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Kate Austen #1
Murder Among Neighbors
Abandoned by her husband who is traveling in Europe to "find himself," Kate Austen is left to make a life for herself and her five-year-old daughter. What's more, Kate is something of a misfit in her well to-do neighborhood. But when her socialite neighbor, Pepper Livingston, is murdered, and the handsome detective Michael Stone turns to Kate for information about the victim, Kate's life takes an unexpected turn.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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197 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
April 21, 2014
MURDER AMONG NEIGHBORS is book one in the Kate Austen Mystery series. Kate is a 30 year old that is married and a mom to a five year old daughter. Unfortunately her marriage is falling apart and her husband has just left her to go to Europe and find himself. She lives in a fashionable section of Northern California called Walnut Hills.
She has plenty of upper crust neighbors, including the ones next door Pepper and Robert Livingston. It is Pepper that is found dead in her bedroom one morning, the police determine she was murdered and when the questions start Kate doesn't hesitate to get involved. When handsome Police Lieutenant Mike Stone takes over the investigation, Kate becomes very involved and it seems her "separation" takes a back seat to her attraction to Mike. Mike is in the midst of a divorce but he's well over his wife and very interested in Kate. So in the midst of a murder investigation loaded with twist and turns, love blossoms.
Book one is an excellent start to what appears to be a wonderful series. I can't wait to read book two because Kate's husband who has been floating all over Europe with a famous model is returning home and Kate isn't happy about his return. While the murder mystery is solved, readers will likely be on the edge of their seats waiting to find out what will happen with Kate and Mike.
I love this series so far and I love the characters, Kate's daughter is cute, her husband Andy is a ridiculous ass and Lt Mike Stone is every woman's dream. The mystery isn't bad either
She has plenty of upper crust neighbors, including the ones next door Pepper and Robert Livingston. It is Pepper that is found dead in her bedroom one morning, the police determine she was murdered and when the questions start Kate doesn't hesitate to get involved. When handsome Police Lieutenant Mike Stone takes over the investigation, Kate becomes very involved and it seems her "separation" takes a back seat to her attraction to Mike. Mike is in the midst of a divorce but he's well over his wife and very interested in Kate. So in the midst of a murder investigation loaded with twist and turns, love blossoms.
Book one is an excellent start to what appears to be a wonderful series. I can't wait to read book two because Kate's husband who has been floating all over Europe with a famous model is returning home and Kate isn't happy about his return. While the murder mystery is solved, readers will likely be on the edge of their seats waiting to find out what will happen with Kate and Mike.
I love this series so far and I love the characters, Kate's daughter is cute, her husband Andy is a ridiculous ass and Lt Mike Stone is every woman's dream. The mystery isn't bad either
September 25, 2008
MURDER AMONG NEIGHBORS - VG
Jacogs, Jonnie - 1st in Kate Austen series
Abandoned by her feckless husband, Kate Austen has all she can handle carpooling her five-year-old daughter to pre-school, baking for good causes, keeping her lawn mowed, and devising survival tactics. It looks like everyone else in her affluent suburban neighborhood has it ultra-easy…until her fabulously wealthy next-door neighbor is found murdered.
It's light, humorous and a very enjoyable book.
Jacogs, Jonnie - 1st in Kate Austen series
Abandoned by her feckless husband, Kate Austen has all she can handle carpooling her five-year-old daughter to pre-school, baking for good causes, keeping her lawn mowed, and devising survival tactics. It looks like everyone else in her affluent suburban neighborhood has it ultra-easy…until her fabulously wealthy next-door neighbor is found murdered.
It's light, humorous and a very enjoyable book.
June 10, 2010
หนังสือแปลเล่มแรกในชีวิต...
ชอบนะ แต่สับสนไปหน่อยมั้ยจ๊ะ
ชอบนะ แต่สับสนไปหน่อยมั้ยจ๊ะ
June 12, 2018
Kate Austen is a mother of one, whose husband has decided to go off around the world to 'find himself'.
Her life is sent into further turmoil when her neighbour Pepper Livingston is found murdered.
The police take statements but it seems there are few suspects and little motive until Kate gets to meet the detective in charge, Lt. Michael Stone, who asks her to have a look over the murder scene to see if she can spot anything out of place.
Kate, inevitably, takes this as an invitation to investigate further. From chatting with Pepper's family, friends and neighbours, Kate not only begins to assemble suspects and motive but grows far closer to the handsome detective than she probably should. She also finds new directions in her own life with a new part time job and the discovery that she can sell her paintings for respectable sums.
Set in an affluent suburb of Walnut Hills near San Francisco, it's rather above average in terms of writing and characterisation although one suspects that there are many reasons (most of them legal) why a detective should not allow a potential suspect to look over and give her opinion of the crime scene, but we'll let that pass.
Walnut Hills appears to be not very racially diverse. As far as I could determine every single character was a white American apart from one au-pair who turns out to be white but Irish. This may be a realistic portrayal of the San Francisco suburbs but strikes me as a little odd and something I have noticed in other US novels.
Kate's relationship with her husband is a tad frustrating since he seems to have no redeeming features whatsoever and should have had divorce papers following him round the world on his backpacking voyage of discovery.
There is an issue with a pregnancy that I felt was only needed to show another appalling facet of her husband's behaviour and which could have been left out altogether. The novel does not have the space to explore the ramifications of this and it is in any case a distraction from the narrative to which it adds very little. The problem the author faces is in trying to paint pictures of the murder victim and the missing husband, neither of whom actually present themselves alive on the page (although there is one phonecall and several postcards from Andy, the husband, which helps to establish his character).
Putting all that aside though I found this immensely enjoyable and look forward to reading the next.
Her life is sent into further turmoil when her neighbour Pepper Livingston is found murdered.
The police take statements but it seems there are few suspects and little motive until Kate gets to meet the detective in charge, Lt. Michael Stone, who asks her to have a look over the murder scene to see if she can spot anything out of place.
Kate, inevitably, takes this as an invitation to investigate further. From chatting with Pepper's family, friends and neighbours, Kate not only begins to assemble suspects and motive but grows far closer to the handsome detective than she probably should. She also finds new directions in her own life with a new part time job and the discovery that she can sell her paintings for respectable sums.
Set in an affluent suburb of Walnut Hills near San Francisco, it's rather above average in terms of writing and characterisation although one suspects that there are many reasons (most of them legal) why a detective should not allow a potential suspect to look over and give her opinion of the crime scene, but we'll let that pass.
Walnut Hills appears to be not very racially diverse. As far as I could determine every single character was a white American apart from one au-pair who turns out to be white but Irish. This may be a realistic portrayal of the San Francisco suburbs but strikes me as a little odd and something I have noticed in other US novels.
Kate's relationship with her husband is a tad frustrating since he seems to have no redeeming features whatsoever and should have had divorce papers following him round the world on his backpacking voyage of discovery.
There is an issue with a pregnancy that I felt was only needed to show another appalling facet of her husband's behaviour and which could have been left out altogether. The novel does not have the space to explore the ramifications of this and it is in any case a distraction from the narrative to which it adds very little. The problem the author faces is in trying to paint pictures of the murder victim and the missing husband, neither of whom actually present themselves alive on the page (although there is one phonecall and several postcards from Andy, the husband, which helps to establish his character).
Putting all that aside though I found this immensely enjoyable and look forward to reading the next.
August 15, 2024
Kate Austen is a single mom while her husband decides he needs to "find himself" on the other side of the world. She's pregnant with number 2 and ferrying her daughter to preschool, all while trying to decide what direction to take her life since she's now on her own. When her next-door neighbor is discovered dead, Kate finds herself on the fringes of the police investigation and unofficially partnered with a handsome detective. The murder and investigation are precisely the kind of distraction Kate needs from her life, as long as she gets to keep it - her life, that is.
This book was published in 1994; it is old! (Although not as old as me.) Despite its age, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I thought I would feel rather "meh" about it, but I liked it much more than I expected. The murder and investigation were solid; most characters contributed to the story's momentum. In fact, I liked it enough to search out book 2 in the series (it's only a 4 book series) to read at some point.
This book was published in 1994; it is old! (Although not as old as me.) Despite its age, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I thought I would feel rather "meh" about it, but I liked it much more than I expected. The murder and investigation were solid; most characters contributed to the story's momentum. In fact, I liked it enough to search out book 2 in the series (it's only a 4 book series) to read at some point.
April 13, 2018
This is the second book in Sleuthing Women: 10 First-in-Series Mysteries, and rather more promising than the first. Ms Jacobs can tell a story, maintain suspense, create believable and somewhat rounded characters.
I could do without the dominance of the romantic interest, and find myself irritated by the glib fast-food, bribe-your-child-with-icecreams-and-stick-her-in front-of-television approach to parenting. I suspect this might get more irritating as the series progresses.
For the moment I can raise an eyebrow and take it with a grain of salt for the stake of a competent mystery.
I could do without the dominance of the romantic interest, and find myself irritated by the glib fast-food, bribe-your-child-with-icecreams-and-stick-her-in front-of-television approach to parenting. I suspect this might get more irritating as the series progresses.
For the moment I can raise an eyebrow and take it with a grain of salt for the stake of a competent mystery.
January 23, 2019
Written well, interesting twists in the tale. I found the actions of Kate a little weird several times. People dont do stuff like that when they aren't police. Also sharing info she got from the lieutenant was suspect. However if you can close your eyes to that it was a good read.
May 1, 2020
This mystery is 26 years old, but is still good! This is the first in a series about Kate Austen a young mom, separated from her husband, struggling to understand the murder of her friend and neighbor Pepper. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
December 17, 2020
I didn't find this mystery very believable. I know, it's a work of fiction, but I like to identify a bit with at least one of the characters, which I couldn't do.
Didn't guess the murderer early on, which did add to the suspense for me.
Didn't guess the murderer early on, which did add to the suspense for me.
September 1, 2017
Compelling cozy mystery--I want to read more about this heroine's future adventures
March 5, 2018
Newly separated, in the early stages of a pregnancy and the mother of a four-year-old Kate decides to investigate the murder of her next door neighbor. Not believable at all
January 6, 2019
I figured out who the murderer was pretty early, but didn't know the motive until it came out at the end. Even so, a decent mystery.
January 27, 2020
A decent mystery.
March 2, 2020
Full disclosure...I could not finish. I was listening to it on Audible and I disliked the cookie cutter characters, the pace and the reader’s expressionless voice. Can’t think I will try another.
November 20, 2020
Loved the mystery hated the romance.
February 28, 2022
This is very well done!! I didn't see that ending. I am not into the "cosy mystery" group but this was an enjoyable read. Looking forward to the next one.
November 8, 2024
It's one pathetic infuriating story. Rubbish.
October 10, 2025
GREAT read!! So many twists and turns. I love when you are reading and trying to decipher the mystery along side the character. Let’s just say we were both shocked at that ending👏
November 28, 2025
Honestly surprised me. I liked it and it was a quick and easy read. 9/10
March 23, 2017
Immorality and some language.
March 7, 2017
This series was recommended by a friends. I enjoyed the first so much, I bought the second. Very well written especially for a "cozy" mystery.
January 30, 2014
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
This cozy mystery was fairly enjoyable and well-written for the most part, giving us a pretty good glimpse into trendy suburban life where all was not perfect and nice. Walnut Hills also had its dark side with secrets, jealousy, envy and murderous tendencies all raising their ugly heads.
I liked that the main character, Kate, was not perfect and gorgeous and super intelligent. She was a typical mom, raising her five-year-old daughter single-handedly since her jerk of a husband was off gallivanting in Europe trying to "find himself". I found Kate's best friend Daria a little overbearing and preachy, especially when she chastised Kate for not forgiving her husband Andy for all his sins and making it sound as though Kate was solely responsible for the problems in her marriage. Michael Stone, the police detective and requisite romantic interest, seemed like a nice guy but I thought he was a little pushy at first, almost forcing himself on Kate when she was obviously reluctant to start a relationship with him. When she rejected some of his earlier advances, he became pouty and sullen. But, it will be interesting to see how their budding romance blooms in the future.
I guessed about halfway through the book who the murderer was, so the ending was somewhat predictable and anticlimatic.
I liked this book well enough that I will probably read the next one in the series in the not-too-distant future.
This cozy mystery was fairly enjoyable and well-written for the most part, giving us a pretty good glimpse into trendy suburban life where all was not perfect and nice. Walnut Hills also had its dark side with secrets, jealousy, envy and murderous tendencies all raising their ugly heads.
I liked that the main character, Kate, was not perfect and gorgeous and super intelligent. She was a typical mom, raising her five-year-old daughter single-handedly since her jerk of a husband was off gallivanting in Europe trying to "find himself". I found Kate's best friend Daria a little overbearing and preachy, especially when she chastised Kate for not forgiving her husband Andy for all his sins and making it sound as though Kate was solely responsible for the problems in her marriage. Michael Stone, the police detective and requisite romantic interest, seemed like a nice guy but I thought he was a little pushy at first, almost forcing himself on Kate when she was obviously reluctant to start a relationship with him. When she rejected some of his earlier advances, he became pouty and sullen. But, it will be interesting to see how their budding romance blooms in the future.
I guessed about halfway through the book who the murderer was, so the ending was somewhat predictable and anticlimatic.
I liked this book well enough that I will probably read the next one in the series in the not-too-distant future.
August 7, 2014
The setting is suburban America. The main character in the book is a mom of a five year old and is expecting another when her husband goes through a mid-life crisis and goes to Europe to find himself for an indefinite period of time. Mean while her wealthy neighbor is murdered. The dead woman's daughter is the same age as her own daughter. The book is filled with feeding these five year old's pizza and ice cream as she watches the girl for the girl's father now with mama dead. The sleuth of the story finds a strong attraction to the cop assigned to the case while hubby is gone. I'm not a prude by any means, but some of the steamy romance innuendos and questionable language from time to time took a way from the story line for me. The book was very good. I kind of had a good hunch where the story line was heading midway through, but I'm not sure everyone would feel that way. Because it is a fun, light mystery I still gave it a 4 star.
Read
December 9, 2012This was on my shelf as a result of my formerly going to a lot of local-author signings, and I had little recollection of it. It has, I suppose, its charms, but in rereading I had the feeling of being submerged in ersatz Orinda/Moraga/Walnut Creek, which is to say plunged into a sector of greater-Bay-Area society that has little interest or appeal for me. If I were a young suburban mother (excuse me, a Mom, as they're all called now), I would probably have taken to this more, but the sleuth's life and surroundings were irritating to a degree that would not have been the case when I first read the book. So... I'm just not the right audience for this frothy tale of suburban socialite worries and handsome policemen.
June 25, 2013
I really liked this cozy. The characters are particularly enjoyable, very real with real problems and situations, and just a touch of lightheartedness (not quite humor, just lightness). The heroine gets involved, of course, in the investigation but in a fairly reasonable way, without a lot of drama. I figured out whodunit, but rather than take away from the story, I liked that I got confirmation of my guess at the end. There's a relationship question at the end which leaves the door open for further books in the series, and I will definitely be looking for them. This is a new author for me, and I'm delighted with her writing and look forward to more.
May 9, 2010
Kate Austen lives in an upscale suburb of SanFancisco with her houband and her toddler daughter Anna with another baby on the way when her husband gets the 7 year itch and decides to go gallivanting across Europe to find himself, leaving Kate to fend for herself, when Kates nearest neighbor a fellow car pooler gets murder the fabulous Pepper Livingston Kate gets involved in trying to solve the murder, and meets a handsome police detective Micheal Stone well they click in more ways then one , if you like murder romance mystery,s than this is the book for you.
July 13, 2016
When Kate Austin's high society neighbor is found murdered in bed leaving behind a young daughter and strangely distraught husband, Kate finds herself searching for clues to help hot handsome detective Mike Stone. With red herrings and foreshadowing all over the place, the uncovering of the actual murderer is not as surprising as it might have been. But the lively character of Kate and her struggles to make it on her own while her husband is "finding himself" in Europe after having a midlife crisis is plenty to keep your reading and smiling your way to the end.
February 26, 2008
kate Austien, suburban California housewife,mother of one and recently abandoned by a husband who needed to "find himself", becomes involved in the murder investigation of her next door neighbor. Jacobs has a similar writing style to Susan Issaccs. That means I really liked her main character who is less than perfect and not drop dead gorgeous. She uses light humor and a lot of other semmingly normal people to populate her book. But how does one define normal?
October 30, 2008
I'm already looking forward to reading more of this series.
The ending was a real shocker! Normally a shocker ending is a good thing... But this time I'm left with an unsatisfied feeling.. I wasn't really happy with the outcome and probably would have given it a better rating had it been different since I felt the story was very well written and loved the characters. :) And I'm very curious to find out where the characters personal stories go from here.
The ending was a real shocker! Normally a shocker ending is a good thing... But this time I'm left with an unsatisfied feeling.. I wasn't really happy with the outcome and probably would have given it a better rating had it been different since I felt the story was very well written and loved the characters. :) And I'm very curious to find out where the characters personal stories go from here.
August 5, 2009
A good/great book. I love the writing in this book and was wavering between giving it a 3 or 4 rating. However about half way through the book it definatley picked up and began to become a non stop page turner. I never would have guessed the killer however i'm still not sure if I like the ending but that's ok lol. It was a weird book in that aspect however i will continue on in the series to see what happens later on with Kate and in her life
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews