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Jesse Watson Mysteries #1
What You See
What You See—Book 1 in the Jesse Watson Mystery series.
At thirty-one, Jesse Watson had reached an impasse in her life. It was time for a change. Her job was unfulfilling and her love life was non-existent. Something had to give. Heeding her parents’ advice, she quit her job, gave up her apartment and moved with them to the mountains of Virginia. Her intentions were to find a job and eventually get a place of her own. All that changed the day she went to work for Billy Blackhawk, private eye and Cherokee Indian. Her secretarial skills could not prepare her for what she was about to encounter and her safe and secure life would never be the same.
While in search for a missing girl, a quiet, rural country life with its beautiful mountain scenery quickly becomes a place of danger, murder and mayhem. Jesse faces the wrath of a disturbed, dysfunctional family determined to save themselves at all cost, even to the point of turning on each other. Soon it becomes a race for time as Jesse realizes the life she saves might well be her own. What you see just may kill you.
At thirty-one, Jesse Watson had reached an impasse in her life. It was time for a change. Her job was unfulfilling and her love life was non-existent. Something had to give. Heeding her parents’ advice, she quit her job, gave up her apartment and moved with them to the mountains of Virginia. Her intentions were to find a job and eventually get a place of her own. All that changed the day she went to work for Billy Blackhawk, private eye and Cherokee Indian. Her secretarial skills could not prepare her for what she was about to encounter and her safe and secure life would never be the same.
While in search for a missing girl, a quiet, rural country life with its beautiful mountain scenery quickly becomes a place of danger, murder and mayhem. Jesse faces the wrath of a disturbed, dysfunctional family determined to save themselves at all cost, even to the point of turning on each other. Soon it becomes a race for time as Jesse realizes the life she saves might well be her own. What you see just may kill you.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2003
24 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 28, 2013
I liked the plot of this book and the characters but I felt like the book could have used better editing.
Some passages seemed "too wordy" and the book failed to make me really "feel" what the characters were feeling.
This is the first in a series, but I feel no compulsion to read more of these books.
Some passages seemed "too wordy" and the book failed to make me really "feel" what the characters were feeling.
This is the first in a series, but I feel no compulsion to read more of these books.
March 1, 2022
An easy read
This is an enjoyable read if you're reading for fun at the end of a long day. It's not so absorbing that you'll stay up all night to read it but also not so uninteresting that you'll want to throw it to one side. It's a good easy read with a plot and plot twist.
I actually first read this set of books years ago and they've been on my kindle so I'm revisiting the series.
I'm not sure that I really like the main character. She seems to be unable to speak at a normal volume as the author constantly has her 'screaming', 'shrieking' or yelling. She also comes across as self absorbed at times and her attempts at humour are strange and just seem designed to attract attention to herself.
The characters are pleasant, although I'm a bit wary of the policeman boyfriend but we'll see where they relationship goes in Book 2.
The plot is unbelievable but it's fiction, not an encyclopaedia and that's what I want from a book. An easy to read, enjoyable yarn at the end of the day to unwind too. If I wanted reality, I would read a newspaper.
This is an enjoyable read if you're reading for fun at the end of a long day. It's not so absorbing that you'll stay up all night to read it but also not so uninteresting that you'll want to throw it to one side. It's a good easy read with a plot and plot twist.
I actually first read this set of books years ago and they've been on my kindle so I'm revisiting the series.
I'm not sure that I really like the main character. She seems to be unable to speak at a normal volume as the author constantly has her 'screaming', 'shrieking' or yelling. She also comes across as self absorbed at times and her attempts at humour are strange and just seem designed to attract attention to herself.
The characters are pleasant, although I'm a bit wary of the policeman boyfriend but we'll see where they relationship goes in Book 2.
The plot is unbelievable but it's fiction, not an encyclopaedia and that's what I want from a book. An easy to read, enjoyable yarn at the end of the day to unwind too. If I wanted reality, I would read a newspaper.
August 2, 2022
not my favorite
I picked this up because Im familiar with the area of Stanardsville, but did not enjoy the style of writing. Storyline was ok
I picked this up because Im familiar with the area of Stanardsville, but did not enjoy the style of writing. Storyline was ok
January 27, 2014
"A Story of Lust, Romance, and Mystery"
This is a great mystery story about 31-year old Jessica Watson, whose life seems to be going all downhill. She's never married, has no luck with men, and no luck keeping a job. She shares her duplex with a gal who takes off but leaves her German Shepherd dog, Athena, behind. Her family has always been close, but her folks have just retired to the mountains of Virginia. Having to cope with two fighting bosses at her office, she quits, loads the dog and belongings up in her ratty car and joins her parents in the peaceful, scenic, small town in the mountains. Her mom and dad welcome her and Jesse is ready to get her life back on track. Scrutinizing the small local paper for a job, she finds an ad that inspires her: "Help Wanted. Office girl, Billy Blackhawk, Investigations." It sounds exciting to her, and upon her visit and interview, Billy feels she's the gal that he wants to hire. Besides, Billy is the type of guy who always gets his way. Another man enters her life, who becomes enthralled with her, as much as she does with him, Deputy Sheriff Cole James. Do you think her new job might conflict with cases the sheriff's office might be involved in? Can she be pulled this way, or that way? I can't help but think this exciting novel is similar to those by author Janet Evanovich. It's a little funny at times, but Jesse is a gal who perseveres and proves to Billy, she can get her way, too! The writing is superb, pace is vigorous, and there certainly is a mystery that throws lots of twists and turns to keep the reader intrigued. I enjoyed it; you will, too!
This is a great mystery story about 31-year old Jessica Watson, whose life seems to be going all downhill. She's never married, has no luck with men, and no luck keeping a job. She shares her duplex with a gal who takes off but leaves her German Shepherd dog, Athena, behind. Her family has always been close, but her folks have just retired to the mountains of Virginia. Having to cope with two fighting bosses at her office, she quits, loads the dog and belongings up in her ratty car and joins her parents in the peaceful, scenic, small town in the mountains. Her mom and dad welcome her and Jesse is ready to get her life back on track. Scrutinizing the small local paper for a job, she finds an ad that inspires her: "Help Wanted. Office girl, Billy Blackhawk, Investigations." It sounds exciting to her, and upon her visit and interview, Billy feels she's the gal that he wants to hire. Besides, Billy is the type of guy who always gets his way. Another man enters her life, who becomes enthralled with her, as much as she does with him, Deputy Sheriff Cole James. Do you think her new job might conflict with cases the sheriff's office might be involved in? Can she be pulled this way, or that way? I can't help but think this exciting novel is similar to those by author Janet Evanovich. It's a little funny at times, but Jesse is a gal who perseveres and proves to Billy, she can get her way, too! The writing is superb, pace is vigorous, and there certainly is a mystery that throws lots of twists and turns to keep the reader intrigued. I enjoyed it; you will, too!
September 27, 2013
Another book I thought was going to be good but another not edited properly. I had a couple more in this series downloaded also but will delete them all now as I was disappointed by this first story in the series.
It seems like in places it was written for young adults and that market as opposed to proper aged adults !
Sadly, there were also too many silly and careless errors throughout what I read before packing it in at 19% in.
Firstly, they was replaced by there, needless commas were added, speechmarks left off, pocket was replaced by pocked and us was missed in a sentence.
Strangely, in one place she says she'd never heard her sister use that kind of language which I just didn't understand as her sister hadn't sworn or said anything untoward. At one point Jesse was asked if she had computer skills and replied "I know my fair share of computer,(needless comma again here) but I can't go in there and draw a butterfly, not yet anyway". I just couldn't understand what this really meant.
I gave up when Jesse said Billy's voice felt patronising. I had read what he'd said to her and it wasn't in the least. So I stopped reading as it really wasn't for me.
It seems like in places it was written for young adults and that market as opposed to proper aged adults !
Sadly, there were also too many silly and careless errors throughout what I read before packing it in at 19% in.
Firstly, they was replaced by there, needless commas were added, speechmarks left off, pocket was replaced by pocked and us was missed in a sentence.
Strangely, in one place she says she'd never heard her sister use that kind of language which I just didn't understand as her sister hadn't sworn or said anything untoward. At one point Jesse was asked if she had computer skills and replied "I know my fair share of computer,(needless comma again here) but I can't go in there and draw a butterfly, not yet anyway". I just couldn't understand what this really meant.
I gave up when Jesse said Billy's voice felt patronising. I had read what he'd said to her and it wasn't in the least. So I stopped reading as it really wasn't for me.
June 19, 2014
This is book 1 in the Jesse Watson Mystery series. I had bought the entire series so far on my kindle but had never got around to reading it until this past week when I sat down with this book 1 and I could not put it down. The main character is called Jesse Watson, she has moved to a new town , got a new job with local detective Billy Blackhawk and is starting a new life . All is going wonderful until her new job gets more dangerous then she expected but Jesse is no wimp and it makes her more determined then ever to solve a mystery . The characters in this story are very likeable and my favourites are Billy( protective and thoughtful), Jesse(gutsy and hard working) and Jesse's mother(strong and supportive). I really can't wait to see what happens in the next book which I am starting to read later today. I love when a first book in a series gets me excited and this book certainly did that. Go read it! If you like a strong female lead character, mystery, suspense then you will likely enjoy this a lot!
November 23, 2014
Jesse Watson has been abandoned by her housemate, and left with her housemate's dog. She wants to change her life which has been one of dead-end relationships and jobs, and goes to live with her parents in the mountains. She takes on a new job as the personal assistant to private investigator Billy Blackhawk, and becomes enmeshed in various investigations. Will this new job get Jesse in over her head, or will she hold her own?
This is a thoroughly entertaining, satisfying mystery/detective/suspense novel which moves at a brisk but appropriate pace, and has great characters. Lead protagonist Jesse Watson is a spunky, forthright young woman portrayed with multiple dimensions, and the reader can sympathise with her through all her trials and travails. It is a book contains measured elements of suspense, drama, and comedy, and the life of Jesse, her family, and the people they encounter, are all depicted with realism. Well done.
This is a thoroughly entertaining, satisfying mystery/detective/suspense novel which moves at a brisk but appropriate pace, and has great characters. Lead protagonist Jesse Watson is a spunky, forthright young woman portrayed with multiple dimensions, and the reader can sympathise with her through all her trials and travails. It is a book contains measured elements of suspense, drama, and comedy, and the life of Jesse, her family, and the people they encounter, are all depicted with realism. Well done.
May 19, 2015
I liked this mystery book so much that I'll be reading the whole series. My favorite things about the book were the interesting characters, a well described setting (that I now want to visit),and, most important, no cliff hanger at the end. There are just enough twists in the action, but some of the story is fairly predictable to mystery readers. Throughout the book,w the main character Jesse, an intelligent and insightful woman, does some very stupid things. For example, who would meet a murder suspect all alone and at night? However, Jesse is a lovable flawed character who can carry an entire mystery series and make you care enough to read the books. I would say the first two books can be read alone because the author gives enough background. But by book 3, you need to read the earlier books first. There is so much background info that you will enjoy it more if you have read the earlier books first. Thanks Ann for this wonderful series! Enjoy!
December 10, 2013
I read 3 of this series (#1, #2, #5) out of order and while on vacation. I am not going to try and review them because all the books have run together in my mind. I will say however that I love the series. You really don't have to read in order because the author, while telling the current story, will kind of catch you up on what happened in the past. I really liked that because it gave me a chance to 'remember' what I read in the past. Thank you Ann Mullen for doing that.
July 13, 2015
This was a really enjoyable book. It had a lot of character development for the rest of the books. I'm glad I read #1 first. The only problem I had with the book and maybe I'm being simple. But Billy gave Jesse a lot of leeway very soon after she waltzed into his office. I will see if that area bothers me in future books. I will read more.
January 25, 2016
This is the first of a series that Ann Mullen has written. She places her characeter in the Charlottesville area so a lot of places she writes about are very familiar. It's why I enjoy reading Anne Tyler so much because her stories are in Baltimore. The story moves along easily and the characters are likable. I'd say this is one to check out!
September 20, 2016
Jesse Watson found her life at a level place and takes her parents offer to move in with them in their retirement home in the mountains of Virginia. To become a productive member of the community, Jesse gets a job as a Private Investigator assistant and whoa! This book took off.
The mysteries were soundly written and I truly enjoyed them.
The mysteries were soundly written and I truly enjoyed them.
November 18, 2013
Ii read this book out of order so i knew most of the event. However it was still a good book. The characters are interesting and blend well together.most of my books are free and I'm glad I stumbled onto this one. On to the next.
July 6, 2015
Good mystery
A pretty good mystery, with a little romance on the side. When Jesse moves with her parents, an unexpected new world opens for her. She just has to stay alive long enough to enjoy it.
A pretty good mystery, with a little romance on the side. When Jesse moves with her parents, an unexpected new world opens for her. She just has to stay alive long enough to enjoy it.
April 19, 2016
This is a first in a series involving a young woman who moves with her parents to a new rural area and falls into a job assisting a private eye. It shows some promise with some potentially interesting characters to develop. I look forward to see what else develops in this series.
January 30, 2010
Ann has really brought the characters to life in this mystery. At the end of this book, one is sad to say goodbye to the characters.
January 20, 2012
Jesse Watson's life suddenly changes drastically, moving to Stanardsville, getting a new job with a PI
August 28, 2012
This book has everything. Nothing is left out as the main characters live and interact. It is an enjoyable book that has me hooked on Jesse and her adventures.
December 10, 2013
Great book
I could not put this book down,it was exciting,a little bit of everything,romance,suspense,and love.
Cannot wait to read more from this author.
I could not put this book down,it was exciting,a little bit of everything,romance,suspense,and love.
Cannot wait to read more from this author.
January 20, 2014
What You See
I thought this was a pretty good mystery. The writing was a bit folksy for me. I would read more in the series.
I thought this was a pretty good mystery. The writing was a bit folksy for me. I would read more in the series.
March 11, 2014
LOVED this! Especially since it is set in VA near where I live.
Read
July 18, 2014I haven't read this book but someone left it at my house signed by Ann Mullen with her card in it, is it more valuable now?
February 21, 2016
very good read!
December 17, 2016
Naïve and optimistic, Jesse is starting a new life with a romantic dilemma, as well as trying to resolve a mystery.
Read
March 8, 2018It was an easy read with a great story line and plot. I never would have guessed what happened at any point well reading it.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews