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Jessica Huntington #5
A Dead Cousin
Detective Frank Fontana Is Missing
>>>Is he a good cop gone bad or in the worst mess of his life?
>>>Who Can She Trust?
>>>Join Jessica and her "Cat Pack" as they search for Frank in A Dead Cousin, book 5 in the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery series by USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Anna Celeste Burke!
>>>Is he a good cop gone bad or in the worst mess of his life?
A frantic call for help has Jessica on the run. Taken from his home while his daughter hides upstairs, Detective Frank Fontana is gone. Jessica's out to save him, but what if he doesn't want to be found? Has he been abducted or is he on the run?
>>>Who Can She Trust?
Even a message from Frank isn't all that clear-cut: "Trust no one. The devil was once an angel." Is it a warning to Jessica or a confession as Frank's colleague, Detective Rikki Havens, suggests? When a body turns up, the identity of the victim only fuels the controversy. Good cops. Bad cops. Missing money. Undercover operations that may or may not have ended. Jessica and her friends soon become entangled in a web of secrets and lies that make it hard to know who's on which side of the law.
>>>Join Jessica and her "Cat Pack" as they search for Frank in A Dead Cousin, book 5 in the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery series by USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Anna Celeste Burke!
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2018
276 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Anna Celeste Burke
52 books1,168 followersAnna Celeste Burke is an awarding-winning, USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author!
Welcome! Join me, snooping into life's mysteries with fun, fiction, and food--California style!
Life is an extravaganza and so unpredictable! Figuring out how to hang tough and make the most of the wild ride is the challenge.
On my way to Oahu to join the rock musician and high school drop-out I married in Tijuana, I was nabbed by the police as a runaway. When the police let me go and the rock band broke up, my husband and I had to find another way to survive. Our next stop: Disney World where we trained to be chefs, courtesy of the Walt Disney World University.
A GED for my husband, and many more years of education eventually landed us in academia—with Ph.D.s from the University of Michigan we took professor jobs with U of M’s longstanding football rival, The Ohio State University.
Retired now from my role as a professor in social work and behavioral science, I have picked up a long-time interest in writing fiction. In my professional career I wrote and published widely as a scholar, with more than forty manuscripts of varying lengths on my vita. I also carried out hundreds of training, consulting and speaking engagements on a number of gloriously nerdy topics.
So what on earth does a research scientist have in common with a mystery writer? As avid fans of the mystery genre will tell you at the core of any good mystery is a passionate search for the truth. Discovering the truth involves finding and assembling pieces of complex puzzles in order to solve seemingly intractable problems—scientist and sleuth are cut from the same cloth!
Still married to the same sweet guy, I live with my husband in one of the seven desert resort cities in the Palm Springs area. In addition to reading and writing mysteries I enjoy painting, hiking, hanging out with my handsome husband and tending to my Siamese cats.
The Sonoran Desert is a beautiful setting to ponder life’s mysteries, by the surrounding mountains and the bountiful delights of the desert resort communities. I hope you enjoy reading the books in my three cozy mystery series: The Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series, The Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery Series, and the Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series. Cheers! Anna
Welcome! Join me, snooping into life's mysteries with fun, fiction, and food--California style!
Life is an extravaganza and so unpredictable! Figuring out how to hang tough and make the most of the wild ride is the challenge.
On my way to Oahu to join the rock musician and high school drop-out I married in Tijuana, I was nabbed by the police as a runaway. When the police let me go and the rock band broke up, my husband and I had to find another way to survive. Our next stop: Disney World where we trained to be chefs, courtesy of the Walt Disney World University.
A GED for my husband, and many more years of education eventually landed us in academia—with Ph.D.s from the University of Michigan we took professor jobs with U of M’s longstanding football rival, The Ohio State University.
Retired now from my role as a professor in social work and behavioral science, I have picked up a long-time interest in writing fiction. In my professional career I wrote and published widely as a scholar, with more than forty manuscripts of varying lengths on my vita. I also carried out hundreds of training, consulting and speaking engagements on a number of gloriously nerdy topics.
So what on earth does a research scientist have in common with a mystery writer? As avid fans of the mystery genre will tell you at the core of any good mystery is a passionate search for the truth. Discovering the truth involves finding and assembling pieces of complex puzzles in order to solve seemingly intractable problems—scientist and sleuth are cut from the same cloth!
Still married to the same sweet guy, I live with my husband in one of the seven desert resort cities in the Palm Springs area. In addition to reading and writing mysteries I enjoy painting, hiking, hanging out with my handsome husband and tending to my Siamese cats.
The Sonoran Desert is a beautiful setting to ponder life’s mysteries, by the surrounding mountains and the bountiful delights of the desert resort communities. I hope you enjoy reading the books in my three cozy mystery series: The Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series, The Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery Series, and the Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series. Cheers! Anna
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
September 14, 2018
Fantastic Fast Paced Page Turner
A Dead Cousin is the fifth book in Anna Celeste Burke’s awesome Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series. Readers will find themselves pulled into this fast-paced, complex mystery from the beginning, anxiously turning pages until they find themselves at the end of the story and wanting more. Ms. Burke’s descriptive writing style flows smoothly, and even though tension is high, she’s sprinkled humor throughout the pages of this book. The well-developed characters are three-dimensional and Anastasia, Jessica’s lovely poodle, will steal your heart in more than one scene. There is a lot going on, and Ms. Burke does an excellent job of tying up all the loose ends. I highly recommend this book.
Things have been calm in Jessica Huntington’s life for several months, and she felt a celebration was in order. Alexis, Jessica’s mother, is recovering from a medical emergency and making progress beating her drug and alcohol addiction, the law caught up with Cassie, her ex-husband’s new wife who often wreaked havoc in Jessica’s life, and big undercover operation her friend, Detective Frank Fontana, was involved in was finally over. Jessica and her Cat Pack friends enjoyed a relaxing evening together, but Jessica is a calamity magnet, and mayhem is never far away. Instead of her sweet poodle, Anastasia, waking her the next morning, Jessica receives a phone call from Frank’s daughter, Evie, who tells her that after men came to see her dad, she heard him say their safe word which meant she should hide behind the false wall in her closet and now he was gone! Jessica, who often suffers from panic attacks, fought the urge to fall victim to the one she felt coming on and quickly moved into action mode, accessed the situation, and contacted Frank’s colleague, Detective Rikki Havens. Jessica has a wonderful support system, the Cat Pack, which is an intriguing group of friends who help her with investigations and provide support and shelter from threats, both emotional and physical. None of them hesitates to jump in and take an emotional and bumpy ride with Jessica as she tries to figure out who, if anyone other than her team, can be trusted. Jessica had taken Father Martin’s advice to put her black AMEX card away to heart, and she’s resisted the strong urge to go on shopping sprees, but feels justified pulling it out to save Frank. They don’t know if he’s been abducted or is on the run but find clues he left along the way and are determined to bring one of their own back home. As Jessica and her family and friends search for clues leading to Frank’s whereabouts, they discover shady activities, lies, deception, corruption, missing money, and murder.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
A Dead Cousin is the fifth book in Anna Celeste Burke’s awesome Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series. Readers will find themselves pulled into this fast-paced, complex mystery from the beginning, anxiously turning pages until they find themselves at the end of the story and wanting more. Ms. Burke’s descriptive writing style flows smoothly, and even though tension is high, she’s sprinkled humor throughout the pages of this book. The well-developed characters are three-dimensional and Anastasia, Jessica’s lovely poodle, will steal your heart in more than one scene. There is a lot going on, and Ms. Burke does an excellent job of tying up all the loose ends. I highly recommend this book.
Things have been calm in Jessica Huntington’s life for several months, and she felt a celebration was in order. Alexis, Jessica’s mother, is recovering from a medical emergency and making progress beating her drug and alcohol addiction, the law caught up with Cassie, her ex-husband’s new wife who often wreaked havoc in Jessica’s life, and big undercover operation her friend, Detective Frank Fontana, was involved in was finally over. Jessica and her Cat Pack friends enjoyed a relaxing evening together, but Jessica is a calamity magnet, and mayhem is never far away. Instead of her sweet poodle, Anastasia, waking her the next morning, Jessica receives a phone call from Frank’s daughter, Evie, who tells her that after men came to see her dad, she heard him say their safe word which meant she should hide behind the false wall in her closet and now he was gone! Jessica, who often suffers from panic attacks, fought the urge to fall victim to the one she felt coming on and quickly moved into action mode, accessed the situation, and contacted Frank’s colleague, Detective Rikki Havens. Jessica has a wonderful support system, the Cat Pack, which is an intriguing group of friends who help her with investigations and provide support and shelter from threats, both emotional and physical. None of them hesitates to jump in and take an emotional and bumpy ride with Jessica as she tries to figure out who, if anyone other than her team, can be trusted. Jessica had taken Father Martin’s advice to put her black AMEX card away to heart, and she’s resisted the strong urge to go on shopping sprees, but feels justified pulling it out to save Frank. They don’t know if he’s been abducted or is on the run but find clues he left along the way and are determined to bring one of their own back home. As Jessica and her family and friends search for clues leading to Frank’s whereabouts, they discover shady activities, lies, deception, corruption, missing money, and murder.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
October 10, 2018
I love writing this series! It was the first series I started, and it still keeps me wanting to tell more stories about Jessica Huntington, her beloved Bernadette, and the rest of her "Cat Pack" friends. I'm not sure how the troubles my calamity magnet attracts strike me as both heinous and hilarious. Perhaps there's always something of the absurd in encounters with murder and mayhem. I see that in Agatha Christie's books, in Janet Evanovich's Stephany Plum series, and many other mysteries, don't you?
This one puts Jessica and her pals in motion and keeps them moving. This time it's about Frank! He's gone missing. Will they find him... in time? Enjoy!
This one puts Jessica and her pals in motion and keeps them moving. This time it's about Frank! He's gone missing. Will they find him... in time? Enjoy!
January 10, 2019
Wow, what a great book, I couldn’t put it down. As soon as the story opens with a BAM!, you’re hit with Jessica getting a call from Evie her dad’s been taken. Jessica sends an email to Det. Rikki Havens who works with Frank. Rikki sends a sheriff to escort Jessica faster to Frank’s home. The action never stops you keep moving from one situation to the next. You’re never sure who the good guys and who the bad guys are until
September 28, 2018
This book starts out fast and furious and keeps up the pace throughout! Frank Fontana is missing--the entire Cat Pack is involved in trying to find him. There are some dirty cops so the going isn't easy. Who can they trust? According to a note left to Jessica by Frank-NO ONE. He made a frantic call to Jessica just before he was escorted by a couple of guys out of his house while his young daughter hid upstairs.
Bernadette--Jessica's housekeeper/second Mom--and one of my favorite character's s on the case as well. Of course as Jessica gets more and more crazy her shopping obsession starts to rear it's head--and she does have that Black American Express Card with absolutely no limit--Thankfully Bernadette is able to stop her from going totally overboard--well she did have to purchase new clothes for the resort for the entire CatPack and herself and probably pay for the 2 suites as well.
No matter where they look and no matter how many clues Frank tries to leave around--there are stumbling blocks--twists and turns.
It takes major mishaps and miscalculations and the help of Frank's Dad (a retired cop with lots of people he can call on--but he doesn't trust any of them to at last find out where they have taken Frank-------
Now can they free him from his captors? This series is my favorite from this author with good reason--you really have to read this one and all that came before and all that will hopefully come after.
Yes, there are some recipes at the end--some of them Bernadettes--and she can cook!!
A Dead Cousin Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery #5
Bernadette--Jessica's housekeeper/second Mom--and one of my favorite character's s on the case as well. Of course as Jessica gets more and more crazy her shopping obsession starts to rear it's head--and she does have that Black American Express Card with absolutely no limit--Thankfully Bernadette is able to stop her from going totally overboard--well she did have to purchase new clothes for the resort for the entire CatPack and herself and probably pay for the 2 suites as well.
No matter where they look and no matter how many clues Frank tries to leave around--there are stumbling blocks--twists and turns.
It takes major mishaps and miscalculations and the help of Frank's Dad (a retired cop with lots of people he can call on--but he doesn't trust any of them to at last find out where they have taken Frank-------
Now can they free him from his captors? This series is my favorite from this author with good reason--you really have to read this one and all that came before and all that will hopefully come after.
Yes, there are some recipes at the end--some of them Bernadettes--and she can cook!!
A Dead Cousin Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery #5
September 20, 2018
Love, love, loved it!!! Wow! Let me start by saying if I ever go missing, please call Jessica Huntington! With every book I love her more! Jessica and her Cat pack team are by far the smartest, most amazing, interesting group! They will stop at nothing to find her love interest Frank Fontana. I love how smart, caring and generous Jessica is with the people she cares about. There were so many characters that she did not know who was friend or foe. Along with Anastasia the wonder dog, they literally follow every lead, in and out of the country and even with their vast resources and helpful informants will they find Frank before it's too late?
I loved every minute of this book. The action starts from page one all the way to the last surprise right at the end! We all need a Bernadette in our lives to cook for us and comfort us. I need to teach my dog to be more like Anastasia, and who wouldn't love a Cat pack of their very own?
Oh and seriously, try the Balsamic Roasted Vegetables with Feta. Delish for carnivores and vegans alike!,
I loved every minute of this book. The action starts from page one all the way to the last surprise right at the end! We all need a Bernadette in our lives to cook for us and comfort us. I need to teach my dog to be more like Anastasia, and who wouldn't love a Cat pack of their very own?
Oh and seriously, try the Balsamic Roasted Vegetables with Feta. Delish for carnivores and vegans alike!,
July 9, 2020
The story starts with a call from Evie about her father - Frank Fontana who had gone missing.
Since the first page till the finish, the story was a complete action thriller with a complex plot. The characters were amazing and their antics made me laugh and stunned me at the same time.
With drug cartels and bad cops, the story goes all over the place and is thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.
Loved it.
Since the first page till the finish, the story was a complete action thriller with a complex plot. The characters were amazing and their antics made me laugh and stunned me at the same time.
With drug cartels and bad cops, the story goes all over the place and is thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.
Loved it.
September 19, 2018
I found this a little confusing at first. There are a lot of characters introduced without much context other than the frantic call by Evie to Jessica as her father is being abducted. It eventually settles out & I could figure out who was who. Can anyone be trusted?
You’ll have to read if Frank is a good or bad cop and to what extent.
This was a wild ride. Never a dull moment.
I volunteered to read and review an ARC of this book and these are my own opinions. I have this book on pre-order and do not intend to cancel. I’m sure I’ll be reading it again.
You’ll have to read if Frank is a good or bad cop and to what extent.
This was a wild ride. Never a dull moment.
I volunteered to read and review an ARC of this book and these are my own opinions. I have this book on pre-order and do not intend to cancel. I’m sure I’ll be reading it again.
September 18, 2018
What a mystery! This a case of good cop, bad cop, but on higher levels of law enforcement. When Frank gets kidnapped, Jessica, her co workers, and the police department begin the search. The most difficult obstacle is not knowing who to trust. As the mystery unfolds,they are getting the list of suspects and their rolls in the kidnapping... But can all these cops be bad? Is Frank a part of the "bad cop club" as it's been rumored? You will have to read this and decide for yourself... Good cop.... Or bad cop??? Will Frank be found alive?
September 25, 2018
A Dead Cousin is the fifth book in Anna Celeste Burke’s Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series. This book takes off like a rocket and draws the readers into the abduction of Frank Fontana by unknown persons. Jessica throws herself into finding out who has captured him and why. With aid of the "Rat Pack" and the wonderful Bernadette she is anxiously working as fast as possible to figure out the clues that Frank has left for her. Not to be outdone the amazing Anastasia, Jessica's poodle, does her part in discovering clues as well.
This is definitely a page turner that keeps the reader turning the pages wanting to figure out all the clues and who really has Frank. Jessica's emotions are in overdrive, she is not getting enough rest and feels that things are not moving fast enough to rescue him. She is doing all she can with all the gang racing against the clock to free him.
Frank is a good cop who had to go undercover to infiltrate a drug gang but something went wrong. The lines are very blurred between the good guys and the bad ones, he doesn't know who to trust and sends Jessica a message to trust no one. This makes it even more difficult for Jessica to seek assistance from law enforcement to find him.
As they draw closer and closer to Frank things take another turn, will they have all the answers and discover who the bad cops are before it is too late? Can they free him and return him to his children and family?
I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a good mystery with a strong female lead. The reader feels the tension as the gang are searching for Frank. Although the book is fast paced, there are quiet a bit of humor as well to lighten the mood. Great characters and a wonderful plot. I received an ARC of this book from the author for review purposes. I loved it!
This is definitely a page turner that keeps the reader turning the pages wanting to figure out all the clues and who really has Frank. Jessica's emotions are in overdrive, she is not getting enough rest and feels that things are not moving fast enough to rescue him. She is doing all she can with all the gang racing against the clock to free him.
Frank is a good cop who had to go undercover to infiltrate a drug gang but something went wrong. The lines are very blurred between the good guys and the bad ones, he doesn't know who to trust and sends Jessica a message to trust no one. This makes it even more difficult for Jessica to seek assistance from law enforcement to find him.
As they draw closer and closer to Frank things take another turn, will they have all the answers and discover who the bad cops are before it is too late? Can they free him and return him to his children and family?
I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a good mystery with a strong female lead. The reader feels the tension as the gang are searching for Frank. Although the book is fast paced, there are quiet a bit of humor as well to lighten the mood. Great characters and a wonderful plot. I received an ARC of this book from the author for review purposes. I loved it!
September 26, 2018
“A Dead Cousin” earns 5/5 Deadly Abductions…Clever!
“They took him away!” An exciting read from fav author Anna Celeste Burke who brings fans a clever, entertaining mystery! Jessica is reveling in the idea that life has calmed down…then she is awoken by a phone call. Detective Frank Fontana’s daughter Evie calls, hiding in the closet, whispering her dad has been abducted. From there Jessica, joined by family and the “Cat Pack” group, follows clues, some leading to peril, to discover corruption, deception, questionable activities, missing money, and…murder! As a standalone in the series there are enough references to background and character connection to engage any newbie, but it is the fifth book, so life has moved on and characters are established. Anna’s first-person narrative provides excellent descriptions along with Jessica's inner thoughts, and her dialogue illustrates tone, personality, and emotion. Together her writing makes this a real page-turner! But it's not all nail-biting “Watch out!” screams, there are sprinkles of humor that will allow you to catch your breath. I thoroughly enjoyed this newest book. Jessica is engaging and clever, the sidekicks are a “kick,” the mystery is contemporary, and recipes! There's a mini cookbook included with several entree options (one Vegan, one breakfast), a variety of rice and quinoa sides, and Salted Caramel Turtle Brownies desserts!
"Disclosure: I received an ARC. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments."
“They took him away!” An exciting read from fav author Anna Celeste Burke who brings fans a clever, entertaining mystery! Jessica is reveling in the idea that life has calmed down…then she is awoken by a phone call. Detective Frank Fontana’s daughter Evie calls, hiding in the closet, whispering her dad has been abducted. From there Jessica, joined by family and the “Cat Pack” group, follows clues, some leading to peril, to discover corruption, deception, questionable activities, missing money, and…murder! As a standalone in the series there are enough references to background and character connection to engage any newbie, but it is the fifth book, so life has moved on and characters are established. Anna’s first-person narrative provides excellent descriptions along with Jessica's inner thoughts, and her dialogue illustrates tone, personality, and emotion. Together her writing makes this a real page-turner! But it's not all nail-biting “Watch out!” screams, there are sprinkles of humor that will allow you to catch your breath. I thoroughly enjoyed this newest book. Jessica is engaging and clever, the sidekicks are a “kick,” the mystery is contemporary, and recipes! There's a mini cookbook included with several entree options (one Vegan, one breakfast), a variety of rice and quinoa sides, and Salted Caramel Turtle Brownies desserts!
"Disclosure: I received an ARC. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments."
September 25, 2018
“The Cat Pack’s work is never done!” Tommy sighed in mock desperation. “So little time, so many rats to find.”
Jessica Huntington and her “cat pack” are at it again! Seems this time there are hands in the wrong cookie jar on both sides of the border,and things wrap Jessica’s friend Frank in the middle of corruption affecting the police.
In a fast paced story, Anna Celeste Burke gets you caught up in a believable story that is at once hard to conceive of and next easy to understand. The question becomes who exactly are the good guys anyway?... and are they all “guys”?
I love this kind of “take me away”mystery, where money is no object but people are more important. You will grow to care for these characters: from “surfer dude”Brien to “St. Bernadette” to Peter, the private cop with a big heart, all the way down to Anastasia, the poodle-slash-service dog, and cheer or boo for the good guys and the bad guys. Just a fun read. Highly recommended. 5/5.
[disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it]
Jessica Huntington and her “cat pack” are at it again! Seems this time there are hands in the wrong cookie jar on both sides of the border,and things wrap Jessica’s friend Frank in the middle of corruption affecting the police.
In a fast paced story, Anna Celeste Burke gets you caught up in a believable story that is at once hard to conceive of and next easy to understand. The question becomes who exactly are the good guys anyway?... and are they all “guys”?
I love this kind of “take me away”mystery, where money is no object but people are more important. You will grow to care for these characters: from “surfer dude”Brien to “St. Bernadette” to Peter, the private cop with a big heart, all the way down to Anastasia, the poodle-slash-service dog, and cheer or boo for the good guys and the bad guys. Just a fun read. Highly recommended. 5/5.
[disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it]
September 26, 2018
Probably the best in the Desert Cities Mysteries yet, once you start this book you'll have a tough time putting it down. Well developed characters and story with humor injected in just the right places, this book will keep you turning the pages as Jessica seems to find trouble no matter where she turns. This time it's her detective friend Frank Fontana who has disappeared. Jessica and her Cat Pack posse jump into action to try and determine who, what, when, where and why...twists and turns abound, deceit, lies and tons of questionable activity as they use clues that Frank has left to figure out what the heck!!! I received this book and am providing an unsolicited honest review, but I LOVED it so much I purchased a copy. I enjoyed this superbly written mystery and I know you will too!
September 27, 2018
A Dead Cousin is the fifth book in the Jessica Huntington Desert City Mystery series. Life is finally peaceful for Jessica Huntington and she's enjoying some down time with friends. That ends quickly when she gets a frantic call informing her that her friend, Detective Frank Fontana, has been abducted. Jessica and her close friends, known as the Cat Pack, go into investigation mode.
Well written characters and a mystery with twists and turns will have you turning the pages. It's a book you won't want to put down. I highly recommend it!
Well written characters and a mystery with twists and turns will have you turning the pages. It's a book you won't want to put down. I highly recommend it!
February 1, 2019
Kindle unlimited but one of the writers preorder books of, also have preoder for Love Under Fire collection which introduces Lily's Homecoming/The CALLA LILY MYSTERY Series, proceeds go Help a Vet Get A Pet {trained dog} & also A Body at Fitzgerald’s Bluff (Seaview Cottages Cozy Mystery # 1) which was in some set but waiting to get single book since really not liking the other books in sets lately not even at 99 cents.
A frantic call for help has Jessica on the run. Taken from his home while his daughter hides upstairs, Detective Frank Fontana is gone. Jessica's out to save him, but what if he doesn't want to be found? Has he been abducted or is he on the run? Even a message from Frank isn't all that clear-cut: Trust no one. Even the devil was once an angel. Is it a warning to Jessica or a confession as Frank's partner, Detective Rikki Havens, suggests?
When a body turns up, the identity of the victim only fuels the controversy. Good cops. Bad cops. Missing money. Undercover operations that may or may not have ended. Jessica and her friends soon become entangled in a web of secrets and lies that make it hard to know who's on which side of the law. Is Frank a good cop gone bad or in the worst mess of his life?
Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series
Murder at Catmmando Mountain #1 Love Notes in the Key of Sea #2 All Hallows' Eve Heist #3 A Merry Christmas Wedding Mystery
Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series: Novellas 1-3
#4 Murder at Sea of Passenger X #5 Murder of the Maestro #6 A Tango Before Dying #7 A Canary in the Canal #8 {2019}*
Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery
.5 Love a Foot Above the Ground A Dead Husband 1 A Dead Sister 2 A Dead Daughter 3 A Dead Mother 4 A Dead Cousin 5
Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series (Books 1-5)
A Dead Nephew 6 {2019}*
Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery
Cowabunga Christmas #1 Gnarly New Year #2
Heinous Habits (Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery, #3) {in summer collection only first}
Radical Regatta Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery #4 {2019}*
Seaview Cottages Cozy Mystery
A Body at Fitzgerald’s Bluff 1 {was in Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes: 12 Mysteries for the Dog Days of Summer which between typos and WTH stuff actually cancelled, just waited for this separately}
The Murder of Shakespeare's Ghost 2 {out March 2019}*
Grave Expectations on Dickens' #3 {2019}*
The CALLA LILY MYSTERY Series
Lily's Homecoming Under Fire #1
{was only in collection Love Under Fire collection, now standalone}
Tangled Vines, Buried Secrets #2 {2019}*
see goodreads/amazon for full listing of books, in various collections
A frantic call for help has Jessica on the run. Taken from his home while his daughter hides upstairs, Detective Frank Fontana is gone. Jessica's out to save him, but what if he doesn't want to be found? Has he been abducted or is he on the run? Even a message from Frank isn't all that clear-cut: Trust no one. Even the devil was once an angel. Is it a warning to Jessica or a confession as Frank's partner, Detective Rikki Havens, suggests?
When a body turns up, the identity of the victim only fuels the controversy. Good cops. Bad cops. Missing money. Undercover operations that may or may not have ended. Jessica and her friends soon become entangled in a web of secrets and lies that make it hard to know who's on which side of the law. Is Frank a good cop gone bad or in the worst mess of his life?
Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series
Murder at Catmmando Mountain #1 Love Notes in the Key of Sea #2 All Hallows' Eve Heist #3 A Merry Christmas Wedding Mystery
Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series: Novellas 1-3
#4 Murder at Sea of Passenger X #5 Murder of the Maestro #6 A Tango Before Dying #7 A Canary in the Canal #8 {2019}*
Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery
.5 Love a Foot Above the Ground A Dead Husband 1 A Dead Sister 2 A Dead Daughter 3 A Dead Mother 4 A Dead Cousin 5
Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series (Books 1-5)
A Dead Nephew 6 {2019}*
Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery
Cowabunga Christmas #1 Gnarly New Year #2
Heinous Habits (Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery, #3) {in summer collection only first}
Radical Regatta Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery #4 {2019}*
Seaview Cottages Cozy Mystery
A Body at Fitzgerald’s Bluff 1 {was in Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes: 12 Mysteries for the Dog Days of Summer which between typos and WTH stuff actually cancelled, just waited for this separately}
The Murder of Shakespeare's Ghost 2 {out March 2019}*
Grave Expectations on Dickens' #3 {2019}*
The CALLA LILY MYSTERY Series
Lily's Homecoming Under Fire #1
{was only in collection Love Under Fire collection, now standalone}
Tangled Vines, Buried Secrets #2 {2019}*
see goodreads/amazon for full listing of books, in various collections
January 10, 2019
I am so into Anna's books no matter what series she is writing. They all have just a great story and will keep you glued to the book till you are finished. All of the mysteries are so different but so good that is what I like about her style she can write different series and they are not at all the same. Anna hit the ball out into the outfield with this one!
November 1, 2018
Trust is so easily damaged…
Do intricate suspenseful crime and mystery stories make your pulse race? Throw in drug cartels, dirty cops, murder, and a good cop’s reputation on the line, and you have the makings of quite the juicy story in A DEAD COUSIN by Anna Celeste Burke
A DEAD COUSIN is the fifth installment of the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities, and starts like a bullet fired from a Glock 22.
Right after an undercover operation led by Detective Frank Fontana seems to be in the can, Jessica receives word from his daughter Evie her dad’s been taken by some men right in their home. The clever girl manages to hide due to a safe word she’s been taught in case of imminent danger, and Jessica rushes to the rescue, her trusty poodle in tow.
Once the team arrives to inspect the crime scene, suspicion arises as one of Frank’s colleagues Detective Rikki Havens wonders if Frank has crossed the line – the damning evidence found in Frank’s safe has seen to that. Fake ID’s, a one way plane ticket, and passports with Frank’s picture, and lots of money, along with an old ledger with numbers and initials - what do they mean? More importantly, whom does the ledger really belong to?
And what will that tiny key Jessica secretly pockets while the team searches the rest of the evidence eventually open?
Kudos on the side for the entertaining Anastasia the poodle – this smart pooch should receive the K9 cop award, for sniffing out certain clues the human police overlook - specifically the laminated card Jessica had once given Frank that states: “Don’t trust anyone. The devil was once an angel,” Semi-buried in Franks’ front yard.
Yikes!
From there the crafty canine discovers other clues, so if Anastasia’s not awarded a medal, at least get her a huge bag of treats, in my opinion…
The action is expertly plotted and moves rapidly, holding this reader’s anticipated interest, and making me grateful there was a super story to look forward to, a much-needed escape from reality.
Although Ms. Burke references other murders committed in prior books of the series here (like the characters who’re responsible, or not), I had no trouble figuring out who began where and when – I thought this backstory information was cool, and a credit to Ms. Burke’s writing ability, since it didn’t confuse me, or take my head out of the story.
In fact, the lure contained in A DEAD COUSIN beckons me to grab the previous installments of this series, one of which is already on my Kindle.
Any reader who’s stoked by this genre would be as delighted as I with this fast paced, well-written yarn – So! You won’t find any spoilers in this review, but I will say this – the ending was sweet, satisfying, and nicely wrapped up a most intriguing mystery.
PS: Who else is unaware urine is not a good source for DNA? I watch enough crime shows like NCIS, and I’m also a crazy-wild fan of Burn Notice, but this topic never came up during my TV travels. I thought this is a fun fact to know. Thanks, Celeste!
Do intricate suspenseful crime and mystery stories make your pulse race? Throw in drug cartels, dirty cops, murder, and a good cop’s reputation on the line, and you have the makings of quite the juicy story in A DEAD COUSIN by Anna Celeste Burke
A DEAD COUSIN is the fifth installment of the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities, and starts like a bullet fired from a Glock 22.
Right after an undercover operation led by Detective Frank Fontana seems to be in the can, Jessica receives word from his daughter Evie her dad’s been taken by some men right in their home. The clever girl manages to hide due to a safe word she’s been taught in case of imminent danger, and Jessica rushes to the rescue, her trusty poodle in tow.
Once the team arrives to inspect the crime scene, suspicion arises as one of Frank’s colleagues Detective Rikki Havens wonders if Frank has crossed the line – the damning evidence found in Frank’s safe has seen to that. Fake ID’s, a one way plane ticket, and passports with Frank’s picture, and lots of money, along with an old ledger with numbers and initials - what do they mean? More importantly, whom does the ledger really belong to?
And what will that tiny key Jessica secretly pockets while the team searches the rest of the evidence eventually open?
Kudos on the side for the entertaining Anastasia the poodle – this smart pooch should receive the K9 cop award, for sniffing out certain clues the human police overlook - specifically the laminated card Jessica had once given Frank that states: “Don’t trust anyone. The devil was once an angel,” Semi-buried in Franks’ front yard.
Yikes!
From there the crafty canine discovers other clues, so if Anastasia’s not awarded a medal, at least get her a huge bag of treats, in my opinion…
The action is expertly plotted and moves rapidly, holding this reader’s anticipated interest, and making me grateful there was a super story to look forward to, a much-needed escape from reality.
Although Ms. Burke references other murders committed in prior books of the series here (like the characters who’re responsible, or not), I had no trouble figuring out who began where and when – I thought this backstory information was cool, and a credit to Ms. Burke’s writing ability, since it didn’t confuse me, or take my head out of the story.
In fact, the lure contained in A DEAD COUSIN beckons me to grab the previous installments of this series, one of which is already on my Kindle.
Any reader who’s stoked by this genre would be as delighted as I with this fast paced, well-written yarn – So! You won’t find any spoilers in this review, but I will say this – the ending was sweet, satisfying, and nicely wrapped up a most intriguing mystery.
PS: Who else is unaware urine is not a good source for DNA? I watch enough crime shows like NCIS, and I’m also a crazy-wild fan of Burn Notice, but this topic never came up during my TV travels. I thought this is a fun fact to know. Thanks, Celeste!
October 1, 2018
Tense and Tight Mystery!
This is one full-bodied mystery! I have not read the other books in this series, yet. This book does stand alone quite well. Prior stories are referred to is a way that gives the reader necessary information without making the reader feel that they have missed anything. The plot to this story was intricate and busy. I enjoyed having to think about the plot and not just having it spoon fed. The characters are great, well developed and solid. I also enjoyed the underlying romance and deep feelings between the characters. And the dog! What a hoot! She is so necessary to so much of the book and adds a little comic relief. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series! I received this ARC book for free and this is my honest opinion.
This is one full-bodied mystery! I have not read the other books in this series, yet. This book does stand alone quite well. Prior stories are referred to is a way that gives the reader necessary information without making the reader feel that they have missed anything. The plot to this story was intricate and busy. I enjoyed having to think about the plot and not just having it spoon fed. The characters are great, well developed and solid. I also enjoyed the underlying romance and deep feelings between the characters. And the dog! What a hoot! She is so necessary to so much of the book and adds a little comic relief. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series! I received this ARC book for free and this is my honest opinion.
November 17, 2018
Wow, another great book by Celeste Burke. I loved it. There’s lots of action and suspense. Celeste, when is your next book coming out?
Jessica has received a call, from Evie, saying her dad’s been kidnapped. It’s assumed the French Connection Operation has taken him, but have they? And why? Frank had been confident that episode was over, and they were gone, but now this. Bernadette had known, for weeks, something was up with Frank, but he wouldn’t confide in her what it was, even though she’d persisted in questioning him. Now he’s been kidnapped. But, thanks to Bernadette and Jessica, action has been taken to find Evie’s dad. And, find him, they’re sure to. I hope! Pull-up a chair and relax. You’ve got a great story here!
Jessica has received a call, from Evie, saying her dad’s been kidnapped. It’s assumed the French Connection Operation has taken him, but have they? And why? Frank had been confident that episode was over, and they were gone, but now this. Bernadette had known, for weeks, something was up with Frank, but he wouldn’t confide in her what it was, even though she’d persisted in questioning him. Now he’s been kidnapped. But, thanks to Bernadette and Jessica, action has been taken to find Evie’s dad. And, find him, they’re sure to. I hope! Pull-up a chair and relax. You’ve got a great story here!
September 30, 2018
Another Successful Story of Suspense and Wonder
I've read all of the Desert Cities Mysteries, now, and have enjoyed each one thoroughly from the fascinating characters and their relationships to the settings and plotlines. Each stands alone well yet builds on the previous story, enhancing the next one. And each ending is satisfying and encourages me to read the next. I can hardly wait for the next adventure.
I've read all of the Desert Cities Mysteries, now, and have enjoyed each one thoroughly from the fascinating characters and their relationships to the settings and plotlines. Each stands alone well yet builds on the previous story, enhancing the next one. And each ending is satisfying and encourages me to read the next. I can hardly wait for the next adventure.
October 5, 2018
I have quickly become a fan of Anna Celeste Berke!! This was another great story that was entertaining and kept my interest from start to finish. It is well written and the characters cover a wide range of personalities yet form a great team. There are plenty of interesting twists to the plot. This is a clean story that I can recommend to anyone.
October 10, 2018
Another brilliant book by this Author just waiting to be read by everyone. I enjoyed every minute and the next book will be just as good. Can't wait
May 16, 2020
Follow the Clues
I really enjoyed this latest installment in the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mysteries! Frank Fontana has been kidnapped by dirty cops and he has left clues to help Jessica, Anastasia her poodle, and the Cat Pact find him. Nobody knows who to trust, which cops are trustworthy and which are dirty. There are so many twists in this book that made it an exciting read!
The characters, especially Jessica and her Cat Pact, are wonderful! Anastasia, the poodle is a talented dancing bloodhound. The secondary characters are also well developed.
I look forward to reading the next installment in this engaging series!
I really enjoyed this latest installment in the Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mysteries! Frank Fontana has been kidnapped by dirty cops and he has left clues to help Jessica, Anastasia her poodle, and the Cat Pact find him. Nobody knows who to trust, which cops are trustworthy and which are dirty. There are so many twists in this book that made it an exciting read!
The characters, especially Jessica and her Cat Pact, are wonderful! Anastasia, the poodle is a talented dancing bloodhound. The secondary characters are also well developed.
I look forward to reading the next installment in this engaging series!
January 12, 2019
I liked the book very much. The characters are great, are realistic, and the story's a real page-turner. I also like the humorous moments throughout.
October 6, 2019
Once again Jessica and the Cat Pack are on the trail of "la creme de la crud" as they search for one of their own. Frank is missing and the body count keeps rising. Not knowing who to trust makes the case more difficult but with each member of the Cat Pack bringing their own special talent to the investigation, they quickly make headway into solving the mystery. I stayed up hours past my bedtime to finish this fast-paced, action-packed whodunit by the talented Anna Celeste Burke. While each story in this series is a standalone, I suggest reading them in order. The characters and their relationships evolve as the series progresses and recurring characters(other than the Cat Pack) are found throughout the books.
December 14, 2018
Jessie get frantic call from Evie that her father detective Frank Fontana was taken from their home. Giving Evie a code word, she was upstairs hiding. A chain of emails are sent, and the police force is on it. Starts out fast with a lot of names, and then you are trying to figure out the good guys from the bad. Swift action to the end, of why, good mystery as usual from author.
December 18, 2018
Unique
i almost didn't rate it a five as felt it was too long and repetitive, but enjoyed the 🐱 Packs perseverance! It was entertaining enough to overcome any negatives. Also I lived in the area for awhile so knew where you were talking about!
i almost didn't rate it a five as felt it was too long and repetitive, but enjoyed the 🐱 Packs perseverance! It was entertaining enough to overcome any negatives. Also I lived in the area for awhile so knew where you were talking about!
December 19, 2018
GREAT READ! I read all 5 and love that she added a standard poodle to the mix. She is a brilliant author that keeps the reader engaged.
June 19, 2020
Loved it.
I always enjoy reading this author’s books. And this one was as good as all the others. As always so very well worth the read.
I always enjoy reading this author’s books. And this one was as good as all the others. As always so very well worth the read.
April 6, 2020
Jessica has her hands full as this case is very personal. Some dirty cops have taken Frank with them and Jessica needs to find out why and where he is. She thought Frank’s very long investigation was over but it seems some really bad people fell through the cracks. Each discovery leads her closer to where Frank is and why all this is happening. I don’t want to give too much way, you will love reading this exciting book. Ms Burke is a master storyteller and this being the fifth installment of the Jessica Huntington’s mysteries you pretty well know the main characters and what motivates them. I feel like they’re family and I can’t put the book down. I need to find out what happened....
March 3, 2021
This fifth book in the series again starts off with a bang and then keeps you hooked until the surprising end. Frank is missing and was either kidnapped or went along willingly but clearly bad people were involved as he warned his daughter to hide. Has he gone off the rails or is he just a good guy caught in a big mess? And will he survive? These are some of the questions Jessica has to grapple with while still trying to decide what her own feelings are for the handsome detective.
Another excellent, gripping, well-written mystery which is well worth the read. This book has inspired me to look for more books in the series.
Another excellent, gripping, well-written mystery which is well worth the read. This book has inspired me to look for more books in the series.
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