Bad Reputation

Madeline Maclin #4

by Jane Tesh

When Wendall Clarke announces plans to open a new art gallery downtown, it’s both the talk of Celosia, North Carolina and the envy of its residents. But the news is upstaged when Clarke is found murdered, prompting beauty queen turned private investigator Madeline Maclin to take on the case. Faced with a laundry list of suspects including a furious ex-wife, a competing business owner, and jealous local artists, Madeline’s also struggling to keep her con man husband, Jerry Fairweather, out of handcuffs. If Jerry wasn’t enough trouble on his own, enter Honor Perkins, dead set on luring him back into a life of crime. Between foiling Perkins’ plans, stabilizing her marriage and possibly being pregnant, Madeline juggles her responsibilities as she races to solve the crime before the killer strikes again – or her life falls apart.

Genres: Mystery

238 pages, Hardcover

First published January 30, 2014

About the author

Jane is a 2022 Book Excellence Award Finalist for her fantasy novel, Butterfly Waltz and a 2023 Book Excellence Finalist for her mystery novel, Ghost Light.

Jane lives and writes in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, the real Mayberry. She is the author of the Grace Street Mystery Series, the Madeline Maclin Mysteries, four fantasy novels, and over thirty plays for children.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

All right, 4 1/2 stars. What can I say? I've been a big fan of this series since the first one. Former beauty pageant star Madeline Maclin Fairweather is still dealing with fallout from husband Jerry's earlier career as a conman, when successful native son Wendall Clarke comes back to town to start an art gallery, along with his trophy wife. But a lot of the women in the arts community have unfinished business, and there are a lot of suspects when his body is found behind the building he's purchased. At the same time, Madeline and Jerry are dealing with mixed feelings about the possibility of parenthood.

[Mythie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to give this book (the first Jane Tesh I've ever come across) four stars because it kept me entertained on many levels; I've always enjoyed cons, especially in TV shows like "Hu$tle" and "Leverage"; the description including a con man struggling to go straight is what enticed me in the first place. Unfortunately, sometimes it's the small stuff that isn't quite right which can be very distracting if not explained, and it bugged me (the first two all through the book, which was published in 2014). I'm probably nitpicking but ...
1) It appears home pregnancy test kits are unknown to the main character. That's just weird!
2) DNA testing (court ordered if necessary) was a thing in 2014. Had been for quite some years.
3) The placement of an object that eventually led to the resolution. Just a little too much coincidence. Jarring! A little more finesse could and should have been involved.

[books_with_sass · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was better than the other book in the series I had read previously. There is always SO much going on in these books. Lots of characters to try and keep track of and straight in your head. Multiple cases at one time, everyone is somehow a suspect even though it's a small town.

All in all, a very quick read. If you like cozy mysteries with a little extra mystery going on, then you'll probably like this.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Hit

I truly enjoyed Bad Reputation! It answers questions from prior books within this series. However it raises enough new questions the next book is definitely a must read! Keep them coming Jane Tesh!

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is absolutely amazing and so underrated, I found it at a used book store and after reading the book a little more the plot twists and writing are just amazing

[David Ketelsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 4th installment in Jane Tesh's Madeline Maclin series. I've not read the earlier ones so I can't compare to her earlier books. In this volume, Bad Reputation Tesh's writing is direct and engaging. It took me a couple of chapters to get used to her voice---I suspect the targeted demographic is largely female---but once I did I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The protagonist, Madeline Maclin, a former beauty queen turned private investigator, is quite appealing. Maclin's got enough edge to be believable when facing down a suspect but is still sweet enough to be likable to readers.

In Bad Reputation Maclin tackles two small cases and one big one, the murder of a local entrepreneur. She simultaneously attempts to keep bad influences, namely Honor Perkins, away from her husband, a former con artist trying to stick to the straight and narrow.

Bad Reputation is an amusing cozy in which a self assured Southern woman proves her mettle facing down numerous local artists and and one ghost while solving a murder and mending romantic fences between two kids.

I received a Kindle of this book free from NetGalley in return for this review.

[Sharon Thurnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a book by Jane Tesh in a Goodreads Giveaway. I was a very lucky lady because, not only did she send me the book that I won, but also, another one she had written. Twice Blessed with books. What a wonderful surprise. I really enjoyed this read. You can read the books in this series as if they were on their own, which I really liked. Jane Tesh does touch on previous books but not in a way that would spoil your enjoyment if you wanted to go back and read any of them, which I plan to do. The characters are fun and well developed. I loved Sasha. (Sasha loves Sasha) Who knew that this small town could get into such big trouble. Madeline has it all in check, with a little bit of help from the locals and her, somewhat shady, hubby. Pick up a copy of this book, or any of the Madeline Maclin Mysteries. You will enjoy the read.

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...

1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.

2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.

3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.

4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.

5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads. The title could refer to several characters. This is another adventure of Madeline and Jerry. It is set in a small NC town with people who are concerned mostly with their own petty quarrels and problems until a truly BIG problem comes along (the murder of a former resident)! Madeline discovers more of Jerry's "con man" past, but she has grown to trust him during their marriage and supports him in his efforts to secure a job that will interest him and give them a bigger income. The characters are believable and consistent, although Madeline and Jerry continue to develop.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very fun installment of the Madeline Maclin Mystery Series. Madeline is a former beauty queen (formerly driven by her mother to participate) now turned sleuth in their small town. Her husband is an intriguing character...a ne'er do well who has turned out well. He's a former confidence artist and trickster who refuses to live off the family fortune. After meeting Madeline, he, too, is reformed, but his former friends keep trying to drag him back into his old tricks. Can Madeline keep him on the (semi) straight and narrow while simultaneously solving the murder of an obnoxious gallery owner?

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

So book 0ne got five stars, book two got four, book three got three and this one (book four) gets two. I'd recommend stopping the series--which may be what she did.

I found this story annoying on several levels. She marries her best friend and then goes about systematically trying to change him. There's more but this is enough. There is some good in the book, but I'd recommend reading the first couple and calling it quits.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Madeline Maclin I've read and it is funny and well written. Set in small town North Carolina, this cozy keeps you turning the pages. Madeline is happy with her husband Jerry, an ex con who becomes one of the prime suspects in the murder of a business owner in town. I like Jane Tesh's books, they are easy to enjoy because they have great characters and perfect settings.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light reading, but enjoyable. This is a good read between books with heavier plots that demand more of me as a reader.

[Dogsandbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light triffle, pretty innocuous. Okay

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: A Madeline Maclin Mystery

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Bad Reputation by Jane Tesh has everything you need for a fantastic cozy; fun, intriguing characters, lots of suspects and dialogue that puts a smile on your face.