A Dead Mother

Jessica Huntington #4

by Anna Celeste Burke

When the body of a prominent member of the Palm Desert community is found dead on the side of the road, Jessica and the Cat Pack are determined to figure out who killed her. There are plenty of well-heeled heels to choose from among the suspects. The murderous motives include love, lust, lucre, and loathing.

USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Anna Celeste Burke, brings you an unconventional sleuth hot on the heels of high-living lowlifes in the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series.

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5*****"WOW! What a tangled web of deceit, greed, and murder! There is so much going on in this story that I stayed up way past my bedtime in order to find out how it all ended. I couldn't put it down."

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Fiction

344 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 24, 2017

About the author

Anna Celeste Burke is an awarding-winning, USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author!
Welcome! Join me, snooping into life's mysteries with fun, fiction, and food--California style!

Life is an extravaganza and so unpredictable! Figuring out how to hang tough and make the most of the wild ride is the challenge.

On my way to Oahu to join the rock musician and high school drop-out I married in Tijuana, I was nabbed by the police as a runaway. When the police let me go and the rock band broke up, my husband and I had to find another way to survive. Our next stop: Disney World where we trained to be chefs, courtesy of the Walt Disney World University.

A GED for my husband, and many more years of education eventually landed us in academia—with Ph.D.s from the University of Michigan we took professor jobs with U of M’s longstanding football rival, The Ohio State University.

Retired now from my role as a professor in social work and behavioral science, I have picked up a long-time interest in writing fiction. In my professional career I wrote and published widely as a scholar, with more than forty manuscripts of varying lengths on my vita. I also carried out hundreds of training, consulting and speaking engagements on a number of gloriously nerdy topics.

So what on earth does a research scientist have in common with a mystery writer? As avid fans of the mystery genre will tell you at the core of any good mystery is a passionate search for the truth. Discovering the truth involves finding and assembling pieces of complex puzzles in order to solve seemingly intractable problems—scientist and sleuth are cut from the same cloth!

Still married to the same sweet guy, I live with my husband in one of the seven desert resort cities in the Palm Springs area. In addition to reading and writing mysteries I enjoy painting, hiking, hanging out with my handsome husband and tending to my Siamese cats.

The Sonoran Desert is a beautiful setting to ponder life’s mysteries, by the surrounding mountains and the bountiful delights of the desert resort communities. I hope you enjoy reading the books in my three cozy mystery series: The Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series, The Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery Series, and the Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series. Cheers! Anna

Reviews

[Doward Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica is propelled into another murder investigation when her prominent and wealthy client is found dead alongside the road. Who would have wanted to kill Beverly Windsor? Was it the gigolo she was considering marrying, the daughter who thought the gigolo was going to make off with her inheritance, someone in her HOA who wanted her out of her house or a random act of violence? In the meantime, Jessica has to hear about her ex-husband, Jim and his Hollywood Blonde wife, Cassie Carlysle, going at it tooth and nail when a party at their home gets out of hand with booze and drugs. Did Jim really attack Cassie's cousin and leave him in a coma? Was the man really her cousin or something more. Did Cassie do the attacking? Which parent is going to wind up with their new baby? Is it even Jim's baby? Jessica's boss is Jim's attorney so she will have a front row seat to the sideshow as it hits all the gossip papers and TV channels. Jessica and the Cat Pack are once again more than knee deep in murder and mayhem! Will they get thru this latest mess without any mishaps? With Jessica, the only given is the totally unexpected!

This fourth book in the series continues giving us some wild and wacky adventures. On the edge of your seat action mixes with hilarious incidents that will give you a wonderful read. I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next book and you will be too!

[Tara Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's like I'm binge-watching my favorite show!!

I am so impressed by Author Anna Celeste Burke's writing!! With every page I turned in A Dead Mother (Book 4 of Jessica Huntington Desert Mystery Series), it became more and more clear to me why she has been named a USA Today Best Selling Author. This woman is on 🔥 fire! 🔥 Her writing is so vivid and clear...it's like I'm binge-watching my favorite show on TV, unable to do anything except stare with eyes wide open! How does she do it? I mean, really! How does Anna Celeste Burke come up with characters that are so real, so complex, so human!!?! Her word choice and attention to detail are most outstanding, though. Effortlessly, I am able to visualize every single part of the setting, watch every move each character makes, and I swear to you, I can even hear their thoughts before they even know what they are thinking. Many people who have read Anna Celeste Burke's books say that they feel her characters are like old friends because they get to know them so well. I can see that, but I don't feel that way. I feel like I AM the characters! All of them! Well, one character at a time, anyway. 😉 Talk about putting the reader in the character's shoes! I put those shoes on and go all over town in them! How many authors provide that type of entertainment to their readers? Not too many!

Anna Celeste Burke is not just a talented author. She's way more than that. She's a fantastic story-teller, a problem-solver, a criminal, a comedian, a detective, and a master entertainer. She keeps you on the edge of your seat, begging for more! And, right when all the loose ends have been neatly tied up, she gives you a little nibble of more to come...I cannot wait for Book 5! Thank you for all your hard work! You make my life more interesting, and you give me something to look forward to. You are loved and appreciated! Now, go write that next book, girl! 💯📖😎 In the meantime, I'm going to try one of those yummy recipes!

I confidently give A Dead Mother (Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series, Book 4) a well-deserved 5/5 stars. If you haven't read any of Anna Celeste Burke's books yet, there are multiple to choose from in three different series (and I see on the Amazon profile page, another series is coming soon...yay!!!). Although these books could stand alone, I suggest you start at the beginning with Book 1 in the series of your choice. The Jessica Huntington Mystery Series is my favorite (I know...I know...I've said that about each series...I just love all of them!!). Once you read Book 1, you will definitely want to read the next, so start at the beginning so you don't spoil anything for yourself. In fact, they are so well priced (if not free) that you could buy every book in that series all at once and it would STILL be cheaper than some individual books cost. What a great deal! On that note, go 1-click the book of your choice, set up your favorite spot for reading with some big, squishy pillows and a soft blanket, and have some "Me-Time." You deserve it....enjoy! 💗📚

Thank you for reading my review. I hope it was helpful.

[Bonnie Dale Keck · Rating 5 out of 5]

kindle unlimited though I buy all her books outright, pre-order etc, and was going to be arc reader but since buy them anyway and read them right off, well not much use in that, so basically 5 stars and I bought them outright even though have ku, all I should have to say.

Jessica’s ex-husband, James Harper, and her mother, Alexis, are in big trouble in A Dead Mother. Family dysfunction, infidelity, murder, and mayhem—what else can you expect from members of the rich and famous who move in Jessica Huntington’s circles? An arraignment in court goes off the rails after Jim Harper’s Bel Air mansion is trashed and a man is left fighting for his life. Jessica’s love life almost veers off track, too, as she struggles to balance job, family, sleuthing, and her attraction to Attorney Paul Worthington and Detective Frank Fontana. When the body of a prominent member of the Palm Desert community is found dead on the side of the road, Jessica gives up hope that this year will be better than the last. It’s a three-ring-circus of calamities as Jessica and her friends get pulled into another whirlwind whodunit. There are plenty of well-heeled heels to choose from among the suspects with murderous motives: love, lust, lucre, and loathing.


Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series
Murder at Catmmando Mountain #1 Love Notes in the Key of Sea #2 All Hallows' Eve Heist #3 A Merry Christmas Wedding Mystery
Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series: Novellas 1-3
#4 Murder at Sea of Passenger X #5 Murder of the Maestro #6 A Tango Before Dying #7 A Canary in the Canal #8 {2019}*

Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery
.5 Love a Foot Above the Ground A Dead Husband 1 A Dead Sister 2 A Dead Daughter 3 A Dead Mother 4 A Dead Cousin 5
Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series (Books 1-5)
A Dead Nephew 6 {2019}*

Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery
Cowabunga Christmas #1 Gnarly New Year #2
Heinous Habits (Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery, #3) {in summer collection only first}
Radical Regatta Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery #4 {2019}*

Seaview Cottages Cozy Mystery
A Body at Fitzgerald’s Bluff 1 {was in Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes: 12 Mysteries for the Dog Days of Summer which between typos and WTH stuff actually cancelled, just waited for this separately}
The Murder of Shakespeare's Ghost 2 {out March 2019}*
Grave Expectations on Dickens' #3 {2019}*

The CALLA LILY MYSTERY Series
Lily's Homecoming Under Fire #1
{was only in collection Love Under Fire collection, now standalone}
Tangled Vines, Buried Secrets #2 {2019}*

see goodreads/amazon for full listing of books, in various collections

[RO G'ma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dead Mother is the fourth book in Anna Celeste Burke’s awesome Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series. The writing style flows smoothly at a calm and steady pace and the storyline is well plotted with the three dimensional characters, humor, and some suspenseful moments. There are lots of twists and turns and red herrings to keep the reader engaged. Readers will find themselves pulled in from the beginning and anxiously turning pages until they find themselves at the end of the story and wanting more. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy reading a well-crafted cozy mystery.

Jessica Huntington has settled into her position at Canady, Holms, Winston & Klein’s Palm Desert satellite office, but her personal life is in turmoil. She’s given herself a year to adjust to her divorce and get her life together. The mutual attractions between her and Attorney Paul Worthington and Detective Frank Fontana are still strong and she knows she’ll have to make a decision soon before she hurts one of them. She’s taken Father Martin’s advice and put her black AMEX card away, and although the numbers on the card are ingrained in her mind, she’s resisting the strong urges to go on shopping sprees. Alexis, Jessica’s mother has suffered a medical emergency and set back in her battle against drug and alcohol addiction, but with the love and support provided by Giovanni, her fourth husband, Jessica, and Bernadette, she’s determined to overcome her addictions and win her battle with cancer. Her divorce from Jim Harper has been final for almost a year, but she just can’t seem to get him out of her life. Jim and his new trophy wife, Cassie, are both filing for divorce and preparing to battle over custody of their newborn daughter, but these are the least of the issues plaguing him. A party in their home took a bad turn with drugs and murder, and Jim, who’s accused of killing Marty Hargreaves, has hired Paul to represent him. As if all this isn’t enough, Jessica is devastated when she learns a client, Beverly Windsor, has been murdered. Beverly and her daughter, Leslie, aren’t just clients, the three women had developed a friendship during the few months Jessica had been their attorney. Jessica has a wonderful support system, the Cat Pack, which is an intriguing group of friends who help her with investigations and provide support and shelter from threats. While investigating Beverly’s murder, they uncover cruelty, lies, deceit, and a Ponzi scheme.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whether you consider the 4l’s Liked, Learned, Lacked, & Longed For or something else. It does help you when you are trying to find the why of a murder. We have killed off so many people that a mother murder doesn’t seem strange at all. She isn’t the first one killed, so don’t worry. She’ll get hers in the end – or middle – or … Anna, Jessica, and the Cat Pack come through again and I recommend this book.

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Jessica Huntington Mystery #4

ACB has written another mystery that is enjoyable to read providing you are tuned into this genre. In this instance the mystery is proving that her husband did not commit the crime. As the plot thickens you begin to understand the tongue in cheek humor that ACB uses to connect the dots. This is an excellent read four the genre. ......ER

[Sister Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best yet

I have read all four books about Jessica but this is the best one yet. I was on the edge of my seat. But best of all Jessica got out of it OK. I hope we can say the same about Frank.

[Andra Weis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review outstanding...but I can say...loved the twists and turns from this read. Kept me guessing until the end.

[Donnalu Loman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good interesting series!!!

Have read all 4 books and am looking forward to book 5. Also wondering how Leslie is going to decide which man in her life is for her in the end.

[Anita Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more jessica

Funfunfun, mystery, great plots, start with book one you wont be disappointed. I hope Anna writes many more of tgese

[Roslyn Donohoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do enjoy this author's stories.

She writes such great stories. I do enjoy them. As always so very well worth the read. You won't be disappointed.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far my favorite series by this author! How could you not love to read about all the trouble Jessica and her friend's get into and out of. They are all such characters. My favorite is Saint Bernadette who manages to always keep most every one in line. But even she has her limits and will attack or go on the offensive if provoked.

Jessica really is having a hard time of it--her EX is being tried for murder (not that she really cares) but her boss is his defense attorney. Her mother nearly dies of an overdose and has to undergo chemo. And then the mother of a friend is found murdered!! Oh how she is starting to want to go on a spending spree with her American Express Black Card, But she promised her priest that she would try to stop this particular addiction--

She ends up taking care of the woman's Poodle Pup (a very large one!) and you will love this poodle as do all her friends and Bernadette. What a smart, sweet and loving dog. Amazingly her friend is afraid of the dog which is why he ends up at Jessica's place. The pup brings some comic relief putting it mildly!

There are so many suspects in the murder of Alexis and even I was surprised at what and why and who was behind it. This one will keep you reading non stop. I actually stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it (much to my cat's distress!)

This can be read as a stand alone but I think you will want to read them all!
A Dead Mother

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Dead Mother” earns 5/5 Deadly Desert Dilemmas!
Thrilled! This is an entertaining, sometimes roller coaster, ride. Jessica is dealing with disaster from various directions: her mother’s health, her ex’s legal jeopardy, a love life with two prospects wanting a decision…and murder! All of this makes for a very intense story. And with a host of motives from love to lust to money along with enough twists, turns, and ‘wild goose chases,’ the story kept me totally engaged. But added to the mayhem, we have Anna’s signature sense of humor! I enjoyed book one, “A Dead Husband,” so I was able to jump right in reading book four like many fans, but newbies, you, too, can enjoy the story without any problems.

[Darlene Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica and the catwalk are back at crime solving.

Jessica's ex Jim is arrested for a fight at his house in which a friend is beaten so bad that he has to be hospitalized. Another publicity nightmare for Jessica when Jim's wife tries to hit him in t h e courtroom with her cane. About the same time this is going on a very good friend of Jessica has been found murdered. Her life just got a lot more complicated. Frank and Paul are on her mind and she gets dragged into helping to solve the murder of her dear friend n d with the help of the catwalk and Frank and Rikki bad Paul. Wonderful story loved the dynamic ending.

[Cathy G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, Jessica, Tommy, Jerry, Peter, the rest of the Cat Pack and now a puppy named Anastasia. Who else will come along and join the pack. In this book, Jessica and Bernadette and the Cat Pack only want to help Leslie after her mother is murdered. As if Jessica does not have enough going on, her Mom is undergoing Chemo radiation, and the rat of an ex husband is on trial for murder. Worst of all one of Jessica's love interests, her boss at the law firm, Paul is defending the rat. Who is pulling her heart strings Detective Frank, for Attorney Paul, what can happen next? Is Jessica a magnet for trouble. I know I will be eagerly awaiting the next adventure.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica's boss Paul is defending her ex-husband on a murder charge. The she-beast he married tries to attack him in the courtroom yelling he killed her cousin who is not related. to her. She gets a frantic call from an old friend that her mother has been murdered and asks Jessica for help. Jessica & Kim go where Beverly worked to see when was the last anyone saw her. Kim looks around where Beverly's car was parked and finds what looks like items from her purse. When Ruth goes moves her car Kim yell for her to stop, they find Beverly's sunglasses. Jessica ends up babysitting a dog. As they look into Beverly's life and the people around her. None of the Cat Pack including Jessica like the new detective Frank assigned to Beverly's case. The poodle like to dance and twirl on her hind legs so Tommy teaches it the bunny hop which save them in the end.

[Deb crisanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable series

Descriptive and nice character development, and lots of local color.you can tell that the author has a great love for the desert

[Alan Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fourth book in the Desert Cities Mystery series, with our indefatigable investigator, Jessica Huntingdon. Another great mix of murder and scandal amidst the opulent society Jessica moves in. Jessica is brought back into sleuthing by troubling events in her ex-husband's life, and the adventures bring her into contact with more than one romantic possibility. A wonderful melange of mystery, the super-rich, suspense, romance and, as always, effortless charm.

[Helen Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good read

What a twisty plot. I never suspected the murderer. The story kept me guessing the whole way through although I did reject the slimy boyfriend as the killer early on.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A DEAD MOTHER ANNA CELESTE BURKE
MOTHER DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIPS CAN BE COMPLICATED, JESSICA HUNTINGTON KNOWS THIS FIRST HAND. WHEN HER FRIEND LESLIES MOTHER TURNS UP DEAD IN A DITCH THINGS GO FROM COMPLICATED TO DOWNRIGHT WEIRD IN 0-60. JESSICA AND THE CAT PACK SOON DELVE INTO WHODUNIT AND WHY? ONE OF MS BURKES BEST DESERT CITIES MYSTERIES AND I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT. 5 GOLD AMEX CARDS FOR THIS ONE!

[Mary Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book and I enjoyed it. It got a little confusing, however. The beginning of the book included a murder in the X husbands home, in which he was arrested. Then about a third of the way in a murder occurred at a Dessert Nature Park involving a client and friend. The two were not related to one another and I am still not sure who killed the first guy. The standard Poodle, however, made the book! It also needs a bit more editing.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You know what Martin Luther King said, ‘Only in the darkness can you see the stars,” Betsy added. “We’ve got to bask in the light from the small victories when we see those stars shine.”

Jessica Huntington is not only dealing with her usual job related situations, but her ex husband has gotten himself knee deep in trouble, her mother's health is comprised, and she's caught between two relationships.

And one of her clients has died under questionable circumstances. Jessica was Beverly's attorney and friend, and meets her daughter at Beverly's new home to begin to plan the future. Little does she know how the future will look.

Jessica becomes foster parent to Beverly's standard poodle Anastasia while all this is going on. The case, her mother, her boyfriend(s) ... not the best way to acknowledge the first anniversary of her divorce from said ex husband...

In this, Jessica's most convoluted case, she gets stuck up to her Cat Pack eyeballs in a multi layered situation that is at once fairly cut and dried and also very multifaceted. Leave it to Anna Celeste Burke to take us along in the adventure that might leave you scratching your head. Wonderfully cerebral and highly recommended. 5/5

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dead Mother review

A Dead Mother is the fourth book in the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Book series written by author Anna Celeste Burke.

[Christine P · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dead Mother - Anna Celeste Burke

They just keep getting better, these Jessica Huntington Mysteries. I love the characters and all the story lines. Another one of Jessica's clients is in trouble and of course her and the cat pack are on the case. All the usual characters are back with the addition of one more. I fell in love with Anastasia as did everyone else. When Anastasia's owner turns up dead the race is on to find her killer from a long list of suspects. I was totally wrong but of course the cat pack always gets their man, or woman. The next book is A Dead Cousin (which I already read) and is as equally as good!! But hey, you should try this series for yourself, you will not be disappointed!

[Marcia-Lee Finocchio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just an interesting story, characters and storyline was intriguing. Just downloaded three more of this Authors book.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are totally awesome. I just finished A Dead Mother and can't wait to read the next one. I thought I would review each one as I read them. But I couldn't wait to start the next one. This time I made myself do it. Next is A Dead Cousin. It's a great thing I don't get my nails done, because these books are nail bitters.

[Carol Kay]

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[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I loved the this book and can't wait for the next book. It did finish on what I would call a cliffhanger but has set it up beautifully for the next book, please be soon. I really like the characters and with the addition of a dog to the group what is not to love about this story. With plenty going on it is certain to keep you hooked.
Jessica and the gang start an investigation into the death of one of her clients but with a murder victim that was loved by everyone and had no enemies, she even a champion for the wildlife they have there work cut out for them. Someone obviously had a reason to hate the victim as her house is broken into and her dog terrified. As they dig deeper, clues start to point to some unsavoury people in her life that even the victim didn't seem to trust.
I like the narrator and think she does an excellent job of bringing all the characters to life. So an all round must read/listen to book.

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although all the books seem to have a similar pattern, it feels almost comfortable and would be shocking if it deviates. All the usual friends are back but this time we are also introduced to the loveable pooch, who turns out to be just a bit too good to be true.
I skipped over a lot of the explanations which referred to previous books which helped me get to the end faster. I understand that the repetitions need to be there to make each book work as a standalone book so I didn't mind them. This plot again had lots of twists and turns. Having gone through 3 previous books, I really thought that by now I would be able to guess better but alas not so much. Ms Burke is brilliant at building the suspense and giving some clues but keeping the secret to the end.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! What a tangled web of deceit, greed, and murder! There is so much going on in this story that I stayed up way past my bedtime in order to find out how it all ended. I couldn't put it down. I've read the first 4 books in this series and this one is my favorite. The entire Cat Pack is back in action after a client/friend of Jessica's is murdered. Anastasia is a very nice addition to the series. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.