Jurassic Jemma and the Trail of Evil

by John J. Delaney

When your life seems perfect do you ever think about what might be around the next corner?

With a loving husband, two lovely children and a new grandchild, 'Jurassic' Jemma's life is complete but evil is watching from afar with envious eyes.

After one excavation solved an old family mystery, her next discovery ended up with a death on a Dorset cliff.

Join Jemma on an international quest in pursuit of the evil that threatens her family life.

Will her life ever be the same?

A gripping tale of intrigue and suspense.

300 pages, Hardcover

Published November 20, 2024

About the author

Since 1999 John has written plots for forty murder mystery party games (boxed and downloadable) with considerable worldwide sales, mainly in the UK and USA. The games are all now available as downloadable games from www.playmurdermystery.com.
John has written the book for three musicals (Directions, Dream Home and 68 The Musical ) and a pantomime. Directions had its world premiere at the Lichfield Garrick in 2015 and 68 the Musical had its world premiere in Leeds in 2023. He has also written the libretto for an opera called Tir na Nog composed by Oliver Davis and one of the arias from the piece, This Mortal Man, was included on Oliver’s album Solace, which reached number 1 on the Classical charts in the UK and number 18 on the USA Billboard chart.
John published his first novel, A Dangerous Fossil in 2022. It is a mystery/thriller which features sassy fossil hunter ‘Jurassic’ Jemma Thorne. A tale of discovery, greed and murder set on Dorset’s Jurassic coast. After a great response to his first book John has now released a sequel called Jurassic Jemma and the Mysteries of Time, with more adventures for Jemma and her dog Dino. The third instalment in the trilogy, Jurassic Jemma and the Trail of Evil has now been published

Reviews

[Kez Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an intense finale!
Mother and daughter duo have their hands full with young kids, documentary filming, and trying to adjust after the last few months of torment from the Fletcher family. They've faced kidnap, murder attempts, being framed from crimes, death of loved ones, and relationship chaos and trauma.
Just when they think events have calmed down, their enemy resurfaces and they are fighting for their lives once again.
It is packed full of manipulation, corrupt schemes and dangerous characters hatching plans of vengeance from across seas.
Helen Fletcher will bribe, blackmail and kill to get revenge on Jemma and her family, and this time she's got a new evil scheme in mind.
With the Police investigations restricted, Jemma and co must embark on a daring rescue mission.
This was filled with action and suspense, and was a brilliant conclusion to the mystery series.

[Nadine-Sue Sargent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read the first book in the series so missed that bit of the backstory, however, this is a good standalone book.

Jemma and her family seem to have a load of bad luck due to their links with the Fletchers. Fortunately, they remain steadfast and manage to get ahead but not without a whole load of stress and a bit of a adventure too!

There's a lot of detail in this and you can see how Helen manages to keep things going to her advantage. She's a loathsome creature who is far too greedy for her own good. I think she seriously underestimates everyone around her. I think she's also far too confident in her abilities and this leads to her undoing!! Definitely a fast-paced adventure with a great ending!!

[Lily Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free eARC of this book, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

In Jurassic Jemma and the Trail of Evil, we continue to follow Jemma Thorne’s life after her narrow escape from the clutches of death in book 2. She begins to film a new series of ‘The Rock Detectives’ and hopes her life with her husband, daughter, son and new grandchild will start to settle down, but Helen Fletcher is planning her revenge.

I have been looking forward to reading the last book in the Jurassic Jemma trilogy for nearly a year, and let me tell you - it did NOT disappoint!! John D. Delaney sure knows how to pack a book full of action, with plot twists and turns so extreme you’d better hold on to your seat. The Trail of Evil is such a fast-paced book and contains so many incredible moments it’s hard to believe at times, yet not a single second of the book is badly thought out or confusing. I absolutely loved getting to know Jemma and Ellie more, as they are incredible FMCs. Helen Fletcher was a wonderful addition to the story, with her incredibly disgusting behaviour and thoughts surprising (not limited to literally going to the ends of the earth to reclaim what she perceives as her own), but not hard to believe. John has packed in an adventure, crime, romance and history into just over 400 pages and I’m in awe of his writing. The ONLY thing I could ask for - is more! I have no idea what I’m going to do without Jemma’s crazy story in my life.

At 429 pages long, this took me just over 3 hours to read. I highly recommend the series to any action/adventure/geology/dinosaur/crime fan out there (trust me, I think everyone should read it!).

10/10

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fletcher family is one family I would not want to tangle with. They are violent, use money to bribe officials and hold a grudge. As any mother would be, Helen is angered that her boys were taken from her. She does not see that the brothers would still be around if not for their nefarious deeds. Jemma and her family think they are safe now. What they do not know is that their life is about to get turned upside down again. This family sure has a run of bad luck. Every time the reader thinks things are going to be better for Jemma; another situation happens that requires Jemma to rely on her strong personality and family to find a solution. The action in this book was spectacular. The race on the hill between both groups was written so well that I could easily imagine how close the drop off was to the car. This book was a wonderful example of a great mystery. The cliffhangers keep the reader wanting more of this persevering family and some more fossil hunting!

[Hannah Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to have heard from the author that this book was out! I thoroughly enjoyed the previous two so had high expectations for this one and he did not disappoint!

I was reading this every chance I got and the last hour or so of reading I was absolutely hooked and could not put it down for anything!

Being from Dorset myself I adore reading books based in the area and this series has been amazing and definitely worth the 5 star rating!

[BookishDramas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping and emotional finale with a fierce heroine and a villain you’ll love to hate

Jurassic Jemma and the Trail of Evil is the third book in John J. Delaney’s action-packed mystery series, and it wraps things up with plenty of suspense, danger, and emotional twists. While it’s part of an ongoing story, you don’t need to have read the first two to enjoy this one, there’s enough backstory to get you caught up without feeling lost.

Jemma and her daughter are still trying to rebuild their lives after a whirlwind of trauma: kidnappings, being framed for crimes, tragic losses, and relationship fallout. Just when things start to calm down, their old enemy Helen Fletcher returns and she’s more dangerous than ever. Operating from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Helen will do whatever it takes to get revenge. Bribery, blackmail, even murder, nothing’s off the table. She’s the kind of villain who makes your skin crawl, while her sidekick Malek adds an interesting, more conflicted dynamic.

What really stands out is how readable and fast-paced the story is. Jemma remains a strong, resilient lead, and it’s easy to root for her as the stakes rise. There’s plenty of action, emotional depth, and just enough twists to keep the pages turning. I especially liked the dynamics between the core characters -Jemma’s family (and their dog, Dino) are easy to connect with, and their bond gives the story heart.

One thing I missed a little this time around was the fossil and Jurassic coastline elements that featured more in the earlier books. Those gave the series a unique flavor, and it would’ve been great to see more of that here. But honestly, it’s a small bump in an otherwise gripping finale.

Whether you’re a long-time fan or jumping in for the first time, this book offers a well-told, high-stakes thriller with a strong female lead, a chilling villain, and lots of twists. It’s a great pick for adults and older teens, especially those who love fast-paced mysteries with a human edge. I enjoyed the story.

[alisdiscovers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jurassic Jemma and The Trail of Evil is the third instalment in John J Delaney’s gripping Jurassic Jemma series. While it’s part of an ongoing saga, it can be read as a standalone, making it accessible to both new readers and long-time fans. As a devoted reader of crime, mystery, and thriller novels, I was eager to read this next insalment, revisiting familiar characters and their evolving dynamics.
One of the strengths of this book is its steady and well-paced storytelling. From the start, it’s clear that the characters—both those I’ve come to love and those I love to loathe—are as compelling as ever. Jemma, the strong and formidable protagonist, remains a force to be reckoned with, driving the narrative forward with her determination and resilience.
That said, one aspect I did miss was the fossil and Jurassic coastline elements, which were more prominent in the previous books. These details added a unique touch to the series, and I would have loved to see more of them here. However, this minor omission didn’t detract from the engaging and well-woven plot. As the story progressed, the tension escalated, and the pacing picked up, turning it into a true page-turner.
Jurassic Jemma and The Trail of Evil delivers a thrilling mystery, well-developed characters, and a plot that keeps you hooked until the very last page. While I missed some of the distinctive elements of the earlier books, this instalment still packed plenty of action and intrigue. If you enjoy crime thrillers with a strong female lead, this series—and this book—are well worth adding to your reading list!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jurassic Jemma and the Trail of Evil is the final installment in this series by John J. Delaney, and having had the pleasure of reading all three books, I can confidently say it’s a fitting conclusion. This one picks up with Jemma Thorne—a fossil hunter, mother, grandmother, and wife—eager to settle into a peaceful life in the seaside town of Lulcombe, England, alongside her husband and young son. Her grown daughter, Ellie, and granddaughter live next door. All seems set for a quiet, happy life, but peace is quickly disrupted when Jemma becomes the target of a vengeful plot.

Delaney excels at creating relatable, well-developed characters that feel like family, each adding depth to the story and enriching the relationships, motivations, and drama. The female antagonist stands out as particularly memorable—someone you love to hate—adding an exciting layer of tension to the plot.

The pacing is spot-on, with plenty of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat, while maintaining an inviting atmosphere. Delaney offers neatly packaged clues throughout, leading to a satisfying conclusion that ties up loose ends and leaves you with a sense of fulfillment.

Jurassic Jemma and the Trail of Evil is a delightful blend of intrigue, heart, and clever storytelling, making it a must-read for fans of the mystery-suspense genre. While it can be enjoyed as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the entire series to fully appreciate the depth and richness of Jemma's journey. A solid 5-star recommendation from me.

[Allie Cresswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in the Jurassic Jemma series but those unfamiliar with the previous adventures of this fossil hunter need not worry. The book has enough backstory to get the reader right up to speed.
I took immediately to the characters of Jemma, her husband and daughter, and Dino, of course, their faithful hound. And there is lots to deliciously loathe in Helen, the arch villainess of the story; she is rotten and twisted through and through. Malek, her toy-boy sidekick is more nuanced, but unfortunately too tempted by Helen’s wealth and the other fringe benefits on offer to listen to his conscience.
Helen has a score to settle with Jemma, and begins to hatch her evil plan from the safety of the Turkish end of Cyprus (the TRNC). She will use any means—and anyone—to get what she wants, and the geo-political isolation of TRNC only abets her scheme.
The story was fast-paced, with not too much palaeontology to confuse this ignoramus, as Helen and Jemma’s worlds are set on collision course.
I’d recommend this book for older teenagers, especially those who are reluctant readers, as the writing style is very accessible. And also for adults who enjoy a well told tale with plenty of thrills and spills.

[kerry turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfortunately I read this one first which was the 3rd book of the series so I missed a lot of the back story, however it didn’t matter, most of the story was explained at the start which filled in the gaps. This is a very far fetched story, I can’t believe so much bad luck can happen to one family. However that said I did race through it. It was full of great characters, there was suspense and adventure, it was very well written. I loved the family bond and was perfectly happy with the ending. Overall I would recommend this book and author.

[Rossella Cottrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read.
Having thoroughly enjoyed the previous two books in John's trilogy I had high hopes for this book and I wasn't disappointed.
It's a really fast paced story and I was on the edge of my seat. I couldn't put the book down.
You can read this book as a stand alone story but I would recommend also reading the previous books so you can completely engage with the characters.
Thanks for another great read, John.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the adventures once again. Good to have Dave's involvement briefly. I did stay up too late to finish the final chapters.

[J BROWN · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. I’ve also read the first two books in this trilogy. This was a good follow up to them. I’m looking forward to seeing what John Delaney’s next book will be about!