What do you think?
Rate this book
Hetta Coffey Mystery #4
Just Deserts
Hetta Coffey is a woman with a yacht, and she's not afraid to use it.
As a self employed engineering consultant with a penchant of oddball-read: shady- projects, she has a way of attracting trouble.
With her floating home drydocked for repairs in Mexico, Hetta needs a place to live and a job to pay the boatyard. Landing a project at a mining operation not far from her boat, Hetta finds herself on the tumultuous Arizona/Mexico border, where all hell is breaking loose even before she gets there.
As a self employed engineering consultant with a penchant of oddball-read: shady- projects, she has a way of attracting trouble.
With her floating home drydocked for repairs in Mexico, Hetta needs a place to live and a job to pay the boatyard. Landing a project at a mining operation not far from her boat, Hetta finds herself on the tumultuous Arizona/Mexico border, where all hell is breaking loose even before she gets there.
355 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2011
284 people are currently reading
957 people want to read
About the author
Jinx Schwartz
29 books318 followersJinx Schwartz is the USA TODAY Best-selling author of the award-winning Hetta Coffey series.
JUST ADD WATER, first in the series, introduces Hetta, a sassy Texan with a snazzy yacht, and she's not afraid to use it. JUST ADD SALT, JUST ADD TROUBLE, JUST DESERTS, JUST THE PITS, JUST NEEDS KILLIN', AND JUST DIFFERENT DEVILS get her into hot Mexican Waters. JUST PARDON MY FRENCH, BOOK 8, FINDS HETTA IN FRANCE and Book 9: JUST FOLLOW THE MONEY, takes a wild ride on two continents, and JUST FOR THE BIRDS, Book 10, gets her afowl of exotic bird smugglers. Book 11 finds her in Texas, and living in an RV until her boat goes missing back in Mexico, and in Just On Porpoise (12 ) her attention is drawn to the almost extinct Vaquita, and JUST SO WRONG (13) finds Hetta taking on the dogfighting trade. Her other books: The Texicans (Texas 1806-1836 Historical Western), Land of Mountains, a YA/TWEEN set in Haiti in the 1950's, Troubled Sea, a thriller in Mexico's Sea of Cortez, and BAJA GET AWAY, suspensful romance in Mexico.
Jinx spends equal time in Arizona and Mexico.
JUST ADD WATER, first in the series, introduces Hetta, a sassy Texan with a snazzy yacht, and she's not afraid to use it. JUST ADD SALT, JUST ADD TROUBLE, JUST DESERTS, JUST THE PITS, JUST NEEDS KILLIN', AND JUST DIFFERENT DEVILS get her into hot Mexican Waters. JUST PARDON MY FRENCH, BOOK 8, FINDS HETTA IN FRANCE and Book 9: JUST FOLLOW THE MONEY, takes a wild ride on two continents, and JUST FOR THE BIRDS, Book 10, gets her afowl of exotic bird smugglers. Book 11 finds her in Texas, and living in an RV until her boat goes missing back in Mexico, and in Just On Porpoise (12 ) her attention is drawn to the almost extinct Vaquita, and JUST SO WRONG (13) finds Hetta taking on the dogfighting trade. Her other books: The Texicans (Texas 1806-1836 Historical Western), Land of Mountains, a YA/TWEEN set in Haiti in the 1950's, Troubled Sea, a thriller in Mexico's Sea of Cortez, and BAJA GET AWAY, suspensful romance in Mexico.
Jinx spends equal time in Arizona and Mexico.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
January 21, 2012
Jinx Schwartz makes me laugh. Hetta Coffey books are feel-good reads. We know we're in for it when she observes, "I was off on another adventure, and this time with a regular old, probably boring job where I couldn't get into any trouble." Trouble in the mines? Nah. So what's with smugglers, drugs, dirty bombs and terrorists, and what do they have to do with boredom? To say nothing of flying pigs. That's not all. Boat troubles and love troubles jazz up the mystery in romantic Baja. This fourth in the series is highly recommended for pure enjoyment.
Gerrie Ferris Finger
Gerrie Ferris Finger
October 1, 2020
Border line
Another exciting and hilarious adventure of the intrepid Hetta Coffey. She just can't stay out of trouble and brings her friends along for the bumpy ride.
Another exciting and hilarious adventure of the intrepid Hetta Coffey. She just can't stay out of trouble and brings her friends along for the bumpy ride.
December 21, 2020
Come along with Hetta Coffey as she dry docks
the Raymond Johnson for maintenance work.
Hetta lands a job in Mexico as a copper mine
consultant to offset the repairs. The mine in
near the Mexican border so she rent a house
in Bisbee, Arizona.
Of course, Hetta finds herself naively involved
in some heavy duty shenanigans....drug cartels,
human coyotes taking people across the border,
terrorist, mine strike, violence, a winery visit plus
a slew of uninvited guest and a blue eyed semi
feral coyote.
Well created characters in a fast paced, well
plotted read.
This is book # 4 in the Hetta Coffey Mystery
series. It can be read as a stand alone. The
author provides enough back story into the
present so the story flows effortlessly.
the Raymond Johnson for maintenance work.
Hetta lands a job in Mexico as a copper mine
consultant to offset the repairs. The mine in
near the Mexican border so she rent a house
in Bisbee, Arizona.
Of course, Hetta finds herself naively involved
in some heavy duty shenanigans....drug cartels,
human coyotes taking people across the border,
terrorist, mine strike, violence, a winery visit plus
a slew of uninvited guest and a blue eyed semi
feral coyote.
Well created characters in a fast paced, well
plotted read.
This is book # 4 in the Hetta Coffey Mystery
series. It can be read as a stand alone. The
author provides enough back story into the
present so the story flows effortlessly.
January 4, 2022
I received a copy of this excellent tale from TheFussyLibrarian. The fourth of the Hetta Coffey Mystery Series, this is Jinx Schwartz in her prime. Taking place in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico, and points further north, Hetta's boat mechanic tells her she has 'bleesters on her bottom'. She has to have the boat hauled, sanded, repaired, re-painted, and re-shellacked to kill the entity causing the blisters and damage to her hull. This is a process requiring a LOT of time and effort, and the only way to preserve the hull of the 'Raymond Johnson', not just a boat but her home, office, and world-traveling security.
Hetta is an engineer and works all over, taking jobs in the U.S., Mexico, and South America that are accessible to yacht basins on the Pacific coast. She is overly fond of the Sea of Cortez, that sea behind the Baja peninsula located just over the border between California and Mexico, and separating the Mexican mainland from said Baja peninsula. Hetta has been working in that area for quite some time.
There is a job coming up in San Francisco and she wants to touch base soon with her fella, but she takes a quick job at a Mexican Copper mine, and rents a VW Fox and a fairly large house near the Turquoise Valley Golf Course in Naco, Arizona thirty miles north of the mine, with the thought that it will keep her busy till her boat is ready. And her first guest on the edge of the golf course is a blue-eyed coyote who does tricks for treats. Her second visitor is obviously connected to the cartel and/or the motorcycle gang she testified against. But she can handle it. Can't she?
Reviewed on January 4, 2022, at AmazonSmile, Goodreads, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
Hetta is an engineer and works all over, taking jobs in the U.S., Mexico, and South America that are accessible to yacht basins on the Pacific coast. She is overly fond of the Sea of Cortez, that sea behind the Baja peninsula located just over the border between California and Mexico, and separating the Mexican mainland from said Baja peninsula. Hetta has been working in that area for quite some time.
There is a job coming up in San Francisco and she wants to touch base soon with her fella, but she takes a quick job at a Mexican Copper mine, and rents a VW Fox and a fairly large house near the Turquoise Valley Golf Course in Naco, Arizona thirty miles north of the mine, with the thought that it will keep her busy till her boat is ready. And her first guest on the edge of the golf course is a blue-eyed coyote who does tricks for treats. Her second visitor is obviously connected to the cartel and/or the motorcycle gang she testified against. But she can handle it. Can't she?
Reviewed on January 4, 2022, at AmazonSmile, Goodreads, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
September 13, 2012
More hijinx on the high seas.
I’ve always wanted to live on a boat. I was happy to immerse myself, once again, in Hetta Coffey’s world and vicariously experience life as a boater. This one starts off with some good laughs. Raymond Johnson is out of commission while being treated for bottom blisters. Even on dry land, in no time at all, Hetta manages to find herself over her head in trouble with Mexican bad guys. Great fun. I can’t wait for the next one!
I’ve always wanted to live on a boat. I was happy to immerse myself, once again, in Hetta Coffey’s world and vicariously experience life as a boater. This one starts off with some good laughs. Raymond Johnson is out of commission while being treated for bottom blisters. Even on dry land, in no time at all, Hetta manages to find herself over her head in trouble with Mexican bad guys. Great fun. I can’t wait for the next one!
April 14, 2017
Hetta's yacht is dry-docked for repairs. She rents a place on the border in Arizona. Every book in series is full of laughter and action. Love it.
May 22, 2024
In Just Deserts, Hetta Coffey is still in Mexico. No, she gets a new job (an attempt to pay for the latest batch of repairs on her yacht and a place to live while the repairs are being done) which turns out to be so dangerous that she is advised to find temporary living quarters over the border in Arizona.
Things are mildly suspicious at her new place of employment. And when she locates what appears to be a nice place to live at a decent price on a golf course in Bisbee, Arizona, Hetta encounters some even more suspicious circumstances.
Part of Hetta’s trouble is that she is missing Jenks, who is supposedly in Kuwait finishing up the job he has been trying to get done for the past two books. But to fill in the void, she begins to collect visitors in her temporary quarters – first, her former veterinarian, Dr. Craig, then her best friend, Jan. Then other people come drifting in a few at a time, to the point where the rental manager comes to complain. At Jenks’ suggestion, Hetta and Dr. Craig visit a former military buddy of his not far away in Mexico who owns a winery. It’s a nice trip to a beautiful place, but while they are there, yet more suspicious things happen, ending with an attempted hijacking of the friend’s small plane while Hetta and her friends are riding with him in it.
The list of bad-guy types Hetta encounters is depressingly long. There are drug smugglers and people smugglers, sometimes working together and sometimes the same people. The people at the mine she is trying to help clean up their safety practices – people their workers’ union accuse of allowing their working environment to poison them (evidently not without reason) are small potatoes compared to most of these other folks. None of these types seems to be the least hesitant about killing anybody they think is getting in their way. One of the border patrol agents Hetta met on a previous adventure remarks that the more success the border patrol has in stopping them, the more dangerous life for border patrol and customs agents becomes. You begin to see why people in this part of the country want a wall. Only, it seems that fences and walls do nothing at all to even slow these people down.
And then it comes out that some of the suspicious people Hetta and her friends have been seeing have ties to Islamic terrorists as well. Not mainly in this case Middle Eastern terrorists, although connections with Lebanon or the Palestinians are mentioned in passing. But these terrorists seem to be more Black Muslims from California and some native Mexican groups. They are, however, plenty deadly enough, especially when working with the various smugglers.
If it weren’t for her increasing circle of friends, including some unusual animal friends (a steer named Booger Red who works at the winery is particularly helpful), Hetta might be in real trouble. And as it is, there is enough heart-stopping adventure to keep everybody on the edge of their seats.
Things are mildly suspicious at her new place of employment. And when she locates what appears to be a nice place to live at a decent price on a golf course in Bisbee, Arizona, Hetta encounters some even more suspicious circumstances.
Part of Hetta’s trouble is that she is missing Jenks, who is supposedly in Kuwait finishing up the job he has been trying to get done for the past two books. But to fill in the void, she begins to collect visitors in her temporary quarters – first, her former veterinarian, Dr. Craig, then her best friend, Jan. Then other people come drifting in a few at a time, to the point where the rental manager comes to complain. At Jenks’ suggestion, Hetta and Dr. Craig visit a former military buddy of his not far away in Mexico who owns a winery. It’s a nice trip to a beautiful place, but while they are there, yet more suspicious things happen, ending with an attempted hijacking of the friend’s small plane while Hetta and her friends are riding with him in it.
The list of bad-guy types Hetta encounters is depressingly long. There are drug smugglers and people smugglers, sometimes working together and sometimes the same people. The people at the mine she is trying to help clean up their safety practices – people their workers’ union accuse of allowing their working environment to poison them (evidently not without reason) are small potatoes compared to most of these other folks. None of these types seems to be the least hesitant about killing anybody they think is getting in their way. One of the border patrol agents Hetta met on a previous adventure remarks that the more success the border patrol has in stopping them, the more dangerous life for border patrol and customs agents becomes. You begin to see why people in this part of the country want a wall. Only, it seems that fences and walls do nothing at all to even slow these people down.
And then it comes out that some of the suspicious people Hetta and her friends have been seeing have ties to Islamic terrorists as well. Not mainly in this case Middle Eastern terrorists, although connections with Lebanon or the Palestinians are mentioned in passing. But these terrorists seem to be more Black Muslims from California and some native Mexican groups. They are, however, plenty deadly enough, especially when working with the various smugglers.
If it weren’t for her increasing circle of friends, including some unusual animal friends (a steer named Booger Red who works at the winery is particularly helpful), Hetta might be in real trouble. And as it is, there is enough heart-stopping adventure to keep everybody on the edge of their seats.
May 29, 2020
Hetta Coffey's boat has "blisters," cracks in the coating of the fiberglass hull, her friend Jan is living with her boyfriend the "whale scientist," and Hetta's boyfriend is in Dubai. What else could go wrong? Actually, quite a few things, beginning with the cost to repair her boat. For this she needs a job, so she contacts her sometime employer, Trob. Of course, he finds her a job near the Mexican border, helping a copper processing factory determine what they must do to update their safety procedures and stop the workers' strike and impending violence. When Hetta is told that for safety reasons she should not stay in the town where the factory is, she rents a home in Bisbee, AZ. This leads to more and more complications and she is descended upon by needy friends and friends who need her to do things. First comes, Craig, a veterinarian who has recently gone on a massive diet and health kick and thinks that Hetta needs to, also, then comes her friend, Jan, who has broken up with her whale scientist boyfriend, and then comes Annette, Trob's very pregnant wife. Along with all of these troubles, come mysterious men, described by Craig as Malcom Xers, riots, a winery visit, and plane and car crash, and run-ins with the border patrol.
While the mystery is interesting, the book is also very funny.
While the mystery is interesting, the book is also very funny.
July 5, 2019
Just Deserts
Another great adventure of Hetta Coffee! How much trouble can one person get into in Mexico and the USA? A lot. Hetta leaves her yacht for repairs in Mexico and in order to pay for it she must get a real job! As a mining consultant she finds this job a no show. What with strikes and outdated equipment, she rents a house in Arizona and must drive back and forth to work. She can’t get into the mine offices so she and her visiting friend Dr. Craig drive to a new vineyard recommended to her by her boyfriend Jinx. She has a lovely time until she is chased from Mexico to Arizona by who knows who. This is a rounding good time on land and not by sea. I could not put it down!
Another great adventure of Hetta Coffee! How much trouble can one person get into in Mexico and the USA? A lot. Hetta leaves her yacht for repairs in Mexico and in order to pay for it she must get a real job! As a mining consultant she finds this job a no show. What with strikes and outdated equipment, she rents a house in Arizona and must drive back and forth to work. She can’t get into the mine offices so she and her visiting friend Dr. Craig drive to a new vineyard recommended to her by her boyfriend Jinx. She has a lovely time until she is chased from Mexico to Arizona by who knows who. This is a rounding good time on land and not by sea. I could not put it down!
October 2, 2017
Love these books!!
Once again Hetta finds herself in a seriously crazy situation. This time she takes a job in a Mexican company reviewing their safety practices from across-the-boarder in Arizona while her boat is in drydock for repairs. She is joined by a slimmed down Craigasaurus and her pal Jan, who has had enough of whale-watching with Dr Yee, living in such rustic conditions. Once more her boyfriend Jenx is overseas and incommunicado. Some crazy and funny times ensue.
Once again Hetta finds herself in a seriously crazy situation. This time she takes a job in a Mexican company reviewing their safety practices from across-the-boarder in Arizona while her boat is in drydock for repairs. She is joined by a slimmed down Craigasaurus and her pal Jan, who has had enough of whale-watching with Dr Yee, living in such rustic conditions. Once more her boyfriend Jenx is overseas and incommunicado. Some crazy and funny times ensue.
February 8, 2017
"When seconds count, cops are just minutes away." Hetta is at it again. With the help of her best friend and sidekick, Jan, they find themselves in over their heads in the Arizona desert. Running to and from the boarder of Mexico and Arizona in high speed chases and bullet dodging hilarity! Hetta doesn't know when to quit; revenge from drug smugglers, gang members or boarder patrol does not deter her.
~ funnier than book 3. Hetta's adventures leave you laughing out loud!
~ funnier than book 3. Hetta's adventures leave you laughing out loud!
November 11, 2017
Trolling along
Herat and Jen's pretty much have a long distance relationship, except for intermittent visits. He is an I international contractor and Hetta is also a contract worker but with added trouble finding. I'm not quite sure if she looks for it or it just finds her.
They spend a great deal of time in Mexico, get chased and almost killed; but for Hetta it seems the norm.
It's a great read, funny, and a ding of danger thrown it.
Herat and Jen's pretty much have a long distance relationship, except for intermittent visits. He is an I international contractor and Hetta is also a contract worker but with added trouble finding. I'm not quite sure if she looks for it or it just finds her.
They spend a great deal of time in Mexico, get chased and almost killed; but for Hetta it seems the norm.
It's a great read, funny, and a ding of danger thrown it.
June 10, 2018
Hecky thump Jinx!! You write a good tale !! I so enjoyed this I'm going to read everything of yours I can get my hands on . A rip roaring
Hecky thump Jinx, you write a good tale! I so enjoyed this I'm going to read everything of yours I can get my hands on. A rip roaring rollercoaster read. Loved it!
Hecky thump Jinx, you write a good tale! I so enjoyed this I'm going to read everything of yours I can get my hands on. A rip roaring rollercoaster read. Loved it!
February 25, 2022
I'm addicted
After reading four Hetta Coffey books, I'm hooked more than ever. She gets into the strangest predicaments. She has a wicked sense of humor. She also has interesting friends. Her biggest downfall, in my humble opinion; 8s she 8s definitely an alcoholic. Hopefully in a future book, she will overcome as she has so many other things.
After reading four Hetta Coffey books, I'm hooked more than ever. She gets into the strangest predicaments. She has a wicked sense of humor. She also has interesting friends. Her biggest downfall, in my humble opinion; 8s she 8s definitely an alcoholic. Hopefully in a future book, she will overcome as she has so many other things.
December 12, 2019
Blue the Coydog
Hetta Coffey gets into more trouble without a clue as to why her. Nacho makes an appearance, there's lots of wine flowing, and the Raymond Johnson ends up dry docked. This series is awesome and recommended reading!
Hetta Coffey gets into more trouble without a clue as to why her. Nacho makes an appearance, there's lots of wine flowing, and the Raymond Johnson ends up dry docked. This series is awesome and recommended reading!
August 11, 2020
Another adventure-filled thrill ride
So much fun! Great plot and wonderful characters. Love this series. Even when she’s living on land in an actual house, Hetta gets involved with great mysteries and serious bad guys. Perfect summer reading.
So much fun! Great plot and wonderful characters. Love this series. Even when she’s living on land in an actual house, Hetta gets involved with great mysteries and serious bad guys. Perfect summer reading.
September 24, 2023
romantic action comedy
Full of action, twist, turns and bad guys. Never did find out who got shot with the salted bacon and what was the point of blue? Book four builds upon previous books.
Full of action, twist, turns and bad guys. Never did find out who got shot with the salted bacon and what was the point of blue? Book four builds upon previous books.
Read
January 1, 2024Delightful escape.
What starts out as a disjointed series of events is wrapped up in the end with a plausible outcome. The characters are well developed and very quirky, but in their end they are true to character and loyal friends.
It was a witty and funny read.
What starts out as a disjointed series of events is wrapped up in the end with a plausible outcome. The characters are well developed and very quirky, but in their end they are true to character and loyal friends.
It was a witty and funny read.
February 6, 2018
Enh; it was okay but not spectacular.
September 21, 2018
Funny mystery
Betts just can't stay out of trouble, try as she might. But trouble with humerus twists. And all ends well
Betts just can't stay out of trouble, try as she might. But trouble with humerus twists. And all ends well
February 4, 2019
Kept me on the edge of my seat
Lots of twists and turns to keep your interest. Hetta is realistic and very likable. I would enjoy more books by this author.
Lots of twists and turns to keep your interest. Hetta is realistic and very likable. I would enjoy more books by this author.
May 22, 2019
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
September 30, 2019
Only Hetta can get into this much trouble. She gets into trouble in Mexico and the US.
Then there is Jan with her young whale expert.
And, of course, Jenks to the rescue!
Then there is Jan with her young whale expert.
And, of course, Jenks to the rescue!
December 20, 2019
Good readimg
I enjoyed reading this book an feel the author did a good job of weaving the two parts together without getting herself confused as I was at times.
I enjoyed reading this book an feel the author did a good job of weaving the two parts together without getting herself confused as I was at times.
January 3, 2021
Hetta is a wonderful heroine. Devious, unpredictable, and spontaneous--all of which gets her in to trouble. The dialogue is great and Hetta's narrative comments cause me to frequently laugh out loud.
Read
May 19, 2022Jinx Schwartz is always a good read.
This is a fun escape series! I have really enjoyed reading about Hetta and Jan as they travel the southwest and around the world.
This is a fun escape series! I have really enjoyed reading about Hetta and Jan as they travel the southwest and around the world.
September 9, 2014
Just Deserts (Hetta Coffey #4)
by Jinx Schwartz
Yes, I know -- I skipped #3. Didn't have it on my Kindle, but I did have #4. As I assumed would happen, I was able to catch up on the gist of what happened in #3 during the reading of #4, just missed out on the fun of reading it.
In #4, "Just Deserts," Hetta is landlocked due to the Raymond Johnson needing some maintenance work. Jenks is off in the Middle East doing whatever it is that Jenks does, Jan is counting whales with Chino on Baja, and Hetta takes a job in Mexico supposedly to help get a copper mine operation back on track to being a profitable business. Along the way we find an interesting group of people, including a newly svelte Craig, a return of the is-he-a-bad-guy-or-a-good-guy from book #3, Nacho, a blue-eyed semi feral coyote, two friends of Jenks' who run a winery in Mexico, two suspicious black suits, a smarmy mine manager, Hetta's ex-policeman friend, Martinez, Throb and his very pregnant wife, Allison, and a slew of other interesting folk. Caught between human coyotes ferrying people across the border, drug cartels and holdover grudges from former escapades, Hetta has her hands full in this 4th adventure, as she cavorts back and forth across the border from Mexico to Arizona.
As usual, most all of the editing and proofreading was excellent. I did find one glaring error, again at the very beginning of the book, much as the mistake I found in #2. This time, it's a religious misstatement regarding Islam. Muslims do NOT believe that Mohammed was God. They believe he was the final Prophet, and as such, follow his teachings. Unlike Christians, there is no holy trinity -- no 3 in one deal. So this statement, found at 106 on my Kindle, is incorrect: "Accepting Muhammad as her only God, Safiyya now knew the enemy,..."
Other than that (and what a big 'that' that is!), the writing was, as usual, fast paced, humor laced, and character driven. It was especially fun to get a bit of a look at Hetta's Aunt Lillian. For me, who skipped an adventure, it was also fun learning more about the mysterious and sexy Nacho. A wonderful late summer read!
One thing I'd like to add -- although it has little to do with the storyline or with the writing itself. One of the things I find most endearing about Hetta Coffey is how much she cared for and misses her deceased dog, R.J. He dies in the first book, but still, in the fourth, she still remembers and mourns him. I suppose that hits a very personal chord for me, as I often still mourn the passing of my dog, Bogey, over a decade ago. I love all my animals and mourn them when they pass, but sometimes a particular animal plants itself so deeply in your heart and mind that the hurt never goes completely away.
by Jinx Schwartz
Yes, I know -- I skipped #3. Didn't have it on my Kindle, but I did have #4. As I assumed would happen, I was able to catch up on the gist of what happened in #3 during the reading of #4, just missed out on the fun of reading it.
In #4, "Just Deserts," Hetta is landlocked due to the Raymond Johnson needing some maintenance work. Jenks is off in the Middle East doing whatever it is that Jenks does, Jan is counting whales with Chino on Baja, and Hetta takes a job in Mexico supposedly to help get a copper mine operation back on track to being a profitable business. Along the way we find an interesting group of people, including a newly svelte Craig, a return of the is-he-a-bad-guy-or-a-good-guy from book #3, Nacho, a blue-eyed semi feral coyote, two friends of Jenks' who run a winery in Mexico, two suspicious black suits, a smarmy mine manager, Hetta's ex-policeman friend, Martinez, Throb and his very pregnant wife, Allison, and a slew of other interesting folk. Caught between human coyotes ferrying people across the border, drug cartels and holdover grudges from former escapades, Hetta has her hands full in this 4th adventure, as she cavorts back and forth across the border from Mexico to Arizona.
As usual, most all of the editing and proofreading was excellent. I did find one glaring error, again at the very beginning of the book, much as the mistake I found in #2. This time, it's a religious misstatement regarding Islam. Muslims do NOT believe that Mohammed was God. They believe he was the final Prophet, and as such, follow his teachings. Unlike Christians, there is no holy trinity -- no 3 in one deal. So this statement, found at 106 on my Kindle, is incorrect: "Accepting Muhammad as her only God, Safiyya now knew the enemy,..."
Other than that (and what a big 'that' that is!), the writing was, as usual, fast paced, humor laced, and character driven. It was especially fun to get a bit of a look at Hetta's Aunt Lillian. For me, who skipped an adventure, it was also fun learning more about the mysterious and sexy Nacho. A wonderful late summer read!
One thing I'd like to add -- although it has little to do with the storyline or with the writing itself. One of the things I find most endearing about Hetta Coffey is how much she cared for and misses her deceased dog, R.J. He dies in the first book, but still, in the fourth, she still remembers and mourns him. I suppose that hits a very personal chord for me, as I often still mourn the passing of my dog, Bogey, over a decade ago. I love all my animals and mourn them when they pass, but sometimes a particular animal plants itself so deeply in your heart and mind that the hurt never goes completely away.
March 2, 2017
A sweet treat
Interesting and and amusing. A mix of events that seem to be right out of today's headlines. As usual Hetta finds trouble but manages to save the day!
Interesting and and amusing. A mix of events that seem to be right out of today's headlines. As usual Hetta finds trouble but manages to save the day!
November 10, 2014
JUST DESERTS is the first book by Jinx Schwartz that I have read. Even though this was the 4th book in the Hetta Coffey Mystery series, I wasn't too lost due to previous events affecting the current situation; however I would like to go back and read the first three books before moving on to the 5th book the series.
Hetta Coffey is quite a character. Troubles just seem to follow her around. She's been happily living in her boat off the coast of Mexico when she learns that her boat has a major problem with blisters on the hull. The repair can't be done unless she puts her boat in dry dock for up to six months and finds a new place to live. She also needs to find a temporary job to pay her expenses.
Fortunately Hetta has lots of connections that end up providing her with an interesting job doing some engineering work at a Mexican mine a few hours across the border and a nice place to live in an Arizona border town. She is so excited until she gets to the mine and encounters one problem after another. Somehow she keeps surviving the problems, but life gets pretty dangerous for her & her friends.
I encourage you to add Jinx Schwartz and her Hetta Coffey mystery series to your reading list. I hope you've have as much fun reading her books as I did with JUST DESERTS.
Hetta Coffey is quite a character. Troubles just seem to follow her around. She's been happily living in her boat off the coast of Mexico when she learns that her boat has a major problem with blisters on the hull. The repair can't be done unless she puts her boat in dry dock for up to six months and finds a new place to live. She also needs to find a temporary job to pay her expenses.
Fortunately Hetta has lots of connections that end up providing her with an interesting job doing some engineering work at a Mexican mine a few hours across the border and a nice place to live in an Arizona border town. She is so excited until she gets to the mine and encounters one problem after another. Somehow she keeps surviving the problems, but life gets pretty dangerous for her & her friends.
I encourage you to add Jinx Schwartz and her Hetta Coffey mystery series to your reading list. I hope you've have as much fun reading her books as I did with JUST DESERTS.
November 2, 2014
Part of a series, of which I have read none previously. At this point the primary characters have been established, so it is all about plot, rather than character development. Characters breeze in and out of the story. Some have pasts that must have been explained in previous books, but they can be taken as they appear -- not very seriously.
Our heroine has a breezy take-it-as-it-comes approach to life, and a strong sense of humor. Unfortunately, as is often the case with humor, it did not work for me. I found myself vaguely annoyed with the heroine throughout the book. It all seemed vaguely absurd. I found myself not caring very much about what happened to her.
The plot moves right along. It is an easy read, well-written, if somewhat (sometimes very) unbelievable. Probably a lot of fun it if is your kind of book. It wasn't mine. Although I didn't hate it, I have no desire to read any more of this series.
Our heroine has a breezy take-it-as-it-comes approach to life, and a strong sense of humor. Unfortunately, as is often the case with humor, it did not work for me. I found myself vaguely annoyed with the heroine throughout the book. It all seemed vaguely absurd. I found myself not caring very much about what happened to her.
The plot moves right along. It is an easy read, well-written, if somewhat (sometimes very) unbelievable. Probably a lot of fun it if is your kind of book. It wasn't mine. Although I didn't hate it, I have no desire to read any more of this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews