Dead Weight: A Jack Hart Mystery

Jack Hart Mysteries #4

by Rosemary Reeve

"A woman doesn't kill herself when she's losing weight," said the court reporter.

Or does she?

Seattle attorney Jack Hart is defending his client's refusal to pay on a life insurance policy. Everything points to suicide, except that the young woman lost 50 pounds in the six months before she jumped or fell 10 stories to her death. Suicide, accident – or murder?

This fourth installment of the Jack Hart mystery series takes Jack across charismatic Seattle neighborhoods in search of clues.

From Capitol Hill to Ballard, from Queen Anne to the University District, Jack learns of a young woman who seemed almost deliberately self-effacing, someone people couldn’t quite see. Someone that unobtrusive could overhear a lot of secrets – secrets that could get somebody killed.

Praise from readers for the Jack Hart series:

“Wow!! . . . [T]his series is among the very best.”
“Great, Fantastic, Exciting.... Such a twist, turn and twist again story. Couldn't put it down.”
“A great read! [A]n excellent mystery, very clever and convoluted!”

Now with book club discussion guide

Genres: Mystery

Audiobook

First published September 2, 2018

About the author

Rosemary Reeve is an attorney who began her career in Seattle. She wrote the Jack Hart mysteries to entertain her mom, mailing home a chapter each week for feedback and critique. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School and lives in Salt Lake City. She is also a recipient of the Ball Home Canning Award and a blue-ribbon winner at the Utah State Fair for canned tomatoes, peaches, and pears. It all made sense at the time.

The Jack Hart Mysteries are legal page-turners set in the 1990s Northwest:

All Good Things
No Good Deed
Only the Good
Dead Weight

Reviews

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"All of the spiders you flushed down the toilet..."
Jack Hart, successful lawyer, financialLy comfortable, with a wealthy and very beautiful partner-girlfriend, seemed to have it all. It should have been easy to sign off on a suicide for the insurance company, but it was something someone said - a woman doesn't kill herself if she's successfully dieting. But had the weight loss been from the emotional trauma of her mother's death? And why could no one, even her long time work colleagues or the staff at her mother's care home where she'd visited daily, really remember what she looked like? Or even if she wore glasses? It was as if she had been invisible.a

So begins a long and convoluted investigation into the death of Kerry, who had died after falling from the tenth floor of her building, and the other deaths which followed. His girlfriend, too, is involved in a Grand Jury investgation, and Jack's life expands to include not only high society fund raising auctions but working as a labourer on building sites. Great characters, fast pace, good dialogue, very unexpected story with multiple twists: in all, a fascinating read.
And the narration by Noah DeBiase is good, living up to the quality of the story itself. His voice is pleasant, with good pacing and we'll intoned, the individual characters also given separate voicings. A fine performance which enhances the enjoyment of the book.

Dead Weight is the fourth in the Jack Hart series but can be read without prior knowledge of the earlier books. All the reader needs to know is here. This was my introduction to the lawyer but, I hope, not my last encounter as I'm definitely going to actively seek out the books which came before as I enjoyed it thoroughly. There were twists and turns, great characters and was vividly visual throughout: definitely a book I'd recommended. My thanks, therefore, to the rights holder of Dead Weight, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy of the book via Audiobook Boom. It enjoyably entertained me throughout it's ten plus hours. Excellent.

[Suzan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosemary Reeve is a wonderful author. The Jack Hart series is one of the best series I have ever read. The characters are well developed and I love how they interact with each other. This is book 4 in the series and I have read them all. Rosemary has done it again making me wish the book would not end. Noah DeBaise is the narrator of this wonderful series and once again he does a great job. I can't imagine anyone else being the voice of Jack Hart. I was gifted this audiobook with the understanding that I would leave an honest review.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosemary Reeve has done it again. This is another captivating mystery featuring some really great characters. And Noah DeBiase has definitely become the voice of Jack Hart. His performance is outstanding.

NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Eugenia Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, great author

Rosemary Reeve writes books with great characters, lots of action, and complex plots. I read the other 2 books in this series, and they were also outstanding. I can't wait for her to publish another.

[Richard Cowart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

This mystery lawyer series was great. This book about the murder of a girl is the start of multiple murders to cover up fraud. Many twists and turns and I hope to see the characters somewhere in the future. Thanks for the entertainment

[Linda Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Murder mystery series

I have read all 4 books in this series. These are very good murder mystery books. I recommend them to all who enjoy a good murder mystery and interesting story line.

[Jessie Ahroni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read all four of these novels, one after another. The three main characters (well, four, if you count the dog) are delightful. The mysteries are intricate. The writing is fast paced, and you can read one in a day or two. Being a Seattleite, I especially loved the references to Seattle places and events.

[Lucinda Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the last of the 4 books in the series so far that I have read. A good all-round detective story, with tongue in cheek humour, especially from the antics of Betsy the dog. I was a little overwhelmed by the information dump towards the end. I would have preferred to have this drip fed earlier in the narrative while not giving away the ending.

[Marisia Robus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it
I really enjoyed this legal thriller. The plot was twisted and kept me guessing (and I had it wrong) . I enjoyed the relationship between Jack and his fiance. Not knowing if it was murder or suicide .
I will be reading more of this author.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

[Rita Zolubos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable book 4

Love that Jack doesn’t get shot at in this book. Love the back and forth with he and Harmony. Great story, you’ll love the twist of who done it!

[Jessica Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

GOOD READ

Good series hope there is more to come. Let Amazon give a posting if there is another book. Would recommend Author to your reader list.

[Cherie Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Series of Books

I read all four books in seven days. They kept me interested from page one of the first book to the last page of the last book and has left me wanting more. At no point in this series was I bored. Please notify me of anything new by Rosemary Reeves so that I may get immediate gratification from a well-written, interesting, page-turner. I wish her the best and am looking forward to your next offering.

[Rsweber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing end to the series.