Chasing The Case

Isabel Long #1

by Joan Livingston

New to the game. But that won't stop her.

How does a woman disappear in a town of a thousand people? That's a 28-year-old mystery Isabel Long wants to solve.

Isabel has the time to investigate. She just lost her husband and her job as a managing editor of a newspaper. (Yes, it's been a bad year.) And she's got a Watson - her 92-year-old mother who lives with her.

To help her case, Isabel takes a job at the local watering hole, so she can get up close and personal with those connected to the mystery.

As a journalist, Isabel never lost a story she chased. Now, as an amateur P.I., she's not about to lose this case either.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Ebooks, Contemporary

265 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 28, 2018

About the author

Joan Livingston is the author of novels for adults and young readers.

She has completed seven books so far in her mystery series featuring Isabel Long, a longtime journalist who becomes an amateur P.I. They are: Chasing the Case, Redneck's Revenge, Checking the Traps, Killing the Story. Working the Beat, Following the Lead, and Missing the Deadline. Her Hilltown Books include The Sweet Spot, The Sacred Dog, and Northern Comfort.

An award-winning journalist, Joan started as a reporter covering the hilltowns of Western Massachusetts. She was an editor, columnist, and the managing editor of The Taos News, which won numerous state and national awards during her tenure. Her last gig was the Pioneer Valley Editor-in-Chief overseeing the Greenfield Recorder, Daily Hampshire Gazette and Athol Daily News. She's officially done with journalism and concentrating on writing fiction.

After eleven years in Northern New Mexico, Joan returned to rural Western Massachusetts, which is the setting of much of her adult fiction, including the Isabel Long Mystery Series.

Reviews

[Cynthia Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific first book in a series. I really warmed to the protagonist, Isabel, who had spent her whole career in the newspaper business. She’s a well-drawn, believable character, the kind you trust to tell a story with authority and knowledge. Throughout Isabel’s long career, she worked in various capacities, including as a reporter for her small town. Though she’s not a native to Conwell, her coverage of local events made her privy to all the goings on, from the mundane to the unfathomable.

Now that Isabel finds herself at a stage in her life where she’s recently widowed and suddenly unemployed—thanks to the sale of the newspaper—she moves her mother in with her so they will both have company. Adjusting to not being a vital part of a daily newspaper and not having the companionship of her late husband, Isabel turns her focus to a 28-year-old missing persons case that she had covered as a reporter.

Along with her 92-year-old mother—an avid mystery reader—Isabel begins a methodical, under-the-radar investigation into the disappearance of Adela Snow Collins. As she soon learns, it’s hard to keep secrets in a small community, unless it’s to cover up a brutal crime.

The author has set up a wonderful premise for a series, creating a cast of quirky characters, including the Old Farts and the proprietor of the Rooster, the only bar in town. I look forward to seeing what Isabel gets up to next!

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/27/2022)! 🎁

[Joy Norstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I’m not sure if this is allowed, if this is too sacrilegious to say, but I liked Chasing the Case better than Evanovich’s One for the Money. I know, right? The next thing you’ll expect is for me to spout some kind of blasphemy like ‘generic cola is better than Pepsi.’ Of course that isn’t true. What is true is that Chasing the Case is like a micro-brew Cola. A well crafted story with the perfect amount of tension, suspense and delicious intrigue to keep the pages turning.

[Val Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always lovely to come across a new author whose work you enjoy, so when I recently bought Chasing the Case by Joan Livingston, I knew it was a crime thriller, my favourite genre, but I was not familiar with this author's work. However, I was not disappointed, Chasing the Case is an excellent book: better yet, it is the first of a series, so I am in at the beginning.

The main protagonist is a widow, Isabel Long, who has lost her job as a newspaper editor and is living with her 92 year-old mother in a small town. In addition to that, her social security payments are nearing their end. But this lady is very resourceful. 

She decides to investigate the disappearance of, Adela Collins, a woman from the town: but it happened 28 years ago. Isabel's fiesty little mother is her wingman and they make for an amusing pairing. It is difficult for an author to combine humour with mystery, but this author mananges it extremely well. 

When Isabel notices a job being adertised in the local pub, she goes for it and, as the job is only part-time, she still has time to investigate Adela's disppearance. Working in the pub gives Isabel the opportunity to talk to those who knew Adela at the time of her disappearance and she also gets to know some people better than she did previously.

Chasing the Case offers a delightful view of small town life, in a humorous and exciting way. It would be an excellent novel for a book group. I enjoyed it so much that I read it in two sittings. I highly recommend Chasing the Case and am already looking forward to the next Isabel Long book.

Val Penny

[Susan Roebuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely character Isabel Long is – and I do wonder how much of her is in the author, Joan Livingstone. Isabel is a character you’d love to have as a good friend : tenacious, witty, intelligent, gentle, kind. I look forward to meeting her again in Ms Livingstone’s future books.

This crime mystery is packed with wonderful characters and I also loved the Old Farts (and Isabel’s 92 year old mother). The setting is perfect – a small, nondescript town that is full of hidden secrets that only come to light as the story unfolds. The author can weave a tale, that’s for sure, and one that is told with gentle competence and ease which will keep you guessing right to the end.

[Heidi Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always a good sign when I finish a book less than 24 hours after starting it! I literally couldn't put this book down (apologies to my family). Everything about this story was unique and refreshing - the writing style, the setting, the storyline and my favourite part ... the characters. I was in awe of the stereotype-busting silver-haired widow and her 92 year old mother, who were the lead sleuths solving this case. We need more books like this! Which is lucky for me (and you!) because I believe there is a second book coming out soon.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

easy to solve

Isabel, widow for a year and out of work, decides to try solving a cold case that she reported on long ago. I knew quite early on who the killer was, and read just to see how it would play out. There’s a lot of repetition related to bands in the bar and men hanging around the store. Overall, I didn’t dislike the book but have read many better.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the clues are there as you follow the story in this descriptive mystery

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really enthralling read which had me desperately wanting to solve the mystery. I love the chatty style of writing though, admittedly, the changes of tense took me a short time to acclimatise to. Isabel is one of the few heroines I’ve read about recently that I truly would like to get to know in a downtown coffee bar in the wilds of rural US. Her aging mother sounds like a great character to meet as well though only if you have a squeaky clean police record.

I look forward to reading more entertaining stories involving Isabel Long.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I really enjoyed this book, the first in the series. Loved the characters (especially the Old Farts) and the details of small-town living. I look forward to reading more.

[Samantha Simoneau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Unpleasant to Read

I enjoyed the characters and found them believable. The mystery is interesting and kept me reading despite several errors related to punctuation and, occasionally, subject-verb disagreement. But, ultimately, I knew who the culprit was well before the halfway mark. At about 75% of the way through, I was only interested in finishing if it turned out that I was wrong, so I skipped ahead, but I was right. I ended up not finishing it, but others may enjoy the journey more.
A heads-up for those who care: there is sex, but not gratuitously, and occasional swearing, including the F-bomb.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are well drawn and very engaging, the murder mystery well plotted. I loved the setting too - a small town where everybody knows everybody else's business. I particularly enjoyed the way Isobel, the main character, develops as the story unfolds.

I love coming across a new-to-me author and discovering that the book I'm reading is the first in a series. (In this case, The Isobel Long Myseries) I can't wait for the second in the series , Redneck's Revenge, which I have already pre-ordered.

Thank you, Joan, for a great read.

[Isabella May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cosy crime at its best!

I heard great things about the first title in Joan Livingstone's Mystery series... and book 1 has certainly lived up to the hype, and some. Sassy female characters who break every stereotype, a rugged array of male suspects, and a fabulously quirky style of writing, kept me up late 2 nights in a row and turning the pages. I can't wait for the next installment!

[Katharine Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this new series. For me it's the character of Isabel and her relationship with her elderly mother that really sets it apart from other books in this very competitive field. The plot's well structured and kept me guessing. I'm looking forward to the next one in this series

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

265 pages

5 stars

Isabel was the managing editor of a very small town newspaper until the day they were bought out by a big city paper. She had worked there in one capacity or another for thirty-one years. Upon being told she would have to reapply for her job, she decided to retire.

Something has been bothering her for twenty-eight years. A woman named Adela, a thirty-something with a ten-year old son, had disappeared. Only her car was found in a secluded woods. Now she has the time to look into the case. With the aid of her ninety-two year old mom who now lives with her and is still as sharp as a tack.

While I don’t generally read cozy mysteries, this one captured my attention.

It is the beginning of winter, snow is flying. Roads are treacherous. Isabel begins her investigation. She speaks to the hub of gossipers in town - the Old Farts as Isabel calls them who meet daily in the back of the only store in town. While they don’t have any brilliant ideas, she riles them up. Isabel is friendly, everyone knows her from her previous reporter job, and she is well liked. She speaks to Adela’s family, her friends and some who did not like her. Her ex-husband rates high on the suspect list, but he supposedly has an alibi. She meets with Adela’s stalker. Adela had taken out a restraining order against him and he wrote nasty letters to her. There are several people who make very good suspects.

Isabel begins to have doubts that she can solve the case, but her mother and friends urge her on.

Some old photographs and a chance meeting gets Isabel thinking. Perhaps thinking too much. She is in deep trouble now.

The identity of the murderer wasn’t a surprise to me. I was suspicious of them all along. But, it was fun getting there.

I liked Isabel and her mother. Isabel is a meticulous planner, has an engaging personality and I enjoyed her teasing of the Old Farts and others. I liked her mother, too. I will definitely look into reading more of Ms. Livingston’s stories.

[Penny Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joan Livingston knows how to tell a convincing tale. Her characters in Chasing the Case are originals and totally believable. What’s more they are likeable - I found myself loving the relationship between Isabel and her Ma. It is evident that the author knows about life and social politics in small Mid-Western towns. The sense of place is strongly conveyed - one can almost feel the cold of the Mid-Western winter and smell the whisky fumes and sweat in the Rooster Bar and Grill, the local night club.

However, the author's greatest skill, in my opinion, is her ability to create a complete character with a few deft phrases. I was hooked from the start.

When her job as a successful small-town newspaper editor becomes untenable, Isabel Long decides to spend her time investigating a 28-year-old unsolved mystery - the disappearance of a local woman. It was a case that she’d worked on as a cub reporter, one of the few crime cases in her career that the police hadn’t solved. Isabel knew she could do better. Recently widowed, Isabel is also coming to terms with her newly single life and caring for her elderly, but sharply intelligent mother.

With a fast-paced plot laced with humour and lively, believable dialogue, we join Isabel on her journey to the shocking truth.

Isabel, as a character was so convincing that I had no trouble believing in her ability to conduct her investigations; she deals easily with crusty locals and draws information from reluctant and initially hostile suspects. I also loved the depiction of Isabel’s budding romance with her new beau.

This story whisked me away to a world so different from my own, but made me feel as if I really knew it. With its twisting plot, colourful characters, and intriguing mystery, this story held my interest every step of the way. In short, I really enjoyed this book, and can’t wait to read more in this series.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing the Case Book 1 Isabel Long

I’ll prefix this by saying I’m not a seasoned reviewer and don’t like to go into details about the storyline and plot.

I liked the book. Didn’t love it and at the end felt cheated a tiny bit. Not because it was a cliffhanger but because it didn’t really feel like the end. Fortunately I have Kindle Unlimited and borrowed the next book to see what happened. After reading a chapter of the the second book, it made sense what happened at the end of the first book but I still wasn’t satisfied.

I gave this book 5 stars because I think that was the author’s intent. She did keep my interest going and tied up everything in the end. Except one major question I had, hence the need to read book 2. However, I have not read the entire book 2 yet, just enough to write this review.

The book is set in how do you say, first person, and it reminds me a lot of one of my favorite series, Kensey Milhone (Sue Grafton) you know, the books with all the A is for Albi, B is for, etc.

I also love that the 92 year old mom has it still going on. It was hard to grip that but I guess there’s lots of 90+ year olds out there that still drive and have all their wits about them.

Anyway, I’d recommend this book to people who are familiar with the New England area (I am not), that like a quick read that don’t mind a little cussing, tiny bit of sex, and love who done it’s. I sort of figured who it was but it was so obvious I thought No, it couldn’t be them.

[Peter Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slow burner simmers before it sizzles

Isobel Long takes early retirement from her journalist role in a Massachusetts ‘back water’ provincial newspaper, but she is not ready to put her feet up. The unsolved case of a missing woman from her own small town 20 years ago, still intrigues her. Recently widowed and with her, sharp as a tack, 92 year old mother living with her, they both begin to probe, with mixed reactions.
At first the slow pace was a new experience for me. However, I soon realized it was a pace that conveyed realistically the character of this ‘country’ town. I ‘slowly’ embraced, not just the slow burning mystery, but the characters who ‘warmed’ me, at first. Livingston’s writing style drew me in, it was like she was talking to me about the mystery, but also how each player in the town fitted into the simple life and the complex riddle; now there was a chill accompanied by the seasonal snowfalls.
Simply by following the narrative, worthy of an Agatha Christie reference in the well plotted trails, red herrings and conclusion, I was in this town and understanding how these country people lived; the relationships, the habits, the prejudices, the pride and respect for older people (I refer to the ‘Old farts club that meets daily in the back room of the general store).
In summary, a well written slow burner, full of intrigue and a little danger – the book slowed my life down while it held me all the way; an uplifting experience and well worth a read – I will read the next in the series – 5 stars.

[Antigone Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ousted from her job as a newspaper editor after a corporate takeover, Isabel decides to investigate a story that haunted her for almost thirty years. A woman disappears leaving behind a devastated family including a young son. Her car is located in an isolated area but there is no trace of her.. Isabel revisits witnesses. Her life picks up as her 92-year-old mother moves in and she gets a part-time job, a lover and a new pet. Life is beginning to look up but there is a killer who would prefer to remain in the shadows.

this is a fun book. I identified the killer early on but it was entertaining to watch the story unfold. Isabel is likeable, believable, intelligent and witty. Her mother is a good foil. It is nice to see older characters as leads who are also able to deal with life's tragedies head-on. Isabel and her mom have a good relationship and both were able to remain happily married and raise functional families. good read with no explicit sex or violence.

[Tom Mahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was a nice surprise. I gave this little mystery a try because I was familiar with the setting, and wanted to see how the area came out in the story. The authors fictional town of 'Conwell' is a dead ringer of the western Mass town of Conway, very close to where I went to school in Amherst. The story itself was about a cold case 28 years old that has troubled residents ever since. It involves an ex editor of the local newspaper who is laid off and with time on her hands decides to look into the disappearance of a well known local woman. Amidst many twists and turns, and not a few red herrings, the story comes to a somewhat shocking ending. Just a well done plot, without the usual car chases and bodies piling up. Nice.

[Andrea Latham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could identify with Isabel Long starting over after the lost of her husband and her job she had for many years as the managing editor of a newspaper. She has her 92 year old mother living with her and decides to work on a cold case that she covered 28 years ago. She finds a part time job at the local watering hole that also serves food where the locals and as Isabel calls them, "The Old Farts" and turns into an amateur P.I. to get clues while they eat and drink. I didn't turn into an amateur P.I. but like to read about them but I did work for a well known company for 25 years and they had a buy out and I had to start over and had many jobs doing things that helped me learn a lot more over the last 25+ years since that buy out.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Isabel and the way she handles things during her investigation. She wants to get to the bottom of things but is respectful of the people she deals with. I quickly figured out who but wasn't fully correct with the why which is okay but would have liked to have felt more stumped than I was. I also wished there had been developments in regards to somebody else looking in to the story. It was mentioned and then nothing came of it which is a shame because I feel like something should have happened there.

[Mary Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am partial to diving into a good mystery series having "cut my teeth" on the late great Sue Grafton's books. I was delighted to find Chasing the Case with the engaging and quirky heroine, Isabel Long. Joan Livingston has laid out much promise here for many books to follow and to enjoy Isabel's exploits along with a cast of other compelling characters. The setting of western Massachusetts is also well laid out and becomes, in part, a character. The cold case aspect of Book 1 was an added bonus for me. I look forward to reading the next ones!

[Cyndi MacMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is fun, fast-paced mystery with a nice amount of poignancy and romance. The main character, Isabel, is likeable and has a good sense of humour, and I really liked the relationship between her and her 90+ year old mother. The other characters are memorable --especially the old farts. I highly recommend this series to those who like traditional mysteries with a touch of coziness, a bit of 'spice,' a mature female sleuth and small town vibes. A great read when you need a bit of uplit that isn't overly sweet... rather like a nice bowl of warm soup. ;)

[Vickilynn76 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

I started this book last night and finish it this afternoon it's one of them can't put me down books it is really really good and I hope that next two in the series are just as good because they're waiting for me spoke with very well edited I didn't see any mistakesI thought the wrong person was the suspect through the whole book but I was wrong sorry I didn't want to give it away excellent author excellent story just plain old excellent

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Really Good Story

This book was a pleasant surprise. I generally have trouble with books written in the present tense. It works here because so much of the story is in the past. The characters are interesting and distinctive. The dialogue is realistic and both regionally authentic and distinctive from character to character.

[Dave Stubbington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this free on Amazon, not really knowing what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. It's a great little story, a bit different to what I normally read, but all the better for it. Small time newspaper woman leaves her job and delves into the disappearance of a woman some 28 years earlier. Likeable characters and a nice style of writing. Really enjoyed it.

[Jim Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Predictable but good

You can probably predict who committed the crime early in the story but for sure you ned to read until completion. Each lead ends Isabel's search in her frustration of a likely candidate who might have committed the crime. She keeps at it until the end. An easy read

[Carol L. Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Mystery

The author dumps the reader in the middle of Isabel's life and it's hard to get away from her. Isabel is a great character. Her mother is also. I liked the way Livingston plotted Isabel's investigation and let the story lead the action. The Old Farts are a particular enjoyable part of the book. Good mystery.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a woman disappears and no one can find her, it becomes a cold case. But the heroine of the story believes she can trace new leads and discover exactly what happened to the missing woman. It's not an easy job since it all happened 28 years ago!
A nice cozy mystery!