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Jackson's Retreat #1
A Murder Among Friends
The death of bestselling author Aaron Jackson turned Maggie Weston'sworld inside out. The manager of Jackson's Writers Retreat, Maggieknew a murderer hid among her colleagues and friends. Was it actress Lily Dunne, target of a stalker's obsession? Lily's writer husband,struggling to make a name for himself? Money-loving Korie, Aaron'swife? Or someone else?
Maggie herself stood to inherit from Aaron's estate. As formerNew York City cop Fletcher MacAllister piled up evidence againstMaggie, only faith kept her strong. And Fletcher needed to rekindle hisown faith in time to prevent the killer from claiming another victim.
Maggie herself stood to inherit from Aaron's estate. As formerNew York City cop Fletcher MacAllister piled up evidence againstMaggie, only faith kept her strong. And Fletcher needed to rekindle hisown faith in time to prevent the killer from claiming another victim.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2007
7 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Ramona Richards
27 books113 followersI started making stuff up at 3, writing it down at 7, and selling it at 17. I've written 12 books. The latest two are Tracking Changes: One Editor's Advice to Inspirational Fiction Authors, a collection of essays for novelists, and Burying Daisy Doe, a suspense novel set in a small Southern town. In fact, most of my suspense novels are set in small Southern towns. Murder in the Family is the latest already in print. I have six Love Inspired Suspense novels still available in ebook.
My Mother's Quilts, a devotional based on the quilts I inherited from my mother, is the most recent devotional.
I'm also an editor, with more than 500 publications to my credit, and I'm now the associate publisher for Iron Stream Media. My specialty is fiction, although I've also worked on CD-ROMs, magazines, non-fiction, children’s books, Bibles, and study guides. Lot of publishers have helped my bottom line, such as Thomas Nelson, Barbour, Howard, Harlequin, Ideals, etc.
And, as I say on Twitter (@RamonaRichards): Music nut. Film buff. Usually a fun person to eat a burger with.
My Mother's Quilts, a devotional based on the quilts I inherited from my mother, is the most recent devotional.
I'm also an editor, with more than 500 publications to my credit, and I'm now the associate publisher for Iron Stream Media. My specialty is fiction, although I've also worked on CD-ROMs, magazines, non-fiction, children’s books, Bibles, and study guides. Lot of publishers have helped my bottom line, such as Thomas Nelson, Barbour, Howard, Harlequin, Ideals, etc.
And, as I say on Twitter (@RamonaRichards): Music nut. Film buff. Usually a fun person to eat a burger with.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 30, 2010
I liked Ramona's style of writing. I enjoyed wading through the evidence with the characters and wondering myself who did it.
While I guessed one little twist before it came out, I can honestly say that I wasn't sure as to who the murderer was until the very end.
I liked how she did her flashbacks. I really got to know Aaron through those and it wasn't confusing or jarring at all!
One thing that stood out to me spiritually, was how Aaron was a womanizer and drinker, but he loved God. He just never got a handle on his sins. I like how encouraged readers in this area. We assume if we never get ahold of a sin in our life, we're doomed to hell or don't love Jesus. She wasn't condoning it or saying, "Hey who cares how we act if we love Jesus." She was expressing that we can love God and still mess up...often.
I enjoyed it.
While I guessed one little twist before it came out, I can honestly say that I wasn't sure as to who the murderer was until the very end.
I liked how she did her flashbacks. I really got to know Aaron through those and it wasn't confusing or jarring at all!
One thing that stood out to me spiritually, was how Aaron was a womanizer and drinker, but he loved God. He just never got a handle on his sins. I like how encouraged readers in this area. We assume if we never get ahold of a sin in our life, we're doomed to hell or don't love Jesus. She wasn't condoning it or saying, "Hey who cares how we act if we love Jesus." She was expressing that we can love God and still mess up...often.
I enjoyed it.
March 29, 2009
This was very inspiring, made you use your brain and think about things, and how you would handle if you were in maggie and aaron's shoes
January 14, 2026
A whodunnit with a cozy-mystery feel, set in New Hampshire at a writers’ retreat.
I can’t rate it above average simply because I read 2/3 of it and set it down and completely forgot about it until I found it again in an odd spot. It’s an interesting little story nonetheless.
I can’t rate it above average simply because I read 2/3 of it and set it down and completely forgot about it until I found it again in an odd spot. It’s an interesting little story nonetheless.
December 3, 2019
A Another must read author
I was captivated by the first book and the second one is every bit as good. On to the next book. Thank you Ramona Richards.
I was captivated by the first book and the second one is every bit as good. On to the next book. Thank you Ramona Richards.
September 12, 2022
Interesting story. Couldn't put it down. Actually took me right up to the end to figure out who did it. Very good introduction to this series.
July 3, 2015
Jackson's Retreat
Book 1
This series has been excellent. The author mixed enough romance and suspense in the books to live up to the name "Love Inspired Suspense."
The writing retreat that the late Aaron Jackson created is ingenious, and a good way for those who can to get away to write. They are given strict rules that hopefully keep them focused on their writing. Being at the retreat removes many of the outside distractions, yet gives them the social network that humans need. Aaron put Maggie Weston in charge of the operations of the retreat, and with Aaron dead she has even more work cut out for her. There was an ex NYC detective staying at the retreat. Fletcher must figure out how did it, to assist the local police. The trouble is - the evidence points to the woman he's falling in love with!
This book left me on my toes. The moment I thought I had it figured out, something would go wrong. Then in the end, the expiation was so simple that it left me perplexed that I didn't see it coming! Be prepared for a lot of twists and turns and some romance...
(Note: I did not enjoy the ending of this story until I read the second book. Then I appreciated it more.)
Book 1
This series has been excellent. The author mixed enough romance and suspense in the books to live up to the name "Love Inspired Suspense."
The writing retreat that the late Aaron Jackson created is ingenious, and a good way for those who can to get away to write. They are given strict rules that hopefully keep them focused on their writing. Being at the retreat removes many of the outside distractions, yet gives them the social network that humans need. Aaron put Maggie Weston in charge of the operations of the retreat, and with Aaron dead she has even more work cut out for her. There was an ex NYC detective staying at the retreat. Fletcher must figure out how did it, to assist the local police. The trouble is - the evidence points to the woman he's falling in love with!
This book left me on my toes. The moment I thought I had it figured out, something would go wrong. Then in the end, the expiation was so simple that it left me perplexed that I didn't see it coming! Be prepared for a lot of twists and turns and some romance...
(Note: I did not enjoy the ending of this story until I read the second book. Then I appreciated it more.)
December 21, 2013
This was a fun mystery filled with a bunch of interesting characters. Richards did a good job of ramping up the tension, and she kept us guessing until the very end. It's a quick read with good writing.
March 1, 2013
Very good, easy to follow but still some unexpected twists and turns. I really enjoyed this book and will look for more by this author.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews