The Brimstone Murders

Jimmy O'Brien Mystery #3

by Jeff Sherratt

Robbie Farris stabbed his junior college professor twenty-seven times. At his arraignment, Robbie pulls a gun and escapes. After his mother is found murdered in her shabby house trailer, Robbie's lawyer, Jimmy O'Brien, is led into the seemingly unrelated worlds of high-profile, religious evangelism and old-fashioned Mojave Desert borax mining. Jimmy fights the clock, the cops, and the DA in his effort to find and return Robbie before he himself is charged with Section 187…murder in the first degree.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Ebooks, Crime, Murder Mystery, Legal Thriller, Thriller

288 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2007

About the author

Jeff Sherratt is the author of the acclaimed Jimmy O'Brien mystery series. His newest book, DETOUR TO MURDER (2010), is published by ZOVA Books and is the first in the Jimmy O'Brien film noir mystery series.

Jimmy O'Brien's latest exploits are chronicled in EXPECTATION TO MURDER (2010), an exclusive e-book released on July 5, 2010.

Soon after its release, his first novel, THE BRIMSTONE MURDERS (2008) became the bestselling book of all time for Echelon Press. The second, GUILTY OR ELSE (2009) was nominated for the Left Coast Crime Panik Award. Jeff has written nonfiction articles for corporate newsletters and his short stores have been published in H2O Magazine and the anthology, THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT. He is a past board member of Sisters in Crime/LA, and currently a member of Mystery Writers of America.

Jeff has been a speaker at many book events including libraries, various California prisons, and he was the guest speaker at the prestigious Southern California Writers Conference.

He is currently working on his fourth Jimmy O'Brien novel, CYANIDE PERFUME. Jeff lives in Newport Beach, California with his wife, Judy.

Reviews

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I met the author when I walked into the local Barnes & Noble one afternoon. I had no idea who he was at first. After a little discussion on what kind of books I read, he thought I might just like his book.

It's been sitting on my shelf for a couple of months, and while looking for something different to read one night I decided to give it a try. I read it in a day in a half. What was so cool about the book was that it was like reading an old fashioned who dunnit without all the "crap" that many authors use as fillers. You actually could use your own imagination. Something many books don't allow you to do. The next thing was that it had taken place in my hometown of Downey...somewhere I am very familiar with still. So it was real cool that while reading it you could imagine being in Downey and the next minute be on the freeway heading to Reseda Boulevard, or to the ol' Borax Mines in Barstow. I could feel myself being there and seeing those places as they once were in the 70's...or even today. It's a neat feeling. Like you are part of the book. It's a great read for pre-teens/teens...compared to what I see most of what they are reading now.

Now I am about to read his other book, Guilty or Else. I'll post my feelings about that one soon.

[Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story and the main character, Jimmy O'Brien. An entertaining cast of supporting characters added to the story. A definite brain candy book for me because I felt early on as far this was almost an episode of The Rockford Files: early seventies Los Angeles; main character attempted to be mostly a one man operation with friends needing to heavily assist; muscle car. Had fun reading it.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect from the title "The Brimstone Murders". What I got was a fast-paced, gripping mystery set in Southern California over thirty years ago. Jimmy O'Brien is a sympathetic lawyer/detective and I very much enjoyed following his adventures. Jimmy's friends are equally fun to read about, and the villians were suitably nasty. The plot kept me guessing. I knew next to nothing about the setting, so Mr. Sherratt's descriptions were enlightening. I was very pleased to see this book is part of a series, so I can follow Jimmy on more cases. I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to review it.

[Jenny Hilborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jimmy O'Brien is a criminal defense attorney trying to defend his client Robbie Farris, who has already confessed to killing his College Professor. O'Brien must provide Farris with a good defence, despite the evidence against him. When Farris escapes custody at his arraignment, O'Brien finds himself accountable, and quickly becomes a suspect in another murder. What follows is a humurous legal thriller, with plenty of action and lots of twists. An entertaining read.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeff writes in a fun, breezy style that I like. The plot was just convoluted enough to interest me, then all the little threads got tied up in a nice bow at the end, just the way I like it.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is part of the Jimmy O'Brien Film Noir mystery series. If you like a murder mystery without romance; this is for you! I really enjoyed it!

[Will Decker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the characters engaging, the editing clean, and the story somewhat entertaining. What I didn't find was anything near reality. I grew up in the 60's and 70's when this story was supposedly set and while I too was poor and owned a Corvette, there was a lot of stuff that just didn't jive with respect to the legal side of things or reality. Of course, the story is fiction and the author used his poetic license liberally so it all added to the entertainment value of the story. A nice light mystery with little depth.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. Jimmy O'Brien is a crime fighting defense lawyer with a crush on his young associate. He is appreciative of his all knowing, great coffee making office manager. Although I'm not familiar with the California locales he travels, I'm sure folks who know the area enjoy following his routes. I also like that it takes place during the early 1970's. I can relate to the references to looking for phone booths to make calls (no cell phones), gasoline shortages and coffee shops with middle aged waitresses.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure of the genre

I enjoyed this book. Definitely a murder mystery with a lot of "illegal activity" thrown in. It's one of those books that moves fast enough you get caught up in the action but when it is over realize you need to read again to pick up all the clues you missed along the way. I may just do that.

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book that I read from this author and I was ready to follow the series until the last 2-3 chapter. I like realistic action books not books that will pull unbelievable super human and unrealistic stunts. Otherwise it was a nice read which I enjoyed for about 95% of the book.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder mystery featuring a Los Angeles defence lawyer who gets into all kinds of trouble.

[William N Auth Sr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! This Is a book that you can’t stop reading until you turn the last page.

[Melissa Herman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read!!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Mystery

A well written murder mystery with well rounded characters and a killer plot. The story twists and turns and keeps you guessing.

[Karen Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

This book is fast moving and keeps your interest. It has everything a reader of murder mysteries will love. Great

[Carmen Madrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author had an ex-cop help him with all the legal codes

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

First let me paraphrase a character on tv who once said a line that is very appropriate for this book & for life in general with all the religious nuts out there. "May God save us from 1/2 the people doing God's work."
This book reflects this perfectly considering how all of the villains in this book used God as an excuse for their work including the preacher & the dirt bag that owned a religious network. They're a perfect example of how those who tout the lord's message the loudest are usually the ones with the biggest skeletons in their collective closets.
The story was beautifully worked & I couldn't wait to see the villains pay for all they were doing and a time or two I wanted to grab the villain myself and throttle them(which is always a good sign in a mystery when you're that immersed in the read.)

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure about this one. For most of the book, I was thinking that it was just OK, but I liked it by the end.

The story is set in 1973 and I enjoyed traveling back to that period. At times, the story seemed to drag a little for me, but I loved how it was all tied up in the end.

For some reason, the story kept reminding me of an old Paul Newman movie, Harper. The story is not similar, but the time period and the general atmosphere kept reminding me of that movie.

[Charles Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just OK.

Not as good as the first book in this series. I really enjoyed the whole plot and things but some of the situations that happened was crazy: O'Brien leaving his office unlocked with a gun and clients files all over the place, spending too much time getting information from the so called blind guy while in hot pursuit and just a few other things here and there. But besides that it was just an OK read.

[Sue Jaffarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very lively and fun book. The pace is quick and the characters colorful. I particularly enjoyed that it was placed in the 70's in and around Downey, California. Neither a time or place often written about.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was a fast read with snappy dialogue. My only disappointment was that it turned out to be lawyer as detective all the way, without even really paying lip service to any legal scenes or courtroom drama. More like Indiana Jones than Perry Mason!

[NVTony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read from start to finish. Mystery carries you quickly forward into an adventure you are glad is fiction not your life. Talk about a misfit lawyer this is your guy. Fun read that had me laughing and tense all in one situation. Mystery lovers this will tickle your fancy.

[Bridgewes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book to read. Takes you back to a simpler time without cellphones and other current activities. Police methods were rough and not always within the law. I will look for other books by this author.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

So Jimmy O'Brien is a lawyer he was protecting Robbie who ended up killing his college teacher. Stabbed 27 times and he finally escapes and then his mom dies and so does he but Jimmy is framed by the priest and his girlfriend is kidnapped so he has to save her.

[Mabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read! I can't wait for the next one! It is fun to read about the locations described in the book especially if you are familiar with the LA area.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was easy, fun reading. It took me to familiar places in southern California and backward in time to the old fifties gumshoe days. Good storyline. I would definitely choose this author again.

[Jakenv · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story. Characters & terrain in each location made me feel tension. More than anticipated would recommend for any mystery buff.

[sslyb · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was sooo long

[Javier R]

Great read!