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Cleopatra Jones #2
On the Nickel
Mama’s strange behavior jolts accountant Cleopatra Jones from her whirl of late summer activities with her daughters, her pregnant Saint Bernard, and her new boyfriend. When Cleo overhears the heated argument between Mama and her church-lady rival, Erica Hodges, she realizes Mama is out of control. Erica files a police report about Mama’s threats, which adds to Cleo’s growing unease.
Two days later, Erica is dead, the victim of a hit and run at the church. Though Erica’s reputation for arrogance, bossiness, and rudeness is well-deserved, she is descended from the town’s founder, and the mayor pressures the police to obtain justice for the town’s leading citizen.
To Cleo’s horror, there’s a person-sized dent in Mama’s gray Olds. Mama denies killing Erica but refuses to account for her whereabouts that night. Mama’s secrets are maddening, but are they deadly?
Two days later, Erica is dead, the victim of a hit and run at the church. Though Erica’s reputation for arrogance, bossiness, and rudeness is well-deserved, she is descended from the town’s founder, and the mayor pressures the police to obtain justice for the town’s leading citizen.
To Cleo’s horror, there’s a person-sized dent in Mama’s gray Olds. Mama denies killing Erica but refuses to account for her whereabouts that night. Mama’s secrets are maddening, but are they deadly?
211 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 16, 2011
45 people are currently reading
525 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Toussaint
41 books404 followersA scientist by training, a romanticist at heart, Maggie Toussaint loves to solve puzzles. Whether it’s the puzzle of a relationship or a who-dun-it, she tackles them all with equal aplomb and wonder. Maggie writes romantic suspense, contemporary romance , and science fiction for Muddle House Publishing, cozy mystery for Camel Press, Henery Press, and Muddle House.
She has five published romantic suspense novels: House of Lies (won the 2006 Readers Choice Award for Best Romantic Suspense), No Second Chance (won 2 cover awards), Seeing Red (LASR book of the week), Muddy Waters ( Beacon finalist), Hot Water (EPIC finalist, cover art winner), and Rough Water.
Her mystery titles include In For A Penny, On the Nickel, Death, Island Style, Murder in the Buff, Dime If I Know, No Quarter, Gone and Done It, Bubba Done It, Doggone It, Dadgummit, Confound It, Dreamed It, All Done With It, Seas the Day, Spawning Suspicion, and Shrimply Dead. She also wrote a romantic mystery novella series, The Lindsey & Ike Mysteries.
Her next release, SNUFFED OUT, is tentatively scheduled for January 2023 under the pen name of Valona Jones.
Her works blend mystery and romance, often with a dash of humor.
She's a member of Southeast Mystery Writers of America, Sisters In Crime, and Guppies. She was awarded the WRW Magic Crystal Award in 2004. She also won Silver Falchion Awards, the National Readers Choice Award and the EPIC ebook Award. She's been a finalist for Georgia Author of the Year three times.
Visit her at www.maggietoussaint.com
She has five published romantic suspense novels: House of Lies (won the 2006 Readers Choice Award for Best Romantic Suspense), No Second Chance (won 2 cover awards), Seeing Red (LASR book of the week), Muddy Waters ( Beacon finalist), Hot Water (EPIC finalist, cover art winner), and Rough Water.
Her mystery titles include In For A Penny, On the Nickel, Death, Island Style, Murder in the Buff, Dime If I Know, No Quarter, Gone and Done It, Bubba Done It, Doggone It, Dadgummit, Confound It, Dreamed It, All Done With It, Seas the Day, Spawning Suspicion, and Shrimply Dead. She also wrote a romantic mystery novella series, The Lindsey & Ike Mysteries.
Her next release, SNUFFED OUT, is tentatively scheduled for January 2023 under the pen name of Valona Jones.
Her works blend mystery and romance, often with a dash of humor.
She's a member of Southeast Mystery Writers of America, Sisters In Crime, and Guppies. She was awarded the WRW Magic Crystal Award in 2004. She also won Silver Falchion Awards, the National Readers Choice Award and the EPIC ebook Award. She's been a finalist for Georgia Author of the Year three times.
Visit her at www.maggietoussaint.com
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 18, 2011
ON THE NICKEL written by Maggie Toussaint
A Cleopatra Jones Mystery
03/11 - Gale Group – Hardcover – 242 pages
This book is worth every penny you pay for it!
Cleopatra Sampson Jones was an accountant, mother, daughter, girlfriend and unfortunate ex-wife to a man that did not understand he was never coming back into her life. But Cleo is really good at puzzles and figuring things out and now she is doing all this making up the rules as she goes along because the last set didn’t work out too well.
What Cleo also is it turns out is an amateur sleuth much to the distress and displeasure of the local police force. She solved one crime already when the police could not and she is pretty good at this investigating stuff must be the puzzle solver in her. She needs to use all of her investigating tricks now that her mother is being accused of murdering a local woman her mother was not fond of. Cleo sure as heck is not going to sit back and let the police falsely accuse her mom of murder even if Cleo is not quite 100% sure her mom didn’t do it especially with the two women fighting all the time and that damage to mother’s car, dang it.
But leave it to Cleo to deal with her teenaged daughters, a pregnant dog and a hot as heck boyfriend who she just can’t get enough of without skipping a beat. Life is complicated but Cleo will figure it out and save her mom from going to prison all before the dust settles and her ex-husband tries anymore of his useless tricks to get her back.
What a complete an utter delight this book is. Cleo is a wonderful character and all the people in her life just add icing to the cake to make the book a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this book and can’t wait for the next one in the series.
A Cleopatra Jones Mystery
03/11 - Gale Group – Hardcover – 242 pages
This book is worth every penny you pay for it!
Cleopatra Sampson Jones was an accountant, mother, daughter, girlfriend and unfortunate ex-wife to a man that did not understand he was never coming back into her life. But Cleo is really good at puzzles and figuring things out and now she is doing all this making up the rules as she goes along because the last set didn’t work out too well.
What Cleo also is it turns out is an amateur sleuth much to the distress and displeasure of the local police force. She solved one crime already when the police could not and she is pretty good at this investigating stuff must be the puzzle solver in her. She needs to use all of her investigating tricks now that her mother is being accused of murdering a local woman her mother was not fond of. Cleo sure as heck is not going to sit back and let the police falsely accuse her mom of murder even if Cleo is not quite 100% sure her mom didn’t do it especially with the two women fighting all the time and that damage to mother’s car, dang it.
But leave it to Cleo to deal with her teenaged daughters, a pregnant dog and a hot as heck boyfriend who she just can’t get enough of without skipping a beat. Life is complicated but Cleo will figure it out and save her mom from going to prison all before the dust settles and her ex-husband tries anymore of his useless tricks to get her back.
What a complete an utter delight this book is. Cleo is a wonderful character and all the people in her life just add icing to the cake to make the book a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this book and can’t wait for the next one in the series.
December 22, 2013
Could have been okay. Church going women hate their rivals and sleep around with their boyfriends, all the while making a big deal about being good examples to their kids. Pretty awful because of that.
July 26, 2021
Cleopatra Jones has her hands full with her accounting business, a mediocre golf game, adolescent daughters, smarmy ex-husband who thinks she’ll be crawling right back to him, a pregnant rescue St. Bernard, and a new boyfriend. Then her mother’s archenemy winds up dead from a hit and run in the church parking lot, and Mama is Suspect No. 1. Cleopatra can’t believe her Mama could do such a thing, so sets out to find the real killer.
This was a fun read. There was a good mix of mystery and day-to-day life, with a light touch of romance. The plot moved quickly and held my interest all the way through. The characters are well-developed, right down to that pregnant St. Bernard. I enjoyed the ride along with Cleopatra as she worked to clear her mother’s name, and managed to control the chaos that is her life. She’s a very relatable character, and someone I’d like to hang out with. I would read more in this series.
I recommend this series, along with the author’s Dreamwalker Mysteries, and the Lindsey and Ike Romantic Mystery series.
January 17, 2018
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
August 6, 2021
Charlie & Cleo
I can't believe it, more murders, Charlie begging, girls fighting, handsome golf pro interested in Cleo. Grandmother tells part of her story
I can't believe it, more murders, Charlie begging, girls fighting, handsome golf pro interested in Cleo. Grandmother tells part of her story
March 14, 2013
Cleo is a modern woman in a small town, juggling family and romantic relationships while desperate to keep her stubborn Mama out of jail for murder. She a fiercely committed heroine, very suited to her nickname of 'Red' and a strong yet sensitive protagonist through this sparkling romantic suspense series. She also plays golf, in which her enthusiasm is possibly greater than her talent. (The golf is also important and saves her life.)
Maggie Toussaint reveals the delights of small town life, where everyone knows everyone and family ties are strong. She is also unflinching in showing the darker side - the simmering jealousies, the secrets, the dangers of people judging and sometimes damning others on what they think they know. Cleo fights against these trends and each time she did I was cheering her on. She has guts and grit and never turns her back on her friends, daughters or Mama. I think she has the patience of a saint in dealing with Mama, who is sympathetic and exasperating in equal measure. Cleo's daughters are lively and appealing yet at the same time realistic teenagers and the men in her life - ex-hubby Charlie and sexy Rafe, solid cop Britt - are well drawn and give her an intriguing romantic life when she is not tracking down murderers. Cleo is not part of official law enforcement and her frustration at being shut out from an investigation that leads to her mother being arrested for murder is palpable. She has to work in another way, a way that brings her into danger and the path of the real killer.
Written with real page-turning pace, 'On the Nickel' can be read as a stand alone mystery or, more satisfyingly, as part of this series of small town cozy murder mysteries.
Maggie Toussaint reveals the delights of small town life, where everyone knows everyone and family ties are strong. She is also unflinching in showing the darker side - the simmering jealousies, the secrets, the dangers of people judging and sometimes damning others on what they think they know. Cleo fights against these trends and each time she did I was cheering her on. She has guts and grit and never turns her back on her friends, daughters or Mama. I think she has the patience of a saint in dealing with Mama, who is sympathetic and exasperating in equal measure. Cleo's daughters are lively and appealing yet at the same time realistic teenagers and the men in her life - ex-hubby Charlie and sexy Rafe, solid cop Britt - are well drawn and give her an intriguing romantic life when she is not tracking down murderers. Cleo is not part of official law enforcement and her frustration at being shut out from an investigation that leads to her mother being arrested for murder is palpable. She has to work in another way, a way that brings her into danger and the path of the real killer.
Written with real page-turning pace, 'On the Nickel' can be read as a stand alone mystery or, more satisfyingly, as part of this series of small town cozy murder mysteries.
May 14, 2013
Cleopatra Sampson Jones was an accountant, mother, girlfriend, ex wife. When her mothers strange behavior jolts her into realizing something is wrong. She over hears a heated arguement between her mother and her church-lady rival Erica Hodges. Cleo realizes mama is out of control. Erica files a police report about mama's threat. Two days later Erica is dead victim of a hit and run at the church. Through Erica had a reputation for rudeness, arrogance and bossiness she is a descendant of the towns founder and the Mayor is pressing for justice.To make matters worse there is a person size dent in mama's car Mama denies killing her but refuses to say where she was that night. So it's up to Cleo to find out what really happened. A fun read . Look forward to reading more books by Maggie Trussaint
September 7, 2016
In this book, Cleopatra Jones has to keep her mother, Delilah from being charged with murder as well as deal with her pregnant dog, her ex-husband, kids, boyfriend and her slacking golf game. After one of the church ladies, Erica, is found dead in a parking lot hit and run, a dent on Delilah's car as well as her constant bickering with Erica makes her the prime suspect. Thanks to Cleo's quick thinking, she eventually finds the true killer.
I find this book to be just ok, mainly because I feel the beginning of the story just didn't hold my attention. I think I was looking for the mystery to start right away - im not sure. Eventually, somewhere towards the middle, the story did pick up. I enjoyed the actual mystery portion. The dog was also really cute. Enjoyable enough, but not a must-read in my opinion.
I find this book to be just ok, mainly because I feel the beginning of the story just didn't hold my attention. I think I was looking for the mystery to start right away - im not sure. Eventually, somewhere towards the middle, the story did pick up. I enjoyed the actual mystery portion. The dog was also really cute. Enjoyable enough, but not a must-read in my opinion.
July 1, 2015
On the nickel or is it on the spot?
Cleo the Accountant, is really good at figuring numbers and solving problems, especially when it comes to family. She. Her mom and two girls live in a small community in New York state. She is learning golf, has a workout coach and is divorced. Lucky girl. Things are pretty day to day for her and her friend who works with her boyfriend at his bar. Her Mom keeps herself quite busy with her friends with events at the lo all church. Then something bad happens at the church one evening one a church member is murdered and it gets worse from there.
Will the detective listen to Cleo? No one is helping find the real killer and it's not looking good? The end may just surprise you, I know it did me. Maybe they should ask Monty.
Cleo the Accountant, is really good at figuring numbers and solving problems, especially when it comes to family. She. Her mom and two girls live in a small community in New York state. She is learning golf, has a workout coach and is divorced. Lucky girl. Things are pretty day to day for her and her friend who works with her boyfriend at his bar. Her Mom keeps herself quite busy with her friends with events at the lo all church. Then something bad happens at the church one evening one a church member is murdered and it gets worse from there.
Will the detective listen to Cleo? No one is helping find the real killer and it's not looking good? The end may just surprise you, I know it did me. Maybe they should ask Monty.
November 19, 2012
Charm oozes from On the Nickel. Cleo is on the verge of embarking on a wonderful new phase of her life, when the murder of a high-profile socialite in town gets pinned on Cleo's mother. Worse, the evidence seems to support the charge. Cleo is determined to exonerate her mother any way she can, and uses her sleuthing ability to conduct her own investigation. Of course, all sorts of people and events get in her way, including a persistent ex-husband, a pregnant dog, and a disapproving lawman. I loved Cleo's relationship with the new man in her life, and I loved Toussaint's well-written characterizations of the townspeople. Fun mystery!
July 30, 2013
Cleopatra Jones has quite enough on her plate with two unruly daughters, a pregnant Saint Bernard, a new boyfriend and an ex-husband who thinks he can just walk back into her life. She could really do without having to deal with her mother’s peculiar behaviour.
One of the ladies at Mama’s church is found dead in the car park the day after she had a blazing row with Mama. And there is a large dent in the front of Mama’s car.
The obvious suspect is Mama. But Mama’s not talking.
I enjoyed this story. Maggie Toussaint writes fluently and accurately, her characterisation is excellent and her plots are hilarious.
Another winner.
One of the ladies at Mama’s church is found dead in the car park the day after she had a blazing row with Mama. And there is a large dent in the front of Mama’s car.
The obvious suspect is Mama. But Mama’s not talking.
I enjoyed this story. Maggie Toussaint writes fluently and accurately, her characterisation is excellent and her plots are hilarious.
Another winner.
February 9, 2011
The book so far is okay. At page 58 in On the Nickel, I'm finding myself already tired of the characters and their witty dialogue. Perhaps because I find the storyline and characters to be somewhat similiar to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I enjoyed the first seven books or so of that series then the remaining books were just so similiar in storyline that I got bored and my brain begged for something more intriguing.
So maybe my boredom with this book is really Janet Evanovich's fault. I think I'll read another book and come back to this later.
So maybe my boredom with this book is really Janet Evanovich's fault. I think I'll read another book and come back to this later.
November 14, 2012
Not your usual who-done-it. I really enjoyed Toussaint's character, the accountant Cleopatra Jones. She's not a cop, but certainly has the mindset. Toussaint has created a great character here. A green eyed redhead with an eye for figuring things out, how can you not be interested? I am now looking forward to reading the first book in the series. If you like a little romance with your mystery, I highly recommend this very satisfying book.
March 10, 2013
Second in the Cleo Jones mystery and I enjoyed it more than the first, which was also pretty darn good. Cleo, 38 and trying to keep her life together after divorce and living with her two teenagers and her mother and trying to run her CPA business. She also wants to better her golf game with the help of the hunky golf pro. Then a woman is run over, several times, and it looks mike Mama finally got her revenge. But ........ I never saw the ending coming. Enjoy!
November 21, 2013
First book I've read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. The theme of finding yourself after divorcing a cheating husband could be trite, but this book is not...the plot and characters are original and well-developed. I especially appreciated the inter-generational mix and the family emphasis. There are several interesting plot twists which keep your interest throughout the book. Will definitely add this author to my list to read again!
December 30, 2013
Quick, easy-to-read cozy mystery. Like a lot of cozies, it's great that someone w/o experience with police procedural can solve a mystery where the police cannot, but that's what a lot of cozies are based on.
Some cute moments. Liked Cleo's mom, the fact she doesn't cook well, and the pregnant dog. Not sure I bought the whole ex-husband part, but that's okay. I'm sure it'll working into later stories.
FYI: very few curse words (no F-word) and no sexual content.
Some cute moments. Liked Cleo's mom, the fact she doesn't cook well, and the pregnant dog. Not sure I bought the whole ex-husband part, but that's okay. I'm sure it'll working into later stories.
FYI: very few curse words (no F-word) and no sexual content.
January 23, 2014
Bossy, overbearing church lady Erica Hodges is discovered in the church parking lot, the victim of a hit and run. When accountant Cleopatra Jones discovers that her mother's car has a fresh dent, she asks her mother for an explanation. But Mama is silent, so Cleo must investigate. Everyone hated Erica, so there is no shortage of suspects for Cleo to track down, while dealing with her golf pro boyfriend, ever present ex-husband, teenage daughters, and a pregnant St, Bernard.
January 28, 2014
Cleopatra Jones will lift you up like a twister and carry you along in her whirlwind life in On the Nickel. Maggie Toussaint’s heroine can have her own admiration society. Kids, BFFs, ex husbands, forgetful moms – she takes them all in stride while living it up in a small Eastern town.
This is the first entertaining book I have read in 2014.
This is the first entertaining book I have read in 2014.
March 15, 2013
Accountant Cleo Jones has enough on her plate—dealing with her two daughters, a pregnant St. Bernard, her golf pro boyfriend, and now her Mama. Mama’s rival and town busybody was hit by a car in the church parking lot, and the police have Mama at the top of their suspect list. But Mama’s not talking, and Cleo must know what really happened behind the church. Second in a series.
Currently reading
February 6, 2011will i won this book on one of the give a ways here on goodreads and i am currntly reading s.b.it and i am movei along nicely on that book so i am going to read this book as soon ai get done with so.b.it wichwont be very long yayayayayayaya
October 14, 2014
Have u ever started a story and thought it sound like one I've read before. Well I have and love it. Even though I read it already I still didn't want to stop reading. A great story. There were spots I was like really. All in all great story.
September 8, 2015
I love these books!Cleo is a believable character! Can't wait to read the next one and I hope they keep coming!!!!!
I love the books! Cleo is a believable character! Can't wait for the next one!!!
Great Book! Five plus stars
I love the books! Cleo is a believable character! Can't wait for the next one!!!
Great Book! Five plus stars
August 12, 2011
Cleopatra Jones is my kind of sleuth -- loyal, courageous, and feisty, especially when it comes to saving Mama from a murder rap. Give this one a try--you'll love it!
January 2, 2013
Cute cozy with lots of complications for Cleopatra and a twist at the end but I found myself skipping over the hand-wringing.
January 12, 2013
Not sure I care enough about the characters to read any others. I somehow missed the golf angle and probably would have passed if I'd noticed that. I liked Mama's crazy meals and the pregnant dog.
December 13, 2013
I got this as a freebie on book bub. I would have given it 2 1/2 if I could have. It was a very simplistic, straight forward story. Not great, but not terrible by any means.
December 14, 2013
Predictable story. But a quick easy read. Nothing great. Nothing bad.
December 29, 2013
Easy breezy book to read - Cleo is like able mystery is pretty light
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews