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Jack McMorrow Mystery #7
Pretty Dead
In his eighth action-packed mystery, journalist Jack McMorrow investigates the murder of a woman with mysterious ties to a wealthy and powerful Boston family, who may have some dark and dangerous secrets that they will do anything to hide. Reprint.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 2, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 2, 2020
This is another very entertaining entry in this series, featuring reporter Jack McMorrow. McMorrow is a stringer for the New York Times, even though he lives way off the grid in the woods near Prosperity, Maine. But Jack stumbles into a potentially explosive story when his girlfriend, Roxanne, a social worker, is sent to investigate a case of possible child abuse involving a very wealthy and prominent Boston family.
A church worker reports that the child, a little girl, has complained of being locked in a dark closet as punishment and there is bruising on the child's shoulders. Jack drives Roxanne to the couple's vacation mansion in Blue Harbor and waits outside while Roxanne goes in to interview the child and her mother. While Jack is waiting, he is discovered by the child's father, the wealthy and very personable David Connelly.
Connelly invites Jack into the house and before long, both Jack and Roxanne appear to have fallen under the spell of the Connellys. The mother, Maddie, blames the child's abuse on a nanny who has been fired and sent packing. Roxanne will have to chase down the nanny to hear her side of the story, but both she and Jack find the Connellys charming and believable.
The Connellys invite Jack and Roxanne to a party at their luxurious home. One of the other guests is an attractive and very seductive young woman named Angel Moretti. Angel works for the charitable foundation that the Connellys run and seems to have a strange power over the men who work there, David Connelly included.
Shortly thereafter, a body is discovered in the woods not far from Jack's home. As a reporter, he naturally senses a story and goes to the scene. He's shocked when he sees that the victim is Angel Moretti, and her death puts Jack in a very difficult position. As a reporter, he feels obligated to follow the story wherever it leads, but as a new friend of the Connellys, he's reluctant to draw them into what would certainly become a major scandal. As he tries to walk the fine line between his duty to his job and his obligations to his new friends, some seriously dangerous people will attempt to turn him away from the story and Jack will soon discover that he's head over heels in trouble and that he may be dragging Roxanne right along with him.
The books in this series just seem to keep getting better with each new entry. Again, Boyle has written a gripping story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, right up to the powerful climax. An easy four stars.
A church worker reports that the child, a little girl, has complained of being locked in a dark closet as punishment and there is bruising on the child's shoulders. Jack drives Roxanne to the couple's vacation mansion in Blue Harbor and waits outside while Roxanne goes in to interview the child and her mother. While Jack is waiting, he is discovered by the child's father, the wealthy and very personable David Connelly.
Connelly invites Jack into the house and before long, both Jack and Roxanne appear to have fallen under the spell of the Connellys. The mother, Maddie, blames the child's abuse on a nanny who has been fired and sent packing. Roxanne will have to chase down the nanny to hear her side of the story, but both she and Jack find the Connellys charming and believable.
The Connellys invite Jack and Roxanne to a party at their luxurious home. One of the other guests is an attractive and very seductive young woman named Angel Moretti. Angel works for the charitable foundation that the Connellys run and seems to have a strange power over the men who work there, David Connelly included.
Shortly thereafter, a body is discovered in the woods not far from Jack's home. As a reporter, he naturally senses a story and goes to the scene. He's shocked when he sees that the victim is Angel Moretti, and her death puts Jack in a very difficult position. As a reporter, he feels obligated to follow the story wherever it leads, but as a new friend of the Connellys, he's reluctant to draw them into what would certainly become a major scandal. As he tries to walk the fine line between his duty to his job and his obligations to his new friends, some seriously dangerous people will attempt to turn him away from the story and Jack will soon discover that he's head over heels in trouble and that he may be dragging Roxanne right along with him.
The books in this series just seem to keep getting better with each new entry. Again, Boyle has written a gripping story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, right up to the powerful climax. An easy four stars.
August 21, 2012
This was a nice light mystery. Characters were well developed which draws you into their struggle. Other than the "secret" which I did guess the ending was unexpected.
April 8, 2021
PRETTY DEAD BY GERRY BOYLE IS THE SEVENTH IN THE JACK MCMORROW SERIES. This is my first book by this author . Even though it is I had zero trouble getting into the characters and the plot.
McMorrow,a reporter just by coincidence joins his girlfriend Roxanne at the extremely rich home of the Connelly's where a report of child abuse has been filed against them. While Roxanne examines and questions the child and family , Jack decides to stay out of the way. When Jack is confronted and befriended by David Connelly,Jack gets involved in not only the child alleged child abuse but murder.
I loved the book! The plot was a bit confusing but other than that the action, and plot made it a good read. The only con I can come up with were the characters. Some of them,were a bit cliche , but other than that I am ready to try more of the Jack McMorrow series. I did listen to this as an audible book and the narration was very good. Michael A Smith the narrator did a great job giving different voices to the people and the overall reading of the book was sound!
I reiceved this audiobook free in exchange for a honest review.
McMorrow,a reporter just by coincidence joins his girlfriend Roxanne at the extremely rich home of the Connelly's where a report of child abuse has been filed against them. While Roxanne examines and questions the child and family , Jack decides to stay out of the way. When Jack is confronted and befriended by David Connelly,Jack gets involved in not only the child alleged child abuse but murder.
I loved the book! The plot was a bit confusing but other than that the action, and plot made it a good read. The only con I can come up with were the characters. Some of them,were a bit cliche , but other than that I am ready to try more of the Jack McMorrow series. I did listen to this as an audible book and the narration was very good. Michael A Smith the narrator did a great job giving different voices to the people and the overall reading of the book was sound!
I reiceved this audiobook free in exchange for a honest review.
October 19, 2021
Ok read, not super engaging
Parents: R - This in not for kids. It has Very Strong bad language (including f-bombs). The violence is moderate and then you have the sexual content: Boobs, nakedness, and sexual suggestive contents.
Narrator: differentiations we not the best, the subbed-in female voices we tinny and sounded out of place.
The story is a decent mystery albeit a bit choppy. Not the best mystery I’ve read recently but still enjoyable if you can drag your way through the slower chunks.
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Parents: R - This in not for kids. It has Very Strong bad language (including f-bombs). The violence is moderate and then you have the sexual content: Boobs, nakedness, and sexual suggestive contents.
Narrator: differentiations we not the best, the subbed-in female voices we tinny and sounded out of place.
The story is a decent mystery albeit a bit choppy. Not the best mystery I’ve read recently but still enjoyable if you can drag your way through the slower chunks.
—I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
October 3, 2017
I really like this series, but #7 didn't cut to the quick. Too many happenstances, too many stock characters, too little of McMorrow's usual attention to fierce and steady morals.
I miss Clair's wife making soup and Roxanne's strong counterpoint to Jack. Clair even seems a bit flat.
That said, there are unexpected twistings and readers are kept in the dark until the last few pages.
(How does someone get beaten up so thoroughly so often and not get soft-headed? And heal so quickly?)
I miss Clair's wife making soup and Roxanne's strong counterpoint to Jack. Clair even seems a bit flat.
That said, there are unexpected twistings and readers are kept in the dark until the last few pages.
(How does someone get beaten up so thoroughly so often and not get soft-headed? And heal so quickly?)
September 19, 2019
I guess you have to get out of Prosperity Maine sometimes! This book was mid coast and then Boston. It was nice to see Roxanne with a larger role in this story. Kept me guessing. Glad I've started at the beginning of this series.. working my way through!
February 24, 2021
Jack is looking into the case of an elite parents of a girl and what she is saying. With the bruises on her shoulders she can’t be making it up.
This 7 th book takes Jack into a darker side of investigation. Good series and good narration. Given audio for my voluntary review
This 7 th book takes Jack into a darker side of investigation. Good series and good narration. Given audio for my voluntary review
November 22, 2022
Good story. Horrid narration. 3.5 rounded up.
Too many pronunciation errors. Chatham, Dorchester, Brooklin come to mind. Plus the women’s voices are terrible.
That aside, the story was interesting. I had no clue who did it until the end.
Too many pronunciation errors. Chatham, Dorchester, Brooklin come to mind. Plus the women’s voices are terrible.
That aside, the story was interesting. I had no clue who did it until the end.
September 15, 2017
Not the best of the McMorrow series, Straw Man and Once Burned are excellent, but Pretty Dead has all the usual twists which keep you reading to the last page.
December 18, 2020
Tough book to put down!
April 10, 2023
Gerry Boyle has created a great newspaper reporter hero with a compelling sidekick in Clair.
June 4, 2025
Mr. Boyle can only write a damn fine mystery......
September 1, 2025
Pretty good story, paced well. I don't read mysteries as I just HAVE to know how it ends. Read this in less than 2 days.
August 8, 2010
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.
'Pretty Dead' was pretty implausible.
When I read the jacket description, I was looking forward to a tale involving an intrepid reporter. For the New York Times, no less. (I have many friends who are current or former reporters.)
But I couldn't believe the ethical conflicts in which the central character, Jack McMorrow, immerses himself without a qualm.
He befriends and socializes w. sources while he's "investigating" them.
He allows his girlfriend, also -- she's a social worker -- to befriend and socialize w. the very same parties. I.e., his sources are 'clients' that she is supposed to be evaluating for alleged child abuse.
Tho I don't know how the NYT operates, I can't believe that a New England 'stringer" for the paper would be able to order around editors, order up research fr. the newspaper's archives, etc. as much as McMorrow does.
The sources - and alleged abusers - turn out to be victims of criminal acts. Jack and his girlfriend vindicate them. But that still doesn't excuse the personal relationship they have w. these individuals while the shadow of suspicion is strong upon them.
Fairly interesting plot (who does the crimes, how the hero-heroine figure out who did it, and how.) Knowing what I do about journalism, I just couldn't suspend my disbelief to embrace the fiction.
'Pretty Dead' was pretty implausible.
When I read the jacket description, I was looking forward to a tale involving an intrepid reporter. For the New York Times, no less. (I have many friends who are current or former reporters.)
But I couldn't believe the ethical conflicts in which the central character, Jack McMorrow, immerses himself without a qualm.
He befriends and socializes w. sources while he's "investigating" them.
He allows his girlfriend, also -- she's a social worker -- to befriend and socialize w. the very same parties. I.e., his sources are 'clients' that she is supposed to be evaluating for alleged child abuse.
Tho I don't know how the NYT operates, I can't believe that a New England 'stringer" for the paper would be able to order around editors, order up research fr. the newspaper's archives, etc. as much as McMorrow does.
The sources - and alleged abusers - turn out to be victims of criminal acts. Jack and his girlfriend vindicate them. But that still doesn't excuse the personal relationship they have w. these individuals while the shadow of suspicion is strong upon them.
Fairly interesting plot (who does the crimes, how the hero-heroine figure out who did it, and how.) Knowing what I do about journalism, I just couldn't suspend my disbelief to embrace the fiction.
September 7, 2007
PRETTY DEAD – VG
Gerry Boyle – 7th in series
When reporter Jack McMorrow’s significant other, social service worker Roxanne Masterson, investigates allegations of physical abuse concerning the young daughter of Boston bluebloods David and Maddie Connelly, Jack senses a shot at a story. There a beautiful young staff member steals the show, then winds up dead. Heavy muscle shows up to discourage Jack's search, while a phone message forces him to put his cards on the table and the Connellys to unveil a dark secret from the past that could destroy far more than the family image. In the end, Jack must decide just where to draw the line between his friendship with the Connellys and his responsibility as a journalist to write the truth.
Set in Maine and Boston, Gerry Boyle does excellent sense of place, interesting characters, particularly his friend Clair, involving plots and good red herrings. I’ve always enjoyed this series and this is one of the best.
Gerry Boyle – 7th in series
When reporter Jack McMorrow’s significant other, social service worker Roxanne Masterson, investigates allegations of physical abuse concerning the young daughter of Boston bluebloods David and Maddie Connelly, Jack senses a shot at a story. There a beautiful young staff member steals the show, then winds up dead. Heavy muscle shows up to discourage Jack's search, while a phone message forces him to put his cards on the table and the Connellys to unveil a dark secret from the past that could destroy far more than the family image. In the end, Jack must decide just where to draw the line between his friendship with the Connellys and his responsibility as a journalist to write the truth.
Set in Maine and Boston, Gerry Boyle does excellent sense of place, interesting characters, particularly his friend Clair, involving plots and good red herrings. I’ve always enjoyed this series and this is one of the best.
December 29, 2013
I enjoy this series of books set in Maine. Jack McMorrow is an ex New York Times writer who messed up his life and is finally finding it again in the small Maine Town of Prosperity. He writes pieces for anyone who will pay him and fights for the underdog by exposing corruption and other not so nice facets of human life. This time he is playing with the very rich and are they who they seem to be or are they as bad as the guys harrasing them????? You'll have to read and find out. Another reason I enjoy the series is because the characters are growing and changing and that keeps them interesting.
June 4, 2015
I'm late to the series but am reading them in order. Pretty Dead is #7 and his best Jack McMorrow mystery to date (again, remembering that #10 just came out, so I am still a bit behind). As I am reading them back-to-back-to-back, it is clear how the author is developing and growing as a writer. I particularly liked the premise of Pretty Dead, but I'm hoping that putting the girlfriend (Roxanne) in danger as a result of Jack's writing projects is going to stop here (or at least be tempered somewhat). There are lots of ways to build tension and set up a plot twist, and we've seen enough of Roxanne being threatened by the people McMorrow is threatening to expose through his writing.
January 21, 2014
It was more of a 1 and a half. Boyle could have done so much better than this. There was too much focus on showing that he knew the layout of Maine and not enough on building tension, characters with depth, and an ending that leaves me surprised and not feeling like everything came from left field.
And don't even get me started on the dialogue. That was a mess.
And don't even get me started on the dialogue. That was a mess.
June 10, 2016
This is the first book I have read by this author and probably should have started with the 1st book in the Jack McMorrow series. It is a really good mystery, well written without a lot of unnecessary details but lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending. Will definitely read more by this author.
April 22, 2008
Not a bad read. I think it would have been better as a beach read. It was quick and I enjoyed the flow of the book.
August 20, 2008
Picked this book up on a whim.....loved it so much, I had to go back and read ALL of Boyle's books.
Read
May 16, 2009could not get in to this one...
July 31, 2012
Perfect little mystery for a light summer read. I think I especially liked it because the setting was Maine, where I've spent some time so it was easy to picture the little towns involved.
October 30, 2011
Enjoyable, with richly drawn characters. Rural/coastal Maine and Boston etched with care.
March 6, 2012
What can I say, Gerry Boyle tends to keep me on the edge of my seat from page one! Another shocking ending.
March 5, 2015
Almost fell asleep reading the first 20 pages. It got better when I finally found the rhythm of the story.
April 18, 2019
Pretty good throughout, except for the terribly rushed ending.
May 28, 2016
Good plot and good characters -- I want to go back to the beginning of this series.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews