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Jazz Ramsey #1
The Scent of Murder
First in a new series from national bestselling author Kylie Logan, The Scent of Murder is a riveting mystery following Jazz Ramsey as she trains cadaver dogs.
The way Jazz Ramsey figures it, life is pretty good. She’s thirty-five years old and owns her own home in one of Cleveland’s most diverse, artsy, and interesting neighborhoods. She has a job she likes as an administrative assistant at an all-girls school, and a volunteer interest she’s passionate about—Jazz is a cadaver dog handler.
Jazz is working with Luther, a cadaver dog in training. Luther is still learning cadaver work, so Jazz is putting him through his paces at an abandoned building that will soon be turned into pricey condos. When Luther signals a find, Jazz is stunned to see the body of a young woman who is dressed in black and wearing the kind of make-up and jewelry that Jazz used to see on the Goth kids back in high school.
She’s even more shocked when she realizes that beneath the tattoos and the piercings and all that pale make up is a familiar face.
The lead detective on the case is an old lover, and the murdered woman is an old student. Jazz finds herself sucked into the case, obsessed with learning the truth.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2019
350 people are currently reading
1158 people want to read
About the author
Kylie Logan
31 books445 followersAlso writes as Miranda Bliss, Casey Daniels, Zoe Daniels, Connie Deka, Mimi Granger, Anastasia Hastings, Connie Lane, Connie Laux, Constance Laux, Lucy Ness.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 339 reviews
May 2, 2019
I’m giving this a 3 stars because of dogs! I mean right?! What’s my name?!
Anyhoo, I chose this book because of said dogs. The beginning starts out with Jazz (whom I thought was the dog at first) training a cadaver dog named, Luther, in an abandoned building. Well, good ole Luther finds a real body. Hmmmm... that sucked, but he did his job! Give him the ball!
The dogs aren’t really in the book much. It’s mostly about Jazz and her ex who is the cop on the investigation. This, that, the other happens. They get the killer and the best part, there is a new puppy at the end.
* I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book!
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Anyhoo, I chose this book because of said dogs. The beginning starts out with Jazz (whom I thought was the dog at first) training a cadaver dog named, Luther, in an abandoned building. Well, good ole Luther finds a real body. Hmmmm... that sucked, but he did his job! Give him the ball!
The dogs aren’t really in the book much. It’s mostly about Jazz and her ex who is the cop on the investigation. This, that, the other happens. They get the killer and the best part, there is a new puppy at the end.
* I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book!
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
March 19, 2020
Scent of Murder by Kylie Logan is a 2019 publication.
Jazz Ramsey is a school administrator, but also trains cadaver dogs as a side job. When she takes her dog on a training mission in an abandoned building, he alerts, just as she had hoped. Jazz is sure he is responding to the bait she planted for him. But, instead, the dog has located the real deal- the dead body of a woman- one that Jazz recognizes as a former student, one dressed in a way that is shocking and out of character.
Although, Jazz’s former boyfriend, Nick, is the lead detective on the case, Jazz embarks on her own investigation, almost obsessively determined to find out why her former student was murdered.
Meanwhile, her involvement brings her into constant contact with Nick, who is working hard to convince Jazz to give their relationship another chance. Who will solve the mystery first? Jazz or Nick? Or could they end up making a good detective team?
This is the first book in a new series by Kylie Logan, who has written a few cozy mysteries series before launching this one. This is my first book by Logan, so other than the intriguing prospect of a series featuring a cadaver dog, I had no idea what to expect.
The dog, however, isn’t prominently featured in the book, and the story is most certainly a standard, no frills whodunit. That said, there are times when book like this one works quite well for days when one has a divided attention span.
The plot is not at all complicated and the characters are one- dimensional and a bit bland, but the book fits the bill for a quick, easy, ‘airplane’ read or for times when it is hard to focus on anything too challenging. The story may be a bit too basic for many, but the series shows a little promise if the author can liven up the plot and characterizations just a bit.
Overall, with all the books, series, and authors out there competing for our attention, the author will have to step it up to stay competitive. However, under the right circumstances this is an enjoyable enough read, introducing readers to the main characters of the new series. Hopefully, the author can build on this foundation and firm up the subsequent installments.
Jazz Ramsey is a school administrator, but also trains cadaver dogs as a side job. When she takes her dog on a training mission in an abandoned building, he alerts, just as she had hoped. Jazz is sure he is responding to the bait she planted for him. But, instead, the dog has located the real deal- the dead body of a woman- one that Jazz recognizes as a former student, one dressed in a way that is shocking and out of character.
Although, Jazz’s former boyfriend, Nick, is the lead detective on the case, Jazz embarks on her own investigation, almost obsessively determined to find out why her former student was murdered.
Meanwhile, her involvement brings her into constant contact with Nick, who is working hard to convince Jazz to give their relationship another chance. Who will solve the mystery first? Jazz or Nick? Or could they end up making a good detective team?
This is the first book in a new series by Kylie Logan, who has written a few cozy mysteries series before launching this one. This is my first book by Logan, so other than the intriguing prospect of a series featuring a cadaver dog, I had no idea what to expect.
The dog, however, isn’t prominently featured in the book, and the story is most certainly a standard, no frills whodunit. That said, there are times when book like this one works quite well for days when one has a divided attention span.
The plot is not at all complicated and the characters are one- dimensional and a bit bland, but the book fits the bill for a quick, easy, ‘airplane’ read or for times when it is hard to focus on anything too challenging. The story may be a bit too basic for many, but the series shows a little promise if the author can liven up the plot and characterizations just a bit.
Overall, with all the books, series, and authors out there competing for our attention, the author will have to step it up to stay competitive. However, under the right circumstances this is an enjoyable enough read, introducing readers to the main characters of the new series. Hopefully, the author can build on this foundation and firm up the subsequent installments.
April 9, 2019
Once again, all it took was for me to see a cover with a dog on it to request an advance copy. I love dogs and I love mysteries with dogs, especially working dogs. Here, Jazz helps train cadaver dogs. While training Luther, they stumble across the body of a girl who graduated from the Catholic Girls school where Jazz works as an administrator to the Headmistress. And it just so happens the detective investigating the murder is her ex-beau.
The book is told in a straightforward manner. This isn’t a deep or thought provoking book. The parts about training cadaver dogs are interesting. But really, the book doesn’t concentrate on the dog much at all. At one point, she is asked to pet sit Luther and yet he’s barely mentioned. I just expected the dog to be a bigger part of the equation.
I didn’t find this particularly realistic. Jazz goes off on her own investigation, supposedly because she’s so bothered by finding the body of someone she knew (slightly). And I had trouble believing everyone would be so open with her.
The characters weren’t particularly well defined, even Jazz. Neither Jazz or Nick could determine the murderer, but the answer was apparent to me fairly early on. This isn’t a bad mystery. It’s just not a particularly good one.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
The book is told in a straightforward manner. This isn’t a deep or thought provoking book. The parts about training cadaver dogs are interesting. But really, the book doesn’t concentrate on the dog much at all. At one point, she is asked to pet sit Luther and yet he’s barely mentioned. I just expected the dog to be a bigger part of the equation.
I didn’t find this particularly realistic. Jazz goes off on her own investigation, supposedly because she’s so bothered by finding the body of someone she knew (slightly). And I had trouble believing everyone would be so open with her.
The characters weren’t particularly well defined, even Jazz. Neither Jazz or Nick could determine the murderer, but the answer was apparent to me fairly early on. This isn’t a bad mystery. It’s just not a particularly good one.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
May 14, 2019
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
People stumbled over their words. They blundered when it came to their feelings. Dogs always knew what to do. She could always count on a dog.
Jazz is an administrative assistant at an all girl's Catholic High School and trains cadaver dogs on the side. When helping to train a friend's dog, they actually end up finding a real human body. When Jazz realizes that she knew the girl murdered, she sets out to find who could have possibly done this.
This is first in a series that doesn't have a cliffhanger ending but will obviously continue following our central character Jazz. The story is told from her point of view and we are introduced to her detective ex-boyfriend Nick, along with her colleague best-friend, brothers, fellow cadaver dog handlers, and mother. Jazz's father died in a fire a year ago, she's dealing with the grief, along with the loss of her dog Manny, and lingering attraction to Nick.
Even with Jazz vaguely remembering Flori (the murder victim) from her going to the school Jazz works at, it seemed a bit of a stretch as to why she was going around trying to conduct her own investigation. There were even a couple of times that she tampered or withheld evidence that could have ruined Nick's investigation. The murder mystery itself threw out enough red-herrings to be interesting but some misleads ended up feeling very contrived.
“Damn.” One corner of his mouth thinned and he shook his head and followed her up the stairs. “Come on, Jazz. What we had, was it that bad?”
When she turned the key and shoved the door open, her smile was hard-edged. “ Even after all this time, you haven’t figured it out yet, have you? And I thought you were a smart guy. Don’t you get it, Nick? It wasn’t that bad. It was that good.”
The romance takes a big backseat to Jazz trying to figure out who killed Flori, Nick only appears a handful of times. We don't get any flashbacks to when they were in a relationship, it's discussed how it ended because of how their schedules never worked out. The author leaves some hope for them to get together again and the relationship will obviously be progressed further in the next book. There is some background given on Nick but his character isn't really felt, I never felt like I knew him. With this being all from Jazz's point of view, she obviously dominates and for the most part was a strong enough character to control the story, her motivations were sometimes a bit weak.
Jazz's involvement in trying to catch Flori's murderer was somewhat shaky but the mystery was stirring enough to keep me reading. The romance between her and Nick was extremely anemic and more of a tease to lead you to read the next to see if they can make time for each other. Jazz's world was sketched out enough to set a solid foundation for the series, I would have liked even more of her side job with working with cadaver dogs. This was a fair starter book to a series, hoping the next in the series colors in the sketching.
People stumbled over their words. They blundered when it came to their feelings. Dogs always knew what to do. She could always count on a dog.
Jazz is an administrative assistant at an all girl's Catholic High School and trains cadaver dogs on the side. When helping to train a friend's dog, they actually end up finding a real human body. When Jazz realizes that she knew the girl murdered, she sets out to find who could have possibly done this.
This is first in a series that doesn't have a cliffhanger ending but will obviously continue following our central character Jazz. The story is told from her point of view and we are introduced to her detective ex-boyfriend Nick, along with her colleague best-friend, brothers, fellow cadaver dog handlers, and mother. Jazz's father died in a fire a year ago, she's dealing with the grief, along with the loss of her dog Manny, and lingering attraction to Nick.
Even with Jazz vaguely remembering Flori (the murder victim) from her going to the school Jazz works at, it seemed a bit of a stretch as to why she was going around trying to conduct her own investigation. There were even a couple of times that she tampered or withheld evidence that could have ruined Nick's investigation. The murder mystery itself threw out enough red-herrings to be interesting but some misleads ended up feeling very contrived.
“Damn.” One corner of his mouth thinned and he shook his head and followed her up the stairs. “Come on, Jazz. What we had, was it that bad?”
When she turned the key and shoved the door open, her smile was hard-edged. “ Even after all this time, you haven’t figured it out yet, have you? And I thought you were a smart guy. Don’t you get it, Nick? It wasn’t that bad. It was that good.”
The romance takes a big backseat to Jazz trying to figure out who killed Flori, Nick only appears a handful of times. We don't get any flashbacks to when they were in a relationship, it's discussed how it ended because of how their schedules never worked out. The author leaves some hope for them to get together again and the relationship will obviously be progressed further in the next book. There is some background given on Nick but his character isn't really felt, I never felt like I knew him. With this being all from Jazz's point of view, she obviously dominates and for the most part was a strong enough character to control the story, her motivations were sometimes a bit weak.
Jazz's involvement in trying to catch Flori's murderer was somewhat shaky but the mystery was stirring enough to keep me reading. The romance between her and Nick was extremely anemic and more of a tease to lead you to read the next to see if they can make time for each other. Jazz's world was sketched out enough to set a solid foundation for the series, I would have liked even more of her side job with working with cadaver dogs. This was a fair starter book to a series, hoping the next in the series colors in the sketching.
May 4, 2019
The Scent of Murder by Kylie Logan is book one in her Jazz Ramsey series. The author is known for her cozy mysteries, and this is her first foray into the hardier mystery world.
Jasmine “Jazz” Ramsey is an administrative assistant at a private girls’ school. She also trains cadaver dogs. Jazz is training Luther, a German Shepherd belonging to a friend, when Luther unexpectedly finds the body of a young woman who once attended the school where Jazz works. Jazz inserts herself into the investigation being led by her ex-boyfriend, Detective Nick Kolesov.
I found it a bit strange that Jazz started an investigation when she didn’t have any background in police or investigative work. She interviews witnesses and forms her own theories of the crime while having semi-contentious interactions with her ex. I guessed some of the plot but didn’t pick up on the killer until the end. The Scent of Murder is a quick, easy, enjoyable read. I give it 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it to lovers of mystery with a little romance.
My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
Jasmine “Jazz” Ramsey is an administrative assistant at a private girls’ school. She also trains cadaver dogs. Jazz is training Luther, a German Shepherd belonging to a friend, when Luther unexpectedly finds the body of a young woman who once attended the school where Jazz works. Jazz inserts herself into the investigation being led by her ex-boyfriend, Detective Nick Kolesov.
I found it a bit strange that Jazz started an investigation when she didn’t have any background in police or investigative work. She interviews witnesses and forms her own theories of the crime while having semi-contentious interactions with her ex. I guessed some of the plot but didn’t pick up on the killer until the end. The Scent of Murder is a quick, easy, enjoyable read. I give it 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it to lovers of mystery with a little romance.
My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
July 5, 2019
I will fully admit, that once again, the dog on the cover made me want to read this novel. Well, it's not that simple, but I do have a fondness for crime stories that feature dogs. Jazz Ramsey works as an administrative assistant at an all-girls school. However, she also trains cadaver dogs to find bodies, and that's what we see her doing in this book. Jazz is out training with Luther at an abandoned building, however, she never expects Luther to find a body, nor did she expect to recognize the dead girl. To make the situation worse, her ex-boyfriend is the lead detective on the case. Since the dead girl is someone Jazz knew, she starts to investigate the case herself...
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
May 11, 2019
Dollycas’s Thoughts
What a great start for this series by Kylie Logan!
Jazz Ramsey trains cadaver dogs and works at St. Catherine’s Preparatory Academy, an all-girls school as an administrative assistant. Her two worlds collide when she finds the body of a former student while putting a dog through its paces. The tragic find also brings former lover, Detective Nick Kolesov back into her life. Pulled in many different directions Jazz needs to find the truth. What was Florie Allen involved in? and who thought killing her was the answer?
I liked Jazz Ramsey right away. She is smart, thoughtful and driven whether working at the school, training dogs, or searching for a killer. Best friend, Sarah Carrington, is an art teacher at the school and a great sounding board for Jazz, both in her investigation and in life. She knows what happened between Jazz and Nick and tries to steer Jazz through the fire of dealing with him again. Detective Nick is not over Jazz at all, he wants to be around her but he doesn’t want her digging into his case. These characters are very well developed for the first book in the series but the author has left plenty of room for growth.
Ms. Logan’s writing style is descriptive and informative. I am not familiar with Cleveland but her words pulled me there and I was able to visualize and get the feeling of each setting from St. Catherine’s to the dilapidated building where the body was found, the new school Florie was attending and even the office of a group Florie was working for. The descriptions were also clear for the characters. I envisioned every one clearly. They were distinct and believable.
The mystery was very entertaining but I was able to focus and pull out the killer well before Jazz or Nick. A set of clues were found in an interesting and unexpected way, but I was already on the “scent” of the correct person. Complex mysteries are hard to have in the first book of a series because the author has a huge lift by introducing the characters, some of the back history, and all their connections along with setting the time and place. She did an excellent job of this.
I really enjoyed the training for cadaver dogs. I wish there had been a few more sessions between the dog Jazz was currently working with, Luther. Hopefully, there will be more in future books.
I absolutely loved the ending and can’t wait for book two of this series.
What a great start for this series by Kylie Logan!
Jazz Ramsey trains cadaver dogs and works at St. Catherine’s Preparatory Academy, an all-girls school as an administrative assistant. Her two worlds collide when she finds the body of a former student while putting a dog through its paces. The tragic find also brings former lover, Detective Nick Kolesov back into her life. Pulled in many different directions Jazz needs to find the truth. What was Florie Allen involved in? and who thought killing her was the answer?
I liked Jazz Ramsey right away. She is smart, thoughtful and driven whether working at the school, training dogs, or searching for a killer. Best friend, Sarah Carrington, is an art teacher at the school and a great sounding board for Jazz, both in her investigation and in life. She knows what happened between Jazz and Nick and tries to steer Jazz through the fire of dealing with him again. Detective Nick is not over Jazz at all, he wants to be around her but he doesn’t want her digging into his case. These characters are very well developed for the first book in the series but the author has left plenty of room for growth.
Ms. Logan’s writing style is descriptive and informative. I am not familiar with Cleveland but her words pulled me there and I was able to visualize and get the feeling of each setting from St. Catherine’s to the dilapidated building where the body was found, the new school Florie was attending and even the office of a group Florie was working for. The descriptions were also clear for the characters. I envisioned every one clearly. They were distinct and believable.
The mystery was very entertaining but I was able to focus and pull out the killer well before Jazz or Nick. A set of clues were found in an interesting and unexpected way, but I was already on the “scent” of the correct person. Complex mysteries are hard to have in the first book of a series because the author has a huge lift by introducing the characters, some of the back history, and all their connections along with setting the time and place. She did an excellent job of this.
I really enjoyed the training for cadaver dogs. I wish there had been a few more sessions between the dog Jazz was currently working with, Luther. Hopefully, there will be more in future books.
I absolutely loved the ending and can’t wait for book two of this series.
May 12, 2019
The writing is adequate but the story was a mishmash. It tried to be a romance, a cozy mystery, a procedural and a gritty mystery all at once. The mystery itself was adequate but there were too many sub-plots: grief over her father's death, which dominates the beginning and then disappears; grief over her dog's death, about which we are given no details; her on-again, off-again romance with a detective who no doubt will be her gateway to getting involved in future mysteries; and her widowed mother's re-entry into dating. The story was stuffed to the gills.
While I didn't completely buy Jazz's reasoning for investigating Florie's death, I appreciated her fumbling and her missteps. She's an amateur and it showed. That realism was a good touch.
I was looking to reading about cadaver dogs and Logan does give us some information but Jazz does not currently have a cadaver dog. I was disappointed that dogs weren't a bigger part of the story.
Overall, I was not impressed and I won't continue with the series.
While I didn't completely buy Jazz's reasoning for investigating Florie's death, I appreciated her fumbling and her missteps. She's an amateur and it showed. That realism was a good touch.
I was looking to reading about cadaver dogs and Logan does give us some information but Jazz does not currently have a cadaver dog. I was disappointed that dogs weren't a bigger part of the story.
Overall, I was not impressed and I won't continue with the series.
January 25, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this arc.
I like dogs and I like dog books. But poor old Luther (the dog) was basically just a plot device. The humans in this story were just plain flat, totally underdeveloped and I found Jazz to be completely unlikeable, smug, self-satisfied and ridiculously immature in her expectations. None of the other characters were developed enough for me to form and opinion of them. The mystery itself was predictable . The details of one of Cleveland's " diverse, artsy and interesting neighborhoods" were pretty overdone, but presented anyways to flesh out the book.
I like dogs and I like dog books. But poor old Luther (the dog) was basically just a plot device. The humans in this story were just plain flat, totally underdeveloped and I found Jazz to be completely unlikeable, smug, self-satisfied and ridiculously immature in her expectations. None of the other characters were developed enough for me to form and opinion of them. The mystery itself was predictable . The details of one of Cleveland's " diverse, artsy and interesting neighborhoods" were pretty overdone, but presented anyways to flesh out the book.
March 12, 2019
The Scent of Murder by Kylie Logan is the first book in a new mystery series by Ms. Logan. The synopsis of the story led me to believe that this book would be about cadaver dogs and their training but this was only a small piece of the story.
I found myself unable to connect with Jazz throughout the story. She totally confused me as to why she investigated the girl's death. Her ex-boyfriend, Nick, was the detective on the murder case and seemed to be handling the case quite well. I also didn't understand her on-again, off-again attitude toward Nick throughout the book. The break up seemed have been consensual since they both "couldn't find the time" to be together. The plot moved smoothly and the clues provided made it clear to the identity of the murderer. Ms. Logan's descriptive writing did paint a clear picture of Cleveland and it's many cultural neighborhoods. All in all it was an interesting read and I give it 3.5 stars.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Minotaur Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
I found myself unable to connect with Jazz throughout the story. She totally confused me as to why she investigated the girl's death. Her ex-boyfriend, Nick, was the detective on the murder case and seemed to be handling the case quite well. I also didn't understand her on-again, off-again attitude toward Nick throughout the book. The break up seemed have been consensual since they both "couldn't find the time" to be together. The plot moved smoothly and the clues provided made it clear to the identity of the murderer. Ms. Logan's descriptive writing did paint a clear picture of Cleveland and it's many cultural neighborhoods. All in all it was an interesting read and I give it 3.5 stars.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Minotaur Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
May 16, 2019
From the cover and the description, I thought Jazz would be a full-time dog trainer and involved in law enforcement. However, she is an administrative assistant at a local Catholic high school. She trains cadaver dog on the side. While this was a letdown, the overall mystery was interesting.
Jazz is helping a friend retrain his pooch within an urban environment when she discovers a body. When she discovers the murder victim is a former student, she cannot help but investigate.
This was a fun start to the series. The Cleveland police detective assigned to the case ends up being her ex-boyfriend, Nick. Apparently there are still feelings there. I got the initial feeling that duty and commitments made them take a step back.
The author spends some time allowing us to get to know Jazz, her family, friends and co-workers. I liked Jazz. She is stubborn, smart, curious and great with animals.
The story could be described as a cozy, but felt more inline with the Mercy Kilpatrick series by Kendra Elliot. While that series has more romance, this series has the potential to develop as it progresses.
The murder of a former student with secrets, plenty of enemies and oodles of artist talent was an interesting one. The surprise twist was well done and felt authentic. I liked that Jazz kept Nick informed of her findings. He didn’t encourage her, but didn’t discourage her either. There is some trust there. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Jazz is helping a friend retrain his pooch within an urban environment when she discovers a body. When she discovers the murder victim is a former student, she cannot help but investigate.
This was a fun start to the series. The Cleveland police detective assigned to the case ends up being her ex-boyfriend, Nick. Apparently there are still feelings there. I got the initial feeling that duty and commitments made them take a step back.
The author spends some time allowing us to get to know Jazz, her family, friends and co-workers. I liked Jazz. She is stubborn, smart, curious and great with animals.
The story could be described as a cozy, but felt more inline with the Mercy Kilpatrick series by Kendra Elliot. While that series has more romance, this series has the potential to develop as it progresses.
The murder of a former student with secrets, plenty of enemies and oodles of artist talent was an interesting one. The surprise twist was well done and felt authentic. I liked that Jazz kept Nick informed of her findings. He didn’t encourage her, but didn’t discourage her either. There is some trust there. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
May 3, 2019
Jazz Ramsey is working on training Luther, a cadaver dog, in a construction site in her native Cleveland. She has already planted something for him to find, but Luther indicates a find in a completely different room. Sure enough, he’s found a body. Even worse, it is the body of a former student at the all-girls school where Jazz works. Jazz’s former boyfriend Nick has been assigned the case, and Jazz knows it is in good hands. But she still can’t help but wonder what it was that lead the girl to her death. As she begins poking around, she begins to uncover secrets. Can she find out what got the young woman killed?
I’ve enjoyed several other books by Kylie Logan in the past, so I am not surprised I enjoyed this one. But I am surprised by just how much I enjoyed it. This is a little more serious than some of her other books, but that is no reason not to pick up the book. The characters are compelling; even those we don’t spend much time with come across as real. Jazz herself is fully formed and a wonderful main character. The plot is strong with a steady helping of twists and clues to guide us to the logical conclusion. The writing makes Cleveland come alive without distracting from the characters or the plot in any way. This is a solid debut that already has me anxious for more.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I’ve enjoyed several other books by Kylie Logan in the past, so I am not surprised I enjoyed this one. But I am surprised by just how much I enjoyed it. This is a little more serious than some of her other books, but that is no reason not to pick up the book. The characters are compelling; even those we don’t spend much time with come across as real. Jazz herself is fully formed and a wonderful main character. The plot is strong with a steady helping of twists and clues to guide us to the logical conclusion. The writing makes Cleveland come alive without distracting from the characters or the plot in any way. This is a solid debut that already has me anxious for more.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
April 21, 2019
I received this book via Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I really liked this mystery story set in Cleveland, Ohio featuring Jazz Ramsey, and administrator at an all girls Catholic school. In the story, one of the former students at the school is found dead in a decrepit house. Jazz finds her while training a cadaver dog. She runs into her old flame Nick, who is the cop assigned to the case.
The characters were well developed, and I was engaged in the mystery. I figured out who did it fairly early on, but I still loved the story.
I really liked this mystery story set in Cleveland, Ohio featuring Jazz Ramsey, and administrator at an all girls Catholic school. In the story, one of the former students at the school is found dead in a decrepit house. Jazz finds her while training a cadaver dog. She runs into her old flame Nick, who is the cop assigned to the case.
The characters were well developed, and I was engaged in the mystery. I figured out who did it fairly early on, but I still loved the story.
May 29, 2020
jazz Ramsey is living the good life. She has a great job as an administrative assistant at an all-girls school. But her passion lies in her volunteer work .... she trains and handles cadaver dogs.
One night with Luther, a cadaver dog in training, she puts him through his training paces. She's hidden an item in an upstairs of a warehouse, turns him loose and waits to hear his 3 yips meaning he's found something. She hears his yips ... but he's in an entirely different part of the building.
Imagine her surprise to find that Luther has found a body of a woman. She is dressed all in black, covered in tattoos and piercings and pale face makeup ... she has the look of a Goth.
And.... she knows the victim.
The murder victim is a former student and the detective in charge is a man she has a history with.
Jazz can't help herself... she decides to do a little investigating on her own. She talks to family, friends, school friends, old boyfriends, fellow students, and instructors.
What she learns is that the young woman had a lot of secrets ...and several that could be the motive for murder.
This is the beginning of a mystery series, with a spotlight on the tightly woven plot and the mostly likeable, if not secretive, skillfully drawn characters. The dogs are a big bonus. I like how Jazz's personal life is a part of the story... and how well it's balanced with the professional. Lots of action ... lots of suspects ... and a hint of a developing romance make this one a keeper. I look forward to read the second in this series .... THE SECRET OF BONES.
Many thanks to the author / Minotaur Books /St Martin's Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 23, 2021
I received book 3 of the Jazz Ramsey series not realizing it was part of a series so of course, I had to start at the beginning! The Scent of Murder by Kylie Logan is book 1, and I thought it was a great start to a new-to-me series. I loved the fact that Jazz trains cadaver dogs, and this actually felt a bit like Kathryn Casey's Detective Clara Jefferies series to me for some reason. The writing is simple but engaging, and it is a super quick read that you can finish in one sitting. I didn't have the book, but I was able to snag the audiobook from my library and I have zero complaints. The narrator is Emily Pike Stewart, and unfortunately, it doesn't look like she narrates the rest of the series, but I really enjoyed her for this book. She was just how I would want and expect Jazz to sound, and her voice made for a very pleasant listening experience. I ended up having to stop and come back to it, but it was easy for me to catch back up to what was going on, and it has a very easy plot to follow along with.
I was also surprised by the ending of The Scent of Murder, and while I wasn't trying to sleuth along with her, I still don't know if I would have seen the end coming. There is an interesting cast of characters and there are definitely some that are more trustworthy than others. I was thoroughly engrossed in the story, and it helps that I absolutely loved Jazz. She is just the type of tenacious, strong-willed character that I love to see as a lead in novels, and I already know I am going to love this whole series. I had a lot of fun listening to this and it is on the serious side while also having a nice dose of wit and humor. I can't wait to see what book 2 will bring me!
I was also surprised by the ending of The Scent of Murder, and while I wasn't trying to sleuth along with her, I still don't know if I would have seen the end coming. There is an interesting cast of characters and there are definitely some that are more trustworthy than others. I was thoroughly engrossed in the story, and it helps that I absolutely loved Jazz. She is just the type of tenacious, strong-willed character that I love to see as a lead in novels, and I already know I am going to love this whole series. I had a lot of fun listening to this and it is on the serious side while also having a nice dose of wit and humor. I can't wait to see what book 2 will bring me!
February 18, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books for an eGalley of this book.
Jasmine Ramsey is a member of the local Search and Rescue team. The content of the story indicates that her trained cadaver dog has died but she is out training another dog for a friend. The empty building is scheduled for renovation but the owners allow the handlers to use the facility to train their dogs until work begins. This time when Jazz is putting a dog through it's paces the dog alerts in the vacant building. Jazz finds the dog was right and the body is that of someone she knows.
This was a pleasant read but not what I was looking for. I had hoped to find a book which gave a lot of focus to the training and use of dogs in search and rescue. What I found was a book with little focus on the work of the dog but much focus on the personal relationship between Jazz and her previous boyfriend. The boyfriend is a police detective so he has a perfect reason to be involved in the case, but Jazz has been given, by the author, absolutely no authorization of any kind for investigating a murder. The connection between Jazz and the victim is that Jazz works at the high school which the victim attended and graduated from two years previously. Mighty thin and tenuous reason for all the time Jazz spent investigating and asking questions - which, by the way nobody was obligated to answer at all, so why did they? It wasn't realistic.
As I said, for me this was an okay read but I will not be continuing with the series.
Jasmine Ramsey is a member of the local Search and Rescue team. The content of the story indicates that her trained cadaver dog has died but she is out training another dog for a friend. The empty building is scheduled for renovation but the owners allow the handlers to use the facility to train their dogs until work begins. This time when Jazz is putting a dog through it's paces the dog alerts in the vacant building. Jazz finds the dog was right and the body is that of someone she knows.
This was a pleasant read but not what I was looking for. I had hoped to find a book which gave a lot of focus to the training and use of dogs in search and rescue. What I found was a book with little focus on the work of the dog but much focus on the personal relationship between Jazz and her previous boyfriend. The boyfriend is a police detective so he has a perfect reason to be involved in the case, but Jazz has been given, by the author, absolutely no authorization of any kind for investigating a murder. The connection between Jazz and the victim is that Jazz works at the high school which the victim attended and graduated from two years previously. Mighty thin and tenuous reason for all the time Jazz spent investigating and asking questions - which, by the way nobody was obligated to answer at all, so why did they? It wasn't realistic.
As I said, for me this was an okay read but I will not be continuing with the series.
June 22, 2021
3.75 stars rounded up
Browsing through the reviews for this book, I definitely enjoyed it better than the general opinion. I think Jazz's side-job as cadaver dog trainer occupation is interesting for me, and I do like reading about animals in my book. Jazz is involved in the unofficial investigation because the victim is a former student at the school where she works, so she has a personal interest. I think it's quite acceptable.
Another thing that adds my interest is the second-chance romance factor. The homicide detective tasked with the case is Jazz's ex. Second-chance trope is MY FAVORITE trope and it always able to make my heart goes a little bit faster with excitement. So yes, this book may not develop Nick well, there's still a lot about him that we don't know... but I think the main focus is NOT about Nick anyway, it's about Jazz, so I'm good.
I like the mystery - I like the "secrets" that apparently attached to the victim and how Jazz learns about it bit by bit. The killer may not get enough on screen page, though, so how Jazz comes to conclusion feels a little bit coincidental... However, in overall, I think this is a PROMISING start of a series. I already run through retailer place to get the second book
Browsing through the reviews for this book, I definitely enjoyed it better than the general opinion. I think Jazz's side-job as cadaver dog trainer occupation is interesting for me, and I do like reading about animals in my book. Jazz is involved in the unofficial investigation because the victim is a former student at the school where she works, so she has a personal interest. I think it's quite acceptable.
Another thing that adds my interest is the second-chance romance factor. The homicide detective tasked with the case is Jazz's ex. Second-chance trope is MY FAVORITE trope and it always able to make my heart goes a little bit faster with excitement. So yes, this book may not develop Nick well, there's still a lot about him that we don't know... but I think the main focus is NOT about Nick anyway, it's about Jazz, so I'm good.
I like the mystery - I like the "secrets" that apparently attached to the victim and how Jazz learns about it bit by bit. The killer may not get enough on screen page, though, so how Jazz comes to conclusion feels a little bit coincidental... However, in overall, I think this is a PROMISING start of a series. I already run through retailer place to get the second book
June 6, 2019
When I saw the darker looking cover of this book, I wasn't really sure if I'd end up liking it, but I knew that I liked other books by this author, so I figured why not. I'm very glad I gave it a chance and didn't judge this book by its cover--which is well-done, but doesn't come off as cozy. The mystery wasn't dark at all and was even a little funny in some places. It was interesting to learn about cadaver dogs and how they're trained to track. I enjoyed these main characters a lot. They were strong and likable. Jazz was strong too and not only in her personality-- and the fact that she'd had two older brothers to contend with at home came in very handy in her showdown with the killer.
I hadn't guessed the killer until the clues started coming, and it made total sense. I'm glad that Jazz softened just a little toward Nick. He brought her the sweetest surprise at the end. I definitely want to read the next book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
I hadn't guessed the killer until the clues started coming, and it made total sense. I'm glad that Jazz softened just a little toward Nick. He brought her the sweetest surprise at the end. I definitely want to read the next book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
September 13, 2019
This book was very mediocre. Most of the story was very bland and predictable. The main character was trying to solve the mystery but didnt actually do anything that the police hadn't already done until the last 15 pages. I did like how the police were good at their job s because police get a bad rep for the very few assholes out there when there are a few assholes in every group. Anyway I bought the book because of the dog on the cover and the dog was almost never in it which was very disappointing. Overall I give the book a 2.5/5
August 29, 2019
Jazz works as an administrative assistant in a girls school and works with cadaver dogs. She is training a dog when she finds a dead body. It was a girl who had gone to the school but she looked totally different. From the sweet quiet girl to goth. Jazz has to figure out what changed and who killed her. She also has a cop boyfriend Nick, who is off and on. This book seemed to be the second in the series because you missed some of the background but it is the first in the series.
April 25, 2022
I cant tell I will LOVE this series….cant wait!!!
February 4, 2019
Very mixed on this one .... When I requested this book, I was under the impression that it was going to be a mystery involving cadaver dogs (not a new theme, and one I've read before and enjoyed). However, there was very little about training cadaver dogs, in fact, it was such a small part of the story, it was really inconsequential. The main character, Jazz, who was supposed to be training cadaver dogs was in reality more of an amatuer detective, who was primarily an admistrative assistant in a privat school. The mystery itself was okay - I kept reading because I wanted to know who killed Florie. Once I reached a certain point in the book, the answer was obvious. However, even though I had guessed the who dunnit part, I finished the book.
This book was just okay. Not the worst I've read ... I feel that had the main character been more developed - who she was, more defined - it would have made a much stronger story.
Thank you #netgalley and #stmartinspress for the eARC.
This book was just okay. Not the worst I've read ... I feel that had the main character been more developed - who she was, more defined - it would have made a much stronger story.
Thank you #netgalley and #stmartinspress for the eARC.
June 11, 2019
If there is one thing that I'm more of a sucker for than a ghost story it's a story with a an animal. Dog, cat, horse, elephant...makes no difference as long as it has 4-legs. Luther is a very special dog...he's a cadaver dog. He's in training but he's going to make this a wonderful series. There are some unexpected twists as well as some very clever red herrings. I really liked that the author kept us guessing about the the murderer’s identity and the reasons for the crime until the very end. Good first start here.
December 14, 2018
My review will appear in Booklist! Kylie Logan's new novel is a little different from her previous ones, but I think it's her best yet. Excited for more in this series.
April 29, 2020
Very much a regular mystery - not a cozy mystery. No real gore [though the MC trains cadaver dogs, so that may change], but a lot more language than is typical for a cozy and the story-line is definitely not cozy. Though the MC's penchant for running off and doing what the cops should be doing because of her blatant disregard of the police and their work [enter her ex that is....hold on....A COP] is absolutely a cozy trope.
That said, I really liked this book [Jazz's running off everywhere aside] and I liked the story and how the person killed changed over the course of the book. And there were a lot of good red herrings that kept you guessing. And I didn't figure it out until Jazz did which made for a really good read/listen. The narrator was also pretty good so there is bonus points there.
That said, I really liked this book [Jazz's running off everywhere aside] and I liked the story and how the person killed changed over the course of the book. And there were a lot of good red herrings that kept you guessing. And I didn't figure it out until Jazz did which made for a really good read/listen. The narrator was also pretty good so there is bonus points there.
May 7, 2019
The Scent of Murder by Kylie Logan is the first book in A Jazz Ramsey Mystery series. Jasmine “Jazz” Ramsey is working with Greg Johnson’s cadaver dog, Luther in a building that is going to be rehabbed into condos. When Luther gives the signal that he has found something, Jazz is surprised it is a young woman dressed in Goth clothing with white make-up, black nails, piercings and tattoos. She recognizes the deceased as Florie Allen who graduated from St. Catherine’s Preparatory Academy, where Jazz works as an administrative assistant, two years ago. The lead detective is Jazz’s former boyfriend, Nick Kolesov whom she has not seen in a over a year. Jazz is troubled by Florie’s death and feels the best solution is to get answers. She wants to find out what has happened to the young woman since she graduated and how she ended up dead in the empty building. Will Jazz’s determination get her the answers she desires, or will she end up the next victim?
The Scent of Murder is the latest novel by Kylie Logan. We are introduced to Jazz Ramsey who works as an administrative assistant to Sister Eileen Flannery, the founder and principal of St. Catherine’s Preparatory Academy. In her spare time, Jazz trains cadaver/rescue dogs and runs to work off her excess energy. Jazz has lost her father and her dog in the last year. She is close to her mother and two brothers plus she has a close friend in Sarah Carrington. I like that the author took the time to establish the main character plus her family and close friends. I did find, though, that Jazz is hard to connect with as a reader. I wanted her to be more relatable instead of distant. I like that the author is a descriptive writer who describes the characters, the setting, homes, dog searches and more. We are given just the right amount of detail. I could picture Cleveland and its various diverse neighborhoods. It was interesting to learn about the training of cadaver/rescue dogs and how they conduct searches. I hope there will be more of it in future books. The mystery was straightforward with a couple of suspects and good clues to aid readers in solving the crime before the reveal. I think Jazz needed more of a reason to investigate Florie’s death. I do want readers to know that the story contains foul language and the story is darker than most cozy mysteries. My favorite phrase from The Scent of Murder is “. . . she knew holidays weren’t dates on a calendar, but the time spent with family.” I thought that was a lovely sentiment. The Scent of Murder is a good start to this new cozy mystery series. The Scent of Murder has a strong female protagonist, good friends, a loving family, a curious mystery, and some cute canines.
The Scent of Murder is the latest novel by Kylie Logan. We are introduced to Jazz Ramsey who works as an administrative assistant to Sister Eileen Flannery, the founder and principal of St. Catherine’s Preparatory Academy. In her spare time, Jazz trains cadaver/rescue dogs and runs to work off her excess energy. Jazz has lost her father and her dog in the last year. She is close to her mother and two brothers plus she has a close friend in Sarah Carrington. I like that the author took the time to establish the main character plus her family and close friends. I did find, though, that Jazz is hard to connect with as a reader. I wanted her to be more relatable instead of distant. I like that the author is a descriptive writer who describes the characters, the setting, homes, dog searches and more. We are given just the right amount of detail. I could picture Cleveland and its various diverse neighborhoods. It was interesting to learn about the training of cadaver/rescue dogs and how they conduct searches. I hope there will be more of it in future books. The mystery was straightforward with a couple of suspects and good clues to aid readers in solving the crime before the reveal. I think Jazz needed more of a reason to investigate Florie’s death. I do want readers to know that the story contains foul language and the story is darker than most cozy mysteries. My favorite phrase from The Scent of Murder is “. . . she knew holidays weren’t dates on a calendar, but the time spent with family.” I thought that was a lovely sentiment. The Scent of Murder is a good start to this new cozy mystery series. The Scent of Murder has a strong female protagonist, good friends, a loving family, a curious mystery, and some cute canines.
May 7, 2019
I really enjoyed this story. I would have given it a higher star rating but there are a few confusing holes in the story. An example is why is Jazz allowed to investigate the murder when she is in fact a dog trainer not a cop? I just had to let some things go and use my imagination to fill in the holes to enjoy the story itself. I do wish there had been more of a focus on Jazz's work with the dogs and their training. Why? Because - dogs! The mystery part of the story could have been stronger as well. Neither Jazz nor Nick seem to be able to solve the mystery even though the answer seem apparent to me. Still with all this I did enjoy the story and was completely entertained so I would recommend it to others.
May 7, 2019
The Scent of Murder by Kylie Logan is the 1st book in the Jazz Ramsey mystery series, and it's off to a good start. Jazz Ramsey is thirty-five years old, enjoys her job as an admin assistant at an all girls Catholic school, and on the side she helps train a cadaver dog, Luther. While training Luther in an old building, where she hid a tooth, he finds a body. Jazz know this women as an old student, and is determined to find out who killed her. I did not love this book, but it kept popping into my head for days after I read it. And I am looking forward to the next book in the series, to see what happens. I am use to reading Ms. Logan's cozy mysteries, and this book is definitely not a cozy. I recommend this book.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. Thank you.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. Thank you.
May 30, 2019
Jazz Ramsey trains and works with cadaver dogs when she isn’t working at a catholic school. I have always been interested in learning more about that field. I enjoyed reading the book. It really kept me focused.
I borrowed this book from my local library off of Overdrive.
I borrowed this book from my local library off of Overdrive.
May 7, 2019
The Scent of Murder takes place in Cleveland and tells the story of Jazz Ramsey, an administrative assistant at an all girls Catholic school during the day but in her off hours she trains cadaver dogs. Her current recruit is Luther, as pictured on the cover, a German Shepard and while training in an abandoned warehouse Luther suddenly goes on alert. This is alarming for Jazz, especially when she discovers a body. Even more alarming is the fact this is a former student from her school. The investigator turns out to be Jazz's ex-boyfriend Nick. While there is an undertone of romance, this is not prominent but could have been more and would have made this book better. The mystery was somewhat flat in that the murderer was evident early on but for some reason the players could not see it. Yea, right. Anywho, I probably will not continue this series as there is only so much time but it was an okay book if you like cozy mysteries, it was just not full on as it was trying to be.
**Received this ARC to review from the publisher via NetGalley**
**Received this ARC to review from the publisher via NetGalley**
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