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Jane Kelly #1
Candy Apple Red
Jane Kelly is through following men. She left Southern California for the murky quaintness of Lake Chinook, Oregon, apparently so she could trade her bartending skills for much more glamorous work process serving. And the boyfriend, of course, is long gone. But things have been looking a little brighter lately. Her hobby doing PI work is kind of fun, especially when she lands a real case--that pays real money.
But the case is about Bobby Reynolds, best friend of Tim Murphy, the only guy she's never gotten over. Everyone except Tim believed Bobby murdered his young family--isn't that why he vanished? Now Tim's coming home and Jane's on her way to talk to Bobby's father. Looks like Jane'll be trailing men after all--this time with a tape recorder and a camera. To top it off, she's being trailed by a homely pug named Binky, left to her by a distant relative. With a job she's learning as she goes along and her ex back in town, Jane's life just went from stress-free to completely stressed-out. And then there's the dead body. . .
But the case is about Bobby Reynolds, best friend of Tim Murphy, the only guy she's never gotten over. Everyone except Tim believed Bobby murdered his young family--isn't that why he vanished? Now Tim's coming home and Jane's on her way to talk to Bobby's father. Looks like Jane'll be trailing men after all--this time with a tape recorder and a camera. To top it off, she's being trailed by a homely pug named Binky, left to her by a distant relative. With a job she's learning as she goes along and her ex back in town, Jane's life just went from stress-free to completely stressed-out. And then there's the dead body. . .
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
197 people are currently reading
965 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Bush
87 books1,101 followersNancy Bush is a New York Times bestselling author of over forty novels, including the River Glen Series, Nowhere Series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Wicked Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Lisa Jackson, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Lisa Jackson and Rosalind Noonan.
Nancy has called Oregon her home all of her life. She grew up in a small logging community and after graduating from high school, attended Oregon State University where she met her husband, Ken and graduated with a degree in nutrition. They married a few years after graduation and together they have one daughter. After working in banking and the travel business, with her daughter still in diapers, Nancy read an article in Time Magazine about young mothers who, once the last diaper was changed and the final bottle was washed, pulled out their typewriters and wrote romance novels for the then expanding market. Nancy convinced her sister, Lisa Jackson, that they should try their hand at writing.
After writing several successful romance novels such as Lady Sundown, Miracle Jones, Jesse’s Renegade and Scandal’s Darling and a stint writing for one of ABC’s top-rated daytime shows: All My Children, she turned her attention to writing thrillers for Kensington Publishing. Today, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
In her free time Nancy enjoys walking, working on jigsaw and crossword puzzles and hanging out with family and friends. When she and Ken aren’t visiting their daughter and grandchildren in Southern California, Nancy is busy working on her next book!
Visit https://www.NancyBush.net where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
Nancy has called Oregon her home all of her life. She grew up in a small logging community and after graduating from high school, attended Oregon State University where she met her husband, Ken and graduated with a degree in nutrition. They married a few years after graduation and together they have one daughter. After working in banking and the travel business, with her daughter still in diapers, Nancy read an article in Time Magazine about young mothers who, once the last diaper was changed and the final bottle was washed, pulled out their typewriters and wrote romance novels for the then expanding market. Nancy convinced her sister, Lisa Jackson, that they should try their hand at writing.
After writing several successful romance novels such as Lady Sundown, Miracle Jones, Jesse’s Renegade and Scandal’s Darling and a stint writing for one of ABC’s top-rated daytime shows: All My Children, she turned her attention to writing thrillers for Kensington Publishing. Today, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
In her free time Nancy enjoys walking, working on jigsaw and crossword puzzles and hanging out with family and friends. When she and Ken aren’t visiting their daughter and grandchildren in Southern California, Nancy is busy working on her next book!
Visit https://www.NancyBush.net where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
July 27, 2013
I thought I was almost at the end about three times before I actually got there. Jane Kelly is a twenty-something girl who hasn't managed to find a goal in her life. Decision making is difficult for her so she puts off making any, with the result that she is renting a summer cottage on the shores of Lake Chinook outside Portland Oregon and working delivering eviction notices and hanging around a private inquiry agent. Her income is irregular and she deals with that by not buying groceries or clothes and cadging off Dwayne the inquiries agent. Because she was "involved with" the best friend of Bobby, a man who shot his entire family, the man's mother, Tess, hires her to look into Bobby's disappearance and the intentions of Bobby's father, Tess' ex. It does not get any simpler than that and sees Jane acquiring a pug dog, being chased by dobermans, watching desktop sex from a closet, and fending off her own mother, who wants to know what's with this girl Jane's brother is apparently dating in between shifts at the Portland city police. It was alright, but the motivation of some of the characters, Murphy, for instance, is a little blurry and that of Cotton, Bobby's father, is never clearly laid out. It is probably much like what happens in real life, but this isn't real life and you'd like the descriptions to hang together. The flow of the days even becomes confusing toward the end.
November 16, 2018
This is a cute mystery. I liked Jane and Binky. I just knew Jane would love that little pug. The first in a series, so it will be interesting to see where this goes.
September 25, 2010
Slowly unraveling clues to a mystery and not enough humor for me.
REVIEWER'S OPINION:
This is a humorous mystery series using the same formula used in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. A comment on the cover of Candy Apple Red states “Move over Stephanie Plum, Jane Kelly has arrived.” In Candy Apple Red, Jane Kelly is a process server and a beginner-level private investigator. She has very little money and not many clothes. There is some sexual tension between Jane and her sometimes boss private investigator Dwayne. I laughed out loud many times while reading the first Stephanie Plum book, but I only laughed twice while reading Candy Apple Red. For readers who love the Plum series and want to read something similar, they might enjoy this more than I did. To date, there are two Jane Kelly sequels: Electric Blue and Ultra Violet. Generally, I’m not a fan of mysteries, but I enjoy them if there is a lot of comedy or romance. However, that is not the case in this book, which was mostly mystery.
STORY BRIEF:
Four years ago Bobby Reynolds allegedly killed his wife and three children and disappeared. Bobby’s parents, Tess and Cotton are divorced. Tess believes Cotton may have been in contact with Bobby recently. Tess hires Jane to talk to Cotton to see what she can learn about Bobby. Jane was in love with Murphy who broke up with Jane four years ago and left town. All of a sudden, Murphy comes back to town and is interested in Jane again.
DATA:
Story length: 334 pages. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 3. Total number of sex scene pages: 2. Setting: current day Oregon. Copyright: 2005. Genre: humorous female mystery.
REVIEWER'S OPINION:
This is a humorous mystery series using the same formula used in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. A comment on the cover of Candy Apple Red states “Move over Stephanie Plum, Jane Kelly has arrived.” In Candy Apple Red, Jane Kelly is a process server and a beginner-level private investigator. She has very little money and not many clothes. There is some sexual tension between Jane and her sometimes boss private investigator Dwayne. I laughed out loud many times while reading the first Stephanie Plum book, but I only laughed twice while reading Candy Apple Red. For readers who love the Plum series and want to read something similar, they might enjoy this more than I did. To date, there are two Jane Kelly sequels: Electric Blue and Ultra Violet. Generally, I’m not a fan of mysteries, but I enjoy them if there is a lot of comedy or romance. However, that is not the case in this book, which was mostly mystery.
STORY BRIEF:
Four years ago Bobby Reynolds allegedly killed his wife and three children and disappeared. Bobby’s parents, Tess and Cotton are divorced. Tess believes Cotton may have been in contact with Bobby recently. Tess hires Jane to talk to Cotton to see what she can learn about Bobby. Jane was in love with Murphy who broke up with Jane four years ago and left town. All of a sudden, Murphy comes back to town and is interested in Jane again.
DATA:
Story length: 334 pages. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 3. Total number of sex scene pages: 2. Setting: current day Oregon. Copyright: 2005. Genre: humorous female mystery.
September 21, 2010
Jane Kelly is lamenting her lack of focus about a career (she is serving eviction notices for a private investigator's customers) when she asked by an attorney to work for the ex-wife of one of Lake Chinook, Oregon's most wealthy residents, Cotton Reynolds. The ex is the mother of a man who is wanted in the murders of his wife and children and she is convinced that Cotton is hiding their son. She says she has heard that Cotton is ill and is afraid that he will die without letting her see her son. She wants Jane, who has an in with Cotton, to try to get some information from him. Well, that is what she says anyway. Jane soon finds herself in the midst of a mystery that is far deeper than she ever expected.
I enjoyed this book. I admit it took a bit of getting into, but once it hit it's stride I was sold. I really like Jane Kelly, she is witty and has the instincts of a bulldog. She is driven to solve the mystery and find the answers to all the questions that get raised. I liked the supporting cast as well. I really like Binks, the pug she inherits. I think the mystery was very well crafted and kept me wondering. I only had the answer (for sure) only about a page before she did the reveal. I will definitely read the second in the series.
I enjoyed this book. I admit it took a bit of getting into, but once it hit it's stride I was sold. I really like Jane Kelly, she is witty and has the instincts of a bulldog. She is driven to solve the mystery and find the answers to all the questions that get raised. I liked the supporting cast as well. I really like Binks, the pug she inherits. I think the mystery was very well crafted and kept me wondering. I only had the answer (for sure) only about a page before she did the reveal. I will definitely read the second in the series.
March 10, 2009
light, reading. This is the first book in a series and it is a little better written than the second 'Electric Blue'. I do want to reach in and shake the heroine when she does something dumb.
December 2, 2017
Too much fluff and wordiness for my tastes.
January 29, 2020
VERY Stepanie Blum.... but I thought it was cute, nothing deep...
An ok read (listen) and I really enjoyed it. This would be a great travel book, and since I spend hours every day in travel, it was a great choice for me. So, should another one shows up in my library box.. then I would read another one.. and I might even hunt down another in the series.
I listened to the book so I missed all of the errors mentioned in the written book... blurr.. I don't know if I would have continued, so I agree with the Goodreads reviewer who said she was out of there based on that. One thing I will say, I do believe that the story was actually better and had more depth than I expected based on the start of the book. As a character, Jane is smarter than she thinks, and not as smart as she thinks all at the same time. I do like her, her personality has that edge.
It wasn't a 4 star read, but it was more than 3 stars. So 3.6.
Happy Reading!
An ok read (listen) and I really enjoyed it. This would be a great travel book, and since I spend hours every day in travel, it was a great choice for me. So, should another one shows up in my library box.. then I would read another one.. and I might even hunt down another in the series.
I listened to the book so I missed all of the errors mentioned in the written book... blurr.. I don't know if I would have continued, so I agree with the Goodreads reviewer who said she was out of there based on that. One thing I will say, I do believe that the story was actually better and had more depth than I expected based on the start of the book. As a character, Jane is smarter than she thinks, and not as smart as she thinks all at the same time. I do like her, her personality has that edge.
It wasn't a 4 star read, but it was more than 3 stars. So 3.6.
Happy Reading!
August 14, 2021
Jane Kelly is a process server that does some occasional amateur sleuthing. When she is asked to look into the whereabouts of a murder suspect that she has loose ties to, she is pulled into more than she bargained for.
The cover for Candy Apple Red includes a quote comparing it to the Stephanie Plum books. While both series include a female protagonist that solves mysteries while having perpetual money troubles and occasional descriptions about every aspect about how they dress for different occasions, Jane Kelly of Candy Apple Red relies less on absurdly comic situations like cars repeatedly blowing up, and the side characters aren't as flamboyant. There was not one naked perp chase or conversation with a ho! Instead, Jane is a little more realistic without being a hard-boiled detective story.
The cover for Candy Apple Red includes a quote comparing it to the Stephanie Plum books. While both series include a female protagonist that solves mysteries while having perpetual money troubles and occasional descriptions about every aspect about how they dress for different occasions, Jane Kelly of Candy Apple Red relies less on absurdly comic situations like cars repeatedly blowing up, and the side characters aren't as flamboyant. There was not one naked perp chase or conversation with a ho! Instead, Jane is a little more realistic without being a hard-boiled detective story.
October 16, 2017
Disappointing as the cover announces "Move over Stephanie PLum, Jane Kelly has arrived! (well, that comment is by the author's sister)
Maybe it was the storyline that didn't do it for me but it didn't really pick up till Binky the dog came into it (& even then Binky comes a poor second to Rex the hamster!) Don't get me wrong, I didn't dislike the character of Jane Kelly &, while I won't be hunting down further books in the series, I would probably read more if they happened my way, just somehow some oomph was lacking in the story & I was glad to finish it.
In my opinion Stephanie won't be moving over any time soon....
Maybe it was the storyline that didn't do it for me but it didn't really pick up till Binky the dog came into it (& even then Binky comes a poor second to Rex the hamster!) Don't get me wrong, I didn't dislike the character of Jane Kelly &, while I won't be hunting down further books in the series, I would probably read more if they happened my way, just somehow some oomph was lacking in the story & I was glad to finish it.
In my opinion Stephanie won't be moving over any time soon....
August 24, 2020
Jane Kelly works for Dwayne who wants her to become a PI & get licensed in Portland. Jane is hired by Tess Reynolds with the Audrey Hepburn look. Her assignment is to get close to & interview one Cotton Reynolds owner of an island estate. His son Bobby committed fratricide & has disappeared. Tess needs to know details of Cotton's will& inheritance. There is a kid in a coma, vicious dobermans, greedy lawyers & real estate agents, & of course murder. Jane now the owner of an overweight pug dog starts her investigation.
July 5, 2018
I didn't like it originally but the it quickly grew on me. I thought that people in their 30s were supposed to be more mature and sophisticated, and Jane kind of ruined that hope for me, that I would instantly mature upon ageing. But, she was relatable and I wasn't able to guess the murderer until close to the end.
August 30, 2021
Wow! Great start to a new series. Jane Kelly moves to Oregon because of a guy and ends up staying even after he leaves and tries to decide if she wants to become a private detective or not. She works with a local private investigator and ends up involved with a complicated case. She persevered and in the end prevailed. Look forward to the next book to see what she gets into next.
July 5, 2018
This book really dragged out for me. Overall it was a good book with well-developed characters. I really liked the main character. I would recommend it for fans of Sue Grafton. It had moments of humor but was also dark. The Binkster was a highlight.
October 2, 2019
3.5 stars. I didn't really like Jane, frankly she's lazy, and without much human substance. The only reason I have it a 3.5 was because the actual story line was decent and I finished the book because I wanted to be sure who the killer really was.
November 26, 2019
3.5 stars. I didn't really like Jane, frankly she's lazy, and without much human substance. The only reason I have it a 3.5 was because the actual story line was decent and I finished the book because I wanted to be sure who the killer really was.
March 1, 2020
Stephanie Plum fans...have no fear, Jane Kelly isn't in the same class. Although a good story, the characters and setting don't quite meet up to the caliber of Janet Evanovitch. Nancy Bush...keep working it. I do love what I call your "mind benders".
January 20, 2021
Boring! I kept waiting for it to get interesting and it never happened. Protagonist isn’t all that likable and the “big twist” at the end wasn’t surprising and took forever to get to. Would not recommend
May 15, 2025
I read this book while on a long cruise and it was a fast-paced, fun, frothy read! Jane Kelly is a funny, determined, quick-witted heroine that kept me so entertained that I immediately sought out the next book in the sequel.
June 14, 2025
This was a thoroughly entertaining mystery, with a totally sympathetic and engaging main character and a fantastic setting that’s almost a character in and of itself. I look forward to reading the second book in the series.
September 10, 2017
Solid mystery (although, if you're a frequent reader of the genre you can id the culprit about half way through) but I find the main character something of a mess.
October 23, 2017
Another worthy Author.
June 24, 2019
I did not really enjoy this book, mostly because I didn't find the main character interesting.
October 2, 2019
Kinda fun, very formulaic. Meh. If I need a light read I might pick up the next one.
June 22, 2020
Good mystery. Jane Kelly is a likable character and understandable that the series is popular. A few unexpected twists. I will look for more in the series.
December 24, 2020
This was a really good story it is a little slow as cozy mystery series goes but it had a really good story line and even the lead could not believe who the killer was.
March 17, 2022
I read this novel before and I liked it then. The characters flow well with the plot.
January 15, 2024
Fun read. Comedic and suspenseful
Read
September 19, 2025Audio. Listened to it so I could read book #3 in series. Pretty good book though
March 16, 2011
There's a blurb on the front cover from Lisa Jackson that says "Move over Stephanie Plum, Jane Kelly has arrived." This to me would intimate that the book is slapstick funny, with lots of quirky characters and things blowing up. It's not. It's a pretty good read, but it's not slapstick. It's your basic cozy mystery with relationship issues and a single-gal protagonist.
Jane Kelly is what her married accountant friend Billy calls a "hatchery fish." Someone who takes the easy route, rather than struggling upstream. She moved to Portland, OR, following a man, and just sort of stayed when he moved on. She works as a process server, and does a bit of research for a private investigator. (She does get "treed" by a mean dog on top of her car and has to call her friend for a rescue, but her friend is not a Lula-type. She has more sense than Jane.) She's slightly attracted to the PI, but doesn't want to be. She's still hung up on the guy who moved on, Murphy.
There's an old mystery at the heart of all this. Murphy's best friend Bobby was accused of murdering his entire family--wife and 3 kids--and vanishing, several years ago. It's why Murphy left town--he didn't want to believe it. The cops think Bobby's parents--rich and divorced--have been supporting him. But now Bobby's Mom wants Jane to use her connection with Murphy to talk to Bobby's Dad and find out where he--Bobby--is. Jane doesn't want to. She wants to be over Murphy. Then Bobby turns up drowned in the lake.
This story has a lot of threads and a lot of subtext. It's complicated--and it's not. The thing about mystery stories--most of the story is about the character's everyday life, with, admittedly, lots of going here to talk to this person and there to sneak around that person's house. In this story, there was a lot of riding in boats to go drink at a restaurant on a lake, or going to eat at this other restaurant. There were a lot of clothes. Jane claimed not to care much about what she wore, but Nancy Bush spent a lot of time describing what she wore. There was a fair bit of mayhem. Bush did a good job hiding the identity of the murderer. It was an interesting mystery.
Jane Kelly is what her married accountant friend Billy calls a "hatchery fish." Someone who takes the easy route, rather than struggling upstream. She moved to Portland, OR, following a man, and just sort of stayed when he moved on. She works as a process server, and does a bit of research for a private investigator. (She does get "treed" by a mean dog on top of her car and has to call her friend for a rescue, but her friend is not a Lula-type. She has more sense than Jane.) She's slightly attracted to the PI, but doesn't want to be. She's still hung up on the guy who moved on, Murphy.
There's an old mystery at the heart of all this. Murphy's best friend Bobby was accused of murdering his entire family--wife and 3 kids--and vanishing, several years ago. It's why Murphy left town--he didn't want to believe it. The cops think Bobby's parents--rich and divorced--have been supporting him. But now Bobby's Mom wants Jane to use her connection with Murphy to talk to Bobby's Dad and find out where he--Bobby--is. Jane doesn't want to. She wants to be over Murphy. Then Bobby turns up drowned in the lake.
This story has a lot of threads and a lot of subtext. It's complicated--and it's not. The thing about mystery stories--most of the story is about the character's everyday life, with, admittedly, lots of going here to talk to this person and there to sneak around that person's house. In this story, there was a lot of riding in boats to go drink at a restaurant on a lake, or going to eat at this other restaurant. There were a lot of clothes. Jane claimed not to care much about what she wore, but Nancy Bush spent a lot of time describing what she wore. There was a fair bit of mayhem. Bush did a good job hiding the identity of the murderer. It was an interesting mystery.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews