A Fatal Glow

Odessa Jones #2

by Valerie Wilson Wesley

Sometimes even good luck can mean bad fortune. For Odessa Jones—reluctant psychic, part-time caterer, full-time realtor--an elegant affair turned deadly threatens her reputation, and her life . . .

Recently widowed Odessa Jones is sure the exclusive catering job she’s scored from wealthy businessman Casey Osborne will propel her catering career into the big leagues. So when Dessa’s pesky second sight warns her that Osborne is bad news, she ignores it. She wishes she hadn’t when he drops dead at his brunch after sampling her homemade preserves. Osborne’s death is declared a homicide. Dessa and the friends who helped her cook are considered suspects . . .

To clear her name and find the truth, Dessa delves into Casey Osborne’s life. Everyone from his sinister business partner to his tormented ex-wife has reason to kill him--and the opportunity to do it. With the help of her spirited aunt, loyal co-workers and mischievous cat Juniper, she desperately searches for answers. Until a second murder leads Dessa down a frightening path filled with insidious hidden agendas—and someone poised to change her life forever.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Paranormal, Family, Audiobook, Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published February 22, 2022

About the author

Valerie Wilson Wesley is an African-American author of mysteries, adult-theme novels, and children's books,[1] and a former executive editor of Essence magazine. She is the author of the Tamara Hayle mystery series. Her writings, both fiction and non-fiction, have also appeared in numerous publications, including Essence, Family Circle, TV Guide, Ms., The New York Times, and the Swiss weekly magazine Die Weltwoche.

Reviews

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this one up without reading the first which is usually not a problem for me with cozy mysteries, but I think it prevented me from really connecting with the main character. I felt like there was a lot of potential with the amateur sleuth being an oddly psychically gifted young women who is a cater and works in a real estate office. I thought her gifts weren’t utilized properly since she ignored them mostly and the whole mystery was a bit odd since she was trying to mind her own business but the mystery kept being solved as she tried mostly to ignore it. I didn’t think the killer was very well hidden through the story. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t my favorite cozy mystery series. I did very much like the cat, and there is enough potential that I would possibly read more.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Odessa Jones, a realtor and part-time caterer who sees auras or glimmers around people and smells nutmeg when death is near, is excited about the fancy brunch she was just hired to cater. The people are kind of obnoxious, but the money will be good. Then there is a murder, and Dessa wonders who is responsible--maybe natural causes, or maybe someone who wanted the deceased's fortune? Since she catered the event, she is questioned along with her friend Louella's boyfriend, but her Aunt Phoenix (who is also somewhat psychic) advises her her to stay out of it. I really enjoyed this well-plotted mystery with multi-faceted African American characters. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to review this ARC.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fatal Glow is the second in Valerie Wilson Wesley's Odessa Jones Mysteries and follows caterer-turned-estate agent Dessa Jones. Dessa has psychic gifts but unfortunately, they failed to warn her that she was to become a widow at forty-odd, as well as losing her home and the catering business she's worked so hard to build. She is trying to revive her catering and bakery company, D&D Delights, whilst working at Risko Realty in an office where it seems that some possess secrets, an unpleasant personality or both. When a wealthy businessman, Casey Osborne, who hires Odessa for an exclusive catering job is found dead having eaten some of D&D Delights preserves, Dessa and her catering colleagues who helped make them, are suspects...

This is a great continuation to a promising cozy mystery series which I hope will be just as good going forward. From the very beginning and I jumped into A Fatal Glow with abandon. This thrilling series has a wonderful, engaging main character. Valerie Wilson Wesley's sleuth Dessa is complex, smart and I enjoyed her mothering of Lacey (Osborne’s son). Odessa sees 'glimmers' and has other interesting methods of analysing people and situations. Her character has depth and I felt that I was right there alongside her as she deciphered clues. Dessa's eccentric aunts are strong characters, too and I adore her demanding and spoiled black cat. The author's writing style is clear and direct and I'm already looking forward to the next instalment! This can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, but I expect you'll want to backtrack and read book #1 if you missed it. With a compelling plot, drama aplenty, a great bunch of characters, and oodles of mayhem added to the mix this fantastic read kept me on my toes. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odessa Jones has a colorful personality. Very feisty and heartwarming. I enjoyed getting to know her. As well as the rest of the characters. Odessa's day job and her catering job were fun to read about. Most of the book of Odessa's cooking made my mouth water. Her gift of seeing glimmers kind of like auras, a psychic ability she is just discovering she has makes her unique,
Throughout the book, she has many of the relationships with coworkers and catering clients. The mystery kept me intrigued. The book has a interesting plot. Also representation of a Black protagonist which was wonderful.

Thank You Kensington and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was a honest review

[Jerri Cachero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever been in "book love" with a mystery series? I fell for the Odessa Jones Mysteries and kept watch for the second book and it is as wonderful as the first! In this book, Odessa finds herself doing what she loves (catering) while doing what she has to do (real estate agent). Her two worlds intersect when her boss recommends Odessa to cater a party for mega -wealthy Casey Osborne. Everything is going as planned until Osborne collapses and dies in the middle of the party.. Odessa must prove her innocence and find out who killed the unpopular man before she becomes the next victim.

Odessa is a likable and relatable character. Recently widowed, she struggles to get the catering company she and her husband started, back on track. While she's not thrilled with her real estate job, she is fond of her co-workers and has made long term friendships. The mystery is fast-paced and you won't want to put it down. Part of the reason I love the series is Odessa's "gift" and her wonderfully eccentric Aunts who have "gifts" of their own. It's a skillful blending of a bit of paranormal and mystery and it's believable.

Odessa brings a fresh voice to the cozy mystery/mystery genre and I now will begin my search for book three!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odessa Jones is a delightful character and I've really come to enjoy the family she's created for herself.
Seeing glows, or shimmers, is a gift Odessa is learning to live with, but it doesn't always work to her advantage.
She's also a caterer who finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, and the plot is just wicked enough to be true.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

#AFatalGlow #NetGalley.

[Lata · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It's a year later. Odessa is still at Risko realty, but she's also catering part-time. She's hired to cater a party by a guy she knew in high school. Odessa quickly sees that there is much acrimony between him and his ex-wife, and his new pregnant wife seems uninterested in the man's teenaged son. And guess who ends up dropping dead at the party he requested?

So, Odessa gets involved in the lives of the affected family, and begins poking around a little since Louella's (from book one) boyfriend is initially accused of murdering the man. Odessa finds out so many nasty things about the people involved, and uses her ability to detect people's glimmers to guide her, as well as her outspoken aunt Phoenix's advice.

The identity of the murderer was not a total surprise, like with book one, and Odessa is left at the end with some new and meaningful relationships. It's a fun little cozy with a kind and caring protagonist.

[The Cozy Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are just some characters that, no matter what, you will always remember and want to know more about. Odessa Jones is one of those characters. In the second book from the “An Odessa Jones Mystery” series, A Fatal Glow, Dessa finds herself on the brink of change, but not all change is good. When the opportunity to cater a wealthy businessman's brunch is thrust at her, Dessa can’t say no. But her second sight is telling her to run in the opposite direction, fast. Unfortunately, she doesn’t listen and finds herself at the center of a murder investigation.

Odessa is a widow trying her best to get her catering business back up and running while holding down a realtor job. She has second sight, a form of psychic ability, but sometimes it’s a curse, not a blessing. When her catering job, a brunch, ends in murder and she becomes a suspect, she has no choice but to jump in to clear her name. There are plenty of other suspects, and they all have an excellent motive to commit murder, but finding out which one is the guilty party puts Dessa’s life in danger. Red herrings are thrown into the mix to make Dessa’s job even harder, and her second sight doesn’t help unravel this murder.

It's hard not to like Odessa, harder still not to cheer for her as she delves into the murder and the future. The brunch seems like a changing point for her and her friends, and her second sight might become more useful as changes become inevitable. This story is written well, suspects are easy to find and understandable, and returning characters add a touch of family to the entire story. The killer once revealed, will have readers smiling and nodding in appreciation. This is a series readers will return to with each new book and will want to see Dessa succeed in her catering business and her life. The characters in this book aren’t easily understandable if you haven’t read the first book, so I highly advise that readers do that before reading this one. I wouldn’t mind having a bit of Dessa’s second sight, and I definitely would love to attend a brunch she caters. A Fatal Glow is a wonderful read, with wonderful characters, and a plot that will keep you guessing.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Fatal Glow by Valerie Wilson Wesley is a fantastic second book in the Odessa Jones Mysteries. I enjoyed the first one, A Glimmer of Death, but with Odessa starting to come more into her mystical powers more, I enjoyed A Fatal Glow even more!

Wesley continues to give us well developed characters and we are introduced to a few more in book two. Love Aunt Phoenix and really feel a kinship with her! Even when Wesley writes a mean character she keeps me interested and it doesn’t feel fake, which I’ve found to be the case with some other cozy mystery writers. Wesley also isn’t afraid to write about some hard topics that other cozy mystery writers steer clear of, which is very refreshing.

As far as the mystery went, we do get a bunch of suspects, but I was able to figure out the killer pretty easy, but it didn’t take away from the story because of how engrossed I became in the characters. I also enjoyed that while Dessa investigates she never does so in a way that really puts her in danger.

Looking forward to book three in the Odessa Jones Mysteries.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one a little less than the first one. It was still enjoyable.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odessa Jones has a gift, one that sets her far apart from others. She sees auras which she sees as glimmers. She's still getting used to them and this time she really shouldn't have ignored the signs. Her catering business is her dream and working as a real estate agent is what pays the bills. When she gets the chance to cater a big affair, one that will, hopefully, make her name in the catering circles, she decides to ignore the glimmer radiating off of her new client. Well, she does get attention but not what she would ever want. The client, Casey Osborne, samples some of her yummy homemade preserves and drops dead. The police focus on Odessa and others connected to her catering but she won't stand around waiting for them to clear her name. Gathering her friends and family she sets out to catch the killer herself. With plenty of suspects, each with a solid motive for murder, she needs all of her wits about her. If she doesn't she might just be next on the killers list.
With a wonderful cast of well developed characters and a first rate mystery to untangle, this is one series that should be on your to be read shelf.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Christine (Queen of Books)]

I've been looking forward to this book since finishing A GLIMMER OF DEATH in August 2021 and finding myself disappointed I couldn't carry on with Dessa's story. I still really like her character—"reluctant psychic, part-time caterer, full-time realtor"—and that this book had much more food appreciation than fat-shaming (when the latter is so common in the cozy mystery genre).

But I had a hard time distinguishing several of the characters from each other, which made the plot feel a bit convoluted at times. I rarely read the synopsis prior to picking up a book (for fear of spoiling myself) but think that may have improved my reading experience here. I also think this may have been a better one-sitting book than one stretched out over a few days. Will have to keep that in mind for the third installment!

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Diana Blue and enjoyed her narration (she also narrated A Killer Sundae by Abby Collette!).

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn’t read the first book in this series, but this book seemed like something I’d like so I picked this up anyway. I had no trouble at all in following along, and it didn’t take long for me to get up to speed. The author did a great job at keeping the reader from knowing too much about the first book’s events so you can decide to pick it up without being spoiled. This book was fun and interesting, and while I wasn’t really fond of the end, I really enjoyed the rest of the book. Why didn’t I like the end? It just seemed like we didn’t exactly get an answer to a couple of questions, but it wasn’t awful. I really enjoyed this book, and I’m a new fan of this author waiting for more! Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Odessa Jones is a breath of fresh air as far as cozy mystery characters go. Yes, many others are widowed, others work several jobs, have strong family connections, and a no-nonsense look on life, but not all together. All this makes Odessa so much more relatable. She has a good heart and a struggling business but she’s doing her best, solving crimes and saving her friends along the way. I loved this story. It was well-paced and had so much going on, I didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book from The Odessa Jones mysteries that I've read - and I am pleasantly surprised. The cozy mystery genre was getting boring to me, and this book was a perfect start to me reading them again. Valerie Wesley did a wonderful job writing the mystery, I was guessing to the end who committed the murder.

Will be picking up the first book in this series to read.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read

I have been a fan of this author for years. She’s come back with another good series. Death always finds Odessa Jones when she least expects it. She has a second sense that shows her things. Her aunt Phoenix’s another one with a second sense. There’s always something going on.


#cilla’sbookmaniaxs.

[Darla Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second book in the series and I definitely enjoyed it. The book was well-written with well-rounded characters and fully-fledged relationships. I did find the book a bit slow at first, but I was soon drawn in and kept hooked until the end. I love Odessa Jones as a character and hope that she fully embraces and uses her gift as the series continues. The mystery will keep you guessing and on your toes. I'm looking forward to the next book and do recommend this one. I highly suggest you read book one first for a better understanding of the characters.

[Amy Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great addition to this series! Odessa is a thoughtful, empathetic sleuth. I loved learning a bit more about her psychic abilities and watching her navigate through this tricky mystery.

[Carmen Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is becoming a favorite. I love the main character Odessa. I also like the supporting characters. The mystery also had sufficient clues and made sense.

[Kemi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

When I picked it up, I didn't realize this book was second in a series. It was hard to follow the first several chapters because the author kept referring to book #1 when talking about the characters and past plot points. I could have used just a tiny bit more context in this book.

The story was fine. I liked that it was short and sweet. I'm undecided about going back to read the first book.

[Amanie Johal]

I kind of love that characters point out the suspiciously-high number of deaths related to this realty office as a reason to avoid this company when in most cozy mysteries*, the death count is usually ignored or only attributed to the protagonist as an individual than to their business. Obviously I can suspend my disbelief and don't require that level of realism in all of my fiction, but I loved that the author called it out lmfao

I want to say that the culprit was easily guessable in this installment, but I remember thinking the culprit in the first installment came out of nowhere, so maybe I just don't know what I want? 😅 It was at least enjoyable enough for me to want to continue on in the series though!

* I don't really consider this to be a cozy mystery because it reads more as a straight mystery, but I could be wrong

[Shannan Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

part time real estate agent/caterer Odessa Jones is back. When catering an event goes deadly when the host of the party goes dead, Odessa ends up looking at clues and using her glimmer powers to solve the mystery of who did it.

Now this book did take me a little longer to get into it, but made up for it once I got going good. I enjoyed this cozy mystery and am anticipating the next book in the series.

I received a copy of the book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the Odessa Jones series and I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read book 1, A Glimmer of death. . There is a lot going on with Odessa. She is a psychic, a caterer and a real estate agent. When she is offered a catering job for a wealthy business man she ignores the psychic warning. She and her staff become prime suspects in his murder when he eats her homemade preserves. When a second murder occurs she must work to clear herself and her friends. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Fatal Glow by Valerie Wilson Wesley is the second book in this author's Odessa Jones Mystery series. I found the storyline interesting but I couldn't get into most of the characters in this book. There were definitely some interesting interactions though. I didn't read the first book in this series. I think maybe I should go back and read that one and reread this book so I could become more acquainted with Odessa Jones.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no doubt that Odessa (Dessa) Jones is an interesting character
 Full-time Realtor
 Part-time Caterer
 Reluctant Psychic

This is second in the Odessa Jones mystery series.
First was A Glimmer of Death. We learned in that story that Dessa became a widow and was about to lose her home as well as the catering business she that she and her husband Darryl worked so hard to build.

This story starts when Dessa is catering an event (which is something she loves however has to work as a real estate agent in order to make ends meet).
This catering event is a brunch given by the multimillionaire (arrogant and obnoxious) Casey Osborne.

Party is going great until ~ Oops! Osborne is murdered.
As the caterer Odessa is questioned. Dessa knows in order to clear her name and find the truth she needs to find out everything and anything about Osborne

The Reluctant Psychic part of Dessa is that she see a glimmer “glow” in some people that is sometimes negative also smells nutmeg when death is about to happen. Yep she smells nutmeg when she meets Casey Osborne.

Turns out that Odessa went to high school as Casey and his first wife Aurelia. Casey was a big man on campus and seemed to have a new girlfriend daily ~ it was a bit of a surprise when they married but no surprise when they divorced.

When Dessa meets Osborne’s son Lacey (yes son!) she figures typical rich kid but Dessa senses that there appears to be more to him.
Dessa’s search into all their lives comes up with some very interesting things!!

My first Valerie Wilson Wesley novel, looking forward to reading another!!!

I love cozy mysteries ` have to admit that I love that this story is far more interesting than a typical cozy.
However, keeping with what is typically a cozy thing ~ there is a recipe for Dessa’s Handy-Dandy Collard Greens Quiche at the end of the book.
The recipe is the compliments of Jonell Nash, Food Editor of “Essence” magazine.

Want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Book for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 22. 2022.

[Ashley Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Odessa Jones series and my second read from Valerie Wilson Wesley. I have to admit, I'm not sure how I feel about it. First, I will say its a solid read with interesting characters.

That being said, the mystery does have some turns BUT I don't think Wesley fully fleshes out the potential on the page.

For one, Odessa Jones can be so un-curious at times that its frustrating. She is a person that other characters turn to, spill secrets to but she doesn't do anything with that information or tries to figure out the mystery. She is collecting all this information and then decides to just go on about her day. If she actually thought on these tidbits and formed a working theory that would then inform how she engages with certain characters. That would make things interesting.

The few times she tries to figure out the mystery is when she visits Lennox Royal. Here, I think Wesley is slowly building a love story between Odessa and Lennox but I find myself frustrated that this woman in her late 40s seems to only expend the effort to "figure things out" when Lennox is nearby.

Also, her gift remains one of the most underdeveloped, important aspects of this character and, much like with this information that drops in her lap, Odessa spends far more time dismissing it than using it. I could understand if there was a reason (or several) for the dismissal. And, she comes from a family of people with gifts and that remains underdeveloped as well.

Lastly, give me more to Juniper than the fact he is a treat-obsessed cat. Any time he saunters on the page that's the extent of the interaction. You could honestly remove him and it wouldn't change the story at all.

I wanted to like this series but I think I'm done. I hoped that the second book would fix some of the aforementioned issues I had with the first book. Alas, they persist in the second book.

[Rachel N · Rating 5 out of 5]

* 4.5 Stars!!

This is the 2nd book in the Odessa Jones' series following Odessa who is a very reluctant psychic. She's a full time realtor as well as a part time caterer. In the middle of a fancy brunch/party a very wealthy man drops dead at Odessa's feet during an argument but that's not the worst part, the police think he might have been poisioned so there goes Dessa's reputation and Dessa and the cook become the prime suspects. Oh don't think that's the worst part, the worst part............the dead guy at her feet......................thats her wealthy client!!..........Goodbye big leagues!!

Really enjoyed this book found it to be a cute, quick cozy read, I really enjoyed the relationships building between the different characters and Odessa such as with Lacey who Odessa's mothering instincts wanted her to go above and beyond to make sure that he was safe and her relationship with Lennox which seems to have the potential to go into a more personal one, even if they remain as friends or more I really liked there scenes and hope to have more of them in the future hopefully with Lennox's daughter Amy involved as well.

One of the very few things that I didn't like was how the murder of the second man kind of went unsolved because they just assumed that it was the deceased that killed them and then it just stopped there, they didn't investigate that death any further and just assumed that the final murder victim was the one responsible for his death but they didn't have any proof so say if that was true or not. also wasn't a big fan of the male investigating officer/detective? I thought he was an idiot I just didn't seem to like him at all.

Overall really enjoyed this book and looking forward to reading more of the series.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for my honest review.*

[Bobbie Kirkland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of A FATAL GLOW (Book 2 of the Odessa Jones Mysteries), by Valerie Wilson Wesley, in exchange for an honest review. Dessa and her office mates are still settling down from the murder of their boss and the events that followed. Dessa’s real estate commissions are few and far between, so she’s struggling financially. Therefore, when Dessa’s boss asks her to cater an exclusive event for a potential business partner, Dessa can’t afford to refuse. Drama in the kitchen at the end of the event leads to that business partner prospect falling into a rage and declaring he would never pay for the food and services Dessa had just provided right before dropping dead. Law enforcement poisoning, which throws a shadow on Dessa and her catering business. Since two of her office mates had assisted Dessa with the catering gig, her work family is again in turmoil. In order to clear herself, her business, and bring peace to her office family, Dessa begins to investigate the victim, his family, and his business. A second murder and the desperation of a frightened, grieving child add impetus to Dessa’s investigation.

I liked this book as well as the previous tale. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, real estate, catering, supernatural inklings, and eccentric relatives.

#AFatalGlow #NetGalley

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed both the books in this series and am looking forward to the third which is supposed to come out this year. I like Odessa. She's strong and sensible, finding her way in the world after the death of her beloved husband. I like that while she grieves, she gets on with the business of living and paying the bills. This may sound like a no-brainer, but so many cozies with widowed heroines just continue to have them wallow in grief and ask many many times if they are ready to move on with romance when it is obvious that's the way the story is moving but book after book it's the same thing. Odessa may have a romance looming but she isn't obsessing. She also is a shrewd judge of human nature, observing and noting without lecturing the reader about it which I love. It's a subtle difference. She's compassionate and empathetic without being pitying. I like the way her "gift" is handled-- a glimmer or aura that lets her see mood more than anything but helps her decide if someone is lying. It's a useful hint but it doesn't intervene and present the solution. This particular book had a tangled plot and one thread isn't officially resolved but there are strong guesses. And that's okay. I liked that better than having everything tied up in neat boxes. It was an emotional ending as well. And I'll put in a plug for Juniper the cat.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wesley’s cozy mystery series featuring Odessa Jones – realtor, caterer and amateur sleuth plus potential psychic abilities – caught my attention for a variety of reasons. I was lured in primarily by the unique combination of Odessa’s multi-faceted talents. As expected, these talents helped build a well-plotted mystery revolving around murders - not just one but two. There was a broad mix of supporting characters – some of whom were likeable, including Odessa’s delightful cat and her quirky, somewhat psychic Aunt Phoenix, and some were not.

Unfortunately, not having read the first in the series, I struggled with filling in the backstory of the various characters especially Odessa. My confusion made for a slow first quarter and unanswered questions that remained throughout. Once the past could be put aside, the story and characters of A Fatal Glow came into focus in what turned into an entertaining, light cozy read. In retrospect, I was surprised that it was Odessa’s culinary adventures that caught my attention over her fledgling psychic tendencies which she mainly dismissed.

There’s a number of solid ingredients in this series which could use a bit more development. Promising enough to watch for the next installment.






FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.