Dead On

by Kelly Jameson

DEAD ON (Ann Yang mystery #1)

A LADY AND GENTLEMAN IN BLACK (Ann Yang mystery #2, published May 2018)


Is a killer chasing Ann Yang through time?

Yang, a bright, tough medical examiner, investigates a murder scene in a Philadelphia suburb that appears to be the work of a serial killer―whose calling card is American Civil War coat buttons placed beneath victims' tongues. While her Victorian home is being renovated, Yang finds an old diary that belonged to a former occupant that may be the key to a 100-year-old mystery. Gun shy of relationships, Yang begins to have feelings for Mark, the carpenter working on her home, but is hesitant to give in to them because of her recent bitter divorce and the daily trauma involved with being a medical examiner.

Desperate to rub out the disturbing memory of a failed marriage and find her new place in life, she begins hypnosis and past-life regressions. Soon Yang is convinced that the killer, the diary, and her past lives are somehow connected...in ways she could never imagine...

She must use all her considerable forensic skills--as well as unconventional sleuthing--to try to stop the killer for good...

Genres: Thriller, Suspense, Mystery

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 13, 2011

About the author

Kelly Jameson is the author of 24 books, including:

SPELLBOUND
(Hot Highlands Romance series, Book 1)

"An unforgettable highland warrior seeking revenge, an innocent maiden brave enough to confront him. Spellbound is a terrific novel filled with passion, intrigue, vengeance, and all-consuming love. Readers will clamor for a sequel." Kat Martin, New York Times best-selling author with over 13 million books in print

TO TAME A ROGUE

"Sizzling with sexual tension, filled with passion, an old-fashioned romance. Fast-paced and fun to read." Kat Martin, New York Times best-selling author

Other Novels by Kelly Jameson (Award-winning dark suspense, urban fiction, zombie parody, short stories)

DEAD ON

DEAD ON is "Brilliant. A chilling erotic suspense that will send shivers down your spine. A sensuous, gripping tale of murder through the ages."
--Kat Martin, New York Times Best-Selling Author

SHARDS OF SUMMER

SHARDS OF SUMMER is "The Great Gatsby for the beach generation." Ken Bruen, best-selling crime noir author (LONDON BOULEVARD, THE GUARDS, HEADSTONE)

WHAT REMAINED OF KATRINA: A NOVEL OF NEW ORLEANS

"WHAT REMAINED OF KATRINA becomes a powerful story of the city's underclass, the one seldom reported by the media, the one seldom visited by tourists. This is Jameson's third novel, and may be the best one yet." Walter Brasch, Journalist/Author, Before the First Snow: Stories From the Revolution

MOBY D*CKHEAD: OR THE WHITE ZOMBIE WHALE (A zombie MASHUP by Herman Melville and Kelly Jameson)

"There are books about sea life and whales. There are books about zombies.
But Kelly Jameson may be the first person to write a book about a zombie whale. MOBY D*CKHEAD OR THE WHITE ZOMBIE WHALE is an interesting parody of the most famous whale in literature. And, just like the original, this one is interesting and has many layers to peel through. It may be as terrifying as the original, but this one is a little more suggestive and a lot more fun."
--Walter Brasch, Before the First Snow: Stories from the Revolution

JerZey
"A wacky and hilarious slice of zombie goodness. Wicked and deranged, it's TIME BANDITS meets SHAUN OF THE DEAD with a big dose of just-plain-nuts. Highly recommended" --Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of DEAD OF NIGHT and PATIENT ZERO

Horrorphilia reviewer Gabino Iglesias says JerZey "...starts weird and finishes strong. The prose is packed with humor and there's an underlying message about what it means to be human that readers should discover by themselves. Pick up a copy today."

Some of her published short stories are collected in an anthology called DESPERATE, DISTURBED, DERANGED, AND DOUBLE-LATTED. She has also been published in Maxim Jakubowski's the Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica (vol 8 & 9), Sex in the City Paris, and the Mammoth Book of Erotic Romance and Domination.

"Jameson's prose is raw, cut-to-the-chase and knife-at-the-jugular. I especially like monkey stories, and she has a doozy of a monkey story in this collection. But that's not all. The collection is loaded with interesting characters who raise personal debasement and self-deprecation to an art form, and yet we smile all the way through it because the writing is so powerful. These people are flawed, and we get to see 'em at their worst. Caution: Leave one's inhibitions on the doorstep when reading these rich, flavorful offerings. Not for the faint of heart." C. G. Bauer, author

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good one. A different tack for a thriller with a killer from the past who leaves a special token with each victim. Enjoyed it very much.

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 2 out of 5]

DEAD ON felt like I was riding on a roller coaster. Starting out slow, it gave the reader necessary details. A man who mistakes love after returning from the Civil War. Not reciprocated, he kills the woman. The suspense starts and it becomes a time travel book.

Pop to the present and a serial killer is loose aiming his hatred and revenge on one Dr. Ann Yang, county medical examiner for Bucks County, PA. Here the book has the edge of a thriller. Slide back to 1961 for another story but it is related. Move on to the present and there are more deaths. Ann finds a diary. A diary with weird things that happen. Could Ann have lived many lifetimes and does she want to explore reincarnation? You have a slight fantasy and you may want to take notes because there is A LOT going on.

OK, keep reading. Jump back to 1902 when the diary takes place. Someone dies. There are some elements of erotica. More details. Yes, I kept reading. And no, I didn't cheat and look at the end of the book like I wanted to. So much is packed into this story. Intrigue, some ideas that are original, a possible romance, gore, sex, ghostly elements, a who's who, and a killer who is revealed at the end. And it was a surprise for me.

This story sort of reminded me of THE MIRROR by Natalia Lincoln with the storyline constantly flipping back and forth from the present to some part of the past. This can be confusing. It had some original ideas but it was too long. At 203 pages it shouldn't have felt this way but it did. Also, the f-bomb is dropped frequently so if this is not to your liking be aware.

From what I understand Ms. Jameson is currently writing a sequel. I would read it if I could borrow it from the library. Don't get me wrong, this story could have been great but there was just way too much going on. I thought Ms. Jameson was stretching herself by making it a thriller, suspense, time-travel with some ghostly elements, romance, mystery with a serial killer and gore. These are all genres that I have read and some stories with each theme I have enjoyed so I don't feel I am prejudicial when it comes to any of these topics. Five authors are listed on the back cover recommending this book and there will be some of you who enjoy it. For me, it was alright but not something I could recommend.

[Suzanne]

Excellent debut psychological thriller/murder set in Doylestown, Bucks County, PA. The author creates a believable plot and the suspense is nail biting - right to the end. Don't read this in the dark of the night!!

[Natascha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the book. It is a story of reincarnation, past lives and how we somehow always come back to the same souls in each life. If there will be a sequel to this book, I will certainly read it.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weird book. I like a bit of historical back and forth in a novel, but this was just confusing, and a little melodramatic. I couldn't have cared less what happened to the modern day character, I didn't like her.

[Csimplot Simplot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!!!

[Arlene Newman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The setting of the book was too close to home here in Doylestown.
I found it very disturbing.
To read about murders in my town even though it is fiction really made me upset.

[Kylene Delaney · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't care at all about the characters. Storyline was confusing. So bad