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Librarian note: Older cover of B06XB97RTP.
Former Montana cowgirl Jessica James is sleeping on a desk in the attic at the Philosophy Department at Northwestern University in the Chicago suburbs. She blames her advisor, Professor Wolfgang “Wolf” Schumtzig, “Preeminent Philosopher and World Class Dick-Head.” When he’s found dead in his office, her real education begins. Trying to determine the connection between the murder and date-rape drugs popular on campus, Jessica ends up drugged at a frat party, but not before her fellow feminist avengers gives the frat boys a taste of their own medicine. Her best friend’s father, Dmitry Durchenko, is trying to live a normal life as a janitor at Northwestern’s Philosophy Department. Twenty years ago, he escaped Russia with his life and part of his mafia boss father’s fortune. When the fortune, including a famous Kandinsky, goes missing, he realizes everything changes, but nothing disappears. Obsessed with the painting and the clues it holds to his childhood, Dmitry will stop at nothing to get it back. Before it’s too late, and one of them becomes the next victim, Jessica and Dmitry have to wrangle mobsters, lasso frat boys, and rope in a murderer who’s read too much Existentialism. Together, the brooding Russian and the cowgirl philosopher learn that sometimes virtue is just the flip side of vice.
Former Montana cowgirl Jessica James is sleeping on a desk in the attic at the Philosophy Department at Northwestern University in the Chicago suburbs. She blames her advisor, Professor Wolfgang “Wolf” Schumtzig, “Preeminent Philosopher and World Class Dick-Head.” When he’s found dead in his office, her real education begins. Trying to determine the connection between the murder and date-rape drugs popular on campus, Jessica ends up drugged at a frat party, but not before her fellow feminist avengers gives the frat boys a taste of their own medicine. Her best friend’s father, Dmitry Durchenko, is trying to live a normal life as a janitor at Northwestern’s Philosophy Department. Twenty years ago, he escaped Russia with his life and part of his mafia boss father’s fortune. When the fortune, including a famous Kandinsky, goes missing, he realizes everything changes, but nothing disappears. Obsessed with the painting and the clues it holds to his childhood, Dmitry will stop at nothing to get it back. Before it’s too late, and one of them becomes the next victim, Jessica and Dmitry have to wrangle mobsters, lasso frat boys, and rope in a murderer who’s read too much Existentialism. Together, the brooding Russian and the cowgirl philosopher learn that sometimes virtue is just the flip side of vice.
309 pages, ebook
First published February 24, 2017
2350 people are currently reading
2578 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Oliver
63 books423 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 230 reviews
July 20, 2017
I realize that this book has gotten a lot of good reviews, but I just couldn’t get into it. I didn’t care for any of the characters, the story itself was mediocre, I finally stopped reading, thought giving it some time and then going back in would help. It didn’t. Immediately the main two characters meet with a man who not only is described as fat, it is pushed down our throats; in five pages his description is as follows: A rotund man, look like a colorful hot air balloon, the dirigible, his fat finger, the airship, fatty said, the fat man, the zeppelin, fatty said, the blimp, the fat man, his balloon belly, Gutman-look-alike, the Aerostat, watching Fatty, the Hindenburg, the fat man. I found this to be such a turn off that I stopped reading entirely.
December 20, 2019
Wolf by Kelly Oliver is the first book in the Jessica James Mystery series. Jessica james, a philosophy student, finds her advisor professor murdered and becomes caught up in a drug rape scandal at the college. I found the book a bit slow and confusing at the start with the chapters switching between different characters. Jessica James does not seem very effective as the main character, with her friend Lolita playing a bigger part. Jessica seemed a bit slow, making unwise decisions and came across clueless. Not really my type of mystery.
January 6, 2020
Jessica James is a broke university student, living in the attic of the philosophy department. She and her philosophy professor are at odds about her pending thesis, and when 2 of her friends talk her into breaking into his office, she's all for it.
The three of them are having a ball ... until they discover the professor's body in the bathtub.
When police start their investigation, they find all kinds of evidence pointing to Jessica and her friends being the killer. When the cops don't look at anyone else, Jessica starts her own investigation to clear her name.
There is so much going on ... art forgery, date rape drugs. Russian mafia... Jessica certainly has her hands full .... and why does her thesis play a part in all this? Who wanted the professor dead ... did he know something he shouldn't?
It started out with a bang, and then it slowed down a bit, and then it exploded with a steady pacing of suspense and page turning action.
Jessica is feisty, humorous, and determined. Her friends are comical, and I really enjoy how they relate to each other.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this first book in this mystery series. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
The three of them are having a ball ... until they discover the professor's body in the bathtub.
When police start their investigation, they find all kinds of evidence pointing to Jessica and her friends being the killer. When the cops don't look at anyone else, Jessica starts her own investigation to clear her name.
There is so much going on ... art forgery, date rape drugs. Russian mafia... Jessica certainly has her hands full .... and why does her thesis play a part in all this? Who wanted the professor dead ... did he know something he shouldn't?
It started out with a bang, and then it slowed down a bit, and then it exploded with a steady pacing of suspense and page turning action.
Jessica is feisty, humorous, and determined. Her friends are comical, and I really enjoy how they relate to each other.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this first book in this mystery series. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
August 30, 2017
This is not MY type of mystery or thriller
Perhaps I'm old fashioned, or perhaps it is because I went to school in Chicago, or perhaps it is because I have taught 42 years, but I didn't really enjoy this book. Does the author use this kind of language in her classroom? I suspect not, but if she does I think she shames her profession and her institution.
Perhaps I'm old fashioned, or perhaps it is because I went to school in Chicago, or perhaps it is because I have taught 42 years, but I didn't really enjoy this book. Does the author use this kind of language in her classroom? I suspect not, but if she does I think she shames her profession and her institution.
July 14, 2019
Interesting
Interesting start to the Jessica James Mysteries. Not at all what I expected. A little slow moving at times as well as confusing.
Interesting start to the Jessica James Mysteries. Not at all what I expected. A little slow moving at times as well as confusing.
November 8, 2020
A well-crafted thrilling and suspenseful mystery...
WOLF: A Suspense Thriller (Jessica James Mystery Series Book 1) by award-winning and bestselling author Kelly Oliver is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The threads of storytelling are expertly woven in this thrilling and suspenseful mystery that will guarantee the attention of the reader. A skillfully constructed witty and engaging whodunit, this book will have you turning the pages from beginning to end. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction.
I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the story in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a well written suspenseful mystery with perfect pacing. Highly recommended.
WOLF: A Suspense Thriller (Jessica James Mystery Series Book 1) by award-winning and bestselling author Kelly Oliver is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The threads of storytelling are expertly woven in this thrilling and suspenseful mystery that will guarantee the attention of the reader. A skillfully constructed witty and engaging whodunit, this book will have you turning the pages from beginning to end. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction.
I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the story in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a well written suspenseful mystery with perfect pacing. Highly recommended.
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April 30, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/30/2019)! 🎁
April 16, 2023
A graduate student is hating on her least favorite professor, when she finds his dead body. The prime suspect, she has to assemble a squad of weird friends to help clear her name.
Tries way too hard.
Tries way too hard.
August 19, 2018
Wolf by Kelly Oliver is filled with a disparate collection of people ranging from semi-stoned graduate students to Russian Mobsters. The story seems to have been inspired at least in part by the “Me, Too” movement combined with the often reported and dramatized illegal activities of generations old Russian mob families who have brought their family hierarchy to the United States There are several plot lines, including the graduate student, Jessie James, who is struggling to get her Ph.D. in spite of the fact she is not the typical well heeled student, her fellow graduate students who consume large amounts of alcohol while trying to help Jessie solve a professor’s murder, and the Russian Mobsters. These groups are thrown together by murder, a date-rape drug ring, and two previously undiscovered works of Russian art smuggled into the United States by a Russian trying to escape his mob connections and now working as a janitor at the university.
The action in the novel swings abruptly in much the same way the report of a dream might be. It swings from one subject to another with no warning, yet in a way that makes sense in the framework of the dream. Often gritty, with references to drinking by the students and resultant bodily activities, over-indulgence of sweets by the Russian crime boss, and descriptions of Jessie and friends as they carry out their form of vigilante justice. The tale careens from the offices of the philosophy department to a restaurant where Russian expats congregate, taking stops at a student run high stakes poker game, a frat house and the home of the Russian janitor.
This book is most likely to appeal to people who prefer darker struggles such as might be found in shows such as “Jessica Jones”, “Breaking Bad”, or “Orange is the New Black”. Much of it reads as action unfolding on a small screen in front of the reader with the climax of the story being very similar to the last fifteen minutes of an hour-long action drama. There is little, if any subtlety to it, as details regarding sights, sounds and smells are spelled out in explicit terms throughout the novel.
My thanks to NetGalley and KAOS press for providing a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The action in the novel swings abruptly in much the same way the report of a dream might be. It swings from one subject to another with no warning, yet in a way that makes sense in the framework of the dream. Often gritty, with references to drinking by the students and resultant bodily activities, over-indulgence of sweets by the Russian crime boss, and descriptions of Jessie and friends as they carry out their form of vigilante justice. The tale careens from the offices of the philosophy department to a restaurant where Russian expats congregate, taking stops at a student run high stakes poker game, a frat house and the home of the Russian janitor.
This book is most likely to appeal to people who prefer darker struggles such as might be found in shows such as “Jessica Jones”, “Breaking Bad”, or “Orange is the New Black”. Much of it reads as action unfolding on a small screen in front of the reader with the climax of the story being very similar to the last fifteen minutes of an hour-long action drama. There is little, if any subtlety to it, as details regarding sights, sounds and smells are spelled out in explicit terms throughout the novel.
My thanks to NetGalley and KAOS press for providing a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2019
Elementary at best.
Have you ever read a book and wondered "Why the heck did I waste my time on that?" This was one of those books. An amateurish premise, and chock full of errors, I guess I kept hoping it would end up being something. It didn't.
Have you ever read a book and wondered "Why the heck did I waste my time on that?" This was one of those books. An amateurish premise, and chock full of errors, I guess I kept hoping it would end up being something. It didn't.
March 27, 2017
Originally posted on: The Quirky Book Nerd
3.5 stars
Wolf is pitched as being a crime novel that tackles some important issues using a good dose of intelligence, humor, and feminism—and it certainly lives up to these claims. Despite my love of the mystery genre, I was a bit unsure whether or not this particular combination of themes would really be my type of story. However, Kelly Oliver’s clever writing managed to erase all of my hesitations. Though some parts fell a bit flat or lacked believability, it turned out to be a very enjoyable read as a whole. I ended up getting completely swept up in the suspense and wit of this novel.
Throughout the duration of the narrative, we follow the lives of two characters. Jessica James, hailing from Montana, is pursuing her PhD in philosophy at Northwestern University when her advisor, Professor Wolfgang Schumtzig is found murdered in his Philosophy Department office. Dmitry Durchenkov, the university’s janitor, finds that the past he fled his homeland of Russia to escape is finally catching up with him, and at the worst possible time. Existentialism, murder, date-rape drugs supplied by members of the Russian mafia, and even the disappearance of famous works of art tie these two lives together in intriguing and unexpected ways.
Kelly Oliver takes some incredibly difficult topics and tackles them in a mature and respectful way. She carefully injects the humor into the story, giving the darker aspects of the plot the gravity that they deserve. There is never a moment where it seems as if the more serious moments are being taken too lightly. I appreciated how she focused on educating her readers about very relevant issues. On top of this, Oliver also adds quite a deal of philosophy and art history into the story, which I was very interested in. From her intelligent writing, it is easy to tell that she is well informed on all the subjects that she covers.
I’ll admit, I had a little bit of trouble getting into this novel to begin with, as the first fourth or so of the novel is much slower paced for the most part. This is primarily due to the fact that there is a lot of setup and familiarizing the reader with the characters rather than focus on action and the mystery unfolding. This is completely understandable, especially given that it is the first novel in a series, so even though it was slow going for me for a little bit, it did not by any means put me off the story.
I think that this initial sluggishness I experienced was magnified due to the fact that the narrative jumps between the two main characters. The entire novel is told in third person, but it switches back and forth between the storylines of Jessica and Dmitry every chapter or so. It takes some time to make significant progress in each storyline and for them to weave together. This causes the main body of the novel to be quite fast-paced, but sort of puts the brakes on things when it comes to the setup.
Writing a novel using this method can be fantastic for developing a feeling of suspense, but is also tricky to perfect. I found that the constant shifts sometimes caused me to feel that the narrative was becoming a bit jumbled. However, this did not detract from my reading experience too severely, particularly as I got further in. Once you get to know the characters, it is extremely easy to get caught up in their lives, and I tore through most of the novel.
Oliver juxtaposes the humor and awkwardness of Jessica’s life with the pain and fear plaguing Dmitry’s in order to create an ultimately gripping and unified plot. As a whole, she created the desired tension by leaving the reader wanting more at the end of each character’s contribution to the progression of the storyline. When it becomes fully apparent how closely these two lives are connected, the story picks up very quickly. For some reason, I was not expecting this link between them, and was pleasantly surprised with the direction that Oliver took it in.
This book is filled with a diverse and quirky cast of characters, all filled with a great amount of inner strength. I found the characterization to be an exceptionally strong point. Jessica is a great example of how to create a female protagonist. She is funny and delightfully awkward, while also being a very intelligent and independent heroine. Dmitry shows his strength in a different way, fighting to move forward from a troubled past that won’t let him go.
I think Lolita ended up being my favorite character in the novel. I love what a strong woman she is and how much she cares for and supports her friends and family. All of the primary characters are fully formed and multidimensional, each showing some amount of progress throughout the novel. No matter what their personal story holds or what struggles they are facing, each character does their part and is working hard to be the best version of themselves that they can be—someone they are proud of.
There is also a major focus on relationships between friends and the importance of family rather than on romance, which is an aspect of this novel that I found to be quite refreshing. The friendship between Jessica and Lolita—the way they look out for and support each other—is absolutely lovely and shows the strength that can be produced from that sort of companionship. Dmitry’s devotion to his family and the lengths he goes to in order to keep them safe is quite beautiful, adding both more dimension and a greater sense of urgency to his struggle.
The small amount of romance that is present, though I really wanted to like it, fell sort of flat for me. It felt a bit forced and at times confusing, so I do wish that it had either been addressed a bit more or left out completely. But this was the only area of issue in the portrayal of relationships and the theme of love. Overall, the dynamics and interactions between the various characters added more depth and meaning to the story, and was one of the strongest and most captivating aspects.
Wolf is a novel with a lot of heart and a good sense of humor, despite its fairly dark subject matter. With smart and skillful writing, vividly depicted characters, and an addictive plot, it proves to be quite a rousing read. Kelly Oliver has created a unique and memorable mystery that both educates and entertains. I am incredibly eager to continue on with this series, and look forward to seeing the ongoing adventures of Jessica James. I would definitely recommend giving this book a try.
3.5 stars
Wolf is pitched as being a crime novel that tackles some important issues using a good dose of intelligence, humor, and feminism—and it certainly lives up to these claims. Despite my love of the mystery genre, I was a bit unsure whether or not this particular combination of themes would really be my type of story. However, Kelly Oliver’s clever writing managed to erase all of my hesitations. Though some parts fell a bit flat or lacked believability, it turned out to be a very enjoyable read as a whole. I ended up getting completely swept up in the suspense and wit of this novel.
Throughout the duration of the narrative, we follow the lives of two characters. Jessica James, hailing from Montana, is pursuing her PhD in philosophy at Northwestern University when her advisor, Professor Wolfgang Schumtzig is found murdered in his Philosophy Department office. Dmitry Durchenkov, the university’s janitor, finds that the past he fled his homeland of Russia to escape is finally catching up with him, and at the worst possible time. Existentialism, murder, date-rape drugs supplied by members of the Russian mafia, and even the disappearance of famous works of art tie these two lives together in intriguing and unexpected ways.
Kelly Oliver takes some incredibly difficult topics and tackles them in a mature and respectful way. She carefully injects the humor into the story, giving the darker aspects of the plot the gravity that they deserve. There is never a moment where it seems as if the more serious moments are being taken too lightly. I appreciated how she focused on educating her readers about very relevant issues. On top of this, Oliver also adds quite a deal of philosophy and art history into the story, which I was very interested in. From her intelligent writing, it is easy to tell that she is well informed on all the subjects that she covers.
I’ll admit, I had a little bit of trouble getting into this novel to begin with, as the first fourth or so of the novel is much slower paced for the most part. This is primarily due to the fact that there is a lot of setup and familiarizing the reader with the characters rather than focus on action and the mystery unfolding. This is completely understandable, especially given that it is the first novel in a series, so even though it was slow going for me for a little bit, it did not by any means put me off the story.
I think that this initial sluggishness I experienced was magnified due to the fact that the narrative jumps between the two main characters. The entire novel is told in third person, but it switches back and forth between the storylines of Jessica and Dmitry every chapter or so. It takes some time to make significant progress in each storyline and for them to weave together. This causes the main body of the novel to be quite fast-paced, but sort of puts the brakes on things when it comes to the setup.
Writing a novel using this method can be fantastic for developing a feeling of suspense, but is also tricky to perfect. I found that the constant shifts sometimes caused me to feel that the narrative was becoming a bit jumbled. However, this did not detract from my reading experience too severely, particularly as I got further in. Once you get to know the characters, it is extremely easy to get caught up in their lives, and I tore through most of the novel.
Oliver juxtaposes the humor and awkwardness of Jessica’s life with the pain and fear plaguing Dmitry’s in order to create an ultimately gripping and unified plot. As a whole, she created the desired tension by leaving the reader wanting more at the end of each character’s contribution to the progression of the storyline. When it becomes fully apparent how closely these two lives are connected, the story picks up very quickly. For some reason, I was not expecting this link between them, and was pleasantly surprised with the direction that Oliver took it in.
This book is filled with a diverse and quirky cast of characters, all filled with a great amount of inner strength. I found the characterization to be an exceptionally strong point. Jessica is a great example of how to create a female protagonist. She is funny and delightfully awkward, while also being a very intelligent and independent heroine. Dmitry shows his strength in a different way, fighting to move forward from a troubled past that won’t let him go.
I think Lolita ended up being my favorite character in the novel. I love what a strong woman she is and how much she cares for and supports her friends and family. All of the primary characters are fully formed and multidimensional, each showing some amount of progress throughout the novel. No matter what their personal story holds or what struggles they are facing, each character does their part and is working hard to be the best version of themselves that they can be—someone they are proud of.
There is also a major focus on relationships between friends and the importance of family rather than on romance, which is an aspect of this novel that I found to be quite refreshing. The friendship between Jessica and Lolita—the way they look out for and support each other—is absolutely lovely and shows the strength that can be produced from that sort of companionship. Dmitry’s devotion to his family and the lengths he goes to in order to keep them safe is quite beautiful, adding both more dimension and a greater sense of urgency to his struggle.
The small amount of romance that is present, though I really wanted to like it, fell sort of flat for me. It felt a bit forced and at times confusing, so I do wish that it had either been addressed a bit more or left out completely. But this was the only area of issue in the portrayal of relationships and the theme of love. Overall, the dynamics and interactions between the various characters added more depth and meaning to the story, and was one of the strongest and most captivating aspects.
Wolf is a novel with a lot of heart and a good sense of humor, despite its fairly dark subject matter. With smart and skillful writing, vividly depicted characters, and an addictive plot, it proves to be quite a rousing read. Kelly Oliver has created a unique and memorable mystery that both educates and entertains. I am incredibly eager to continue on with this series, and look forward to seeing the ongoing adventures of Jessica James. I would definitely recommend giving this book a try.
August 18, 2018
This is the first Jessica James Mystery by Oliver. Just don't think that a murder is all our gutsy college student has on her plate. Humorous telling of a poor girl trying to keep her friends close, stay out of jail, dodging the mob, and mostly staying on her feet. SHE FALLS A LOT - FUNNY!! Cast of unique characters make up what I consider Jessica's gang. Bit hard to get the pages turning but worthwhile as the story moves along. "A copy of this book was provided by KAOS Press via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."
July 29, 2017
hated the main character.
March 9, 2019
Wolf by Kelly Oliver attracted my attention because of its cover. Following the title, the cover informed me that this was a Jessica James mystery. Jessica James? Jesse James? The Amazon page claimed that this was a witty suspense thriller. The elements were there that led me to believe this would be a fun read. I purchased the novel for USD 0.99 although it is listed on Amazon at USD 4.99. The novel might be far more interesting to fans of Russian art, Russian culture, Russian expat culture, the Russian mob, and Russian slang than it was to me. I felt it dragged along with occasional contrived interjections of forced humor. Most of the humor was of the double innuendo sexual type which I felt was added later in the novel’s development during the editorial or revision process. If a reviewer with interests in all things Russian gave the novel four Amazon stars, I could understand that. But several things kept me from giving such a high rating.
This is a story of art theft and art forgery. Dimity’s father, back in Russia, collected paintings. He bought many at auction and there is a probability that they were stolen. Dimity’s father, the Oxford Don is a Russian gangster. He abused Dimity’s mother and caused Dimitry to become much closer to his mother than his father. Anton was a cold father and respected loyalty above all things. When Dimity’s older brother, Sergei, betrayed his father, Anton demanded Dimitry kill his brother. Dimitry’s mother encouraged him to run away from the abusive family relationship. She gave Dimitry a substantial gift of cash and two of her husband’s paintings so Dimitry could relocate himself in a new location with a new identity.
Dimitry moved to New York where he got a job as a lowly janitor. He lived well and had established a family. He even had a grown daughter, Lolita, who, unknowingly to Dad, had a flourishing business running poker games. Lolita knew that Dimitry lived well because of his paintings, all copies of the two paintings he had stolen. He sold the copies as originals and supplemented his janitor’s salary well.
Original paintings disappear. There is a murder of a not-very-well-respected professor. There is a cabal to distribute date rape drugs to innocent sorority sisters. Photographers would memorialize the subsequent sex fun. There are characters who discover their real mothers and fathers were not the ones they grew up with. And there are surprises as characters seem to evolve into better forms than their former selves as a result of all this casual violence. One character stands out by not standing out. Jessica, despite her prominence in the title, doesn’t seem to be a part of many significant actions. Other characters use her as a hub for exchanging information about what is going on in the other subplots of the novel.
This novel reminds me of a bag full of plot ideas. The bag is shaken well and spilled. As each plot idea is selected and recounted, the search is on for a transition device to the next plot idea. One idea involved an underground gambling operation run by Jessica (yay, she gets mentioned) and Lolita, daughter of Dimitry. I felt I had read this sequence before. I had even seen the movie. There is a gambler who shows up with a painting to put up as collateral. The types of gamblers in this novel are a mirror of the characters in the more famous novel. The vocabulary and slang of poker are like another novel I have read but they appear without any definition. Readers unfamiliar with poker will not know what is going on. “…Jessica was dealt big slick, an ace and a king, and came out shooting. But on the river, she still had only an ace and a king, and the Pope raised by $1000. Jessica was pot-committed, and so far the flop looked innocent enough, …” (Kindle location 3298). What?
The element that annoyed me most about the novel was the way characters many times did not speak with each other, they recited sayings and parables. The most annoying exchange occurred when Dimitry was going on an important trip to a destination he would not disclose to Lolita. She can see he is upset and asks. His reply is “A man must risk going too far,” he said, “to see how far he can go.” (Kindle location 2772). That answer might serve as an excuse for the domestic abuse slap that could follow. There are many, many instances of Russian wisdom employed as a substitute for dialogue. “Her mother was right when she said, “The city is full of big stack bullies either buying the blinds or giving air, who turn every decent hand into a bad beat.” (Kindle location 1153). “Daddy, as you always tell me, a wolf is not beaten for being grey, but for eating a sheep.” (Kindle location 1801). “And conveniently upon Wolf’s death, he sends off a book manuscript on the ear and the eye,” she said, opening one eye.” (Kindle location 1967). I was happy to find this last example because I could understand it. Although I believe it has been modified in the interest of humor. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger… Unless it is flesh-eating bacteria.” (Kindle location 2909).
As a reader without a personal interest in all things Russian, I could only give this novel three Amazon stars. There are lots of stories here and there is a generous sprinkling of humor. But the stories are not well connected, and the humor is forced.
This is a story of art theft and art forgery. Dimity’s father, back in Russia, collected paintings. He bought many at auction and there is a probability that they were stolen. Dimity’s father, the Oxford Don is a Russian gangster. He abused Dimity’s mother and caused Dimitry to become much closer to his mother than his father. Anton was a cold father and respected loyalty above all things. When Dimity’s older brother, Sergei, betrayed his father, Anton demanded Dimitry kill his brother. Dimitry’s mother encouraged him to run away from the abusive family relationship. She gave Dimitry a substantial gift of cash and two of her husband’s paintings so Dimitry could relocate himself in a new location with a new identity.
Dimitry moved to New York where he got a job as a lowly janitor. He lived well and had established a family. He even had a grown daughter, Lolita, who, unknowingly to Dad, had a flourishing business running poker games. Lolita knew that Dimitry lived well because of his paintings, all copies of the two paintings he had stolen. He sold the copies as originals and supplemented his janitor’s salary well.
Original paintings disappear. There is a murder of a not-very-well-respected professor. There is a cabal to distribute date rape drugs to innocent sorority sisters. Photographers would memorialize the subsequent sex fun. There are characters who discover their real mothers and fathers were not the ones they grew up with. And there are surprises as characters seem to evolve into better forms than their former selves as a result of all this casual violence. One character stands out by not standing out. Jessica, despite her prominence in the title, doesn’t seem to be a part of many significant actions. Other characters use her as a hub for exchanging information about what is going on in the other subplots of the novel.
This novel reminds me of a bag full of plot ideas. The bag is shaken well and spilled. As each plot idea is selected and recounted, the search is on for a transition device to the next plot idea. One idea involved an underground gambling operation run by Jessica (yay, she gets mentioned) and Lolita, daughter of Dimitry. I felt I had read this sequence before. I had even seen the movie. There is a gambler who shows up with a painting to put up as collateral. The types of gamblers in this novel are a mirror of the characters in the more famous novel. The vocabulary and slang of poker are like another novel I have read but they appear without any definition. Readers unfamiliar with poker will not know what is going on. “…Jessica was dealt big slick, an ace and a king, and came out shooting. But on the river, she still had only an ace and a king, and the Pope raised by $1000. Jessica was pot-committed, and so far the flop looked innocent enough, …” (Kindle location 3298). What?
The element that annoyed me most about the novel was the way characters many times did not speak with each other, they recited sayings and parables. The most annoying exchange occurred when Dimitry was going on an important trip to a destination he would not disclose to Lolita. She can see he is upset and asks. His reply is “A man must risk going too far,” he said, “to see how far he can go.” (Kindle location 2772). That answer might serve as an excuse for the domestic abuse slap that could follow. There are many, many instances of Russian wisdom employed as a substitute for dialogue. “Her mother was right when she said, “The city is full of big stack bullies either buying the blinds or giving air, who turn every decent hand into a bad beat.” (Kindle location 1153). “Daddy, as you always tell me, a wolf is not beaten for being grey, but for eating a sheep.” (Kindle location 1801). “And conveniently upon Wolf’s death, he sends off a book manuscript on the ear and the eye,” she said, opening one eye.” (Kindle location 1967). I was happy to find this last example because I could understand it. Although I believe it has been modified in the interest of humor. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger… Unless it is flesh-eating bacteria.” (Kindle location 2909).
As a reader without a personal interest in all things Russian, I could only give this novel three Amazon stars. There are lots of stories here and there is a generous sprinkling of humor. But the stories are not well connected, and the humor is forced.
September 12, 2021
The first of a series, this story promises much for the future. I wanted to like it more than I did, but there is a lot going on and in the first half it's hard to care, but ultimately the reader becomes enamoured of Jessica and her friends and while there are still some unresolved issues, in the end, the mystery is unravelled.
July 11, 2016
WOLF, the first book in the Jessica James Mysteries series has a great cast of characters. The book has two stories in one, linked together as the book progresses. There is the series main character’s quest to continue her PhD program in Philosophy after the murder of her advisor, and then there is the life and death situation for Dmitry Durchenko, the Philosophy departments janitor who also happens to be the son of Russia’s most powerful mob boss. The two stories overlap through the Titular character, Wolf’s death and missing paintings hidden in his office.
You have everything from the cowgirl Jessica who wants to show the world that she can be a philosopher to Lolita Durchenko who looks like super model, rides a Harley and runs a high stakes poker game. Then you have the local Russian mob leader The Pope and the billionaire professor who comes to the rescue of Jessica after she’s been given a date rape drug. And there is a whole lot more. You cheer for Jessica to overcome the obstacles and her own knack for falling into bad situations. She has to be one of the most awkward young ladies around. She shouldn’t wear heels. Oliver balances the humorous moments of Jessica with the more serious story of Dmitry and his need to find his paintings or suffer the consequences at the hands of The Pope. Somehow through it all it comes together in the end. There are times you wonder how this whole thing is going to work out but ultimately it does.
WOLF is a fast paced and entertaining read. The first chapter was a bit slow for me, but once past that the author settled into the meat of the story and off you go on a joy ride. She handles a serious issue such as college campus date rape in a good manner and just how you would want it to be done. For someone so smart, Jessica can really be a bit out there at times under pressure. But I think that may add a bit of realism to it. Things happen. If you like fast paced and fun reads, this is for you. If you like mysteries and a good cast of characters, you’ve got it here.
You have everything from the cowgirl Jessica who wants to show the world that she can be a philosopher to Lolita Durchenko who looks like super model, rides a Harley and runs a high stakes poker game. Then you have the local Russian mob leader The Pope and the billionaire professor who comes to the rescue of Jessica after she’s been given a date rape drug. And there is a whole lot more. You cheer for Jessica to overcome the obstacles and her own knack for falling into bad situations. She has to be one of the most awkward young ladies around. She shouldn’t wear heels. Oliver balances the humorous moments of Jessica with the more serious story of Dmitry and his need to find his paintings or suffer the consequences at the hands of The Pope. Somehow through it all it comes together in the end. There are times you wonder how this whole thing is going to work out but ultimately it does.
WOLF is a fast paced and entertaining read. The first chapter was a bit slow for me, but once past that the author settled into the meat of the story and off you go on a joy ride. She handles a serious issue such as college campus date rape in a good manner and just how you would want it to be done. For someone so smart, Jessica can really be a bit out there at times under pressure. But I think that may add a bit of realism to it. Things happen. If you like fast paced and fun reads, this is for you. If you like mysteries and a good cast of characters, you’ve got it here.
September 27, 2018
This book had a fairly promising start. I was intrigued to find out what had happened to the professor, and found jumping between Jessica's story and Dmitry's story kept me interested and wanting to know more. Unfortunately this didn't continue throughout the book. Fairly quickly the story starts to go off on several seemingly unrelated tangents. There is the college date rape drug sideline, the illicit poker game sideline, some missing paintings, Dmitry's family history and a half hearted romance all thrown in to the mix. Add in a lot of references to Russian literature, artwork and philosophy, and a fair bit of coffee jargon and there's just too much going on. It's almost as if the author couldn't decide what she wanted to include in her novel, so she brought in aspects of all of her interests. I also thought the whole poker game and several of the details about that were far too close to the real life story of Molly's Game for my liking.
Don't get me wrong, there was some good stuff in there. I think the college rape issue is something that needs to be challenged in as many aspects of life as possible, otherwise it will continue to be brushed under the carpet. I think Oliver brought that subject up well, without making the book too dark.
I also liked that most of the strong and leading characters in the book were female. I particularly liked Lolita, as a character who is fiercely independent and won't let anyone mess her around. That said I didn't really feel invested in any of the characters. I would've liked more backstory for Amber, and to learn more about her tech fascination before it became a necessary skill in the storyline. I also found it irritating that Jessica fell over as much as she did. That was totally unnceccesary and didn't add anything to the story.
Overall I started out quite enjoying this, but got more and more disinterested as it went on. By about 80% I kind of just wanted it to be over. 2*, and I won't be reading book 2.
Thanks to NetGalley and KAOS press for a free copy in return for an honest review
Don't get me wrong, there was some good stuff in there. I think the college rape issue is something that needs to be challenged in as many aspects of life as possible, otherwise it will continue to be brushed under the carpet. I think Oliver brought that subject up well, without making the book too dark.
I also liked that most of the strong and leading characters in the book were female. I particularly liked Lolita, as a character who is fiercely independent and won't let anyone mess her around. That said I didn't really feel invested in any of the characters. I would've liked more backstory for Amber, and to learn more about her tech fascination before it became a necessary skill in the storyline. I also found it irritating that Jessica fell over as much as she did. That was totally unnceccesary and didn't add anything to the story.
Overall I started out quite enjoying this, but got more and more disinterested as it went on. By about 80% I kind of just wanted it to be over. 2*, and I won't be reading book 2.
Thanks to NetGalley and KAOS press for a free copy in return for an honest review
July 31, 2016
I love Jessica James! She is quirky, relatable and in continual evolution to become her best self. In spite of my having read Friedrich Nietzsche, I never really grasped his concept of “eternal return” in such a way that I could apply it to my own life. Until this book, that is. According to Nietzsche, the “eternal return” is where the person who lives the best life is the one who lives according to the knowledge that one’s life could be repeated infinitely, and therefore looks to do so without regrets (“how well disposed would you have to become to yourself and to life to crave nothing more fervently than this ultimate eternal confirmation and seal?” – Gay Science, Friedrich Nietzsche). James and her fellow protagonist Dmitry Durchenko show us how to transform the difficulties and challenges of our lives into something beautiful and to proud of. Thanks to Oliver for turning philosophy into literature. Fun literature, at that.
September 22, 2023
I received an advanced review copy for free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you, Kelly Oliver, for the opportunity to read your book. This was an alright read. I thought the story had potential, but it did not meet expectations. I thought the characters were okay. I did not love them, nor did I dislike them. They did have some good moments, but I thought they were a bit boring for the most part. Also, the story was so boring that I had to put the book down. I hope the rest of the series gets better. I think Kelly Oliver has real potential, but the book was not the best book I've read. Overall, an okay read.
Thank you, Kelly Oliver, for the opportunity to read your book. This was an alright read. I thought the story had potential, but it did not meet expectations. I thought the characters were okay. I did not love them, nor did I dislike them. They did have some good moments, but I thought they were a bit boring for the most part. Also, the story was so boring that I had to put the book down. I hope the rest of the series gets better. I think Kelly Oliver has real potential, but the book was not the best book I've read. Overall, an okay read.
July 29, 2016
Relevant and fast-paced, Ms. Oliver’s short chapters and plot thrust the reader to the climax. Pieces of the novel fell flat, coincidences and believability of the main character’s living situation. Three and a half stars as I enjoyed and appreciated the smart subject matter and mystery and look forward to reading the second novel in the series, Coyote.
July 13, 2020
Once I got past the first part, it became a fast-paced adventurer in academia.
Jessica James, 21, is an impoverished grad student. When she finds her professor dead and her thesis mysteriously rejected, her friends rally around. Meanwhile Dmitri Durchenko, janitor by night, artist in secret, is trying to stay one step ahead of the Russian Brotherhood. When both stories combine things move quickly and the violence is uncomfortable.
This crime gets solved and another adventure is underway at the end of this book.
I received an e copy of this through Book Funnel.
Jessica James, 21, is an impoverished grad student. When she finds her professor dead and her thesis mysteriously rejected, her friends rally around. Meanwhile Dmitri Durchenko, janitor by night, artist in secret, is trying to stay one step ahead of the Russian Brotherhood. When both stories combine things move quickly and the violence is uncomfortable.
This crime gets solved and another adventure is underway at the end of this book.
I received an e copy of this through Book Funnel.
February 26, 2019
The characters are a little too over the top. The main characters constantly falls on her face, drinks to oblivion, makes dangerous moves, and yet has the presence of mind tosolve a mystery?
March 21, 2024
First, I had a really hard time listening to this book because the narrator sounds like an AI robot. I had to speed up to 1.5x just to feel like the narrator had some sort of inflection. Second, I'm not sure why this is called the Jessica James mystery. Jessica James hardly solves a thing, she basically stumbles her way into the answers.
January 22, 2020
‘Dirty office, dirty mind’
Tennessee author Kelly Oliver earned her degrees from Gonzaga University and Northwestern University and is a Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University. She has published numerous articles on such important issues as the refugee crisis, reproductive technologies, campus rape, women and the media, the environment, and animals in The New York Times and The Los Angeles Review of Books, as well as being featured on ABC news, CSPAN books, and the Canadian Broadcasting Network. Her published books include both non-fiction and children’s, young adult, and adult fiction such as this highly awarded Jessica James Mystery series, of which WOLF is Book 1. She lives in Nashville.
In establishing a lead character for a projected series, Kelly wisely and gradually opens this new saga with an inviting portrait of her Jessica James – ‘Lying atop a desk in an otherwise empty attic, Jessica James gnawed on her jagged fingernail and wondered how her first year in graduate school had become such a tinderbox. She closed her eyes and imagined a fitting demise for the thesis advisor whose Birkenstocks had stomped on her dream of getting an advanced degree: a quick defenestration, a slow poison, or a hard bludgeon to his fat ugly head with the blunt side of an axe. Professor Baldrick Wolfgang Schmutzig, “Preeminent Philosopher” and World-Class Dickhead. The wolf had insulted her for the last time.’ Jessica’s quirky personality unfolds, and we discover the professor is the Wolf of the series!
Kelly’s writing style is a fine blend of raw humor with tense tale spinning that makes this mystery series opener a complete pleasure to read: laugh a lot at her language choices and similes while deeply inhaling her well-paced mystery. She provides a very succinct and useful summary invitation into her world – ‘You can take the girl out of the trailer park, but you can't take the trailer park out of the girl! Jessica James is broke and counting down the days until she can defend her philosophy thesis. Desperate to get out of her grubby attic digs, she and her friends break into her professor’s office… only to find her adviser dead in the tub. Scoping the crime scene for clues, she leaves evidence that makes her both a suspect and a target. Suspecting the school's Russian janitor of doing more than sweeping the floors, Jessica mounts an investigation to clear her name. And when her ragtag posse helps her uncover a related date drug scandal, repeated attempts on her drink make her fear she’s the next on the killer’s to-do list. Can Jessica unmask the murderer before her degree gets buried six-feet-under?’
Kelly Oliver continues to grow as one of our more important authors today – that rare ability to focus our attention on social matters, while at the same time offering novels such as this very fine one to enhance our reading pleasures and entertainment. Very highly recommended.
Tennessee author Kelly Oliver earned her degrees from Gonzaga University and Northwestern University and is a Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University. She has published numerous articles on such important issues as the refugee crisis, reproductive technologies, campus rape, women and the media, the environment, and animals in The New York Times and The Los Angeles Review of Books, as well as being featured on ABC news, CSPAN books, and the Canadian Broadcasting Network. Her published books include both non-fiction and children’s, young adult, and adult fiction such as this highly awarded Jessica James Mystery series, of which WOLF is Book 1. She lives in Nashville.
In establishing a lead character for a projected series, Kelly wisely and gradually opens this new saga with an inviting portrait of her Jessica James – ‘Lying atop a desk in an otherwise empty attic, Jessica James gnawed on her jagged fingernail and wondered how her first year in graduate school had become such a tinderbox. She closed her eyes and imagined a fitting demise for the thesis advisor whose Birkenstocks had stomped on her dream of getting an advanced degree: a quick defenestration, a slow poison, or a hard bludgeon to his fat ugly head with the blunt side of an axe. Professor Baldrick Wolfgang Schmutzig, “Preeminent Philosopher” and World-Class Dickhead. The wolf had insulted her for the last time.’ Jessica’s quirky personality unfolds, and we discover the professor is the Wolf of the series!
Kelly’s writing style is a fine blend of raw humor with tense tale spinning that makes this mystery series opener a complete pleasure to read: laugh a lot at her language choices and similes while deeply inhaling her well-paced mystery. She provides a very succinct and useful summary invitation into her world – ‘You can take the girl out of the trailer park, but you can't take the trailer park out of the girl! Jessica James is broke and counting down the days until she can defend her philosophy thesis. Desperate to get out of her grubby attic digs, she and her friends break into her professor’s office… only to find her adviser dead in the tub. Scoping the crime scene for clues, she leaves evidence that makes her both a suspect and a target. Suspecting the school's Russian janitor of doing more than sweeping the floors, Jessica mounts an investigation to clear her name. And when her ragtag posse helps her uncover a related date drug scandal, repeated attempts on her drink make her fear she’s the next on the killer’s to-do list. Can Jessica unmask the murderer before her degree gets buried six-feet-under?’
Kelly Oliver continues to grow as one of our more important authors today – that rare ability to focus our attention on social matters, while at the same time offering novels such as this very fine one to enhance our reading pleasures and entertainment. Very highly recommended.
October 3, 2019
I really wanted to like this series, a grad student protagonist and campus setting was intriguing, but overall the novel just didn’t work for me. I liked Jessica James but her story too often takes a back seat to that of Dmitry, a Russian janitor. The connections between the two stories takes almost 30 chapters to become clear. Dmitry’s story is the real mystery but the two stories are an awkward mix.
Being from the Chicago area, I liked the setting of Northwestern University, but she makes little use of it. I liked the focus on art, I liked Jessica’s campus situation, I liked the bits of Russian tossed in here and there. (I was a Russian major.)
The novel could have used a professional edit. Aside from a few typos, punctuation and capitalization were distractingly inconsistent (both in English and Russian). Dmitry’s backstory was confusing at times, unsure of whether it was a dream or a flashback. There were some continuity issues. In Chapter 32 her place is ransacked and the case for her bass is left open. What bass? No previous mention of any musical interest or experience until this. In Chapter 47 she says she’d last seen Alexander the day of the murder (the first few pages of the book), yet Alexander played poker with her in a big scene in Chapter 45.
Being from the Chicago area, I liked the setting of Northwestern University, but she makes little use of it. I liked the focus on art, I liked Jessica’s campus situation, I liked the bits of Russian tossed in here and there. (I was a Russian major.)
The novel could have used a professional edit. Aside from a few typos, punctuation and capitalization were distractingly inconsistent (both in English and Russian). Dmitry’s backstory was confusing at times, unsure of whether it was a dream or a flashback. There were some continuity issues. In Chapter 32 her place is ransacked and the case for her bass is left open. What bass? No previous mention of any musical interest or experience until this. In Chapter 47 she says she’d last seen Alexander the day of the murder (the first few pages of the book), yet Alexander played poker with her in a big scene in Chapter 45.
May 26, 2018
I won this Kindle edition via a Goodreads Giveaway, and could have done without it. The author used descriptive references from the 1960s to the present, so I really couldn't tell when this story took place; the "make love, not war" past of the 60s & early 70s, or the 1990s to 2000s when everyone has a cellphone.
The author's use of descriptive words that are a sentence long only made the story more annoying, as I had to keep stopping to look up the words, and know what it was referring to. Very pretentious of the author who is probably in need of showing off her "educational skills". Well, it is said that writers should write what they know and Kelly Oliver obviously knows very long, drawn out words; and enjoys writing descriptive paragraphs that go on for pages.
The characters in this novel are a bore, and the reader can only hope that they are killed off one by one as they pretend to sleuth, while getting high as kites on high grade pot obtained at concerts. No thank you to this book, nor any sequels.
The author's use of descriptive words that are a sentence long only made the story more annoying, as I had to keep stopping to look up the words, and know what it was referring to. Very pretentious of the author who is probably in need of showing off her "educational skills". Well, it is said that writers should write what they know and Kelly Oliver obviously knows very long, drawn out words; and enjoys writing descriptive paragraphs that go on for pages.
The characters in this novel are a bore, and the reader can only hope that they are killed off one by one as they pretend to sleuth, while getting high as kites on high grade pot obtained at concerts. No thank you to this book, nor any sequels.
September 2, 2021
I didn't enjoy reading this book. I came close to stopping altogether quite a few times. I even considered skipping to the final pages which is something I never do. I did want to find out who had committed the murder and see how the paintings were recovered. I didn't hate the characters, but I couldn't identify with them. All of them seemed bad to me. I did like the plan to expose the frat brothers and what they were doing to so many girls on campus. That was the closest I came to liking the girls. From what I understand, locally this book (series) has gotten mixed reviews. Some people love it, and the rest of the readers fall into my camp. I could see where Kelly is smart and has an interesting way of writing. If you like dark, seamy stories and characters, you'd probably like it. I was glad that I finished it, but I doubt I'll continue with this series.
January 1, 2020
Just ok
To much unrealistic bs in this book for me to enjoy it. I’m a nurse and the medical stuff was so off base it made me cringe. A little google research and the author could have made much more believable. Who really thinks you can just shove an IV back into someone’s arm??? And the total lack of personal hygiene is beyond belief. There’s always a few, but as a general rule college students aren’t that disgusting all the time. Compromising a crime scene and the cops so stupid they can’t tell. The poker game, the Russian mob, the cop - no cop has the time to tail a college student like that - it’s all so ridiculous. I had to finish it because I can’t not finish a book. On a positive note, the ability of the author to write and tell a story is good.
To much unrealistic bs in this book for me to enjoy it. I’m a nurse and the medical stuff was so off base it made me cringe. A little google research and the author could have made much more believable. Who really thinks you can just shove an IV back into someone’s arm??? And the total lack of personal hygiene is beyond belief. There’s always a few, but as a general rule college students aren’t that disgusting all the time. Compromising a crime scene and the cops so stupid they can’t tell. The poker game, the Russian mob, the cop - no cop has the time to tail a college student like that - it’s all so ridiculous. I had to finish it because I can’t not finish a book. On a positive note, the ability of the author to write and tell a story is good.
August 9, 2021
This book is part of the Jessica Jones Mystery series. I don't really understand that beacause Jessica Jones is such a minor character. It should be called the Lolita Mystery, she seemed to be the main charater and took care of everything. A professor at the university that Jessica and Lolita attend is murdered, everyone called him Wolf. After his body is found, he is not referred to very much in the story. The story is mostly about the Russian Brotherhood, Russian Artwork and forgeries, and the Brotherhood selling the date rape drig on campus. The story to me was so disjointed and very few characters were developed enough to care about. Even the end was a let down. I'm sorry I wasted my time to finish it.
June 21, 2016
I loved WOLF by Kelly Oliver!! Jessica James is a kick-ass protagonist who teams up with the local janitor, Dmitry, to solve a murder. It was suspenseful, funny, mysterious, and smart. I can't wait for the next one!
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