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Laura and Gerry #1
Dead On Arrival
Laura Hamilton, wakes up one morning only to find out a dead body inside her apartment. It was, after all, her ex-coworker, “Velcro” Hodges, a debt collector who was known to leech on his prey until the debt is already paid in full. But why was he dropped insider Laura’s room?
Now someone wants Laura to be dead. As the plot thickens, Laura tries to find out on who could possibly want her next to be in cold blood. Lead Detective Inspector Jeff Gibbons helps her, tracking any leads he gets, but that doesn’t seem to help solve the puzzle.
Dead on Arrival has its own unique way letting readers laugh, have fun, and it takes out the humor on every individual who gets the chance to read it.
Dead on Arrival is highly recommended for readers, and for individuals who just can’t get enough of thrills, twists, and surprises.
Now someone wants Laura to be dead. As the plot thickens, Laura tries to find out on who could possibly want her next to be in cold blood. Lead Detective Inspector Jeff Gibbons helps her, tracking any leads he gets, but that doesn’t seem to help solve the puzzle.
Dead on Arrival has its own unique way letting readers laugh, have fun, and it takes out the humor on every individual who gets the chance to read it.
Dead on Arrival is highly recommended for readers, and for individuals who just can’t get enough of thrills, twists, and surprises.
213 pages, Trade Paper back
First published January 1, 2008
About the author
Karen H. Vaughan
19 books133 followersKaren Vaughan lives in Peterborough Ontario with her husband Jim and a cat named Sugar. She is the mom of a 23 year old daughter and four grown step children and a 3 year old grandson named Ike. DEAD COMIC STANDING is her second novel. Her first novel DEAD ON ARRIVAL garnered praise from friends, family and online gamers. She also enjoys doing crafts and other hobbies. Her third book and sequel to DEAD ON ARRIVAL is called OVER HER DEAD BODY. DAYTONA DEAD is the third in that series and was released in May 2013. Other than writing Karen loves to read, do crafts and play online games.Currently she co-hosts an internet radio show with Dellani Oakes and will be hosting WRITERS ROUND TABLE starting January the 14th. She has a quirky sense of humor and show this in her mysteries
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 28, 2008
A fun, light read!
Laura Hamilton, a divorced Torontonian, wakes up one morning only to literally stumble over the body of an ex-co-worker, Anthony ”Velcro” Hodges. Hodges, a debt collector, was known to stick like glue to his prey until the debt was collected in full or the asset in question was repossessed. She never liked him, an arrogant bully, he’s been arrested a few times for harrassement.
But why was he left in HER living room?
Her apartment super and longtime friend, Gerry, helps her along the way as threats increase against her, driving her to and from work, her parents, even to do groceries. Lead Detective Inspector Jeff Gibbons is following any leads he gets, but it doesn’t seem to be helping.
Meanwhile, Laura has moved into Gerry’s apartment on a temperary basis while an officer poses as her in her apartment and the sexual tension rises. And all the while, Laura is desperately trying to figure out who could possibly want her dead.
Karen, I thought you did a great job. I liked Laura’s sarcasm in defense to her anxiety and tension. I liked Gerry’s quiet way, but I felt their sexual tension could have been upped a notch or two. I actually felt a stronger connection between Laura and Gibbons than I did between Laura and Gerry. But I thought they were both sweet for each other.
The plot was quirky and fun, and I wouldn’t have thought it would end the way it did. I wasn’t expecting the outcome; ridiculously funny, balancing angst with humour.
Laura Hamilton, a divorced Torontonian, wakes up one morning only to literally stumble over the body of an ex-co-worker, Anthony ”Velcro” Hodges. Hodges, a debt collector, was known to stick like glue to his prey until the debt was collected in full or the asset in question was repossessed. She never liked him, an arrogant bully, he’s been arrested a few times for harrassement.
But why was he left in HER living room?
Her apartment super and longtime friend, Gerry, helps her along the way as threats increase against her, driving her to and from work, her parents, even to do groceries. Lead Detective Inspector Jeff Gibbons is following any leads he gets, but it doesn’t seem to be helping.
Meanwhile, Laura has moved into Gerry’s apartment on a temperary basis while an officer poses as her in her apartment and the sexual tension rises. And all the while, Laura is desperately trying to figure out who could possibly want her dead.
Karen, I thought you did a great job. I liked Laura’s sarcasm in defense to her anxiety and tension. I liked Gerry’s quiet way, but I felt their sexual tension could have been upped a notch or two. I actually felt a stronger connection between Laura and Gibbons than I did between Laura and Gerry. But I thought they were both sweet for each other.
The plot was quirky and fun, and I wouldn’t have thought it would end the way it did. I wasn’t expecting the outcome; ridiculously funny, balancing angst with humour.
June 17, 2018
When Laura Hamilton literally stumbles over a dead body on her living room floor one day, she soon finds herself embroiled in a whole lot of trouble.
The dead man was very unpopular in the local community and, there are many people with reasons to want him disposed of, so how did he end up in Laura’s apartment?
With Detective Gibbons and Police Officer Janice on the case, there isn’t a stone left unturned in the investigation.
Laura finds herself temporarily homeless, jobless and on the slippery slope to flipping moose burgers for a living. But, while dodging bullets and explosions, she also discovers what it feels like when good friends turn into so much more…
A must read for fans of murder mystery!
The dead man was very unpopular in the local community and, there are many people with reasons to want him disposed of, so how did he end up in Laura’s apartment?
With Detective Gibbons and Police Officer Janice on the case, there isn’t a stone left unturned in the investigation.
Laura finds herself temporarily homeless, jobless and on the slippery slope to flipping moose burgers for a living. But, while dodging bullets and explosions, she also discovers what it feels like when good friends turn into so much more…
A must read for fans of murder mystery!
November 30, 2008
Laura Hamilton wakes up after several days of babysitting a friend's child...only to trip in the early morning over the dead body that was malacously planted in her living room...who was it? It was Laura's recently exed boss. Yes, she knew the victim, but that did not mean this kind, even tempered, yet sarcastic young woman had a single clue as to WHY he was dropped on her doorstep. This book by Karen Vaughan will take you on several mysterious paths to finding who and why someone would want to give her such a gift on her apartment floor. Laura will find a romance is looming once she moves into her Super's apartment in order to help her find the culprit(s). Gibbons, her soon to be friend and head investigator, seems to hit it off as well through out the tale.
Fun, unique, intriguing, and a great surprise ending that was handled with comedy instead of the usual dramatic "written over and over again" ending.
Great job Karen. Keep them coming as you are on your way to the top of mystery/thriller writing girl!
Janie Pendleton.
Fun, unique, intriguing, and a great surprise ending that was handled with comedy instead of the usual dramatic "written over and over again" ending.
Great job Karen. Keep them coming as you are on your way to the top of mystery/thriller writing girl!
Janie Pendleton.
January 20, 2012
Laura Hamilton didn't know what she was expecting when she got up that Monday morning, but it sure wasn't finding a dead body in her living room. Yes, a dead man, apparently delivered sometime over the weekend, currently adorning her living room carpet.
Jeff Gibbons, the inspector called to the scene, isn't quite sure what to make of Laura, but he has a gut instinct. Even if she does know the victim, she's not guilty. A fact which is brought to light when it becomes apparent that someone's out to get her.
Gerry, the building super, is a long term friend of Laura's. Insisting on protecting her, he takes Laura into his home to keep her safe. Soon, he's sharing his space with Laura and her Siamese two cats—Sean and Seamus.
No matter what she does, Laura keeps getting dragged deeper into this ridiculous set of circumstances. When more dead bodies show up, she decides enough is enough. She and Gerry do what they can to help Inspector Gibbons find the killer.
"Dead On Arrival" is a wonderfully lighthearted mystery that moves at a lively pace. Vaughan's humor adds an interesting dimension to her story, keeping it from being too grim. Her dialog is sprightly, fleshing out the characters. Even minor players have very distinct personalities.
I enjoyed Laura and Gerry's amateur sleuthing as they muddle through, trying to keep Laura safe while they figure out who's trying to kill her and why.
Five Golden Acorns for Vaughan's debut book. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a lighthearted mystery with plenty of intrigue.
Jeff Gibbons, the inspector called to the scene, isn't quite sure what to make of Laura, but he has a gut instinct. Even if she does know the victim, she's not guilty. A fact which is brought to light when it becomes apparent that someone's out to get her.
Gerry, the building super, is a long term friend of Laura's. Insisting on protecting her, he takes Laura into his home to keep her safe. Soon, he's sharing his space with Laura and her Siamese two cats—Sean and Seamus.
No matter what she does, Laura keeps getting dragged deeper into this ridiculous set of circumstances. When more dead bodies show up, she decides enough is enough. She and Gerry do what they can to help Inspector Gibbons find the killer.
"Dead On Arrival" is a wonderfully lighthearted mystery that moves at a lively pace. Vaughan's humor adds an interesting dimension to her story, keeping it from being too grim. Her dialog is sprightly, fleshing out the characters. Even minor players have very distinct personalities.
I enjoyed Laura and Gerry's amateur sleuthing as they muddle through, trying to keep Laura safe while they figure out who's trying to kill her and why.
Five Golden Acorns for Vaughan's debut book. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a lighthearted mystery with plenty of intrigue.
January 19, 2015
Right from the start you know you are hooked! I mean how many people wake up to find a body had been delivered to their sitting room while they slept?
This is a good mystery with some romance thrown in. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Karen Vaughan has created a great character in Laura Hamilton. She is funny, smart with a wacky sense of humour - you just have to love her! Will she be able to find out who put the body in her apartment? Who actually was the killer? There isn't a dull moment in this book, more like a roller coaster of 'events' to keep you guessing what comes next!
There are lots of surprises throughout and it certainly makes you keep turning the pages. Altogether a great book, a definite to be recommended.
This is a good mystery with some romance thrown in. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Karen Vaughan has created a great character in Laura Hamilton. She is funny, smart with a wacky sense of humour - you just have to love her! Will she be able to find out who put the body in her apartment? Who actually was the killer? There isn't a dull moment in this book, more like a roller coaster of 'events' to keep you guessing what comes next!
There are lots of surprises throughout and it certainly makes you keep turning the pages. Altogether a great book, a definite to be recommended.
November 26, 2017
Great first book in this fun series that I read out of sequence and still enjoyed very much. Corpse magnet, Laura, is on her own in this first book written before Gerry joins her on her misadventures. She's a funny, sarcastic, unpredictable character who takes up sleuthing when a dead body turns up in her apartment. More than a little motivation, that's for sure! Several secondary characters add interest along with more than a little sleaze as Laura sets out alongside Detective Inspector Jeff Gibbons to find out whodunit. I'm not going to tell you that, of course, or reveal how Laura figures it out. You need to read this book and have the fun doing that for yourself
January 31, 2009
This was a great book to read. The suspense throughtout the book, just keep me reading. This is Ms. Vaughan firts book, and I'm looking forward to her next.
April 27, 2013
Excellent storyline and well written. A must read and this was her FIRST book!!!!!!!!
September 26, 2019
Laura Hamilton, a divorced woman working as a temp for a collection agency, wakes up one morning to find a dead body lying on her living room rug. How in the world did it get there? And, why is it there?
This book is great fun, full of wonderful characters and loads of humor. Add in a growing relationship between Laura and her longtime friend, Gerry, and lots of great dialogue and you have a fun read. This book is a great read for those who love the cozy genre sprinkled with lots of humor.
The narrator, Skyler Rankin, adds a lot to the listener's enjoyment of this book. Her voices are perfect and varied enough for you to know who is talking. She has an amazing ability to switch voices during dialogues and I often wondered if there were two people narrating instead of just her.
This is the first book in the series and I will definitely be adding more to my TBR pile. Just what you need when you want entertainment without too much heavy stuff added in! Now, I need a couple of Moose burgers.....
I was given the chance to listen to this book by the narrator/publisher/author and chose to review it.
This book is great fun, full of wonderful characters and loads of humor. Add in a growing relationship between Laura and her longtime friend, Gerry, and lots of great dialogue and you have a fun read. This book is a great read for those who love the cozy genre sprinkled with lots of humor.
The narrator, Skyler Rankin, adds a lot to the listener's enjoyment of this book. Her voices are perfect and varied enough for you to know who is talking. She has an amazing ability to switch voices during dialogues and I often wondered if there were two people narrating instead of just her.
This is the first book in the series and I will definitely be adding more to my TBR pile. Just what you need when you want entertainment without too much heavy stuff added in! Now, I need a couple of Moose burgers.....
I was given the chance to listen to this book by the narrator/publisher/author and chose to review it.
May 7, 2025
Dead on Arrival is what I would call an edgy cozy with a twist of humor on the side. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as well as Over Her Dead Body. Laura and Gerry have the unfortunate habit of stepping into murder investigations, or is it the other way around? Laura has a knack for solving mysteries, and she just can't help herself. She's smart, sassy, and snarky, exactly my favorite kind of cozy main character. She partners with police to solve crimes with panache and dry humor.
In this book, Laura, who is not a PI or police investigator, but her mind and mouth work like one. She literally stumbles over a dead body in her apartment, and naturally, chaos ensues. The book is suspenseful and also funny at times. The reader gets the feeling there's a cop inside Laura just begging to go to work.
In this book, Laura, who is not a PI or police investigator, but her mind and mouth work like one. She literally stumbles over a dead body in her apartment, and naturally, chaos ensues. The book is suspenseful and also funny at times. The reader gets the feeling there's a cop inside Laura just begging to go to work.
June 24, 2018
Pretty solid all around. I'm not much into mysteries, but this caught my eye, so...give it a try.
Glad I did. It was a pretty fast read for me, always a plus in my book--no pun intended--with sharply drawn charactarizations. Laura Hamilton is tough, bright, and very capable. She makes for a fine protagonist, and that's what I enjoy reading most in any genre.
Now, waking up and finding a corpse in your apartment would probably ruin anyone's day, but Laura manages to get through things with guts, intelligence, and guile. What I enjoyed most were the characters. Not perfect--nor should they be--they resonated as real people, and that's another plus.
Recommended.
Glad I did. It was a pretty fast read for me, always a plus in my book--no pun intended--with sharply drawn charactarizations. Laura Hamilton is tough, bright, and very capable. She makes for a fine protagonist, and that's what I enjoy reading most in any genre.
Now, waking up and finding a corpse in your apartment would probably ruin anyone's day, but Laura manages to get through things with guts, intelligence, and guile. What I enjoyed most were the characters. Not perfect--nor should they be--they resonated as real people, and that's another plus.
Recommended.
November 19, 2019
Dead on Arrival by Karen Vaughan is full of unexpected twists. I really enjoy a variety of genres and this book covers several of them. Mystery, suspense, and mild romance. Skyler Rankin did a great performance bringing the characters to life She gave them distinguishable voices, so I knew who was speaking. This book is the beginning of a new series and a standalone listen. I will definitely listen to more by this author and narrator.
May 27, 2023
This first book in the Laura and Gerry Mysteries series was fun! I know that may sound odd when referring to a mystery book, but the sense of humor throughout was great!
The mystery aspect reminded me of some of my favorite tv mysteries growing up!
I enjoyed getting to know
I enjoyed getting to know Laura and Gerry and am
Looking forward to reading their next installment in their story!
The mystery aspect reminded me of some of my favorite tv mysteries growing up!
I enjoyed getting to know
I enjoyed getting to know Laura and Gerry and am
Looking forward to reading their next installment in their story!
February 20, 2017
First I have to say I love the character of Laura Hamilton. She's the kind of gutsy lady I like and would want on your side if things go wrong. Which is exactly what happens in this story. When Laura wakes to find a dead body in her apartment everything twists into a murder, mystery. Now second, I should say I found the story a fun read. Laura uses her down to earth personality to do things her way and everyone else just seems to hang on for the ride. I can't wait to see what kind of trouble Laura will get in as the series continues.
March 7, 2020
It’s An Ok Story.
Sorry but in my opinion the story was ok, not great and not bad. One example is where a car gets blown up with the driver still inside it and the lady says, glad I parked my car around the back, not oh god someone’s in there.
But for me,
The narrator killed this story, I personally do not like a croaking voice and as for all the characters she portrayed it was cringeworthy.
The strange thing is though, there were one or two parts near the end of the book where the narrator had a normal voice and this was lovely, nice and clear.
I will go on to listen to book two.
This book was free for an honest review.
Sorry but in my opinion the story was ok, not great and not bad. One example is where a car gets blown up with the driver still inside it and the lady says, glad I parked my car around the back, not oh god someone’s in there.
But for me,
The narrator killed this story, I personally do not like a croaking voice and as for all the characters she portrayed it was cringeworthy.
The strange thing is though, there were one or two parts near the end of the book where the narrator had a normal voice and this was lovely, nice and clear.
I will go on to listen to book two.
This book was free for an honest review.
January 1, 2018
First I have to say I love the character of Laura Hamilton. She's the kind of gutsy lady I like and would want on your side if things go wrong. Which is exactly what happens in this story. When Laura wakes to find a dead body in her apartment everything twists into a murder, mystery. Now second, I should say I found the story a fun read. Laura uses her down to earth personality to do things her way and everyone else just seems to hang on for the ride. I can't wait to see what kind of trouble Laura will get in as the series continues.
August 17, 2013
Dead on arrival, a Laura Hamilton murder mystery by Karen Vaughan is a must read for anyone how loves a mystery with a bit of twisted humor.
Ms. Vaughan, brings us a brilliant and funny character in Laura Hamilton. This book is a definite keeper and will find a place in my reread list through the years. Truly who cannot love a book whose main character is full of charm, wit, and adventure.
Ms. Vaughan, brings us a brilliant and funny character in Laura Hamilton. This book is a definite keeper and will find a place in my reread list through the years. Truly who cannot love a book whose main character is full of charm, wit, and adventure.
December 7, 2008
Right after I finished writing it. I hope People will find it enjoyable. Hopefully released this summer.Rereading it to edit it further.
Okay I am done the edits...Everything is fine---story is great. Some of you have ordered the book I amtaking orders now.
Okay I am done the edits...Everything is fine---story is great. Some of you have ordered the book I amtaking orders now.
December 14, 2019
Dead on Arrival
A mystery that keeps you guessing until the end, the narration was OK and better in some parts than others
"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."
A mystery that keeps you guessing until the end, the narration was OK and better in some parts than others
"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."
January 5, 2015
Did not get the premise of this book, will try to finish it later.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews