What do you think?
Rate this book
Consider Her Dead
Alternate edition for ASIN: B00AQN4SHW
An action-packed mystery set in Devon, England.
Do you know your friends? Can you trust them? Are you sure?
After her husband dies young in a freak accident, Samantha Shelley inherits his boat yard and estates. But jealous rivals want the land for themselves, and will kill to get it.
Then an old friend, an eccentric inventor, goes missing in violent circumstances. Sam quickly discovers she holds the key to his disappearance, a key that also makes her a target. To save them both she must reach him first. Soon, she’s drawn into a murky world of industrial espionage and death where no one is what they seem, especially those nearest to her...
An action-packed mystery set in Devon, England.
Do you know your friends? Can you trust them? Are you sure?
After her husband dies young in a freak accident, Samantha Shelley inherits his boat yard and estates. But jealous rivals want the land for themselves, and will kill to get it.
Then an old friend, an eccentric inventor, goes missing in violent circumstances. Sam quickly discovers she holds the key to his disappearance, a key that also makes her a target. To save them both she must reach him first. Soon, she’s drawn into a murky world of industrial espionage and death where no one is what they seem, especially those nearest to her...
236 pages, ebook
First published December 19, 2012
52 people want to read
About the author
Jan Ryder
3 books59 followersBritish author Jan Ryder writes about murder, mystery, and crime - a recipe for plenty of thrills and action.
She lives in Wiltshire, England, where people make time to talk, and always have a story to tell.
She lives in Wiltshire, England, where people make time to talk, and always have a story to tell.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 13, 2013
Who can you trust? Thrilling, gripping, high-octane action
J E Ryder’s book asks the question that everyone asks several times in their workaday life. Who can you trust? Is my lover faithful? Is my business partner stealing my money? Does that stranger's smile mean he likes me or that he plans to pick my pocket?
An age old question, yes, but in this book it’s encased in one of the most interesting, Machiavellian twist-filled adventures I’ve read in quite a while.
Attractive young widow Samantha Shelley is very much alone after her husband Adam died recently, bequeathing her his boatyard, a not-so-thriving business and some property. She has several employees, tough, bluff impenetrable characters for the most part. The villagers hate her for inheriting the historic business, started by the local ‘Lord of the Manor’ Mr Shelley, in Victorian times, after Samantha’s brief marriage to the last descendant of the respected Shelleys. Some of her employees hate her because they’re jealous.
But Samantha can handle an uphill struggle to survive because she’s tough. But not quite tough enough to be completely alone, and Billy, who works with her, is her friend and mentor, guiding her through the troubles that come her way. Another friend is a local inventor and eccentric professor, whom she refers to as ‘The Prof’. The Prof links in to the story later, but you’ll have to read it to find out how.
J E Ryder obviously knows a great deal about boats and boating, heavy lifting gear, precisely how a boatyard runs, and all this information is seamlessly imparted to set a very realistic scene.
Back to the story: from the start things become murky, when Samantha finds a body. The police come and make their presence felt, seething resentments arise, and soon tragic events escalate like a disastrous unstoppable landslide, smashing lives along the way.
This isn’t a slushy romance by any means. It’s a tough and brutal tale, with plenty of thrills and action, and a heroine that manages to survive close scrapes by the skin of her teeth. There’s a lot of interesting detail about military procedures and the climax of the book is an absolute tour de force.
There are plenty of surprises and twists, and the final ones, I must admit, I never saw coming – and I can usually see twists a mile away – J E took me completely by surprise by the way she ended the book: the mark of a superb writer.
This is a quick, thrilling, racy read. You’ll like it if you enjoy adventure with a touch of romance, and if you like action and violent confrontations, and if you like a heroine with guts and tenacity and the wherewithal, intelligence and sheer courage to save a situation completely on her own.
It’s gritty, lively and packed with action, thrills and twists.
Start reading it and you won’t want to stop.
J E Ryder’s book asks the question that everyone asks several times in their workaday life. Who can you trust? Is my lover faithful? Is my business partner stealing my money? Does that stranger's smile mean he likes me or that he plans to pick my pocket?
An age old question, yes, but in this book it’s encased in one of the most interesting, Machiavellian twist-filled adventures I’ve read in quite a while.
Attractive young widow Samantha Shelley is very much alone after her husband Adam died recently, bequeathing her his boatyard, a not-so-thriving business and some property. She has several employees, tough, bluff impenetrable characters for the most part. The villagers hate her for inheriting the historic business, started by the local ‘Lord of the Manor’ Mr Shelley, in Victorian times, after Samantha’s brief marriage to the last descendant of the respected Shelleys. Some of her employees hate her because they’re jealous.
But Samantha can handle an uphill struggle to survive because she’s tough. But not quite tough enough to be completely alone, and Billy, who works with her, is her friend and mentor, guiding her through the troubles that come her way. Another friend is a local inventor and eccentric professor, whom she refers to as ‘The Prof’. The Prof links in to the story later, but you’ll have to read it to find out how.
J E Ryder obviously knows a great deal about boats and boating, heavy lifting gear, precisely how a boatyard runs, and all this information is seamlessly imparted to set a very realistic scene.
Back to the story: from the start things become murky, when Samantha finds a body. The police come and make their presence felt, seething resentments arise, and soon tragic events escalate like a disastrous unstoppable landslide, smashing lives along the way.
This isn’t a slushy romance by any means. It’s a tough and brutal tale, with plenty of thrills and action, and a heroine that manages to survive close scrapes by the skin of her teeth. There’s a lot of interesting detail about military procedures and the climax of the book is an absolute tour de force.
There are plenty of surprises and twists, and the final ones, I must admit, I never saw coming – and I can usually see twists a mile away – J E took me completely by surprise by the way she ended the book: the mark of a superb writer.
This is a quick, thrilling, racy read. You’ll like it if you enjoy adventure with a touch of romance, and if you like action and violent confrontations, and if you like a heroine with guts and tenacity and the wherewithal, intelligence and sheer courage to save a situation completely on her own.
It’s gritty, lively and packed with action, thrills and twists.
Start reading it and you won’t want to stop.
October 4, 2013
Widow Sam Shelley has more on her plate than what she can handle. After the death of her husband six months earlier, she inherits his boat yard and estate, and along with it, local public resentment. The property of the Shelley's has been passed down through the male blood line for two hundred years and this sudden departure from tradition causes Sam more trouble than she ever could have imagined. To make it worse, her close friend, eccentric Jonas Weal (or 'The Prof' as he is known locally), has disappeared. Having designed a weapon technologically superior to any of its kind before it, he becomes a hunted man, wanted by the government as well as those with more private interests. Unexpectedly, the key to finding 'The Prof' and ensuring his safety falls into Sam's hands.
BLOOD POOL is a great achievement for debut novelist, J.E. Ryder. The central characters were real and believable, and I felt particularly close to Sam. Her weaknesses were alluded to nicely and the guilt she experienced over her desire for another man so soon following the tragic ending of her own (loveless) marriage was conceivable. These attributes were topped off by Sam's naivety and her persistent inability to gauge who she could trust. This helped to maintain the momentum of the story and heighten suspense as it progressed.
The author also seemed to find countless ways to describe the setting of the coastal village and the Shelley boat yard. She takes full advantage of the variations in the weather to do this and she does it nicely, providing an abundance of rich, visual detail all without losing the reader's interest.
Personally, I found that Ryder's strengths were highlighted in her ability to create fast, strong action scenes. The tension toward the end of the story escalates significantly, as is expected by a story within this genre. Her detailing of the high tech weaponry central to the story was also impressive and this complemented the action scenes well.
Overall, I recommend BLOOD POOL to readers who enjoy thrillers which keep them guessing to the end, a good deal of action, and a female protagonist. It is definitely a story in which the tension continues to build and snowballs into an explosive ending with a shocker twist.
BLOOD POOL is a great achievement for debut novelist, J.E. Ryder. The central characters were real and believable, and I felt particularly close to Sam. Her weaknesses were alluded to nicely and the guilt she experienced over her desire for another man so soon following the tragic ending of her own (loveless) marriage was conceivable. These attributes were topped off by Sam's naivety and her persistent inability to gauge who she could trust. This helped to maintain the momentum of the story and heighten suspense as it progressed.
The author also seemed to find countless ways to describe the setting of the coastal village and the Shelley boat yard. She takes full advantage of the variations in the weather to do this and she does it nicely, providing an abundance of rich, visual detail all without losing the reader's interest.
Personally, I found that Ryder's strengths were highlighted in her ability to create fast, strong action scenes. The tension toward the end of the story escalates significantly, as is expected by a story within this genre. Her detailing of the high tech weaponry central to the story was also impressive and this complemented the action scenes well.
Overall, I recommend BLOOD POOL to readers who enjoy thrillers which keep them guessing to the end, a good deal of action, and a female protagonist. It is definitely a story in which the tension continues to build and snowballs into an explosive ending with a shocker twist.
April 20, 2014
Blood Pool will keep you engaged and guessing until the very end. Every time I thought I had it all figured out, the story took a twist, thus proving me wrong.
Samantha (Sam) inherited land and a boat yard business when her husband died of a freak accident. The land should have passed on to the next Shelley male, but they'd had no children so Sam, against many people's protests, became the sole heir to everything.
In truth, Sam did a better job running the company than her late husband could have ever dreamed of. She has several good friends that she relies on throughout the story.
The story gets really interesting when Sam finds a dead body and then later in the day, someone pulls a gun on her, for no apparent reason (at least not one that we are aware of yet). More of the story begins to unfold when she forgets to check on the Professor until later that night. Sam is a strong and stubborn lead character whom you will find yourself immersed in her feelings and thoughts.
Sam's story will take you on a winding path of trust, betrayal, confusion, more betrayal and even some romance. Each step that Sam takes to get to the bottom of what is going on with the professor, takes her deeper into a winding road that sends her all the more confused as to who to trust. Each time she thinks she gets it right, she ends up wrong. With so many twists and turns, this story will keep you on the edge of your seat, not wanting to put the it down.
Sam has so many forces working against her, the town, the cops, outsiders, the weather, its makes it difficult to guess how it will all turn out, but I promise you won't be disappointed. The ending was by far the best twist of all!
Samantha (Sam) inherited land and a boat yard business when her husband died of a freak accident. The land should have passed on to the next Shelley male, but they'd had no children so Sam, against many people's protests, became the sole heir to everything.
In truth, Sam did a better job running the company than her late husband could have ever dreamed of. She has several good friends that she relies on throughout the story.
The story gets really interesting when Sam finds a dead body and then later in the day, someone pulls a gun on her, for no apparent reason (at least not one that we are aware of yet). More of the story begins to unfold when she forgets to check on the Professor until later that night. Sam is a strong and stubborn lead character whom you will find yourself immersed in her feelings and thoughts.
Sam's story will take you on a winding path of trust, betrayal, confusion, more betrayal and even some romance. Each step that Sam takes to get to the bottom of what is going on with the professor, takes her deeper into a winding road that sends her all the more confused as to who to trust. Each time she thinks she gets it right, she ends up wrong. With so many twists and turns, this story will keep you on the edge of your seat, not wanting to put the it down.
Sam has so many forces working against her, the town, the cops, outsiders, the weather, its makes it difficult to guess how it will all turn out, but I promise you won't be disappointed. The ending was by far the best twist of all!
June 26, 2013
Sam Shelley is surrounded by treachery everywhere she turns; treachery as dark and foreboding as the violent winter storm during which she finds herself fighting for her life. This woman has so many enemies it’s a miracle she’s still alive at the end of the book. But Sam Shelley is a woman with heroic strength and tenacity. She’s made of the stuff you except your leading character in a thriller to be made of. Yet Sam’s believable. She has her ups and downs. She’s still grieving the loss of her husband and his dog in a tragic accident when what’s left of her world begins to fall apart around her.
Along with nail-biting suspense, J.E. Ryder delivers outstanding scene painting of the Devon coast and the boat yard Sam owns and manages. She takes you there; walks you through the icy rain and muddy puddles with Sam as she readies her customers’ yachts for winter. I enjoyed these wonderful descriptions as much as sitting on the edge of my seat wondering who was on Sam’s side and who meant her harm. The author keeps you guessing until the very end and even then, she delivers a whopper that leaves you still wondering.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read, though there were a few abrupt changes of scene that were a little confusing. There was also one instance of a character being called by the wrong name, which also through me off – though only for a second. That kind of minor distraction did nothing to stop me turning the pages as fast as I could. Blood Pool is a cracking good thriller and I look forward to reading more books by this talented author.
Along with nail-biting suspense, J.E. Ryder delivers outstanding scene painting of the Devon coast and the boat yard Sam owns and manages. She takes you there; walks you through the icy rain and muddy puddles with Sam as she readies her customers’ yachts for winter. I enjoyed these wonderful descriptions as much as sitting on the edge of my seat wondering who was on Sam’s side and who meant her harm. The author keeps you guessing until the very end and even then, she delivers a whopper that leaves you still wondering.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read, though there were a few abrupt changes of scene that were a little confusing. There was also one instance of a character being called by the wrong name, which also through me off – though only for a second. That kind of minor distraction did nothing to stop me turning the pages as fast as I could. Blood Pool is a cracking good thriller and I look forward to reading more books by this talented author.
May 25, 2013
Technically there’s nothing wrong with “Blood Pool.” The novel is well written and if there are errors in formatting or syntax, I didn’t notice them. Sam is a fairly well sketched character. Her relationship with Mik is a little squishy and quick but they are in an extreme circumstance that makes every moment seem more urgent. Maybe making her a character that never loved her first husband was a bit much but not really an issue within the story-line. Sam trusts all the wrong people and makes all the wrong decisions but that’s what people do in thrillers and yet this reader didn’t find it more compelling. Then comes the point where the author does something crazy and outstanding brilliant. She ended this story in a way that illuminated all that dragged on before. I won’t give away the ending except to tell readers that there is a major twist and it is one that left this reader clapping her hands with glee. Do you like not knowing the characters in a novel? REALLY not knowing them? This is the novel for you.
The reality, however, is that you have to read from the start to get to the end. There are points in which we’re over informed. As a reader I had to force myself not to scan over some of the Prof storyline and, in the end, I didn’t fully get how Sam’s role fit in the secondary story-line. Overall, the big payoff is the end and I wish I had time to read again now to relish all the things that I missed in the first reading.
The reality, however, is that you have to read from the start to get to the end. There are points in which we’re over informed. As a reader I had to force myself not to scan over some of the Prof storyline and, in the end, I didn’t fully get how Sam’s role fit in the secondary story-line. Overall, the big payoff is the end and I wish I had time to read again now to relish all the things that I missed in the first reading.
December 6, 2013
A young recently widowed Sam inherits her husband’s boat yard and estate at a Dorset village and a whole lot of trouble from her husband’s former employees and the local villagers. Jan Ryder blends the story of the young woman’s struggle to assert her ownership of the shipyard and allow herself to begin to love again at the same time as a mystery develops involving the disappearance of her inventor friend, the Prof. What has the Prof invented that has so many people interested in finding him and procuring it for themselves? The stories of Sam fighting to save her shipyard and find love and rescuing the Prof from those who want to seize his invention merge in a violent, thrilling conclusion during a hurricane that sweeps across Dorset. All hell breaks loose as powerful forces battle for the invention and Sam has to fight for her life and a future with her new love.
Ryder manages to combine a murder mystery with a budding romance with plenty of action to keep the reader involved and wanting to know the outcome. I recommend you join her for a ride with a surprising final twist.
Ryder manages to combine a murder mystery with a budding romance with plenty of action to keep the reader involved and wanting to know the outcome. I recommend you join her for a ride with a surprising final twist.
June 15, 2013
BLOOD POOL BY JE RYDER
Greed makes people do bad things. First of all scheming employees don’t think Samantha has a right to run the Shelley Boatyard. She is an outsider and they will do anything to discredit her or worse. Mired in a murder mystery when a body is discovered on the beach Samantha is suspect then her friend The Prof entrusts her with a secret and is working to invent something to revolutionize war but the wrong people want it. Sam doesn’t know who to trust with the info and must fight off the opposition on two fronts-People who want the prototype and those who want the boat yard as well as deepening feelings for some one unexpected.
This story will keep the reader guessing at who the real good guys are and provides a climax to the story that will put the shoot out at the OK Corral to shame. Last man or woman standing gets to rebuild their lives and move on.
I give this 5 flash drives for mysterious and suspenseful reading.
Greed makes people do bad things. First of all scheming employees don’t think Samantha has a right to run the Shelley Boatyard. She is an outsider and they will do anything to discredit her or worse. Mired in a murder mystery when a body is discovered on the beach Samantha is suspect then her friend The Prof entrusts her with a secret and is working to invent something to revolutionize war but the wrong people want it. Sam doesn’t know who to trust with the info and must fight off the opposition on two fronts-People who want the prototype and those who want the boat yard as well as deepening feelings for some one unexpected.
This story will keep the reader guessing at who the real good guys are and provides a climax to the story that will put the shoot out at the OK Corral to shame. Last man or woman standing gets to rebuild their lives and move on.
I give this 5 flash drives for mysterious and suspenseful reading.
August 20, 2013
Blood Pool is an excellent thriller with so many twists and turns to the plot I wasn't sure who the good guys were until the author told me right at the end.
This tale is really well written, complex and intriguing. From the start the pace and descriptive writing made it feel as if I was living it all with Sam, almost like watching a movie pan out. The author has done a fabulous job with the background characters as well, giving them depth and personalities which make them just as real and believable as the main ones.
The only criticism I have was when the story led the characters to Spain, it all seemed a bit pointless to the plot but it was a very small part of what is an excellent and absorbing story and I thought it was very good.
This tale is really well written, complex and intriguing. From the start the pace and descriptive writing made it feel as if I was living it all with Sam, almost like watching a movie pan out. The author has done a fabulous job with the background characters as well, giving them depth and personalities which make them just as real and believable as the main ones.
The only criticism I have was when the story led the characters to Spain, it all seemed a bit pointless to the plot but it was a very small part of what is an excellent and absorbing story and I thought it was very good.
December 10, 2013
This thriller goes at a cracking pace, with twists and turns leaving you guessing right up to the end. And the final twist was awesome – I didn’t see it coming at all. Many times thriller writers sacrifice characterization in the name of plot, but not so here. Sam’s character is particularly well drawn – she’s feisty and resourceful, but with an authentic touch of vulnerability and naivety as she struggles to figure out who she can trust. Her ability to survive all the attempts to kill her stretches credulity a little at times, but the action scenes are so tightly written that I was more than happy to suspend my disbelief. All in all, an accomplished debut novel from Jan Ryder – can’t wait to read her next book!
June 26, 2013
When an ordinary woman finds herself hopelessly caught in the middle of murder, mayhem, and espionage, who can she turn to? Who can she trust?
Blood Pool is a tightly-written thriller peopled with a large cast of characters, all who seem to possess some dark secret. The story starts out with a bang and is filled to the brim with vivid details. Its ever-increasing suspense, twists, turns, drama and action keeps a reader guessing all the way to the end.
With this debut novel, J.E. Ryder is highly commended. Well done!
Blood Pool is a tightly-written thriller peopled with a large cast of characters, all who seem to possess some dark secret. The story starts out with a bang and is filled to the brim with vivid details. Its ever-increasing suspense, twists, turns, drama and action keeps a reader guessing all the way to the end.
With this debut novel, J.E. Ryder is highly commended. Well done!
March 11, 2015
A FIVE STAR MYSTERY THRILLER
I am pleased to review CONSIDER HER DEAD today with a ***** 5 Star review
This a a true mystery thriller. Nothing is what it seems .... completely to the very end.
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel, the story line will keep the reader engrossed, enough surprises and twists for everyone.
I will read more from this author. Great job!!
I am pleased to review CONSIDER HER DEAD today with a ***** 5 Star review
This a a true mystery thriller. Nothing is what it seems .... completely to the very end.
Thoroughly enjoyed this novel, the story line will keep the reader engrossed, enough surprises and twists for everyone.
I will read more from this author. Great job!!
May 9, 2013
J.E. Ryder has written a story ripe with twists and turns and compelling characters we can't help but care about.
October 18, 2015
I enjoyed the writing but the plot took some swallowing towards the end.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews