Deadly Expressions

Jenkins and Burns Mystery #3

by Laura Bradford

The third book in Laura Bradford’s thrilling Jenkins & Burns mystery series! Thirty-five years ago, seven-year-old Hannah Daltry hid under a desk, the only witness to a horrible bank robbery. Still haunted by that day, Hannah uses her passion for writing to teach others, and to try to banish the demons of her past. Local reporter Elise Jenkins is a student in Hannah’s class. Eager to stretch her writing wings, she’s excited about the assignment Hannah gives and amazed at the teacher’s ability to bring the horrifying scene of a girl watching a bank robbery to life. But inspiration turns to shock when Hannah is found dead in her classroom. Is her only mistake being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or did the past finally catch up with her? Whatever the answer, Elise Jenkins and police detective Mitch Burns are determined to find out. This books was originally published under the title Marked by Fateby Hilliard & Harris. About the Author Laura Bradford is the bestselling author of numerous mystery series, including the Jenkins & Burns Mysteries, the Tobi Tobias Mysteries, and the Amish Mysteries. She’s also an award-winning romance author for Harlequin American. A graduate of Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, Laura lives in New York with her family.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Cozy Mystery

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 6, 2012

About the author

Aka Elizabeth Lynn Casey.

While spending a rainy afternoon at a friend's house nearly forty years ago, Laura Bradford fell in love with writing over a stack of blank paper, a box of crayons, and a freshly sharpened number two pencil.

Those early attempts at the craft had her writing and illustrating stories for young children. Wise beyond her years, Laura saved her first writing attempt in a hand decorated shoe box (complete with sparkly stickers) and moved on to her next idea. Her second book—O’Casey’s Wish—was so utterly brilliant, she sent it off to a well-known New York publishing house at the tender age of ten, confident she was on the verge of becoming the next Don Freeman (Corduroy) or Shel Silverstein (Giving Tree).

Months later, she received her first form letter rejection.

While she wasn’t of the mindset to save that first crushing blow for posterity, Laura did save the original copy of this particular literary masterpiece in the event the letter was a mistake.

Desperate to prove her flexibility as a writer, Laura soon found herself dabbling in jokes (for her Girl Scout troop’s newsletter), stories of angst (a somewhat autobiographical look at her teenage years), movie reviews (for the Xavier University Newswire), and countless news and feature articles (for newspapers in CT, SC, TN, and MO).

It wasn’t until Laura was home raising children of her own though, that she was finally able to dust off that rainy day dream and bring it back to its original form—writing fiction. Today, she is a bestselling mystery author with Berkley Prime Crime (Penguin Publishing), and an award winning romance author with Harlequin American. She lives in New York with her family.

Oh, and if you meet Laura at a book event in the future, ask her about O’Casey’s Wish. It tends to travel with her everywhere she goes.

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, sometimes I felt the mystery was getting buried but then it would come to the front again. I love how Elise pieced the clues together, when a writer is killed with a past of being present during a bank robbery, it was an interesting twist. I love the characters in this series all unique and easy to distinguish. They mystery was good, I had an idea who but couldn't piece it together until Elise did. I will continue on with this series.

[The Bookworm Girl Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy how Laura draws the reader in by creating a full cast of dynamic characters. She also is excellent at writing small town, cozy vibes. This story was superb in both of those ways! I absolutely adore her Amish Mystery series because these reasons.

However, this book fell a little flat for me. Some of the characters made some concerning comments/innuendos, which I didn’t appreciate. There was a reference to a character viewing p**n but it turned out to be a joke. I still didn’t appreciate it. Also, there was some swearing and the use of the J word, which I did not like at all.


I will definitely try her other books and continue to rave about her Amish series!

[Nancy Finley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the series. Had to finish it in one day. Looking forward to another one.

[Karen Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes several twists and turns and makes it hard to figure out who did it until the end. It is one of those stories that stays with you.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

another enjoyable book

Another enjoyable book in this series. Loved the characters and how everyone ties together. Good story and mystery and setting.

[Lesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how she takes me with her into the story

[Apollonia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This third entry in the Jenkins & Burns series had its moments. Overall, though, it did not feel like a mystery. Too much time given over to praising the benefits of writing. How wonderful writing is to get over traumas and just about everything else. This may be the case, but I do not want it to be the major issue in a mystery.
The murderer's identity was very clear to me from early on. The way he/she was found out was totally ridiculous and not credible at all.
It could have been a better book if the attention had been focused more on the case itself.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elise Jenkins starts a creative writing course, and a day after her first class, the teacher is murdered. Can the clue be found in a sample of writing she shared with the class? Is there a link with the series of petty robberies plaguing the town? Elise's fiancé, Mitch Burns has his hands full with these cases, and Elise is reporting on them for her local newspaper. Beautiful setting, realistic and sympathetic characters, twisted, devious plot, fast pacing, and smooth prose make this an enjoyable Must-Read!

[Lanelibrarylady · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good murder-mystery about a writing teacher who witnessed a bank robbery as a young girl, then is found murdered as a young adult. The main character (a newspaper journalist) and her beau (a detective)collaborate to solve the case. Kept my interest, especially since I was trapped in a car during a 5 1/2 hour ride to the Cape!

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is probably the last I will read of this series. It is becoming too much romance for me and the main character is unbelievably sickening sweet. However, it was a quick and not unpleasant read and thus the two stars.