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Amanda Bell Brown Mystery #3
Deadly Charm
When the ominous Thunders roll into Dr. Amanda Bell Brown's town, the sassy sleuth sees a storm brewing. Disgraced playboy preacher Ezekiel Thunder and his seductive first lady, Nikki, are on the comeback trail, but Bell is less than charmed by the pair. When their toddler, Baby Zeekie, is found dead from an accidental drowning, forensic psychologist Bell suspects foul play in the fatal family, especially after the mama in mourning flirts with Bell's estranged husband, Jazz. Bell is sickened by the woman's behavior and the thought of someone murdering an innocent child -- or is it morning sickness that's plaguing her? Between babies and bodies, she pushes past the limits to discover the deadly truth.
387 pages, Paperback
First published January 29, 2008
2 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Claudia Mair Burney
13 books135 followersClaudia Mair Burney is the author of the novel Zora and Nicky: A Novel in Black and White, as well as the Amanda Bell Brown Mysteries and the Exorsista series for teens. Her work has appeared in Discipleship Journal magazine, The One Year Life Verse Devotional Bible, and Justice in the Burbs. She lives in Michigan with her husband, five of their seven children, and a quirky dwarf rabbit.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 22, 2021
I was so hooked in this book that I read it much slower then I usually to. It was great and never stopped being intriguing. But I wasn't a fan of Jazz in this
May 31, 2009
I have never read christian fiction before. To tell you the truth I'm not a religious person. Combine that with the fact that it was the third book in a series I had never heard before, I thought I would have trouble getting into this book.
I couldn't have been more wrong! The characters are so vividly written I had no problem submerging myself into their lives and caring about their every struggle. Bell is a complex character that I can relate to. She is smart yet has doubts; she is strong yet so vulnerable that it sometimes left me in tears. She is such a realistic character that I almost instantly bonded with her.
This series is definitely worth the read. I've already ordered the first book; Murder, Mayhem & a Fine Man from the library.
I couldn't have been more wrong! The characters are so vividly written I had no problem submerging myself into their lives and caring about their every struggle. Bell is a complex character that I can relate to. She is smart yet has doubts; she is strong yet so vulnerable that it sometimes left me in tears. She is such a realistic character that I almost instantly bonded with her.
This series is definitely worth the read. I've already ordered the first book; Murder, Mayhem & a Fine Man from the library.
January 17, 2010
CinderBella
It’s been five months since Bell turned thirty-five. Since, she’s had two attempts on her life, met, fallen in love and married Lt. Jazz Brown, separated and is hiding a secret that threatens to end her life.
The drama is brewing in Bell’s life as usual. Despite her estranged marriage and loyalties, Bell doesn’t know how to resolve any of her own issues, though she’s a gem when it comes to others problems. When Rocky shows up at her door, she’s excited to have any semblance or normalcy back, even if it means going to see Ezekiel Thunder, a fallen Pentecostal pastor on the comeback trail.
Trying to bounce back, an intervention in her office leads her to her husband, who’s recently befriended Jack Daniels. Uncertain about their future, Mr. and Mrs. Brown are trying to find a way to make amends as they find themselves trapped in the middle of yet another murder.
Bell is uncertain how to relate to Jazz and vice versa. The two obviously love one another, but with so much baggage from their pasts, they both need to learn to love and live together. Will they be able to get over this hurdle or has enough happened to get them to part ways?
An obvious fan of the Amanda Bell mystery series, I have to agree that book three is not as mysterious as the others. Still, it didn’t distract from the storyline. I laughed, cheered and relished in the love that the characters share. A few editing issues, but the story is so amusing, inspiring and refreshing, that you can easily overlook them.
Reviewed by: Crystal
It’s been five months since Bell turned thirty-five. Since, she’s had two attempts on her life, met, fallen in love and married Lt. Jazz Brown, separated and is hiding a secret that threatens to end her life.
The drama is brewing in Bell’s life as usual. Despite her estranged marriage and loyalties, Bell doesn’t know how to resolve any of her own issues, though she’s a gem when it comes to others problems. When Rocky shows up at her door, she’s excited to have any semblance or normalcy back, even if it means going to see Ezekiel Thunder, a fallen Pentecostal pastor on the comeback trail.
Trying to bounce back, an intervention in her office leads her to her husband, who’s recently befriended Jack Daniels. Uncertain about their future, Mr. and Mrs. Brown are trying to find a way to make amends as they find themselves trapped in the middle of yet another murder.
Bell is uncertain how to relate to Jazz and vice versa. The two obviously love one another, but with so much baggage from their pasts, they both need to learn to love and live together. Will they be able to get over this hurdle or has enough happened to get them to part ways?
An obvious fan of the Amanda Bell mystery series, I have to agree that book three is not as mysterious as the others. Still, it didn’t distract from the storyline. I laughed, cheered and relished in the love that the characters share. A few editing issues, but the story is so amusing, inspiring and refreshing, that you can easily overlook them.
Reviewed by: Crystal
February 17, 2016
I enjoyed this, the third installment, of the relationship between Amanda Bell, known as Bell and Jazz. Bell is a psychologist by profession and a sleuth by avocation. Jazz is a homicide detective. Although married and madly in love with each other, the baggage they each brings to the relationship and that needs to be shared, produces obstacles that they must overcome individually and as a couple. Add to this Bell's penchant for involving herself in dangerous situations much to Jazz's chagrin; he just wants to keep the love of his life safe.
In this installment, Bell refuses to accept that the drowning of a delightful three year old boy was an accident, despite the coroner's finding as such. The story told in support of the "accidental" drowning just doesn't feel right to Bell; especially when told in the exact same way by his ten and twelve year old siblings. There is more to the story than meets the eye and Bell will not rest until the truth comes to light. However, her quest for justice may cost Bell more than she ever thought she could lose.
In this installment, Bell refuses to accept that the drowning of a delightful three year old boy was an accident, despite the coroner's finding as such. The story told in support of the "accidental" drowning just doesn't feel right to Bell; especially when told in the exact same way by his ten and twelve year old siblings. There is more to the story than meets the eye and Bell will not rest until the truth comes to light. However, her quest for justice may cost Bell more than she ever thought she could lose.
February 26, 2022
This was my least favorite of the three. Bell and Jazz both got on my nerves. It felt like both of their issues were ramped up to 11 and I want to say about that ending: Bell irritated me SO MUCH. The only one actively in danger were the twins. That conversation with the reverend and the family could have waited until she felt better. She KNOWS shes high risk. She KNOWS she had the DREAM. When she started to feel poorly she should have done what her doctor said and gone home and laid down or turn around and go back to the hospital. Going to the church so she can writhe around in pain while trying to drag out what happened could have waited until her pregnancy isnt at risk. Her desire to play hero is making her leave common sense in the rear view mirror.
I hope if theres another book Jazz and Bell are more like the couple in book 1 than the constantly fighting duo in books 2 and 3. Although I really do like that the author is showing that happily ever after takes work.
I hope if theres another book Jazz and Bell are more like the couple in book 1 than the constantly fighting duo in books 2 and 3. Although I really do like that the author is showing that happily ever after takes work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2023
Unfortunately this is my least favorite book in the series. The female main character seemed weaker and more immature. Her mother is a narcissist and her sister is self centered. The relationship between the three of them was hard to listen to. Also the back and forth bickering between the female main character and the male main character was more annoying than funny.
September 2, 2018
Did not let me down
I have now read all 3 of the Amanda Brown mysteries and I will be looking for number 4 (hint, hint!!) It was hard to put down. I wanted them to get their marriage together. It was well worth the wait.
I have now read all 3 of the Amanda Brown mysteries and I will be looking for number 4 (hint, hint!!) It was hard to put down. I wanted them to get their marriage together. It was well worth the wait.
December 16, 2021
I listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Great read!
August 7, 2009
The back of this book bills it as a zany, thrilling mystery wherein our heroine, the quirky Dr. Amanda Bell Brown must find the cause for the death of a disgraced playboy evangelist's baby. I received a copy by request through the LibraryThing Early Readers Program (where it was not disclosed that it was Christian fiction) and I requested it because fiction with minority leads is something I'm actively trying to include more of here at BookLove.
Unfortunately, I simply could not get into this book.
The story opens with a long, lamenting conversation between Bell and her BFF/kinda of love interest (except she's married) which covers a lot of what happened in the first two books in the series and what happened between books. As a first time reader I was left with absolutely no clue what was going on, other than Bell, in an effort to make up with Rocky (the BFF who apparently put her marriage in danger before abandoning her, and who repeatedly teases her and calls her “babe” constantly) agrees to go visit a disgraced evangelist trying to make a comeback.
The second chapter opens with Bell and Rocky arriving at the location where the evangelist is filming his sermon. Bell is promptly assaulted by an old religious woman who calls Bell a hussy for being there with her pastor, and forcibly exorcises her, claiming a demon of interracial adultery is dwelling inside of her. Rocky, the charming BFF that he is, sits in his VIP seat and is amused by the antics, doing nothing at all to help.
After the sermon Rocky gets Bell backstage to meet the evangelist, Ezekiel Thunder. It's there that Bell meets Little Zeke Thunder, Big Thunder's 2 year old son. Bell is smitten, but launches into heartache over her own inability to have children, save for the fact that she's been nauseated a lot lately. But she can't have kids, she reassures herself, because she had a period since her husband left her and she has endometriosis, not to mention she has a tumor. With the subtly of a brick to the face, this “I can't be pregnant despite obvious weight gain, morning sickness and soreness” becomes a repetitive source of angst. When Bell finally moves past the topic secondary characters constantly bring it up, accusing her of being pregnant, kicking off the whole response again.
In chapters three and four Bell insists she isn't pregnant, then is threatened by the same person who assaulted her in the previous chapter, blatantly and maliciously manipulated by Thunder, again while her BFF Rocky just stands to the side, or defends Thunder.
It is never really explained why Rocky wants her to meet this clearly malicious, manipulative preacher. There's eventually something about Rocky wanting her to find God again, but that should never excuse the sort of behavior Bell has been subjected to.
In chapter five Bell finally does something that made me like her, she self soothes with a peppy new haircut. But when she returns to work she discovers her parking lot filled with the vehicles of all her closest, except her husband. Despite being forewarned Bell walks into the intervention. What is traditionally a last ditch effort to get a person with substance abuse to realize the extent of their actions is bastardized in this chapter as Bell's nearest and dearest claim the intervention is because she's fat, because her husband (who left her) is heart broken without her and she should go back to him, and because she is clearly pregnant and too old to be so (Bell is 35). The conversation is excessively scattered and even deviates into one of Bell's friends claiming it's not always all about Bell, except one would assume that an intervention IS about the person being confronted.
I stopped when I read the following interaction:
“If Jazz (Bell's husband) is the one who left me, and he's the one who is drinking excessively, why didn't you do the intervention with him?”
“Because all of this is your fault,” my mother said.
If I hadn't been at a doctor's appointment I would have flung the book across the room. I did try to skip ahead in the book to see if it picked up, only to land on a scene where a doctor tells Bell and her husband, Jazz that Bell has a grapefruit-sized tumor, several grape=sized tumors and is also pregnant with twins.
The artificial drama is staggering in this book and completely distracts from the mystery Deadly Charm is advertised as containing. There is no time or build up to allow for readers to grow attached to Bell and having every character treating her like utter crap doesn't make her sympathetic. Furthermore the pregnancy side plot is a huge problem. The medical problems (pregnant, with tumors) reads as more unbelievable, and unneeded drama, there's never a question in the reader's mind whether Bell is pregnant or not, and the utter insensitivity that everyone else in the book shows for Bell's reproductive problems is pretty insulting.
It's a bad combination of writing flaws, so Deadly Charm ends up in the DNF pile.
Unfortunately, I simply could not get into this book.
The story opens with a long, lamenting conversation between Bell and her BFF/kinda of love interest (except she's married) which covers a lot of what happened in the first two books in the series and what happened between books. As a first time reader I was left with absolutely no clue what was going on, other than Bell, in an effort to make up with Rocky (the BFF who apparently put her marriage in danger before abandoning her, and who repeatedly teases her and calls her “babe” constantly) agrees to go visit a disgraced evangelist trying to make a comeback.
The second chapter opens with Bell and Rocky arriving at the location where the evangelist is filming his sermon. Bell is promptly assaulted by an old religious woman who calls Bell a hussy for being there with her pastor, and forcibly exorcises her, claiming a demon of interracial adultery is dwelling inside of her. Rocky, the charming BFF that he is, sits in his VIP seat and is amused by the antics, doing nothing at all to help.
After the sermon Rocky gets Bell backstage to meet the evangelist, Ezekiel Thunder. It's there that Bell meets Little Zeke Thunder, Big Thunder's 2 year old son. Bell is smitten, but launches into heartache over her own inability to have children, save for the fact that she's been nauseated a lot lately. But she can't have kids, she reassures herself, because she had a period since her husband left her and she has endometriosis, not to mention she has a tumor. With the subtly of a brick to the face, this “I can't be pregnant despite obvious weight gain, morning sickness and soreness” becomes a repetitive source of angst. When Bell finally moves past the topic secondary characters constantly bring it up, accusing her of being pregnant, kicking off the whole response again.
In chapters three and four Bell insists she isn't pregnant, then is threatened by the same person who assaulted her in the previous chapter, blatantly and maliciously manipulated by Thunder, again while her BFF Rocky just stands to the side, or defends Thunder.
It is never really explained why Rocky wants her to meet this clearly malicious, manipulative preacher. There's eventually something about Rocky wanting her to find God again, but that should never excuse the sort of behavior Bell has been subjected to.
In chapter five Bell finally does something that made me like her, she self soothes with a peppy new haircut. But when she returns to work she discovers her parking lot filled with the vehicles of all her closest, except her husband. Despite being forewarned Bell walks into the intervention. What is traditionally a last ditch effort to get a person with substance abuse to realize the extent of their actions is bastardized in this chapter as Bell's nearest and dearest claim the intervention is because she's fat, because her husband (who left her) is heart broken without her and she should go back to him, and because she is clearly pregnant and too old to be so (Bell is 35). The conversation is excessively scattered and even deviates into one of Bell's friends claiming it's not always all about Bell, except one would assume that an intervention IS about the person being confronted.
I stopped when I read the following interaction:
“If Jazz (Bell's husband) is the one who left me, and he's the one who is drinking excessively, why didn't you do the intervention with him?”
“Because all of this is your fault,” my mother said.
If I hadn't been at a doctor's appointment I would have flung the book across the room. I did try to skip ahead in the book to see if it picked up, only to land on a scene where a doctor tells Bell and her husband, Jazz that Bell has a grapefruit-sized tumor, several grape=sized tumors and is also pregnant with twins.
The artificial drama is staggering in this book and completely distracts from the mystery Deadly Charm is advertised as containing. There is no time or build up to allow for readers to grow attached to Bell and having every character treating her like utter crap doesn't make her sympathetic. Furthermore the pregnancy side plot is a huge problem. The medical problems (pregnant, with tumors) reads as more unbelievable, and unneeded drama, there's never a question in the reader's mind whether Bell is pregnant or not, and the utter insensitivity that everyone else in the book shows for Bell's reproductive problems is pretty insulting.
It's a bad combination of writing flaws, so Deadly Charm ends up in the DNF pile.
August 29, 2013
I am so addicted to the Amanda Bell Series! In Book 3, Deadly Charm, our favorite couple is back (Bell & Jazz) and once again, they are nothing but trouble, together and apart. When a child dies, Bell cannot sit by idly and do nothing. She begins sleuthing again despite some very serious health issues. Jazz, who is determined to make their relationship work, agrees to help her get to the bottom of the mysterious death, igniting another roller coaster ride for readers through love, insecurity, religion, and of course, murder.
Claudia Mair pens another novel that I simply could not put down. Deadly Charm, although the least mysterious of the series, was the most humorous and heart-stirring. I found myself laughing throughout the entire book at the various antics of Bell and the other characters. In addition to the story being funny, the characters are extremely human, flawed, and sadly relateable. But most importantly, the novel is inspiring and uplifting, bringing the reader to consider their own relationship with God and desire to be made whole. Mair is an awesome storyteller and I hope to see Book #4 of the series in the near future.
Claudia Mair pens another novel that I simply could not put down. Deadly Charm, although the least mysterious of the series, was the most humorous and heart-stirring. I found myself laughing throughout the entire book at the various antics of Bell and the other characters. In addition to the story being funny, the characters are extremely human, flawed, and sadly relateable. But most importantly, the novel is inspiring and uplifting, bringing the reader to consider their own relationship with God and desire to be made whole. Mair is an awesome storyteller and I hope to see Book #4 of the series in the near future.
April 25, 2010
I love this woman's books! The last installment of Amanda Bell Brown's mystery, Deadly Charm, was as good as I thought it would be. While it was funny in some parts, and sad in others, it also provided some well versed paragraphs. I thought the back and forth banter and playfulness between Jazz an Amanda was so cute and cozy. Sister Lou's character was hilarious and had me cracking up at her antics. The whole lot of characters made for a harmonious book. It was so great that Amanda was finally blessed with what she'd wanted the whole time. I was really glad about that part. The only think is that I wished that the killer was not so obvious so early on in the book. Maybe pinning the murder on someone else in the end would have made for a great twist. But the book was good all the same. I'm sad to see the series coming to an end.
April 30, 2009
I have read all three of the Amanda Bell Brown books, and have enjoyed each one. This series is my first introdution to Burney's work and the world of Christian mystery/detective/suspense novels. Burney does an excellent job of makeing her characters realistic, imperfect people. One of my pet peeves with Christian fiction is that characters are often portrayed as superhuman or fautless. The characters of this series show us that Christians make mistakes, but hopefully, we can all learn from them and try not to make the same mistakes over and over. On a more personal note, I hope Amanda and Jazz can finally get things right and stay together this time. I guess only time will tell. I can't wait for the next book. Hurry up Claudia!
May 3, 2016
Love this series. The characters are relatable and draw you in. I love the verbal play between Bell and Jazz. Bell and Jazz are still trying to get the marriage together. Belle and Jazz love each other deeply. After spending their wedding night together, Bell and Jazz argue. Jazz leaves in anger. Six weeks have passed and they have not spoken to each other. Both are stubborn. Bell's family and friends decide to stage an intervention with Belle. Will it work. Belle's friend and pastor, Rocky, wants Belle to meet his mentor, Ezekiel Thunder. Ezekiel was once a household name, but like some before him, he has fallen from grace. As Bell and Jazz try to work out their marriage, they are drawn into a murder case. Will they solve the case? Will they and their marriage survive.
April 18, 2009
You all know how much I loved the first two books in the Amanda Bell Brown Series (they made it on my Most Entertaining of 2008 list) and so I was thrilled to see that a #3 was coming out! I was glad to see Bell back in action and Jazz returns as her separated husband that is going through an emotional break down without her. She needs Jazz's help when someone dies and her gut says it's murder. So the cast of supporting characters returns with a few new faces thrown in for good measure, the writing is crisp and the wit is still sharp. This is not my favorite of the three books (the first two are really hard to top) but it is a great addition to a wonderful series.
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July 28, 2011After titles like Murder, Mayhem & a Fine Man and Death, Deceit & Some Smooth Jazz, Deadly Charms (as a title) is a little underwhelming. However, the book itself is a nice addition to the Amanda Bell Brown mysteries.
Hapless sleuth Bell, with her on-going conversations with the still, small voice of God, solves the mystery of Baby Zeekie's death as well as making significant inroads into the mysteries of her own heart.
Hopefully, this will not be the last we see of this set of chatracters..
Hapless sleuth Bell, with her on-going conversations with the still, small voice of God, solves the mystery of Baby Zeekie's death as well as making significant inroads into the mysteries of her own heart.
Hopefully, this will not be the last we see of this set of chatracters..
May 1, 2009
Claudia Mair Burney’s Amanda Bell Brown is a delightful lady and excellent sleuth. Too bad her life hasn’t been on an easy track lately. Still, in Deadly Charm, she perseveres—with God’s help—through an intervention, an exorcism, and a possible murder to get her marriage and life back on track.
Burney has written an engaging cast of characters who carry the reader through the plot with verve and grace, giving Deadly Charm both style and attitude. Her grasp and depiction of milieu is excellent. I found this to be a thoroughly satisfying read.
Burney has written an engaging cast of characters who carry the reader through the plot with verve and grace, giving Deadly Charm both style and attitude. Her grasp and depiction of milieu is excellent. I found this to be a thoroughly satisfying read.
August 9, 2010
got this book as an Early Reviewer copy and did not notice that it was the third book in the series. So I came into a bit disoriented. I also missed that it was inspirational fiction, not something I normally read. So with that said, the characters were OK and the story had some interesting points. I think if a person likes inspirational fiction they could enjoy this series if they start at the beginning. I found it a bit hard to get through but for the two reasons i mentioned above, I think it is only fair to give 3 stars since it was not a terrible read, just not my thing.
April 21, 2015
The saga continues. ..
Bell and Jazz are separated after a few hours of marriage. ..a relationship therapist's gold mine. These two have so much chemistry its deliciously funny and frustrating all at the same time.
The Thunders are just dysfunctional, period. The sister with the anointing oil and demon-casting powers was just hilarious. Lots of LOL moments!
Finally, Rocky finds love and moves on from Bell.
Felt like another book is needed to continue this tumultuous love story. Wouldn't mind that sequel. Great job CMB.
Bell and Jazz are separated after a few hours of marriage. ..a relationship therapist's gold mine. These two have so much chemistry its deliciously funny and frustrating all at the same time.
The Thunders are just dysfunctional, period. The sister with the anointing oil and demon-casting powers was just hilarious. Lots of LOL moments!
Finally, Rocky finds love and moves on from Bell.
Felt like another book is needed to continue this tumultuous love story. Wouldn't mind that sequel. Great job CMB.
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May 30, 2010I simply love this series. It is refreshing to have love and romance without the sleaze. This book portrays African-American life in a realistic way, a way that I can relate to and find so enjoyable. I pray that Ms. Burney will keep the series alive. Dr. Amanda Bell Brown is at it again, trying to save others and putting her life and the lives of her loved ones in jeopardy. I "read" this on tape and Sharon Washington is THE voice of Amanda Bell Brown. She is fantastic and I am a fan.
October 24, 2011
I'm glad she finally got her wish for children. bell is a very stubborn hard-headed character, hopefully in her next adventure she will settle down and manage not to get herself practically killed she has to think about the babies now.
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February 23, 2009Amanda finds herself in a deadly tangle with the charming, conniving Nikki Thunder, who will stop at nothing to get what she wants--including Bell's man.
November 29, 2010
Another great story that reminds us not to judge others and the power of prayer and believing that all things are possible. I am going to miss Bell, Jazz, their love story and their adventures.
July 7, 2011
Another great read...I can't wait for the next installment!
September 9, 2012
So this is one of those titles that showed up on my OPL hold list and I haven't a clue of the 5 w's.
January 13, 2013
Took a little long to get to the point. Not very much mystery in this book. Book seemed to focus mote on Bell's issues than who killed Zeekie. Would have preferred more of s deeper plot
July 6, 2013
This book was great, guess I'm done with this series and will hunt down more by Ms. Burney.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews