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Kate Austen #2
Murder Among Friends
Hoping that her struggles as a recently divorced mom will soon be over, Kate Austen is hired by a new friend to produce some artwork, but the job is cut short suddenly in the light of the friend's suspicious suicide. Reprint.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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145 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 3, 2024
3.5 stars. Slow start, then I became interested in the characters & the good plot twists. Surprisingly good for a first or second book.
June 25, 2019
So, Kate Austen heads round to her friend and client, Mona. Kate's job is best described as artist and interior guru. She finds appropriate art for homes and offices.
Anyhoo, Kate finds Mona dead with an empty bottle of pills and a bottle of scotch beside her.
The police seem to think this is suicide but Kate and Mona's friend Sharon think otherwise as Mona had no reason to kill herself and hated Scotch.
Once more, Kate, unable to persuade her detective boyfriend to pursue the murder theory, begins to hunt for evidence.
Kate's life is complicated by having to temporarily house Mona's moody teenage daughter, Libby, which involves visits from a troublesome boyfriend and Mona's annoying ex-husband, Gary.
It's a great read. Lightweight, some amusing characters, a nice love story going on and a decent enough plot. The body count is two.
It could have done with some racial diversity since, like many of these 'cozy' murder mysteries, everyone seems to be white. There is a very serious lady psychiatrist who is keen to have some appropriate art for her consulting room and proves hard to please.
'“I cannot have things like this on my walls,” she proclaimed. Things came out like dteengs and it took me a minute to figure out the word wasn’t some esoteric psychological term for crap. Because that’s what the tone implied. Disheartened but not defeated, I set up another appointment for the following week. “Plee-se,” she said as I left, “bring me some dteengs I like this time.”
If only I had some clue as to what that might be.'
Chapter 14
We presume this is some foreign accent, which is ok, given the brevity of the character's appearance. It is not offensive, per se, although it's a bit of a cheap device. It does, however, tend to highlight the fact that every other character is white home-grown American. In Walnut Hills, California, in the Nineteen Nineties it would surely be impossible to go through the day without having to deal in some way with someone black, or Spanish or Puerto Rican or Italian or even Jewish or Welsh.
Why do they never appear?
Anyhoo, Kate finds Mona dead with an empty bottle of pills and a bottle of scotch beside her.
The police seem to think this is suicide but Kate and Mona's friend Sharon think otherwise as Mona had no reason to kill herself and hated Scotch.
Once more, Kate, unable to persuade her detective boyfriend to pursue the murder theory, begins to hunt for evidence.
Kate's life is complicated by having to temporarily house Mona's moody teenage daughter, Libby, which involves visits from a troublesome boyfriend and Mona's annoying ex-husband, Gary.
It's a great read. Lightweight, some amusing characters, a nice love story going on and a decent enough plot. The body count is two.
It could have done with some racial diversity since, like many of these 'cozy' murder mysteries, everyone seems to be white. There is a very serious lady psychiatrist who is keen to have some appropriate art for her consulting room and proves hard to please.
'“I cannot have things like this on my walls,” she proclaimed. Things came out like dteengs and it took me a minute to figure out the word wasn’t some esoteric psychological term for crap. Because that’s what the tone implied. Disheartened but not defeated, I set up another appointment for the following week. “Plee-se,” she said as I left, “bring me some dteengs I like this time.”
If only I had some clue as to what that might be.'
Chapter 14
We presume this is some foreign accent, which is ok, given the brevity of the character's appearance. It is not offensive, per se, although it's a bit of a cheap device. It does, however, tend to highlight the fact that every other character is white home-grown American. In Walnut Hills, California, in the Nineteen Nineties it would surely be impossible to go through the day without having to deal in some way with someone black, or Spanish or Puerto Rican or Italian or even Jewish or Welsh.
Why do they never appear?
September 29, 2024
3.5 stars
Kate has stumbled onto another dead body, a friend this time, and while everyone else is convinced it was suicide, as it looks like, Kate knows it wasn't. Not even her hot-cop boyfriend believes Kate is on to something. So Kate takes it upon herself to investigate Mona's death while juggling Mona's ex-husband and taking in her daughter. Slowly, Kate and Mona's friend Sharon begin to uncover pieces to the puzzle of Mona's apparent suicide, and eventually, Detective Stone starts to see how the stage was set for suicide, but Mona was murdered. Who felt Mona needed to die, and is anyone else in danger, like Kate, for sticking her nose in business that isn't hers to begin with?
This series is a slight step above cozy mysteries, as it has enough content to keep it from firmly landing in that category. It's enjoyable; I'll definitely read the other two in the series.
Kate has stumbled onto another dead body, a friend this time, and while everyone else is convinced it was suicide, as it looks like, Kate knows it wasn't. Not even her hot-cop boyfriend believes Kate is on to something. So Kate takes it upon herself to investigate Mona's death while juggling Mona's ex-husband and taking in her daughter. Slowly, Kate and Mona's friend Sharon begin to uncover pieces to the puzzle of Mona's apparent suicide, and eventually, Detective Stone starts to see how the stage was set for suicide, but Mona was murdered. Who felt Mona needed to die, and is anyone else in danger, like Kate, for sticking her nose in business that isn't hers to begin with?
This series is a slight step above cozy mysteries, as it has enough content to keep it from firmly landing in that category. It's enjoyable; I'll definitely read the other two in the series.
August 9, 2024
Cosy Mystery = Predictable
If you need something to fill your time this will work for a short read.
If you need something to fill your time this will work for a short read.
November 14, 2012
This was too cozy for me. There was more romance than mystery in my opinion. I like a little more grit in my books. The main character Kate Austen is easy to like, but I it was just so low key, even though her neighbor had been murdered. I have the next book so will probably read it to see if things improve. There is still some question whether Kate will stay married or go with the police detective.
I am giving this 3 1/2 stars as I would have enjoyed it a whole lot more if it would have had a bit more grit. The main plot and the direction it took were good, just a little too tame for my taste.
I am giving this 3 1/2 stars as I would have enjoyed it a whole lot more if it would have had a bit more grit. The main plot and the direction it took were good, just a little too tame for my taste.
September 25, 2008
MURDER AMONG FRIENDS - VG
Jacobs, Jonnie - 2nd in Kate Austen series
Hoping that her struggles as a recently divorced mom will soon be over, Kate Austen is hired by a new friend to produce some artwork, but the job is suddenly cut short in light of the friend's suspicious suicide.
Very good, the story holds together well. I shall read more of these.
Jacobs, Jonnie - 2nd in Kate Austen series
Hoping that her struggles as a recently divorced mom will soon be over, Kate Austen is hired by a new friend to produce some artwork, but the job is suddenly cut short in light of the friend's suspicious suicide.
Very good, the story holds together well. I shall read more of these.
July 17, 2017
First time I have read a book by this author. There was a few spots that got off track but for the most part she kept the mystery going towards solving who had committed the murders on an even track. Will try to find another book in this series before I decide if I really like her writing or not.
February 19, 2012
Book #4 read in 2007
I really enjoyed this story. The author released such subtle clues that it wasn't obvious who the killer was, but when I found out I was able to piece it all together from the clues. I look forward to continuing the series.
I really enjoyed this story. The author released such subtle clues that it wasn't obvious who the killer was, but when I found out I was able to piece it all together from the clues. I look forward to continuing the series.
October 18, 2016
the lady with the cop boyfriend is getting divorced. her friend was murdered and her teen daughter is now living with her and her 5 yr old daughter. they found it was the lady that lived in the guest house who kidnapped a girl 5 yrs ago that was a twin.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2013
Recommended to me, I found the book is an interesting read. Romance with just a bit mystery to it...
August 8, 2020
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
November 13, 2014
This one was every bit as fun as the preceding one.
June 13, 2015
Light series mystery featuring Kate Austen.
August 31, 2015
A good beach read - a decent mystery plot with many suspects and a good resolution, believable characters and a decent pace.
Want to read
February 15, 2016233pgs, romantic suspense
April 29, 2016
Light mystery. Whodunit was a surprise.
September 18, 2016
Isn't love wonderful
This was a good mystery. Great characters and lots of suspects. I enjoyed it a lot. Still waiting for the love scene. Maybe next book.
This was a good mystery. Great characters and lots of suspects. I enjoyed it a lot. Still waiting for the love scene. Maybe next book.
July 21, 2017
I liked it. Out of books from the library so grabbed this to take to the beach. A good cozy mystery, well plotted, fast paced. Fortunately I have one more in my stash and would read others.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews