What do you think?
Rate this book
Pismawallops PTA #3
Death By Adverb
JJ MacGregor’s having a rotten summer. Her arm’s in a cast, her jeans are too tight, and her son is spending his vacation with his dad. To make matters worse, her relationship with Police Chief Ron Karlson is up in the air and they haven’t spoken since June. Maybe the only good thing is that she’s got a writing job at last. Wilmont Charleston-Rutherford want her to help him with his memoirs, and JJ doesn’t care if he’s making it all up. All she has to do to make some much-needed money is keep her mouth shut and fix some of the worst prose she’s ever seen.
Of course, keeping her mouth shut isn’t JJ’s strong point. When she loses her temper so does her boss, and she’s back to job-hunting. That’s bad enough, but when Wilmont Charleston-Rutherford turns up dead, everyone remembers JJ fought with him. About the time the police are wondering if JJ might have tried to avenge the English language, her sewer backs up, and the dead man’s missing daughter shows up on her doorstep—only to disappear again before morning. JJ has her work cut out for to find the girl, the killer, and a new septic tank before anyone else dies—but at least the murder has her talking to Ron again.
Of course, keeping her mouth shut isn’t JJ’s strong point. When she loses her temper so does her boss, and she’s back to job-hunting. That’s bad enough, but when Wilmont Charleston-Rutherford turns up dead, everyone remembers JJ fought with him. About the time the police are wondering if JJ might have tried to avenge the English language, her sewer backs up, and the dead man’s missing daughter shows up on her doorstep—only to disappear again before morning. JJ has her work cut out for to find the girl, the killer, and a new septic tank before anyone else dies—but at least the murder has her talking to Ron again.
285 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2018
2 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca M. Douglass
25 books188 followersRebecca M. Douglass has lived in Idaho, Arizona, California, and Washington, and now lives and writes in the Seattle area. Her imagination resides where it pleases, in and out of this world. Her passions include backpacking, hiking, books, and moderately adventurous travel, especially when shared with good friends and family. Douglass is the author of the delightful Ninja Librarian books for children, and the Pismawallops PTA cozy mysteries for adults, and the new Seffi Wardwell Mystery series. After more than seventeen years working at the her local library and volunteering her time in the schools, she has retired to concentrate on reading, writing and travel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 13, 2018
After the excellent Death by Ice Cream and Death by Trombone, Death by Adverb picks up from the previous one, with JJ recovering from having her arm in plaster after the exciting finale.
Apart from JJ's love life, nothing much has changed. JJ's love life has gone on hold, yet it was looking very promising after the end of the previous one. I love the way a little long-term romance works its way through these stories. Her divorce is through, and now JJ needs work. An obnoxious guy needs an editor to write his memoirs—he wants a typist to pander to his appalling grammarless, style-less ego, but JJ throws in the towel at that... and that gives Police Chief Ron the opportunity to talk to her in private about her movements. Well, in a police cell, actually...
Rebecca's writing style is punchy, enticing and silky. She uses words so you don't notice how smoothly they're flowing. She plots so that life oozes from the page—in sewage, mist, and seawater, as well as blood. Oh, and cookies and homecooked pie. All Pismawallops Island life is open to her, from the only person in the world who can't make a cappuccino to the librarians who strike terror into the hearts of those who enter. The island is full of characters, fully-rounded as well as enviably skinny, and of course, all of them have reason to hate the rich victim.
It's a beautifully written third book in the series, which I couldn't put down even on the fourth reading, because I simply enjoyed being with JJ and her friends too much. Full disclosure: I was a beta reader on this project.
Get stuck into this series and praise it to the world - it needs more JJs and Rons and their friends and colleagues to enjoy and celebrate.
Apart from JJ's love life, nothing much has changed. JJ's love life has gone on hold, yet it was looking very promising after the end of the previous one. I love the way a little long-term romance works its way through these stories. Her divorce is through, and now JJ needs work. An obnoxious guy needs an editor to write his memoirs—he wants a typist to pander to his appalling grammarless, style-less ego, but JJ throws in the towel at that... and that gives Police Chief Ron the opportunity to talk to her in private about her movements. Well, in a police cell, actually...
Rebecca's writing style is punchy, enticing and silky. She uses words so you don't notice how smoothly they're flowing. She plots so that life oozes from the page—in sewage, mist, and seawater, as well as blood. Oh, and cookies and homecooked pie. All Pismawallops Island life is open to her, from the only person in the world who can't make a cappuccino to the librarians who strike terror into the hearts of those who enter. The island is full of characters, fully-rounded as well as enviably skinny, and of course, all of them have reason to hate the rich victim.
It's a beautifully written third book in the series, which I couldn't put down even on the fourth reading, because I simply enjoyed being with JJ and her friends too much. Full disclosure: I was a beta reader on this project.
Get stuck into this series and praise it to the world - it needs more JJs and Rons and their friends and colleagues to enjoy and celebrate.
March 29, 2018
Death by Adverb is the third in the delightful Pismawallops PTA mystery series which is set on an island in the Puget Sound. Douglass paints a wonderful picture of the small town of Pismawallops in the Pacific Northwest, bringing to life the joys and challenges of living in a remote tight-knit island community. Death by Adverb can be read as a stand-alone novel, although, after reading this installment, you'll want to go back and dive into the first two books in the series.
The main character, JJ, is recently divorced and a mother of a teenage boy. She's trying to figure out what kind of relationship she wants to develop with the new man in her life who just happens to be the chief of police—something that comes in handy when investigating murders. In addition to figuring out her love life, JJ is also trying to figure out how to make ends meet. Her recent employment helping an obnoxious rich man edit his memoir leaves a lot to be desired. When her employer ends up dead, JJ gets drawn into investigating what happened and, in the process, finding herself tangled up with his family and other locals on the island who might have had it in for him.
Death by Adverb is another fun read by Douglass with a well-executed plot, interesting characters, and a wonderful setting.
Note: I received an ARC of “Death by Adverb” and voluntarily chose to leave an honest review.
The main character, JJ, is recently divorced and a mother of a teenage boy. She's trying to figure out what kind of relationship she wants to develop with the new man in her life who just happens to be the chief of police—something that comes in handy when investigating murders. In addition to figuring out her love life, JJ is also trying to figure out how to make ends meet. Her recent employment helping an obnoxious rich man edit his memoir leaves a lot to be desired. When her employer ends up dead, JJ gets drawn into investigating what happened and, in the process, finding herself tangled up with his family and other locals on the island who might have had it in for him.
Death by Adverb is another fun read by Douglass with a well-executed plot, interesting characters, and a wonderful setting.
Note: I received an ARC of “Death by Adverb” and voluntarily chose to leave an honest review.
April 11, 2025
A man dies after butchering the English language, dog-earing library books, and treating everyone – especially women – awfully on the island. And everyone has motive to have killed him. Especially JJ. Not that the police really think she did it, but they have to ask. To top it off, the man’s teenage daughter disappears – and she only trusts JJ, so she can’t help herself: she has to look for the girl and figure out how and why the rich slime ball died.
Of course, this is when the septic tank decides to malfunction and JJ has to move in with Kitty and her family for a couple of days. At least Brian is in Texas…
JJ figures out her messed-up feelings around relationships and Ron, does PT for her newly released arm over the phone with her mum, and spends quite some time at the festival to raise funds for the PTA with Kitty and some volunteers.
There’s loads of action, drama and danger – along with LOL moments. And the reason for the murder… With so many other reasons, this one is as bad as the guy who died.
Of course, this is when the septic tank decides to malfunction and JJ has to move in with Kitty and her family for a couple of days. At least Brian is in Texas…
JJ figures out her messed-up feelings around relationships and Ron, does PT for her newly released arm over the phone with her mum, and spends quite some time at the festival to raise funds for the PTA with Kitty and some volunteers.
There’s loads of action, drama and danger – along with LOL moments. And the reason for the murder… With so many other reasons, this one is as bad as the guy who died.
March 17, 2020
Can it be a cozy mystery if it’s full of storms?
Book three of The Pismawallops PTA Mysteries didn’t disappoint. There were the characters I’d come to love and laugh with, there were friendships you can count on, strangers who are mysterious, real life problems that have nothing to do with the ones I’m reading to escape. There was someone else who both enjoys being a mom, and getting a break from her kid anyway. Guilt free pleasure, I could read this while still supervising five year olds.
Book three of The Pismawallops PTA Mysteries didn’t disappoint. There were the characters I’d come to love and laugh with, there were friendships you can count on, strangers who are mysterious, real life problems that have nothing to do with the ones I’m reading to escape. There was someone else who both enjoys being a mom, and getting a break from her kid anyway. Guilt free pleasure, I could read this while still supervising five year olds.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews