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Jane Bond #4

The Evershaw Curse

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Jane's first case is murder,
as the Bailey and Bond Detective Agency
hits the ground running.

Well, technically, that's not true.
Jane's first outing is a missing persons
case - the client's husband had vanished
nearly twenty years before.

As usual, Jane, Bailey and Olive wind up
running all over the world looking for clues.

Romance blooms for both Bailey and Olive,
but Jane gets her share with Dale.

And Jean, the computer that runs Jane's house,
winds up far more visible than just quarreling
with Alexa over who is really in control.

Another rollicking adventure with Jane
and friends awaits - won't you join them?

172 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 16, 2021

67 people are currently reading
18 people want to read

About the author

V.R. Tapscott

17 books33 followers
V.R. Tapscott lives in the desert wastes of Eastern Washington, out among the spiders, snakes and sagebrush. In a house, of course. With a cat, a spousal unit, a mortgage and thirteen computers. The cat makes most of the decisions.

V.R. would love to hear from you at vrtapscott@electrikink.com, and is also on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/VRTapscott.

If you get desperate, you can always visit V.R.’s website at www.electrikink.com.

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5 stars
146 (53%)
4 stars
89 (32%)
3 stars
33 (12%)
2 stars
5 (1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
194 reviews1 follower
February 15, 2021
Again?

These stories have become a lot like cotton candy, fun to eat(read), but it really not filling at all. Nuff said!
Profile Image for Tambi Smith.
202 reviews12 followers
June 20, 2025
Hold onto your hats, folks, because "Jane Bond: The Evershaw Curse" by V.R. Tapscott is a thrill ride you won’t want to miss! This fourth installment in the Jane Bond series is so creatively fun, I didn’t even know where to start with this review—but hang tight, it’s going to be a wild one.
If you’re a fan of the series, you’re in for a treat. If not, well, buckle up and prepare for a delightful whirlwind! Our favorite gang—Jane, Bailey, Olive, and the rest of the zany crew opened up the Bailey and Bond Detective Agency, and it is now in action. It isn’t long before they are on their first case. They’re on the case of Naomi Evershaw’s missing husband, who disappeared 17 years ago. Naomi’s search, as well as that of other detective agencies, has been fruitless (and a bit deadly, to be honest), but now it’s Jane Bond’s turn to try to crack the case.
The adventure kicks off with Jane, Bailey, and Olive jet-setting...er, ship-setting? - to different locations thanks to Jean’s maybe-not-so-random number picking. Jane gets the romantic streets of Paris, Olive hits the dazzling lights of Las Vegas, and Bailey? Well, she’s living it up in New Jersey. But hey, someone’s got to do it!
The plot thickens with a colorful cast of characters, each with quirky stories. They all witnessed a kidnapping ages ago by—you guessed it—an alien in a UFO! Imagine meeting Chuck, who seems perpetually tipsy without touching a drop of booze, or Steve, who remains as sober as a judge no matter how many drinks he has. Not to mention Essie Graves, who's been waiting for an alien comeback like a devoted fan. But Essie’s story doesn’t end there. She is currently taking care of Ray, a man who Essie reveals never recovered from a childhood accident. However, the intrigue intensifies when Jane, Bailey, and Olive discover the body of one of these characters.
Then there’s Jean, the inquisitive AI control module, who decides to get a body of her own, following Olive’s want-to-be-human steps. Talk about digital footprints! Meanwhile, Olive is on a quest to prove she’s more human than half the people you know.
The charm of this series lies in its characters. They’re so lovable and surprisingly relatable, you can’t help but root for them. Each one is a gem with their own quirks and traits that make them jump off the page. (I must say, Bailey and I have a lot in common.)
V.R. Tapscott sprinkles the story with playful wit, sarcastic banter, and humor that had me chuckling throughout. From light-hearted moments like blowing raspberries to clever nods to pop culture icons like the Kardashians and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," the book is a refreshing mix of wit and whimsy.
But don’t be fooled; it’s not all giggles and guffaws. The story also dives into deeper waters with life lessons that Bailey imparts to Olive, exploring whether anyone truly has all the answers as they age. It’s thought-provoking, reflective, and woven seamlessly into this unpredictable adventure.
With its unexpected twists, lively storytelling, and brisk pace, "Jane Bond: The Evershaw Curse" keeps you on your toes. It’s never a dull moment, and the story flows like a dream. Looking for a book filled with mystery, humor, and heartfelt insights? Look no further. Join Jane and her pals for another rollicking escapade—it’s a journey you won’t regret!
Book Rating:
Originality: 5.0/5.0
Plot Structure: 5.0/5.0
Pacing: 5.0/5.0
Dialogue: 5.0/5.0
Personal Enjoyment: 5.0/5.0
Cover Design: 5.0/5.0 (Not averaged in the overall rating.)
Overall Rating: 5.0/5.0
Profile Image for Darin Miller.
Author 17 books434 followers
March 26, 2024
In this fourth Jane Bond outing, Tapscott gives the ladies at the Bailey and Bond Detective Agency their first actual case—ain’t that a novel idea? Sure, they might have previously saved the world when no one was looking, but that information is off limits to the general public, and it certainly wasn’t at the behest of a paying customer.

Enter Naomi Evershaw, a woman desperate to find her missing husband, and money is no object—not that Jane has any real need for that anymore. The deal was sealed as Jane listened to Mrs. Evershaw’s tale of heartbreak unfold. You see, Bart Evershaw hadn’t gone missing in recent days—not even in recent years, as a matter of fact. He had disappeared shortly after he and his new bride had checked into their Parisian hotel for their honeymoon almost twenty years ago. He was on a simple quest to the front desk to return a pack of cigarettes that had been inadvertently left in their room, and he simply never came back. Throughout the years, Naomi hired a succession of private investigators to unravel what had happened, but none of them would stay on the case for long, and a statistically improbable number of them met untimely demises. On vacation in Chelan and literally running out of options, Naomi decides to give Bailey and Bond a whirl.

Determined to succeed where others have only failed—and in some cases, fatally so—Jane and her team devote their full attention to the case, doing what they believe private eyes should do although they have no real experience in actual deduction. They travel across the world to interview folks who were present at the time only to encounter a general unwillingness to cooperate—and the frequent suggestion that the whole affair is best left alone. After a while, even Jane finds it hard to maintain her usual optimistic ebullience.

In the meanwhile, Olive is playing it fast and loose with things she can do versus things she should, and Jean, the newest alien intelligence introduced into the mix towards the end of Jane Bond 3, feels duty-bound to prevent Olive from using her capabilities strictly for personal gain. It’s an unexpected battle for dominance with unanticipated results, and the fallout has potentially catastrophic consequences for everyone involved.

Tapscott continues to give readers more than meets the eye with each successive entry in this series. The mystery drew me in and kept me guessing, but the underlying examination of unimaginable power and how easily that power can corrupt even the most well-intentioned is what haunted me long after I closed the covers.

Another solid outing for Jane and her team, where there’s never a shortage of food, folks, or fun, and while the cuisine leans heavily towards tortilla chips, salsa, and bacon, it’s the food for thought that will leave you most satisfied.
Profile Image for Thomas.
2,698 reviews
April 9, 2025
Some Assembly Required, the first novel in V. R. Tapscott’s Jane Bond series, had an engaging premise: an elementary school librarian hunting fossils digs up the AI pilot of an ancient starship. They develop a telepathic link and search the world for other pieces of starship wreckage so that the ship can put itself back together. Watching Jane—her parents were Ian Fleming fans—work starship reclamation into her daily life made for humorous plot complications. The Evershaw Curse, the fourth novel in the series, abandons most of the elements that made the first book entertaining. Jane is now running a detective agency. No more librarian duties, sigh. Kit and Dale, the two most important supporting characters in the first book, no longer have key roles. There are four more novels and a novella in the series, but I will give them a pass.
451 reviews
February 11, 2024
This one is a strange book, but it IS extremely well written.

I'm not even sure how to 'review' this book. In the review title I said it is a "strange" story, and it is. On the other hand, it is written so well it is extremely difficult to put down. Even for things like eating.

You WILL enjoy it because it is about Jane Bond and all her friends, including the ones who were not born on this planet. HAPPY READING!
Profile Image for Carôle Ceres.
892 reviews9 followers
April 19, 2023
It took 2 books to get to the first Private Detective case. I think that I don’t ‘get’ this series. I understand that it’s Sci-Fi, but I don’t understand it beyond that. There’s no real storyline that I can latch onto. It’s all rather amorphous.

I don’t dislike the series, but it’s not one that I’ll continue with beyond this one. Unfortunately, I just don’t get it!
Profile Image for Jim.
755 reviews
February 23, 2021
A real cozy

Very enjoyable. No bad language, violence, or explicit sex. Suitable for all readers and enjoyable by all. The characters are developing in good ways and the plot is interesting. A good read.
9 reviews
December 22, 2025
Another good book

VR is creating a great cast of characters that work well together.

I wish we did have nanotechnology to adjust our bodies. Perhaps this may inspire someone to work on it.
88 reviews
April 25, 2021
Fun read

I like this style of writing. Light, fun, realistic topics without getting to heavy. I hope there are more in this series soon.
42 reviews
August 28, 2021
a very good read

It must be a very good read as I have to start another Jane Bond book immediately! I love Jane and all her friends
17 reviews
October 17, 2021
#4 was pretty darn good

It’s funny how such nice characters can grow on you. And it’s been good to see each character develop. I’m looking forward to book 5.
Author 18 books3 followers
November 9, 2021
Another entertaining stiry

Full of the usual funny snark. A great continuation of the Jane stories. Find the first one and read it so you will understand all the main characters.
17 reviews
November 16, 2021
Lighthearted fun

Still loving Lady Bond’s stories and how free she is with love and acceptance. Keep ‘em coming! On to the next one…
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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