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Sarah Woods Mystery #1-3
Sarah Woods Mystery Series:
"Sarah is engrossing. The books are sublimely led by a grounded detective who earns her series." - Kirkus Reviews
As Sarah Woods stumbles upon the grim murder scene in her office, she has no idea that she has just sparked off a chain of events that will tear her life in two.
Sarah tries to fathom why anyone would murder her young receptionist, she unwittingly walks in to a conspiracy.
Frustrated with the slow progress of the police investigation, Sarah starts her own search of the killer. The deeper she gets into the tangled web of lies, the more her life is in danger. With the killer watching silently, Sarah is running out of time--and people she can trust.
With over 600 five-star ratings on Goodreads, The Sarah Woods Mystery Series has 21 books and counting. Binge read all of them!
Praised by Kirkus Reviews and BestThrillers.com, Sarah is a grounded detective who earns her series.
Books 1-3
An Appointment with Murder
An Act of Deceit
An Island of Illusions
An Appointment With Murder introduces you to the main character in the series. With her personal life in shambles, Sarah is thrust into the investigation of her murdered assistant. The case takes a bizarre twist when the secret life of her assistant is finally revealed.
An Act of Deceit finds Sarah working with a private investigator that will challenge her in ways she never imagined, all while trying to keep her new career a secret from her husband.
An Island of Illusions takes Sarah and the team to Hawaii, in search of a missing child. When the prime suspect turns up dead in a swimming pool, Sarah must decide how far she is willing to go to locate the abducted child.
As Sarah Woods stumbles upon the grim murder scene in her office, she has no idea that she has just sparked off a chain of events that will tear her life in two.
Sarah tries to fathom why anyone would murder her young receptionist, she unwittingly walks in to a conspiracy.
Frustrated with the slow progress of the police investigation, Sarah starts her own search of the killer. The deeper she gets into the tangled web of lies, the more her life is in danger. With the killer watching silently, Sarah is running out of time--and people she can trust.
With over 600 five-star ratings on Goodreads, The Sarah Woods Mystery Series has 21 books and counting. Binge read all of them!
Praised by Kirkus Reviews and BestThrillers.com, Sarah is a grounded detective who earns her series.
Books 1-3
An Appointment with Murder
An Act of Deceit
An Island of Illusions
An Appointment With Murder introduces you to the main character in the series. With her personal life in shambles, Sarah is thrust into the investigation of her murdered assistant. The case takes a bizarre twist when the secret life of her assistant is finally revealed.
An Act of Deceit finds Sarah working with a private investigator that will challenge her in ways she never imagined, all while trying to keep her new career a secret from her husband.
An Island of Illusions takes Sarah and the team to Hawaii, in search of a missing child. When the prime suspect turns up dead in a swimming pool, Sarah must decide how far she is willing to go to locate the abducted child.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2012
368 people are currently reading
688 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
December 22, 2015
This is my first exposure to Sarah Woods Mysteries. I liked the character Sarah. She's a working girl and mother which I can relate too. The short chapters make it easy to read when you sometimes have short intervals to read. Out of the three books the last one, "An Island of Illusions," was my favorite. This could be because it was set in Hawaii. The third book had more action with the plot's twists and turns. The relationship Sarah had developing with another character of the book also made it more appealing. Based on how it ended I think Book 4 seems to be a continuation of this third book showing an interesting plot and location.
December 21, 2014
Good, but not much mystery or thrilling.
Sarah is stubborn and gets results. But takes along time to end the dead marriage. First book about her secretary's murder, start of private investigator. Second one involving run down death of husband. Third is so called kidnapping of baby by his father. So many clues at the beginning, read carefully, you'll know who is doing what. Little love, sorrow and loss. Also murders, chasing.
Sarah is stubborn and gets results. But takes along time to end the dead marriage. First book about her secretary's murder, start of private investigator. Second one involving run down death of husband. Third is so called kidnapping of baby by his father. So many clues at the beginning, read carefully, you'll know who is doing what. Little love, sorrow and loss. Also murders, chasing.
January 19, 2017
Undemanding read
I ploughed through all three stories but was glad to get to the end.I could have given up on them and never wondered what had happened.
Easy to read writing style but very weak story lines and unconvincing characters and dialogue.
There is no tension or suspense in any of the stories and everything is just to neat!
I won't be reading anything else by this author and wouldn't recommend her work. It is free on kindle for a reason
I ploughed through all three stories but was glad to get to the end.I could have given up on them and never wondered what had happened.
Easy to read writing style but very weak story lines and unconvincing characters and dialogue.
There is no tension or suspense in any of the stories and everything is just to neat!
I won't be reading anything else by this author and wouldn't recommend her work. It is free on kindle for a reason
September 16, 2017
I got around halfway through in book one and I've given up. There are a great deal of mistakes in this. I liked her characters and her way of writing but the errors were driving me to distraction and I can't be doing with 2 more books presented in the same fashion, I'm afraid.
Straightaway on page 1 she writes fiancee meaning fiance then on the next page gets it right so clearly knows the difference although later on she went with fiance when it should've been fiancee !! So she wasn't picking up on the distinct variation !! Coffee spattered needs a hyphen, this line did not need the comma-"Noticing, a flicker of light illuminating a person's shadow"......and this line speaks for itself-"Calvin he had some very interesting things to tell me". On used instead of an and a massive ouch for me was "towing the line" and not toeing.
There is an issue with sentences being finished on a line halfway along then
cutting down into a new line (as I've typed). This happened a few times. Not sure if it's a formatting issue or what but it could do with looking into. Ingenuous was used when I'm pretty sure she means disingenuous then was and not had. I reached a line where we had a misused comma yet again and realised the exact same error was repeated a couple of pages before this and gave up on it.
She mentions a psychotherapist she goes to who'd made a pass at her before but she'd done nothing about it which I found more than a little farfetched, too. I wasn't impressed she stayed with her husband, either, since they were clearly none too bothered about the other person.
These could've been good little stories as there was great promise but not for me in this incarnation.
Straightaway on page 1 she writes fiancee meaning fiance then on the next page gets it right so clearly knows the difference although later on she went with fiance when it should've been fiancee !! So she wasn't picking up on the distinct variation !! Coffee spattered needs a hyphen, this line did not need the comma-"Noticing, a flicker of light illuminating a person's shadow"......and this line speaks for itself-"Calvin he had some very interesting things to tell me". On used instead of an and a massive ouch for me was "towing the line" and not toeing.
There is an issue with sentences being finished on a line halfway along then
cutting down into a new line (as I've typed). This happened a few times. Not sure if it's a formatting issue or what but it could do with looking into. Ingenuous was used when I'm pretty sure she means disingenuous then was and not had. I reached a line where we had a misused comma yet again and realised the exact same error was repeated a couple of pages before this and gave up on it.
She mentions a psychotherapist she goes to who'd made a pass at her before but she'd done nothing about it which I found more than a little farfetched, too. I wasn't impressed she stayed with her husband, either, since they were clearly none too bothered about the other person.
These could've been good little stories as there was great promise but not for me in this incarnation.
April 29, 2018
I guess I’m part fish
Yup, I swallowed the bait and am now hooked. A massage therapist falls into the world of an amateur sleuth. She moves on to a two-fisted gal, one hand in therapy and the other as a “junior detective”.
I usually make a go/no-go decision from the first book, up date my To-Do.List and move on. At the end of the first book, I smiled at the taste of the bait, the next two set the hook. I WILL continue on.
Yup, I swallowed the bait and am now hooked. A massage therapist falls into the world of an amateur sleuth. She moves on to a two-fisted gal, one hand in therapy and the other as a “junior detective”.
I usually make a go/no-go decision from the first book, up date my To-Do.List and move on. At the end of the first book, I smiled at the taste of the bait, the next two set the hook. I WILL continue on.
August 29, 2015
Interesting
I always love a good mystery with suspense thrown in there and this series definitely has that. I'm not a huge fan of stories where the main character is older,married and attracted to other men. I get that it's realistic but I'm reading fiction, so I don't need it to be so real. That being said, I like Sarah so I will continue reading about her adventures.
I always love a good mystery with suspense thrown in there and this series definitely has that. I'm not a huge fan of stories where the main character is older,married and attracted to other men. I get that it's realistic but I'm reading fiction, so I don't need it to be so real. That being said, I like Sarah so I will continue reading about her adventures.
August 1, 2016
Loved it!
Finally! A different kind of mystery solver who doesn't bake cupcakes or have best friends who own a bakery. Sarah has a regular business as a masseuse and works as a PI on the side. The plots are interesting and decidedly un-campy. I can't even figure out the whodunnit so I'm really surprised at the end. Great read!
Finally! A different kind of mystery solver who doesn't bake cupcakes or have best friends who own a bakery. Sarah has a regular business as a masseuse and works as a PI on the side. The plots are interesting and decidedly un-campy. I can't even figure out the whodunnit so I'm really surprised at the end. Great read!
October 22, 2016
Keep your interesr
I enjoy the characters and there is plenty of action to keep you involved and guessing . A true mystery should not be readily solved in your mind and the author has the twists and turns to give it a surprising ending. I would recommend this book for anyone that enjoys shorter mysteries
I enjoy the characters and there is plenty of action to keep you involved and guessing . A true mystery should not be readily solved in your mind and the author has the twists and turns to give it a surprising ending. I would recommend this book for anyone that enjoys shorter mysteries
December 23, 2018
Sarah Woods mystery series (1) box set
This trio of stories was done in a smooth even way. The author has a good plot and lots of action in this series.The stories all have twists and turns that at times leave you wondering then surprise! But the author lets you down easily.
This trio of stories was done in a smooth even way. The author has a good plot and lots of action in this series.The stories all have twists and turns that at times leave you wondering then surprise! But the author lets you down easily.
December 20, 2013
The adventures of a massage therapist turned investigator. I nabbed this on a kindle sale and really enjoyed the 3 mysteries. I shall be looking out for the others.
October 24, 2014
Enjoyed the whole beginning
pretty good I liked Sarah and her gumption. she was a smart cookie. the meeting of Carter changed her whole life. Will be waiting to seeing what's next
pretty good I liked Sarah and her gumption. she was a smart cookie. the meeting of Carter changed her whole life. Will be waiting to seeing what's next
June 26, 2015
Excellent Short Stories
These kept you reading for more. I usually can figure out the villain but not these! Great fast mysteries. Loved them!
These kept you reading for more. I usually can figure out the villain but not these! Great fast mysteries. Loved them!
July 2, 2017
Fun reading
I enjoyed Sarah woods first 3 adventures very much. A good mixture of crimes to solve. Thank you for a few good days worth reading
I enjoyed Sarah woods first 3 adventures very much. A good mixture of crimes to solve. Thank you for a few good days worth reading
April 24, 2018
Love It!
This writer is now one of my favorite writers. I will definitely get more of her books. now that I read the first and second set it's off to get no. 3!
This writer is now one of my favorite writers. I will definitely get more of her books. now that I read the first and second set it's off to get no. 3!
January 31, 2019
My first Jennifer L. Jennings read
I liked this this came in a set of three books. I loved the books. Easy read and will definitely keep reading.
I liked this this came in a set of three books. I loved the books. Easy read and will definitely keep reading.
April 7, 2019
Liked the books
The three stories were good, entertaining quick reads. I liked the cases and the bit of romance in bloom. I will the other books.
The three stories were good, entertaining quick reads. I liked the cases and the bit of romance in bloom. I will the other books.
September 11, 2018
Sarah Woods Mystery Series (Volume 1) — Jennifer L. Jennings (Sept. 4-10, 2018)
Contains first three books: An Appetite for Revenge; An Act of Deceit; An Island of Illusions
Recap of plots listed here, with more details under each separate book title. At the end, an overall
Book 1: An Appointment For Murder 22 chapters (Sept. 4-6, 2018)
When Sarah, who operates a therapy massage shop discovers her favorite receptionist, Beth, dead she looks into trying too figure out whodunit.
Book 2: An Act of Deceit 15 chapters (Sept. 7-9, 2018)
Sarah has teamed up with Carter to help him with some PI work. She discovers she really likes it, but things heat up fast when their last client’s husband turns up dead.
Book 3: An Island of Illusions 31 chapters (Sept 10, 2018)
While on vacation in Hawaii, two old familiars reappear and Sarah discovers not everything is as it seems. When a child disappears, and the father ends up dead, what happened to the father and where is the child?
I did not like how the first book ended at all. If I had only downloaded the first book in this series I am certain I would not have read beyond it. The author set up some very nice characters that reacted and worked well together and then she had to throw a wrench into it and it made me mad. Loved the story right until the murderer was revealed. Two stars for this one.
However, since this was a three book set, I decided to keep reading to book two. I’m glad I did.
In book two, “An Act of Deceit,” the author has refined her characters and interesting developments start emerge between them. The characters are growing and Sarah starts to gain and show more independence. Minor characters, like Brian, are growing too. The story overall is very compact; the author doesn’t repeat/recap over and over. It’s like the story peeled to it core. It reads fast, with a great plot, tricky red herrings and twists, and a surprise murderer (but it all makes sense when the pieces are revealed.) I loved it. Three solid stars.
Book three, “An Island of Illusions,” starts out with a red herring, but it was OK. In this story, Sarah is on vacation, but when a father and son disappear and the father ends up dead, what has happened to the son? Carter and Sarah and his crew race to find out. More is revealed about Carter’s past and persona; relations dissolve and solidify in Sarah’s life. A well written story that ends a little differently. Solid three stars.
Overall, this three book set gets better and better. Quick reads with great characters and interactions. At the end of the set there is a book four teaser. It is interesting enough that I plan to read it next.
Three plus stars.
Contains first three books: An Appetite for Revenge; An Act of Deceit; An Island of Illusions
Recap of plots listed here, with more details under each separate book title. At the end, an overall
Book 1: An Appointment For Murder 22 chapters (Sept. 4-6, 2018)
When Sarah, who operates a therapy massage shop discovers her favorite receptionist, Beth, dead she looks into trying too figure out whodunit.
Book 2: An Act of Deceit 15 chapters (Sept. 7-9, 2018)
Sarah has teamed up with Carter to help him with some PI work. She discovers she really likes it, but things heat up fast when their last client’s husband turns up dead.
Book 3: An Island of Illusions 31 chapters (Sept 10, 2018)
While on vacation in Hawaii, two old familiars reappear and Sarah discovers not everything is as it seems. When a child disappears, and the father ends up dead, what happened to the father and where is the child?
I did not like how the first book ended at all. If I had only downloaded the first book in this series I am certain I would not have read beyond it. The author set up some very nice characters that reacted and worked well together and then she had to throw a wrench into it and it made me mad. Loved the story right until the murderer was revealed. Two stars for this one.
However, since this was a three book set, I decided to keep reading to book two. I’m glad I did.
In book two, “An Act of Deceit,” the author has refined her characters and interesting developments start emerge between them. The characters are growing and Sarah starts to gain and show more independence. Minor characters, like Brian, are growing too. The story overall is very compact; the author doesn’t repeat/recap over and over. It’s like the story peeled to it core. It reads fast, with a great plot, tricky red herrings and twists, and a surprise murderer (but it all makes sense when the pieces are revealed.) I loved it. Three solid stars.
Book three, “An Island of Illusions,” starts out with a red herring, but it was OK. In this story, Sarah is on vacation, but when a father and son disappear and the father ends up dead, what has happened to the son? Carter and Sarah and his crew race to find out. More is revealed about Carter’s past and persona; relations dissolve and solidify in Sarah’s life. A well written story that ends a little differently. Solid three stars.
Overall, this three book set gets better and better. Quick reads with great characters and interactions. At the end of the set there is a book four teaser. It is interesting enough that I plan to read it next.
Three plus stars.
July 24, 2018
Mystery Series, no. Crime adventure more like it
I enjoyed reading about Sarah part-time masseuse, part-time detective. Her family adds nothing to the story line, just busy words with no purpose. However I like her character and can't believe the fixes she gets herself into. Enjoyable read.
I enjoyed reading about Sarah part-time masseuse, part-time detective. Her family adds nothing to the story line, just busy words with no purpose. However I like her character and can't believe the fixes she gets herself into. Enjoyable read.
October 29, 2019
Good!
I thoroughly enjoyed these 3 books, each stood independently and the characters were all well developed.
I liked the fact that conflict between spouses was not settled in 5 minutes or by jumping into bed with someone else, the personal conflicts and attractions felt natural
And the mysteries were pretty good too!
I thoroughly enjoyed these 3 books, each stood independently and the characters were all well developed.
I liked the fact that conflict between spouses was not settled in 5 minutes or by jumping into bed with someone else, the personal conflicts and attractions felt natural
And the mysteries were pretty good too!
September 10, 2017
These were fast reads. I am also reading my gardening book and I put one of these short stories between gardening reads.
Not a lot of mystery but she is a good enough writer that she keeps me reading. I'll probably get the next series.
Not a lot of mystery but she is a good enough writer that she keeps me reading. I'll probably get the next series.
July 23, 2024
Sarah is a woman in her early 40s who owns a small massage business. She finds herself trying to solve a murder after one of her employees is murdered at the salon. She begins on a trail of self discovery and a possible career change, when she finds out she is good at undercover work.
July 15, 2017
Different
A little different type of mystery.....more focus on daily life than mystery details. I'd give it an okay rating - nothing special.
A little different type of mystery.....more focus on daily life than mystery details. I'd give it an okay rating - nothing special.
October 5, 2020
Great box set
Loved these stories. Just e!enough intrigue and a thread of romance. Loved the two main characters. Nice happy ending though.
Loved these stories. Just e!enough intrigue and a thread of romance. Loved the two main characters. Nice happy ending though.
February 24, 2022
Very good stories! Even though I was able to guess WHO I was not able to figure out the correct WHY. Refreshing.
February 6, 2025
Mysteries
I really liked the characters and their stories.I liked the way characters developed and I really enjoyed the mysteries. I would happy to continue to follow them.
I really liked the characters and their stories.I liked the way characters developed and I really enjoyed the mysteries. I would happy to continue to follow them.
May 16, 2016
Oh boy, where to start. I kept reading all 3 books hoping that it would improve, but no luck.
Sarah Woods is a massage therapist but she really is a bored wife and mother that is looking for excitement in her life, and she is preoccupied with sex. Her husband is the typical bad husband so of course she has to look around for something else, doesn't she?
I guess some people might like a story of a woman who sets herself free from a bad marriage, but I couldn't see how she was a better wife than he was a husband.
Sarah Woods is a massage therapist but she really is a bored wife and mother that is looking for excitement in her life, and she is preoccupied with sex. Her husband is the typical bad husband so of course she has to look around for something else, doesn't she?
I guess some people might like a story of a woman who sets herself free from a bad marriage, but I couldn't see how she was a better wife than he was a husband.
Read
April 25, 2016Volume 1 contains 3 books.
1. An Appointment with Murder
2. An Act of Deceit
3. An Island of Illusions
1. A massage therapist finds her office assistant murdered at her desk.
2. Sarah starts working for Carter undercover and is hired by a wife whose cheating husband is run over by a car. she thinks he was murdered.
3. Sarah and team to to Hawaii to find a missing boy.
1. An Appointment with Murder
2. An Act of Deceit
3. An Island of Illusions
1. A massage therapist finds her office assistant murdered at her desk.
2. Sarah starts working for Carter undercover and is hired by a wife whose cheating husband is run over by a car. she thinks he was murdered.
3. Sarah and team to to Hawaii to find a missing boy.
December 19, 2015
Unlikable sleuth
Really wAnted to like this books. Read all 3 books. Sarah is mean spirited with he husband, cavalier about finding a male client masturbating in the shower at her office, willing to do a hand job as part of an investigation without a murmur of complaint. I'm done.
Really wAnted to like this books. Read all 3 books. Sarah is mean spirited with he husband, cavalier about finding a male client masturbating in the shower at her office, willing to do a hand job as part of an investigation without a murmur of complaint. I'm done.
July 6, 2016
A fun read.
Three adventures of a wife, mother, message therapist turned south. Each episode has a conclusion so it isn't frustrating like some series where you can't take a break but holds interest so anxious for the next episode.
Three adventures of a wife, mother, message therapist turned south. Each episode has a conclusion so it isn't frustrating like some series where you can't take a break but holds interest so anxious for the next episode.
February 24, 2015
Sarah Woods scores big----
All of the volumes fit together into a seamless series of seventeenth beg for more. An easy read that is well written---
All of the volumes fit together into a seamless series of seventeenth beg for more. An easy read that is well written---
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews