, O to her friends and Dessa to her boyfriend Lee, is Maggie's "sidekick". Odessa is a dessert chef, working both privately and at her sister Candace's restaurant, the Blue Moon, when she isn't running after Maggie helping solve crime.
The story opens with a terrified Odessa being held with a knife at her throat in the almost empty restaurant. Good opening, certainly gains the reader's attention, and I liked the humorous touch in this scene as well. We meet Maggie first via cellphone, as the knife wielder is handcuffed and led out of the restaurant. A bright, cheery happy voice breaking the tension. We meet her in person two days later accompanied by the woman involved in what Maggie refers to as her first case. Her boss was out when she took the call and she decided this was a good time for her to take on a case of her own, licensed or not.
The story revolves around this case, a strange one if ever there was. Maggie is to act as a wedding planner for Mrs. Verde's daughter, Eloise. The well-to-do Mrs. Verde will pay whatever the cost. Odessa is to make the wedding cake and desserts, and even Candace is involved as caterer and assistant to Maggie as a planner. Strangely, while planning the wedding for Eloise, Maggie is also supposed to be digging up dirt on Henry, the bridegroom-to-be, and make sure the wedding doesn't happen! What could be cozier? If this were not enough, Maggie has to take along her 8 year old Houdini son part of the time, frustratingly helpful as he is. This, then, is the theme of this humorous but captivating book.
Jill Brock has created many opportunities for sleuthing, especially when finding dirt on Henry is not panning out very well and time is running out. When strange events start gearing up, usually with Odessa as a victim, things get interesting.. This causes the story, though focused, to take several changes in direction. These events run the gamut of lies to murder, but who is really involved? Is Henry really Mister Nice Guy, or is he an expert at illusion? There is a lot of fun and adventure in this cozy mystery, with enough questions to mull over and enjoy. I predict these characters will become favorites.
This is the third book in the Maggie and Odessa series, however this is the first I have read. The book is entertaining with distinctive continuing characters, as well as a mixed bag of tricky characters filling out the current book. I found it unusual and interesting that although I believe Maggie is the main character, the story is told by Odessa, like Watson to Sherlock Holmes. Maggie is ostensibly working as file clerk and receptionist for a private eye but she is determined to take on a case of her own. In "Semisweet" she gets her chance, or more correctly, she makes her chance. Odessa, O to her friends and Dessa to her boyfriend Lee, is Maggie's "sidekick". Odessa is a dessert chef, working both privately and at her sister Candace's restaurant, the Blue Moon, when she isn't running after Maggie helping solve crime.
The story opens with a terrified Odessa being held with a knife at her throat in the almost empty restaurant. Good opening, certainly gains the reader's attention, and I liked the humorous touch in this scene as well. We meet Maggie first via cellphone, as the knife wielder is handcuffed and led out of the restaurant. A bright, cheery happy voice breaking the tension. We meet her in person two days later accompanied by the woman involved in what Maggie refers to as her first case. Her boss was out when she took the call and she decided this was a good time for her to take on a case of her own, licensed or not.
The story revolves around this case, a strange one if ever there was. Maggie is to act as a wedding planner for Mrs. Verde's daughter, Eloise. The well-to-do Mrs. Verde will pay whatever the cost. Odessa is to make the wedding cake and desserts, and even Candace is involved as caterer and assistant to Maggie as a planner. Strangely, while planning the wedding for Eloise, Maggie is also supposed to be digging up dirt on Henry, the bridegroom-to-be, and make sure the wedding doesn't happen! What could be cozier? If this were not enough, Maggie has to take along her 8 year old Houdini son part of the time, frustratingly helpful as he is. This, then, is the theme of this humorous but captivating book.
Jill Brock has created many opportunities for sleuthing, especially when finding dirt on Henry is not panning out very well and time is running out. When strange events start gearing up, usually with Odessa as a victim, things get interesting.. This causes the story, though focused, to take several changes in direction. These events run the gamut of lies to murder, but who is really involved? Is Henry really Mister Nice Guy, or is he an expert at illusion? There is a lot of fun and adventure in this cozy mystery, with enough questions to mull over and enjoy. I predict these characters will become favorites.
August 19, 2015
I enjoyed Pennywise, the first Maggie and Odessa mystery, by Jill Brock and I liked Semisweet, the third in the series even more. Maggie Swift wants to be a private eye and is working with Frank, a real PI, who thinks she is just doing background checks and similar things for him. Her best friend, Odessa is a dessert maker who supplies cakes and other desserts for her sister's restaurant.
Maggie has taken on the project of finding out more about Henry for his mother-in-law to be. He is a good-looking wealthy man who is about to marry her daughter, Eloise. Both Maggie and Odessa think there is more to this story and they work together to find out about Henry's business. When a building inspector turns up dead after giving them a concrete sample they think there may be problems with the development project Henry is building.
Meanwhile, Eloise is quite a demanding bride to be and Maggie has become her wedding planner and Odessa is making the wedding cake. In addition, Odessa is being chased by a bug exterminator who she thinks is trying to kill her. She is also wondering about her relationship with Lee, her lawyer boyfriend. She has found the perfect dress but wonders if there is a future for them.
Brock keeps things moving and has created a likeable duo. I laughed out loud several times and look forward to reading more about these two and their adventures.
Maggie has taken on the project of finding out more about Henry for his mother-in-law to be. He is a good-looking wealthy man who is about to marry her daughter, Eloise. Both Maggie and Odessa think there is more to this story and they work together to find out about Henry's business. When a building inspector turns up dead after giving them a concrete sample they think there may be problems with the development project Henry is building.
Meanwhile, Eloise is quite a demanding bride to be and Maggie has become her wedding planner and Odessa is making the wedding cake. In addition, Odessa is being chased by a bug exterminator who she thinks is trying to kill her. She is also wondering about her relationship with Lee, her lawyer boyfriend. She has found the perfect dress but wonders if there is a future for them.
Brock keeps things moving and has created a likeable duo. I laughed out loud several times and look forward to reading more about these two and their adventures.
March 10, 2011
Sweet Slice of Mystery
Maggie & Odessa are back! Wife, mother, and private eye to-be Maggie Swift takes on her first solo case. Enlisting the help of best friend, dessert chef Odessa Wilkes, they investigate whether a groom-to-be is marrying for love or for an ulterior motive. In between looking for clues and planning a wedding, Odessa is being stalked by a psycho bug exterminator who tries to kill her in the opening pages.
I love this series! Jill Brock's details and realistic characters are quite entertaining. The book is a great blend of chick lit, mystery, light suspense and humor. My only pet peeve with Semisweet are the sprinkled typos and grammatical errors. The text is peppered with question marks instead of periods, "than" instead of "then," "to" instead of "too," "pass" instead of "past," and "of" incorrectly placed with "off." After the first few detected errors, I wondered if the final draft was reviewed by a professional editor. Without the misspellings and errors, it would be an excellent book. Nevertheless, it didn't take away from the story. As always, I look forward to reading the next installment in the Maggie & Odessa Mystery series.
Literary Marie of Precision Reviews - www.precisionreviews.blogspot.com
Maggie & Odessa are back! Wife, mother, and private eye to-be Maggie Swift takes on her first solo case. Enlisting the help of best friend, dessert chef Odessa Wilkes, they investigate whether a groom-to-be is marrying for love or for an ulterior motive. In between looking for clues and planning a wedding, Odessa is being stalked by a psycho bug exterminator who tries to kill her in the opening pages.
I love this series! Jill Brock's details and realistic characters are quite entertaining. The book is a great blend of chick lit, mystery, light suspense and humor. My only pet peeve with Semisweet are the sprinkled typos and grammatical errors. The text is peppered with question marks instead of periods, "than" instead of "then," "to" instead of "too," "pass" instead of "past," and "of" incorrectly placed with "off." After the first few detected errors, I wondered if the final draft was reviewed by a professional editor. Without the misspellings and errors, it would be an excellent book. Nevertheless, it didn't take away from the story. As always, I look forward to reading the next installment in the Maggie & Odessa Mystery series.
Literary Marie of Precision Reviews - www.precisionreviews.blogspot.com
March 8, 2011
I won this book in the goodreads giveaway. I very much enjoyed this book. It was "sweet" and made me giggle out loud...but I had to contain myself for I was conducting a studyhalls watching over high school students. Very cute storyline and feel in love with the characters and their humor. I loved the character Maggie--for I am also a wife, mom and always wanted to be a private eye...so I connected well with Maggie and her adventures of her first solo case. Odessa is Maggie's best friend who is reluctant to help her out--because she has her plate full with being a full-time dessert chef with a cakemaking business. It is a very quick read...I would of probably been able to read in less then 3 days but it took longer because I was reading it while conducting studyhalls for several weeks. This book travels well in workbag. Enjoy--Donna
March 13, 2011
Maggie Swift is a PI in training whose boss will not let her do anything other than file and make coffee. She decides to take matters into her own hands when she takes a case from the mother of a bride to be who wants to look into the real reason that the groom is marrying her daughter since she thinks that it isn’t for love. She enlists her best friend Odessa who is a pastry chef in her family’s restaurant plus owning her own cake business. The two of them try to figure out the truth about the bride’s groom and along the way have adventures in discovering the truth. Also as another plot point someone is trying to kill Odessa since she was held hostage by a desperate man in her family’s restaurant. The two women also try to discover the whereabouts of the suspect. Both plot lines have a surprise ending though the ending of the book is a happy one.
April 1, 2011
The third book of the Maggie and Odessa series does not fail to deliver. One of our heroines, Maggie, is still relentless in her pursuit of the elusive detective license and Odessa is her cake baking sidekick. Maggie under the guise of a wedding planner, is hired to investigate the groom. She ropes Odessa in as the reluctant wedding cake baker and the fun begins. I look forward to a long life for the series!
November 11, 2016
Enjoying this series. Odessa and Maggie are back, now they're dealing with a bug man that's after Odessa, investigating a groom that may or may not be after his bride to be's money.
Usual characters are around. Rocket -Maggie's son, Candace -Odessa's sister Lee -Odessa's lawyer boyfriend, Frank-Maggie's boss, George -chef at restaurant Candace owns etc etc
Off to read the next in the series
Usual characters are around. Rocket -Maggie's son, Candace -Odessa's sister Lee -Odessa's lawyer boyfriend, Frank-Maggie's boss, George -chef at restaurant Candace owns etc etc
Off to read the next in the series
interesting-possibilities
February 2, 2011Reluctant sidekick is a dessert chef; psycho bug exterminator trying to kill her. Fortunately she's found the perfect wedding dress Sounds like a great relief between serious books.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews