Murder Most Mellow

Kate Jasper #3

by Jaqueline Girdner

After a messy homicide case involving her "ex" and a break-up with her new boyfriend, Kate decides to tap into some positive energy by hosting a support group--in the hot tub, of course. It's the perfect California scene. Until one of her New Age pals turns up mellowed out and murdered in the jacuzzi.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Cozy Mystery

1 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

aka Claire Daniels

Jaki Girdner lives, works, practices tai chi, and eats her vegetables in Marin County, California, along with her favourite computer peripheral, Famous Spouse Gregory Booi.

Series:
* Kate Jasper

Reviews

[audrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not just regular terrible. Fancy terrible.

Not one single likeable or relatable character in the book and a protagonist who investigates an acquaintance's death...because it's something to do, I guess? That was never really explained. Theoretically, Kate runs a business, and she does say she works 60-hour weeks, but during the course of the book she spends about four hours total on her business, so good luck there, lady.

There's also another character who investigates because it amuses him. Nothing really happens there, then after a while he stops, so... good?

The story takes place in Marin, and there's absolutely no one and nothing about the place that comes off as redeemable or pleasant. It really feels like the author had an axe to grind with the whole place.

But the nail in the coffin was that most heinous of detective story faux-pas: the detective gets a clue that isn't shared with the reader, from which she figures out whodunnit.

Murder most ridiculous.

[Sandra Holladay · Rating 3 out of 5]

No clue why Sergeant Feiffer took Kate into Sarah’s house to ask her a couple of questions then escorted her back outside. Should have kept her outside to ask questions, didn’t really need the privacy. And the way Kate is acting around dead bodies, you’d think she hadn’t seen any before.

The ex-husband, Craig, is something, not sure what, but something. He must think Kate is either stupid or really gullible to think she’d go back to him after he left her for another woman.

I also, can’t understand why Wayne is pushing so hard for Kate to marry him. My gosh, she hadn’t been divorced that long, give her room to breathe and get used to the idea; especially since it had been an unhappy marriage.

The story itself is a fairly good read, enjoyable and entertaining.

[JoAnn Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny how her ex keeps popping up! They finally divorce in book 2 but there he is in book 3 trying to woo her back (he doesn't) while her current love is MIA! Another murder keeps her active but almost kills her too - except for a fluke! She sympathizes with the killer - a friend and employee - and gets the confession without getting hurt!

[Paul Marcos · Rating 1 out of 5]

Somehow I ended up with this book purchased and on my Kindle so I read it. The only saving grace is that it's short and a fast read. The characters are paper thin, the story is simplistic, and the phrasing is repetitive. I didn't realize at first that it was written in the mid-90's, which brought a charming pre-internet nostalgia full of cassette answering machines, VCRs, and hand written letters. Beyond that, there's nothing here that captured my interest.

[K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you know Marin County, then everything in these series will be amusing and funny. And disturbingly all too real! Love them.