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Savannah Martin Mystery #1-3
Savannah Martin Mysteries Boxed Set 1-3
*** Boxed set of the first 3 Cutthroat Business mysteries featuring Southern Belle turned Realtor Savannah Martin ***
Savannah has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball - and bad in bed to boot - Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm. If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs...
A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS - book #1
Everyone has warned Savannah that real estate is a cutthroat business, but she doesn't think she's supposed to take the warning literally... until she finds herself standing over the butchered body of a competitor, face to face with the man her mother always warned her about.
HOT PROPERTY - book #2
When Savannah’s fellow realtor and friend Lila Vaughn turns up dead, tied to her bed and strangled, Savannah's old school mate Rafe Collier becomes a suspect. It's up to Savannah to find the real murderer before Detective Grimaldi can arrest the wrong man.
CONTRACT PENDING - book #3
Savannah has to make the choice between staying safe by accepting Todd Satterfield’s proposal, or taking a chance on losing her life - and her heart - by trying to help Rafe Collier, when the term ‘contract pending’ takes on a whole new meaning.
Savannah has always been a good girl, doing what was expected and fully expecting life to fall into place in its turn. But when her perfect husband turns out to be a lying, cheating slimeball - and bad in bed to boot - Savannah kicks the jerk to the curb and embarks on life on her own terms. With a new apartment, a new career, and a brand new outlook on life, she's all set to take the world by storm. If only the world would stop throwing her curveballs...
A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS - book #1
Everyone has warned Savannah that real estate is a cutthroat business, but she doesn't think she's supposed to take the warning literally... until she finds herself standing over the butchered body of a competitor, face to face with the man her mother always warned her about.
HOT PROPERTY - book #2
When Savannah’s fellow realtor and friend Lila Vaughn turns up dead, tied to her bed and strangled, Savannah's old school mate Rafe Collier becomes a suspect. It's up to Savannah to find the real murderer before Detective Grimaldi can arrest the wrong man.
CONTRACT PENDING - book #3
Savannah has to make the choice between staying safe by accepting Todd Satterfield’s proposal, or taking a chance on losing her life - and her heart - by trying to help Rafe Collier, when the term ‘contract pending’ takes on a whole new meaning.
784 pages, ebook
First published November 12, 2012
1508 people are currently reading
904 people want to read
About the author
Jenna Bennett
122 books538 followersJenna Bennett writes the USA Today bestselling Cutthroat Business mysteries featuring Southern Belle and new-minted real estate agent Savannah Martin in Nashville, Tennessee.
As Jennie Bentley, she writes the New York Times bestselling Do-It-Yourself Home Renovation mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime, featuring designer and amateur sleuth Avery Baker and her boyfriend, handyman Derek Ellis, who renovate houses in Waterfield, Maine.
She also writes a variety of romance for a change of pace.
aka Jennie Bentley
The DIY series:
FATAL FIXER-UPPER (November 2008)
SPACKLED AND SPOOKED (August 2009)
PLASTER AND POISON (March 2010)
MORTAR AND MURDER (January 2011)
FLIPPED OUT (October 2011)
WALL TO WALL DEAD (September 2012)
HOME FOR THE HOMICIDE (December 2013)
The Cutthroat Business series:
A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS (May 2011)
HOT PROPERTY (June 2011)
CONTRACT PENDING (July 2011)
CLOSE TO HOME (September 2011)
A DONE DEAL (December 2011)
CONTINGENT ON APPROVAL (November 2012)
CHANGE OF HEART (May 2013)
KICKOUT CLAUSE (October 2013)
Soldiers of Fortune series:
FORTUNE'S HERO (December 2012)
Various:
ISLAND GETAWAY (October 2012)
VIRGINIA CREEPER (October 2013)
BEFORE YOU (March 2014)
As Jennie Bentley, she writes the New York Times bestselling Do-It-Yourself Home Renovation mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime, featuring designer and amateur sleuth Avery Baker and her boyfriend, handyman Derek Ellis, who renovate houses in Waterfield, Maine.
She also writes a variety of romance for a change of pace.
aka Jennie Bentley
The DIY series:
FATAL FIXER-UPPER (November 2008)
SPACKLED AND SPOOKED (August 2009)
PLASTER AND POISON (March 2010)
MORTAR AND MURDER (January 2011)
FLIPPED OUT (October 2011)
WALL TO WALL DEAD (September 2012)
HOME FOR THE HOMICIDE (December 2013)
The Cutthroat Business series:
A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS (May 2011)
HOT PROPERTY (June 2011)
CONTRACT PENDING (July 2011)
CLOSE TO HOME (September 2011)
A DONE DEAL (December 2011)
CONTINGENT ON APPROVAL (November 2012)
CHANGE OF HEART (May 2013)
KICKOUT CLAUSE (October 2013)
Soldiers of Fortune series:
FORTUNE'S HERO (December 2012)
Various:
ISLAND GETAWAY (October 2012)
VIRGINIA CREEPER (October 2013)
BEFORE YOU (March 2014)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
July 19, 2018
Love this series! I rarely can get through all the books in a long series but I read & loved everyone in this series and read them back to back. I couldn't read them fast enough. Don't let Savannah ' s mother's biased attitude deter you from reading this series. She is awful and I almost quit after the 1st book but I liked the other characters and was intrigued. She isn't in many books and Savannah deals with her attitude. This series is awesome!
December 4, 2017
Enjoyed a lot. Moved quickly though did get a bit wordy at times. Enjoyed her description of "Rafe"!
Would read more. Would prefer not so much homosexuality in the story. The few cuss words could also be left out.
Would read more. Would prefer not so much homosexuality in the story. The few cuss words could also be left out.
January 27, 2016
Delightful beginning of a special series. While I love everything about this series, especially Rafe, the thing that makes is so special is that Ms Bennett allows Savannah to develop as a person. She has been raised as a southern bell with all the rigid limits and narrow mindedness that is the worst of the south, but as her life changes, her eyes and her mind open to the realities, both positive and negative, of a modern world. As we discover how special Rafe is, she does too and she learns to allow herself to be who she needs to be. The books are closest to cozy mystery and definitely have good plots and lots of danger and humor! Love this series!
March 21, 2019
What an awful book. I could feel my brain cells dying with each sentence. If I were a southerner I would be appalled by the stereotypes in this book.
The "heroine", if that is what she is supposed to be, is a blond Southern Belle who keeps getting into trouble and having to be bailed out / saved by others. Savannah keeps saying why she shouldn't do things because her mother or folks in the hometown would be embarrassed, or she wasn't raised a certain way, or shouldn't be seen with certain people, or like a particular person, should get married and let some rich guy take care of her, etc., etc., etc.
Seriously? Are there still women like this? And her vapors and fainting spells when around Rafe - the tall, good looking, bad boy she has the hots for - are just ridiculous. Then there is the clear racism on the part of Todd, the white, rich, lawyer who wants to marry Savannah. He also appears to be the type that would keep her locked up and beat her if she even looked at another man. He is always getting jealous if she even mentions her male co-workers (almost all gay) let alone Rafe.
And the murder plots? If you can't figure out who did it early in the story, you're fantasizing too much about Rafe's muscles and not paying attention.
The only thing this book did for me, was to convince me to start writing my own romance novel, as there is clearly a market for simplistic plots, weak characters, and any stereotype I'd care to use.
The "heroine", if that is what she is supposed to be, is a blond Southern Belle who keeps getting into trouble and having to be bailed out / saved by others. Savannah keeps saying why she shouldn't do things because her mother or folks in the hometown would be embarrassed, or she wasn't raised a certain way, or shouldn't be seen with certain people, or like a particular person, should get married and let some rich guy take care of her, etc., etc., etc.
Seriously? Are there still women like this? And her vapors and fainting spells when around Rafe - the tall, good looking, bad boy she has the hots for - are just ridiculous. Then there is the clear racism on the part of Todd, the white, rich, lawyer who wants to marry Savannah. He also appears to be the type that would keep her locked up and beat her if she even looked at another man. He is always getting jealous if she even mentions her male co-workers (almost all gay) let alone Rafe.
And the murder plots? If you can't figure out who did it early in the story, you're fantasizing too much about Rafe's muscles and not paying attention.
The only thing this book did for me, was to convince me to start writing my own romance novel, as there is clearly a market for simplistic plots, weak characters, and any stereotype I'd care to use.
September 20, 2016
Being a Yankee, took me a bit to catch on.....
But I am glad being blonde wasn't a hindrance as well. I found the Southern culture fascinating and by the end of book 3, was lost completely in the make believe life of a Southern Belle in he current day. Sign me up for ANY book with a super sexy, dark haired, dark skinned man! My favorite kind.
But I am glad being blonde wasn't a hindrance as well. I found the Southern culture fascinating and by the end of book 3, was lost completely in the make believe life of a Southern Belle in he current day. Sign me up for ANY book with a super sexy, dark haired, dark skinned man! My favorite kind.
December 24, 2017
Give all three of these books a 3 star rating--The character of Savannah Martin, southern belle from a "good" family gets quite involved with an old classmate who is from the wrong side of town as well as having a number of other strikes against him. But underneath it all, he really is a good person we can tell. Enjoyed the mystery of each book and the continuity of story line.
April 22, 2019
Enjoyable with two heroes for the heroine. Similar to the scenario in the Janet Evanovich books with Plum the bounty hunter. However, the heroine's inability to change annoyed me in the third book and hope that she stands up for herself and her beliefs in the next one. I may buy it to see if that does happen.
April 29, 2019
I recieved this book for free from amazon and this is my honest opinion.
I really enjoyed this box set. There was murder, robbery, and sex. Actually, the sex was not detailed. Savannah Martin is a lonely divorcee with a new real estate license and no clients. As she begins to try to sell her first house she meets a handsome old friend and finds her murdered coworker.
I really enjoyed this box set. There was murder, robbery, and sex. Actually, the sex was not detailed. Savannah Martin is a lonely divorcee with a new real estate license and no clients. As she begins to try to sell her first house she meets a handsome old friend and finds her murdered coworker.
January 18, 2017
Enjoyable reading for the avid reader
This collection of books is very entertaining and the author has done an excellent job of keeping the reader engrossed in the story. The story will keep you guessing.
This collection of books is very entertaining and the author has done an excellent job of keeping the reader engrossed in the story. The story will keep you guessing.
January 22, 2018
Savannah Martin is quite a character. Love her spunk. I read the boxed set with one through three. Enjoyed each one well enough to continue the series. I highly recommend this series if you enjoy a light mystery with a little humor. I’m looking forward to number four.
April 27, 2019
Entertaining
I wrote a long review and pushed the wrong button and lost it all. Suffice to say I read all 3 books and want to know more about the characters lives.
I wrote a long review and pushed the wrong button and lost it all. Suffice to say I read all 3 books and want to know more about the characters lives.
May 5, 2019
Disrespectful and inappropriate
Only read a couple chapters. The manner of referring to black people and overweight people is very disrepectful and inappropriate.
Only read a couple chapters. The manner of referring to black people and overweight people is very disrepectful and inappropriate.
May 11, 2019
Savannah
A genteel southern woman who is in real estate and finds dead bodies. Yes Savannah gets in numerous scrapes and adventures.
A genteel southern woman who is in real estate and finds dead bodies. Yes Savannah gets in numerous scrapes and adventures.
May 27, 2019
Very good. Didn't enjoy the angst main character experienced over her love interest
February 3, 2024
A Cutthroat Business
It’s a great mystery. And even re-reading it, all the twists and turns still managed to keep me guessing. However, I’m a northerner. A very northern northerner. And coming back to this book with a few more years of life behind me and seeing this story now through a lens of the political and racial strife we’ve experienced most recently, left me with a severe case of ick for the snooty, snobby, judgmental, bigoted attitudes of just about every character we get to know in the book. I know how much I loved this book the first time I read it, so I’m going to give the series the benefit of the doubt and keep going. Hopefully, just as I’ve learned better, Savannah will too.
Hot Property
The mysteries are probably the best part of this series. I have been completely swept away by the puzzling circumstances Savannah keeps landing herself in and I haven’t yet been able to outthink the plot to pick out the villain before the big reveal. It’s the society that Savannah surrounds herself with that makes me question how much I like our heroine. In a time where women are once again struggling to maintain their autonomy, it’s really difficult to read about how Savannah keeps letting other people dictate her life. And this book was written far too recently for the bigotry in it to have been “okay”. I’m hoping that we’ll discover the author was using these as object lessons in the way her leading lady will grow. I’m also hoping we’ll start to see Savannah grow a little faster.
Contract Pending
I very much enjoyed the twisty mysteries at the heart of this book. Though, I didn’t find this one to be quite as distracting as the previous ones; the villain was not a surprise to me. I really appreciated that we’re starting to see Savannah growing from her very sheltered upbringing and becoming more self-aware about how naïve and bigoted her attitudes and opinions are. Where the book ends is kind of a “soft” cliffhanger, and that’s left me very interested in discovering what’s about to happen next.
It’s a great mystery. And even re-reading it, all the twists and turns still managed to keep me guessing. However, I’m a northerner. A very northern northerner. And coming back to this book with a few more years of life behind me and seeing this story now through a lens of the political and racial strife we’ve experienced most recently, left me with a severe case of ick for the snooty, snobby, judgmental, bigoted attitudes of just about every character we get to know in the book. I know how much I loved this book the first time I read it, so I’m going to give the series the benefit of the doubt and keep going. Hopefully, just as I’ve learned better, Savannah will too.
Hot Property
The mysteries are probably the best part of this series. I have been completely swept away by the puzzling circumstances Savannah keeps landing herself in and I haven’t yet been able to outthink the plot to pick out the villain before the big reveal. It’s the society that Savannah surrounds herself with that makes me question how much I like our heroine. In a time where women are once again struggling to maintain their autonomy, it’s really difficult to read about how Savannah keeps letting other people dictate her life. And this book was written far too recently for the bigotry in it to have been “okay”. I’m hoping that we’ll discover the author was using these as object lessons in the way her leading lady will grow. I’m also hoping we’ll start to see Savannah grow a little faster.
Contract Pending
I very much enjoyed the twisty mysteries at the heart of this book. Though, I didn’t find this one to be quite as distracting as the previous ones; the villain was not a surprise to me. I really appreciated that we’re starting to see Savannah growing from her very sheltered upbringing and becoming more self-aware about how naïve and bigoted her attitudes and opinions are. Where the book ends is kind of a “soft” cliffhanger, and that’s left me very interested in discovering what’s about to happen next.
October 18, 2017
At this time, I have only read the first book in this three book boxset. My review, at this time, is based on A Cutthroat Business.
Savannah Martin is Southern belle turned real estate agent who accidentally stumbles upon the body of her work colleague. Brenda Puckett had arranged to meet rogue Rafe Collier at a rundown property in a shady location but, when she fails to show up, Savannah is subjected to a blast from her past when she meets Rafe, whom she went to school with. When shady business dealings are uncovered - and Rafe shows more than a vested interest in the murder - Savannah turns Detective in order to uncover clues as to whodunit.
An enjoyable read from the very first page, although I did find Savannah’s constant insistence that she had no romantic interest in Rafe quite tiresome towards the end. It felt a bit unbelievable that she would fear he might force himself on her one minute then agree to meet him for dinner the next. It was certainly a case of ‘the lady doth protest too much’ and came across as very overdone. Nonetheless, I couldn’t put this book down and can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Savannah Martin is Southern belle turned real estate agent who accidentally stumbles upon the body of her work colleague. Brenda Puckett had arranged to meet rogue Rafe Collier at a rundown property in a shady location but, when she fails to show up, Savannah is subjected to a blast from her past when she meets Rafe, whom she went to school with. When shady business dealings are uncovered - and Rafe shows more than a vested interest in the murder - Savannah turns Detective in order to uncover clues as to whodunit.
An enjoyable read from the very first page, although I did find Savannah’s constant insistence that she had no romantic interest in Rafe quite tiresome towards the end. It felt a bit unbelievable that she would fear he might force himself on her one minute then agree to meet him for dinner the next. It was certainly a case of ‘the lady doth protest too much’ and came across as very overdone. Nonetheless, I couldn’t put this book down and can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
July 21, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed
I really enjoyed this box set. Don’t be fooled into thinking this series is just chick lit. Beyond the light hearted obvious- and enjoyable- murder mystery story, the author managed to make me really think about challenging issues around racism and feminism. I know that I have read a good book if I find myself researching topics afterwards. I found myself reading about slavery; the Jim Crow laws; the Antebellum period- all sorts. I have gone on to read the full series. The author tackles a difficult subject in a clever way
I really enjoyed this box set. Don’t be fooled into thinking this series is just chick lit. Beyond the light hearted obvious- and enjoyable- murder mystery story, the author managed to make me really think about challenging issues around racism and feminism. I know that I have read a good book if I find myself researching topics afterwards. I found myself reading about slavery; the Jim Crow laws; the Antebellum period- all sorts. I have gone on to read the full series. The author tackles a difficult subject in a clever way
April 13, 2019
This set includes the first three books (Cutthroat Business, Hot Property, and Contract Pending) in the Savannah Martin Mystery series. Each book can be read as a standalone. But the story in each book builds on the previous book(s) so it is best to read them in order and this set makes that easy. There is violence. From the description of this set of books I was expecting something better than what it was. It is okay but I think it could have been better.
May 27, 2019
Three very good reads
Great plots wonderful storyline and the first book had no editing problems. The second book lost a few two letter words and then a really funny sentence that said that the driver of the car was outside the car talking to the person in the passenger seat and then walked around to the passenger seat and got into the car started the car to drive off. Somehow I don't think that's quite right. LOL
Great plots wonderful storyline and the first book had no editing problems. The second book lost a few two letter words and then a really funny sentence that said that the driver of the car was outside the car talking to the person in the passenger seat and then walked around to the passenger seat and got into the car started the car to drive off. Somehow I don't think that's quite right. LOL
June 14, 2019
Let's see if the next one is better. Kept leaving this one behind to read others. Let's see what other readers think. I'm just getting to be a grouchy old man
What I said!!! Grumpy, grumpy, and Olde!..............................................,.................................😁
,.......................( Hey, where's the "submit" when you want it?)….........................……...........Five more words?........,...
Or seven? Or eight? Try nine! Or more, more, or more?
What I said!!! Grumpy, grumpy, and Olde!..............................................,.................................😁
,.......................( Hey, where's the "submit" when you want it?)….........................……...........Five more words?........,...
Or seven? Or eight? Try nine! Or more, more, or more?
January 9, 2021
I love the way this author writes; I loved the books until...........the end. There was no ending. Since I had the set, I didn't mind the first 2 not getting wrapped up, but when I finished the 3rd one and still didn't know if the main character was going to end up with the guy she really loved, I just couldn't get it more than 3 stars.
I won't buy the next book in the series because I won't pay money for it if it's not finished.
I won't buy the next book in the series because I won't pay money for it if it's not finished.
Read
September 12, 2022I got about 75% of the way through the first book and was really board. The characters aren't likeable, none of them. The mystery was drawn out and as much as Savannah Martin says she's not Nancy Drew, she sure as hell acts like she is.
I thought I'd like it more and am upset I didn't.
As my usual, I don't star books I DNF because I feel it's unfair to the author to ding their book with a low star rating when I didn't finish.
I thought I'd like it more and am upset I didn't.
As my usual, I don't star books I DNF because I feel it's unfair to the author to ding their book with a low star rating when I didn't finish.
May 6, 2019
Fast paced non-stop thriller that challenges the protagonist to reevaluate her core values. In the future she will have to make several brave choices.
Fast paced non-stop thriller that challenges the protagonist to repeatedly reevaluate her core values and beliefs. In the future she will have to make several brave decisions. I hope she can.
Fast paced non-stop thriller that challenges the protagonist to repeatedly reevaluate her core values and beliefs. In the future she will have to make several brave decisions. I hope she can.
May 24, 2019
Great characters
The plots in all 3 books are driven by the characters; and since the main characters are so well fleshed out and so real, the world they inhabit and the events in it are real too. How often have you read a book and said to yourself "why on earth would he/she do that?" In the Savannah Martin mysteries you may be surprised, but never cheated.
The plots in all 3 books are driven by the characters; and since the main characters are so well fleshed out and so real, the world they inhabit and the events in it are real too. How often have you read a book and said to yourself "why on earth would he/she do that?" In the Savannah Martin mysteries you may be surprised, but never cheated.
December 27, 2020
Wonderful reading 📚
Three excellent very will written romantic thriller mysteries in the Savannah Martin Series. The characters are interesting and will developed. The story lines are complicated with lots of twist and turns with fast moving action leading to the unexpected conclusions. I would recommend this series to any reader who reads mysteries. Enjoy reading 🔰 2020😯
Three excellent very will written romantic thriller mysteries in the Savannah Martin Series. The characters are interesting and will developed. The story lines are complicated with lots of twist and turns with fast moving action leading to the unexpected conclusions. I would recommend this series to any reader who reads mysteries. Enjoy reading 🔰 2020😯
June 2, 2017
Lots of murder
Being a proper Southern Belle, from a wealthy family, she gets involved with people who get themselves murdered. She gets into trouble and is rescued by the tall, dark and handsome man!
Being a proper Southern Belle, from a wealthy family, she gets involved with people who get themselves murdered. She gets into trouble and is rescued by the tall, dark and handsome man!
May 3, 2019
Well done!
Very enjoyable read. Great characters...greater story...greatest outcome possible!! A hard to put down series. I will follow this writer and hope for future sequence stories!
Very enjoyable read. Great characters...greater story...greatest outcome possible!! A hard to put down series. I will follow this writer and hope for future sequence stories!
May 9, 2019
Dumb blonde books
I've read all three books and still can't believe how stupid the main character of these books is. I know some southern belles are raised not to ask questions but how can she be trust ed by the police too.
I've read all three books and still can't believe how stupid the main character of these books is. I know some southern belles are raised not to ask questions but how can she be trust ed by the police too.
May 16, 2019
Wow
I loved these three books!! I love Rafe and Savannah together! I hope they end up together! Todd is a creep! Break the barriers of the social norm!!! I look forward to reading more!!
I loved these three books!! I love Rafe and Savannah together! I hope they end up together! Todd is a creep! Break the barriers of the social norm!!! I look forward to reading more!!
May 28, 2019
I want more!
Characters are wonderful, loveable, inviting. I'd take any of them to dinner. Love the setting, the little tidbits of history, Nashville facts. I can't wait for more. Great reading!
Characters are wonderful, loveable, inviting. I'd take any of them to dinner. Love the setting, the little tidbits of history, Nashville facts. I can't wait for more. Great reading!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews