Rapid Death: A Small Town Mystery

The Desert Pines Mystery #2

by Julie Titterington

After a year marked by murder and mayhem, Dr. Jane McLaren is ready for a little normality. Life may not be perfect, but between two blossoming careers, good friends, and more than enough family, she has everything she needs to stay out of trouble.

Things aren’t always as they appear, though. Not even in the sleepy resort town of Desert Pines, Oregon, where the bodies are stacking up again like so much cordwood.

Old wounds are re-opened when Jane is called out to examine the body of an unpopular whitewater rafting guide, whose murky identity and odd behavior have sparked an almost supernatural dread in the residents of Desert Pines. Once more, Jane must partner with Detective Joe Connor to catch a killer.

Faced with menacing out-of-towners, an improbable theft, and an increasingly hair-raising mystery, Jane is forced to call for help from an unlikely source. But can she solve the case before anyone else gets hurt? Or will her own trauma get between her and the truth?

Genres: Cozy Mystery

357 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2023

About the author

Julie Titterington is an author, essayist, and editor who lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley. When she's not hanging out with her husband and three children, she can be found baking, eating, and reading mysteries from the Golden Age, in that order.

Reviews

[Anissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good follow-up to the first in the series. I am going to give Jane all kinds of credit. She started off as the annoyingly typical small business owner in cozy mysteries who is not tending to their business, complains or worries about their finances and then gives away profits in freebies to pretty much everyone. I have been grumbling for years about these ladies in otherwise fun cozies. Well, Jane did the smart thing and handed over the management of her business to a very together employee who reliably shows up there daily. I yelled at the book early to do that and cheered when that finally happened.

I thought this took an unnecessarily long time to find out two pivotal things that gave big clues to the case, mostly because the stalls felt artificial and I would have expected someone to opine given the set-up. That pulled my star rating down but I really did enjoy this overall. It took me longer than usual as I was travelling and busy but I did think about it in the interim. I will happily read the next in the series. More seasonal reads!

I read this via Kindle Unlimited.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rapid Death by Julie Titterington centers on the investigation into the deaths of Jessica and Megan Kinneman. A detective named Joe and Jane, a doctor and businesswoman, team up to investigate if the deaths are accidental or if there is a murder on the loose. Jessica and Megan's bodies were recovered from the river on different days, with each having a different cause of death: one was strangled, and the other drowned. Initially, the drowning was ruled an accident, but further investigation revealed both girls were murdered. During the course of the investigation, two more deaths occur with no arrests made because three of the perpetrators are dead, and one is protected by a powerful individual.

Set in Desert Pines, Rapid Death is the second installment in this compelling, cozy mystery novel series. The author takes readers deep into the theme of emotional control. The plot uncovers that most deaths in the story are driven by anger. Megan, a thief in debt, is not killed by the mobster she stole from or the business owners she owed money to; instead, her killer is provoked by her unapologetic attitude and perceived lack of remorse. Similarly, Jessica’s killer is driven by feelings of betrayal and anger. Both perpetrators allow their emotions to dictate their actions, leading them to murder instead of rationally addressing the situation. Titterington skillfully explores the destructive power of unchecked emotions. However, there are moments in the narrative where the “show, don’t tell” technique could have been better utilized to allow readers a deeper connection to the character's motives. This is a minor drawback to the well-organized and executed plot surrounding the mystery.

Rapid Death by Julie Titterington is a gripping mystery that keeps readers engaged with its intricate plot and exploration of emotional turmoil. Titterington's storytelling prowess is evident, and the character-building is well done. This cozy mystery novel is a captivating and engaging read for mystery enthusiasts.

[Debbie Orazi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a amateur sleuth cozy mystery.

This was a brilliantly written story! It was a bit confusing at first with all the characters being introduced but as soon as the clues began to be woven together into a cohesive story, I was breathless to find out then ending. Highly recommend! Must read!

Dr. Jane McLaren owns the only cafe in Desert Pines Village, Hot Lava Java, consults for the police, and is a partner in the Desert Pines Health Clinic with her grandfather Harry. One of her baristas, Avery Yang, is crying because her roommate Jessica Kinneman skipped out owing her money & left her belongings and Avery doesn't have enough to cover rent. After Avery's apartment is broken into, Jane has her stay with her for her safety. Detective Joe Connor brings Jane with him to a call about finding a body in the river. The body gets identified as Jessica by her boyfriend Ryan Peters another cop. The police are more baffled a few days later when another body is found in the river who is identical to Jessica.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Joseph Rein · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Rapid Death, Titterington takes us back to Desert Pines for another mystery, but in the way of the best sequels, this book wonderfully expands the world.

The mystery begins when Jessica, the flaky roommate of one of Jane’s employees, goes missing with an oversized canoe. None of the details add up. Joe (who returns as the detective/Jane’s love interest) enlists Jane again to assist, and as the details unfold—including a big-bad antagonist from out of town, mistaken identities, and more—the plot keeps twisting in ways I didn’t anticipate.

Jane returns as our wily protagonist, and it was great seeing her shine here. She’s now taken on duties as both doctor (during a flu outbreak no less) and coffee shop owner, along with sleuthing. Her strength really shines through in this second book. And seeing her relationship progress with Joe is a highlight too. Their chemistry is undeniable.

The writing here has become more confident in itself—there are some really great asides about small-life moments that make you laugh, smile, think. Desert Pines has quickly become one of my favorite places to discover.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Complex Cozy Mystery
This book is the second in the authors Desert Pines series, and I loved it even more than the first book. I don’t always like when the point of view switches between characters, but I thoroughly enjoy the way Ms. Titterington employs this device. To have certain chapters written so you know what the other characters are thinking adds layers to the mystery and is a clever way of revealing motives to the reader without the main character’s knowledge. There were a lot of twists and turns and I’m glad that everything was explained in detail at the end! I was hooked from the first chapter and hope that there will be more books in this series. (That last sentence teaser…) I received a free copy of this book via BookSprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[JJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book 2 in the series.
The author has given us a very twisty tale after a body is found in a river. Seems no-one liked the deceased, she caused trouble wherever she went. But this is not just a straightforward who-dun-it, many more characters come into play and nothing makes sense for a long time.
The main characters are very well drawn and very likeable.
Jane has an expanding family circle as her father comes to town to help out. I also love the fact that Jane and Joe are so in tune with each other.
Very enjoyable series.

[Skater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous

Ms. Titterington has crafted another outstanding story, filled with twists and turns and nothing is straight forward. The characters are great, the setting provides lots of opportunity for adventures. I really love this series and am so disappointed that there are only two books available. I do hope there will be more in the works.

[Cheryl Bourdet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly twisted tale

So many possibilities and so many surprises make this story quite interesting. Makes the reader realize that what you see isn’t always what it actually is!Very well written!

[Megan Michie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I enjoy sequels and book series and this was a fantastic 2nd book with the same main characters. I love the plot twists this author is now known for and it keeps you guessing till the end.