What do you think?
Rate this book
Elle Harrison Thriller #2
Elective Procedures
Elle Harrison is back! She and her pals Jen, Becky, and Susan travel to Mexico where Jen has arranged cosmetic surgery, after which she will recover in a plush hotel suite. But more is going on at the hotel than tummy tucks. Soon after they arrive, Elle sees the woman in the suite next door fall from her sixth floor balcony. When the room is later occupied by another patient, Elle finds her brutally mutilated body on that same balcony. Police question Elle as the last person to see these women alive. Their doctor also takes an interest in Elle; a woman staying at the hotel asks Elle to help her fend off a creepy stalker; a veiled woman sneaks into Elle's suite at night, and her late husband, Charlie, reappears (or Elle imagines that he does) when Elle gets pushed under water in the ocean and nearly drowns. As dangers swirl and intensify, Elle is forced to face her unresolved issues with Charlie, even as she races to find the connections between killings before more patients-including Jen-can be murdered. And before she herself becomes prey.
282 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2014
7 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Merry Jones
25 books101 followersAKA Merry Bloch Jones.
Merry Jones is a Book Excellence Award Finalist in Suspense (What You Don't Know), and a Best Book Award winner from American Book Festival (Child's Play.) She has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil. "If I don't write," she says, "over time, I get agitated and irritable, as if energy is building up inside and I have to let it out."
Accordingly, over the years, she has written a wide range of material, in a variety of styles and for diverse media. She began her career by spending about fifteen years writing and producing video and multi-media for corporate clients, but, when her second child was born in 1989, she decided to pursue her passion and began to write books.
Series:
* Zoe Hayes Mystery
Merry Jones is a Book Excellence Award Finalist in Suspense (What You Don't Know), and a Best Book Award winner from American Book Festival (Child's Play.) She has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil. "If I don't write," she says, "over time, I get agitated and irritable, as if energy is building up inside and I have to let it out."
Accordingly, over the years, she has written a wide range of material, in a variety of styles and for diverse media. She began her career by spending about fifteen years writing and producing video and multi-media for corporate clients, but, when her second child was born in 1989, she decided to pursue her passion and began to write books.
Series:
* Zoe Hayes Mystery
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Read
December 28, 2016What an adventure at a private resort in Mexico for Elle and her friends as they deal with mayhem, betrayal, jealousy, obsession, adultery, surgical recovery, and murder. Oh, and love. Definitely an interesting group of BFFs! They all traveled to this particular place so that one of the friends could have plastic surgery as the hotel caters to the clinic patients.
Elle apparently has some sort of aura, or so the fortune teller told, that attracts dead people -- which is meant to explain why she continues to see and hear Charlie, her husband, who was murdered in the first book of the series. She gets herself involved in the intrigue after she witnesses the woman in the next suite plunge to her death 6 stories below. Her friends, Susan, Jen, and Becky, all have a tangential place in the action but mostly it is Elle and her strange "absent states" and lots of stream of consciousness inner dialog. The ending is not surprising and I'd not say this was really a suspense thriller, but it was a fast and entertaining read. I'm not sure I like Elle as a character and she got on my nerves -- amazed she survived all her injuries and attempts on her life!
I have the third book in this series (this one was the second) and I'll get to it eventually. Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the e-book to review.
Elle apparently has some sort of aura, or so the fortune teller told, that attracts dead people -- which is meant to explain why she continues to see and hear Charlie, her husband, who was murdered in the first book of the series. She gets herself involved in the intrigue after she witnesses the woman in the next suite plunge to her death 6 stories below. Her friends, Susan, Jen, and Becky, all have a tangential place in the action but mostly it is Elle and her strange "absent states" and lots of stream of consciousness inner dialog. The ending is not surprising and I'd not say this was really a suspense thriller, but it was a fast and entertaining read. I'm not sure I like Elle as a character and she got on my nerves -- amazed she survived all her injuries and attempts on her life!
I have the third book in this series (this one was the second) and I'll get to it eventually. Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the e-book to review.
August 31, 2017
this book was fun as well as exciting and surprising!
March 9, 2016
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
http://audiothing.blogspot.com.au
My Review
The story begins in Mexico where we discover Elle in a very dangerous, perilous predicament, we then flash back to several days prior to the trip, Becky and Elle are on their way to a girls night out, Becky has the hankering to consult with a fortune teller who tells her she is about to meet her special man. Against her better judgement, Elle was persuaded to also have a reading where she was given a strange but vague forecast:
"If you are wise, you will protect yourself", Elle immediately assumes the fortune teller is referring to the dead.
"You are stronger than you think, this is why they come to you"
Back to Mexico, where, as the blurb tells us, Jen has undergone her plastic surgery, despite having a private nurse to attend her, she constantly calls upon her friends to pander to her real and imagined needs. Jen is a bit of a fool, or else her surgeon omitted to gain an informed consent because she seems to have had no idea that undergoing invasive surgery, by its very nature, involves a degree of post operative discomfort. She does not suffer it well and there are some amusing passages involving her petulant demands and the begrudging responses of her friends!
The scenario set, the story then takes us back to the opening passage of the book, which, as it turns out, is Elles' attempt to save the life of the female stranger in the adjoining hotel room, a failed attempt. The woman's death quickly turns in to a police inquiry, where Elles explanation of the sequence of events is viewed as being an unlikely story by the investigating officer. Many strange occurrences follow, she can't help but recall the fortune tellers prediction. Sometimes it seems easy to believe that Elle is, indeed, quite mad, she has conversations with her dead ex husband (who is, as it happens, quite the voice of reason). She reports some strange goings on, both to her friends and to the police,which are always disproved or discredited to the point where even she wonders what is real.
Amidst all the mystery, Elle finds herself attracted to a very handsome fella, Jens' surgeon, and he gives every indication that she is very special to him, yet Elles' lack of self esteem prevents her from believing his feelings are genuine. Meanwhile, Becky, having found her dream man is getting on everyone's nerves by vacillating between her euphoria and her fears of losing him.
This story has many layers, many threads, A little humour, a nod to the paranormal, romance, moments of trepidation and, of course, mystery. I didn't, however, feel much affinity for Elle, some of her actions seemed out of sync with her character as I understood it. She certainly made some unexpected, not to say slightly improbable moves, to be truthful, I'm not sure I really liked her all that much. The group of girls worked well I thought, with their differing characteristics and, despite their little squabbles, all came through for each other, just as friends do. I'd be happy to read more of their adventures.
Narrator
Read by Cindy Pillar who I have previously had the pleasure of listening to. I said "read" but Cindy is more than a reader, she knows how to tell a tale and, as such, does any author the huge favour of making the best of the characters. She has a pleasing, easy to listen to voice, excellent characterisations, I particularly enjoyed our petulant patient, Jen. Cindy does a good creepy and chilling too!
This audiobook was provided by the publisher, author or narrator in return for an honest review
http://audiothing.blogspot.com.au
My Review
The story begins in Mexico where we discover Elle in a very dangerous, perilous predicament, we then flash back to several days prior to the trip, Becky and Elle are on their way to a girls night out, Becky has the hankering to consult with a fortune teller who tells her she is about to meet her special man. Against her better judgement, Elle was persuaded to also have a reading where she was given a strange but vague forecast:
"If you are wise, you will protect yourself", Elle immediately assumes the fortune teller is referring to the dead.
"You are stronger than you think, this is why they come to you"
Back to Mexico, where, as the blurb tells us, Jen has undergone her plastic surgery, despite having a private nurse to attend her, she constantly calls upon her friends to pander to her real and imagined needs. Jen is a bit of a fool, or else her surgeon omitted to gain an informed consent because she seems to have had no idea that undergoing invasive surgery, by its very nature, involves a degree of post operative discomfort. She does not suffer it well and there are some amusing passages involving her petulant demands and the begrudging responses of her friends!
The scenario set, the story then takes us back to the opening passage of the book, which, as it turns out, is Elles' attempt to save the life of the female stranger in the adjoining hotel room, a failed attempt. The woman's death quickly turns in to a police inquiry, where Elles explanation of the sequence of events is viewed as being an unlikely story by the investigating officer. Many strange occurrences follow, she can't help but recall the fortune tellers prediction. Sometimes it seems easy to believe that Elle is, indeed, quite mad, she has conversations with her dead ex husband (who is, as it happens, quite the voice of reason). She reports some strange goings on, both to her friends and to the police,which are always disproved or discredited to the point where even she wonders what is real.
Amidst all the mystery, Elle finds herself attracted to a very handsome fella, Jens' surgeon, and he gives every indication that she is very special to him, yet Elles' lack of self esteem prevents her from believing his feelings are genuine. Meanwhile, Becky, having found her dream man is getting on everyone's nerves by vacillating between her euphoria and her fears of losing him.
This story has many layers, many threads, A little humour, a nod to the paranormal, romance, moments of trepidation and, of course, mystery. I didn't, however, feel much affinity for Elle, some of her actions seemed out of sync with her character as I understood it. She certainly made some unexpected, not to say slightly improbable moves, to be truthful, I'm not sure I really liked her all that much. The group of girls worked well I thought, with their differing characteristics and, despite their little squabbles, all came through for each other, just as friends do. I'd be happy to read more of their adventures.
Narrator
Read by Cindy Pillar who I have previously had the pleasure of listening to. I said "read" but Cindy is more than a reader, she knows how to tell a tale and, as such, does any author the huge favour of making the best of the characters. She has a pleasing, easy to listen to voice, excellent characterisations, I particularly enjoyed our petulant patient, Jen. Cindy does a good creepy and chilling too!
This audiobook was provided by the publisher, author or narrator in return for an honest review
January 29, 2016
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Elle Harrison is back! She and her pals Jen, Becky, and Susan travel to Mexico where Jen has arranged cosmetic surgery, after which she will recover in a plush hotel suite. But more is going on at the hotel than tummy tucks. Soon after they arrive, Elle sees the woman in the suite next door fall from her sixth floor balcony. When the room is later occupied by another patient, Elle finds her brutally mutilated body on that same balcony. Police question Elle as the last person to see these women alive. Their doctor also takes an interest in Elle; a woman staying at the hotel asks Elle to help her fend off a creepy stalker; a veiled woman sneaks into Elle’s suite at night, and her late husband, Charlie, reappears (or Elle imagines that he does) when Elle gets pushed under water in the ocean and nearly drowns. As dangers swirl and intensify, Elle is forced to face her unresolved issues with Charlie, even as she races to find the connections between killings before more patients—including Jen—can be murdered. And before she herself becomes prey.
I remember reading The River Killings by this author a number of years ago and have a vague memory of it being pretty decent so when I saw this on eon Net Galley, I decided to go back and see if she was still writing to the same standard.
...and it was alright. I know that sounds like a cop-out but that's about the enthusiasm level I had when I finished the last page - "That was alright." It's not meant to be condescending or anything of that nature, it just happened to be 'alright'!
And it's a shame, too, as the mystery part of the book was pretty good, the writing itself was clean and certainly makes for page-turning.
I think the biggest problem I had with the book was Elle - I made no connection with her and found myself, at times, hoping that bad things would happen to her. Also, the re-appearing dead husband just felt like filler to try and get some traction with the paranormal mystery crowd.
All up, it was an alright book with a few flaws that made this a 3 star story.
Paul
ARH
Elle Harrison is back! She and her pals Jen, Becky, and Susan travel to Mexico where Jen has arranged cosmetic surgery, after which she will recover in a plush hotel suite. But more is going on at the hotel than tummy tucks. Soon after they arrive, Elle sees the woman in the suite next door fall from her sixth floor balcony. When the room is later occupied by another patient, Elle finds her brutally mutilated body on that same balcony. Police question Elle as the last person to see these women alive. Their doctor also takes an interest in Elle; a woman staying at the hotel asks Elle to help her fend off a creepy stalker; a veiled woman sneaks into Elle’s suite at night, and her late husband, Charlie, reappears (or Elle imagines that he does) when Elle gets pushed under water in the ocean and nearly drowns. As dangers swirl and intensify, Elle is forced to face her unresolved issues with Charlie, even as she races to find the connections between killings before more patients—including Jen—can be murdered. And before she herself becomes prey.
I remember reading The River Killings by this author a number of years ago and have a vague memory of it being pretty decent so when I saw this on eon Net Galley, I decided to go back and see if she was still writing to the same standard.
...and it was alright. I know that sounds like a cop-out but that's about the enthusiasm level I had when I finished the last page - "That was alright." It's not meant to be condescending or anything of that nature, it just happened to be 'alright'!
And it's a shame, too, as the mystery part of the book was pretty good, the writing itself was clean and certainly makes for page-turning.
I think the biggest problem I had with the book was Elle - I made no connection with her and found myself, at times, hoping that bad things would happen to her. Also, the re-appearing dead husband just felt like filler to try and get some traction with the paranormal mystery crowd.
All up, it was an alright book with a few flaws that made this a 3 star story.
Paul
ARH
January 16, 2016
Another great one by Merry Jones! I had read "The Trouble With Charlie" about a year ago and loved it. So I was really looking forward to trying another one by this author. I was not disappointed - I'm a fan! This was a book two to the first "Charlie" book, using the same quirky characters. And same mystery/chick-lit style which I love.
This book is fun, quirky, interesting and suspenseful all the way through. I loved the characters in this book. Elle the main character who spaces out and keeps seeing her dead husband, and her friends Susan - the "mother", Jen, swearing sarcastic rude but hilarious, and Becky a bit naive and desperately wanting to fall in love. A great group of friends, I loved them all for different reasons. Their personalities stayed true through the whole book. It was this great cast that really made the book for me.
There is some controversial matter in here concerning plastic surgery which made it very interesting. The mystery kept me guessing all the way! I did have one thing figured out but the rest was all surprise! There was a twist around every corner. The beginning of the book had to have been the most suspenseful, tense beginning I have ever read! Starts you right off with a bang, and is fantastic all the way to the great ending.
This was a great, fun mystery. You do not have to read the first book, this can be read as a stand alone. I can't wait to read another one by Merry Jones.
Thank you "Partners in Crime book tours" for sending me this book for my honest review!
This book is fun, quirky, interesting and suspenseful all the way through. I loved the characters in this book. Elle the main character who spaces out and keeps seeing her dead husband, and her friends Susan - the "mother", Jen, swearing sarcastic rude but hilarious, and Becky a bit naive and desperately wanting to fall in love. A great group of friends, I loved them all for different reasons. Their personalities stayed true through the whole book. It was this great cast that really made the book for me.
There is some controversial matter in here concerning plastic surgery which made it very interesting. The mystery kept me guessing all the way! I did have one thing figured out but the rest was all surprise! There was a twist around every corner. The beginning of the book had to have been the most suspenseful, tense beginning I have ever read! Starts you right off with a bang, and is fantastic all the way to the great ending.
This was a great, fun mystery. You do not have to read the first book, this can be read as a stand alone. I can't wait to read another one by Merry Jones.
Thank you "Partners in Crime book tours" for sending me this book for my honest review!
February 29, 2016
The second book in a new series featuring Elle Harrison. It is considered a paranormal type book because Elle dead husband’s (he was to be her ex-husband) ghost keeps popping up throughout the book. Elle also keeps ‘going to la la land’. Her friends call it ‘doing an Elle’. I did not like many of the characters in the book.
In this book Elle travels with her friends Jen, Becky and Susan to Mexico where Jen plans on having plastic surgery. The doctors at the clinic have worked out a deal with a very posh hotel so their patients can stay and recover. Shortly after arriving at the hotel murder and unusually happens begin to occur. Elle is ‘almost’ the witness to two different murders that happen in the suite next to the one the ‘girls’ are registered in. Many things happen besides the murder-her friend has her surgery and then complains that it hurts, why won’t people help her or understand the pain she’s in; a young woman asks Elle for help with an employee of the hotel that she states is stalking her; a woman in a veil keeps popping up and also goes into Elle’s suite; almost romance with a married man; police officer who doesn’t believe some of what Elle is saying; ghosts keep coming; Elle is nearly drowned.
Lots of quirky/strange characters in the book. An almost unbelievable plot and story line, BUT the book is a good mystery, that will keep your attention.
I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
In this book Elle travels with her friends Jen, Becky and Susan to Mexico where Jen plans on having plastic surgery. The doctors at the clinic have worked out a deal with a very posh hotel so their patients can stay and recover. Shortly after arriving at the hotel murder and unusually happens begin to occur. Elle is ‘almost’ the witness to two different murders that happen in the suite next to the one the ‘girls’ are registered in. Many things happen besides the murder-her friend has her surgery and then complains that it hurts, why won’t people help her or understand the pain she’s in; a young woman asks Elle for help with an employee of the hotel that she states is stalking her; a woman in a veil keeps popping up and also goes into Elle’s suite; almost romance with a married man; police officer who doesn’t believe some of what Elle is saying; ghosts keep coming; Elle is nearly drowned.
Lots of quirky/strange characters in the book. An almost unbelievable plot and story line, BUT the book is a good mystery, that will keep your attention.
I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
July 15, 2014
Elle Harrison is still mourning the loss of her deceased husband Charlie. On a whim she sees a fortune teller who tells Elle that the dead seem to be attracted to her aura. She agrees to go on a trip with three of her friends to Mexico where one of the girls is getting some plastic surgery done in A Mexican resort, Nuevo Vallarta. The story opens with Elle hanging precariously from a balcony in their room after unsuccessfully trying to save a women from going over the edge to her death. The friends had planned to spend time just relaxing and being with each other, doesn't happen though as not only is there one dead woman, there is another one that Elle finds in the next door suite. Someone thinks that Elle knows too much and after a near drowning, she realized that her life is definitely in danger. Plus the fact that Charlie, her dead husband, seems to be appearing to her at certain moments. Does this mean he is trying to warn and protect her?
Elective Procedures is the second book, the first being The Trouble With Charlie. I enjoy this authors writing and have loved both books. I hope there is a third. Past paced, suspenseful, humorous with a cast of characters that will draw you into the story. A great summer read!
I received a copy of this book for review and was not monetarily compensated for my review.
Elective Procedures is the second book, the first being The Trouble With Charlie. I enjoy this authors writing and have loved both books. I hope there is a third. Past paced, suspenseful, humorous with a cast of characters that will draw you into the story. A great summer read!
I received a copy of this book for review and was not monetarily compensated for my review.
October 7, 2014
Novel received courtesy of Goodreads.com giveaway
"Elective Procedures" was about a group of friends who go to Mexico for a week's vacation while one of them gets plastic surgery. Elle is happy to go on vacation except that she and Becky had been to a fortune teller before they left and the visit creeped her out. Madame Theresa told Elle that she attracts the spirits of the dead. After getting to the hotel, Elle tries to stop the woman next door from jumping off the balcony. A couple of nights later, the woman next door is sliced to ribbons. Then Elle starts seeing her dead husband Charlie all over the resort. The murders are solved after someone tries to kill Elle twice.
The characters and plot were different and interesting. I haven't read a mystery that involved plastic surgery before. I enjoyed getting to know each of the women, quirks and all. This is the second book in the series.
"Elective Procedures" was about a group of friends who go to Mexico for a week's vacation while one of them gets plastic surgery. Elle is happy to go on vacation except that she and Becky had been to a fortune teller before they left and the visit creeped her out. Madame Theresa told Elle that she attracts the spirits of the dead. After getting to the hotel, Elle tries to stop the woman next door from jumping off the balcony. A couple of nights later, the woman next door is sliced to ribbons. Then Elle starts seeing her dead husband Charlie all over the resort. The murders are solved after someone tries to kill Elle twice.
The characters and plot were different and interesting. I haven't read a mystery that involved plastic surgery before. I enjoyed getting to know each of the women, quirks and all. This is the second book in the series.
September 25, 2014
My thoughts:
This is the second installment of the Elle Harrison book, the first being The Trouble with Charlie. I was excited to receive and read another Merry Jones book.
In this story Elle is thrust into a mystery that keeps you hanging on page after page. Filled with an interesting mix of characters, Elective Procedures is intriguing. Emotions run strong as Elle and her friends are faced with murder, betrayal, and suspense.
The characters are realistic and easy to invest in - easily leaving the reader wanting to be Elle's friend too. The writing style is engaging and clean, making for a sit down and read cover to cover in one day kind of book. I am looking forward to the next adventure for Elle.
This is the second installment of the Elle Harrison book, the first being The Trouble with Charlie. I was excited to receive and read another Merry Jones book.
In this story Elle is thrust into a mystery that keeps you hanging on page after page. Filled with an interesting mix of characters, Elective Procedures is intriguing. Emotions run strong as Elle and her friends are faced with murder, betrayal, and suspense.
The characters are realistic and easy to invest in - easily leaving the reader wanting to be Elle's friend too. The writing style is engaging and clean, making for a sit down and read cover to cover in one day kind of book. I am looking forward to the next adventure for Elle.
July 28, 2014
This is a good mystery that kept my attention to the last sentence. Love the characters, especially Elle. She accompanies three friends on a trip to Mexico and instantly things begin to happen that make for a very unusual and unrelaxing vacation. Death surrounds her.
Fast paced with a little humor thrown in make this a fun summer read and a vacation like no other.
I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Fast paced with a little humor thrown in make this a fun summer read and a vacation like no other.
I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2014
This booked intrigued me from the cover and kept me interested to uncover the mystery. But did we find the right killer? That was left open and I see another book coming. I liked Elle but Jen is another story. I can do without her language. Many great stories have been told without the use of bad language and even if it is in abbreviation the language taints the story for me. This was a Goodreads Giveaway book and I appreciated the opportunity to read it.
August 8, 2014
Got this as a good reads giveaway and loved it.
Merry Jones has created four memorable women characters, longtime friends who suddenly find themselves embroiled in a multiple murder mystery while in Mexico to support Jen who has decided to have plastic surgery. I absolutely despise any type of spoilers so I will just say the plot kept me guessing till the end and I found it hard to put down until I finished! Definitely a recommended summer read.
Merry Jones has created four memorable women characters, longtime friends who suddenly find themselves embroiled in a multiple murder mystery while in Mexico to support Jen who has decided to have plastic surgery. I absolutely despise any type of spoilers so I will just say the plot kept me guessing till the end and I found it hard to put down until I finished! Definitely a recommended summer read.
October 8, 2014
This is such a bad, bad book. Or is it? I hated it. Or did I? The dialogue was terrible. Or was it? I think I hated it but did I really love it? It might have been a bad book but perhaps it was good? "And there was the ghost Charlie so it seems I was dead again. Damn."
Admittedly, I skipped through it but it was all the same. Truly appalling. And yes, it really was!!!!!!
Admittedly, I skipped through it but it was all the same. Truly appalling. And yes, it really was!!!!!!
July 28, 2014
The book was good. Hoping there is another one to finish where this one left off. At the beginning it seemed like details were repeated. Towards the end it picked up and everything then made sense. All in all I enjoyed the book.
August 26, 2014
The characters, especially Elle, are completely unbelievable in their naiveté and the dialog is ridiculous. There is virtually no plot or suspense. The only thrilling part about this "thriller" was giving up halfway through and starting on a Nele Neuhaus book.
July 22, 2015
Ms. Jones has readers on the edge of their seats from page one!
Read full review in the 2015 July/August issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2015 July/August issue of InD'tale Magazine.
June 26, 2014
Shallow characters, unlikely plot, little suspense. I wouldn't put this at the top of my to-read list.
November 25, 2014
Very disappointing second book in the series which started with The Trouble With Charlie.
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2014/1...
http://opionator.wordpress.com/2014/1...
July 11, 2016
This was a great book.
April 8, 2017
A solid mystery-thriller with well delineated, enjoyable, sometimes-frustrating characters. It's set in an interesting locale in Mexico, where a friend of the protagonist goes for cosmetic surgery. The "superficial female bonding" of the lead characters is interesting, and not something familiar to most men. I certainly don't have three male friends who would accompany me while I had surgery. Do any men? (Aside from Elvis and his entourage!)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews