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Cass Jameson #1
Dead Man's Thoughts
Cass Jameson, a young defense attorney working for Brooklyn's Legal Aid Society, investigates the mysterious murder of her lover
228 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1983
9 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Wheat
53 books17 followersCarolyn Wheat is an attorney, an editor, and an award-winning author. Her short stories won the Anthony, the Agatha, the Shamus, and the Macavity awards, and two of her six Cass Jameson legal mysteries have been nominated for Edgar awards.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 5, 2016
I am trying to catch up on some books I missed out on whilst my back is bad.
I thought I would select this one, it went down my Kindle and I forgot about it. I can only say in full honesty that I am glad I picked this up now. It would have been taking up space on my Kindle and me forever wondering when I would read it.
Its a mystery suspense. Its an OK read but it didn't really do anything for me, its not gripping, its not a book I could say I didn't want to put down, I was aching for it to end in fact.
I realize this sounds harsh but it needs some brushing up for a reader to sustain being able to read this in its full glory.
I received this from Open Road Integrated Media via Net Galley.
I am sorry I couldn't be more positive
February 5, 2024
Lawyer Cass Jameson spends her time dealing with the worst society has to offer, and only some of them are the criminals she represents.
She's jaded and, at the back of her mind, she's thinking of doing something different.
Her lawyer boyfriend Nathan – he's not The One but she likes him – wants to talk about something but she's too busy.
Soon afterwards she finds him dead in circumstances that indicate a homosexual bondage scene.
Cass is convinced that it's a set-up but, initially at least, she's got no clues and little to work on beyond the death of one of Nathan's clients in custody shortly before.
What follows is a solid procedural where few of the characters, or their motives, are moral.
Even Nathan, who she thought she knew, was a stranger to her in many ways.
Originally published in 1983 “Dead Man's Thoughts” has one particularly prescient moment when Cass has a meeting in the Twin Towers:- “I was on the 57th floor of the World Trade Centre. Looking out the window, I felt distinctly queasy. There are 747s that fly lower than this.”
3 Stars.
She's jaded and, at the back of her mind, she's thinking of doing something different.
Her lawyer boyfriend Nathan – he's not The One but she likes him – wants to talk about something but she's too busy.
Soon afterwards she finds him dead in circumstances that indicate a homosexual bondage scene.
Cass is convinced that it's a set-up but, initially at least, she's got no clues and little to work on beyond the death of one of Nathan's clients in custody shortly before.
What follows is a solid procedural where few of the characters, or their motives, are moral.
Even Nathan, who she thought she knew, was a stranger to her in many ways.
Originally published in 1983 “Dead Man's Thoughts” has one particularly prescient moment when Cass has a meeting in the Twin Towers:- “I was on the 57th floor of the World Trade Centre. Looking out the window, I felt distinctly queasy. There are 747s that fly lower than this.”
3 Stars.
February 14, 2024
Dead Man’s Thoughts: A Cass Jameson Mystery by Carolyn Wheat
303 Pages
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media, Open Road Media Mystery & Thriller
Release Date: February 24, 2015
Fiction, Mystery, Thrillers, Legal Thriller, Woman Investigator
Cassandra “Cass” Jameson is an attorney for legal aid in New York. Nathan, her colleague, and lover is found dead in his apartment. The same night one of Nathan’s clients, was found dead in his jail cell. Is there a connection to the two deaths or is it just a coincidence? Cass takes on Nathan’s cases in the hopes that one of them will lead her to the truth behind his death.
The story has a steady pace, the characters are somewhat developed, and it is written in the first-person point of view. If you like women investigators, you will enjoy this book.
303 Pages
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media, Open Road Media Mystery & Thriller
Release Date: February 24, 2015
Fiction, Mystery, Thrillers, Legal Thriller, Woman Investigator
Cassandra “Cass” Jameson is an attorney for legal aid in New York. Nathan, her colleague, and lover is found dead in his apartment. The same night one of Nathan’s clients, was found dead in his jail cell. Is there a connection to the two deaths or is it just a coincidence? Cass takes on Nathan’s cases in the hopes that one of them will lead her to the truth behind his death.
The story has a steady pace, the characters are somewhat developed, and it is written in the first-person point of view. If you like women investigators, you will enjoy this book.
May 13, 2018
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. It reminded me of law and order, even though I've never actually watched the show. I liked Cass; her insecurities were relatable and her grief over her loss was real. I liked that she did not get over it immediately. I was not sure how I felt about Dave; he was too helpful but was also very selfish. I was a little surprised when he ended up being in on the scam. I was very surprised that the jerk judge was the one behind all of it. It makes sense that he would have been in a position to undermine everything and I should have suspected him. I may consider reading another book in this series, but I will not go out and search for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2016
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Cass Jameson feels at home in court. A Brooklyn legal-aid attorney, she defends prostitutes, drug dealers, and burglars, helping them navigate the tangled justice system one hearing at a time. After years of drudgery, she dreams of quitting her career in law to become a professional photographer—a dream she has discussed only with her boyfriend, fellow attorney Nathan Wasserstein. It is a dream they will never get to share.
One afternoon, Cass finds Nathan's apartment unlocked. The kitchen has been ransacked, the living room trashed. And in the bedroom, she finds Nathan tied to his bed, savagely murdered. When the police investigation falters, Cass takes it on herself to find her lover's killer—even if it means learning things about him that make her question everything.
Originally published in 1983, this book has been given a fresh new life from Open Road Media. Sadly, I don't quite know why. There is not very much in this book that stands out and says re-print me - I suppose someone saw something in it. That someone wasn't me.
Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad book by any stretch. Strong characters, in particular Cass, and a series of events that build to a reasonable conclusion. Some cheesy 80's dialogue at times and I think therein lies the problem. It feels 1980's - no real daring with the plot, the usual bad guys, and an unhealthy dose of homophobia / bigotry made this certainly a product of its time.
Would I read another book in this Cass Jameson series? Probably not, I am afraid.
Paul
ARH
Cass Jameson feels at home in court. A Brooklyn legal-aid attorney, she defends prostitutes, drug dealers, and burglars, helping them navigate the tangled justice system one hearing at a time. After years of drudgery, she dreams of quitting her career in law to become a professional photographer—a dream she has discussed only with her boyfriend, fellow attorney Nathan Wasserstein. It is a dream they will never get to share.
One afternoon, Cass finds Nathan's apartment unlocked. The kitchen has been ransacked, the living room trashed. And in the bedroom, she finds Nathan tied to his bed, savagely murdered. When the police investigation falters, Cass takes it on herself to find her lover's killer—even if it means learning things about him that make her question everything.
Originally published in 1983, this book has been given a fresh new life from Open Road Media. Sadly, I don't quite know why. There is not very much in this book that stands out and says re-print me - I suppose someone saw something in it. That someone wasn't me.
Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad book by any stretch. Strong characters, in particular Cass, and a series of events that build to a reasonable conclusion. Some cheesy 80's dialogue at times and I think therein lies the problem. It feels 1980's - no real daring with the plot, the usual bad guys, and an unhealthy dose of homophobia / bigotry made this certainly a product of its time.
Would I read another book in this Cass Jameson series? Probably not, I am afraid.
Paul
ARH
February 27, 2015
I received this advanced re-release copy from Open Road Integrated Media for an honest review. The official release date for this particular version of the book is on February 25th 2015
When lawyer Cass Jameson's boyfriend Nathan (who is also a lawyer) is found murdered, she begins to search for who his killer is and in the process, finds out revelations about Nathan and everyone around her, that she never knew.
DEAD MAN'S THOUGHTS was originally released in 1983 and perhaps in that decade/year, it would have been a more captivating book. That's not to say that it's a bad book, it just didn't really have anything that stood out to me, to separate it from myriad of other books of its ilk, many of which are far superior.
A short book at just over 200 pages, DEAD MAN'S THOUGHTS is more of a courtroom drama whodunit than anything else. The crime mystery is certainly there, but the political and legal ramblings that often took place left my mind wondering. Not only that, but the characters weren't really that interesting and everyone in this story was a bigoted homophobe, which was another turn off.
Being a short book and having interesting enough plot twists to keep me entertained, saved this book from being a stinker. It's not bad, and it's not good, it's just kind of right in the middle. I give this one a 3/5
When lawyer Cass Jameson's boyfriend Nathan (who is also a lawyer) is found murdered, she begins to search for who his killer is and in the process, finds out revelations about Nathan and everyone around her, that she never knew.
DEAD MAN'S THOUGHTS was originally released in 1983 and perhaps in that decade/year, it would have been a more captivating book. That's not to say that it's a bad book, it just didn't really have anything that stood out to me, to separate it from myriad of other books of its ilk, many of which are far superior.
A short book at just over 200 pages, DEAD MAN'S THOUGHTS is more of a courtroom drama whodunit than anything else. The crime mystery is certainly there, but the political and legal ramblings that often took place left my mind wondering. Not only that, but the characters weren't really that interesting and everyone in this story was a bigoted homophobe, which was another turn off.
Being a short book and having interesting enough plot twists to keep me entertained, saved this book from being a stinker. It's not bad, and it's not good, it's just kind of right in the middle. I give this one a 3/5
February 5, 2016
#1 in the Cass Jameson mystery series, published in 1983, I read this to fill a category in a reading challenge. Set in New York City, Cass Jameson is a Public Defender involved with another attorney in her office, slogging through the days and nights defending the poor and indigent. Until her lover is murdered and a juvenile he's been trying to help is framed for the crime. This was a Finalist for the 1984 Edgar Award for Best First Novel.
I vividly remember 1983, so the short descriptions of fashions brought on memories. At one point Cass dresses in "designer jeans with a workshirt softened by a lace collar and Frye boots." She could have been raiding my early 1980's closet. Cass also has an appointment with a lawyer in the World Trade Center. There is some casual marijuana use, and casual sex between characters, all very sophisticated. Good book.
I vividly remember 1983, so the short descriptions of fashions brought on memories. At one point Cass dresses in "designer jeans with a workshirt softened by a lace collar and Frye boots." She could have been raiding my early 1980's closet. Cass also has an appointment with a lawyer in the World Trade Center. There is some casual marijuana use, and casual sex between characters, all very sophisticated. Good book.
February 21, 2015
This story is a murder mystery and has a legal aid attorney Cass Jamerson trying to find the truth behind the murder of her boyfriend and also a legal aid attorney Nathan Wasserstein. She is not getting any help for their friends or the detective assigned to the case. She is all alone and must find a way to keep herself going even when she gets discouraged or it looks hopeless. The story overall is okay there are times when it drags a bit but I noticed that this is the first book in the series. The characters are good and actually the detective kind of makes the story and pushes it along. So though my review is not very long this a good mystery and who done it. I got this book from net galley.
January 25, 2015
Shocked by the brutal murder of Nathan, her friend, lover, and fellow legal aid attorney, Cass Jameson finds herself questioning her friend’s past and tracking her friend’s killer.
Taking on Nathan’s cases as well as her own, she finds herself not only trying to make sure her clients either get probation or the lightest sentence possible, but suddenly following a path of suspicion that leads first to one of Brooklyn’s star attorneys, but up to the Special Prosecutor’s office itself.
Grab this tough page turner – turn off your phone and hit the john, grab your snacks and drink, and be ready to read till the cows come home – you won’t be sorry!
Taking on Nathan’s cases as well as her own, she finds herself not only trying to make sure her clients either get probation or the lightest sentence possible, but suddenly following a path of suspicion that leads first to one of Brooklyn’s star attorneys, but up to the Special Prosecutor’s office itself.
Grab this tough page turner – turn off your phone and hit the john, grab your snacks and drink, and be ready to read till the cows come home – you won’t be sorry!
May 8, 2013
First in a series of six featuring Legal Aid attorney Cass Jameson. Nominated for a best first mystery by the Mystery Writers of America in 1983. Despite being 30 years old, it holds up quite well (except maybe for the fashions). A bit weighed down with all the courtroom jargon, but would perhaps seem less realistic without it. Better, in my opinion, than a lot of the detective fiction of the era.
September 8, 2008
DEAD MAN'S THOUGHTS - G-
Wheat, Carolyn - 1st in Cass Jameson series
When attorney Cass Jameson's lover and colleague, Nathan Wasserstein, is murdered and the main suspect is a street hustler, Cass must face two possibilities--either the cops have the wrong man or she never really knew Nathan at all.
I think Wheat is a good author but this didn't really resonate with me.
Wheat, Carolyn - 1st in Cass Jameson series
When attorney Cass Jameson's lover and colleague, Nathan Wasserstein, is murdered and the main suspect is a street hustler, Cass must face two possibilities--either the cops have the wrong man or she never really knew Nathan at all.
I think Wheat is a good author but this didn't really resonate with me.
February 3, 2015
This book was ok. I like the killer and mystery part of the book, but I was that into this book for some reason. This book just did not engage me as I thought it would. I like serial killer books and mysteries but I just didn't get this book to connect with me. * I received book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
June 26, 2015
I was sent a copy of the book for review through Net Galley, as always, all opinions are my own.
Even though this is a short book I had some difficulty finishing it, it just seemed to drag on. While it is a part of a series, I'm not likely to pick up the next book.
Even though this is a short book I had some difficulty finishing it, it just seemed to drag on. While it is a part of a series, I'm not likely to pick up the next book.
March 20, 2009
Oh my god! I had read it just two years before (Dec '05)and didn't even realize it. And I didn't think much of it either time.
June 3, 2010
RATING: 3.25
December 1, 2015
Interesting plot, but was slow. Had some great twists that kept it interesting.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews