Dead White Female

Sam Jones #1

by Lauren Henderson

Introducing Sam Jones- young, sexy, funny and sharp. She lives hard, plays harder and knows London like the back of her hand. hen Lee Jackson is found dead after a party, the police believe it was an accident but Sam Jones is convinced it is murder. Frustrated by the "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." attitude of her friends she abandons the sculpture she is working on and begins to investigate her art tutor's death.

Genres: Mystery, Chick Lit, Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Detective, Contemporary

288 pages, Paperback

First published July 4, 2002

About the author

Born in London in 1966, Lauren Henderson read English at university and then worked as a journalist for - among other publications - the New Statesman, Marxism Today, the Observer and Lime Lizard, a much-mourned indie music magazine. Lauren now divides her time between Italy and London and, when not wine-tasting, writes full-time.

Reviews

[Amanda Larkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am hoping the rumours are true and a TV series of this is out soon. In honour of that, I have taken on the mission of re-reading my old copies from the 90s and early 2000s.

I really enjoyed this. It hasn't dated at all, and yet still conveys a vivid sense of London in the 90s. Someone younger than me might notice the lack of mobile phones and the internet but I didn't - I was too hooked on the descriptions of coke-filled parties and women wearing lycra bodies - remember them?

Sam Jones is introduced at a cracking pace and jumps right out of the page at you. In this story, a tutor from Sam's art college dies at a house party. Was it an accident? Sam isn't sure. This is a great expose of the Art world in the 1990s when money was being thrown about by big companies wanting a bit of culture to decorate their lobbies.

Fast-paced, funny and gripping. I don't know why people complain about odd coincidences and how quickly witnesses open up to the sleuth - that is the nature of this genre! And Henderson does it very well. Up next - 'Too Many Blondes'. Can't wait.

[Susan Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best I can tell, this has not been published in the U.S. yet. I ordered it over the web from the UK. I ordered it because of one sentence on the back of the book (my friend, Jeanie Gamble told me about it) - "Sexy, funny and sharp enough to cut herself..." I had to read this. And I am so glad I went to the trouble! Sam Jones leads a hard, fun life. Her life is her friends and hard drinking and hard partying. At one such party her one time mentor, Lee, 'accidentally dies when she apparently stumbles and falls and hits her head. Sam crawls over Lee's former life in a dark, funny, very different mystery story.

[Lucy Takeda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy intelligent, independent, stubborn, sassy women. Sam absolutely qualifies, even before the artistic bit gets thrown in! I will be reading more of this series.
Sam's mentor and friend is found dead in the backyard after a party full of alcohol, grass, dancing, and cocaine. It is listed as an accident. Sam doesn't buy that explanation. Lots of complications involving powerful rich folk, banks, art galleries, and lies.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my work read and maybe the disjointed nature of reading at work coloured my enjoyment of it. I did like it but I think I would have liked it more if I could have had a proper length of time to read. I think I might read the next in the series and see what I think of that one

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was OK but just didn't grab me.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nu m a dat pe spate. Nu e cine stie ce, dar merge de plictiseala.

[Jonathan Waugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read set in a mix of 1990s party culture and the London art scene.

[Kirsty Darbyshire]

I was worried about being disappointed by this book since I was going back to the beginning of a series that I'd already read the latest entries in it. From the way that Sam looks back in the later books to things that happened in this one I did know a bit more than I was supposed to do about the goings on but for the most part it worked out ok. Henderson foreshadows what is going to happen in this book on the first page and so the book wasn't spoilt by any means. If anything I think it was probably nice to read this book with a nice glow of nostalgia about it.

On the whole I was very pleased with the book, it didn't have any rickety first novel creaks about it and stands up well to the standard in the later books. It looks like Henderson knew what she was up to from the off.

I'm definitely looking forward to reading Too Many Blondes now and then my series will be complete and I'll have to wait for more books. Hopefully the reissue of these first books in the series is a promotion to garner interest in the series before a new release. That's what I'm choosing to believe anyway!

(Oh and what was the cover artist on? there's a woman in a convertible on the cover and Sam has a Ford Escort van which is about as far from a convertible as you can get!)

[Aristhyia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this booking thinking a little lowly of Sam Johnes. She had this air of confidence that just about killed my every intention of truly liking her, because it seemed a little forced, and thus not real.

But as I read on, she grew on me. Sam Johnes is the sort of character that turns to bite you in the ass and makes you love her for it. She's witty and very intelligent, and I'll admit that she taught me a few lessons along the way.

Lauren Henderson has a lovely writing style. I can easily keep reading and not grow tired, and there's quite a lot of humor in there to keep one entertained. I loved how easily she made you paranoid while reading the book. "Is it this guy, is it that one, is it the girl, was it Mrs. Henderson, in the parlor, with a knife?"

Though, what I loved most about the book was the dynamic between Sam and Nat, particularly after the car incident. If I could carry that scene with me forever, I'd do it. I think it's what makes the ending heartbreaking, in a way. It's like a train wreck. You can't look away, no matter how much it hurts.

All in all, I'm rather sorry I can't write a more creative and witty review to match the book's quality, but I will conclude that the thing is well worth a read.

(And I will also add that taking things at face value isn't always all it's cracked up to be)

[Writerlibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't figure out the culprit here. The resolution of the mystery was a surprise, in a good way. Sam Jones is a strong, funny, clever, brash and modern unwilling sleuth. At the centre of the story is the depth of our own deception, our ability to kinda lie to ourselves. Sam's quest to figure out the truth about her mentor's death brings her to the edge. A really good mix of hip atmosphere (artsy scene in London in the mid 1990's), a solid mystery plot and a kick butts, take no prisoner heroine. a very solid 3 1/2 stars.

[Verity W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally I get around to reading the first of the Sam Jones books* and find out what exactly it was that happened to her.

This is twisty and a bit alternative - like the other Sam Jones mysteries and feels like it has a different world view to most of the other "similar" crime novels you'll pick up. It is from the 90s - and it feels a bit retro in places - but that's actually not a bad thing.

I have more of these to read!

*Fahrenheit rereleased some of the later ones in the series first

[Anxious Readerrr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't tell you how impressed I am for the Sam Jones series. I started reading thinking that it's just another chick lit, but these stories were filled with mystery and a little crime solving which thrilled me. Sam Jones is awesome! She's fierce, full of confidence, sexy and smart!

[Mirela25 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delicious book! Full of irony, mystery, laughter, easy to read, the kind of book that helds you prisoner til you get to finish it and makes you think about it even after... I loved it...

[Tom]

DeYoe
Sam Jones #1

[Ean Kewley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Easy to read, interesting characters (well drawn) and I didn't get whodunnit until right at the end. I shall definitely be reading the rest of the series.

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not sure why this has such great reviews. I didn't find the story that interesting or the MC likable enough to finish.