Dirty Deeds

Savannah Martin Mystery #9

by Jenna Bennett

With hotels in downtown filled to capacity months in advance, real estate agent Savannah Martin decides to pick up some extra money renting out her empty East Nashville apartment. She's living with her boyfriend, and the place is just sitting there, begging to be put to use. But when her latest tenant ends up dead-strangled in Savannah's bed by what might have been a paying customer-the promise of easy money quickly turns sour. As the hunt for the killer leads to their shared hometown of Sweetwater, Tennessee, Savannah's boyfriend, TBI agent Rafe Collier, is tapped to help with the investigation. But a familiarity with the town and the people in it isn't necessarily a benefit when the main suspect in the murder is the man Savannah decided not to marry. The same man who has never forgiven Rafe for stealing her away...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Romance, Cozy, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

292 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2014

About the author

Jenna Bennett writes the USA Today bestselling Cutthroat Business mysteries featuring Southern Belle and new-minted real estate agent Savannah Martin in Nashville, Tennessee.

As Jennie Bentley, she writes the New York Times bestselling Do-It-Yourself Home Renovation mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime, featuring designer and amateur sleuth Avery Baker and her boyfriend, handyman Derek Ellis, who renovate houses in Waterfield, Maine.

She also writes a variety of romance for a change of pace.

aka Jennie Bentley

The DIY series:

FATAL FIXER-UPPER (November 2008)
SPACKLED AND SPOOKED (August 2009)
PLASTER AND POISON (March 2010)
MORTAR AND MURDER (January 2011)
FLIPPED OUT (October 2011)
WALL TO WALL DEAD (September 2012)
HOME FOR THE HOMICIDE (December 2013)

The Cutthroat Business series:

A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS (May 2011)
HOT PROPERTY (June 2011)
CONTRACT PENDING (July 2011)
CLOSE TO HOME (September 2011)
A DONE DEAL (December 2011)
CONTINGENT ON APPROVAL (November 2012)
CHANGE OF HEART (May 2013)
KICKOUT CLAUSE (October 2013)

Soldiers of Fortune series:

FORTUNE'S HERO (December 2012)

Various:

ISLAND GETAWAY (October 2012)
VIRGINIA CREEPER (October 2013)
BEFORE YOU (March 2014)

Reviews

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m really enjoying seeing Savannah break free from the repression of her upbringing, and watching her be rude to rude people was a lot of fun. I’ll admit that I didn’t have all the threads untangled, but an offhand comment and a flash of possibility had me jumping to the solution ahead of all the investigators. Then I spent a slightly frustrating rest of the book waiting for the professionals to connect the dots I had already leapt over. Mind you, seeing all the interpersonal relationships of Savannah’s nearest and dearest kept me pretty glued to the pages, so I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for them all.

[Crazy for Books (Stephanie) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again with the strange pronunciations. Instead of ominously, she pronounced it "om-ni-ous-ly". instead of facetious with three syllables, she pronounced it "fas-us" with two syllables.

Turns out she's from Tennessee. I've just never heard someone pronounce so many words wrong.

In the original storyline, Yvonne McCoy was shot. In this one, they say she was stabbed. And I remember Rafe saying "you can't go around shooting everyone I kiss." I'm wondering now if there's a ghostwriter involved in this, or if the author just doesn't have a good editor.

[Sonia Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Já disse como gosto do casal Savannah e Rafe? Adoro-os! São tão queridos um para o outro e adoro como ele a protege (e ao bebé que está a crescer na barriga dela).
Achei o mistério bastante interessante, ainda mais depois de saber que a falecida era a ex-mulher do Todd. Nunca gostei de Todd, mas aqui, neste livro, comecei a simpatizar com ele, especialmente depois de saber também que parece ter desenvolvido uma amizade com uma personagem de outro livro anterior, a Marley, mãe a quem a antiga ginecologista de Savannah roubou o bebé e deu para adoção; tomara que esta amizade se desenvolva para algo romântico. Fez-me foi confusão que a ex-mulher de Todd tivesse ido ao gabinete de Savannah, quando ela não estava, e ter usado o computador dela para enviar um email a Todd, fazendo-se passar por Savannah e a convidá-lo para ir ter com ela ao apartamento. Ora, se ela nem queria fazer-lhe mal, porque mandou o email? Era só porque, apesar de não querer ser ela a filmá-lo com ela na cama, não se importava de atraí-lo ao apartamento para depois ser a outra a tramá-lo? Não sei, esta parte não faz sentido.

[Mary Stenvall · Rating 3 out of 5]

SPOILER***
I have read the first nine and I really enjoy them - a break from the darker, more complex mysteries I normally read. This is my fall back series - love the characters, watching Savannah slowly break away from her mother. HOWEVER _
I will not read any more of the series. I am so tired of the racism, book after book, and not once but multiple times per book. The author must feel the readers aren't aware that Rafe's father was black, that he is part black, that he is from the wrong side of town, ad nauseum.
I'm from the South, and we are not all that ignorant, unforgiving or prejudiced. You made the point - get on with the story! Readers do not need to be pummeled to get it.

[Short, Sweet and Cozy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Book #9 in the Savannah Martin series. This one was really good! Savannah is renting out her condo until the lease expires. She goes in to clean between renters and finds a dead woman. Who was she & what happened? This is another exciting cozy mystery in this series with quite a few twists and some surprises! Plus the recurring story in all the books continues and is a definite bonus to a good mystery!

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I’ve said before, Savannah Martin is my kind of girl. I love the way this demure southern girl has grown into a woman who speaks her mind. I especially enjoy the way she puts her “prim & proper” mother in her place. This is the 9th in the series. I really enjoyed it. Along with #1 & 3, it was a favorite. Now, on to #10. Will there be a wedding. Will there be a baby? Can’t wait to find out.

[Leigh Goldian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as the previous books

HOW are all of these books so good?? They each have their own story line while still tying in the past stories, still have romance, mystery and comedy, and still totally suck me in!!!

[Chris Blackton · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter whether Savannah tries to stay out of trouble it just keeps finding her. Enjoyable read!

[Debbie Devaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still loving this series!

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

I have heard about people renting out their homes and apartments when big events come to town. Let’s face it there is always something happening in Nashville and Savannah’s apartment was just sitting empty. Why not make a little money? She she isn’t raking in any bucks from selling houses. The last thing she expected was for one her temporary tenants to end up dead. She also didn’t know they were using her apartment for the world’s oldest profession.

Fun! Fun! Fun! I love these characters and this series! Sadly I have missed a couple in the the middle but Jenna Bennett includes enough background in this story to bring us all up to date. The character continue to grow in each installment and Savannah always finds herself in trouble. Even being pregnant doesn’t keep her out of trouble but it does make her think twice about her actions.

Bennett has written an excellent mystery that takes us back to Sweetwater and ties into Savannah and Rafe’s past. I am so happy the way their relationship is developing. It makes me realize I need to go back to read the books that I missed. Savannah Martin is a very special character and I am sorry that we lost touch. I definitely plan to rectify that in the new year!

[Bette Stanek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series! Jenna Bennett's writing is as hilarious as always. Rafe and Savannah continue their relationship with Savannah stumbling on to another murder and the adventure takes off. They have to head back to Sweetwater for some of the answers. Savannah has her usual encounter with her mother; Rafe is just glad he's in Atlanta when it happens. Savannah has way more backbone where her mother is concerned than she's ever had before. Rafe should be more than proud. Dix and Grimaldi play prominent roles and it's nice to see that their friendship is progressing, much to Mother's dismay. Poor Todd just can't get a break.

This book, like the ones before it, picks up pretty much where the previous one left off. This is a fun, laugh out loud, adventure until the very end book. It is one of my favorite series! Please keep 'em coming, Ms Bennett!!!!

[April Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series!

Rafe is the hottest man and Savannah is sooo lucky! This time Savannah is in her first trimester and planning her wedding. To make ends meet she is subletting her apartment shore to term until her lease is up. Then her tenant is murdered- and she looks much like Savannah - and they even have more in common when they find out she is Todd's ex wife and a prostitute!

So Savannah is at it again- sleuthing and making wild passionate love with gorgeous Rafe! Can't wait to read more adventures and hopefully a healthy baby and wedding!

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story!

This is number nine in the series and is just as good if not better than the first. I just love Savannah and Race they are such an awesome couple and love each so much. Jenna Bennett does such a great writing this series. I can see Savannah's mother and her friends talking, I can see Savannah and Race together. They feel like my friend. Start with the first book and read the entire series, you will love it as much as I do.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo! I enjoyed Dirty Deeds immensely and I truly hope that it isn't the last Savannah Martin mystery that Jenna Bennett writes. The mystery itself was well plotted, I won't say more because spoilers in mystery reviews are a pet peeve of mine. I'm sure that, like many fans of the series, I enjoy reading/watching the relationship between Savannah and Rafe develop. I highly recommend this book and the series as a whole.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was once again a great book, with several things happening at once. I did figure out what was going on before Savannah, but there was still a slight twist at the end, with this who done it. Savannah & Rafe work well together as usual, and it was nice to catch up on the changes & growth in their lives as well as their family & friends. I eagerly await the next book in the series, to check in on the family life, and for the next case.

[Patti St · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always fun to read

Another day in the life of Savannah Martin. Chaotic, funny, and fast moving. She just can't help herself when it comes to getting involved in a murder mystery. This time, the murdered woman looked like Savannah and was found in her bed. Jenna Bennett is an excellent mystery writer who knows exactly where to place the red herrings, while enjoying making her readers squirm as we try to figure out whodunit.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved each and every Savannah Martin mystery, and this one was no exception. I think Rafe is one of the most romantic leading men ever, and his tenderness and understanding of Savannah and who she really is never fails to touch my heart. This book had a good mystery and some comic relief as well as the tender, romantic moments. I hope there are many more Savannah and Rafe books to come!

[Wende · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun

Savannah is fun to read about. I love how she just seems to have crime following her around. This is a great book to read on a quiet day. It has quite a few laugh out loud moments. The mystery was good.

[Kathryn Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Savanah is 3 months pregnant. Staying at Rafe's. She rents out her apartment and someone is killed there.
Turns out she's a hooker and Todd's ex-wife. He will become a suspect. Savanah is sure he didn't do it.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay I spent the last 5 days reading the 10 current novels of this series and two short stories. Yes it was that good, in fact I didn't stop to update my feed so I'll put this short review on the whole dang set. its a goodread, go for it.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good Savannah Martin book, kept you wondering "who done it" until the very end.

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore this series and believe that as great as the first book was, each one gets even better; Dirty Deeds was outstanding!

[Stacie Marquart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. Savannah is always fining herself in the middle of a mess. Well worth the read.

[Anika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! I was about 75% and I had an idea of who were going to be arrested but I was surprised by who the killer was in the end. I did not see it coming. A great read.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Savannah & Rafe are two of my most favorite characters. Their love has endured quite a journey! This is a great series.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 another good story about rafe and savannah, nashville and sweetwater. savannah didn't know what she was getting herself into when she rented her apartment.

[Linda Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Loved the characters and how the author brought up other books to connect the stories. Needless to say, I also enjoyed how Rafe and Savannah keep their romance going.

[Siobhan (tigress5cubs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally stood up for herself and told her mother off. Loved it.

But there was a blunder. There was supposed to be another renter after Ursula, but he/she was completely forgotten about.

[Morghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was great! I had no idea who the culprit was until they were staring me in the face. And I loved Savannah and Rafe interaction in this book!

[Teresa Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more I read , the more I like this series. I'm already getting nervous that I'm 5 books from the latest release. I'm going to have withdrawals.