Death by Desire

Caribbean Murder #4

by Jaden Skye

DEATH BY DESIRE is Book #4 in the #1 Bestselling Caribbean Murder series, following the FREE book DEATH BY HONEYMOON (#1), DEATH BY DIVORCE (#2) and DEATH BY MARRIAGE (#3). In the midst of gorgeous St. Bart’s, a few days before Christmas, a Senator’s daughter is found stabbed and strangled on the beach—the day after her engagement party. While the rich and famous are pouring in to celebrate the holidays, the local police are desperate to keep it quiet and not cause an uproar. But the Senator’s family wants justice for their daughter, and they hire Cindy and Mattheus to solve the crime. As Cindy and Mattheus investigate, they meet the elite crowd surrounding the Senator’s family, an exclusive world of unimaginable wealth, of luxurious parties on yachts and private villas. They learn of all the people who may have wanted the young woman dead, all the jealousies and rivalries, the secret ex-es and affairs. They meet her devastated fiancé, her twin sister and her distraught Mom—all intent on the killer’s being found. They meet the corrupt police force, who wants them stopped, and a rich Russian mogul who controls half the island—and has his own agenda to bring down the senator. As they delve deeper, they learn the many secrets of this exclusive family and the young woman, and discover that all was not as perfect as it appeared to be. As they get close to the answers, Cindy faces personal danger, while at the same time her relationship with Mattheus grows deeper—and faces a crisis of its own. And as the two of them are about to leave the island, a sudden twist in events changes everything. Ultimately, they come to learn that on the pristine, perfect St. Bart's, everything is not always as it seems to be. Books #5--#14 in the series are now also available!

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Amazon, Romance, Ebooks

233 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 2, 2012

About the author

Jaden Skye has always been fascinated with mystery, wrongful death, lies, deception and the power of the truth to prevail. Her romantic suspense/mystery novels feature strong female protagonists who must overcome insurmountable obstacles, and through them, she seeks to get to the very heart of the nature of justice and love.

Her first three novels, DEATH BY HONEYMOON (BOOK #1 IN THE CARIBBEAN MURDER SERIES), DEATH BY DIVORCE (BOOK #2 IN THE CARIBBEAN MURDER SERIES)and DEATH BY MARRIAGE (#3 IN THE CARIBBEAN MURDER SERIES) are now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble elsewhere. Please feel free to visit her site, www.jadenskye.com to stay in touch.

Reviews

[Kylie D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another quick, easy read in Jaden Skye's Caribbean Murder series. In this book Cindy and Mattheus are on St Bart's, investigating the death of a US Senator's daughter after her engagement party. Who would want the young woman dead? Is it a crime of passion, or does it have something to do with her father's politics? Cindy and Mattheus have their work cut out for them, and as they delve into the glitterati of St Barts they find that not all is as it seems.

I must say I do enjoy these books, traveling around the Caribbean solving murders with Cindy and Mattheus. I must also say that this author desperately needs a proof reader. Having said that I'll still be on the lookout for the next installment.

[Wiseask · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish to add my voice to the chorus of complaints about this author's sloppy editing. A writer who doesn't bother or care enough to proofread his or her (in this case, her) work shows disrespect if not contempt for her readers, her fellow authors, her work product and her craft. If she won't take the time to produce a finished product reflecting her best effort, then I won't waste my time reading it. And if this book full of mistakes IS her best effort, then I certainly won't waste my time reading it. There are too many other authors out there deserving of my time and attention. Yours too.

[Ceelee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a free book offered when I activated my Google Play Books account. The setting was captivating....St Bart's at Christmas. The mystery was also intriguing....the murder of a Senator's daughter. The case was littered with many suspects from a childhood friend to a Russian mob boss and a whole slew of off-balanced family members. The result did not mix well with the potentially fascinating mystery. It reminded me of an old movie from the 70s or a really bad "Night Gallery" episode where the island's elite are shallow, cold and even crazed humans who may present a steady, pleasant and helpful outer facade that holds dark and deadly secrets below the surface. The story didn't seem to really go anywhere and there was no real character development and I particularly disliked Cindy for being such an idiot about Matheus and treating their partnership like it was a romantic experience and being consumed with jealousy over him talking to a red-haired woman which was part of doing his job while she went around alone trying to solve the crime, making poor judgments, and getting into sticky situations. And somehow this was Matheus' fault? If they were truly partners they should have worked together on the case. it got just plain silly. While I never really got a clear idea about who the killer might be, when it happened I could see the outcome like a sunny afternoon in July. It was disappointing that it ended in a melodramatic fashion. There was really no suspense at all.

What bothered me the most about this book is the absolutely abysmal editing throughout the entire book. This is #4 in a series and we get this sort of low quality in a book on Google? NO EXCUSE for that at all! I can accept an occasional missing article but on just about every one of the 277 pages of the novel there were either an error in spelling, grammar and even mis-use of words. How can anyone not notice the mis-use of the word "heroine", the term for the good girl in a story for heroin", the drug which was what was meant in the story? On more than one occasion Cindy's name was interchanged with most of the female characters and that caused some confusion when reading. I realize "you get what you pay for" but even free wasn't cheap enough for this train wreck of a book. I won't be reading any more n in this series, thank you very much Google. I can't believe you would allow that kind of inferior product in your ereader stock and can say with a straight face this is a great mystery!

[Joy Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

the story line and content was good. there are some
typos which drive me crazy. all in all...it was a good book.

[Pierrebleu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Predictable

Good story but killer was predictable.

Cindy continues to be headstrong and ignore her safety and advice of Matheus.
Matheus continues to show how much he cares for Cindy but does nothing about it except try to protect her, but telling her what to do isn’t going to achieve that.

Cindy and Matheus are appointed to find the killer of the daughter of a US Senator. The family of the Senator are all odd, as is the deceased.
Russian mafia are involved to threaten Cindy and Matheus and try to warn them off.
The police from Guadeloupe are drafted in to help but they appear to be as useless as the local police and no match for the security staff of the Russian mafia.

The relationship ship between Cindy and Matheus continues to simmer with both of them reluctant to truly show their hand whilst they both appear to be playing with fire and in real danger.

Worth reading.

[Julie Ounanian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this book, so I missed out on all the errors everyone is talking about.

I bought this book back in 2014 and decided it was time to stop buying new books and start reading all the ones I’ve acquired in the last 10 years.

I did not read the first three books, but I know that the first one was about Cindy‘s husband dying on their honeymoon. It would’ve been nice to have a little of the backstory of Cindy and Mattheus.

Well it kept me guessing till almost the end.

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a bust! Zero stars!!

Terrible story line, unrealistic characters and development. Silly dialogue. A book better suited for a 10 year old’s maturity level. Don’t waste your time unless your stranded on a desert island but then it would be best for starting a fire.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the fourth installment in the Caribbean Murder Series, Death by Desire, had intrigue and plot twists. I enjoyed the story and it helped me escape from my reality for a bit...so that makes it A+ for me. These are quick, good reads and I love the two main characters, Cindy and Mattheus.

[Linda Look · Rating 4 out of 5]

A senator's daughter is murdered on St. Bart's (homes for the rich and famous) during the week before Christmas. The Senator hired Cindy and Matt to find the killer. Good plot, fast read. I rate this a 4.3

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this mystery. A few typos but they didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story.

[sharon stubbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just a great series of books. I will be reading all of them.

[Courtney Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar plot, similar tempo

This book is the same in plot format as the previous 3 books in this series. No surprises in the way the story unfolds. As I've said in prior reviews, these books are an easy, entertaining, although somewhat predictable, read.

[evelyn p oliger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

This was a great story. It was filled with suspense and action. There were certain parts that kept me on the edge and made me want to keep reading

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review

This book was to sappy. Cindy was wussy had when she bucked up
It was lame. Heroine needs more backbone.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This could be a tv movie special, or even a episode on a Friday night prime time show. It was great!

[Patty Soto · Rating 2 out of 5]

All the confusing story to end up with a disappointing finale.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good listening mystery. The story was amateurish but entertaining. It always amazes me how unqualified, immature characters outwit local authorities in solving or providing solutions to crimes.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cindy and Mattheus are investigating another murder and finding their relationship is developing. Matteus seems to still be stuck in the past and Cindy is still grieving her dead husband, but their is definite chemisty. Together they have started a PI business and are involved in solving crimes throughout the Caribbean.

Decent mystery, well paced storyline.

[Hanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book made me wonder: why do protagonists in novels have to be pretty? Do readers only want to read about beautiful people, unless the book is explicitly about inclusion? Would it hurt to have a heroine with a big nose or a hero who does not magically attract women? So yes, this is one of these books where everyone is beautiful. And if they're not, they're pitied.

Well, but aren't crime novels about the crime, you might ask? That's true, "Death by Desire" however does not really give us an interesting story. A senator's daughter was murdered. Was it the fiancé? Or politically motivated? A family member no one suspects? I honestly could have cared more, it just wasn't that interesting. So I had more time thinking about pretty protagonists and... casual sexism. And there's a lot of that in there.

For one, Cindy (that name, ugh...) is always looking for approval from her partner Mattheus, whether it's about her looks or her work. Yes, she is in love with him but no, this is not the way you do it! Mattheus gets to be self-sufficient of course, he is always sure of himself and doesn't really need Cindy. She is more the accessory to him. On the surface, Cindy is portrayed to be headstrong and fearless, taking her own decisions, but don't be fooled: Cindy needs Mattheus' approval.

Also, since she is prett-ay, people assume she can't be a detective:
"It's odd that a beautiful woman like you would become a detective." Andy looked at Cindy with fascination.
Why is that? Do pretty women cease to have brains or guts?

Even Cindy's sister Ann wants her to quit:
Cindy knew that Ann was deeply unnerved by Cindy's detective work.
I bet no male detective has ever heard any objections like that one...

Oh, and a Russian millionaire tells her she shouldn't even be talking with other men while Mattheus fooling around with other women should be totally fine for her.

And Mattheus' response when she confronts him about him fooling around:
"You're furious because of me and that redhead?" Mattheus looked outraged.

Well isn't he a sweetie? He's also soooo protective:
Cindy shook her head. "We were doing our jobs," she murmured.
"My main job is to take care of you," he said.
That's an insult, not a compliment -.-

But, since it's love, we also get a very cheesy dialogue towards the end:
"What does forever mean?" she whispered.
"Forever starts right where we are." Mattheus smiled. "And it means we walk together through all the years."
Cindy smiles. She loved the way he had of putting things.
Anyone else need a trip to the dentist from too much sugar?

[MoHurley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Death by typos

Boilerplate novelist, Jaden Skye is a hack writer who has no respect for the technical aspects of her craft (or her readers). I can forgive an author's limited vocabulary, or clumsy sentences that change tense mid-stream. But when the writing's consistently slovenly, novel after novel, there's no excuse. Skye's typos and grammatical conundrums will have most readers e-ranting within the first few chapters. Most of the comments on her dozen Caribbean Murder novels, the same criticism is repeated: books are riddled with myriad errors. I guess Skye either doesn't read the Amazon reviews, or her persona is thicker than sharkskin. The novels read like first drafts.

In Death by Desire, Jaden Skye is name-challenged: she conflates characters--she confuses her protagonist Cindy with the victim, Tiffany. Sometimes the dead girl is speaking. Oops! Cindy's sister Ann becomes Anne, depending upon the paragraph. Another reviewer asked if the "victims mothers' name Meryl or Myrtle?" She also has conflicting gender issues: a guy named Frances vs Francis? The fiancé suddenly becomes a fiancée. Sex change? She uses the word heroin for heroine. Talk smack.

And Skye repeatedly repeats dialogue. Didn't I just read that? Skye's unsure of compounds words, so she separates them, which makes for tedious sentences: "he was an ego maniac." Forget using the word: redhead. That's too compound a thought. To shore up weak verbs and nouns, she uses a plethora of adjectives and adverbs. Skye should banish all forms of beauty from her limited working vocabulary. Especially the word "beautiful." In Death by Desire, she uses the word beautiful(ly) a whopping 70 times. Thesaurus much?

Suffice to say Death by Desire is a particularly rough draft. I kept thinking that Skye's writing skills would improve over time. Not happening. My flabber is gasted. She needs to hire a boatload of proofreaders. Better to save your money, and especially your valuable time--for a more deserving writer

[Dawn Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a little long, and things moved a little slow for my taste, but the description of the setting on an island in the Caribbean was enjoyable. What I didn't enjoy was the romance story line. There are two investigators, and the book is told from the point of view of the female investigator. Well, of course she has the hots for her partner, but all through the book she keeps reminding herself that she has to keep things professional, and she is so full of angst because she isn't sure if he returns her feelings or not. All through the 600 pages! Argh! They finally get together at the very end of the book, but that part felt really rushed and undeveloped. Still, a good light read that I had on my phone to keep me occupied every time I was waiting at the doctor's or wherever.

[Janie Felix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting series so far

The rating is merely due to poor beta reading ... Lots of misspellings, grammar errors that are off putting but don't distract too much with the writing ...the author is developing strong characters and in am enjoying seeing them grow, makes for another level to the books. Fine mysteries, so far, set in the warm climate of the Caribbean islands which is always a nice fantasy getaway as a reader ... Reminds me of Belize, where my son lives ... Great developing detective pair ... Nick and Nora types without Asta (so far) ... Will definately read the rest of the series and hopefully the author will get better Beta readers!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished this yesterday and can't even remember what it was about. Shallow characters. By the 4th book I don't feel like I have any idea what the main character (Cindy) even looks like - isn't she blonde in some books and redheaded ("auburn") in others? Maybe I'm just not paying attention, or I'm distracted by the grammatical errors (this is why people shouldn't edit their own books)and paging back to see who said what because the author can't keep the dialogue straight. Mattheus just sounds like a self-involved arse.

[audrey McCormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read

Cindy and Matteus make a wonderful team and am delighted they are going to be a couple as well as partners. I enjoy the detective work, the piecing all the evidence involved in solving the crime. On the down side noticed proofreading was lacking with missing words and incorrect complete sentences, even down to calling some of the characters by the wrong name in both Murder by Marriage and Murder by Desire. Still really enjoy the story line and anxious to read more of this series.

[Rose Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book wasn't worth the price--I got it for free! The author needs to develop some proofreading skills, work toward character development, understand that some names are spelled different ways for male or female (i.e. calling a male by the name Frances--female version, and Jeanne for a French male--also incorrect as the male version is Jean), and carefully read to find that the wrong character name is being used. I know I won't ever read another book by Jaden Skye--even if it is offered for free.

[Sarah Shaw · Rating 1 out of 5]

Try proofreading

I've never read a book with so many errors before. Not just spelling and grammatical, but there were times where the wrong character name was used. More times than I could count, quotations were not used for dialogue, or used in the wrong spot. It's like this author finished writing the first draft and then immediate published it without even reading back through it once.

[Patricia Lynch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Impressive

Death By Desire has a great story line: intriguing, mystifying and a little romance as well a lot of mystery.
The only things that I found both irritating and upset was how an author could have so many grammatical errors, misspelled words and sentences that make no sense.
Please retread your work after it is formatted to remove or replace these issues.
I did enjoy the book and read it completely.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this 3rd mystery featuring Cindy and Mattheus, the young daughter of a U.S. senator is brutally murdered and it is up to them to find out why and who. Along the way they have to deal with corrupted cops and law officials, jealousy, drugs, and their growing feelings for each other. During the middle of this story it started to drag but it did pick up towards the end. Overall a good read.

[Sheila Rodden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too mushy and immature

The best part was solving the case. For adult detectives, Cindy acted more like a spoiled young immature brat. She couldn't accept Matthias doing his job without being jealous and then going out to do something alone when he warned her not to...just like a petulant child defying her father. Grow up Cindy!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the characters, storyline, and series, but couldn't give it 5 stars this time due to the typos. At least 2 times the murdered character's name came up as a speaking character's name....please,be careful with this.