Rules of Crime

Detective Jackson Mystery #7

by L.J. Sellers

When a call from his daughter, Katie, interrupts his much-needed vacation, Detective Wade Jackson knows it's bad news. His ex-wife, Renee, has disappeared and Jackson heads home to discover she's been kidnapped. That same weekend, a young University of Oregon student is brutally beaten and dumped naked at the ER. As Jackson teams with FBI Agent Carla River to retrace Renee's movements and handle a high-tech, fast-moving ransom demand, Detective Lara Evans must identify the young assault victim, then track down the assailant with no leads to go on?except the whispered rumor of a secret sorority. As the ransom goes horribly wrong and the suspects refuse to crack under interrogation, Jackson grows more fearful that Katie's mother will be lost forever and his daughter may never forgive him.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Thriller

294 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2013

About the author

I write the bestselling Detective Jackson mystery/thriller series—a four-time Readers Favorite award winner—as well as the Agent Dallas series, the Extractor thrillers, and provocative standalone thrillers. My 30 novels have been highly praised and have sold more than a million copies.

I reside in Eugene, Oregon where my many of my novels are set, and I'm also an award-winning journalist who earned the Grand Neal. When not plotting murders, I enjoy standup comedy, cycling, social networking, and attending mystery conferences. I've also been known to jump out of airplanes.

Reviews

[James Thane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Wade Jackson's ex-wife, Renee, is having a very bad day. She's fallen off the wagon and needs a shot of vodka to get her through her A.A. meeting. She knows her drinking is getting out of control again, which not good, because she has an attractive new boyfriend who believes that she's cleaned up and is now sober.

When confronted by the meeting leader, Renee decides to bit the bullet and check herself into rehab again, but on the verge of walking into the sanitarium, she is kidnapped by two men. Detective Jackson gets the bad news while on vacation in Hawaii with his new girlfriend and races back home to Eugene, Oregon to assist in the investigation which will be led by FBI agent, Carla River.

Jackson's primary concern, in addition to securing Renee's safe release, is the effect that the kidnapping will have on their daughter, Katie, who has already suffered more than her fair share of trauma.

Meanwhile a young woman who has been badly beaten is dropped off naked at the door of a hospital emergency room. She is unconscious and unable even to identify herself, let alone explain what might have happened to her. This investigation falls to Detective Lara Evans, who has very little to go on, especially when the victim lapses into a coma.

L.J. Sellers adroitly weaves the strands of these two stories together in a very engrossing novel that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. Jackson is a very sympathetic protagonist and one feels for his daughter as she struggles with the prospect of losing her mother. Lara Evans also proves to be a tenacious and talented investigator, and it's fun watching her pursue the thin leads that she is able to develop. I confess that I was not all that knocked out by the FBI agent, River, but that's a very minor complaint and this is a book that should appeal to a lot of readers who like suspenseful police procedurals.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Renee knows that needing a shot of Vodka to get through her AA-meeting is a sign and decides to admit herself into rehab once more.
That's where her car is found but there's no trace of Renee.

During his much needed Hawaii-vacation with his girlfriend Kera, Jackson gets the bad news of his ex-wife's disappearence. He rushes back to support his daughter and help Carla River, the new FBI-Agent in town with the investigation. When her fiance is asked for 100.000$ for ransom, the well planned exchange goes wrong and his daughter, a TV-Reporter, makes a momentous appeal...

At the same time a young woman was admittet to the emergency room, naked and badly beaten, to life-threatening state.
Lila wanted to join a secret society in college, a sorority who won't allow to be called just that. In fact they are proud of their non-approved state and offers a stable place to live and loyal, popular friends in exchange for bizarre, humiliating and excruciating initiations.

With this case the Jackson serial gets really personal. I find myself caring for Jackson and the developments in his personal life but also thinking, that to truly understand the characters you need to read the previous books, or the characters might appear somewhat flat.
Also this one is like the previous books, the writing is on point, entertaining, there's many little twists, not at all predictable.

Except for the repetitive mentioning of the financial lack for law inforcement and the resulting problems and for the cases to intertwine. I really hoped they'd stay seperate this time. Still, the waving is well done and had me guessing till the end. But as always we also have open questions in the end, because we get to the conclusion and know what happened but don't learn how it's dealt with and what happens afterwards. I still try to be fine with that.

The involvement with a secret crime club was something unexpected and different, same as the thing with the the addition of FBI-Carla to the team. And what Lila remembers from the night of her initiation, the naked waiting to be beaten at a cemetery is really sick.
Also, I did expect a big final twist, but this one I didn't see coming. How good is that?!

[David Highton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kidnapping for ransom of Jackson's ex-wife is the key narrative of this book with the FBI involved, but with a potentially connected murder and Sergeant Evans investigating a very serious assault, this book starts to get very complicated and loses a little momentum. But still a decent read.

[Gail Glogowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book but the ending was so abrupt & a lot of connections had to be made. I was left wondering if I got it right.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rules of Crime by L. J. Sellers
A wild ride that doesn't disappoint!!
 



Product Description:

When a call from his daughter, Katie, interrupts his much-needed vacation, Detective Wade Jackson knows it’s bad news. As Katie tearfully announces that her mom—Jackson’s ex-wife, Renee—is missing, Jackson suspects alcoholic Renee has climbed back inside the bottle that destroyed their marriage. But the truth is far worse: kidnappers have snatched Renee and are demanding ransom from her wealthy fiance.



The very same night, someone dumps a savagely beaten University of Oregon coed on the doorstep of the ER. Jackson’s protege, Detective Lara Evans, must identify the unconscious victim, then track down the assailant with no leads to go on…except the whispered rumor of a secret sorority.

Meanwhile, Eugene’s new FBI liaison, Agent Carla River, takes charge of Renee’s high-tech ransom operation while Jackson comforts his distressed daughter and retraces the steps of the mother she holds dear. But as the rescue takes a deadly twist and the suspects seem willing to let Renee die rather than crack under interrogation, Jackson worries that Katie will never forgive him if her mother is lost forever.

My thoughts...

So far "Rules of Crime" is my favorite of the Detective Wade Jackson series. A Hawaii vacation cut short. A kidnapping gone wrong. What else could possibly happen?

This is not your typical ending for Wade Jackson, this one. L. J. Sellers will take you on a wild ride with Detective Wade Jackson on his search for his kidnapped ex-wife through the streets of Eugene, Oregon. L. J. Sellers is a master in utilizing her imaginative-creativity with her characters, taking care to make sure you relate to each and every one of them. You quickly become engrossed in the plot to find Renee.

I'm looking forward to what the future holds for Detective Wade Jackson and wondering if Lara Evans will be a part of the next exciting plot. A highly recommended read.

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[Milissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love This Series

A woman going to college is severely beaten in a possible hazing, Detective Evans is asked to investigate. Detective Jackson's ex-wife is kidnapped and held for ransom. There seems to be more to the story for both crimes. Are they connected? Another outstanding book by this author.

[Jamie Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm so angry about this author's stupid and ignorant representation of dogs that I can't currently continue reading the series at this time. I own Rottweilers and have previously owned several breeds. I volunteer at rescue centres and have done since I was 12, the only dog that ever maliciously attacked me was one of those cute daschund dogs who had been so spoilt it felt entitled. I have had significant injuries from cats but I'd never write entire chapters attempting to instal cats as bad animals

There are no bad breeds, just stupid, ignorant humans that don't properly train or care for them. And stupid ignorant authors that perpetuate breed myths for their own pathetic reasons or groundless fears based on one bad experience with any breed of dog!

As usual, I expect the author will not give valid reasons for this type of irrational bias. Embarrassingly, this author probably touts herself as "inclusive", given the pointless tangents relating to gay, trans, ethnicity, planned parenting etc. Milks the veterans line but doesn't consider how many veterans are saved by the dogs for veterans programs all over the world!!!!


Makes me sick,racist and sexist authors would be vilified, yet the same nasty, pathetic prejudice against animals continues unchecked!

[Michael Delugg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well-written detective Jackson story

This book is difficult to encapsulate without spoiling, so I won’t say much. If you’re already a fan of the series, I hope you’ve been reading the books in sequence and you must read this.

We have a fine upstanding protagonist in Jackson. What starts as a straight-forward crime becomes very complex as it hits close to home for some of the characters. Sellers treats us to a varied array of characters, giving us insight into why some people might act the way they do.

RULES OF CRIME is a well-paced book that I found hard to put down. Enjoy the read.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing series

Just when you think that people can't get any worse.... This story was full of so many different kinds of tragedies, but don't shed too many tears just yet. It's definitely a complicated and complex story with many unexpected twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end.
I would definitely recommend this book, series, and author.

[Marina E. Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Another good adventure and a look inside the workings of a detective bureau. Day to day highlights of working complex cases makes for a fun ride. On to the next...

[nancy babineau · Rating 5 out of 5]

What.

I fid nit evrn read this book but it js adkjng for acrevuew so muspelked wirds is whay you grt

[Russ Leavitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!! The best book so far in this series.

[Amy Lignor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery novels are fun, but this is one book that is not only fun and adventurous, but also offers a truly shocking ending that the reader will not see coming.

The story begins with Renee Jackson, ex-wife of Detective Wade Jackson, leaving an AA meeting just a tad bit early. Renee has decided she shouldn’t have come to the meeting and even though she has been secretly ‘hitting the bottle’ these last few weeks, she has no desire to share her issues. As Renee heads to her car where a thermos of Vodka is waiting for her, she thinks long and hard about checking herself into rehab, but doesn’t know how to accomplish this without revealing to her beloved daughter, Katie, that she has fallen off the wagon…again. Heading to her car, Renee spots two very creepy characters coming toward her and ends up racing away in order to avoid them, but…they were right behind her.

Detective Wade Jackson is vacationing on an island paradise with his significant other when he receives a call from his daughter telling him that her mother has been kidnapped and Mom’s fiancé has received a text message demanding $100,000 for her safe return. Hurrying back home to Eugene, Oregon, Wade joins the FBI in order to solve the case as fast as possible.

FBI Agent Carla River is in charge of the investigation, and assembles a task force that includes her agency and the local police department. All goes well with the ransom demand until the person picking up the money falls into the river and drowns - forcing the team to start at ‘square one.’ Add to all this the fact that Sgt. Lara Evans of the Violent Crimes Unit has been looking into the nearly fatal beating of a college student that brings about a major clue that will help in finding Renee, and a climax occurs that will leave the reader breathless.

This story deserves a very high recommendation as the plot is intriguing, the characters are memorable and the ending is a shock to the system. Enjoy!

(By Amy Lignor/Suspense)

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Wade Jackson is on a rare vacation in Hawaii with his fiance, Kera, when he receives a very disturbing phone call from his daughter, Katie. Wade's ex-wife , Renee has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom. Currently Renee is involved with a successful stock broker,Ivan Anderson. Anderson believes that the ransom threats may have come from a disgruntled client, who has lost a lot of money and may want ' payback'! That doesn't mean that Renee's life is not in danger.
Also that weekend , a naked, bruised co-ed from the University of Oregon is left on the steps of the emergency wing of a local Eugene hospital. Lara Evans, who has previously partnered with Jackson , is assigned to the case. At first, there is no ID available , but Evans soon learns that the woman's name is Lyla Murray. With some ID in hand she starts the search for those responsible for this horrific beating. Lyla may not survive and then it will become a murder case.
Meanwhile Jackson in cooperation with FBI agent, Carla River is trying to coordinate the search and rescue of Renee. These types of scenarios require careful planning and a light touch, because the victim's life is very much at stake.
Seller's story is at it's usual fast pace, making it very difficult to put down the book. There is also the tantalizing hint that Wade's case and Lara's may have an interesting connection. The pace is non-stop as Jackson and River attempt to save Renee's life.
I have enjoyed Seller's books for several years and I hope you take the time to read " Rules of Crime ".

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for my copy of this book.

For the most part, I enjoyed this book. The writing is good, and I liked the switching back-and-forth between the 2 plotlines featuring the different detectives. I kept changing my mind about whether the kidnapping or the beaten girl was the more interesting. The ending came as a complete surprise, which in itself is quite an accomplishment.

Even though the book is "a detective Jackson mystery", I actually found him quite bland and boring, and I thought that the 2 women (Detective Evans and Agent River) were more compelling characters. There was a particular plot thread involving River that was brought up and then left hanging -- hopefully to be revisited in a future novel? Also, one sure way to make me despise any character is to make them dislike dogs, so I was not impressed with this aspect of Jackson.

Like some other people have mentioned, there was too much harping on the lack of funding for law enforcement in Eugene.

The one thing that detracted quite a lot from my pleasure in reading this book was the undercurrent of dog hatred running through it. In addition to Jackson's shortcomings in this regard, there was a completely irrelevant, unnecessary and unfair vilification of pit bulls, as well as a specious claim that "lots of children are attacked and killed by dogs". No, actually, few are killed this way. Many, however, are killed by their PARENTS.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Rules of Crime" (Thomas & Mercer 2013) is the tenth Detective Jackson mystery by L.J. Seller and the first I've read. It won't be the last. It opens as Detective Jackson is trying to relax and wind down on a Hawaiian vacation with his girlfriend, bored by all the easy-going life and manana attitude that is part and parcel of island vacations. He is horrified (but secretly thrilled) to receive a frantic call from his daughter that his ex-wife and the mother to his child is missing. Though he isn't too worried--his ex has an alcohol problem--he uses this to escape paradise and return to the rush and tumble of an active investigation.

From, there, the drama never stops as we join his efforts to follow clues, chase down suspects, interview reluctant witnesses, quickly determining this is not an alcoholic binge, but a kidnapping with a time clock on it. He realizes it's up to him to save the life of a woman he has divorced but whose death would devastate his only child. Add to this, the mystery of Lyla Murray, college freshman dumped at the Emergency Room, almost naked, beaten, and close to death. Seller's does a great job weaving the two plots together, developing a cast of characters who seem as real as an prime time TV show. I found myself wishing the book wouldn't end.

Now, excuse me while I go order the other nine Detective Jackson mysteries.

[Gloria Feit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Attacks by unknown perpetrators on two lone women, separated by several miles and as many hours, open this newest novel by L.J. Sellers in the Detective Wade Jackson series. The first is distinctly personal to Jackson: The kidnapping for random of his ex-wife, Renee, recovering alcoholic and the mother of his beloved teenage daughter, Katie. The FBI is called in, of course, but Jackson, now after 20 years a senior detective in the Violent Crimes Unit of the Eugene, Oregon P.D., is allowed to join the team, convincing his boss that he can be both objective and professional.

The second case is a brutal assault, the body of the victim dumped, naked, outside of a hospital ER, where she remains in very serious condition, and detective Lara Evans, Jackson’s mentee in the same unit, is assigned to handle it. Unfortunately, another common factor in both cases is the utter lack of witnesses or clues.

Events play out over a period of one week, with suspense building up as with meticulous police work the pieces start to fit together in both crimes. The book provides the excellent character development for which this author has been highly praised, introducing an intriguing new character: a transgender FBI agent, without making that the agent’s defining characteristic. “Rules of Crime” is terrific summer reading, and is recommended.

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this latest Detective Wade Jackson mystery, he is called by his daughter, Katie, who tells him his ex-wife, Renee, is missing. Jackson doesn't tell Katie, but he suspects that Renee may have fallen off the wagon and has walked away until she can straighten out again. When her wealthy fiance receives a ransom call, the horrible truth that she has been kidnapped is revealed.

While Jackson is investigating the kidnapping, his protege, Detective Lara Evans is on a case involving a young woman who was beaten and dumped at the ER. The University of Oregon coed is unconscious, so Lara has the task of trying to identify the victim before she can even start looking for a perpetrator.

The kidnapping case is taken over by a new FBI liaison in Eugene, Agent Carla River, and things do not go well when the money is taken to the kidnapper. Even though some suspects are taken into custody, they are unwilling to reveal any information that can lead the officers to Renee.

This is another good suspense novel from Sellers, and the plot twists complicate the story enough to keep you guessing. Some of the police deductions seem to come too quickly in places, but that was a minor flaw in an otherwise well-written book. I especially liked the relationship between Jackson and his daughter.

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has been a very strong series going into this book and I have enjoyed plowing thru all the books in order. This entry though was very silly and less of what I have come to enjoy from solid characters interacting and investigating. In this entry we have the trans FBI agent (yay representation for people you don't often see living "normal" lives) who is the child of a serial killer (ok but getting a little outlandish), who has these moments where she "hears" the word or a couple words a person is not saying. Agent River feels like a wacky character who is shoehorned into the good working dynamic the normal cast already have. Attempting not to give spoilers here but the ending was so far out in left field I laughed, I was supposed to be upset and sad but I was laughing at the absurdity and stupidity of the situation. I feel like the ending happened the way it did because people feel a series detective can't have a somewhat normal life, but torturing the characters for the sake of making them tortured can come across as heavy handed and forced (as in this instance).

[Kathleen Hagen]

Rules of Crime, by L. J. Sellers, b-plus, Narrated by Patrick Lawlor, Produced by Brilliance Audio,Downloaded from audible.com.

This is the latest book in the Detective Wade Jackson series. His daughter, Katie, interrupts his vacation with an urgent call that her mother, Wade’s ex-wife, Renee, is missing. He comes home to find that she has been kidnapped. The ransom demand goes to her current boy friend, a wealthy stockbroker. The attempt to pay the ransom goes terribly wrong, and no one knows for sure where Renee is
. In the meantime, Laura Evans, a young upcoming detective in the department, is trying to figure out the identity of a young woman whose body turns up at the ER, naked, and seriously assaulted. She might die before they can find out who she is or why she was beaten. The two cases turn out to be connected by a mysterious unsanctioned sorority. The story is a fast-paced thriller, fairly dark in its presentation and conclusion.

[Akeating2003 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first Detective Jackson mystery that I have read and that may have affected my overall enjoyment of the book since he did not really seem to be the main character. I really liked the separate crime investigations but I didn't love the ending, it just didn't fit. There were too many characters and attempts to provide a background for each. That may be because I haven't read the other books but it didn't seem necessary for the minor characters. Some of the backgrounds were like hitting a checkbox - a transgender character, a tough woman boss, a spoiled rich girl/depressed sad abandoned daughter, a gay character (which really added nothing to the story and felt forced in).

Now reading my review, it sounds like I didn't like this book but I did ha ha. I will definitely try an earlier book by this author and see how I like it.

[Jodie Renner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sellers Strikes Again!

Another great Detective Jackson police procedural from LJ Sellers! I've read most of LJ's novels - I think she's up to 10 or 11 by now - and this one definitely didn't disappoint! All my favorite characters returned - Detective Jackson, Lara Evans, and more - and Sellers introduced us to a new, interesting character in FBI agent Carla River. And LJ Sellers isn't afraid to address social issues and challenge reader preconceptions and attitudes. This story featured two separate but equally compelling subplots that finally intersect in an unexpected way! A surprising ending, followed by a bit of a shocker! We can always count on Sellers to spin a riveting yarn, then throw in some totally unforeseen twists at the end! I look forward to LJ Sellers' next book!

[T de V · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always liked the way L. J. Sellers unwraps a character to give the reader a deeply personal view. Not surprisingly, it’s a difficult feat to sustain with a series character over many books. In RULES OF CRIME, the seventh Wade Jackson story, we get reminders of why we care for Detective Jackson. But—most excellently—L. J. develops an intimate understanding for some new characters alongside reacquainting us with familiars from earlier stories. Several times during the story, I paused to recognize that I really enjoy her writing style.

This is not easy to do: to pause in the middle of an L. J. Sellers story. And the ending blew me right out of the water.


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[Tom Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

L J Sellers. Detective Jackson
Rules of Crime.
I have not read any of L J Sellers books for a while but reading Rules of Crime felt so good. Detective Wade Jackson is a workaholic so when he and his girlfriend get a phone call whilst on vacation it was no problem for him to go home and help with the emergency, the fact it was a kidnapping and it was his ex-wife who has been captured adds extra spice to this already fast moving story. He also has a teenage daughter which brings it's own set of issues as well.
This book grabs you from the word go and carries you all the way to the last page. This book is a great addition to the detective Jackson series.
5 stars. 13 December 2013.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I discovered the books of L.J. Sellers, I was truly hooked. Talk about page turners! I was fortunate enough to connect with her on Twitter and was able to find out the order of the books, a and all of the books that I have read have been fantastic. This book, which is part of an ongoing series, kept me up all night and I had to force myself to put it down. Ms. Sellers' writing flows cleanly and captivates the reader from page 1. Originally, I found one of her books on Kindle Unlimited as a "freebie" and once I read Secrets to Die For, even though I read it out of order, I immediately purchased more of her books. She presents strong, believable, and complex characters that, as a reader, I found myself either rooting for or loathing, and it was worth every minute!

[Books 'n' All Promotions · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 7 in the Detective Jackson series and sees him searching for his kidnapped ex-wife. Again there are 2 crimes/ investigations running in tandem that turn out to be linked and I think this is maybe getting a 'bit old' now. The ending is a real shocker. The author makes a good job of making sure these books can be read as stand alone books as well as in sequence without boring the readers who have read them in sequence with a load of 'catch up' information but there are also gaps between the books and in Detective Jackson's life that are left as gaps which I find a bit frustrating. They are all gripping and fast paced but I feel the later books are missing something that is certainly there in the first 5 in the series hence the 4 stars.

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have followed this series from the beginning and I must say this one brought me to tears. L.J. Sellers did an excellent job introducing a new character while keeping the vibe of the older characters relationships intact. This is hard for some authors, but Sellers does a good job maintaining this universe intact. She continues to push the boundaries and limits of each character by writing about crimes that have been in the headlines while making them read unique and fresh. I would recommend anyone to read this book if you are looking for a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat because all your guessing will come out wrong. The way it ends will surprise you and leave you feeling sorry for the characters in the end.

[Ken Bour · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a devotee of L. J. Sellers and detective Wade Jackson although it has been awhile since I left off at #6 in the series. Her writing is excellent and I found the story line inviting each time I picked up the novel for a few hours. Unfortunately, in this particular case, I found the ending somewhat bizarre, unbelievable, and disappointing even though, as it was being revealed, I was totally surprised and engaged. Without spoiling the resolution, all of a sudden the real culprit turned out to be a character whom I did not even recognize let alone suspect! I am not sure what happened, exactly, but I will only subtract one star from an otherwise captivating crime story.

[Carl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I'm a big fan of L.J.'s books and the Jackson series in particular. However, I had a hard time getting into this one. The overall plot was good. It just seemed to drag along slowly. I did enjoy the final chapters as the case(s) wrapped up. I found the Rivers character interesting and had hoped to see a bit more of her personal issues addressed and explored some. Perhaps LJ is looking to spin this character into a new series? Not a bad read, just not as good as the previous ones.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story could have done without Agent River; It felt like her character was lacking and not true-to-life as an authentic FBI agent. Also her 'reformed' character was questionable though no one did question it; The narrator had her sounding like a sexy siren. It was also phony that at times, she could read people's thoughts.

Other than that, this was another good Jackson mystery. I was surprised by the ending. What also surprised me was there was no mention of Internal Affairs after that though.