Dead Santa!

Jesse Ashworth Mystery #5

by Stephen E. Stanley

The Christmas season gets off to a rocky start in the sleepy coastal town of Bath, Maine, when a local shop keeper finds a body dressed as Santa Claus in the doorway of the shop. To make matters worse, a valuable Christmas treasure is stolen from All Souls Church. The identity of the dead man stumps the local police, and it falls to private detectives Jesse Ashworth and Tim Mallory to look for clues the police may have missed.
It’s been a slow season for the Bigg-Boyce Security Agency, known locally as the Big Boys’ Detective Agency, but things begin to pick up when Tim and Jesse find themselves involved in three cases they must solve.In addition, Jesse’s old nemesis, Bitch Blair, is back in town after serving time in prison. Once again Jesse and Tim must navigate through the colorful assortment of local characters to look for solutions.

Genres: Mystery

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 23, 2012

About the author

Stephen E. Stanley has been an educator for over thirty years, first as a high school English instructor and then as a full-time teacher mentor for secondary education in a large New Hampshire school district. He grew up in Bath, Maine and currently resides in New Hampshire.

Reviews

[Ptdog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good as usual.

[Matthew Warnecke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining

A fun whodunit with great settings in and around Bath, Maine. The pug is charming as is his detective owner Jesse. Good series

[Neet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 5th book in the Jesse Ashworth series and a short read with a Yule tiding theme. in this mystery we find Rhonda ( Jesse's BFF/ former co-worker in teaching) finding a dead Santa in front of her store. After a funny and excited story to Jesse (after she called the police of course) Tim & Jesse run to the store to investigate. The Santa has been bashed in the head and that was probable cause of death and we later learn that it's Viola's ex hubbie. Viola ( who is a Wiccan & works part-time worker in Rhonda's store) is shocked and distraught. She hadn't talked to her ex in years and after she's assaulted she hires Tim&Jesse to investigate.Also, a young woman comes in to Big Boys Investigations for them to solve and find her missing brother's disappearance.We also find the bitch is back.The bitch is former high school classmate Judy "Bitch" Blair who was locked up for several years for helping to bury another classmate after Billy Simpson's deranged ex wife killed her.Judy claims to all that can hear that she's a changed woman, but neither Jesse or Molly ( Jesse's cousin) believe this cruel woman. Also, we have Jesse getting to know the son he never knew he had but who had tracked him down after following him in Montreal& Bath in the last book. Jay is the young man's name and he's too good to be true. He is now a thirty-something (he was 40 in the last book) gay, and a teacher and an excellent cook. I know we're suppose to like Jay's gosh-darn kindness, but there is something a little creepy and ick inducing as how much he's like Jesse and is always close to tears as he proclaims his love for his dad. also throw in Jessica's pregnant and due any day, a missing baby Jesus, Jesse's parents arriving for a visit, Tim's snoring that becomes serious,ghostbusters, and an appearance of sexy Montreal police detective Hugh Cartier and you have an exciting read.

[Maame · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s nice to know that older homosexual couples are just as boring as the heterosexual ones. I mean Jesse’s dog get mention in this book more than Tim the partner. I kept thinking that the dog was going to solve the mystery. I know the book is not about the romance but our main character is in a relationship and it would have been nice to read more about what Tim was also up to instead of the dog. But l digress.
As always l enjoyed the mystery very much. Having read all the Jesse Ashworth books, and familiar with all the characters, l was able to figure out who the suspect was the minute he or she made an appearance in the book. The ending as nicely done. To me anyway. Sort of like how Agatha Christie end her Poirot novels. Not sure l understood the whole little side mystery about the missing baby Jesus but l definitely enjoyed the book

[Sharon Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Santa is the latest offering by Stephen E Stanley in the Jesse Ashworth series and it's one which I really enjoyed reading. In fact, I downloaded it a bit before 10 last night and didn't go to bed until I finished it at about 1 this morning. The book is well thought out and the mysteries are good. All of our favourite characters from past books make an appearance as well as one old foe. I was wondering what she would get up to! I don't want to give away the plot but if you like the series and you like Maine and pugs you'll be pleased with your purchase. As mentioned, this book is part of a series and it is suggested that you read these books in order and start with book 1 - "A midcoast murder."

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

At Christmas I like to read books that have a sort of Christmas theme and often choose a light mystery. "Dead Santa!" is set in Maine in the days before Christmas and features a retired teacher (Jesse) and a retired cop (Tim) -- a gay couple who own a detective agency. The supporting cast of characters includes a very pregnant woman (cop's daughter) and her husband, a young man (the son of the teacher), a witch, a woman who dresses in vintage apparel, a cousin who's psychic, the parents of the teacher, and a TV crew filming a story about ghosts.

Food and the weather are prominent features and Jesse often remarks, "have I mentioned that I hate winter"
I was sure that I had figured out to the murderer was but of douse I was wrong (again).

No sex
No violence

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like all of this series. They are satisfying in the way of small, quiet mysteries. I think it says a lot about the author's skills as a writer, that there is more than one in a series where the protagonist is a retired, gay school teacher living in a small Maine town. A comfy read and that's okay!