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Jazz Ramsey #3
A Trail of Lies
A Trail of Lies is the third in the Jazz Ramsey mystery series from national bestselling author Kylie Logan.
Jazz Ramsey is just getting used to the idea that her on-again-off-again beau, Nick, might actually be a permanent fixture, when she gets an alarming call in the middle of the night from his mother, Kim: there's a dead man in her backyard. Kim has a long history of drinking and a vivid imagination, so when Jazz's human remains detection dog, Wally, finds no evidence of a body, Jazz thinks she can breathe easy.
But when the body of a middle-aged man, Dan Mansfield, is discovered in a nearby park, and a photo of Nick and his mom is found in his pocket, Jazz has to admit that something isn't adding up. Kim claims not to know who Dan is, but the cops find out soon enough: he's a recently paroled convict who served thirty years for murder. And when Jazz traces his crime back to a bar fight with an antiques dealer, she ends up with more questions than answers.
Meanwhile, no one wants her poking around--not Nick's mom, nor the Motorcycle-riding ex-con she connects to Dan, nor Nick himself, who seems worried about Jazz's safety, but also about what she might find. But Jazz has never been one to take no for an answer, and she won't give up now--even if it means risking her own life.
Jazz Ramsey is just getting used to the idea that her on-again-off-again beau, Nick, might actually be a permanent fixture, when she gets an alarming call in the middle of the night from his mother, Kim: there's a dead man in her backyard. Kim has a long history of drinking and a vivid imagination, so when Jazz's human remains detection dog, Wally, finds no evidence of a body, Jazz thinks she can breathe easy.
But when the body of a middle-aged man, Dan Mansfield, is discovered in a nearby park, and a photo of Nick and his mom is found in his pocket, Jazz has to admit that something isn't adding up. Kim claims not to know who Dan is, but the cops find out soon enough: he's a recently paroled convict who served thirty years for murder. And when Jazz traces his crime back to a bar fight with an antiques dealer, she ends up with more questions than answers.
Meanwhile, no one wants her poking around--not Nick's mom, nor the Motorcycle-riding ex-con she connects to Dan, nor Nick himself, who seems worried about Jazz's safety, but also about what she might find. But Jazz has never been one to take no for an answer, and she won't give up now--even if it means risking her own life.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 11, 2021
33 people are currently reading
2433 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 88 reviews
April 25, 2021
A Trail of Lies
by Kylie Logan is a suspenseful cozy mystery set in Cleveland, Ohio. Have you ever met someone and felt an instant friendship is quickly building? That’s how it felt reading this novel.
Jazz Ramsey gets a call from her boyfriend Nick’s alcoholic mother, Kim, in the middle of the night saying there is a dead man in her backyard. Jazz and Wally, the dog she is training to be a human remains detection (HRD) dog find no evidence of a body. But when a man is found dead two miles away with a photo of Kim and her son in his pocket, things start to get dicey.
Jazz makes for a great protagonist, with a caring and persistent but sometimes skeptical personality that tends to put herself in danger while trying to help others. It seems no one wants her trying to solve the murder, including Nick and his mom. But Jazz doesn’t let that stop her from trying.
There is some character growth in both Nick and Kim. During the course of the novel readers also get to see a lot of Wally, as well meeting a retired HRD dog and a search and rescue dog. However, there is only a small amount of information regarding their training. The author did a good job of setting the scenes in Kim’s neighborhood as well as some of the places Jazz went while investigating the murder.
The plot is steadily-paced, compelling, and kept me fully engaged. There are several red herrings and a twist or two. Will you be able to determine who the killer is and the reason for the death? Jazz’s upbeat nature along with Wally make this an enjoyable read. While this isn’t set in a small town like most cozy mysteries, it is limited to certain communities within Cleveland and isn’t graphic. The writing style pulled me in to the story immediately. It flowed well and kept me turning the pages.
Overall, this novel was suspenseful, captivating and entertaining. If you enjoy cozy mysteries or mysteries involving dogs, then this may be the next series for you. This is the third book in the Jazz Ramsey Mystery series, but it worked well as a standalone novel for me. Themes include alcoholism, murder, helping those in need, intimidation, and the importance of family. I can’t wait to find out what is next, as well as go back and read the first two books in this series.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Kylie Logan provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for May 11, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Jazz Ramsey gets a call from her boyfriend Nick’s alcoholic mother, Kim, in the middle of the night saying there is a dead man in her backyard. Jazz and Wally, the dog she is training to be a human remains detection (HRD) dog find no evidence of a body. But when a man is found dead two miles away with a photo of Kim and her son in his pocket, things start to get dicey.
Jazz makes for a great protagonist, with a caring and persistent but sometimes skeptical personality that tends to put herself in danger while trying to help others. It seems no one wants her trying to solve the murder, including Nick and his mom. But Jazz doesn’t let that stop her from trying.
There is some character growth in both Nick and Kim. During the course of the novel readers also get to see a lot of Wally, as well meeting a retired HRD dog and a search and rescue dog. However, there is only a small amount of information regarding their training. The author did a good job of setting the scenes in Kim’s neighborhood as well as some of the places Jazz went while investigating the murder.
The plot is steadily-paced, compelling, and kept me fully engaged. There are several red herrings and a twist or two. Will you be able to determine who the killer is and the reason for the death? Jazz’s upbeat nature along with Wally make this an enjoyable read. While this isn’t set in a small town like most cozy mysteries, it is limited to certain communities within Cleveland and isn’t graphic. The writing style pulled me in to the story immediately. It flowed well and kept me turning the pages.
Overall, this novel was suspenseful, captivating and entertaining. If you enjoy cozy mysteries or mysteries involving dogs, then this may be the next series for you. This is the third book in the Jazz Ramsey Mystery series, but it worked well as a standalone novel for me. Themes include alcoholism, murder, helping those in need, intimidation, and the importance of family. I can’t wait to find out what is next, as well as go back and read the first two books in this series.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Kylie Logan provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for May 11, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
May 14, 2021
With her boyfriend unavailable due to an assignment with the police, Jazz Ramsey has promised to look in on Kim, Nick’s mother, to make sure she is already. While Kim is an alcoholic, Jazz still wasn’t expecting the frantic middle of the night phone call announcing that Kim killed someone in her backyard. Jazz hurries over to find no body in the backyard, and the cadaver dogs she brings in give a split decision about whether someone died there. Then a body does turn up in a park, and Kim clams up. Can Jazz figure out what is really going on?
I came to author Kylie Logan because of her fun cozies. This book has a more serious tone. It deals with Kim’s alcoholism and its effect on Nick pretty realistically, for example. But those moments are lightened by the dogs that Jazz works with, especially her new puppy. The result are characters that are very rich. I love Jazz, and her family and friends do a wonderful job of rounding out her character while also being real themselves. The mystery is strong with plenty of suspects and events to keep us confused until Jazz finally begins to piece things together at the end. All of the books in this series are wonderful. If you’ve missed them, start them today. If you’re already a fan, you’ll enjoy this one.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I came to author Kylie Logan because of her fun cozies. This book has a more serious tone. It deals with Kim’s alcoholism and its effect on Nick pretty realistically, for example. But those moments are lightened by the dogs that Jazz works with, especially her new puppy. The result are characters that are very rich. I love Jazz, and her family and friends do a wonderful job of rounding out her character while also being real themselves. The mystery is strong with plenty of suspects and events to keep us confused until Jazz finally begins to piece things together at the end. All of the books in this series are wonderful. If you’ve missed them, start them today. If you’re already a fan, you’ll enjoy this one.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
May 21, 2021
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Jazz Ramsey works at St. Catherine’s Preparatory Academy, an all-girls school as an administrative assistant. She handles the day-to-day details to keep the school running smoothly. Right now her focus is on the Fall Formal which she will be attending without her boyfriend Nick because he is on assignment with a gang task force. It’s a dangerous job that causes Jazz constant worry. So when she gets a call in the middle of the night from Nick’s mother, Kim, saying she needs Jazz right away because “it’s Nick . . . Nick, he’s . . . he’s dead in my backyard”, she rushes to Kim’s house while trying to reach Nick but her call goes to voice mail. She arrives at Kim’s house and hurries to the backyard but after a quick search, she doesn’t find a body. Nick or anyone else. Kim is a “raging alcoholic” so not the most reliable witness so Jazz is not totally surprised. Kim also changes her story, saying it wasn’t Nick but a different man and that she killed him. Jazz stays long enough to calm Kim down and then goes home thinking Kim’s story is a drunken illusion.
Then Dan Mansfield is found dead in a park near Kim’s house. He has a photo of a younger Kim and Nick in his pocket. Kim claims not to know the man but clues leads Jazz to believe Kim is lying. Now Jazz has more questions than answers and she fears there will be a whole trail of lies before this case is solved.
Jazz is an excellent protagonist. She is smart, strong but tenderhearted too. She has tried to stay away from Kim but with Nick out of town, she feels she needs to stay present in Kim’s life not only to solve a murder but because she starts to see Nick’s life growing up. She realizes he was more parent than child in the relationship with his mom. I appreciated the way the author dealt with Kim’s alcoholism. It was very realistically portrayed, and it does give the story a more serious tone than what we usually find in a cozy mystery. Ms. Logan does a great job though of balancing the darker tone with some fun things too. I love the relationship Jazz has with her co-workers. They are truly friends and support each other. Sister Eileen does something surprising in this story and it makes me like her even more. Of course, a certain Airedale named Wally lightens the story up too. Still, in training his antics bring the humor when needed. I thought all the core characters developed over the course of the story but I was really caught up in what we learned about Nick’s life.
The mystery was extremely well-plotted. It really focused on Kim’s life and the people in it over the years. With some nice twists and suspenseful moments the book really held my attention. Ms. Logan gave us plenty of suspects but several red herrings too that made it very hard to pin down the actual killer. Jazz truly was like a dog with a bone. Even when her own life was in peril she did not give up. That made for a very exciting story from beginning to end.
The title A Trail of A Lies fits this story so well. While it can be read as a stand-alone, I encourage reading the series from the start in order for maximum enjoyment.
Jazz Ramsey works at St. Catherine’s Preparatory Academy, an all-girls school as an administrative assistant. She handles the day-to-day details to keep the school running smoothly. Right now her focus is on the Fall Formal which she will be attending without her boyfriend Nick because he is on assignment with a gang task force. It’s a dangerous job that causes Jazz constant worry. So when she gets a call in the middle of the night from Nick’s mother, Kim, saying she needs Jazz right away because “it’s Nick . . . Nick, he’s . . . he’s dead in my backyard”, she rushes to Kim’s house while trying to reach Nick but her call goes to voice mail. She arrives at Kim’s house and hurries to the backyard but after a quick search, she doesn’t find a body. Nick or anyone else. Kim is a “raging alcoholic” so not the most reliable witness so Jazz is not totally surprised. Kim also changes her story, saying it wasn’t Nick but a different man and that she killed him. Jazz stays long enough to calm Kim down and then goes home thinking Kim’s story is a drunken illusion.
Then Dan Mansfield is found dead in a park near Kim’s house. He has a photo of a younger Kim and Nick in his pocket. Kim claims not to know the man but clues leads Jazz to believe Kim is lying. Now Jazz has more questions than answers and she fears there will be a whole trail of lies before this case is solved.
Jazz is an excellent protagonist. She is smart, strong but tenderhearted too. She has tried to stay away from Kim but with Nick out of town, she feels she needs to stay present in Kim’s life not only to solve a murder but because she starts to see Nick’s life growing up. She realizes he was more parent than child in the relationship with his mom. I appreciated the way the author dealt with Kim’s alcoholism. It was very realistically portrayed, and it does give the story a more serious tone than what we usually find in a cozy mystery. Ms. Logan does a great job though of balancing the darker tone with some fun things too. I love the relationship Jazz has with her co-workers. They are truly friends and support each other. Sister Eileen does something surprising in this story and it makes me like her even more. Of course, a certain Airedale named Wally lightens the story up too. Still, in training his antics bring the humor when needed. I thought all the core characters developed over the course of the story but I was really caught up in what we learned about Nick’s life.
The mystery was extremely well-plotted. It really focused on Kim’s life and the people in it over the years. With some nice twists and suspenseful moments the book really held my attention. Ms. Logan gave us plenty of suspects but several red herrings too that made it very hard to pin down the actual killer. Jazz truly was like a dog with a bone. Even when her own life was in peril she did not give up. That made for a very exciting story from beginning to end.
The title A Trail of A Lies fits this story so well. While it can be read as a stand-alone, I encourage reading the series from the start in order for maximum enjoyment.
May 17, 2021
Suspenseful and entertaining, the third Jazz Ramsey cozy even topped the first two. Couple of things that set this series apart. First locale...set in a city, Cleveland, not in an obscure small town. Jazz, hasn't left and returned home, but been there all the time. Nor is she starting over in a new career or culinary endeavor. She's an administrative assistant at a Catholic school Her beloved father passed away instilled a love of service dogs in her, but instead of training one for search and rescue, she's working with Wally, an Airedale and training him to become s cadaver dog. She's smart and capable...kind too. When her boyfriend's mother, a damaged alcoholic, calls her in the middle of the night saying someone is dead in her yard, she immediately runs over to help. The story leads you through many twists and turns, and I was completely engaged throughout. Excellent series and this book does work as a standalone, why deny yourself the pleasure of reading the other two books. Thanks to net galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2021
The case here is a little bit more personal and close to home ... because the victim has connection to Jazz's boyfriend's, Nick, mother. In fact . I definitely liked THAT twist () and I hope it is carried forward to the next book.
Again, Jazz asking questions and do her own investigation feels justified. I feel bad about her this time though, because the danger is more apparent and it even .
Anyway, Wally the dog is getting bigger. So hopefully, next time, it'll be Wally that find the body? *lol*
Again, Jazz asking questions and do her own investigation feels justified. I feel bad about her this time though, because the danger is more apparent and it even .
Anyway, Wally the dog is getting bigger. So hopefully, next time, it'll be Wally that find the body? *lol*
May 15, 2021
Even though I guessed the killer very [V E R Y - like chapter 3] early on, this didn't take away from the story at all [hence the 4 star rating]. Watching Jazz and Nick navigate the waters of an alcoholic parent [Nick's mom] with all the emotions [good and bad] that come with that was very well done and I really enjoy how all the supporting players come together to support Jazz and Nick and ultimately, Kim in their quest to find the killer, keep Kim safe and find the truth out about just who Nick's father is. Very well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kylie Logan, and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kylie Logan, and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2021
In A TRAIL OF LIES, the third mystery featuring cadaver dog trainer Jazz Ramsey, Jazz faces another murder while dealing with her boyfriend Nick’s alcoholic mother Kim. Full of suspense, secrets, and revelations, it is sure to please fans of author Kylie Logan and traditional mystery readers alike.
Nick is tied up with a gang task force, and, though Jazz does not care for his mother Kim, she feels obligated to keep an eye on her while Nick is out of pocket. When Kim calls in the middle of the night claiming Nick is dead in her backyard, Jazz rushes right over. However, there is no body to be found, and her human remains trainee dog finds no trace of anyone. When a body is found the next day in a nearby park in possession of a photo of Kim and Nick, Kim changes her story then clams up. Jazz digs deep in to the victim’s, and Kim’s, past to get to the truth…even though Nick is afraid of what she might find.
I have enjoyed author Kylie Logan’s cozy mysteries over the years, and this excellent series is a bit darker. That said it does still have plenty of lighter moments to counter the heavier bits. Logan handles Kim’s alcohol addiction with a deft hand and does not shy away from its ugliness and devastating effect of others. Readers learn a great deal about Nick within these pages, and I appreciate this honest look at how his past shaped the man he has become. Jazz is a strong, intelligent protagonist, and I think we could be friends in real life. Logan surrounds her with vivid coworkers and friends that add variety and interest to the story. There are lots of clues and red herrings to work through, and though I figured some things out before Jazz I did not work it all out until the end.
A TRAIL OF LIES is a great mystery with quality writing and endearing characters. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this title from Minotaur Books through NetGalley and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
Nick is tied up with a gang task force, and, though Jazz does not care for his mother Kim, she feels obligated to keep an eye on her while Nick is out of pocket. When Kim calls in the middle of the night claiming Nick is dead in her backyard, Jazz rushes right over. However, there is no body to be found, and her human remains trainee dog finds no trace of anyone. When a body is found the next day in a nearby park in possession of a photo of Kim and Nick, Kim changes her story then clams up. Jazz digs deep in to the victim’s, and Kim’s, past to get to the truth…even though Nick is afraid of what she might find.
I have enjoyed author Kylie Logan’s cozy mysteries over the years, and this excellent series is a bit darker. That said it does still have plenty of lighter moments to counter the heavier bits. Logan handles Kim’s alcohol addiction with a deft hand and does not shy away from its ugliness and devastating effect of others. Readers learn a great deal about Nick within these pages, and I appreciate this honest look at how his past shaped the man he has become. Jazz is a strong, intelligent protagonist, and I think we could be friends in real life. Logan surrounds her with vivid coworkers and friends that add variety and interest to the story. There are lots of clues and red herrings to work through, and though I figured some things out before Jazz I did not work it all out until the end.
A TRAIL OF LIES is a great mystery with quality writing and endearing characters. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this title from Minotaur Books through NetGalley and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
May 4, 2021
In Book 3 of the Jazz Ramsey Mystery series, Jazz is awakened by Nick’s mom. Unfortunately, Nick’s mom is an alcoholic and it’s difficult to believe she is actually seeing the body of Nick in her back yard as Jazz knows her (police) boyfriend is not around. He had asked her to look in on his mother, however, and she dutifully drags herself over to inspect her back yard.
Kim continues to be quite adamant and after her own Airedale terrier Wally, seven months old and training to be a HRD dog, fails to find anyone, she thinks the issue is over until the body of a man is discovered in a park. Oops. Jazz brought in a trained dog who did alert. Double oops.
This episode focuses a little more on her position at St. Catherine and we get glimpses into the training involved with the dog, but again, I miss more dog involvement in the mystery. In the meantime, we are thrown red herrings, and follow Jazz as she pursues one lead after another up to and including the attack on her life. EEK!
Kim’s past appears to be catching up to her and pieces of the puzzle begin to fit, interesting twists exposed. The conclusion neatly wraps up the loose dog hair and I like the protagonists’ dogged character—she WILL get answers. A slightly more serious entry to the genre and fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy the inclusion of smart dogs. No problem reading as a standalone.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts. Read my full review on rosepointpublishing.com
Kim continues to be quite adamant and after her own Airedale terrier Wally, seven months old and training to be a HRD dog, fails to find anyone, she thinks the issue is over until the body of a man is discovered in a park. Oops. Jazz brought in a trained dog who did alert. Double oops.
This episode focuses a little more on her position at St. Catherine and we get glimpses into the training involved with the dog, but again, I miss more dog involvement in the mystery. In the meantime, we are thrown red herrings, and follow Jazz as she pursues one lead after another up to and including the attack on her life. EEK!
Kim’s past appears to be catching up to her and pieces of the puzzle begin to fit, interesting twists exposed. The conclusion neatly wraps up the loose dog hair and I like the protagonists’ dogged character—she WILL get answers. A slightly more serious entry to the genre and fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy the inclusion of smart dogs. No problem reading as a standalone.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts. Read my full review on rosepointpublishing.com
April 14, 2021
“A Trail of Lies” by Kylie Logan the 3rd instalment in the "A Jazz Ramsey Mystery“ series. I really enjoy this series and am collecting in hardcover. The books can be read as a stand-alone with no problem but I do think it’s better to read in order. I found myself engrossed in this story right away and reading it in about 4 hours. I find the writing style to flow easily making it for a quick read.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters of Jazz and Nick which are well developed. This time we learn more about Nick, his mum and what her life was like. You couldn’t help but feel for the situation they were both in, trying to help Kim.
I was surprised by who the bad guy was, although it did cross my mind once but only fleetingly. There were plenty of red herrings to keep us off the scent.
Kylie Logan is definitely an author I will be following in the future and I can’t wait for book 4 to come out.
I highly recommend this series to all my mystery loving friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Minotaur Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters of Jazz and Nick which are well developed. This time we learn more about Nick, his mum and what her life was like. You couldn’t help but feel for the situation they were both in, trying to help Kim.
I was surprised by who the bad guy was, although it did cross my mind once but only fleetingly. There were plenty of red herrings to keep us off the scent.
Kylie Logan is definitely an author I will be following in the future and I can’t wait for book 4 to come out.
I highly recommend this series to all my mystery loving friends.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Minotaur Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
May 11, 2021
This was the first in the series for me, but I really enjoyed the character of Jazz and her dog Wally.
There are several mysteries in this book, including a murder. The plot was sufficiently complex enough that it was difficult to figure out, even though I had a sense of who the killer might be about halfway through the book.
I enjoyed the world of Jazz and Wally so much that I want to go back to the beginning of the series and read them all. I also want to get the backstory of Jazz and Nick.
This was an entertaining cozy mystery that I recommend to readers who enjoy mystery books, especially mysteries with dogs.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC of this book.
There are several mysteries in this book, including a murder. The plot was sufficiently complex enough that it was difficult to figure out, even though I had a sense of who the killer might be about halfway through the book.
I enjoyed the world of Jazz and Wally so much that I want to go back to the beginning of the series and read them all. I also want to get the backstory of Jazz and Nick.
This was an entertaining cozy mystery that I recommend to readers who enjoy mystery books, especially mysteries with dogs.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC of this book.
May 25, 2021
A Trail of Lies by Kylie Logan Third book in the Jazz Ramsey series. Faced paced, cozy mystery with some interesting twists. Would like to have seen Wally more involved instead of being crated most of the time. Learned more of Jazz and Nick's relationship and Jazz's interactions with Kim, Nick's mother.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
March 12, 2021
I've enjoyed all the books in the Jazz Ramsey series and this newest installment is no exception. I love that it's a little edgier than the cozy series Logan usually writes, but that it keeps all my favorite parts of a cozy—likable characters, an upbeat vibe, and a story that isn't gory or graphic. The working canine element is always interesting, although I do wish the novels focused more on that. Still, I really like this series and will definitely continue reading it.
January 21, 2022
Okay, this series needs more books because I am HOOKED! This cast of characters is awesome and I need to hang out more with Jazz's brothers too.
February 28, 2024
I have enjoyed all three books in this series. Great story and good characters. I recommend this series. Any book with a dog in it who helps solve a mystery is right up my alley.
April 19, 2024
Pretty poor writing but I finished it because I wanted to find out if my hunch of who did it was right 🤷🏼♀️
November 28, 2024
Sinceramente sono un pochino delusa dal colpevole, anche se c'ero arrivata prima della protagonista... Per il resto, credo che questa serie sia finita visto che negli ultimi tre anni non è uscito un libro, ma non sarebbe la prima volta che verrei smentita. Se uscirà qualcos'altro, lo leggerò, sennò sono contenta di aver finito una serie, visto quanti altri libri sono in attesa sul mio ereader.
October 19, 2021
As the third book in a series, A Trail of Lies is a solid addition to Kiley Logan's series. In this book, we get better acquainted with Nick's mother, Kim, who seems certain that there's a dead body in her backyard. When Jazz and Wally, cadaver dog trainee, arrive, there is no sign of a body. Jazz sets out to solve the mystery after a body is found not far from Kim's home. I enjoyed the mystery and the relationship growth between Jazz and Nick, and look forward to seeing what comes next for them.
Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 28, 2021
3 stars
*ARC provided by the author/publisher via Goodreads in exchange for an honest review*
Started off quite interesting. I was so anxious to know who the murderer was I wanted to skip right to the end. Got a little boring towards the end. Jazz was doing so much it was getting to be too much. But at the end she got the job done.
*ARC provided by the author/publisher via Goodreads in exchange for an honest review*
Started off quite interesting. I was so anxious to know who the murderer was I wanted to skip right to the end. Got a little boring towards the end. Jazz was doing so much it was getting to be too much. But at the end she got the job done.
May 13, 2021
4.5 stars.
A Trail of Lies by Kylie Logan is a suspense-laden mystery. Although this newest release is the third installment in the Jazz Ramsey series, it can be read as a standalone.
While her police boyfriend Nick Kolesov is away working on a case, Jazz reluctantly agrees to check in with his alcoholic mother, Kim. So, when she is awakened by a phone call from her, Jazz goes over to see if there is any truth to Kim’s outlandish story. She claims that Nick is dead in her backyard, but upon Jazz's arrival, there is no body. Kim is adamant she killed a man but now she says he was a stranger. When a body is later found in a nearby park, Jazz has a feeling this discovery might be linked to Kim’s story. After she realizes the deceased is connected to Kim’s past, Jazz continues trying to figure who killed him and why.
Jazz works as an administrative assistant at St. Catherine’s and she also helps out with the girls’ track team. She has strong ties within the local community and she is close to her family. Jazz’s relationship with Nick has become more on than off but she and Kim are not close. But during her investigation into the dead man, Jazz gains a little more understanding about Kim and her long battle with alcoholism.
Jazz begins to piece together what happened with Kim and the deceased, Dan Mansfield. Her investigation takes her in unexpected directions as she interviews a slightly frightening motorcycle mechanic, a bartender and an antiques dealer. What is the connection between the three people she has talked to? And who is behind the alarming threat for her to back off?
A Trail of Lies is a fast-paced and engrossing cozy mystery. Jazz is tenacious as she tries to find out who killed Dan and why. The storyline is well-written and engaging. With clever red-herrings, Kylie Logan keeps the murderer’s identity under wraps until the jaw-dropping denouement. Old and new fans are sure to enjoy this third mystery in the Jazz Ramsey series.
A Trail of Lies by Kylie Logan is a suspense-laden mystery. Although this newest release is the third installment in the Jazz Ramsey series, it can be read as a standalone.
While her police boyfriend Nick Kolesov is away working on a case, Jazz reluctantly agrees to check in with his alcoholic mother, Kim. So, when she is awakened by a phone call from her, Jazz goes over to see if there is any truth to Kim’s outlandish story. She claims that Nick is dead in her backyard, but upon Jazz's arrival, there is no body. Kim is adamant she killed a man but now she says he was a stranger. When a body is later found in a nearby park, Jazz has a feeling this discovery might be linked to Kim’s story. After she realizes the deceased is connected to Kim’s past, Jazz continues trying to figure who killed him and why.
Jazz works as an administrative assistant at St. Catherine’s and she also helps out with the girls’ track team. She has strong ties within the local community and she is close to her family. Jazz’s relationship with Nick has become more on than off but she and Kim are not close. But during her investigation into the dead man, Jazz gains a little more understanding about Kim and her long battle with alcoholism.
Jazz begins to piece together what happened with Kim and the deceased, Dan Mansfield. Her investigation takes her in unexpected directions as she interviews a slightly frightening motorcycle mechanic, a bartender and an antiques dealer. What is the connection between the three people she has talked to? And who is behind the alarming threat for her to back off?
A Trail of Lies is a fast-paced and engrossing cozy mystery. Jazz is tenacious as she tries to find out who killed Dan and why. The storyline is well-written and engaging. With clever red-herrings, Kylie Logan keeps the murderer’s identity under wraps until the jaw-dropping denouement. Old and new fans are sure to enjoy this third mystery in the Jazz Ramsey series.
March 28, 2021
This book started out slowly, but I got hooked on Jazz and Nick and Jazz’s training of her dog Wally. At first, I thought her job as an Administrative Assistant at a private girl’s school would make the story uninteresting, it was surprising what this added to the story. As the story went on, it got better and better. It was good enough that the “bad guy” was a total surprise. An excellent read for mystery lovers. #NetGalley
May 7, 2021
This is the third novel in Kylie Logan’s Jazz Ramsey series, and a contribution to the growing number of mystery novels featuring cadaver dogs or rescue dogs. Books by Paula Munier, Margaret Mizushima, Diane Kelly, Robert Crais and David Rosenfelt all celebrate dogs in differing degrees. Logan’s is perhaps the least “doggy” series, though Jazz’s cadaver dog in training, Wally, not only deepens Jazz’s character, he advances the plot.
Jazz is an administrative assistant at a Catholic girl’s school in her hometown of Cleveland, and as a hobby, she’s training Wally to be a cadaver dog. While he’s still learning, he’s come in handy in the first two books, and this one is no different. Jazz is dating undercover officer Nick, who has asked her to keep an eye on his alcoholic mom, Kim. When Jazz gets a call from Kim in the middle of the night insisting Nick is dead in her back yard – and that she killed him – Jazz rushes over.
There’s nothing in the backyard and while Kim is sticking to her story, she’s also really drunk, so Jazz, swallowing her irritation and the necessity of keeping tabs of her boyfriend’s mother, tucks Kim up on the sofa and heads home. The next day she brings Wally over after work to have him search the yard for a cadaver scent and to help put Kim’s mind at ease. Wally doesn’t alert, but Kim is still sticking to her story.
When a body is found a few days later, near Kim’s but not in her yard, the plot thickens. Jazz brings over a friend’s dog, one who’s more advanced in his training, to sweep Kim’s yard again, and this time, he does alert. Not only that, when the cops stop by on a neighborhood door to door asking about the dead man, Jazz is sure she’s seen a photo of him of Kim’s kitchen table though neither woman says anything about it, and Kim denies having known him.
Jazz is determined to peel back the layers of the mystery of both the photo on Kim’s kitchen table as well as the identity of the dead man, so she starts asking questions, much to the annoyance of her boyfriend when he finds out what’s happening. She does get into physical danger but I appreciated that the main incident happened through no fault of her own – i.e., she headed into no abandoned buildings or remote locations on her own.
Logan folds in the details of Kim’s working life at the girl’s school – the principal and one of the teachers are friends and secondary characters in the novels – as well as her Cleveland setting, which is integrated seamlessly into the book. The mysterious threads Jazz pulls apart are complex and sometimes heartbreaking.
Logan is a brisk storyteller, and the story moves right along, while at the same time investing the reader in Jazz as a person. She is very real on the page. Her questions lead her often not just to answers to her puzzle but to some truly memorable human moments between the characters. The central heartbreaker in this novel is Kim, who is struggling with alcoholism, and who disappears toward the end of the book. The resolution wraps up all the threads brilliantly, mystery and character wise. I was wiping away a tear as I closed the book, and you might be too. This is an extremely enjoyable and readable series.
Jazz is an administrative assistant at a Catholic girl’s school in her hometown of Cleveland, and as a hobby, she’s training Wally to be a cadaver dog. While he’s still learning, he’s come in handy in the first two books, and this one is no different. Jazz is dating undercover officer Nick, who has asked her to keep an eye on his alcoholic mom, Kim. When Jazz gets a call from Kim in the middle of the night insisting Nick is dead in her back yard – and that she killed him – Jazz rushes over.
There’s nothing in the backyard and while Kim is sticking to her story, she’s also really drunk, so Jazz, swallowing her irritation and the necessity of keeping tabs of her boyfriend’s mother, tucks Kim up on the sofa and heads home. The next day she brings Wally over after work to have him search the yard for a cadaver scent and to help put Kim’s mind at ease. Wally doesn’t alert, but Kim is still sticking to her story.
When a body is found a few days later, near Kim’s but not in her yard, the plot thickens. Jazz brings over a friend’s dog, one who’s more advanced in his training, to sweep Kim’s yard again, and this time, he does alert. Not only that, when the cops stop by on a neighborhood door to door asking about the dead man, Jazz is sure she’s seen a photo of him of Kim’s kitchen table though neither woman says anything about it, and Kim denies having known him.
Jazz is determined to peel back the layers of the mystery of both the photo on Kim’s kitchen table as well as the identity of the dead man, so she starts asking questions, much to the annoyance of her boyfriend when he finds out what’s happening. She does get into physical danger but I appreciated that the main incident happened through no fault of her own – i.e., she headed into no abandoned buildings or remote locations on her own.
Logan folds in the details of Kim’s working life at the girl’s school – the principal and one of the teachers are friends and secondary characters in the novels – as well as her Cleveland setting, which is integrated seamlessly into the book. The mysterious threads Jazz pulls apart are complex and sometimes heartbreaking.
Logan is a brisk storyteller, and the story moves right along, while at the same time investing the reader in Jazz as a person. She is very real on the page. Her questions lead her often not just to answers to her puzzle but to some truly memorable human moments between the characters. The central heartbreaker in this novel is Kim, who is struggling with alcoholism, and who disappears toward the end of the book. The resolution wraps up all the threads brilliantly, mystery and character wise. I was wiping away a tear as I closed the book, and you might be too. This is an extremely enjoyable and readable series.
June 20, 2021
Jazz Ramsey is an assistant administrator at Cleveland’s St. Catherine’s School for Girls, but she and Wally, her Airedale pup, quickly get involved in a captivating mystery.
When her boyfriend’s mom calls her in the wee hours of the morning to inform Jazz that she just shot her son Nick Kolesov, Jazz is jolted awake. On one hand, she is sure this is just the alcoholic lady talking nonsense. But, on the other hand, she can’t be sure. Time is not a factor. She is heading to Kim’s house.
Finding no dead body she dismisses the conversation to an alcoholic’s fuzzy brain speaking. But when she brings a cadaver dog to check Kim’s backyard, there is evidence that Kim might know what she’s talking about.
Nick, a police detective, has been located. But it’s time to do some discovery work, since Kim is determined that there was a dead body in her yard, and she thinks she may have killed him.
While I definitely liked the start of this story, I felt there was a little unevenness to it. After it started, I came to a few repetitive scenes that didn’t take the story forward. But then it took off again. Only to slow down. It felt a bit like a kiddie roller coaster with slight highs and lows.
However, even with the highs and lows I liked the story and I recommend it. I liked Wally, her cadaver dog in training and I’m sure dog lovers will too.
My Concerns
As I mentioned above, the pacing felt a bit bumpy. Also, it felt like a little too much was added into the story but not really covered. By that I mean Jazz has a cadaver dog in training, but I would have liked to see more of what that really meant. Also, the job Jazz held felt like it worked around her investigative work. In other words, the two things felt a bit slighted and not covered fully.
What I Liked
This is the third book in the Jazz Ramsey Mystery series, but it worked well as a standalone novel. And even with my concerns, this is a series I will definitely continue reading. There was enough interest in the story that my pages kept flipping and I didn’t have to work hard to keep engaged.
My Final Thoughts
Even with my concerns, this is a series that I recommend. Especially if you are a fan of dogs and amateur sleuths.
My thanks to Minotaur for a copy of this book and the ability to post my review without any stipulations.
When her boyfriend’s mom calls her in the wee hours of the morning to inform Jazz that she just shot her son Nick Kolesov, Jazz is jolted awake. On one hand, she is sure this is just the alcoholic lady talking nonsense. But, on the other hand, she can’t be sure. Time is not a factor. She is heading to Kim’s house.
Finding no dead body she dismisses the conversation to an alcoholic’s fuzzy brain speaking. But when she brings a cadaver dog to check Kim’s backyard, there is evidence that Kim might know what she’s talking about.
Nick, a police detective, has been located. But it’s time to do some discovery work, since Kim is determined that there was a dead body in her yard, and she thinks she may have killed him.
While I definitely liked the start of this story, I felt there was a little unevenness to it. After it started, I came to a few repetitive scenes that didn’t take the story forward. But then it took off again. Only to slow down. It felt a bit like a kiddie roller coaster with slight highs and lows.
However, even with the highs and lows I liked the story and I recommend it. I liked Wally, her cadaver dog in training and I’m sure dog lovers will too.
My Concerns
As I mentioned above, the pacing felt a bit bumpy. Also, it felt like a little too much was added into the story but not really covered. By that I mean Jazz has a cadaver dog in training, but I would have liked to see more of what that really meant. Also, the job Jazz held felt like it worked around her investigative work. In other words, the two things felt a bit slighted and not covered fully.
What I Liked
This is the third book in the Jazz Ramsey Mystery series, but it worked well as a standalone novel. And even with my concerns, this is a series I will definitely continue reading. There was enough interest in the story that my pages kept flipping and I didn’t have to work hard to keep engaged.
My Final Thoughts
Even with my concerns, this is a series that I recommend. Especially if you are a fan of dogs and amateur sleuths.
My thanks to Minotaur for a copy of this book and the ability to post my review without any stipulations.
May 14, 2021
Jazz Ramsey gets the sort of call nobody ever wants, the one you get at 2am and you know trouble is ahead. Her boyfriend, Nick, is out of town on police business and her first thought as she answers the phone is about him, It sort of is but it's his mother calling and, in her drunken fog she tells Jazz that she has killed a man and his body is in her back yard. Before Nick left he asked her to keep an eye on Kim but so far Jazz hadn't connected with her. Kim is an alcoholic and is hard to deal with but Jazz gets dressed and heads for Kim's house. Turns out there is no dead body but very soon one is found about three miles away in a park. Needing answers in order to help Kim sort out what she may or may not have done that night, Jazz first turns to her pup, Wally. He's only 7 months old and learning to be a cadaver dog. He is still too young to give her the hit she seeks so she borrows a friends much more experienced dog and gets a solid hit. Now to figure out why the dead man was in Kim's back yard, who moved him to the park and what is the connection between Kim, the dead man and another killing that happened 30 years ago.
This is my new favorite in this outstanding series. I have read all of her series written as Casey Daniels, Kylie Logan and her new persona, Lucy Ness. Not one has ever disappointed me. In A Trail of Lies the tone is more serious, a bit darker but very realistic. Her handling of Kim and her alcoholism and how it impacts her life and her relationship with Nick is familiar and well done. The puzzle is well crafted and Jazz continues to be a very real main protagonist. She balances her job as administrative assistant to the principal of St. Catherine's Preparatory Academy, her dog training and the volunteering work that goes with it, her relationship with Nick and her family and various friends. It makes for a busy life even before she gets involved with another homicide. This is a series that is firmly on my list of must read mysteries.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
This is my new favorite in this outstanding series. I have read all of her series written as Casey Daniels, Kylie Logan and her new persona, Lucy Ness. Not one has ever disappointed me. In A Trail of Lies the tone is more serious, a bit darker but very realistic. Her handling of Kim and her alcoholism and how it impacts her life and her relationship with Nick is familiar and well done. The puzzle is well crafted and Jazz continues to be a very real main protagonist. She balances her job as administrative assistant to the principal of St. Catherine's Preparatory Academy, her dog training and the volunteering work that goes with it, her relationship with Nick and her family and various friends. It makes for a busy life even before she gets involved with another homicide. This is a series that is firmly on my list of must read mysteries.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
July 18, 2021
3.75 Stars!Well, okay, I think I liked this one a bit more than The Secrets of Bones. Jazz definitely tried to think things through here (at least most of them *cough* Gerchek *cough*) and I did like the fact that she kept trying to protect Kim because of what she knew it would mean to Nick. Not saying it was easy and Kim definitely didn't help, but Jazz still kept trying. And even when Jazz thought Kim was imagining, she still tried to bring her the evidence instead of flat-out dismissing her. Granted, the evidence pointed out a couple of things were true but that's besides the point.
I did like the fact that Jazz and Nick are trying this time. In the first book, there was a lot of "well it didn't work because we both had crazy schedules and didn't make each other the priority" but Jazz would usually point that at Nick. After the end of the last one, things definitely seem to be moving. Granted, there were a few butthead moments, but both of them acknowledged said buttheadedness and there were flowers, so hopefully that continues. I was glad that Jazz also stepped in with Isaiah because she saw what it meant to Nick. And Nick showed up at the dance! That was so sweet and I loved how Sarah and Eileen were able to make that work!
And there is at least one more book coming in this series, right? Definitely need to know how dinner goes and then there's the stuff with Jazz's dad; while it wasn't touched here, in the previous books, it kind of felt like these little tidbits were dropped to build to something bigger. And there's the whole arson aspect of Nick's relationship with Isaiah. So yeah, there's at least one more book that talks about that, right? Please? Pretty please?
April 6, 2021
Jazz Ramsey is looking in on her boyfriend Nick's mother Kim while Nick is on a task force when she gets a panicked call in the middle of the night from Kim saying that she killed a man and his body is in her backyard.
Kim is skeptical. After all, Kim is an alcoholic who sometimes sees things. However, she heads over and checks things out and is unsurprised to find that there is no body in Kim's backyard. After calming her down a bit she goes home but returns the next day with her cadaver-dog-in-training Wally to let him give the yard a onceover. There's still no body!
When the body of Dan Mansfield is found in a nearby park, Kim is sure he's the one who was in her backyard. This time Jazz borrows a trained cadaver dog to make one final check and hopefully reassure Kim. But the dog does alert. There was a body in the backyard.
Now Jazz has to discover if it is the same body that was found in the park and, if so, what was he doing in Kim's backyard. Kim assures Jazz that he doesn't know the man but Jazz has seen an old photo of him in a stack of photos and Kim's table and Dan was carrying a old photo of Kim and Nick in his pocket.
Jazz finds herself in a perilous situation when trying to find out what happened long before when Kim knew Dan before he went to prison for murder. She wants to know why he looked Kim up when he was finally paroled. Someone is looking for something and it has to have its roots deep in the past.
I liked Jazz's persistence and desire to find answers. I also liked the information on dog training. There were a few really interesting dogs in the story including Jazz's new dog Wally. Fans of semi-cozy mysteries will enjoy Jazz's third adventure.
Kim is skeptical. After all, Kim is an alcoholic who sometimes sees things. However, she heads over and checks things out and is unsurprised to find that there is no body in Kim's backyard. After calming her down a bit she goes home but returns the next day with her cadaver-dog-in-training Wally to let him give the yard a onceover. There's still no body!
When the body of Dan Mansfield is found in a nearby park, Kim is sure he's the one who was in her backyard. This time Jazz borrows a trained cadaver dog to make one final check and hopefully reassure Kim. But the dog does alert. There was a body in the backyard.
Now Jazz has to discover if it is the same body that was found in the park and, if so, what was he doing in Kim's backyard. Kim assures Jazz that he doesn't know the man but Jazz has seen an old photo of him in a stack of photos and Kim's table and Dan was carrying a old photo of Kim and Nick in his pocket.
Jazz finds herself in a perilous situation when trying to find out what happened long before when Kim knew Dan before he went to prison for murder. She wants to know why he looked Kim up when he was finally paroled. Someone is looking for something and it has to have its roots deep in the past.
I liked Jazz's persistence and desire to find answers. I also liked the information on dog training. There were a few really interesting dogs in the story including Jazz's new dog Wally. Fans of semi-cozy mysteries will enjoy Jazz's third adventure.
May 11, 2021
Jazz Ramsey is the Administrative Assistant for Sister Eileen Flannery who is the principal at St Catherine's, an all-girls Catholic school. She also volunteers and trains human detection dogs, cadaver dogs so she is no stranger to finding dead bodies. Much to the chagrin of Jazz's police detective boyfriend Nick Kolesov Jazz has been finding the dead bodies of murder victims and then finds herself involved in solving the murders. In this book Jazz gets a 2:00 am phone call from Nick's alcoholic mother, Kim while Nick is away working on a task force. In a drunken stupor Kim tells Jazz that Nick's dead body is in her backyard. Jazz goes over to Kim's house where she finds a drunk Kim but no body. Have no fear though. There is a dead body found elsewhere, the body of someone who had been knocking at Kim's door just before he was murdered.
A Trail of Lies by Kylie Logan is the third book in her Jazz Ramsey Mystery series. I have enjoyed reading about the progress in Jazz and Nick's relationship from book one to book three. They are both very busy people and this contributed to their breakup which was outlined in book one. It seems they both have learned from their mistakes and are moving forward in a much better relationship now. I really like both characters so this added to my enjoyment of the book. The support Jazz gets from her family, friends and her boss is also something I have enjoyed reading about. This storyline kept me guessing until the end. There's lots of action and some interesting surprises in this book too. I look forward to Jazz's next adventure.
I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
A Trail of Lies by Kylie Logan is the third book in her Jazz Ramsey Mystery series. I have enjoyed reading about the progress in Jazz and Nick's relationship from book one to book three. They are both very busy people and this contributed to their breakup which was outlined in book one. It seems they both have learned from their mistakes and are moving forward in a much better relationship now. I really like both characters so this added to my enjoyment of the book. The support Jazz gets from her family, friends and her boss is also something I have enjoyed reading about. This storyline kept me guessing until the end. There's lots of action and some interesting surprises in this book too. I look forward to Jazz's next adventure.
I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
June 27, 2021
3.5 stars
Jazz and her human remains detection dog, Wally, are back, this murder hitting closer to home than ever. Her boyfriend Nick’s mom, Kim, is convinced there’s a body on her property (that she may have had something to do with), and Jazz agrees to have Wally sniff around. However, after he doesn’t find anything, she’s ready to write it all off as a product of Kim’s imagination, only to find out Kim may have been right all along.
Jazz is clearly a patient person, as she puts up with more from Kim than most would (though she’d need patience in abundance for training dogs, so while many would back out of helping Kim, it aligns well with Jazz’s character). This doesn’t mean she doesn’t have her moments of exasperation, though her feelings of obligation give her the motivation she needs to continue checking in on Kim. There were times when I even felt annoyed by Kim (and also Nick for giving Jazz the sole responsibility to look in on her while he was out of town).
This third book in the series had more twists than the other two and it was harder for me to guess the ending. Clues abound, but they aren’t always linked the way you expect them to be, and some serve more as essential background information to understanding the characters in present day. Jazz’s naturally skeptical nature makes anyone with a motive a possible suspect, making it harder for the reader to parse out who could have committed the murder and who’s just acting suspicious. The plot picks up almost from the first page and the pacing never slows, making this a quick, easy, and suspenseful read.
Thank you to Minotaur Books for the complimentary copy. This did not affect my review.
Jazz and her human remains detection dog, Wally, are back, this murder hitting closer to home than ever. Her boyfriend Nick’s mom, Kim, is convinced there’s a body on her property (that she may have had something to do with), and Jazz agrees to have Wally sniff around. However, after he doesn’t find anything, she’s ready to write it all off as a product of Kim’s imagination, only to find out Kim may have been right all along.
Jazz is clearly a patient person, as she puts up with more from Kim than most would (though she’d need patience in abundance for training dogs, so while many would back out of helping Kim, it aligns well with Jazz’s character). This doesn’t mean she doesn’t have her moments of exasperation, though her feelings of obligation give her the motivation she needs to continue checking in on Kim. There were times when I even felt annoyed by Kim (and also Nick for giving Jazz the sole responsibility to look in on her while he was out of town).
This third book in the series had more twists than the other two and it was harder for me to guess the ending. Clues abound, but they aren’t always linked the way you expect them to be, and some serve more as essential background information to understanding the characters in present day. Jazz’s naturally skeptical nature makes anyone with a motive a possible suspect, making it harder for the reader to parse out who could have committed the murder and who’s just acting suspicious. The plot picks up almost from the first page and the pacing never slows, making this a quick, easy, and suspenseful read.
Thank you to Minotaur Books for the complimentary copy. This did not affect my review.
May 6, 2021
A Trail of Lies by Kylie Logan (Jazz Ramsey #3) 4 stars
While her boyfriend Nick is off on an undercover assignment, Jazz agrees to keep an eye on Kim, his alcoholic mom. Jazz gets a phone call in the middle of the night; it's Kim hysterically insisting that there is a dead body in her backyard. Jazz and her dog Wally, a cadaver dog in training, takes a look around the backyard and finds no evidence of foul play. But a body is discovered in a nearby park; the deceased is Dan Mansfield, a recent parolee who was convicted of the murder of an antiques dealer. He was found with a picture of Kim and Nick in his pocket. Kim tells the police that she doesn't know the dead man, but Jazz knows something is wrong. In order to safeguard Kim, Jazz follows the trail of clues to find out why Dan Mansfield was at Kim's house and who might have had a motive to kill him. In the course of the book, Jazz receives little or no cooperation from the people who know Mansfield, but that doesn't stop her from delving into the past in order to protect Kim from unknown suspects.
A suspenseful mystery and a fun read. I liked how Jazz was determined to follow the clues in order to find the killer. I was pretty surprised at the identity of the killer and I thought the end was excellent. I also like the depicting of the relationship between Nick and Jazz, the author shows that it isn't easy to be in a relationship with a cop, especially one that has to be away at times. I look forward to the next Jazz Ramsey book.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC.
While her boyfriend Nick is off on an undercover assignment, Jazz agrees to keep an eye on Kim, his alcoholic mom. Jazz gets a phone call in the middle of the night; it's Kim hysterically insisting that there is a dead body in her backyard. Jazz and her dog Wally, a cadaver dog in training, takes a look around the backyard and finds no evidence of foul play. But a body is discovered in a nearby park; the deceased is Dan Mansfield, a recent parolee who was convicted of the murder of an antiques dealer. He was found with a picture of Kim and Nick in his pocket. Kim tells the police that she doesn't know the dead man, but Jazz knows something is wrong. In order to safeguard Kim, Jazz follows the trail of clues to find out why Dan Mansfield was at Kim's house and who might have had a motive to kill him. In the course of the book, Jazz receives little or no cooperation from the people who know Mansfield, but that doesn't stop her from delving into the past in order to protect Kim from unknown suspects.
A suspenseful mystery and a fun read. I liked how Jazz was determined to follow the clues in order to find the killer. I was pretty surprised at the identity of the killer and I thought the end was excellent. I also like the depicting of the relationship between Nick and Jazz, the author shows that it isn't easy to be in a relationship with a cop, especially one that has to be away at times. I look forward to the next Jazz Ramsey book.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC.
February 3, 2024
Well, now I'm just sad because this series is over. :-( I've really enjoyed getting to know Jazz and her canine companions (Wally, her human remains detection dog in training and various canine guests.) I really like the investigation style of this mystery series and Jazz is given a perplexing mystery to solve in this final book.
Love the behind the scenes parts of the story which include a loving (and all up in your business) family, the private Catholic school she works at, and her passion for training dogs. She has a great friend support system and is an integral part of her Cleveland community. This all brings extra depth to the mystery.
Oh -- and her romance with a certain detective makes me happy too. :-) Though he's in and out in this book due to an undercover assignment which leaves Jazz alone to deal with his alcoholic, emotionally vulnerable mother who frantically calls Jazz in the middle of the night ranting about a body in her yard. A body that mysteriously vanishes by the time Jazz arrives on the scene. So, did Kim actually see a corpse or was she hallucinating?
Great mystery with so many layers and twists into the unexpected! With Jazz doggedly (get the pun?) in pursuit of answers. Which also places her in danger. A tense, gripping rollercoaster king of a read.
Of note: sparse amount of swearing.
Love the behind the scenes parts of the story which include a loving (and all up in your business) family, the private Catholic school she works at, and her passion for training dogs. She has a great friend support system and is an integral part of her Cleveland community. This all brings extra depth to the mystery.
Oh -- and her romance with a certain detective makes me happy too. :-) Though he's in and out in this book due to an undercover assignment which leaves Jazz alone to deal with his alcoholic, emotionally vulnerable mother who frantically calls Jazz in the middle of the night ranting about a body in her yard. A body that mysteriously vanishes by the time Jazz arrives on the scene. So, did Kim actually see a corpse or was she hallucinating?
Great mystery with so many layers and twists into the unexpected! With Jazz doggedly (get the pun?) in pursuit of answers. Which also places her in danger. A tense, gripping rollercoaster king of a read.
Of note: sparse amount of swearing.
November 15, 2021
Jazz Ramsey is the administrative assistant to Sister Eileen Flannery, a nun who is the principal of St. Catherine's Preparatory Academy for Girls in Cleveland, Ohio. She works hard and does her best to see that all of the girls are taken care of and "put on the right track." She's also something of an amateur sleuth, a sort of twenty-something Nancy Drew. So when her boyfriend's mother, Kim, calls her in the middle of the night saying there's a body in her backyard, Jazz rushes over and finds - nothing. No body, no explanation, nothing except a very drunken older woman who is not making a lot of sense. But then when the body of a middle-aged man is discovered the next day in a nearby park, she's suddenly very interested. She "borrows" a cadaver dog from the fire station where her father used to work, and sure enough, the dog alerts to the fact that a dead body was in Kim's yard at some point. Jazz springs into action, and with her Airedale Wally, begins asking a lot of questions that someone apparently doesn't want answered. Author Kylie Logan uses short, breezy dialogue and one- and two-sentence paragraphs to keep this surging ahead, making this an entertaining mystery set in the heartland.
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