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Jane Avery Mysteries #1
Private Lies
For a wildly outrageous new series of crime and deception, trust in USA Today bestselling author Cynthia St. Aubin…
During Jane Avery’s shady childhood, truth was always a moving target. Since then, she’s learned that colorful fictions can clean up a lot of life’s messes—and she learned from the best. Her mother, Alexis Avery, is the most imaginatively duplicitous private eye in Denver. When the mother of invention goes missing, Jane knows that only her acquired skills of deceit can solve the mystery.
It’s what aspiring lawyer Jane doesn’t know that’s left her blindsided. For starters, Alexis’s secret two-year affair with fellow PI Paul Gladstone, or her latest client—a sleazy and deadly gazillionaire architect whose exploits keep the tabloids in business. Sure, Alexis has carved out a niche for danger. But this investigation is leading Jane down a rabbit hole of kidnapping, bribery, blackmail, hired assassins, and murder.
Maybe Jane doesn’t know her mother at all. Maybe to find her, Jane has to face the truth. She just hopes she can recognize it when she sees it. It could save both their lives.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2018
421 people are currently reading
1269 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia St. Aubin
90 books698 followersUSA Today bestselling author Cynthia St. Aubin wrote her first play at age eight and made her brothers perform it for the admission price of gum wrappers. A steal, considering she provided the wrappers in advance. Though her early work debuted to mixed reviews, she never quite gave up on the writing thing, even while earning a mostly useless master's degree in art history and taking her turn as a cube monkey in the corporate warren.
Because the voices in her head kept talking to her, and they discourage drinking at work, she started writing instead. When she's not standing in front of the fridge eating cheese, she's hard at work figuring out which mythological, art historical, or paranormal friends to play with next. She lives in Colorado with the love of her life and three surly cats.
Because the voices in her head kept talking to her, and they discourage drinking at work, she started writing instead. When she's not standing in front of the fridge eating cheese, she's hard at work figuring out which mythological, art historical, or paranormal friends to play with next. She lives in Colorado with the love of her life and three surly cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
April 17, 2018
Basically this book is my favorite mystery I've read! It has everything, intrigue, a ticking clock, a plucky, snarky, intelligent heroine who isn't prone to the silly foibles that turn me off to so many leading ladies. And lets talk leading men... This isn't a romance, by any means, but the guys in here are incredible enough to start a team Shepard, team Valentine swag war. Cynthia St. Aubin writes a story that is hilarious, but she tempers it with enough thrilling action and depth of character that keeps your eyes glued to the page until you've run out of pages. it's THAT good!
June 13, 2018
Wow...get ready Jane Avery is seriously snarky, seriously sassy and a world-class liar. To be honest, she's not having the best day/week. Her mom went missing during her graduation from law school, and she can't discern which people are trying to kill her instead of protecting her. But Jane's street smarts instilled by her mom give her an edge. You just don't mess around with Jane, or believe anything that comes out of her mouth. This book is fast, furious and FUN!
June 22, 2018
Jane Avery's mother disappears during her law school graduation ceremony. The police aren't very helpful, but it turns out that Jane's mother (Alexis) has friends in the private investigator community since she is one herself. It seems like her disappearance might have something to do with the last case she worked on, and Jane is poised to pick up the trail.
OK....I liked this book. I liked the characters, especially Jane, Valentine and Sheppard. I thought the plot/action unraveled itself at a good pace....that is until the end. The unveiling of all the final pieces happens in one scene that seemed to go on a little too long to be believable. But whatever, I still liked the book and want to read the next one.
OK....I liked this book. I liked the characters, especially Jane, Valentine and Sheppard. I thought the plot/action unraveled itself at a good pace....that is until the end. The unveiling of all the final pieces happens in one scene that seemed to go on a little too long to be believable. But whatever, I still liked the book and want to read the next one.
April 1, 2018
Private Lies by Cynthia St. Aubin is a wild ride from first page to last. Jane Avery has not had a typical childhood as her mother was a private investigator (and much more) as you will find out throughout the book. She has grown up quirky, snarky and a liar but she worked hard to get her law degree. And then her mom disappeared on graduation day. That's when the fun begins. Jane gets into trouble throughout the book and yet manages to extricate herself out of most of the situations. Laughter, foul language, snarky dialogue, mystery, action and a few Alpha males keep Jane moving until the reveal which was quite a surprise. Oh, and that last little chapter is a great hook for the next book in the series. I'm ready to read it now.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
April 30, 2018
Fun read!
So when Kerrigan Byrne (one of my fav author's) said this was a great read, I just had to follow suit. And it is a great read! Jane Avery is a fabulous character, with an unusual mother and and even more unusual upbringing. Having just graduated from law school, and having missed out on being valedictorian by three-tenths of a GPA point ( pay attention this slim margin is a recurring mantra for our girl), Jane steps off the stage of her graduation ceremony to find her mother has disappeared.
When I say Jane's upbringing was unusual, I mean UNUSUAL! Did I mention that Alex Avery is a Private Investigator
Put that together with Jane's quest for her mother's whereabouts, various hard ball characters, the laconic Jane with a mouth that opens and utters, well, amazing things, and you have a fun, eye blinking sort of read.
A NetGalley ARC
So when Kerrigan Byrne (one of my fav author's) said this was a great read, I just had to follow suit. And it is a great read! Jane Avery is a fabulous character, with an unusual mother and and even more unusual upbringing. Having just graduated from law school, and having missed out on being valedictorian by three-tenths of a GPA point ( pay attention this slim margin is a recurring mantra for our girl), Jane steps off the stage of her graduation ceremony to find her mother has disappeared.
When I say Jane's upbringing was unusual, I mean UNUSUAL! Did I mention that Alex Avery is a Private Investigator
Put that together with Jane's quest for her mother's whereabouts, various hard ball characters, the laconic Jane with a mouth that opens and utters, well, amazing things, and you have a fun, eye blinking sort of read.
A NetGalley ARC
April 17, 2018
Wickedly fun and foolishly inappropriate, Private Lies is a fun ride start to finish. You’ll fall in love with Jane’s sass, quick wit, and her inability to tell the truth! Laughed out loud the whole way through. A fantastic start to this new series and I cant wait to get my hands on the next installment!!
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
April 20, 2018
Snark with grit and depth. Love this new series!
If you've read any of Cynthia St. Aubin's books you know they are balls-to-the-wall hilarious, making for a fun and enjoyable read. However, that's not what I found in the first book of her new Jane Avery Mysteries series. Oh, her trademark snark and wonderfully wicked way with words are still blessedly present, but she's upped her game and added a level of depth to her main character and storyline that had me eagerly turning each page.
Action-packed who-done-it, that will keep you guessing, laughing, and occasionally tug at your heartstrings.
Jane's had a bad day/week. Her mom's missing! People are either trying to kill her or protect her. Which is impeding her from her prime objective... Finding her mom. Being the independent miss that she is, Jane will use every trick her mom has taught her. She'll lie, kidnap, handcuff, and bamboozle whomever she needs to accomplish her goal.
I received this book as an ARC from Net Galley, then read it on KU, to see if anything had changed. Then, because I loved it so much, I purchased it so I would be able to read it again and again. Needless-to-say, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery, a well-written story, or a boatload of giggles.
If you've read any of Cynthia St. Aubin's books you know they are balls-to-the-wall hilarious, making for a fun and enjoyable read. However, that's not what I found in the first book of her new Jane Avery Mysteries series. Oh, her trademark snark and wonderfully wicked way with words are still blessedly present, but she's upped her game and added a level of depth to her main character and storyline that had me eagerly turning each page.
Action-packed who-done-it, that will keep you guessing, laughing, and occasionally tug at your heartstrings.
Jane's had a bad day/week. Her mom's missing! People are either trying to kill her or protect her. Which is impeding her from her prime objective... Finding her mom. Being the independent miss that she is, Jane will use every trick her mom has taught her. She'll lie, kidnap, handcuff, and bamboozle whomever she needs to accomplish her goal.
I received this book as an ARC from Net Galley, then read it on KU, to see if anything had changed. Then, because I loved it so much, I purchased it so I would be able to read it again and again. Needless-to-say, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery, a well-written story, or a boatload of giggles.
May 9, 2018
This is the best mystery I've read in my whole adult life. (I say adult because I grew up on Holmes and The Hardy Boys, and it would feel really disloyal to my first book boyfriend to say it's the best ever.) Everything a mystery should have can be found right here.
I fell in love with the heroine from the absolute beginning. Her murderous fantasies of her rival struck a chord with me, her hilarious internal monologue and snarky comebacks kept me laughing throughout the entire story. Jane is far from a typical heroine, but she is everything I didn't know I needed. While not a romance, I swooned over the delicious leading men in the story. (Team Shepard all the way!)
The plot moves quickly. I actually became annoyed with the audible copy because listening was taking too long and I needed to know what happened, so I switched to the kindle version to finish it out myself. (I did enjoy the audible version, it just takes longer). While a good chunk of the mystery is solved by the end of this book, it does end on a cliffhanger. Jane has still not found her mom. I cannot wait for the next book!
Do yourself a favor and grab a copy.
I fell in love with the heroine from the absolute beginning. Her murderous fantasies of her rival struck a chord with me, her hilarious internal monologue and snarky comebacks kept me laughing throughout the entire story. Jane is far from a typical heroine, but she is everything I didn't know I needed. While not a romance, I swooned over the delicious leading men in the story. (Team Shepard all the way!)
The plot moves quickly. I actually became annoyed with the audible copy because listening was taking too long and I needed to know what happened, so I switched to the kindle version to finish it out myself. (I did enjoy the audible version, it just takes longer). While a good chunk of the mystery is solved by the end of this book, it does end on a cliffhanger. Jane has still not found her mom. I cannot wait for the next book!
Do yourself a favor and grab a copy.
April 16, 2018
St. Aubin has been known for her quirky paranormal mythology series but she easily transitions into the world of mystery and intrigue. Jane is a law student, three tenths below the valedictorian, a woman she despises, when her mother goes missing. A secretive world of private eyes, lawyers and country clubs has Jane caught in a world of lies and really hot babysitters. Jane's sense of humor and personality is no nonsense and very balls to the wall with gumption and grit. She's phenomenal, the writing is top notch and the mystery keeps you on your toes. I'm excited for this series and the potential for many books. Thanks to Cynthia for my advanced copy, although I'm a big fan I wrote my review voluntarily without bias.
April 18, 2018
If there is such a thing of dying from laughter.....this book will be the reason! Yes, it is a mystery book. Jane Avery is trying to find her mother, but the truth has never been a 'normal' thing for either one of them. Why tell the truth when a lie sounds more fictitious? What Jane doesn't know just might be the un-doing of her missing mother. The things Jane finds out.....makes her wonder if she ever knew her mother at all! A great read, I will be following is author for more stories. Great job! I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
April 27, 2018
Mystery, murder, lies and Sass
Another brilliant read from Cynthia St.Aubin. While is a murder mystery it still contains all the comedy and sass of her previous series The Case Files of Melinda Schmidt. Jane has just graduated law when her mother disappears from her gradation her whole life gets turned upside down. Will she find her mother or will she be killed by some unknown enemy.
I can't wait for the second book in this series
Another brilliant read from Cynthia St.Aubin. While is a murder mystery it still contains all the comedy and sass of her previous series The Case Files of Melinda Schmidt. Jane has just graduated law when her mother disappears from her gradation her whole life gets turned upside down. Will she find her mother or will she be killed by some unknown enemy.
I can't wait for the second book in this series
May 2, 2018
Private Lies by Cynthia St. Aubin is the first book in the Jane Avery Mystery series, and my first book by this author. I loved this book! Jane Avery's mother goes missing at her graduation, and she is determined to find her. From the very first page, this book had me hooked. It was like a wild roller coaster ride, so many lies and no way of knowing who is telling the truth. This book made me laugh out loud, it was so funny. Fabulous book, which I thoroughly love and highly recommend. I will be reading more books by this author, and can't wait for the next book in the series.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 12, 2025
Private Lies; A Jane Avery Mystery by Cynthia St. Aubin is an irreverently snarky, funny sexy read. A couple of hunky hunka-burning-love add just the right amount of swoon-worthy beefcake eye-candy to spur you on through twisty plots and wonderful endings!
March 23, 2018
Feisty, foul-mouthed Jane Avery has just graduated law school (and accidentally grabbed the crotch of Dean Koontz -- Dean David Koontz, no relation to the author) when she realizes her private investigator mom, Alex, is missing from the ceremony. Not once in Jane's 28 years has her mom missed a single school function or activity.
Jane's worry only increases when Alex's car is found in the parking lot with the window smashed in.
We follow Jane as she begins to realize maybe she didn't know her mom as well as she thought and lies her way in and out of dangerous and sometimes hilarious situations.
This is a fun, filthy mystery with a strong female lead and plenty of man candy to keep things interesting. This is the definitely the beginning of an entertaining series.
Thank to Netgalley for a digital ARC to review!
Jane's worry only increases when Alex's car is found in the parking lot with the window smashed in.
We follow Jane as she begins to realize maybe she didn't know her mom as well as she thought and lies her way in and out of dangerous and sometimes hilarious situations.
This is a fun, filthy mystery with a strong female lead and plenty of man candy to keep things interesting. This is the definitely the beginning of an entertaining series.
Thank to Netgalley for a digital ARC to review!
March 5, 2019
Perfect combo of humor, intrigue, and chick lit! I couldn’t put it down. Such a fun read!
October 8, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It had the same feel and flow as a Sue Grafton book with the humour of Stephanie Plum. I’m now desperate to read the second book 📖
April 13, 2018
#NetGalley #PrivateLies #JaneAverySeries
What an exciting and quick witted book! Jane Avery brings the quirky back to P. I.'s. In search of her missing mother, we find Jane learning her Mom has a lot of secrets. Jane starts to peel them back like an onion in order to find her. I have to be honest I didn't give this novel much expectations when I started it. I'm so glad that I was wrong about it. It is a thrill ride from beginning to end with witty and sometimes crass humor. The characters feel like you've known them forever. Please check this book out! It's well worth your time to read!!!
What an exciting and quick witted book! Jane Avery brings the quirky back to P. I.'s. In search of her missing mother, we find Jane learning her Mom has a lot of secrets. Jane starts to peel them back like an onion in order to find her. I have to be honest I didn't give this novel much expectations when I started it. I'm so glad that I was wrong about it. It is a thrill ride from beginning to end with witty and sometimes crass humor. The characters feel like you've known them forever. Please check this book out! It's well worth your time to read!!!
May 15, 2018
I am not a huge fan of mysteries but I am of Cynthia St. Aubin and I am happy to say she did not disappoint in the least. There are so many twists and turns Private Lies keeps you hopping oh and laughing. And did I mention the two super hot guys? You will definitely need something cold to drink. While Jane is very snarky and can be annoying at times I adore her and feel for her as she navigates this adventure. So Mystery, Mayhem, a snarky witty Jane and two hot guys looking for Jane's mom what's not to love?
July 31, 2018
Honestly, it's funny
This was an awesome read. She's a great (and funny) writer. This book (and hopefully the series) was a great Amazon find (I searched Stephanie Plum to look for similar authors with new titles - hard to sift through the actually similar, actually funny and new to me) after rereading (for the third time) the Lois Greiman "Chrissy McMullen" series. (There aren't many authors/series that are hilarious, sexy and have a believable mystery - I'll even take the first two - hello Tara Sivec. This is there with the best, from Evanovich and Fredman, to Marianne Delacourt and Lori Avocato (even the Southern old school Stephanie Plum (Arly Hanks) by Joan Hess), I've pretty much read them all. So I have a great range of comparison. Many books proclaim they're funny and sexy, this actually merits the claim. I can't wait to read the next one!
This was an awesome read. She's a great (and funny) writer. This book (and hopefully the series) was a great Amazon find (I searched Stephanie Plum to look for similar authors with new titles - hard to sift through the actually similar, actually funny and new to me) after rereading (for the third time) the Lois Greiman "Chrissy McMullen" series. (There aren't many authors/series that are hilarious, sexy and have a believable mystery - I'll even take the first two - hello Tara Sivec. This is there with the best, from Evanovich and Fredman, to Marianne Delacourt and Lori Avocato (even the Southern old school Stephanie Plum (Arly Hanks) by Joan Hess), I've pretty much read them all. So I have a great range of comparison. Many books proclaim they're funny and sexy, this actually merits the claim. I can't wait to read the next one!
November 30, 2018
Jane Avery is at her graduation from law school. Just as she's about to walk across the stage as part of the ceremony Jane scans the audience, noticing that her mother is missing. Which is odd. Alexis Avery, one of the top private eye's in Denver, does not just go missing. After the ceremony Jane's worry increases when she finds her mother's car in the parking lot with the window smashed in. Unsure what else to do Jane begins to dig into the last case Alexis was working on. The investigation soon leads Jane down a dark rabbit hole of kidnapping, bribery, blackmail, hired assassins, and murder.
Private Lies is the first in the Jane Avery Mysteries by Cynthia St. Aubin. Jane is quite a character. She's brash, foul-mouthed, obsessed with sex (though she never gets any), overly snarky and a pathological liar. It was very hard to like her in the beginning and I didn't find her a very believable 28 year old - she acted more like she was 18, not someone who had been seriously studying law. The supporting cast is mostly male, all of which are ultra hot. Now that I think about it, it's almost a YA mystery/romance that never quite gets to the sex. Anyway, it took me about half the story to warm up to Jane and to find her antics funny. The dialog is heavy on the snarky banter which sometimes worked, sometimes didn't. The story was light and fluffy, though eye-roll inducing at times. Not a bad little mystery. I'll probably look up the second book at some point.
Private Lies is the first in the Jane Avery Mysteries by Cynthia St. Aubin. Jane is quite a character. She's brash, foul-mouthed, obsessed with sex (though she never gets any), overly snarky and a pathological liar. It was very hard to like her in the beginning and I didn't find her a very believable 28 year old - she acted more like she was 18, not someone who had been seriously studying law. The supporting cast is mostly male, all of which are ultra hot. Now that I think about it, it's almost a YA mystery/romance that never quite gets to the sex. Anyway, it took me about half the story to warm up to Jane and to find her antics funny. The dialog is heavy on the snarky banter which sometimes worked, sometimes didn't. The story was light and fluffy, though eye-roll inducing at times. Not a bad little mystery. I'll probably look up the second book at some point.
March 26, 2018
If you are looking for a hilariously fun mystery this one is for you!
Jane Avery’s mother disappears during Jane’s college graduation ceremony. As Jane tries to find her mother she finds she didn’t really know anything about her mother or her mother’s past. Jane quickly falls down a hole of secrets, bribery, kidnapping, hitmen, and murder. Can Jane stay alive while investigating or should she give up her investigation and let someone else find her mother?
This is a hilarious read; I found myself laughing out loud throughout the book. Jane is a mess, the stories she fabricates as a cover are flimsy at best, and her ideas of self-protection need a little work but she is strong, independent, and determined. I love her character and look forward to reading more books in this series. In addition to the hilarity of the book, the mystery is full of twist and turns. I'm usually good at figuring out a mystery but I was very surprised at the ending.
I was provided with an ARC of this book with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way influenced by anyone.
February 28, 2018
LOVE LOVE This book! OMG, once again the author wrote a book that had me laughing out loud but I was prepared this time LOL I love Jane and everyone in this story! PI's and lawyers and shenanigans and a mystery and a missing mom. And lets not forget a panda, you'll have to read to understand! A story that's plain ole fun to read! A story you definitely don't want to miss! Can't wait for more from this group of characters!
April 15, 2018
Thank you Netgalley & Thomas & Mercer for this arc.
Do you ever get tired of listening to the news? Of acting like an adult doing "adult" things (like laundry, housework, paying bills and eating "healthy")?
Do you like sitting in the sunshine with a big bag of M&Ms and turning off your brain? Take this book with you!! Oh, and take a napkin with you.....unless you want your kindle getting all sticky.
This was fun! A real mindless giggle a la Lucy & Ethel, Stephanie Plum and Stephanie Bond's characters.
I like Jane and am real happy to see this is the 1st in a new series.
Do you ever get tired of listening to the news? Of acting like an adult doing "adult" things (like laundry, housework, paying bills and eating "healthy")?
Do you like sitting in the sunshine with a big bag of M&Ms and turning off your brain? Take this book with you!! Oh, and take a napkin with you.....unless you want your kindle getting all sticky.
This was fun! A real mindless giggle a la Lucy & Ethel, Stephanie Plum and Stephanie Bond's characters.
I like Jane and am real happy to see this is the 1st in a new series.
January 31, 2018
Angst, Intrigue and Non- stop Potty mouth. What's not to love! I literally couldn't put this book down.. only had to cause I was getting my tooth pulled (seriously lol). Jane really knew how to find trouble before it found her.. but dang she does know how to get out of it with her own type of style. I will never look at furry handcuffs the same without giggling.
May 5, 2018
"Sitting in the kitchen of my mother’s home—a place where every gleaming surface once testified to her calm and orderly presence—tuned my all-encompassing sorrow into a fine, piercing ache at the base of my throat.
All the more irritating, then, when the muscular arm wrapped around my neck." - from Private Lies by Cynthia St. Aubin
Private Lies is so much more than a mystery, and it fulfills all of the promise of a work by Cynthia St. Aubin.
Jane Marple Avery is a protagonist you root for, even as you face-palm over her very human foibles. Having a lifetime of lessons from her Private Investigator mother has provided sharp mental reflexes, unconventional skills, and an edge of cynical suspicion of others. St. Aubin could have made Jane a harsher character with that kind of background, but instead, turned the trope on its head. Every remembered lesson given by Alex Avery to her daughter (or once, to Jane's girl scout troupe), has hilarious consequences. Jane's own sense of humor adds to the never-ending stream of lies that erupt from her subconscious to her lips without forethought. The effect of this ranges from confusion to irritation, depending on Jane's audience. It's almost reflexive on her part, but like some odd savant, each lie is perfectly tailored to be mocking, and no one – not even herself – is spared.
The supporting characters are well-rounded, despite the first-person POV. Quite often, this single view in a story blinds a reader to the truths of the other characters, events, and environment. Not so here, as Jane's shrewd observations give a clearer picture. It lends a constant state of dark edginess lurking under the brilliant surface humor. Jane holds no one in a sacred space of trust, especially as she learns more about the tangled mess in which her mother has become involved. This makes everyone a suspect in Alex Avery's disappearance.
The entire book is a breathless ride. Moments fraught with danger are gift-wrapped with stiletto-accurate belly-laughs, making the serious moments more stark and moving. The twists and turns in the plot aren't the kind with a warning sign. St. Aubin holds each revelation close to the chest until they hit the page with a resounding thud, like a dropped encyclopedia in a silent library. They hit hard and loud, but not as a lazy device to move the story along with a “wtf” moment. As the ripples of each flow out, the supporting clues add credence and evidence of a story crafted with aforethought and detail.
This was a departure from St. Aubin's previous work, but no less satisfying. Her voice is unmistakable - blending humor, witty dialogue, excellent plotting, and prose so good, it would elevate any genre. I highly recommend to fans of Janet Evonovich, and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book!
All the more irritating, then, when the muscular arm wrapped around my neck." - from Private Lies by Cynthia St. Aubin
Private Lies is so much more than a mystery, and it fulfills all of the promise of a work by Cynthia St. Aubin.
Jane Marple Avery is a protagonist you root for, even as you face-palm over her very human foibles. Having a lifetime of lessons from her Private Investigator mother has provided sharp mental reflexes, unconventional skills, and an edge of cynical suspicion of others. St. Aubin could have made Jane a harsher character with that kind of background, but instead, turned the trope on its head. Every remembered lesson given by Alex Avery to her daughter (or once, to Jane's girl scout troupe), has hilarious consequences. Jane's own sense of humor adds to the never-ending stream of lies that erupt from her subconscious to her lips without forethought. The effect of this ranges from confusion to irritation, depending on Jane's audience. It's almost reflexive on her part, but like some odd savant, each lie is perfectly tailored to be mocking, and no one – not even herself – is spared.
The supporting characters are well-rounded, despite the first-person POV. Quite often, this single view in a story blinds a reader to the truths of the other characters, events, and environment. Not so here, as Jane's shrewd observations give a clearer picture. It lends a constant state of dark edginess lurking under the brilliant surface humor. Jane holds no one in a sacred space of trust, especially as she learns more about the tangled mess in which her mother has become involved. This makes everyone a suspect in Alex Avery's disappearance.
The entire book is a breathless ride. Moments fraught with danger are gift-wrapped with stiletto-accurate belly-laughs, making the serious moments more stark and moving. The twists and turns in the plot aren't the kind with a warning sign. St. Aubin holds each revelation close to the chest until they hit the page with a resounding thud, like a dropped encyclopedia in a silent library. They hit hard and loud, but not as a lazy device to move the story along with a “wtf” moment. As the ripples of each flow out, the supporting clues add credence and evidence of a story crafted with aforethought and detail.
This was a departure from St. Aubin's previous work, but no less satisfying. Her voice is unmistakable - blending humor, witty dialogue, excellent plotting, and prose so good, it would elevate any genre. I highly recommend to fans of Janet Evonovich, and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book!
May 14, 2018
Imagine if VI Warshawski or Kinsey Milhone moved to Denver and would've had a daughter, a potty-mouthed 28-year-old, who just graduated from Law School—almost valedictorian if not for her archrival.
Private Lies starts at a graduation ceremony; Jane Avery, by accident, grabs the dean by his private parts. Immediately she checks the audience for the mother's Alexis reaction. Only to see an empty chair. Her mother would never miss this milestone. * the diploma, not the dick grab. Jane knows something is wrong. Concerned she returns to her mother's apartment, to be attacked by two goons, and protected by fellow PI Paul Gladstone a man claiming to be her mother's lover.
Now Jane doesn't need any protection and soon she's running around trying to figure out where her mom disappeared to. Her mother's latest client was an architect/billionaire, the very shady Archard Everett Valentine.
I started with Vicki and Kinsey because lately, I feel there are not enough women detective running around the crime genre. Jessica Jones sure, but in books? So, does Jane Avery fill that gap?
Depends on what you expect. I have to admit being thrown by this book. At first, I thought Jane would be younger, based on the cover, and that's why I picked it up, looking for something more YA'ish. When Jane wasn't, I hoped I stumbled upon a complicated, surly, intelligent female sleuth.
Instead, I soon found myself in a Fifty Shades of Grey kind of situation, when Jane visits this Valentine dude, not ideal. Strangely without really getting to the sex part. All the other men Jane encounters are dangerous, mean-spirited, dominant and she digs it. I did not.
Jane has one mode, the book is one big wisecracking bonanza, Jane never stops with the comebacks and witty banter. It's at times hilarious, light, fluffy but also tiring.
It was too one-sided for me; I wish Jane would have paused one sec so that we could get a little more characterization. The plot is somewhat underwhelming. I am puzzled by this book; There was not enough romance for chick-lit readers, no follow through for the Christian Grey lovers, it was too light for real thriller fans. The thing that comes closest is Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum, but lighter still.
Sometimes you get into a book without the right information and stumble through without getting your bearings. Not the book for me, but if you are looking for something snappy and bubblegumish this is a safe bet.
Private Lies starts at a graduation ceremony; Jane Avery, by accident, grabs the dean by his private parts. Immediately she checks the audience for the mother's Alexis reaction. Only to see an empty chair. Her mother would never miss this milestone. * the diploma, not the dick grab. Jane knows something is wrong. Concerned she returns to her mother's apartment, to be attacked by two goons, and protected by fellow PI Paul Gladstone a man claiming to be her mother's lover.
Now Jane doesn't need any protection and soon she's running around trying to figure out where her mom disappeared to. Her mother's latest client was an architect/billionaire, the very shady Archard Everett Valentine.
I started with Vicki and Kinsey because lately, I feel there are not enough women detective running around the crime genre. Jessica Jones sure, but in books? So, does Jane Avery fill that gap?
Depends on what you expect. I have to admit being thrown by this book. At first, I thought Jane would be younger, based on the cover, and that's why I picked it up, looking for something more YA'ish. When Jane wasn't, I hoped I stumbled upon a complicated, surly, intelligent female sleuth.
Instead, I soon found myself in a Fifty Shades of Grey kind of situation, when Jane visits this Valentine dude, not ideal. Strangely without really getting to the sex part. All the other men Jane encounters are dangerous, mean-spirited, dominant and she digs it. I did not.
Jane has one mode, the book is one big wisecracking bonanza, Jane never stops with the comebacks and witty banter. It's at times hilarious, light, fluffy but also tiring.
It was too one-sided for me; I wish Jane would have paused one sec so that we could get a little more characterization. The plot is somewhat underwhelming. I am puzzled by this book; There was not enough romance for chick-lit readers, no follow through for the Christian Grey lovers, it was too light for real thriller fans. The thing that comes closest is Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum, but lighter still.
Sometimes you get into a book without the right information and stumble through without getting your bearings. Not the book for me, but if you are looking for something snappy and bubblegumish this is a safe bet.
January 27, 2018
I was super lucky that I got an advanced copy of the book through NetGalley, especially since I am a huge fan of Cynthia St Aubin, in exchange for a review which I am happy to provide. This is that start of a very promising new series, with a wonderful plucky heroine and a slew of possible drool worthy romantic interests. I can't wait to see where Jane will take us next, the book was so entertaining and I stayed up way passed my bedtime to read. The plot moved along at a steady pace from page one, it had action, suspense, plenty of humor and of course some sexual tension that I hope will be acted upon in next book. This will definitely be my list of books that I like to read over and over again.
May 2, 2018
I wasn't sure how I felt about this book in the first chapter...but then I got hooked! Such a fun fun read! Jane is a hoot! I want to be like her...she's super creative and resourceful. I was laughing to myself half the time.
Jane had an unusual upbringing courtesy of her mom, and in the light of her mom's disappearance, discovered things are not what they seem with her mom. She meets all these interesting people trying to find her mom...
And Shepard is hot (what's his first name again?) and Valentine is just like that dark, wicked billionaire...and I don't know who to choose for Jane!?!? How he's connected to the Jane's mom's story was a surprise to me.
I am really looking forward to the next book!
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the advance copy! :)
Jane had an unusual upbringing courtesy of her mom, and in the light of her mom's disappearance, discovered things are not what they seem with her mom. She meets all these interesting people trying to find her mom...
And Shepard is hot (what's his first name again?) and Valentine is just like that dark, wicked billionaire...and I don't know who to choose for Jane!?!? How he's connected to the Jane's mom's story was a surprise to me.
I am really looking forward to the next book!
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the advance copy! :)
July 26, 2018
Jane Avery's mother Alexis was not in the auditorium when Jane graduated from law school. Yet she'd been there a minute before. Their relationship was unusual--mother taught Jane the smell of a burning body and how to clean a gun--but close. Jane thought she knew everything about her mother, but as she searches for the missing private investigator, she realizes that the secrets that stalked her childhood were just the beginning. From a competing detective who claims to have had a long-term relationship with Alexis to a ruthless millionaire to the family of her law school nemesis, Jane brings her foul mouth and her bad attitude to her search. Yet the whole book is also extremely funny. Hard to figure sometimes, right?
April 20, 2018
A lot of the other reviews for this book said it was hilarious. I found it to be quirky but not laugh out loud funny. The MC reminded me very much of Charlie Davidson from the Darynda Jones books, not listening to anyone and going her own way only to get in bigger trouble. Like the Charlie Davidson books, the non-stop internal dialogue was a bit too much at times. Though this one did not end in a cliff hanger, the main mystery was solved, but not the overall mystery. I assume that will take a few more books. I look forward to the next one.
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