Ditching David: A Gina Beaufort Kelly Cozy Mystery

Fidelity Investigations #1

by Jenna Bennett

The wife is always the last to know...When Gina Beaufort Kelly’s husband leaves her for a woman young enough to be his daughter, Gina doesn’t get mad... she gets even.Or at least she tries to, by targeting David’s assets in the divorce. She spent eighteen years of her life with him; it’s only fair that he should compensate her accordingly.However, David doesn’t agree, and when he ends up dead, on the evening before they were set to go before the judge, the police suspect foul play—and suspect that Gina’s behind it.Now this jilted wife must figure out who else wanted her soon-to-be-ex-husband dead—and why—before she loses everything in the process, including her freedom.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

294 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 6, 2015

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

[Judith Post · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read all of Jenna Bennett's Savannah Martin series and enjoyed every single one. I'm not sure there's ever going to be a new one, so I thought I'd try the Fidelity Investigations series. The further I read in DITCHING DAVID, the more I liked it. Why the first chapter was all telling, no showing, I don't know, but it slowed me down. Once I got past that, I enoyed Gina and Mendoza. I like Savannah Martin more, but this was just the first book, and it has lots of potential, so I'm willing to try another one.

[Lyn Sweetapple · Rating 3 out of 5]

A promising start to the Fidelity Investigations series.

[Mary Stenvall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one, similar to the Savannah Martin series, which I love. Mendoza is not nearly as sexy, but this is the first one, things may improve. I do like Gina better than Savannah, who is sometimes so 'Southern' it's painful. I will definitely follow up with the second one.

[The Original Book Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally good fun read. Highly appreciate the mature ; perspective and like all the characters off the bat.

[Carl Voller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing author

Did not want to put the book down. Love it. Hope the series ends up being a long one. Highly recommended

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've just finished reading this amazing book that kept me in suspense, wondering, second guessing, that book was 'Ditching David'. This was my introduction into books by Jenna Bennett & I'm left speechless by awe, what an introduction this book was. I was sucked into the story, which held me captive until the last word. This is Gina's story, she shines, grows, becomes more than a trophy wife... such a powerful statement for women who have been replaced by their spouses.

Gina's world is turned upside down, when her husband of 18 years tells her he's found someone new, a 25 year old, & he's leaving right away. The day before the divorce is finalised, David dies in what at first appears to be an accident. Within the week leading upto the funeral all manor of things happen, unveiling so many lies hidden away from Gina.

I'm not sure I could have handled half of what Gina did, with as much grace without blowing my lid. I truely lost myself within this book, feeling hurt & betrayed on behalf of Gina. 'Dithcing David is book 1 in Jenna's new series "Fidelity Investigation" I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ditching David is a terrific mystery with strong characters. I love it and I want the sequel now! I really wonder what it next for Gina? I hope Mendoza and Diane will be part of the continuing series. Jenna Bennett is an outstanding writer which she proves it once again with this first book in a new series, Fidelity Investigations.

Gina Kelly thinks that realizing that her husband might have tricked her out of getting any money in their pending divorce is the worst thing that could ever happen to her; least that is was she thinks until he is murdered and she becomes the prime suspect. Gina is not an investigator, but she has already been following her cheating spouse and that woman with great success for all the good it did. Now she turns her attention to figuring out who could have killed the jerk and tried to frame her. After all she is the most obvious suspect and she knows she didn’t do it.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! David, Gina Kelly's husband of 18 years, announces to her shortly after her 40th birthday that he's leaving her for a 25 year old. The day before they are due in divorce court, David is killed in what first appears to be an accident, but is soon revealed to be murder. Handsome and sexy homicide detective Jaime Mendoza makes it clear that, since Gina had the most to gain by David's death, she is the most obvious suspect. Desperate to prove her innocence, Gina embarks on her own investigation of all of the other possible suspects, including David's mistress, hostile children, ne'er-do-well brother, first wife, business partner...and so on. Gina is not only a sympathetic and humorous heroine, but an intelligent and resourceful one, who handles both awkward social situations and near-brushes with death with aplomb. I can hardly wait for the next book in the Fidelity Investigations Mystery series.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a cold and read one a day of what they call 'cozy mysteries', in other words not too deep, usually about single or divorced women, always with a handsome cop or detective somewhere in the wings. So this was the first one and I liked it, by the same author who wrote the Savannah Martin series, and again set in Nashville, which is rare. The protagonist here is more mature than Savannah and more savy. It was well done and I'll probably read another one in the series.

[Ronda Eberhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read

This is a wonderful story. If you like a good mystery with great characters, this is the book for you. Can't wait for the next one.

[Aditi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read that I didn't realize was a cozy mystery. It has some elements of humor and I did like Gina as a protagonist. The mystery was decent considering I was surprised at the end but so were everyone else cuz no clues in sight.