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A Shay O'Hanlon Caper #1
Bingo Barge Murder
As co-owner of The Rabbit Hole, a quirky-cool Minneapolis coffee shop, Shay O'Hanlon finds life highly caffeinated but far from dangerous. That is, until her lifelong friend Coop becomes a murder suspect. The victim was Kinky, Coop's former boss and the unsavory owner of The Bingo Barge, a sleazy gambling boat on the Mississippi. The weapon? Kinky's lucky bronzed bingo marker.
While unearthing clues to absolve Coop, Shay encounters Mafia goons hunting for some extremely valuable nuts. Looking for the murderer without help from the cops proves risky—especially with distracting sparks flying between Shay and the beautiful yet fierce Detective Bordeaux. When Shay's elderly friend and landlady is held for ransom by the mob, all bets are off. Can Shay find the killer before the stakes get any higher?
Bingo Barge Murder won the Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award from the Golden Crown Literary Society.
While unearthing clues to absolve Coop, Shay encounters Mafia goons hunting for some extremely valuable nuts. Looking for the murderer without help from the cops proves risky—especially with distracting sparks flying between Shay and the beautiful yet fierce Detective Bordeaux. When Shay's elderly friend and landlady is held for ransom by the mob, all bets are off. Can Shay find the killer before the stakes get any higher?
Bingo Barge Murder won the Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award from the Golden Crown Literary Society.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2011
42 people are currently reading
818 people want to read
About the author
Jessie Chandler
20 books100 followers Jessie Chandler is the award-winning author of the Shay O'Hanlon Caper series, the Operation Series, and the Art Thief Series.
Chandler lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her wife and two mutts, Fozzy Bear and Ollie. In the fall and winter, Jessie writes, and spends her summers selling T-shirts and other assorted trinkets to unsuspecting conference and festival goers. You can visit her at www.jessiechandler.com
Chandler lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her wife and two mutts, Fozzy Bear and Ollie. In the fall and winter, Jessie writes, and spends her summers selling T-shirts and other assorted trinkets to unsuspecting conference and festival goers. You can visit her at www.jessiechandler.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
April 21, 2011
This was a very fun, quick read. The characters were real, and the hijinks were fun and realistic (are you listening, Janet Evanovich?!). This is a wonderful debut novel, and I very much look forward to more books by Jessie Chandler.
August 1, 2011
I stumbled upon this book when I wandered into the book release party at Once Upon a Crime Mystery Bookstore in Minneapolis. I chatted with the author, Jessie Chandler, and her friends; and I decided if the book had nearly as much personality as the author, it HAD to be a good book.
Shay O'Hanlon, the co-owner of a coffee house, comes to the aid of a friend who's wanted for questioning by the police in connection with a murder. It seems Shay's friend Coop just got fired from his job at a notorious Mississippi river gambling boat, and shortly afterward his boss turns up dead. This is just the beginning in a serious of escalating, outrageous situations in which Shay and her close circle of quirky friends find themselves.
The story's got murder, mayhem, the Mafia, and mammoth junkyard dog. There's also a smoking-hot police detective who's definitely captured the interest of both Shay and her coffee-house co-owner Kate; and the temperature goes up a notch whenever she's around.
If you know Minneapolis, you'll also be delighted by all the local color and familiar locations.
Bingo Barge Murder is billed as "A Shay O'Hanlon Caper", which implies the author is planning a series of these. Sign me up! I'm hooked on this new author.
Shay O'Hanlon, the co-owner of a coffee house, comes to the aid of a friend who's wanted for questioning by the police in connection with a murder. It seems Shay's friend Coop just got fired from his job at a notorious Mississippi river gambling boat, and shortly afterward his boss turns up dead. This is just the beginning in a serious of escalating, outrageous situations in which Shay and her close circle of quirky friends find themselves.
The story's got murder, mayhem, the Mafia, and mammoth junkyard dog. There's also a smoking-hot police detective who's definitely captured the interest of both Shay and her coffee-house co-owner Kate; and the temperature goes up a notch whenever she's around.
If you know Minneapolis, you'll also be delighted by all the local color and familiar locations.
Bingo Barge Murder is billed as "A Shay O'Hanlon Caper", which implies the author is planning a series of these. Sign me up! I'm hooked on this new author.
books-i-couldn-t-finish
May 10, 2011I couldn't finish this book. It's not horrible or unreadable. But, one of my resolutions is that I refuse to finish non-literary books that I'm not enjoying. I mean, I read cozy mysteries to relax and have a light read. I refuse to have to force myself to read what's supposed to be a fluffy read.
October 8, 2021
Decent mystery and a pretty good introduction to the series. It's pretty short so there isn't very much character development but it's a five book series and I liked the main character and her quirky friends and Dawg the dog so I'll be reading more books in the series.
June 20, 2011
To fans of Janet Evanovich, Lisa Lutz, and Jennifer Cruise: this book is for you!! I was excited to receive this book as a GoodReads Giveaway winner (and thank you to Jessie Chandler for taking the time to autograph my book!) and I'm happy to be able to say that I honestly thoroughly enjoyed this story! Bingo Barge Murder has the perfect combination to keeps me engrossed and amused from beginning to end; a likeable lead character, a goofy cohort, an unflappable mama-figure, the sweet savant, ding-a-ling mobsters, and Dawg! Jessie Chandler did a great job with the descriptive narration, which made me feel that I've actually visited the coffee shop and loft; and...Dawg...(I loved Dawg!!) Definitely a recommended summer read for any other fan of this genre!
May 13, 2011
Bingo Barge Murder was a great fun read. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. Had to find out what would happen next. Great book I would recommend for anyone looking for a fun mystery with lots if memorable characters.
August 30, 2012
I'm new to the term "cozy mystery" and this certainly fits the bill. My background in law enforcement means I had to suspend my disbelief for the most part, but it was still enjoyable, especially considering this is a debut novel. Love to read fiction set in the Twin Cities!
January 10, 2019
At first I wanted to rate it 3 stars, because it took me a long time to get into the story. But I enjoyed the humor in this book, and it got better after the first half of the book.
This “nuts” thing is better than what I thought at first.
The romance between JT and Shay is very (too) subtle, I would have preferred to read a little more about these 2.
Anyway, I’m still going to get the next book of this series and hopefully I’ll get captivated by the story at the very beginning!
This “nuts” thing is better than what I thought at first.
The romance between JT and Shay is very (too) subtle, I would have preferred to read a little more about these 2.
Anyway, I’m still going to get the next book of this series and hopefully I’ll get captivated by the story at the very beginning!
May 16, 2011
This was a very well written book for the debut novel of a series, which I hope continues for a long time. Ms. Chandler draws her characters with details that make them visible to your mind as you read.
And, the variety of characters are splendid and fit in the story well. We have two co-owners of a coffee house with the intriguing name of "The Rabbit Hole." Then, there are the family/friends of Shay O'Hanlan that give the feel of a inner-city hard working family. You know that these persons are earning their way and living the best life available in a hard economy.
Shay's friend, Coop, works on a bingo barge on the Mississippi up in Minnesota. He goes to speak with his sleazy boss and finds the boss murdered. Runs to his best friend for help, Shay, and off we go on a fast-paced, humorous journey to find the culprits. Kidnappings, attacks, and further murders line the path.
I really did enjoy the romance blooming as it was done with taste and believability.
I look forward to meeting my new book friends again in a future book in this series.
And, the variety of characters are splendid and fit in the story well. We have two co-owners of a coffee house with the intriguing name of "The Rabbit Hole." Then, there are the family/friends of Shay O'Hanlan that give the feel of a inner-city hard working family. You know that these persons are earning their way and living the best life available in a hard economy.
Shay's friend, Coop, works on a bingo barge on the Mississippi up in Minnesota. He goes to speak with his sleazy boss and finds the boss murdered. Runs to his best friend for help, Shay, and off we go on a fast-paced, humorous journey to find the culprits. Kidnappings, attacks, and further murders line the path.
I really did enjoy the romance blooming as it was done with taste and believability.
I look forward to meeting my new book friends again in a future book in this series.
July 28, 2011
Bingo Barge Murder is a great read! The characters are fun and well written, the plot well-thought-out, and the pace keeps you flipping pages. Shay is a strong lead character, and her voice through the telling of the story is very likeable and spunky.
Chandler does an excellent job with her secondary characters as well. I especially love Rocky.
If you are looking for a fun read that is going to make you smile and feel good at the end, this is a book you need to read. If you're looking for a little crazy adventure, a little light-hearted romance, a little mystery... this is the book for you. If you are a dog-lover, this is the book for you.
Chandler does an excellent job with her secondary characters as well. I especially love Rocky.
If you are looking for a fun read that is going to make you smile and feel good at the end, this is a book you need to read. If you're looking for a little crazy adventure, a little light-hearted romance, a little mystery... this is the book for you. If you are a dog-lover, this is the book for you.
August 14, 2012
Probably the most eclectic book I have ever read! It's about gangsters/mob, a peace loving tree hugger accused of murder, a sex fiend of a Bigo Casino Owner who gets killed by a bronzed bingo marker, a huge guard dog that is really a lover not a fighter, a little old lady that knits and swears like a sailor, a sweet mentally challenged man, a lesbian police officer, a lesbian coffee shop owner and a bunch of other characters that defy description of any kind! Confusion and mayhem abound in this story of murder and stolen nuts--- yep you heard correctly nuts! It's fun and fast paced-- a happy find for me!
October 25, 2011
I met the author at the Rain Taxi Book Festival and she convinced me to buy her book. For some reason, I had it in my mind that this book was reminiscent of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. It's not.
Shay O'Hanlon is a successful coffee shop owned with a group of loving friends and a troubled but lovable family. She is motivated to solve a murder by the fear that her best friend, Coop, will be accused of the murder of his boss, the owner of a gambling barge on the Mississippi River.
It's a fun romp and I'm looking forward to the next book.
Shay O'Hanlon is a successful coffee shop owned with a group of loving friends and a troubled but lovable family. She is motivated to solve a murder by the fear that her best friend, Coop, will be accused of the murder of his boss, the owner of a gambling barge on the Mississippi River.
It's a fun romp and I'm looking forward to the next book.
June 18, 2011
Gut-busting ... side-splitting ... a mirthful good time. Shay O'Hanlon and her wily bunch of friends take us on a hilarious journey of mayhem and murder. Jessie's created a solid bunch of characters that a reader can enjoy and be entertained by. Jessie's quirky humor breathes real life into the whole bunch!
Jessie exudes brilliant comedic abilities in her writing. I'm excited to read the next book ... and the next ... and so on. Great work by this new author. Uproariously fun reading!
Jessie exudes brilliant comedic abilities in her writing. I'm excited to read the next book ... and the next ... and so on. Great work by this new author. Uproariously fun reading!
November 7, 2011
Who killed the sleazy owner of the Bingo Barge? How can Shay keep her friend Coop from being implicated? And what does a bunch of nuts have to do with it? This is a lighthearted caper (as lighthearted as you can get when murder's involved) that kept me thoroughly entertained. Since it's first in a series, I can't wait to read what comes next!
January 18, 2012
I really enjoyed this book! The premise was fun, the characters were engaging and I love that the heroine is gay and also a reasonable person. I love that the romance part is just a tiny sub-plot and awesome. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment. It also made me miss MPLS so much! The Rabbit Hole is right in my old neighborhood!
September 12, 2011
Enjoyable light lesbian mystery set in Minnesota. I enjoyed the way the protagonist was portrayed as part of a larger community and that they all had to work together to solve the various problems they encounter on their way to resolving the mystery.
September 14, 2012
What a wonderful, entertaining, enjoyable read! I fell in love with Shay and all her “character” friends, the story was well plotted, well written and DAWG just seemed like an overgrown Scobby Doo to me!
October 10, 2012
Definitely worth reading. Better value than the stuff on the drug store shelves. To me it reads like the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew, but for adults. Lots of unbelievable escapades but fun to read. Humourous at times. I will probably pick up the second in the series at some time.
June 1, 2011
This was a fun comedic caper with interesting characters. I recommend it.
June 25, 2011
Cozy mystery set in Minnesota.
August 14, 2011
I really want to like this book because it is set in Minneapolis but it is not great so far. Just finished the book and the second half was much better than the first. A fun read.
August 24, 2011
Charming wonderful book of characters who are trying to solve a murder and get tangled into alot more. Love Coop and Shay!! Funny and entertaining.
March 29, 2012
A really good first effort. The book got much better as it went on and if future Shay capers are more like the second half of the book, I'll be keeping my eye open for more.
January 19, 2012
5 STARS
June 29, 2012
This was fun! I love the characters, love the coffee shop setting, can't wait to read more. :)
August 28, 2012
I got "Bongo Barge Murder" for free from Pixel Ink. This is a fun read that many would enjoy.
September 4, 2012
I highly recommend this book for anyone
FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way.
FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way.
September 8, 2012
Really good read. A twisty interesting murder mystery.
July 26, 2020
Preface by saying I love cozy mysteries. They are silly and predictable and distracting. For my own reading health I read 3+ books at a time (always a nonfiction something, something that teaches me and something easy/light). Cozy mysteries are usually my light reading - think Evanovich, Diane Mott Davidson, etc.
Was walking by a little free library a couple days ago and saw this book. Started reading yesterday and I have a couple things to say: 1) Chandler clearly loves cozy mysteries. But the murderer is given away within the first 60 pages. And it's just a mafia hit. There are other "mysteries" that are meant to drive the plot, but yucky predictability. 2) For others who hate when place names are slightly changed and fake places are mixed in with real places in weird ways - skip this one. Mystic Lake is renamed Magic Pond. Enough said. 3) Sometimes I couldn't follow what was happening. I reread a paragraph 3x and figured out Handler had not actually described what happened to Coop outside the Washington Ave garage. (103) 4) Chandler never gives a clear physical description of the protagonist. Obviously more nuanced books, not cozy mysteries, sometimes use this to allow a reader to put themselves in the driver seat. I just felt frustrated. Do I need to worry about her being small, like Veronica Mars? Just annoying.
Anyhow, I wanted to love this as it's a series, a local author and features a lesbian hero, but the writing needs improvement. I'll not be reading the 2nd, even tho they were both left at the free library with spines intact. I'll be bringing them back on my next walk.
Was walking by a little free library a couple days ago and saw this book. Started reading yesterday and I have a couple things to say: 1) Chandler clearly loves cozy mysteries. But the murderer is given away within the first 60 pages. And it's just a mafia hit. There are other "mysteries" that are meant to drive the plot, but yucky predictability. 2) For others who hate when place names are slightly changed and fake places are mixed in with real places in weird ways - skip this one. Mystic Lake is renamed Magic Pond. Enough said. 3) Sometimes I couldn't follow what was happening. I reread a paragraph 3x and figured out Handler had not actually described what happened to Coop outside the Washington Ave garage. (103) 4) Chandler never gives a clear physical description of the protagonist. Obviously more nuanced books, not cozy mysteries, sometimes use this to allow a reader to put themselves in the driver seat. I just felt frustrated. Do I need to worry about her being small, like Veronica Mars? Just annoying.
Anyhow, I wanted to love this as it's a series, a local author and features a lesbian hero, but the writing needs improvement. I'll not be reading the 2nd, even tho they were both left at the free library with spines intact. I'll be bringing them back on my next walk.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2018
I liked Bingo Barge Murder>. It was a fun read that fits well into the "Cozy Mystery" genera. I picked up the book following a meeting of the Sisters in Crime at a local library. I was determined to buy a book from one of the five authors.
I chose Jessie Chandler because she seemed to be the most outgoing. She told a story about an incident in a bookstore where she was the manager when a rather revolting woman tried to get a refund for books she had stolen. As promised, the lady ended up in this, Jessie's first novel.
Jessie has created some very interesting characters here, characters that will bring me back to Shat O'Hanlon books.
The story is quite involved. It begins when Coop, Shay's best friend comes and asks her to hide him out because the police are looking for him in relation to his boss being murdered. What follows puts O'Hanlon and company in between two criminal factions trying to recover a truckload of stolen almonds. Yes, I know. Almonds? Really?
Obviously, in the end, the good guys come off relatively unscathed after having rescued kidnapped friends and recovering the almonds. There's more, interesting more but you will have to read the book to find out.
There is an evolving love story between Shay and Detective J.T.Bordeaux. I always like a bit of a love story to lubricate the flow good a mystery.
I chose Jessie Chandler because she seemed to be the most outgoing. She told a story about an incident in a bookstore where she was the manager when a rather revolting woman tried to get a refund for books she had stolen. As promised, the lady ended up in this, Jessie's first novel.
Jessie has created some very interesting characters here, characters that will bring me back to Shat O'Hanlon books.
The story is quite involved. It begins when Coop, Shay's best friend comes and asks her to hide him out because the police are looking for him in relation to his boss being murdered. What follows puts O'Hanlon and company in between two criminal factions trying to recover a truckload of stolen almonds. Yes, I know. Almonds? Really?
Obviously, in the end, the good guys come off relatively unscathed after having rescued kidnapped friends and recovering the almonds. There's more, interesting more but you will have to read the book to find out.
There is an evolving love story between Shay and Detective J.T.Bordeaux. I always like a bit of a love story to lubricate the flow good a mystery.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews