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Mischievous Malamute #1
Gemini Rising
There's a body in your alley...
Arianna Jackson—AJ to her friends—and her occasionally well-behaved Alaskan Malamute, Nicoh, live a normal, uneventful, admittedly mundane existence, where nothing out of the ordinary ever happens. Until it does. Early one morning, AJ stumbles upon a horrifying scene—a girl's body lies broken in the dumpster behind her home, her face beaten and mutilated.
A secret reveals you're living a lie...
As if that weren't enough to upset the balance of normal, things go from bad to worse when she learns of her connection to the murdered girl. Suddenly, AJ realizes her entire life has been filled with secrets and lies.
A killer hunts for you...
Together with her trusty sidekick, Nicoh, and BFF, Leah, AJ must search for answers. But can she, when finding the truth proves to be more deadly than living the lie?
Would you search for the truth if you knew it could kill you?
Join AJ and her pals as they race to unravel the mystery of her past, where the pieces of the puzzle bring more questions than answers and the only certainty is the killer's end game—AJ's life.
Find your truth...
Arianna Jackson—AJ to her friends—and her occasionally well-behaved Alaskan Malamute, Nicoh, live a normal, uneventful, admittedly mundane existence, where nothing out of the ordinary ever happens. Until it does. Early one morning, AJ stumbles upon a horrifying scene—a girl's body lies broken in the dumpster behind her home, her face beaten and mutilated.
A secret reveals you're living a lie...
As if that weren't enough to upset the balance of normal, things go from bad to worse when she learns of her connection to the murdered girl. Suddenly, AJ realizes her entire life has been filled with secrets and lies.
A killer hunts for you...
Together with her trusty sidekick, Nicoh, and BFF, Leah, AJ must search for answers. But can she, when finding the truth proves to be more deadly than living the lie?
Would you search for the truth if you knew it could kill you?
Join AJ and her pals as they race to unravel the mystery of her past, where the pieces of the puzzle bring more questions than answers and the only certainty is the killer's end game—AJ's life.
Find your truth...
ebook
First published November 17, 2012
568 people are currently reading
668 people want to read
About the author
Harley Christensen
11 books28 followersHarley Christensen currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her significant other and their own mischievous motley crew of rescue dogs (aka the “kids”).
When not at her laptop, Christensen is an avid hockey fan and lover of all things margarita. It’s also rumored she’s never met a green chile or jalapeño she didn’t like, regardless of whether it liked her back.
She is the author of the Mischievous Malamute Mystery Series and Six Seasons Suspense Series.
For more information on the author and her books, please visit her at https://www.mischievousmalamute.com.
When not at her laptop, Christensen is an avid hockey fan and lover of all things margarita. It’s also rumored she’s never met a green chile or jalapeño she didn’t like, regardless of whether it liked her back.
She is the author of the Mischievous Malamute Mystery Series and Six Seasons Suspense Series.
For more information on the author and her books, please visit her at https://www.mischievousmalamute.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
January 14, 2024
Gemini Rising is a really good mashup cozy, mystery, that has some light science fiction elements. I bought it for the mystery aspect and for the expectation that an Alaskan Malamute would figure prominently in the story. Nicoh, is really a companion, but isn't really an essential aspect. However, the science fiction notes add a significant quality to make a unique cozy. I will forego any further mention of the science fiction aspect, because I think it's a pretty cool discovery in itself.
Here, AJ finds a dead body in her apartment complex dumpster. Soon AJ learns that she is connected to the dead lady, and little-by-little the threads of certainty that she took as the facts of her life begin to unravel. Luckily, there are people in her life that provide solid ground for these epiphanous moments of discovery and re-evaluation.
The last thing that she needs to further unsettle her is the possibility that she herself has become the target of a killer. Again, her group of confidantes increases, in order to keep her grounded on first principles by which we all define ourselves. This is not just your typical cozy.
The story is a surprisingly quick paced cozy, mystery with light science fiction elements sprinkled throughout. They don't require a great deal of exposition; hence the quick pace. The characters are quirky with immediate appeal. The dog is heart-warming and captivating. The story is compelling. The dialogue is realistic. The repartee is familiar. There's a lot to love here. The only flaw is that it was too short. The characters interact so well together that one could easily have seen them do 100 more pages of sleuthing.
Here, AJ finds a dead body in her apartment complex dumpster. Soon AJ learns that she is connected to the dead lady, and little-by-little the threads of certainty that she took as the facts of her life begin to unravel. Luckily, there are people in her life that provide solid ground for these epiphanous moments of discovery and re-evaluation.
The last thing that she needs to further unsettle her is the possibility that she herself has become the target of a killer. Again, her group of confidantes increases, in order to keep her grounded on first principles by which we all define ourselves. This is not just your typical cozy.
The story is a surprisingly quick paced cozy, mystery with light science fiction elements sprinkled throughout. They don't require a great deal of exposition; hence the quick pace. The characters are quirky with immediate appeal. The dog is heart-warming and captivating. The story is compelling. The dialogue is realistic. The repartee is familiar. There's a lot to love here. The only flaw is that it was too short. The characters interact so well together that one could easily have seen them do 100 more pages of sleuthing.
Read
January 25, 2014Would buy again. I will be reading other books she writes
Looking forward to reading more on her relationship with her Father and Ramirez and her other friends. love books with animals iincluded
Looking forward to reading more on her relationship with her Father and Ramirez and her other friends. love books with animals iincluded
July 5, 2020
3.5 Biggest disappointment: the malamute did not figure very prominently in this debut novel of the series. Perhaps a bad assumption on my part, but given the series is titled "Mischievous malamute," I assumed the dog would play more than a bit part.
October 28, 2015
Love dog stories,just kidding. Good tight plot
Interesting premise with lots of action. A lot of interesting characters from various backgrounds made this a good scary read.
Interesting premise with lots of action. A lot of interesting characters from various backgrounds made this a good scary read.
September 23, 2023
Arianna Jackson (AJ) is a photographer who has a mischievous Alaskan Malamute named Nicoh. While taking out her trash AJ finds a woman’s battered body in the dumpster. Detective Jonah Ramirez has identified the woman as Victoria Winestone a real estate agent from Los Angeles. AJ later finds out that the woman was her twin sister who was adopted. AJ’s parents had recently died in a plane crash and Victoria’s parents were also killed. Victoria had hired some private investigators to find out about AJ’s parent’s death. Detective Ramirez and AJ investigate to find out why Victoria was killed and why no one told AJ she had a twin. I really enjoyed this fascinating crime fiction novel.
December 7, 2017
Arianna Jackson - AJ to her friends - and her Alaskan Malamute, Nicoh, live a normal existence, until she finds a body in the dumpster behind her house.
August 27, 2019
Gemini Rising is an unusual amateur sleuth mystery. It borders on SF as well, not the space ship sort but rather the real science type. Without giving away much, it hinges of the science of cloning but the SF part of it is that it uses the idea the science was perfected enough to do human cloning thirty years ago. The author obviously had done some research into cloning but ignored the whole issue of the things we have cloned never being right (Dolly the sheep for instant had early aging issues at a very young age). We still aren’t where we could create a normal human, ethical issues aside.
Arianna Jackson - AJ to her friends, a photographer, finds herself caught up in a murder when a body is dumped outside her apartment in the trash. The murdered woman completely upsets AJ’s life. Nothing she knew about her family, including the accident that killed them was true. The cop on the case is removed so the FBI can investigate (we never know why because there is no reason in the text that would necessitate that. They need strict reasons for taking over a murder investigation.). He directs her to a team of brothers, private investigators who were working with the murder victim to find her family.
Together they delve into AJ’s life along with the murder victim because they are tied together. The characters aren’t bad though AJ keeps saying she’s more short tempered that she’s ever shown being. At her most annoying she’s frustrated that the brothers yelled at her for doing something stupid (and it was justified). Her best friend joins them as a journalist with a lot of contacts. So along with them and her malamute, Nicoh, AJ tackles all the things flying at her. Honestly some of these should be so emotionally hard hitting she should have issues bearing up to it but she doesn’t and that sort of bugs me. There’s not enough emotional depth to this book.
The science is shaky. The ending was rather bad. Overall it wasn’t bad though.
Arianna Jackson - AJ to her friends, a photographer, finds herself caught up in a murder when a body is dumped outside her apartment in the trash. The murdered woman completely upsets AJ’s life. Nothing she knew about her family, including the accident that killed them was true. The cop on the case is removed so the FBI can investigate (we never know why because there is no reason in the text that would necessitate that. They need strict reasons for taking over a murder investigation.). He directs her to a team of brothers, private investigators who were working with the murder victim to find her family.
Together they delve into AJ’s life along with the murder victim because they are tied together. The characters aren’t bad though AJ keeps saying she’s more short tempered that she’s ever shown being. At her most annoying she’s frustrated that the brothers yelled at her for doing something stupid (and it was justified). Her best friend joins them as a journalist with a lot of contacts. So along with them and her malamute, Nicoh, AJ tackles all the things flying at her. Honestly some of these should be so emotionally hard hitting she should have issues bearing up to it but she doesn’t and that sort of bugs me. There’s not enough emotional depth to this book.
The science is shaky. The ending was rather bad. Overall it wasn’t bad though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2023
Good
Arianna Jackson (AJ/Ajax) is a photographer, with a mischievous malamute called Nicoh. Taking out her rubbish one morning, she discovers a body in the dumpster, a young woman who was badly beaten.
AJ soon learns some disturbing facts, ones that turn her life on its head, and send her speeding down a path in a desperate search for answers…
The series name is actually the name of AJ’s photography business- Nicoh is very much a mischievous malamute; but he’s also most definitely a dog with canine behaviour. His role in the story is mostly comic relief, and he’s not a talking or magical companion that helps solve mysteries. If you’re expecting any of that, you’ll be disappointed- which would be a shame because the book is actually a very interesting and enjoyable mystery/suspense.
This was an entertaining read, gripping at times, with a likeable cast of characters and a particularly intriguing plot.
AJ was an interesting person, and the description of Nicoh and his personality made me chuckle it was so spot on!
This is a great mystery for those who enjoy something not quite cosy (though not gory either), and love pets bringing a little drama and laughter to the page.
Arianna Jackson (AJ/Ajax) is a photographer, with a mischievous malamute called Nicoh. Taking out her rubbish one morning, she discovers a body in the dumpster, a young woman who was badly beaten.
AJ soon learns some disturbing facts, ones that turn her life on its head, and send her speeding down a path in a desperate search for answers…
The series name is actually the name of AJ’s photography business- Nicoh is very much a mischievous malamute; but he’s also most definitely a dog with canine behaviour. His role in the story is mostly comic relief, and he’s not a talking or magical companion that helps solve mysteries. If you’re expecting any of that, you’ll be disappointed- which would be a shame because the book is actually a very interesting and enjoyable mystery/suspense.
This was an entertaining read, gripping at times, with a likeable cast of characters and a particularly intriguing plot.
AJ was an interesting person, and the description of Nicoh and his personality made me chuckle it was so spot on!
This is a great mystery for those who enjoy something not quite cosy (though not gory either), and love pets bringing a little drama and laughter to the page.
April 25, 2021
As a malamute owner I had to try this series. Full disclosure; mysteries are not my favorite genre, so this one was fighting a bit of an uphill battle for me.
That said, I thought it was perfectly acceptable light reading. The author laid out all the pieces well enough that I put the core of it together pretty early on, without many surprises. The characters were entertaining, if a bit predictable, and the malamute star was adorable and entertaining, though a bit underused (understandable, since there's only so much help an untrained dog can offer in a murder mystery. Just a little disappointing as the central premise of the series.)
That said, I thought it was perfectly acceptable light reading. The author laid out all the pieces well enough that I put the core of it together pretty early on, without many surprises. The characters were entertaining, if a bit predictable, and the malamute star was adorable and entertaining, though a bit underused (understandable, since there's only so much help an untrained dog can offer in a murder mystery. Just a little disappointing as the central premise of the series.)
June 17, 2017
Gemini Rising is a well written cozy murder mystery. The characters were likeable and the plot was interesting but Nicoh stole the show as far as I'm concerned. I really liked and enjoyed this one. Good read.
For those who want to know: Gemini Rising is a CLEAN read. There is no sex or language and only minimal violence (it IS a murder mystery after all).
For those who want to know: Gemini Rising is a CLEAN read. There is no sex or language and only minimal violence (it IS a murder mystery after all).
December 10, 2019
This book combined a few of my favorite genres; cozy mystery, medical mystery and is mixed with a dose of espionage. But it was done in a lighter fashion. Good dialogue and character development indicative of a true cozy mystery. I would almost say that it is new genre - Clive Cussler light.
Well done and I’m looking forward to the second book in the series.
Well done and I’m looking forward to the second book in the series.
February 13, 2022
cloning animals and people
Imagine finding a dead body in a dumpster only to discover she was your twin sister when all you life you thought you were an only child, let alone adopted. AJ gets drawn into the search for the truth.
The story is good. Love the banter between her best friend and AJ. Will read next book to see if it holds my interest like this one.
Imagine finding a dead body in a dumpster only to discover she was your twin sister when all you life you thought you were an only child, let alone adopted. AJ gets drawn into the search for the truth.
The story is good. Love the banter between her best friend and AJ. Will read next book to see if it holds my interest like this one.
July 1, 2024
Forgettable dog
I enjoyed the book a lot. It centered mostly on the main character than the dog. The story was well thought out and different from anything I have read before. There were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. I would recommend this book for a light reading escape.
I enjoyed the book a lot. It centered mostly on the main character than the dog. The story was well thought out and different from anything I have read before. There were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. I would recommend this book for a light reading escape.
June 18, 2017
Doesn't feel like enough mystery to me... tastes of thriller, especially with bad guy POV scenes and bad guy's contact. A few other POV shifts caused confusion--time overlaps make them confusing, and one mid scene break. Feel very blah about the whole thing. Low 3 star.
August 31, 2017
Just ok
Gemini Rising had a pretty good mystery going, but the writing style was choppy and sometimes confusing. I thought the banter between characters was just too silly . I don't think if I had a murderer after me I'd be cracking jokes.
Gemini Rising had a pretty good mystery going, but the writing style was choppy and sometimes confusing. I thought the banter between characters was just too silly . I don't think if I had a murderer after me I'd be cracking jokes.
March 13, 2018
Good book. Mystery and no sappy romance to cloud the story. Makes me want to read the next one!
Recommend as light reading. Easy to follow and pick up when you can. Thinking that the next one will have more in store.
Recommend as light reading. Easy to follow and pick up when you can. Thinking that the next one will have more in store.
December 21, 2020
This was a great premise, but a very complicated subject that wasn't pushed to its full potential.
The characters are very two dimensional and flat. There is way too much chuckling.
It's a neat idea. A developmental editor could help to make it really rock
The characters are very two dimensional and flat. There is way too much chuckling.
It's a neat idea. A developmental editor could help to make it really rock
January 7, 2024
interesting story
The story was interesting but somewhat bland. Everyone wants to help the heroine and protect her. Hospital records from 30 years ago would have been destroyed and no one is doing an mri to find a chip. Clearly more research is needed.
The story was interesting but somewhat bland. Everyone wants to help the heroine and protect her. Hospital records from 30 years ago would have been destroyed and no one is doing an mri to find a chip. Clearly more research is needed.
October 31, 2017
First book I have ready by this author. It was a great mystery! Looking forward to reading more by this author (there are quite a few).
March 5, 2018
A Different Tale
The characters were quite interesting as was the story. It kept me interested right to the end. A good little mystery.
The characters were quite interesting as was the story. It kept me interested right to the end. A good little mystery.
March 8, 2018
Interesting and fun.
This was a book that was at times fun then at other times a bit creepy. The idea of cloning made this an interesting read.
This was a book that was at times fun then at other times a bit creepy. The idea of cloning made this an interesting read.
July 9, 2018
I enoyed this book. Good story, kept my interest. Am looking forward to reading the next book.
December 1, 2018
Great 👍
This is a great easy read book. I didn't put it down once I started it. Very interesting concept. I
This is a great easy read book. I didn't put it down once I started it. Very interesting concept. I
December 2, 2018
Really enjoyed it.
December 17, 2018
Very good, keeps you turning the pages to find the "had guy". I really liked the book.
October 26, 2019
Best Intrigue Ever
Arianna, called AJ, lucks out when Ramirez, Police Detective and two PI’s help her uncover her true identity. Could not put it down.😊
Arianna, called AJ, lucks out when Ramirez, Police Detective and two PI’s help her uncover her true identity. Could not put it down.😊
January 7, 2020
Enjoyable read
AJ and Leah make a great team.
I Enjoyed the way the story was revealed wish the ending would have lasted a bit longer.
AJ and Leah make a great team.
I Enjoyed the way the story was revealed wish the ending would have lasted a bit longer.
September 24, 2020
Unbelievably good!
Lots of plot twists and intrigue. Throw in a puppy dog and a hint of romance and you've got it all.
Lots of plot twists and intrigue. Throw in a puppy dog and a hint of romance and you've got it all.
December 7, 2020
This was a good book. Can’t wait to read the next one.
March 9, 2021
Very interesting mystery
The mystery unwinds bit by satisfying bit. A good read, interesting characters, especially Nicoh the dog. Recommend for a good light read.
The mystery unwinds bit by satisfying bit. A good read, interesting characters, especially Nicoh the dog. Recommend for a good light read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews