Jealousy

by Nancy Bush

A gripping novel of family secrets from the New York Times -bestselling author of The Babysitter , hailed as “the new Mary Higgins Clark and J.D. Robb” ( Urban Book Reviews ).
 
HATRED LEADS TO OBSESSION . . .

It’s taken time for the plan to unfold, years spent waiting, watching, hating. And after the first victim, the killing gets easier and easier . . .
 
OBSESSION LEADS TO JEALOUSY . . .

The Crissmans, owners of Crissman & Wolfe department store, were once one of Portland’s most powerful families. There’s still enough fortune left to sow mistrust between Lucy, her bohemian sister Layla, their brother Lyle, and his grasping wife Kate. When a charity event at the Crissman Lodge ends in a fatal poisoning, Lucy becomes a prime suspect. But the truth is even more twisted, and Lucy can’t be sure which of her family is being targeted . . . or who to fear.
 
AND JEALOUSY LEADS TO MURDER . . .

Renowned defense attorney Dallas Denton has been hired to clear Lucy’s name, unaware of the secret that ties them together or of the deep cracks in the Crissman legacy. Someone is ready to eliminate every obstacle to get what they most covet, and prove that envy runs deeper 
than blood . . .
 
Praise for Nancy Bush and her novels
 
“Nancy Bush always delivers edge-of-your-seat suspense!”—Lisa Jackson, #1 New York Times -bestselling author
 
“Engrossing . . . twists you won’t see coming!”—Karen Rose,  New York Times -bestselling author

“Atmospheric . . . sure to cause shivers.”— Book Page

“Bush keeps the story moving quickly and ends with an unexpected twist.”— Publishers Weekly

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Audiobook

478 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 28, 2018

About the author

Nancy Bush is a New York Times bestselling author of over forty novels, including the River Glen Series, Nowhere Series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Wicked Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Lisa Jackson, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Lisa Jackson and Rosalind Noonan.

Nancy has called Oregon her home all of her life. She grew up in a small logging community and after graduating from high school, attended Oregon State University where she met her husband, Ken and graduated with a degree in nutrition. They married a few years after graduation and together they have one daughter. After working in banking and the travel business, with her daughter still in diapers, Nancy read an article in Time Magazine about young mothers who, once the last diaper was changed and the final bottle was washed, pulled out their typewriters and wrote romance novels for the then expanding market. Nancy convinced her sister, Lisa Jackson, that they should try their hand at writing.

After writing several successful romance novels such as Lady Sundown, Miracle Jones, Jesse’s Renegade and Scandal’s Darling and a stint writing for one of ABC’s top-rated daytime shows: All My Children, she turned her attention to writing thrillers for Kensington Publishing. Today, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.

In her free time Nancy enjoys walking, working on jigsaw and crossword puzzles and hanging out with family and friends. When she and Ken aren’t visiting their daughter and grandchildren in Southern California, Nancy is busy working on her next book!

Visit https://www.NancyBush.net where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jealousy by Nancy Bush was not really what I was expecting when I picked it up and I’m a bit hesitant to call this one a mystery. I’d actually been expecting more towards the romantic suspense but really I think family drama more applies than anything with a bit of romance and mystery to the story.

The book is centered around the Crissmans, a family who were once one of the most rich and powerful in Portland and owners of Crissman & Wolfe department store. At the beginning readers are given a glimpse of a murder that will come much later in the story in the prologue then taken back to way before the event happened to introduce the family.

Lucy, Layla and Lyle are the three Crissman siblings that are the heart of the story with their ups and downs when it comes to those around them and the family fortune. Then as readers catch up to the prologue one even becomes a murder suspect when someone is poisoned.

Ok, I’m probably going to date myself again right now but anyone remember Dallas and the Ewings? The Carringtons from Dynasty maybe? Well, now we have the Crissmans and what this book felt like to me was one big family drama along the lines of the old prime time soaps. Sure we have the element of a mystery but there was also the old who shot J.R. so see, same idea. When finished with this one I kind of liked the good old fashion dysfunctional family idea but I did think it dragged a bit here and there but overall it was an OK read.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Susan Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! I wasn't really sure when I started to read, but I was pleasantly surprised all the way through.

This is a seriously dysfunctional family, but they were really likable. Well, most of them were likable. The two sisters were great and I just loved them from the beginning. Lucy and Layla are very different, but they are truly sisters who love one another and get along. They are also pretty much shunned by their father because they are girls. Lyle I was unsure about most of the way through the book. I just wasn't sure if I liked him at all or couldn't stand him. Actually, after reading the book all the way through, I'm still really unsure about how I feel about him. Abbott, the father, I couldn't stand him from the start. He is an arrogant, egotistical bastard who thinks women are less. Nope, don't really like him one bit.

So, to try and not spill it too much, there is just so much going on in this book. All sorts of little side stories. It all evolves around a murder and that turns into several murders. I was sure it was one person most of the way through, but that didn't pan out for me. It was full of suspense and intrigue. I loved the characters and the storytelling was fantastic. What a great book!

[Namita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucy Layla and Lyle belong to the once powerful rich dysfunctional Crissman family.At a charity event hosted by Lyle’s wife Kate , Lucy becomes a prime suspect when her husband is poisoned.When her old boyfriend defense attorney Dallas is hired to to clear her name Lucy is scared that all her family's secrets will be revealed out of which some might be deadly

Jealousy by Nancy Bush is more of a dysfunctional family drama than a romantic mystery .A little slow in the middle it but overall an ok read for me.

I would like to thank Kensington Books & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

[Marj Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this Author's books and was excited to read her latest, Jealousy. A family-owned business suffering big losses. Siblings and spouses lying to each other. I wasn't sure who to believe. Lots of twists and turns. Great characters and story. Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

[Cynthia Dalton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. Main characters a bunch of whining losers trying to live off a dwindling family fortune instead of making lives for themselves. Patriarch ignores all his children, especially his daughters, so why do they stay around? Main event takes place after way too much boring exposition on this boring family. I only finished this book because I was at appointments and didn't have anything else with me to read.

[Ashley Gillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy Bush is so good at creating rich, multi-layered stories that draw you in. It’s whys she’s one of my favorite authors. Her new book, Jealousy, is no different - I was hooked in to the story of the Crissmans, and I’m hoping that they’re coming back in future books, since there seems to be enough room in the story for another installment (Please?).

The aforementioned Crissman family are a once-great dynasty brought low by reckless spending and a changing economy, where brick-and-mortar department stores are no longer great investments. The three latest generation of Crissmans - Lyle, Layla and Lucy - are all also facing personal crises as their own as the company goes through some major changes. Then someone dies mysteriously and a cloud of suspicion hangs over the group as the women (Lucy, Layla and Lyle’s wife, Kate) become more desperate for answers about the men in their lives.

I enjoyed the multiple perspectives for the story; I was really interested to see how they all played out and I was invested in each of the women’s struggles. The mystery itself was also really interesting because there were so many possibilities for what was potentially going on around them.

And I did not guess the ending at all - it was a nice twist! But I just wish there was more information as to the “why” and “how.” It fell a little flat in that aspect for me.

The ending wraps things up nicely, but leaves a little room for another appearance by the Crissman family - I would be excited to see more from them! Nancy Bush has a potentially great series here and I am so here for it! Another great job!

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’d give it 2 1/2 stars. This book was so slow moving. I was halfway through the book before someone actually died. The other thing that I had a problem with were the names in this book. I struggled throughout the book with who is who. So you have Layla, Lyle, and Lucy. No, that’s not so unusual in a family, but it makes following characters hard. And then let’s talk about the grandfather Lyle, Abbott Crissman, Junior, or simply called Junior. Lyle Abbott Crissman, the third called simply Abbott. And then don’t forget about the original Lyle Abbott Chrisman simply called Criss. Who the hell was who? And then let’s talk about September, August, July, June? And I may have missed it. There was probably a May and April in there too. Let’s be a little bit more original with some names. Overall just kind of a boring read for me. Don’t get me wrong. The story could’ve been good but it just didn’t hold. My interest in the ending was pretty anti-climatic too.

[Marianne Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy Bush is hit or miss for me. I was expecting a mystery but it wasn't it was more of a family drama with a mystery mixed in for good measure.

There are a lot of "side stories" which for me, anyway, took away from the main story.

It took a while for me to really get into the book,but about half way through things really got going and it was a much better read.

I would like to thank Net Galley, the Publisher, and Nancy Bush for the opportunity to read this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Jealousy by Nancy Bush that I read and reviewed.
I just could not get into this book as much as I wanted too. I am usually a huge fan of Nancy Bush but this book just moved to slow for me and I could not connect with the characters like I usually do. Overall, this book was just okay for me. Nothing really stood out and grabbed me and made me fall in love with it.
I am giving this book three out of five stars.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

It has been a long while since I have read anything from this author. Thus, when I had the chance to pick up a copy of this book, I thought now is a good time to read this author again. The story started out fine. It had some build up in intensity. However, my issue was not truly with the story itself. Although, the lack of intensity and a slow pace didn't help. No, my issue was with the characters. There was nothing interesting about them. In fact, I found the characters to be one dimensional, which was a turn off. After getting a third of the way into the story; I did jump ahead and found after reading some more that I had no interest in finishing the book.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh boy... The first half was ridiculously slow, till things FINALLY got interesting and I actually cared. Then things got just plain... ridiculous. Liked that final big twist about Grandma enough it saved this from being a two-star read. Only for the die-hard Bush fans who know she's capable of much better.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting.....at all!

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This was ok. The story line was easy to follow, a few twists and turns but nothing earth-shattering. It’s just soooo long and I feel she could have closed things up much faster but she kept throwing different story lines into the mix, some of which were never fully resolved.

[Dolly Sickles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good story of retribution, and Nancy Bush’s upcoming novel, JEALOUSY, is all about retribution. This is a little outside of my usual romantic suspense picks, really, because it’s more family drama with a little suspense and romance woven throughout, but still it makes for a compelling read. It’s told in a classic three-part structure … where the setup, confrontation and resolution are neatly packaged.

First of all, I love the alliterative names of so many of the characters. There’s siblings Lucy, Layla and Lyle, children of Portland, Oregon’s dynastic Crissman family, all of whom are on staff at the family’s department store, Crissman & Wolfe. And there’s Dallas Denton, the defense attorney who’s been hired to clear Lucy’s name in the wake of her husband’s poisoning (and subsequent death). The cherry on top is the long-game plan of retribution, in which someone has been planning the demise of the dysfunctional Crissman family.

The book opens with a prologue and lays out the Clue-style poisoning of one of the partygoers, who we later learn is Lucy’s husband, John. But it quickly shifts to ’80s-era family drama-style Dallas, where there’s lots of people in the family, who each have spouses and opinions, and differences of opinions … and the lot of them clash often. As the book progresses over the course of the month leading up to and after John’s murder at a family fundraiser, Bush lays out a case for which character may next meet his or her demise, and which character will be doing the demising. None of the Crissman children, or their spouses or significant others, are happy, and all of the reasons for being unhappy are pretty substantive. But the main mystery of the book comes back to John’s death — at what seems like at his wife’s hands.

The weight of family and responsibility is heavy in JEALOUSY, and it makes me happy that I’m an only child who had an only child. The Crissmans represent generations of wealth and power and envy … it’s like Notorious B.I.G.’s cautionary prose: Mo Money Mo Problems. Right? Sometimes you get what you ask for, and it always comes with a price. But in the case of the Crissmans, wealth is a fine balance of smoke and mirrors. The family’s department store and lodge are being downsized, and at least two of the children aren’t happy about it. Lucy and Layla are both struggling romantically with their significant others — Lucy and John are on the brink of divorce, and Layla and the man she’s dating and having a surrogate child with are in a legal battle for her rights to the child. On top of everything, poor Lucy has the mantle of bad decisions hanging over her head — the one-night stand in college that left her pregnant 10 years ago pretty much guaranteed her family would never see her as anything but irresponsible … and her daughter a blight on the family name.

Turns out, Dallas is a good guy, despite their initial first meeting after John’s death, when Dallas genuinely doesn’t recognize Lucy. He’s made something of himself and works hard to straighten out Lucy’s and Layla’s legal circumstances. His progression with Evie and Lucy, once he finds out about his daughter, is intriguing and makes for good … well, drama. In the midst of members of the Crissman family (both by blood and by extension) dropping like flies, Lucy, Dallas and Evie offer a small glimpse of happiness that remind you of why the romance genre is so good. At the end of the most grandiose plots with the most grandiosely flawed characters, there’s a little spark of hope. And that spark of hope outshines any spark of jealousy … every time.

*Originally published with USA Today's Happy Ever After: https://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2...

[Danielle Urban · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy Bush is the new Mary Higgins and J.D. Robb. Jealousy is a new mystery/thriller that quickly spirals out of control. Secrets are coming out from the grave. A family is tearing apart. Murder, blackmail, and mistrust add to the suspense. I liked the fact that I wouldn't be able to predict who or what was really going on...but the pacing seemed steady no matter how much drama was added. 

Jealousy is about a family that has and still is experiencing a lot of issues. A father who never let wife leave him. Kids who thought their mother left them. A family will that has been hidden and another one was recently found. Secrets make for a lot of trouble. The siblings are struggling to trust each other when they really need to...danger is closing in around them. It's only a matter of time before more are killed. Death hangs in the air...as the family scatters to catch up.

Overall, it was a good read. I didn't see the ending coming. The plot was intense and emotional. 

I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

[Book Him Danno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jealousy is the prefect title for this book because that is what it is everyone is Jealous of their siblings success, failures, life and this leads to killing.



Nancy Bush brings together a host of characters that if readers are not paying attention to could possibly get lost. The characters are flawed in a human way as reader walk in their foot steps and fight for which character they trust or believe in.



Nancy Bush is able to start a slow simmer until readers are hook unable to put the story down worried for what might happen to their characters they find to be human and flawed.



The mystery creates tension, nail biting moments and the very unexpected surprises.



This is a top rate mystery that can't be missed and needs to be on the top of the to be read pile.



Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Zebra for the advance copy of Nancy Bush Jealousy

[Diane Saul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Crissman family fortunes aren’t what they used to be. The family department store is shutting down. There is backstabbing, jealousy, grudges and secrets coming back to haunt the family. When more deaths occur the family begins to wonder if they are being targeted. Can they come together to find the truth and work together as a family?

There is a lot going on in this book. I didn’t know who to trust sometimes. The book has plenty of suspense to keep the reader interested. The plot was good, interesting with plenty of surprises. There is also a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about a dysfunctional family! All of their names start with an L and well, they all have their issues and secrets. Lucy is suspected of killing her husband (not a nice man) but then more things happen. Her sister Layla is interesting but keep an eye on brother Lyle. Dallas, who has been hired to help Lucy, starts to unravel more than anyone bargained for. This isn't really a mystery or romantic suspense (although there is some of that), it's more of a twisty tale of people turning on each other. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I thought this started off slowly but stick with it- it definitely picks up.

[Kelli Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a slow starter. But once it picked up, I didn't want to put it down. I felt as though the description was a little embellished. Reading this book, it was not what I had expected at all. I had wanted more interaction with the killer. I did not expect it to be who it was, but that is because little background is given. I wanted just a little bit more from this book. More background, more suspenseful moments. This is my first book by this author. While I did like it, it wasn't one of my Top 3 books of the year. However, I would love to see a sequel for this. There were some loose ends and I'm curious as to how it would play it.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan.
Follows the Crissman family, a family of money and power but the wealth has been dwindling in recent years. A family member ends up dead and it's determined to be murder. Was it the wife? What is really going on?
Premise sounds promising but it's wasn't well executed. The story is dragged out and pretty boring, especially the entire first half. There's a lot going on between different family members and most aspects are not concluded by the end leaving lots of loose ends. The characters are not well-developed or even likable. The second half does get a little better but not enough to save it.

[Illustrious Illusions]

"Jealousy" by Nancy Bush is a suspenseful novel that delves into themes of obsession and revenge. The book follows a dark and twisted story with a relentless antagonist. While the plot offers moments of tension, the character motivations can be unclear, and the conclusion may leave readers with unanswered questions. Despite its atmospheric setting, "Jealousy" lacks the depth needed to fully engage the audience.

[Iyanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the storyline but not the book.The book gives you background information on the family and their spouses. The book starts off great but a little slow, if you're like me you'll be wondering when it's going to happen and when it does it catches you off guard.I liked the book but not to give it a better rate.The ending was so boring no excitement or suspense of why it was just Blah

[E.a.pischke · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
This was a little ridiculous. I didn't like any of the characters and just so much silly stuff happened.
First of all, what kind of idiot meets a guy and sells her embryos to him? After knowing him for a few months?!
Also, Lucy's husband dies and she is hardly even upset about it, I mean I know they were fighting, but still.
It wasn't a bad book, it just wasn't great.

[Barbara Lack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a good book. I was hooked from the first page. There’s a about 4 different things going on but it all ties in together. I was kept guessing on who the killer was right up to the end. I received an advance review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Terrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jealousy is a very intriguing book. Just when you think you have everything figured out-there is a twist that you never saw coming. I couldn't put it down and finished in one sitting. Nancy Bush is a brillant author and can't wait to read her nest book.

[Beth Lechman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I enjoy reading books by this author I found this one a bit hard to follow. The characters are strong and it has a good plot it just jumped around so much between them all it was a bit hard to keep track of what was going on.

[Andrew Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little slow start, but it really did pick up speed. I really liked this book...the story was excellent and the characters were diverse. It all comes together in the end and actually sets the stage for a follow-on story. I have read a number of the author's books and have enjoyed them all.

[Le Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this was touted as a romantic suspense, it was mostly just suspense. I liked the plot but didn't like the characters. I found them shallow and uninteresting. This was just an ok read for me.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

There were so many complex, simple characters in this book. The Crissman family was so dysfunctional, you couldn't help but hate most of them! A few twists and turns that finally come together in the end.

[Sierrah Shady · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really just could not get into it/did not like it. I listened on audio so I did give a "pity star" making it a 2 in case the book is better but the narrator just did not work. I really wanted to DNF, however I needed a J book for my challenge. I'm glad it's over unfortunately.