Murder Among Strangers

Kate Austen #4

by Jonnie Jacobs

Jonnie Jacobs's Kate Austen mysteries have been published to critical acclaim and been praised as "taking suburban mystery to new heights" (The Tulsa World). Now, in "Murder Among Strangers", Kate tackles her most involving case yet -- a crime in which she's not only the investigator, but also the victim.Kate Austen has trouble walking away from people in need. It's a habit that's landed her in some tight spots -- and this time it's the narrow confines of the trunk of a murderer's car. Tied up and lying next to a corpse, Kate realized too late that stopping to help a woman with a flat tire was a very bad idea. Now, her only hope for survival is a desperate run for freedom from the cabin her captors have taken her to in the snowy Idaho wilderness. And when she is rescued hours later, disoriented, rambling, and half-frozen, she's thankful that the nightmare is over.

What she doesn't know is that it's only beginning. For the police have discovered a second body at the cabin, and the evidence points to Kate. Determined to find the real killer, she sets out to clear her name. But when another corpse appears, this time back in Walnut Hills, and the finger of suspicion is aimed at Kate again, she finds herself running out of time. For now, she must scramble to outwit a cunning murderer who's determined to frame her and continue on a killing spree that may very well end with her life.

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

378 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really liked the other books in this series but this one has kind of depressing atmosphere starting from the first page. Kate - the main character has been very pleasant person in all the other books - smart and quick witted but in this one I keep thinking how she can be so stupid... It's like another personality altogether. And the story is kind of dragging. I'm halfway through and I don't know if I make it to the end.

[Beth Peninger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Driving home late one night, Kate spies a broken-down vehicle and pulls over to help. Unfortunately for Kate, the woman in need is also hiding a dead body in the trunk. And unfortunately for Kate, now she knows and has to be quieted. Kidnapped to be disposed of along with the already dead body, Kate goes missing without a trace. While Kate advocates for her life and to be set free, her boyfriend, Detective Michael Stone, is at home wondering and worrying. Where is Kate? Stone and the local PD go into full-on search mode when her car is found abandoned.

Meanwhile, Kate is buying herself hours, scrambling for her life. She is relieved when she manages to flee her captors, Sheryl Ann and Bobby. But her relief is short-lived when the trouble follows her back home, and suddenly, she's the number one suspect in the murder of Bobby, one of her captors, and Sheryl Ann is nowhere to be found. Kate becomes desperate to find Sheryl Ann and prove her innocence, but not everyone wants Kate to be innocent; someone would love for her to take on the blame for Bobby's death, among other crimes.

Jacobs ends this four-book series on an intense note. It's as if books 1-3 were Jacobs' slow build toward this final title, in which Kate really steps in something out of her depth. My question is, does Kate finally learn her lesson and swear off her amateur sleuthing ways? It's up to the reader to decide for herself/himself.

[Roxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself hollering at the lead character, this Kate Austen person, for being so open to putting herself in danger. BUT, I had to read 'til the end to see what happened.

READ THIS...fun, fast, and infuriating...you'll like it!

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as enjoyable as the last one.

[Carolyn Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 4 book series was VERY good. Especially Murder Among Strangers. I couldn't guess "who done it". While it is somewhat dated it is still very good.

[Sonye Golden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was totally disappointed. This book dragged on and on.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate stops in a downpour to help a frightened young woman alone in a car missing a rear wheel but she pays a harrowing price...The woman, Sheryl Ann, protests that her friend Bobby, the car's owner, will soon be back with a spare... Kate opens the trunk, where she sees a dead body just as Bobby returns. Bobby knocks Kate out, throws her in the trunk with the corpse and drives them all to a hunting cabin in the Idaho wilderness. Kate manages to escape home to California, only to learn that the police have found Bobby dead in the cabin, but no trace of Sheryl Ann. Suddenly, Kate is the chief suspect in Bobby's murder, unless she can find Sheryl Ann and have the woman clear her. Michael, Kate's police-detective lover, comes to her defense, but he has personal problems at work as well as a full caseload of his own. Determined to absolve herself and discover who killed Bobby and why, Kate finds that her chief clue is an unidentified locker key sent to her by Sheryl Ann, perhaps unlocking the mystery to Bobby's past...

I was just browsing the aisles of my local library and decided to pick a book at random....what a wonderful surprise...

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

kate stopped by the side of the road to help a young lady who had car trouble. but when her boyfriend came back he saw they had opened the trunk and kate had seen the dead body of the womans husband. the boyfriend had killed him with one punch by accident and they were going to bury the body in idaho. only since kate saw now they were going to kill her too. they tied her up and she managed to get out while they were in a restaurant and tried to call for help but was not able to give location or car description. her cop boyfriend is trying to find her

the woman helps her get away. the cops find the womans dead boyfriend in the cabin and the woman is gone

they think kate has something to do with the murder. the murdered husband is no where to be found

meanwhile kates boyfriend cop is contending with a woman at work that keeps coming on to him. not sure why he isnt doing more to stop it and let kate know before she finds out

then the woman that helped her escape shows up sick at kates house. she gives her a change of clothes and puts her up in a motel where she disappears and is found dead on the rail road tracks. they think kate might have something to do with that too

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."

This is the first book in the series I have read. I see there are three earlier books. Since I haven't read the earlier ones, I can't comment on consistency in the characters.

Kate seems a bit over goody goody in this novel. She wants to fix everyone, and gets in deep trouble.

The novel drug in some places, but overall it held my attention; and had me guessing "who did it?" When I find a little more time I will go back and check out the earlier novels.

[Andre · Rating 3 out of 5]

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."

This is a pretty good mystery. Starts with a bang and ends nicely, but I found there were a few boring moments throughout the story. The intrigue kind of dragged on a bit. But near the end the pace picked up and made for a rather satisfying ride. Kudos for creating solid characters, they were nicely fleshed out and very believable. Bottom line, read this book, it's well worth your time.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Austen has always had a soft spot for people in trouble, but stopping to help stranded motorist Sheryl Ann Martin is a terrible mistake. With her dead husband in the trunk and her killer boyfriend at her side, Sheryl Ann is in trouble. And so is Kate – held hostage in a remote cabin by a couple who can’t afford to let her live. Kate’s only hope is a desperate run for freedom, but when she is rescued, her nightmare is just beginning.

[Ellen Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I have read in the Kate Austen mysteries series and the first by author Jonnie Jacobs. I liked it and found the characters interesting and the plot well developed. There was lots of action and several simultaneous story lines. I was able to deduce several parts if not all of the solution and conclusion.

[Suzan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read this book a few years ago and enjoyed the read. I was gifted this audiobook from the author in exchange for a honest review. I enjoyed listening to the book. The narrator Suzan did a wonderful job. Even though I had read the book Suzan kept me interested and I got a different experience from the audio.

[Rachael · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was OK. The author was supposed to be similar to Kerry Greenwood ... who I like. I did think this was fine but it didn't inspire me to read at all hours of the day and night as some of the books I have read lately have. Also there were a few issues with the editing - a wrong word here or there - and that irritates me (!)

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder Among Strangers - G+
Jacobs, Jonnie - 4th in Kate Austen series

Kidnapped after stopping to help a woman fix her flat tire, Kate Austen manages to flee her captors and then becomes embroiled in a murder investigation. --

These are good amateur sleuth books.

[Evalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is kind of a suburban housewife mystery, not requiring deep thought, but an enjoyable mystery with interesting characters.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

good

[Margo Zieske · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast read. Interesting story line. March 2013.

[Sharon Thrasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good one

Wow this one was well done. A couple of times I was in tears, a few times worried and a few times scared for Anna. All together it was a really good book.