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Murder on the Equator #3

Cold Case Crumble

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Some secrets are best left buried.

Jessica James is helping her friends design the doughnut shop of her dreams. But when a skeleton is discovered under the foundation of the shop, the simple remodel turns into a full-fledged investigation.

With her friend’s livelihood on the line, Jessica cooks up a plan to discover the truth. But digging up the past unearths more secrets and Jessica’s troubles go from bad to worse when her dog disappears, her elderly “helpers” volunteer her to cater a school event, and the murderer claims another victim.

Will Jessica taste sweet victory and solve the cold case in time? Or will her investigation turn sour?

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2017

29 people are currently reading
22 people want to read

About the author

Jennifer Joy

45 books209 followers
When Jennifer isn’t busy dreaming up new adventures for her favorite characters, she is reading, baking, or chasing her twins around the park.

She believes in happy endings, sweet romance, and plenty of intrigue. She writes what she most enjoys reading, so expect lighthearted stories with happy endings and a few laughs.

Born on the beautiful Oregon coast, she traveled all around the world until she finally settled in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador with her husband and two kids.

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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Sheila Majczan.
2,692 reviews203 followers
September 17, 2017
I have to say that I continue to look for some romance to develop in this story but the murder mystery part was well done.

Tia Rosa and Abuelita take stage front and center as the former plans her independence from her sister by opening a pastry shop which she insists Jessica will stay in Ecuador and manage. The longer Jessie extends her “vacation” in that country the more her fame for the donuts she makes spreads. Now she finds herself committed to provide those for a reunion/celebration for a favorite teacher from that area, Miss Mattie, who is returning there to take up a new position.

But, wait a minute, did I mention that is the midst of major renovations to the shop next to Abuelita’s restaurant the workmen uncovering tile find a hole under it with A BODY! Jewelry on the body identifies the woman as Sophia and the whole town knows who she is and how she disappeared as her class was graduating. She and four others were part of a gifted group of scholars being led by Miss Mattie and whose high or perfect scores those many years ago won them full scholarships. (Not that all in that group were in financial need.) Suspicions did arise as to whether the perfect scores were earned or gained by other means.

Jessie manipulates ‘permission” from General Bolivar to proceed with investigating on her own…she wants to give Sophia's mother closure after all these years as well as removing the cloud over the class reunion. Sophia’s ex-boyfriend, her childhood friend (who also loved her) and her other classmates have only good things to say about her. So where is there a motive?

And there is the little matter of a couple who show up claiming Jessie’s puppy is theirs. Jessie’s instincts tell her that she doesn’t want to give Lady to this couple but now she finds them stalking her and she tries to make sure Lady doesn’t do her own disappearing act.

This tale was very well written and enjoyed by this reader. And it seems that Jennifer Joy has more in store. Somehow I thought this might be the end…but we learn…there is more to come.
Profile Image for QNPoohBear.
3,586 reviews1,562 followers
August 12, 2020
Jessica James is excited to help design the doughnut shop of her dreams. Too bad she won't be around to see the opening, she'll be back home safe and sound in Oregon. While renovations to the old ice cream shop are happening, the construction workers accidentally reveal a decomposed body of a woman lying under the concrete floor. Sylvia identifies the body of Sophia Cuesta, daughter of a wealthy family who disappeared the night of her high school graduation. Everyone believed Sophia had run away to a better life. Jessica is charged with calling the police. Since this is a cold case, Agent Vasquez is not on the job. Jessica is referred to General Bolivar who claims he can't send guys to come investigate because they found fresh bodies probably tied to the leader of a drug cartel. He says the building will be shut up and blocked off until the investigation is concluded. It could be months or YEARS before that happens! Adi only just moved all her things in that morning and Tia Rosa got so excited, she purchased all the furnishings from the shop expecting a bank loan and a place to put them. Jessica is angry to see her friends' dreams crumbling to dust like a dead body and she challenges General Bolivar. He gives her permission to investigate! Can Jessica be brave and resourceful enough to solve the mystery? Meanwhile, some shady characters want to claim Lady as their own. Their proof is flimsy at best and Jessica doesn't trust them. When Lady goes missing, Jessica knows right where her dog is but can she get Lady back without the police noticing? Also, since Abuelita offered a reward for knowledge of Jessica's missing Uncle Eddy, the phone has been ringing off the hook with people looking for easy money. Should she just lay the past to rest?

This is such a fun series. I love the local color and adore the characters. The mystery is really tight. I NEVER guessed whodunit, not even when the clue was revealed. I also didn't suspect how things were going down even when Jessica did. The author needs a more careful editor. I noticed some typos. I also don't like the English spellings of names. My Spanish is rudimentary, possibly better than Jessica's when she came to Ecuador, but I do know there's no ph in Spanish and Sophia is spelled Sofía. Maybe because everyone speaks English in this town, they use English spellings of their names.

Jessica is a combination of naïve and brave. She lets Abuelita goad her into doing things she doesn't normally do. I love Jessica's bookishness. She quotes from Pride and Prejudice, references Bleak House and The Count of Monte Cristo! I love how being in Ecuador brings out the best in her. I think she's going to stay! How can she not? Her dog, Lady, plays a big role in this story. Now Lady is a celebrity, everyone wants to own her. Where were they when Lady was starving on the streets? "The Suits" are super neglectful dog owners to go on a business trip while their puppy was missing! They're totally lying.

As always Abuelita is scary but in a good way. She has a huge heart and a soft spot for Jessica. In spite of her "no like dogs" and "You talk dog. You crazy." comments, she loves Lady too. Abuelita and Jessica's adventure is the second zaniest of their wild times yet. I love what they did, even if it was illegal. Don't do this in the U.S. though! Tia Rosa is such a dear. She's a sweetheart and I hate how her sister bullies her. She's coming into her own and finding her own path. Sylvia is the peacemaker in the family. She doesn't want to get involved in her mother's crazy schemes. Adi is so much like Abuelita without the crazy!

Who is General Bolivar? I understand the necessity for the high priority case but he's pretty mean about it. He's a bully and not used to being contradicted. Even Agent Vasquez seems afraid of the guy. Washo, as Agent Vasquez is known when he's being friendly, seems to have thawed out and gotten used to Jessica and her friends. He's kind and thoughtful with Sylvia! We meet a new police officer, Gus Rivera, who is sympathetic to Jessica's woes but unwilling to risk his job standing up to his boss. He's a nice guy otherwise.

30 years ago when the victim, Sophia, was in high school, she was part of a special study group with Miss Matilda Mayorga. Miss Matty was a trailblazer in a patriarchal world. I believe she loved her students and wanted what was best for them but there are secrets surrounding this group of students and what happened to Sophia. I suspect she may have something to do with it. Señora Cuesta seems to think so. Sra. Cuesta can't deal with the pain of losing her only child and she blames Miss Matty. These two can't see eye-to-eye and Miss Matty is very rude. Only Jessica is sympathetic towards Sra. Cuesta. Jessica knows all too well the pain of losing a loved one. I felt somewhere in between. Perhaps if Sophia's parents had realized and cared what their marital problems were doing to their daughter, Sophia wouldn't have been believed to have run away and the mystery would have been solved years ago.

This coming weekend the former students are reuniting with Miss Matty as she returns to education after a stint in politics. Jessica has one chance to catch the killer and whoever killed Sophia is at the reunion. Shirley Solis, the event organizer, is a peppy, cheerleaderish type woman. She seems nice and sympathetic. She is interested in finding out what happened to Sophia and helps out. I like her in spite of her perky personality. Alex, the so-called smart one, is not pleasant. He's rude and isn't interest in the truth. He didn't need the study group in high school so why was he in it? He seems like he was a ringleader of a brat pack.

Antonio Manjarrez was Sophia's high school boyfriend. He was a big man on campus and has the ego to match. Now he's a wealthy banker and not very friendly. Antonio is still arrogant and rude. He doesn't care about other people. His wife, Diana, seems a lot nicer. She seems interested in finding out what happened to Sophia and feels guilty about believing Sophia had just run away. What is she doing with a creep like Antonio? Antonio looks very guilty to me. I don't think Diana is a killer.

One person from Sophia's high school days who isn't at the reunion is Luis Escalante who was not wealthy or college bound. He was "obsessed" with Sophia. I believe he believes he genuinely loved her. They were childhood friends. However, he couldn't let her go even when it was the right thing to do. She was destined for something more than their small town. Did he kill her to prevent her from running away? I am not sure. He seems nice. Lady doesn't suspect him but when certain events transpire, I was convinced he was the killer.

Which one actually killed Sophia? Maybe it was a conspiracy or something they all suspected and never told.

I'm already on to the next and can't wait to see where this series is going.
899 reviews70 followers
October 9, 2017
Jessica James and her dynamic duo of geriatric friends, Abuelita and Tia Rosa, are at it again in Book 3 of Murder on the Equator.

In helping Tia Rosa and Adi with their dreams of opening their own shops (doughnut and dress), the body of a young woman is found buried under the floor of Tia Rosa's recently purchased building. The body of Sophia Cuesta, who disappeared thirty years ago. Unfortunately, this brings the renovations to a grinding halt and the building is shut down until the investigative team of General Bolivar can come and determine what is to be done. When that will be is anyone's guess! Needless to say, Jessica cannot allow this to happen as it severely impacts both Adi and Tia Rosa! When Jessica gets a 'bee in her bonnet', there is no stopping her. With the help of her dynamic duo, she is soon on the case vowing to get to the bottom.

But there is more going on than just one dead body...there is also the case of her missing uncle that she would like to learn more about...her dog, Lady, who gets her into trouble...and hundreds of doughnuts to bake!

As with the previous two books, the pace is fast, the humour delightful and the mystery so well done that I was completely surprised at the end! But what always gives me great joy, is the characterizations...I could vividly picture each of the characters...almost smell the perfume! The references within the story just left me chuckling...Lara Croft and Joan Wilder...what a combo! Through it all, you are cheering for Jessica as she finds herself...stumbling over one dead body at a time!

I received an ARC of this book for a fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Anji.
86 reviews
October 6, 2017
Cold Case Crumble

Is the small town of Baños in Ecuador turning into the South American equivalent of Midsomer (for UK viewers of Midsomer Murders) or Jessica Fletcher's Cabot Cove (from Murder She Wrote, for my US friends)? Is it coincidence that our heroine shares a first name with the latter? Whatever the answers to these questions may be, Jennifer Joy has turned up trumps once more with the third of her Murder on the Equator series.

This time, the first body (yes, there is more than one!) turns out to be a missing girl from some years ago, hence the Cold Case of the title. Jessica and the inimitable sisters Abuelita and Tia Rosa are determined to find out why and how the young lass died, especially as the body was found in the foundations of the property in which Tia Rosa wants to start up her doughnut shop and her great-niece Adi wants to use for her fashion design business. Add in a school reunion involving the classmates and a teacher of the missing girl and there's plenty of opportunity for mystery, skullduggery and baking!

Added elements involve the ongoing mystery of Jessica's long lost missing Uncle (another Cold Case?) and Jessica's growing attraction to a young man who just happens to be Adi's brother. Jessica's only been in Baños for a few weeks and is supposed to be going home to Oregon in a few more. Will the pull of home and family take her away from a place that somehow seems to be digging its way into her heart?

I received an ARC copy of this book in the hope of an honest review and I loved it!
Profile Image for Kasia Burlakoff.
177 reviews16 followers
September 23, 2017
I loved the third book in the series as much as the first two. Jessica James has a talent to be involved in murder investigations, and this time she is faces a cold case. It was fascinating to follow her reasoning, and the process of putting all the pieces of the puzzle together, until she had the right answer. ASs usual, Jennifer Joy skillfully supplied information to her readers, as to give us a few surprises.

the book is full of turns and twists and, delightful characters and humor. Many people from previous books were present, as well and a few new ones. There was some romance, which made me curious about the outcome for the couple. And another mystery that is waiting to be resolved: is Jessica going to find her missing uncle? I'm looking forward to the next story about Jessica's Equatorial adventures.

Highly recommended.

I received an ARC of this book for a fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews55 followers
June 6, 2018
Probably the best one in the series so far

Awesome. With plans to turn the building into a workshop, doughnut shop and apartment things seem to be going well. Until they they find the skeleton of a missing high school student from 30 years ago. With work having to stop until an investigation can be done, it looks as if this will bankrupt one of the senior sisters. Taking charge Jessica obtains permission to investigate (because they do not believe she can cracking the case). Can she use the reunion planned to sift through information gained from the attendees. Another death follows, her dog is kidnapped, the senior has to make payment on items bought within 3 days - can she solve everything and still make the doughnuts required? A great plot, even though I suspected the right person, this was a great read. Some great scenes filled with humour, some very poignant ones and all carried through at break neck speed. Wonderful characters and the more you get to know them the more you want to know.
Profile Image for Traci.
900 reviews12 followers
February 19, 2021
Always fun to read about Jessica James' adventures in Ecuador. This installment has Jessica and her hosts, Tia Flora, Abuelita, Adi, and Sylvia, all discovering an unwelcome surprise while fixing up the new building Tia Flora has acquired to build her new bakery. This time Jessica actually has the permission of the Head Policeman and the local officers to investigate the mystery. She only has a short time window to solve the cold case since the pertinent individuals will only be in Banos for 4 days. As is typical with this series there are moments of levity and some twists and turns in the mystery. The characters continue to be endearing and you feel as though you could hang out with them in Abuelita's restaurant kitchen.
If you are looking for a fun cozy set in South America this is a great series to explore
Profile Image for Michele Howell.
207 reviews
February 14, 2019
Fun series filled with Adventure and always a case to solve

I really am enjoying the qwerky characters in this series. Jessica a civilian on vacation turned P.I. every time a murder happens. With the friend of her mother's mother and aunt they take u on a quest to solve the murder before the police! Well written lots of detain and very entertaining!!
2,519 reviews6 followers
April 9, 2019
I LOVE this series!! This is a fast paced murder mystery accented with humor and the wonderful love of family and friends. Jessica, a North American on vacation with old family friends in Ecuador, keeps tripping over dead bodies. Little Grandmother, Aunt Rosa, and Jessica’s new friend, Adi, all join her in trying to solve a 30-year old cold case. Adventures abound!
1,063 reviews4 followers
February 22, 2018
Great read

What a great cozy and the characters will have you laughing out loud if you haven't read this series by Jennifer Joy yet then you need to you will love them too I can't wait till the next one
Profile Image for Kendra Crae.
Author 2 books3 followers
November 30, 2021
This was such a nice, cozy mystery, perfect for rainy days. I loved the picture she painted of Ecuador, and it made me want to visit it myself. Fair warning though, this book will make you crave baked goods!

Also, I definitely will be reading more Murder on the Equator Mysteries, especially with Abuelita and Tia Rosa stealing the show!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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