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Blogging is Murder: A Jade Blackwell Mystery
Born with the instincts of a world-class detective, blogger Jade Blackwell never thought she’d solve more than a murder in a cozy mystery novel.
Jade Blackwell lives a quiet life, and that’s the way she likes it. Happily settled in a log home with her husband and daughter in the quaint village of Aspen Falls, Wyoming, she’s ready to dive into her new career as a ghostwriter and blogger and leave her life as a worn-down English professor far behind.
Jade’s promising career comes to an unexpected halt when a computer hacker targets her friend and fellow blogger, Liz, destroying her livelihood and reputation. But the intrusion doesn’t stop there. The mysterious hacker, known only as Connie, is a stalker, and now she has her eyes on Liz’s three children. Before Jade can even begin to investigate, Connie is found dead in Liz's kitchen. To the sheriff's department, the case is cut and dry. Now Liz is in jail, and Jade is the only one who can free her.
Determined to prove Liz’s innocence, Jade teams up with Liz’s reluctant lawyer, Gabrielle Langdon, and the two women sleuths dive straight into the heart of this cozy mystery. What they learn will break the case wide open, unraveling Jade’s faith in humanity and the safety she feels in the small mountain town she calls home.
If you enjoy Leighann Dobbs, Agatha Frost, and J. A. Whiting, you’re going to love Gilian Baker!
Book 1 in the Digital Detective Cozy Mystery series. All books can be read as a standalone but will be enjoyed more as part of the series.
Jade Blackwell lives a quiet life, and that’s the way she likes it. Happily settled in a log home with her husband and daughter in the quaint village of Aspen Falls, Wyoming, she’s ready to dive into her new career as a ghostwriter and blogger and leave her life as a worn-down English professor far behind.
Jade’s promising career comes to an unexpected halt when a computer hacker targets her friend and fellow blogger, Liz, destroying her livelihood and reputation. But the intrusion doesn’t stop there. The mysterious hacker, known only as Connie, is a stalker, and now she has her eyes on Liz’s three children. Before Jade can even begin to investigate, Connie is found dead in Liz's kitchen. To the sheriff's department, the case is cut and dry. Now Liz is in jail, and Jade is the only one who can free her.
Determined to prove Liz’s innocence, Jade teams up with Liz’s reluctant lawyer, Gabrielle Langdon, and the two women sleuths dive straight into the heart of this cozy mystery. What they learn will break the case wide open, unraveling Jade’s faith in humanity and the safety she feels in the small mountain town she calls home.
If you enjoy Leighann Dobbs, Agatha Frost, and J. A. Whiting, you’re going to love Gilian Baker!
Book 1 in the Digital Detective Cozy Mystery series. All books can be read as a standalone but will be enjoyed more as part of the series.
- GenresCozy Mystery
216 pages, Paperback
Published February 20, 2017
17 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Gilian Baker
6 books15 followersGilian Baker is a former English professor who finally threw in the towel and decided to just show ‘em how it’s done. She’s gone on to forge a life outside of academia by adding blogger, ghostwriter and cozy mystery author to her C.V. She currently uses her geeky superpowers only for good to entertain murder mystery readers the world over. When she’s not plotting murder for her Jade Blackwell cozy mystery series, you can find her puttering in her vegetable garden, knitting in front of the fire, snuggling with her husband watching British TV or discussing literary theory with her daughter.
Since childhood Gillian’s been told she was nosy, though she prefers to think of herself as inquisitive. It’s long been a secret dream of hers to be paid to snoop, but she’s given up on being a real live gumshoe and has happily settled on living vicariously through her protagonist. As a literature professor, Gilian considered her one and only vice to be reading cozy mystery books before bed instead of well-thumbed classics.
Gilian Baker lives in Columbus, Ohio with her family and their three pampered felines. In her next life, she fervently hopes to come back as a cat, though she understands that would be going down the karmic ladder.
Since childhood Gillian’s been told she was nosy, though she prefers to think of herself as inquisitive. It’s long been a secret dream of hers to be paid to snoop, but she’s given up on being a real live gumshoe and has happily settled on living vicariously through her protagonist. As a literature professor, Gilian considered her one and only vice to be reading cozy mystery books before bed instead of well-thumbed classics.
Gilian Baker lives in Columbus, Ohio with her family and their three pampered felines. In her next life, she fervently hopes to come back as a cat, though she understands that would be going down the karmic ladder.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 21, 2017
This book could have been written must for me. Blogging and a love of mysteries made this the perfect scenario to call to me.
Jade Blackwell is a fun character. A blogger that works from home and has made a success of her blogging skills, finds out that a friend is in danger. When the threat turns deadly, Jade becomes a blogger friend who snooped and in the process caused a bit of a problem for her friend.
Once Jade starts in earnest looking for answers, there are more dangers and confusing personalities to deal with.
Murder is nothing to fool around with should be Jade's mantra. This is a fun first novel. I look forward to the next one.
Jade Blackwell is a fun character. A blogger that works from home and has made a success of her blogging skills, finds out that a friend is in danger. When the threat turns deadly, Jade becomes a blogger friend who snooped and in the process caused a bit of a problem for her friend.
Once Jade starts in earnest looking for answers, there are more dangers and confusing personalities to deal with.
Murder is nothing to fool around with should be Jade's mantra. This is a fun first novel. I look forward to the next one.
February 19, 2017
This "Blogging Based" mystery had my attention for sure. This was a clever and excited cozy mystery with great twists and turns. A first in series that I am sure you will enjoy. Characters are easy to like and very easy to get behind. This blogging mystery had me thinking about my own internet safety and all the work I put into my own blogs. A book that will stay with you for sure.
February 9, 2020
That ending tho I had no idea that this person could've done it. Oh my gosh. I am beyond shocked and so glad I read from cover to cover.
October 21, 2019
This was a fun read! Everyone was so reluctant in their roles. The innocent person wasn't best pleased about being incarcerated, the lawyer wasn't happy about being dragged back into criminal law, and the investigator just looked forward to the time when she could get back to her "regular" life. And yet, not one of them was whiny or annoying. Of the three, the absolute best was the investigator (our heroine) who is helping out her friend and finding that being a PI isn't as enjoyable as they make it look on tv.
March 7, 2017
The protagonist, Jade, is a former professor who runs her own business from home. Her best friend Liz, is a stay at home mom who is a successful blogger. Liz is cyberstalked by a follower. It escalates into real life stalking and the stalker is found murdered. Liz becomes the main suspect.
The writing is detailed and descriptive, which I found a bit distracting, it left little room for the reader's imagination. Other than the minutiae, the cast of characters fit the storyline, the plot was good, It left me guessing until the very end.
This book is a pleasant read.
The writing is detailed and descriptive, which I found a bit distracting, it left little room for the reader's imagination. Other than the minutiae, the cast of characters fit the storyline, the plot was good, It left me guessing until the very end.
This book is a pleasant read.
February 24, 2017
Fun, fast paced action packed mystery. Gilian Baker engages the reader and brings humor to death.
September 2, 2020
Jade Blackwell's best friend and blogger picks up a cyberstalker. After the stalker shows up not only at her home, but also at her children's school. Connie is eventually found dead in Liz's kitchen and it's up to Jade to prove her innocence.
The story is well written and had developed characters as well as a decent amount of humor.
My main problem with the story is this was released in 2017. There is no way that Connie would have been able to get into Liz's kid's school to visit her children without being on an approved visitation list, or at least without the school contacting Liz directly first.
I know and understand that this is a work of fiction. But, I also need a dose of reality in my stories for them to be totally enjoyable. Any school in America has pretty much the same security procedures. You arrive at a school during school hours, 1) You are buzzed in. 2) You are cycled into the main office of the school building as the hallway is blocked off from visitors. 3) You have to sign in and show a valid ID. 4) The visitor's list for that child will be consulted BEFORE you are allowed access to the child, and you better have a valid reason for being there or you will be asked to leave. Voluntarily, or by a police escort.
The story is well written and had developed characters as well as a decent amount of humor.
My main problem with the story is this was released in 2017. There is no way that Connie would have been able to get into Liz's kid's school to visit her children without being on an approved visitation list, or at least without the school contacting Liz directly first.
I know and understand that this is a work of fiction. But, I also need a dose of reality in my stories for them to be totally enjoyable. Any school in America has pretty much the same security procedures. You arrive at a school during school hours, 1) You are buzzed in. 2) You are cycled into the main office of the school building as the hallway is blocked off from visitors. 3) You have to sign in and show a valid ID. 4) The visitor's list for that child will be consulted BEFORE you are allowed access to the child, and you better have a valid reason for being there or you will be asked to leave. Voluntarily, or by a police escort.
August 1, 2019
This is an intriguing and suspenseful story that will keep you guessing who the real murderer is. There is no lack of suspect.
Jade Blackwell is an at home blogger and businesswoman whose best friend Liz Baker, also an at home blogger, has been stalked and eventually accused of murder. Jade make it her mission to find out who the killer is in spite of the warnings from the police to stay out of it. The depths that the stalker have gone to take over Liz’s life and business are incredible.
Jade is a strong and stubborn character who will stop at nothing to help her friend in trouble. There is a close bond between the two that continues throughout the story. Jade’s friend and attorney Gabby is willing to help Jade but pushes her to her limits which makes Jade a stronger person.
It was hard to figure out who the killer was until almost the end and a total surprise to me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and had a hard time putting it down. I look forward to more books in this series.
Jade Blackwell is an at home blogger and businesswoman whose best friend Liz Baker, also an at home blogger, has been stalked and eventually accused of murder. Jade make it her mission to find out who the killer is in spite of the warnings from the police to stay out of it. The depths that the stalker have gone to take over Liz’s life and business are incredible.
Jade is a strong and stubborn character who will stop at nothing to help her friend in trouble. There is a close bond between the two that continues throughout the story. Jade’s friend and attorney Gabby is willing to help Jade but pushes her to her limits which makes Jade a stronger person.
It was hard to figure out who the killer was until almost the end and a total surprise to me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and had a hard time putting it down. I look forward to more books in this series.
September 23, 2019
Cyber-stalking and murder!
Our main character Jade is a work from home ghost writer, blogger and amateur sleuth. When her friend and fellow blogger is targeted by a crazed stalker, Jade tries to help Liz out of a jam. When the stalker is found dead in Liz's kitchen, the police figure it's an open and shut case. Jade and Liz's lawyer Gabby have to try to solve the crime to get Jade out of jail.
Love the characters and Aspen Falls. Learned a lot about blogging and internet security along the way. I will be reading more in this series and by this author.
I received an ARC. This is my honest review.
Our main character Jade is a work from home ghost writer, blogger and amateur sleuth. When her friend and fellow blogger is targeted by a crazed stalker, Jade tries to help Liz out of a jam. When the stalker is found dead in Liz's kitchen, the police figure it's an open and shut case. Jade and Liz's lawyer Gabby have to try to solve the crime to get Jade out of jail.
Love the characters and Aspen Falls. Learned a lot about blogging and internet security along the way. I will be reading more in this series and by this author.
I received an ARC. This is my honest review.
June 5, 2019
I enjoyed this book so much! It was not only an entertaining mystery, it was a bit of a crash course on cyber security and what not. I enjoyed the characters, especially Phyllis, so much! I look forward to reading all the books in this series, as well as other books by this talented author! I highly recommend this book, as well as the entire series!
September 12, 2021
Not Bad For a First in Series
Who wouldn't love a mystery set in the wilds of Wyoming? A blogger solving a murder is right up my alley. The storyline drags a little in the middle and the ending a little abrupt but the cast of characters are intriguing.
Who wouldn't love a mystery set in the wilds of Wyoming? A blogger solving a murder is right up my alley. The storyline drags a little in the middle and the ending a little abrupt but the cast of characters are intriguing.
February 7, 2018
3 star
Not bad. Would benefit from a touch more polish... and a bit less italics... But the mystery itself is decent.
Not bad. Would benefit from a touch more polish... and a bit less italics... But the mystery itself is decent.
July 3, 2019
I enjoyed this mystery very much. I even learned some things along the way. Good character and plot development.
February 15, 2017
A timely mystery! Blackmail, monetized blogging, Internet stalking and doxxing, and identity theft feature in this murder mystery to good effect, as does Narcissistic Personality Disorder (albeit somewhat less successfully).
The set-up is solid- Jade is friends with Liz, who has a fairly ruthless Internet stalker on her heels… and when that stalker is murdered, Liz becomes the chief suspect, though this is partially due to actions on the victim’s part that I cannot see her as having motivation to do.
Similarly with the victims of the murder victim: one of them had a “secret” in her past that, honestly, would have made her a minor celebrity nowadays, what with the resurgence of burlesque. The murder victim had apparently a vast number of such essentially minor secrets, and it makes no sense that no one had said to her “publish and be damned” rather than being systematically impoverished.
The eventual solution made sense, pretty much, but I did not find it especially satisfying.
The characterization was in general good- people, including secondary characters, were clearly and vividly drawn and mostly did not act as mere tools of the plot.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder figures strongly in the plot, but- while this is of the moment- the appearances in the plot seem more sociopathic to me. NPD is arguably on a spectrum with sociopathy and psychopathy, but there are important differences! Blackmail and murder seem to me to be more in the sociopathic than the narcissistic area. Plus, I do’t really see a narcissist intentionally wearing cheap clothing because more expensive might blow their cover; they are not generally that in touch with what others think of them- that is, in fact, the whole basis of that diagnosis.
Anyway, it was a very gripping and twisty tale, and I enjoyed it.
The set-up is solid- Jade is friends with Liz, who has a fairly ruthless Internet stalker on her heels… and when that stalker is murdered, Liz becomes the chief suspect, though this is partially due to actions on the victim’s part that I cannot see her as having motivation to do.
Similarly with the victims of the murder victim: one of them had a “secret” in her past that, honestly, would have made her a minor celebrity nowadays, what with the resurgence of burlesque. The murder victim had apparently a vast number of such essentially minor secrets, and it makes no sense that no one had said to her “publish and be damned” rather than being systematically impoverished.
The eventual solution made sense, pretty much, but I did not find it especially satisfying.
The characterization was in general good- people, including secondary characters, were clearly and vividly drawn and mostly did not act as mere tools of the plot.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder figures strongly in the plot, but- while this is of the moment- the appearances in the plot seem more sociopathic to me. NPD is arguably on a spectrum with sociopathy and psychopathy, but there are important differences! Blackmail and murder seem to me to be more in the sociopathic than the narcissistic area. Plus, I do’t really see a narcissist intentionally wearing cheap clothing because more expensive might blow their cover; they are not generally that in touch with what others think of them- that is, in fact, the whole basis of that diagnosis.
Anyway, it was a very gripping and twisty tale, and I enjoyed it.
February 7, 2017
In Blogging is Murder: A Jade Blackwell Mystery by Gilian Baker, the protagonist, Jade Blackwell, is a successful blogger and die-hard cozy mystery girl who finds herself the subject of her own murder mystery when her friend and fellow blogger, Liz, is framed for murder and thrown in jail. Without hesitation, Jade springs into action to find the real murderer and free her friend, despite the adversity and more than a handful of setbacks along the way.
Jade’s journey brings new excitement with every page. The well-paced action through the book made my heart race. The trail of hints that foreshadow whodunit made me think. The clever references to other famous mystery novels made me laugh out loud. Gilian Baker’s Blogging is Murder is a real page turner that you’ll want to share with all of your family and friends.
Jade’s journey brings new excitement with every page. The well-paced action through the book made my heart race. The trail of hints that foreshadow whodunit made me think. The clever references to other famous mystery novels made me laugh out loud. Gilian Baker’s Blogging is Murder is a real page turner that you’ll want to share with all of your family and friends.
June 2, 2017
Completely Hooked!
I was immediately hooked! I love the characters, style, and quality of writing.
I can't wait to see where Jade will take us next!
I was immediately hooked! I love the characters, style, and quality of writing.
I can't wait to see where Jade will take us next!
April 25, 2017
I really enjoyed this first book and I hope Gilian will be writing more! It was a great premise for a cosy mystery - an everyday thing we take for granted (Internet security) - and gave this it's own more modern niche in the cosy genre, which can be a bit heavy on the knitting, paranormal and baking themes. The characters were very well done, but I would have liked to get to know the victim more prior to the murder. It all happened in the background, so you don't get a true 'feel' for the character, just a name.
The mystery was good, well plotted and paced, and the ending quite satisfactory.
So 4/5 stars. One point for a few little editing issues, but otherwise an enjoyable, fun read. Will look forward to the next one!
The mystery was good, well plotted and paced, and the ending quite satisfactory.
So 4/5 stars. One point for a few little editing issues, but otherwise an enjoyable, fun read. Will look forward to the next one!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews