Blood and Groom

Sasha Jackson #1

by Jill Edmondson

Someone in Toronto has murdered nearly bankrupt art dealer Christine Arvisais's groom-to-be. Former rock band singer and neophyte private investigator Sasha Jackson lands the case because she's all Christine can afford. The high society gal was jilted at the altar and she's the prime suspect, not to mention Sasha's first major client.

Relying on wit, technology, luck, and a nerdy semi-stalker to help her clear the unlikable Christine, Sasha digs further into the muck only to discover high-finance shenanigans, an unnerving pattern of slaughtered fiancés, and a growing list of brides that never were who might be killers, not to mention murky secrets among the city's bluebloods, including drug addiction, art forgery, and possible insider trading.

In order to trap the murderer, Sasha enlists her ex-boyfriend and former band mate to pose as her fiancé, but will her ruse make her ex the next victim on the hit list and lead to her own untimely demise?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Canada, Mystery Thriller, Ebooks

254 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Jill Edmondson is the author of the "Sasha Jackson Mysteries".

P.I. Sasha Jackson: She's a beautiful mess, but you should see the other guy...

"A chick who knows the ropes won't get tied up."

"Blood and Groom" was released in Nov. 2009 and has received many excellent reviews.

"Dead Light District" was released in March 2011 and has had several awesome reviews.

"The Lies Have It" was released in November 2011, and has also garnered lots of great reviews.

"Frisky Business" has just been released! Check it out now on AMAZON!

Reviews

[E.Michael Helms · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've come across a protagonist as entertaining as private investigator (and part-time ... well, I won't go there) Sasha Jackson. In fact, she might just have the most compelling "voice" to join the P.I. ranks in years. She's salty, ballsy, sarcastic, and fall-down funny, and all in a good way.

I'm generally a semi-slow reader because I love to savor words, but I found Sasha's narrative voice and the story's flow pulling me through the pages must faster than I normally devour a book. The humor, well-developed characters (even minor ones), and the plot kept me wanting to get back to "Blood and Groom" whenever I had to put it down. If there was a flaw in this fast-paced mystery, it was that I thought the killer was revealed too soon. However, a secondary, complicated plot with tentacles wrapping around several important players, kept me guessing.

And then there's bumbling, big-hearted Victor who plays an important role and proves to be far more than a pain in Sasha's shapely butt, but no spoilers here. I do hope he shows up in other Sasha Jackson mysteries. An overall great and fun read. I have others waiting in line on my Kindle Fire, and am looking forward to finding the time to read them!

[Lou Allin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This smart and sassy read introduces Sasha Jackson, a quick-witted PI in Toronto who finds herself embroiled in a problematical case involving the murder of a reluctant groom who left his bride at the altar. Nearly everyone Sasha interviews about the killing seems to have a connection with the man’s suspicious business dealings but a rock-solid alibi.
Sasha’s cheap and cheerful, a rookie in her field, moonlighting as a phone sex op who relies on humour to save her sanity while fast-talking her way into the most indiscreet information all the way to the top of the society page. Her Sri Lankan girlfriend pitches in with advice when they hop through a mine field of watering holes in the Big Smoke. In the background is a former boyfriend who helps her plan a preposterous wedding, all in the cause of research. Could be that a few dying embers are ready to spark back to life.
Meanwhile, ex-musician Sasha kicks back by pounding a set of drums in her soundproofed basement den as a nerdy client turns up at the most inopportune times. A Kinsey Milhone for our time, she’s a fresh face with a lot of wild adventures ahead of her.

[Mahoghani 23 · Rating 3 out of 5]

New private eye, Sasha, hired to find out who murdered an ex-groom on his wedding day. There are a few unsavory characters but the killer and their reasoning is crazy. Sasha is witty, an excellent liar and determined to find out the truth. Several odd characters and it's your typical chic literature.

[Dianne Everson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a light modern "chick" oriented mystery.
It is a fun read if thats what you want.
I was, and it was just complex enough with an interesting female detective and a satisfying solution.
Set in Toronto it is a great beach read, but maybe not for the men in your life unless they carefully choose their daily wardrobes.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funnier than I expected, and not gory at all; a modern take on the hard-boiled detective set in Toronto. The cover does it a disservice in my opinion by being misleadingly bloody; it would be more fitting to have a retro dime novel style, I think. I won a copy through a Goodreads giveaway and the author signed it with my name, which I thought was very sweet!

Sasha Jackson is beginning her career as a detective after coming to terms with never making it big as the singer in a rock band. She aims to do background checks and infidelity inquiries, not murder investigations. Still, when an "uptight, Monolo-clad Chihuahua" (Christine) hires her to investigate the murder of her ex-fiancé, Sasha agrees to try. The story is light and enjoyable, and Sasha's character is relatable in addition to being quite funny. I laughed out loud at some of the things she said. Since I live in the US, the Canadian references added a bit of semi-exotic locale.

I think the author did a good job and I'm pleased that this is the first in a series, but I think the editing could have used improvement. I don't usually notice editing, so it's a red flag to me if I think about it at all. Fortunately, this flaw was primarily apparent only near the beginning of the book, and it stopped bothering me (so either it got better or I got used to it, I'm not sure which) once I got past the first couple of chapters. I thought the mystery was appropriate for this type of book, in that there were enough but not too many clues (and red herrings) about the identity of the murderer. A likable narrator and a good mystery are the two things I look for in my detective fiction, so I'm looking forward to reading more about Sasha.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, Jill Edmondson, lives in Toronto and teaches communications in the Faculty of Hospitality at George Brown College. While I have no idea what the Faculty of Hospitality is, I do know that Edmondson writes a fast-moving book with a hip protagonist named Sasha Jackson.

Sasha is fairly new to the private investigation world. Her former occupation was “rock band singer.” She gets hired to investigate the murder of a groom-to-be. The would-be bride is close to bankruptcy, but she hires Sasha, who’s happy to have her first major client. Just when you think Sasha has hit a wall in the investigation, she comes up with a way around the block, always pushing forward, on the trail of the murderer, getting people to talk to her, even when there’s no reason they should want to talk and every reason why they should not talk.

Sasha is a PI who doesn’t listen to those who tell her “no.” She thinks on her feet and can improvise when needed. Her tenacity leads her into the world of art, insider trading, drugs, high-finance, and high-society. Sasha also has a second, quite interesting job, but if you want to find out what that job is, you’ll have to read the book.

I liked following Sasha Jackson as she worked the case and the people involved. We get to be in her head and see how she’s thinking, which for me was an interesting experience since she’s a lot braver than I am.

I give Blood and Groom a rating of Hel-O since Jill Edmondson is a new-to-me author and Blood and Groom is a fast-paced, fun read.

[Shireen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a writer, I've discovered it's difficult for me to review books of authors I've met or have had some communication with. Because of the ebook SNAFU with Blood and Groom, Jill Edmondson kindly sent me paperback copies of this book and her next one. And I wanted very much to give this book a rave review. Much to my regret, I can't, but I can say it's the kind of book you pick up when you want to switch your brain off and just escape into a quick read.

The voices are strong in Blood and Groom, no mistaking one character for another, and as I've learnt this past year, not always a given and a really good thing. The mystery itself is intriguing, and a secondary plot serves as a juicy red herring. The protagonist or heroine of the book, Sasha Jackson is energetic, for sure. But I found the litany of adjectives a bit overwhelming. As the book progressed, the adjectives decreased. There were times when I wondered where the editor was; traditional publishers say their strength is in their editing, that self-published authors can't have such high standards as they have. But this is like the umpteenth traditionally published book I've read in recent years where I wonder if the editor fell asleep or did the most cursory of forays into the manuscript. Bad editing reflects on the author unfortunately. Publishers owe it to their authors to do a better job. All in all it has the makings of a good mystery series, and best of all it's set in Toronto.

[Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading it yesterday and finished it today, not because it was short, but it really was an unputdownable easy read.

Not the type of book I'd normally read as I expected something Chick Lit, but although some people might put it in that category (as it's a female protagonist) I'd firmly put it in (very) entertaining crime fiction.

Jill Edmondson really lets you into the heart of the character, with all her ups and downs while investigating the murder of an ex-fiancée for a client
.
Everything ties in very nicely at the end and it was a disappointment that the book was actually finished.

Sasha Jackson is the main character of the novel and I feel like I've known her all my life. A private investigator and sometimes premium telephone number answering girl, she carefully sifts through all angles of the investigation with some very interesting results.


As I said at the start, not something I'd normally buy, as I'm very much into Lee Child, Michael Connelly, et all, but will definitely be purchasing the other Sasha Jackson mysteries tomorrow.

Buy it. You won't be disappointed. (Male and female readers)

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rookie P.I. Sasha Jackson doesn’t like her new client Christine Arvisais, but Christine is the only client she has and bills must be paid. Christine isn’t a fan of Sasha’s either, but since she’s the cheapest P.I. around, they learn to tolerate each other, up to a point. Christine wants Sasha to find out who killed her ex-fiancé, Gordon. The police investigation has gone nowhere and rumors persist that Christine killed him for dumping her. Sasha’s investigation takes her in directions she hadn’t bargained for, and when things turn ugly she realizes how few people she can trust.

Blood and Groom is a delightful whodunit that mixes a gutsy, no-holds-bar protagonist with plenty of humor and angst as she tries to build her business and deal with an unwanted admirer. Author Jill Edmonson has created a wonderful character who speaks with the sarcasm and wit that most of us which we had when dealing with jerks. I thoroughly enjoyed the puzzle solving and the cast of characters. Blood and Groom is part of a series, and I can’t wait to see what Sasha is up to next.

[Mario · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly strong, well-written novel for a debut and, while I felt that the mystery was a little lacking, it redeemed itself at the very end. I wouldn't describe the story as particularly memorable, but it was a nice read and the author shows a lot of promise.




I received this free through Goodreads First Reads, as an unexpected bonus for winning the second book in this series (which I should be reading shortly). Thanks!

[Ellen Behrens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I got past the confusing familial relationships that dogged me through the first few chapters (you might want to take notes on who's whose sister, brother, cousin and which woman is whose mother...) I could finally relax and enjoy this. I especially appreciate a private investigator who comes at things from a less-than-polished perspective, a woman who spent years singing with the band but finally admitted to herself it was time to start another life. The freelancing nature of private investigations--flying without a financial net, scraping for rent and gigs, that sort of thing--makes sense for her, and her many years in the bar scene gives her life experience that transfers pretty easily into getting the information she needs to solve her case.

The mystery seems straightforward but, like all good who-dunnits, cuts at unexpected angles. No "shortest distance from A to B" here: the plot twists and turns and though you're pretty sure you know who didn't do it, and maybe if you think you know who did, you're not likely to figure out the why.

Set in Toronto, this book reminded me of why I enjoyed visiting there on occasion when I lived in the Great Lakes area. Setting, characters, plot -- it all comes together nicely, if not completely unpredictably.

[Bette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sasha Jackson has been hired to find out who killed Gordon Hanes. Hew was her ex-fiance and yes he dumped her but she didn’t kill him, and was tired of being looked at “differently” by her social set.

A mystery by Canadian-born auhor Jill Eddmondson, this is book 1 of the series set in Toronto Ontario.
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[Christine Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

good read

[Gail Rae-garwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done

Enough red herrings to keep me guessing until the end. What a test of your reasoning skills. Try it for yourself.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Competent cozy mystery featuring Sasha Jackson, just starting out as a private investigator.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great romp and superb mystery

This is a cleverly plotted mystery with engaging characters and a fun tone. I look forward to many more Sasha Jackson novels.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do when you've decided singing on Toronto's wedding reception and bar gig circuit isn't cutting it as a career--especially since the guitarist is now your ex-boyfriend--and the only decent job you've found since then is doing phone sex? Simple: you become a private investigator.

That's what Sasha Jackson did in Jill Edmondson's excellent novel, "Blood and Groom."

One day, Sasha receives a visit from a new client. Her name is Christine Arvisais, and she wants to find out who killed her ex-fiancee, Gordon. The police have all but given up on the case, and even though she has an airtight alibi, Christine is tired of people thinking she is somehow responsible.

So Sasha takes the case. As she investigates Gordon's murder, she discovers other unsolved murders, all of whom have one thing in common with Gordon. To make matters worse, Sasha stumbles upon an ingenious international crime ring, one that also has ties back to Gordon.

"Blood and Groom" was an absolute blast to read. The plot was intricate and the writing sharp, but it's Sasha Jackson herself that really made this book a joy. She pulls no punches, and she is definitely not afraid to speak her mind or do things that aren't strictly legal. Well, or are strictly illegal, to be honest.

Based on the tone and humor--and the brassy heroine--it's natural to compare Sasha to Janet Evanovich's hapless bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum. The differences are important. Like Ms Plum, Sasha is brash and funny, but Sasha is definitely not a ditz. She may be a relative neophyte, but she has good investigative instincts, training, and some valuable contacts, in addition to being largely fearless. One of my favorite scenes has her being held at gunpoint. She figures she's about to die anyway, so she starts berating her captor for being ugly, cold, and no doubt a crappy lay. It sounds odd, but it will make sense once you read it.

"Blood and Groom" does everything right. The pacing, the way the plot unfolds, the subtle way Sasha reveals her past to us while narrating this story--author Jill Edmondson handles these elements with verve and skill. It's not easy to maintain tone in a first-person narrative like this--sometimes, a character's narration will vary so much from chapter to chapter, you wonder if they have serious personality disorders. Here, even though she might be extremely hungover some mornings, it's the same Sasha who makes coffee, takes a cold shower, and does her best to get through the day.

This is the first Sasha Jackson Mystery from Jill Edmondson. There are two more already published, and I hope there will be many more. Tagging-along with Sasha is such irresistible fun.

Highly recommended.

(note: Christmas is just five days away. "Blood and Groom" would be the perfect novel to have on your Kindle, a wonderful escape from grumpy in-laws, back-to-back reruns of "A Christmas Story," and rambunctious, sugar-amped kids. Just an idea.)

[Scott Whitmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having already read and greatly enjoyed the middle of the three (so far!) books of the Sasha Jackson Mysteries series by Jill Edmondson (@JillEdmondson), I had a pretty good idea what Blood and Groom would be like: a fast-paced and fun story with some twists and a winning protagonist.

I could easily repeat everything in my review of the middle book, Dead Light District, about Sasha Jackson being a fun and realistic protagonist who makes some mistakes along the way but ultimately prevails. Her observations and inner dialogue are frequently laugh-out-loud funny, and she is surrounded by a supporting — and supportive — cast including family and friends.

No spoilers, but Blood and Groom details one of Sasha's early cases after getting her private investigator license. Up to this point she's been mostly doing background checks for employers while also working as an operator at an erotic phone line (?!), but then Christine Arvisais walks through the door.

Christine was dumped by her fiancé just months before their nuptials, but then the groom-to-be ended up getting killed — get this — on the day they were supposed to be married. The police have no suspects (Christine has and airtight alibi and was cleared) and are calling it a random act of violence, but for socialite Christine the stigma and whispers are too much. She wants Sasha to find out who the killer is to clear her "good" name once and for all.

That's enough to get the story started; from there Ms. Edmondson tosses a few red herrings and blind alleys at Sasha as she delves into the mystery behind the "Mystery of the Fatal Fiancée" as her good friend Lindsay takes to calling it. The twists are well-played and the story resolution is very satisfying.

All of the Sasha Jackson books — I am confident enough after the first two to recommend the third without even reading it! — would be perfect choices for anyone looking to pick up a fast-paced, fun light mystery. They'd be perfect companions for relaxing on the beach or curling up on the couch on a rainy day.

I have the third book of the series, The Lies Have It, on my Kindle and I suspect it won't be too much longer before I'm once again walking the streets of Toronto with Sasha.

[Nancy Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Another Exciting, Well Written Mystery by Jill Edmondson"

This is another story in the (Sasha Jackson Mysteries Series). Sasha Jackson is a fairly new private investigator who primarily does background checks for corporations and sometimes investigating cheating spouses, but has never done a murder investigation. But on this day, Christine Arvisais strides into her office and wants Sasha to investigate the murder of her ex-fiance, Gordon Hanes, that occurred nine months ago. The police had found no evidence that she killed him, but wherever she goes, people treat her as if she did. Christine is obnoxious and a goody-two-shoe type of diva. She's tired of people believing she did the crime, and though Sasha is reluctant, she agrees to a one week investigation. Sasha's first person to question is Gordon's cousin, Rebecca who had tossed her cocktail over Christine's head recently while at a restaurant, which was very humiliating to her. Next to be questioned is Christine's older brother, Darren, who had worked with Gordon playing the stock market. Sasha didn't even have to talk to Darren. She witnesses his bad behavior in a rundown pool hall. While playing pool, Darren was hot tempered to his rival, being bigoted, with a very obscene mouth! After talking to Gordon's sweet mother, she learns of a close friend to Gordon, Ted Chapman, who she meets at a prestigious Tundra bar. Sasha is definitely distracted by Ted's handsome features, yet Ted is the first one who has voiced a connection to the murder and who may have motive for the killing. Gordon and Christine were planning their wedding to be on July 5th ... the day Gordon's body is found in a ravine! Will Ted help solve the mystery, maybe with a little romance with Sasha? This is a fast moving story, with twists and turns which also uncovers other crimes. Sasha stars as a top notch detective, perhaps risking her life to solve this case. Read it, you'll enjoy it!

[Lorne Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I now have a strong desire to meet Sasha Jackson and all it took was reading Blood and Groom by Jill Edmondson. It’s the kind of novel that if the main character was a dude you’d hear Humphrey Bogart narrating it, “the door opened and in walked the lady in red, and with her came trouble with a capital T.” Okay, Jill and Sasha are not that corny, but Sasha is a private detective for hire in Toronto and the novel does open with a woman with attitude coming through her door. She wants to hire Sasha to find out who murdered her ex-fiancée. There are a few good twists and turns putting mystery on top of mystery on top of mystery. There’s a bit of Sasha’s personal life – like her part-time gig as a sex phone operator, her chef brother, her best friend who is dating her brother and her gambling father – so that you want to get out there and get the next novel in the series.

I will admit that the copy I downloaded had some big time formatting issues, but I was drawn right into the story and the further in I got, the more I needed to continue. I really can’t wait to read more of the Sasha Jackson Mysteries.

The author tells me all of the formatting issues have been fixed and rechecked.

[Melanie Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things are pretty quiet in Sasha Jackson's office. A relatively new private investigator, she's use to doing small, simple things. Then she gets her first murder case. Although not sure where to start, Sasha digs in and begins talking to those involved. She must find out who Gordon Hane's murderer is. Her client, Christine Arvisais, wants Sasha to prove she didn't do it. Everyone is convinced she did. Sasha ends up with more questions than answers but she finds the murderer.

Jill Edmondson writes mysteries the way they were meant to be written, all out and full of suspects. Sasha Jackson is a down to earth, quick to the punch character. The plot is woven so well
you won't know who dunnit until the very end. I recommend this book to everyone.

I found no issues with this one.

I gave this one 5 cheers out of 5 because of its well written story.

~Copy of book provided by author in exchange for a fair review~

[Sharon Stevenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Blood & Groom' is the first book in an entertaining P.I. series starring strong female character Sasha Jackson.

This is a fast paced read, with snappy dialogue and a sarcastic main character. It was a quick and enjoyable read. I found Sasha flawed and likeable but the rest of the characters weren't as well developed as she was.

The story was a lot of fun and easy to get into. It's the mix of the fun factor and the main character that would keep me reading this series. I don't read a lot of mystery books but would definitely pick up one of Edmondson's Sasha Jackson novels again the next time I'm in the mood to read this genre.

Overall a fast paced and entertaining novel with a strong female lead. Recommended to fans of mystery series.

[Gae-Lynn Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOOD AND GROOM is the first book I've read by Jill Edmondson, but it won't be the last. Sasha Jackson is an absolute hoot - a PI, a sex phone operator, and a rock band drummer? How could she be anything but totally engaging?

The mystery - discovering who is murdering grooms who dump their brides at the alter - is compelling and fast moving. The characters are realistic and their personalities very distinct. (I think Sasha's dad is my favorite, although the nerdy client is a close second.) Sasha is hard-headed, creative, and totally motivated to solve these murders and become more than a PI who runs background checks.

A great read. Fast paced, funny, and with enough twists and turns to keep even the most dedicated mystery reader guessing.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a light read, but I gave it a 3 because I liked the detail of the Toronto setting and also the humorous style of the writing. It's a debut mystery about a newly-trained private detective, a former singer who wants a more stable job and does the Law and Security course at Sheridan College. She's been working (for herself) for about a year when a young woman comes to her to solve a murder. The woman was a suspect, although released because she had an airtight alibi, but she feels the aura of suspicion is still hovering over her and wants it removed once and for all.

I didn't feel the solution was very probable, but still, it was entertaining and a quick read.

[Dolores · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It reminded me of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone private investigator series.

Sasha Jackson is a PI who just landed her first murder investigation when her client's ex-fiancé was murdered. Sasha uses her wit and enlists her ex-boyfriend to go undercover to play an engaged couple. They visit a wedding planner who also has done planning for Sasha's client. How does she use her investigative abilities to track down the killer? What does Sasha Jackson, PI, uncover at the meeting with their wedding planner? This book will definitely keep you up reading to the very last page.

[Ralph · Rating 4 out of 5]

My wife won this book from Good Reads and passed it along to me and I found it to be well written and enjoyable. The characters were well drawn out and the plot line was suspenseful and original. I enjoyed Jill Edmondson's use of humour and found her writing refreshing. I am looking forward to reading the next novel in the Sasha Jackson Mystery series.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads First Reads. I dont read mystery type books often but this one was fairly enjoyable although a bit predictable (aren't they usually?) Sasha was a really likeable character and I enjoyed her quirky family & friends. I would have no problem reading other Sasha Jackson mysteries.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh dear Lord, the main character is just hilarious. A little rough around the edges. This book doesn't hesitate with the language or nitty-gritty nuttiness of real life. I like it and was constantly cracking up at the exploits of the main character. The plot and mystery were great too. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Maureen Grenier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood and Groom: This was a good book with lots of humor, interesting characters, and several interwoven plots. I read the e-book version and there was a flaw in the software that caused some paragraphs to run together. It meant that I sometimes had to re-read a passage to sort out who was talking, and is the only reason I am giving it four stars rather than five—I couldn’t read it fast enough!

[Booklover · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blood and Groom was pretty good, particularly for a debut novel - it felt a bit forced in the beginning, but improved, and the mystery itself was quite interesting, although I didn't entirely warm to the main character. I definitely enjoyed the Toronto setting. I plan to read the next in the series, to see how it develops.