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Jessica’s adventures continue in Book Two, COYOTE, when she returns to Montana for summer work in Glacier Park. After her cousin dies in an accident at the lumber mill, Jessica is pulled into a fight against corruption and greed ignited by the fracking frenzy on the Montana plains. Her roommate, Kimi RedFox is determined to stop powerful Knight Industries from fracking on the Blackfoot Reservation. Jessica and Kimi team up to expose sex trafficking, prostitution rings, and murder schemes involving the biggest frackers in the country.
334 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2016
1039 people are currently reading
1363 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Oliver
63 books424 followersKelly Oliver is the award-winning, bestselling author of four mysteries series:
Jessica James Mysteries (contemporary suspense), Pet Detective Mysteries (middle grade), Fiona Figg Mysteries (historical cozies), and The Detection Club Mysteries (traditional).
When she’s not writing mysteries, Kelly is Distinguished Professor Emerita of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University.
Kelly lives in Nashville with three very demanding felines.
To learn more about Kelly and her books, please visit her website at www.kellyoliverbooks.com.
Jessica James Mysteries (contemporary suspense), Pet Detective Mysteries (middle grade), Fiona Figg Mysteries (historical cozies), and The Detection Club Mysteries (traditional).
When she’s not writing mysteries, Kelly is Distinguished Professor Emerita of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University.
Kelly lives in Nashville with three very demanding felines.
To learn more about Kelly and her books, please visit her website at www.kellyoliverbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
January 18, 2023
OMG... how bad is this book! It's a bunch of amped up caricatures that have then been given crack and thrown into a D grade hammed up cartoon!!!
I'm sure there are comments about the humour of this book, but I never saw even a little bit of it. There were no bumbling laughs, although it was packed with straight bumbling. There were no sassy comments and comebacks, although there was an endless supply of come back to repeat stuff.
The Native American issue was handled in one of the worst ways I've ever seen. The chick was rightly pissed at rich white assholes drilling their land causing outrageous pollution and a firmly entrenched slavery system where they lure the little girls with drugs into the camps and sell them for sex. Her little sisters have just gone missing... But they had been lured out every weekend for the last few years... 😳 they'd get picked up on Friday and dropped off on Sunday strung out and thoroughly used... and she hasn't done anything before now? The oldest was just 18 and the youngest was 14, but remember, they have been being pimped out for years already... they just didn't come home this month. I get it, it's not like she could click her fingers or lock them up, but surely SOMETHING could have been done before now for her sisters (and yes, I'm brushing over the other girls this was happening to). She didn't even have a name or picture of the guy who was luring these kids out of the play grounds. Her whole personality was soap box evangelist whose loud and aggressively obnoxious whenever she get the chance to blame someone else for her life being shit. The whole serious subjects she was trying to get across was lost in her dumbass drama queen bullshit. Even when people were trying to help, she was loudly, aggressively and obnoxiously yelling at them cause no one cares about NA girls or land... even though 'these' people were trying to help, no matter if they actually had a chance to or not. She just spent her time trying to keep her balance on that sky high soap box. Then, she finally found the sisters (let's brush over the ridiculous TSTL moments from everyone to get to that point), and she dumps them to move on to the next item, the baby.
The baby was the only reason I kept reading. I wanted to find out what happened to it. And I am so disappointed that I just didn't leave it to my imagination. Everyone figures out what happened to the baby and put on their capes to swoop in and emotionally damage an eleven year old with not a thought to anything but themselves... And get this... The baby is a miniature evangelical, loud, aggressive, obnoxious little shit who walks in and starts calling his bio mum and co dirty dogs who need to be chased out of the house! Surprise. This is easily explained away as 'emo' 😳
So, there's this ridiculously incestuous storyline through out the whole book that ends up so incestuous, the story is its own kid. There were multi parts and peoples, but it all boiled down to one night. Everything from asshole to breakfast was interconnected and most of it for very little reason. It was never explained why a baby knapper who'd gotten away with it would push her husband - who faked his death on the night of the accident, the night the as yet unknown wife knapped a baby from the accident scene and declared him dead so she could keep him, who were both living plush lives far far away would push her husband to stretch his oil business into the very tribe land from whom she stole the kid. The husband for his part did say he came back for revenge on the evil step dad and negligent mother he ran from as a teen... but surely she might have urged him to keep a distance? No.
And then they find the little shit abusive spoiled brat kid, and walk away after blowing his world up cause the baby knapper is rich and can give him more than bio mum... And let's overlook the fact that bio mum (who was twelve at birth - yes, that was a real incestuous bit) never put ANY thought into if the baby might actually be in a better situation wherever he was than the one where she couldn't keep her sisters safe from the predators and the endless stereo type Native Americans getting drunk on white mans money and being pimped out. Not saying she shouldn't have looked, but a bit of thought into the best way to break it to a child that his world is a hidden reality might have been advisable. But no, they storm in, blow it up and then walk away AS KNAPPER MUM IS BEING TAKEN AWAY IN HANDCUFFS FOR HER PART IN ALL THE MURDERS AND MAYHEM (nothing about the baby I napping yet).
I could go on, but the wrap up is boring dump shits, doing endless dumb shit to wrap up a too ridiculous to be anything but dumb story.
0719
I'm sure there are comments about the humour of this book, but I never saw even a little bit of it. There were no bumbling laughs, although it was packed with straight bumbling. There were no sassy comments and comebacks, although there was an endless supply of come back to repeat stuff.
The Native American issue was handled in one of the worst ways I've ever seen. The chick was rightly pissed at rich white assholes drilling their land causing outrageous pollution and a firmly entrenched slavery system where they lure the little girls with drugs into the camps and sell them for sex. Her little sisters have just gone missing... But they had been lured out every weekend for the last few years... 😳 they'd get picked up on Friday and dropped off on Sunday strung out and thoroughly used... and she hasn't done anything before now? The oldest was just 18 and the youngest was 14, but remember, they have been being pimped out for years already... they just didn't come home this month. I get it, it's not like she could click her fingers or lock them up, but surely SOMETHING could have been done before now for her sisters (and yes, I'm brushing over the other girls this was happening to). She didn't even have a name or picture of the guy who was luring these kids out of the play grounds. Her whole personality was soap box evangelist whose loud and aggressively obnoxious whenever she get the chance to blame someone else for her life being shit. The whole serious subjects she was trying to get across was lost in her dumbass drama queen bullshit. Even when people were trying to help, she was loudly, aggressively and obnoxiously yelling at them cause no one cares about NA girls or land... even though 'these' people were trying to help, no matter if they actually had a chance to or not. She just spent her time trying to keep her balance on that sky high soap box. Then, she finally found the sisters (let's brush over the ridiculous TSTL moments from everyone to get to that point), and she dumps them to move on to the next item, the baby.
The baby was the only reason I kept reading. I wanted to find out what happened to it. And I am so disappointed that I just didn't leave it to my imagination. Everyone figures out what happened to the baby and put on their capes to swoop in and emotionally damage an eleven year old with not a thought to anything but themselves... And get this... The baby is a miniature evangelical, loud, aggressive, obnoxious little shit who walks in and starts calling his bio mum and co dirty dogs who need to be chased out of the house! Surprise. This is easily explained away as 'emo' 😳
So, there's this ridiculously incestuous storyline through out the whole book that ends up so incestuous, the story is its own kid. There were multi parts and peoples, but it all boiled down to one night. Everything from asshole to breakfast was interconnected and most of it for very little reason. It was never explained why a baby knapper who'd gotten away with it would push her husband - who faked his death on the night of the accident, the night the as yet unknown wife knapped a baby from the accident scene and declared him dead so she could keep him, who were both living plush lives far far away would push her husband to stretch his oil business into the very tribe land from whom she stole the kid. The husband for his part did say he came back for revenge on the evil step dad and negligent mother he ran from as a teen... but surely she might have urged him to keep a distance? No.
And then they find the little shit abusive spoiled brat kid, and walk away after blowing his world up cause the baby knapper is rich and can give him more than bio mum... And let's overlook the fact that bio mum (who was twelve at birth - yes, that was a real incestuous bit) never put ANY thought into if the baby might actually be in a better situation wherever he was than the one where she couldn't keep her sisters safe from the predators and the endless stereo type Native Americans getting drunk on white mans money and being pimped out. Not saying she shouldn't have looked, but a bit of thought into the best way to break it to a child that his world is a hidden reality might have been advisable. But no, they storm in, blow it up and then walk away AS KNAPPER MUM IS BEING TAKEN AWAY IN HANDCUFFS FOR HER PART IN ALL THE MURDERS AND MAYHEM (nothing about the baby I napping yet).
I could go on, but the wrap up is boring dump shits, doing endless dumb shit to wrap up a too ridiculous to be anything but dumb story.
0719
April 13, 2019
This is my first book by this author and I enjoyed the story. The author brings things up in it like raising awareness for issues like prejudice for native americans, human trafficking, prostitution and much more. I enjoyed the mystery part of the book. I wish the book would have held my attention a little better in some parts but overall it was not a bad read. *This book was given to me for free at my request from NetGalley and I provided this voluntary review.*
December 4, 2018
I am Blackfoot
Unfortunately I consider myself lucky to have been adopted by loving parents off the Blackfoot reservation. I've seen how my people live, and most citizens of the United States have no idea that people still live this way in our country. They have decided that this kind of thing has to have happened in the past and that's the extent of their thoughts on the matter. Unfortunately, the reality is that there are hundreds of children growing up in fear of hunger and abuse so atrocious that most of us have a difficult time wrapping our minds around the depth of this disparity. Human trafficking does not only occur with young kidnap victims or illegal immigrants crossing into our country. It happens daily right here in our country and to our children! This was a very powerful way to share the pain of the native people who have truly been forgotten. So many believe that the law has given us so much affirmative action that we no longer suffer, but it's your choice to remain blind. All you have to do is look. Visit. See.
Unfortunately I consider myself lucky to have been adopted by loving parents off the Blackfoot reservation. I've seen how my people live, and most citizens of the United States have no idea that people still live this way in our country. They have decided that this kind of thing has to have happened in the past and that's the extent of their thoughts on the matter. Unfortunately, the reality is that there are hundreds of children growing up in fear of hunger and abuse so atrocious that most of us have a difficult time wrapping our minds around the depth of this disparity. Human trafficking does not only occur with young kidnap victims or illegal immigrants crossing into our country. It happens daily right here in our country and to our children! This was a very powerful way to share the pain of the native people who have truly been forgotten. So many believe that the law has given us so much affirmative action that we no longer suffer, but it's your choice to remain blind. All you have to do is look. Visit. See.
December 19, 2018
Full of Action and Suspense
Jessica spends her summer vacation in Montana where she is swept up into a mystery involving murders and corruption. Her buddy Lolita shows up and joins Jessica in her effort to save young women kidnapped from the Blackfoot reservation for the sex trade. The characters are all larger than life, as you should expect from this author. All of the characters are people you wish you knew. The style of writing is rich in detail and almost lyrical in describing the landscape. The book is extremely enjoyable on many levels.
Jessica spends her summer vacation in Montana where she is swept up into a mystery involving murders and corruption. Her buddy Lolita shows up and joins Jessica in her effort to save young women kidnapped from the Blackfoot reservation for the sex trade. The characters are all larger than life, as you should expect from this author. All of the characters are people you wish you knew. The style of writing is rich in detail and almost lyrical in describing the landscape. The book is extremely enjoyable on many levels.
December 30, 2021
GNAB . Coyote is an earth mothers' delight. Taking place in the massive oil fields of modern day Montana and edging on the Blackfoot reservation, we have fracking, political corruption, human trafficking, illegal drug use, and a tree hugger protest group stepping over into eco-terrorism.
I enjoyed Jessica James. It was interesting to see Ms. Oliver's ability to keep Jessica that important step away from the pain of the Redfox family, and the self-control to keep from imploding into the mess she was faced with. I was very pleased to see that her judo-wielding friend Lolita Durchenko of the lipstick red Harley appear to assist as the numbers of bad guys became overwhelming. And the presence of Auntie Madge helped even things out, as well. Kimi and her sisters are very important to the tale, and also quite sympathetic. Altogether this novel was a fast read, a good story, and I am pleased to recommend it to friends and family.
I received an invitation to review this book from Netgalley on December 19th but I was never available to download it there. Intrigued by the title and description, I was able to ask for it at Kindle Unlimited at Amazon on January 27. I am grateful to Netgalley, Amazon, Kelly Oliver, and Kaos Press for allowing me to read and review this novel.
pub date 2016
rec Dec 19, 2018
Kaos Press
I re-read this book Christmas week, 2021 as I began the Jessica James series. My above review still stands. This is interesting series, with a compelling tale.
I enjoyed Jessica James. It was interesting to see Ms. Oliver's ability to keep Jessica that important step away from the pain of the Redfox family, and the self-control to keep from imploding into the mess she was faced with. I was very pleased to see that her judo-wielding friend Lolita Durchenko of the lipstick red Harley appear to assist as the numbers of bad guys became overwhelming. And the presence of Auntie Madge helped even things out, as well. Kimi and her sisters are very important to the tale, and also quite sympathetic. Altogether this novel was a fast read, a good story, and I am pleased to recommend it to friends and family.
I received an invitation to review this book from Netgalley on December 19th but I was never available to download it there. Intrigued by the title and description, I was able to ask for it at Kindle Unlimited at Amazon on January 27. I am grateful to Netgalley, Amazon, Kelly Oliver, and Kaos Press for allowing me to read and review this novel.
pub date 2016
rec Dec 19, 2018
Kaos Press
I re-read this book Christmas week, 2021 as I began the Jessica James series. My above review still stands. This is interesting series, with a compelling tale.
August 9, 2019
Sorry I don’t normally review books and give low star rating but dear gods this book was given me a headache. Three times I have tried to finish it. There’s too much information dumping, too much repeating of that information. I get it that Miss Redfox is upset about how badly the Native Americans have been treated throughout history. I know they were given alcohol and drugs to rob them of their land, you have already told us. Yet you go on and repeat it with another character so the reader gets to learn about yet again, stopping the plot from moving forward.
All I want to know was what had happened to her sisters and her baby brother. Yes I know I only read 20% but In the end I wasn’t engaged enough to want to read on to find out.😢
All I want to know was what had happened to her sisters and her baby brother. Yes I know I only read 20% but In the end I wasn’t engaged enough to want to read on to find out.😢
August 16, 2016
Coyote is the perfect sequel to Wolf!! The fiercely courageous Jessica James takes on exciting new adventures and mysteries in this non-stop page turner. Oliver's prose is full of wit and comedy, making this book such a joy to read. Highly recommended!!
December 28, 2018
Jessica James is back and she's come home to the small town she knew back in Montana. She's not looking forward to it because of her mom, the people who look down her because of her "book learning" but she didn't do it for them anyways. But what can you do about small-town life and small-town people? She's barely back home before trouble starts up and her cousin is in the thick of it at a picnic. Heartbreak strikes when not even 24 hours later her cousin is dead. He warned her that a death at the mill a week before wasn't an accident and now he's dead. True to her style Jessie jumps in feet first to find out what happened and why. But she quickly finds herself embroiled in another situation that she didn't see coming behind her roommate.
Coyote is another great addition to the Jessica James series by Kelly Oliver. This book is so hard to put down as Jessica delves into the deaths at the mill and why they happened. It's heartbreaking the way that things hit so fast. You barely get into the story before Jessica's cousin Mike is being declared dead and pulled from the mill...at least what's left of him. Now Jessica makes it her mission to find out what happened to him. Of course, the author doesn't just leave things there of where she has this one case to investigate. Next comes a human trafficking situation that she is digging into with the roommate's situation. This story is engaging and keeps the reader page turning to discover the answers and truths behind it all.
There isn't anything that I don't like about this book. The author keeps me engaged and Jessica keeps me wanting more. The mystery is well balanced with the character and I like the variety of characters that the author gives the reader.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. This book is another successful Jessica James mystery novel as she finds herself in more trouble than she can shake a stick at but manages to figure it all out in the end and come out the other side alive.
Coyote is another great addition to the Jessica James series by Kelly Oliver. This book is so hard to put down as Jessica delves into the deaths at the mill and why they happened. It's heartbreaking the way that things hit so fast. You barely get into the story before Jessica's cousin Mike is being declared dead and pulled from the mill...at least what's left of him. Now Jessica makes it her mission to find out what happened to him. Of course, the author doesn't just leave things there of where she has this one case to investigate. Next comes a human trafficking situation that she is digging into with the roommate's situation. This story is engaging and keeps the reader page turning to discover the answers and truths behind it all.
There isn't anything that I don't like about this book. The author keeps me engaged and Jessica keeps me wanting more. The mystery is well balanced with the character and I like the variety of characters that the author gives the reader.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. This book is another successful Jessica James mystery novel as she finds herself in more trouble than she can shake a stick at but manages to figure it all out in the end and come out the other side alive.
December 29, 2018
This is my first story by Kelly Oliver and I enjoyed it very much. Kudos for giving us an entertaining story and at the same time bringing to light some serious humanitarian issues.
Having formerly worked in the environmental field and married to a Native American, I can identify with and appreciate the author making environmental issues, human trafficking, Native American hate and abuse, and political corruption the basis for this story. These issues are real and happening daily.
Our heroine, Jessica James has come home for the summer to her small town in Montana and finds herself in the middle of a controversial fracking operation and freak accidents at the town's lumber mill. Her cousin Mike mentions to her that he doesn't believe the accidents are accidents. The next day there is a third accident and Mike is dead.
Jessie meets Kimi RedFox at her summer job at Glacier Park. Kimi tells part of the story and takes us into the heart of the Native American community.
She's trying to stop the Knight Industries from fracking on the reservation and polluting the land and water. The government insists fracking is safe, but drinking water on the reservation will burn. Then there is the drug and prostitution encouraged by the "man camps" created for fracking employees; and the disappearance of her two young sisters.
This is a fast-paced, witty and funny story covering some serious and ignored problems. It clearly expresses criticism of the explosive growth of the fracking industry and its effect on our environment, regardless of government's opinion.
Five stars for a great story that's not afraid to shine the light on serious issues.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Having formerly worked in the environmental field and married to a Native American, I can identify with and appreciate the author making environmental issues, human trafficking, Native American hate and abuse, and political corruption the basis for this story. These issues are real and happening daily.
Our heroine, Jessica James has come home for the summer to her small town in Montana and finds herself in the middle of a controversial fracking operation and freak accidents at the town's lumber mill. Her cousin Mike mentions to her that he doesn't believe the accidents are accidents. The next day there is a third accident and Mike is dead.
Jessie meets Kimi RedFox at her summer job at Glacier Park. Kimi tells part of the story and takes us into the heart of the Native American community.
She's trying to stop the Knight Industries from fracking on the reservation and polluting the land and water. The government insists fracking is safe, but drinking water on the reservation will burn. Then there is the drug and prostitution encouraged by the "man camps" created for fracking employees; and the disappearance of her two young sisters.
This is a fast-paced, witty and funny story covering some serious and ignored problems. It clearly expresses criticism of the explosive growth of the fracking industry and its effect on our environment, regardless of government's opinion.
Five stars for a great story that's not afraid to shine the light on serious issues.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 19, 2018
Jessica James is a product of her Montana roots. She may be an Ivy League grad school student/fellow/ta now, but she was carved from Montana granite, burnt in the fires that shaped her after the premature death of her father in an accident.
Kimi lost both her mother and her own son in the same tragic truck accident.
But is her son really gone?
a series of tangled events lead Jessica to look into strange happenings at the mill where her beloved cousin Mike worked.
Mike said her was looking into the baby Kimi lost, and asks Jessica for her help in solving the murder of his best friend at the mill.
Much more death and pain seem to be tied to the mysterious Knight Industries, and to the lives of CEO Richard Knight, as well as his wife and sister.
Is brother David, of whom Jessica had grown fond, is David tangled in the deaths, or just heir to the family fortune and misfortunes.
Death echoes across the fire purged plains, into the mountains.
Harrowing pain and suffering - highlights of friendship, love and affection - kinship to loyal friend Lolita.
Poignant pictures of lives filled with excitement, death and pain.
Can Jessica arise anew now that she has been burnt to ashes? Can Kimi?
A moving adventure that leaves you longing for more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kimi lost both her mother and her own son in the same tragic truck accident.
But is her son really gone?
a series of tangled events lead Jessica to look into strange happenings at the mill where her beloved cousin Mike worked.
Mike said her was looking into the baby Kimi lost, and asks Jessica for her help in solving the murder of his best friend at the mill.
Much more death and pain seem to be tied to the mysterious Knight Industries, and to the lives of CEO Richard Knight, as well as his wife and sister.
Is brother David, of whom Jessica had grown fond, is David tangled in the deaths, or just heir to the family fortune and misfortunes.
Death echoes across the fire purged plains, into the mountains.
Harrowing pain and suffering - highlights of friendship, love and affection - kinship to loyal friend Lolita.
Poignant pictures of lives filled with excitement, death and pain.
Can Jessica arise anew now that she has been burnt to ashes? Can Kimi?
A moving adventure that leaves you longing for more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 26, 2018
The book Coyote is an amazing mystery. Jessica James is caught up in a new adventure, trying to find out what happened to her cousin who is killed in a suspicious mill accident. Set within a native american reservation in Montana, it's a suspenseful set of events that lead to some shocking places and some hidden revelations. The story kept my attention from the beginning, and it was quite a ride until the final page. I felt like this story was better in some ways than the first book in the series, and focuses on an interesting group of people that surround Jessica. She seems more mature and more grounded in this book, and I was able to follow more easily what went on with her and her old and new friends.
I was surprised a few times by what happens, like an unlikely cult becoming involved, and an apparently lesbian new relationship, that felt a little creepy to me...not at all natural...also, further revelations at the end of the story. I can recommend this book for the plot and the main characters and the mystery solved, but I'd rather be spared a couple of the weirder things that I mentioned. So, it's up to the reader what they want to read...
I was surprised a few times by what happens, like an unlikely cult becoming involved, and an apparently lesbian new relationship, that felt a little creepy to me...not at all natural...also, further revelations at the end of the story. I can recommend this book for the plot and the main characters and the mystery solved, but I'd rather be spared a couple of the weirder things that I mentioned. So, it's up to the reader what they want to read...
January 27, 2020
A few days ago a book promo ad appeared on my FB feed. The poster was crowing about how the book had been praised by "James Patterson."(If you are a reader, you know why I put that name in quotes.) I commented on the post, pointing out that that was dubious praise. The poster commented back that regardless of the low quality of the "Patterson" books, they had a huge audience and that "his" praise was pure gold for books like this. OK... then it became clear that I was talking to Kelly Oliver, herself.
To be fair, I read the book.
There went 90 minutes down the tube.
Yep, this is exactly the poorly conceived, heavily padded tripe that "James Patterson" is renowned for. The kitchen sink approach of this book revolved around Native Americans and cutesy environmental issues, with a couple of the worst concocted murder "mysteries" ever written. Do you enjoy "thrillers" where the hero just happens to sneak up on the bad guys just as they are discussing their evil plans? Do you enjoy stories where the timeline ignores reality? Maybe you would like this attempt at the Hardy Boys for junior high kids.
To be fair, I read the book.
There went 90 minutes down the tube.
Yep, this is exactly the poorly conceived, heavily padded tripe that "James Patterson" is renowned for. The kitchen sink approach of this book revolved around Native Americans and cutesy environmental issues, with a couple of the worst concocted murder "mysteries" ever written. Do you enjoy "thrillers" where the hero just happens to sneak up on the bad guys just as they are discussing their evil plans? Do you enjoy stories where the timeline ignores reality? Maybe you would like this attempt at the Hardy Boys for junior high kids.
January 26, 2019
Our heroine is home from school and stumbles across a murder and more. She takes it upon herself to figure out what is going on.
This is a solid and intense detective/mystery read which is both hard to read and hard to put down. What the heck? The story and the characters are well written and developed, with a plot that could be happening right now. And that is my problem with the story. I read to relax and escape the real world, but this one is too real for that.
I love the heroine as she is smart and tough. And the plot was engaging with plenty of action and intrigue. I alternated between being unable to put it down and pausing to find something light and fluffy to read and relax. My conclusion? It is a very good, solid read and perfect for those that like a grounded, realistic read.
Recommended for those that like their stories real.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
This is a solid and intense detective/mystery read which is both hard to read and hard to put down. What the heck? The story and the characters are well written and developed, with a plot that could be happening right now. And that is my problem with the story. I read to relax and escape the real world, but this one is too real for that.
I love the heroine as she is smart and tough. And the plot was engaging with plenty of action and intrigue. I alternated between being unable to put it down and pausing to find something light and fluffy to read and relax. My conclusion? It is a very good, solid read and perfect for those that like a grounded, realistic read.
Recommended for those that like their stories real.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
June 21, 2018
I'm a sucker for strong women I can relate too in a story. Jessica James is one of those characters that you feel attuned too right from the very beginning. With her kind robust outlook on finding the culprits that have done wrong to others she is relentless in her search and prosecution of those responsible for their wrongdoings that caused the death of her friend and the human trafficking going on in her home state of Montana. I like the fact that the author speaks out about such atrocities that are happening in America at present, from the exploitation of young girls in the sex trafficking, the constant rape of our natural resources taking place by the use of fracking and the people who make profits more important than human lives. This book kept me so captivated from start to finish I was able to finish in a few hours.
May 16, 2021
I didn't enjoy Coyote as much as I did Wolf; mainly because there was so much going on in a relatively short book. Jessica is back in Montana (she hails from Whitefish) for a summer job and within the first couple of days, all hell breaks loose and there are two murders at the old shutdown sawmill, one of them Jessica's cousin, Mike. The subjects dealt with in this book are many: fracking, dirty politicians and businessmen, murder, eco-terroism, sex-trafficking of young Native American's, racism and bigotry.... so lots of story lines and I felt the ending was abrupt. Oh, and Jessica's Russian friend, Lolita (from grad school in Chicago), just happens to be in the area to score on a big poker game so she becomes part of the story too. I'll read another one, as I'm curious to see how the author develops her characters.
April 8, 2022
If I weren't told this is a mystery, I wouldn't have figured it out by reading it. It's more a hash of social justice topics than any kind of straightforward mystery. Jesse, Kimi, and David are all too stupid to live, and Kimi, who has the most harrowing experiences, is not even likeable. The nicest guy acts abruptly with no explanation and gets killed off immediately. I kept reading to find some reason to like anyone, and only toward the end did I get to see Jesse save an ungrateful cat from a fire, but earlier she went AWOL from work, stealing a bus in the process, searching for her nasty roommate. The only strong character, Lolita, is omniscient, virtually omnipotent, and always has the right equipment at hand. The story’s namesake is a nasty kid who hits everybody and is only found by a barely supported leap of logic. Why should anyone care about any of these people?
January 3, 2019
This mystery is a good read that has lots of twists in it that keep you guessing what surprises you'll find out next! The author does an excellent job of raising awareness of issues such as human trafficking, prostitution, drugs, rape, fracking, ecoterrorism, and the poverty and prejudice facing native Americans. These issues and more are seamlessly woven into the story, allowing the reader to learn about them, without feeling they're being preached at, which is an excellent tactic. And with a brilliant book too, I for one will be recommending it to others, as well as reading more of the series, thus spreading the message even further. Well done Kelly!
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
April 14, 2020
In Book 2 Jessica goes home to Montana for summer vacation. She finds old friends are now involved in murder and conspiracy. She gets a job at a local resort on the Blackfoot Reservation and finds out how bad things are. Her roommate is Kimi, a Blackfoot, who is trying to get help for the environmental degradation on the reservation due to fracking. But, it is even worse than fracking, the young girls are being kidnapped and taken to lumber camps for the pleasure of the men. Jessica gets involved in helping find Kimi’s missing sisters and very nearly winds up among the missing. Lolita shows up and helps save the day. It is a book that you will want to read until the end. Now on to Book 3.
January 18, 2023
I bought this bc I'm a long time MT resident (whitefish), was married to a member of the Blackfeet tribe, and am interested in issues on the res. I figured I'd like a book like this
But no
The writing is terrible--zero characterization, awful dialog and a plot that makes no sense. This writer uses nothing but cliches, tropes and makes no effort to create people we care about or have any investment in.
I don't think this writer has actually BEEN to Montana or met any actual Montanans. And it's incredibly frustrating bc the issues are important, just trivialized in this effort. Also, Blackfeet and Blackfoot are NOT synonymous.
Anyway, there ARE great books about MT but this isn't one of them.
November 16, 2018
Being home from summer break, Jessica is drawn into looking at the 'freak accidents' at the lumber mill when her cousin Mike complains to her about them and then is killed the next day. Her oddball friend Kimi Red Fox is trying to stop the Knight Industries from fracking on the reservation, plus she believes the Knight brothers are running a prostitution ring on the reservation. Things get personal and intense for Jessica and her whacking posse. The question is do they get their answers and will they be able to stop the powerful Knight brothers?
December 29, 2018
This was a decent read. I was entertained, but often found myself drifting while ready and having to reread paragraphs at a time because I was not paying attention to the story. I felt like this story had a lot of unfulfilled potential, it really could be a hit. It had some great elements in it and definitely had lots of action throughout the whole story. There were several plot twists, but a few were fairly predictable and left me feeling indifferent to the story as a whole. Bottom line, I'm glad that I read the book, but will probably not reread it in the future.
October 25, 2022
Jessica James returned home for her summer break to a boring job--a mother--well--and then her cousin dies at the local sawmill where he worked. He said something to her the prior day and now she is more then suspicious. She wants to know what is going on in this tiny town.
Her room mate where she works goes missing. Young girls are being abducted from the Native American Blackfeet land. Environmentally unfriendly things are going on as well.
There is non stop action as Jessica slowly learns the truth-and it isn't pretty!
Her room mate where she works goes missing. Young girls are being abducted from the Native American Blackfeet land. Environmentally unfriendly things are going on as well.
There is non stop action as Jessica slowly learns the truth-and it isn't pretty!
October 11, 2017
I received a free copy of this book through the First Reads program. That is the only reason I finished this book. It is one of the worst books I have read in a long time. It is a comic book without the pictures. Calling the characters two dimensional is generous. The story lines are all over the place. There are serious subjects that are just skimmed over as the author jumps from one to another.
This is an author is now on my Do Not Read list.
This is an author is now on my Do Not Read list.
January 18, 2019
If you’re a mystery fan but like something a little different, Jesse James is the perfect sleuth for you to try. A philosophy grad student at Northwestern University she starts her summer break at home with a tragedy. Combining fracking, Native American rights, corporate wrongdoing, long-buried secrets, and sabotage, Kelly Oliver weaves together an engrossing tale of greed and love. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 1, 2019
First book I've read by this author and it will probably be my last. I don't know what she was trying to do with this book. It jumped all over the place hitting on human trafficking, fracking, cults, and even lesbianism and for good measure a little about the conditions on the reservations. I wasn't even sure who the main character was. All in all a mess of a book. Anyone of those subjects could have been expanded into an interesting and informative book .
August 19, 2019
Awful
I couldn't finish this miserable book. I read about half of it and decided I had enough. The characters are too stupid to understand that their poor choices are what has led to their miserable existence. I kept reading, thinking the story would pick up but it just as t got worse and then there was a lesbian relationship which even made it worse! Ugh! Why did I waste my time.
I couldn't finish this miserable book. I read about half of it and decided I had enough. The characters are too stupid to understand that their poor choices are what has led to their miserable existence. I kept reading, thinking the story would pick up but it just as t got worse and then there was a lesbian relationship which even made it worse! Ugh! Why did I waste my time.
November 8, 2020
The basic plot was good, but the story lacks cohesiveness, especially between chapters.
Ms Oliver spent too much time trying to fit in wokeness -a lesbian attraction, environmental sabotage and corruption of the 1%, redneck Montanans, suppressed indigenous peoples, anti religion- "whenever I come in contact with a religious man, I feel the need to wash my hands".
Ms Oliver should stick to storytelling and stay away from politics.
Ms Oliver spent too much time trying to fit in wokeness -a lesbian attraction, environmental sabotage and corruption of the 1%, redneck Montanans, suppressed indigenous peoples, anti religion- "whenever I come in contact with a religious man, I feel the need to wash my hands".
Ms Oliver should stick to storytelling and stay away from politics.
May 21, 2021
This book raised lots of issues like prejudice, sexism, prostitution, rape, how the wealthy take over and especially discrimination against the American Indians.
Jesse James returns home to whitefish Montana for summer break even though this is the last place she wants to be. Two mysterious accidents resulting in deaths draw her in to find out what really happened and is it coincidence that Lolita shows up?
Jesse James returns home to whitefish Montana for summer break even though this is the last place she wants to be. Two mysterious accidents resulting in deaths draw her in to find out what really happened and is it coincidence that Lolita shows up?
December 30, 2022
Fracking, trafficking, drugs interpolated in Montana
Was a well written book about fracking, trafficking from res to oilfields. Dealing under the table and drugs. Maybe a novel but is happening in real time. Snow Slip is really between Essex and East Glacier. I lived years ago in Essex, East Glacier, Bear Creek and Cut Bank. So sad there are so many missing from res to drugs and trafficking every day now.
Was a well written book about fracking, trafficking from res to oilfields. Dealing under the table and drugs. Maybe a novel but is happening in real time. Snow Slip is really between Essex and East Glacier. I lived years ago in Essex, East Glacier, Bear Creek and Cut Bank. So sad there are so many missing from res to drugs and trafficking every day now.
December 6, 2023
The good is it brings up the topical issues of the environmental issues of big oil and the treatment of Native Americans by the government and big business.
Jessica is an interesting character.
The stereotypes of the man camps and oil workers is way over the top.
Too many characters thrown in near the end, it gets confusing and I found the ending unsatisfactory and too many loose ends.
It says this is a fun and funny sequel. It wasn’t fun and it wasn’t funny. At all.
Jessica is an interesting character.
The stereotypes of the man camps and oil workers is way over the top.
Too many characters thrown in near the end, it gets confusing and I found the ending unsatisfactory and too many loose ends.
It says this is a fun and funny sequel. It wasn’t fun and it wasn’t funny. At all.
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