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Jersey Girl #4
And Justice For Mall
Hollywood, house hunting ... and hand grenades?! Life turns explosive for New Jersey prosecutor turned LA family lawyer Sandy Moss when she takes on an unexpected new client: pre-teen millionaire Riley Schoenberg.
When Riley Schoenberg strides into family lawyer Sandy Moss's office without knocking and coolly sits down, Sandy's more irritated than amused. She has a client meeting to prepare for, and being interrupted by an eleven-year-old girl is not on her to-do list.
But then Sandy hears Riley's pitch, and it's a killer one: Riley's father's been convicted of murdering her mother ... and the oddly intimidating pre-teen will do anything to get him out of jail.
Sandy, in turn, will do anything to get Riley out of her office. Which includes agreeing to look into her dad's case for free. A decision she regrets when it turns out Riley's inheritance has made her a multi-millionaire.
Still, Sandy's determined to get Riley the answers she needs. There's just one tiny problem: Riley might be convinced her father's innocent, but Jack Schoenberg is insisting he did it.
When Riley Schoenberg strides into family lawyer Sandy Moss's office without knocking and coolly sits down, Sandy's more irritated than amused. She has a client meeting to prepare for, and being interrupted by an eleven-year-old girl is not on her to-do list.
But then Sandy hears Riley's pitch, and it's a killer one: Riley's father's been convicted of murdering her mother ... and the oddly intimidating pre-teen will do anything to get him out of jail.
Sandy, in turn, will do anything to get Riley out of her office. Which includes agreeing to look into her dad's case for free. A decision she regrets when it turns out Riley's inheritance has made her a multi-millionaire.
Still, Sandy's determined to get Riley the answers she needs. There's just one tiny problem: Riley might be convinced her father's innocent, but Jack Schoenberg is insisting he did it.
- GenresMysteryCozyCozy Mystery
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2022
12 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
E.J. Copperman
34 books839 followersLibrarian note: E.J. Copperman is the pen name for author
Jeff Cohen
E.J. Copperman is a mysterious figure, or has a mysterious figure, or writes figuratively in mysteries. In any event, a New Jersey native, E.J. has written for such publications as The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, American Baby and USA Weekend. Night of the Living Deed is the first E.J. Copperman novel. It will be followed in 2011 by An Uninvited Ghost, the second in the Haunted Guesthouse mystery series.
E.J., having worked as a newspaper reporter, teacher, magazine editor, and screenwriter, writes stories that combine humor and mystery with just the right amount of spooky supernatural happenings and a large doses of Jersey attitude.
Sound like we’re being evasive? Well, the fact is that E.J. Copperman is the pseudonym of a well-known mystery novelist, now embarking on a new type of story that includes some elements of the supernatural as well as a fair number of laughs. And the Copperman novels will have a different attitude, a different setting and completely different characters than anything that has come before, so E.J. really is a new author.
E.J. Copperman is a mysterious figure, or has a mysterious figure, or writes figuratively in mysteries. In any event, a New Jersey native, E.J. has written for such publications as The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, American Baby and USA Weekend. Night of the Living Deed is the first E.J. Copperman novel. It will be followed in 2011 by An Uninvited Ghost, the second in the Haunted Guesthouse mystery series.
E.J., having worked as a newspaper reporter, teacher, magazine editor, and screenwriter, writes stories that combine humor and mystery with just the right amount of spooky supernatural happenings and a large doses of Jersey attitude.
Sound like we’re being evasive? Well, the fact is that E.J. Copperman is the pseudonym of a well-known mystery novelist, now embarking on a new type of story that includes some elements of the supernatural as well as a fair number of laughs. And the Copperman novels will have a different attitude, a different setting and completely different characters than anything that has come before, so E.J. really is a new author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 19, 2023
This is the fourth Jersey Girl mystery series and the first I've read. The characters were engaging, and there was a bit of humor running through the book, even in dangerous situations. The plot was interesting and the mystery had some twists and turns and was fun to figure out.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions are my own.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions are my own.
December 29, 2022
I love Sandy; she’s sassy, snarky, and a really focused attorney/investigator. The mysteries are always intriguing and keep you guessing. I enjoy learning about different legal issues and the way Sandy navigates them. The characters are likeable and lots of fun. I’m not a fan of the romance aspect of this series but do like the cameos of returning characters. Recommended for fans of Stephanie Plum who want her to be smarter.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
February 3, 2023
Transplanted Jersey Girl lawyer Sandy Moss adjusts enough to California to be looking for a house with her movie star beau when she takes a pro bono client, an eleven-year-old who wants her father out of jail, though he's been convicted of killing her mother. What makes it tricky is that he has confessed to the crime. But Sandy sees cause to ask for a new trial. A kidnapping, a prison break, and another murder throws things into even worse confusion, but--as you'd expect--Sandy comes through for her client.
January 23, 2025
Quirky mystery. The MC is a lawyer transplanted from New Jersey to LA. I enjoyed the commentary on LA culture. The mystery itself was interesting, and the solution was entertaining.
November 28, 2022
Yet another legal tangle for our feisty heroine, Sandy Moss, to solve. It could so easily be full of fraught, angsty emotions – after all there isn’t anything at all funny about a pre-teen with a murdered mother desperate to get her convicted father out of prison. But somehow, Copperman’s protagonist manages to make almost all the situations she gets herself in genuinely funny – without diminishing the upset surrounding said situations.
Young Riley certainly tugs at our heartstrings – though not because she breaks down and weeps. She’s had a hard time of it since her mother’s death and doesn’t wear her heart on her sleeve. I found her tough front particularly poignant, given that children of her age shouldn’t have to be so streetwise and wary of their emotions. So when she does crack, it’s a big deal and I thought Copperman dealt with her character really well, having spent time with children of her age who have also suffered a similar lack of love.
As for Sandy, she is also house-hunting with the love of her life, gorgeous actor Patrick McNabb. It rapidly gets very complicated, as Sandy is frankly overwhelmed with the outlandish luxury that Patrick is accustomed to, yet she also is mindful that he’s got a lot of stuff that needs room. So they need to find somewhere large enough for their needs, but not too large and overblown – and she’s also aware that if she finds something that she wants, Patrick will immediately agree to it whether he likes it or not. I found this sub-plot endearing and a bit of light relief when events take a sudden, darker turn. Perhaps it’s Copperman’s gift of making sure there are lighter moments while the rest of Sandy’s investigations are getting dangerous that keeps the humour coming, without it appearing crass or insensitive.
I thought the denouement worked well and that the main murder mystery was successfully tied up. There’s a possible cloud on the horizon regarding Sandy’s happiness that I may have spotted… I’m hoping I’m wrong. But I can’t wait to dive into the next book, anyway, because there’s bound to be tension and adventure, alongside Sandy’s lovely dry humour. Recommended for fans of legal murder mysteries with a splash of ironic humour. While I obtained an arc of And Justice for Mall from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
Young Riley certainly tugs at our heartstrings – though not because she breaks down and weeps. She’s had a hard time of it since her mother’s death and doesn’t wear her heart on her sleeve. I found her tough front particularly poignant, given that children of her age shouldn’t have to be so streetwise and wary of their emotions. So when she does crack, it’s a big deal and I thought Copperman dealt with her character really well, having spent time with children of her age who have also suffered a similar lack of love.
As for Sandy, she is also house-hunting with the love of her life, gorgeous actor Patrick McNabb. It rapidly gets very complicated, as Sandy is frankly overwhelmed with the outlandish luxury that Patrick is accustomed to, yet she also is mindful that he’s got a lot of stuff that needs room. So they need to find somewhere large enough for their needs, but not too large and overblown – and she’s also aware that if she finds something that she wants, Patrick will immediately agree to it whether he likes it or not. I found this sub-plot endearing and a bit of light relief when events take a sudden, darker turn. Perhaps it’s Copperman’s gift of making sure there are lighter moments while the rest of Sandy’s investigations are getting dangerous that keeps the humour coming, without it appearing crass or insensitive.
I thought the denouement worked well and that the main murder mystery was successfully tied up. There’s a possible cloud on the horizon regarding Sandy’s happiness that I may have spotted… I’m hoping I’m wrong. But I can’t wait to dive into the next book, anyway, because there’s bound to be tension and adventure, alongside Sandy’s lovely dry humour. Recommended for fans of legal murder mysteries with a splash of ironic humour. While I obtained an arc of And Justice for Mall from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
9/10
May 9, 2024
Great fun and a fascinating mystery. Love the snarky inner dialogue of Sandy, the main character. Her client, Riley, is a very unique individual who nearly out-manipulates Sandy.
Sandy’s self-imposed timeline added tension to the later half of the story and leads to some interesting commentary on LA traffic from a NJ perspective. I wonder how many others have gotten out and walked? Her use of Zoom to gather suspects to reveal the murderer was a riot. Who knew the mute function and chat boxes could be used so effectively!
The climax was very intense and up until the resolution I wasn’t quite sure who would be revealed as the culprit as there were a lot of people coming in and out of the investigation. It would have been helpful to know early on that there was a list of the cast of characters in the back of the book.
Sandy has a great group of supportive friends which adds to the entertainment. Sandy and Patrick’s relationship is interesting to watch as it slowly makes progress forward.
Sandy’s self-imposed timeline added tension to the later half of the story and leads to some interesting commentary on LA traffic from a NJ perspective. I wonder how many others have gotten out and walked? Her use of Zoom to gather suspects to reveal the murderer was a riot. Who knew the mute function and chat boxes could be used so effectively!
The climax was very intense and up until the resolution I wasn’t quite sure who would be revealed as the culprit as there were a lot of people coming in and out of the investigation. It would have been helpful to know early on that there was a list of the cast of characters in the back of the book.
Sandy has a great group of supportive friends which adds to the entertainment. Sandy and Patrick’s relationship is interesting to watch as it slowly makes progress forward.
August 15, 2022
Sandy Miss is prepping for a client meeting when a tweenie walks into her office and asks her to represent her father. Turns out Dad was arrested for killing her Mother and she wants Dad out of jail. to get the girl out of her office, Sandy agrees to do it pro bono. Hey, she just wants to be ready for her client meeting.
Sandy soon finds out the young girl is quite a wealthy as an heiress…oh and that Dad says he’s guilty of the murder. What’s a girl to do? in sandy’s case, she’s going to figure out what happened and what’s going on…even if she’s missing out on the billable hours.
I really enjoyed the authors previous New Jersey based series and was hesitant to try the new one as it lands in California. I’m just sorry that I waited this long. You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can’t take the Jersey out of the girl! I will catch up on the first few books and be ready dive into the next one in this series!
Sandy soon finds out the young girl is quite a wealthy as an heiress…oh and that Dad says he’s guilty of the murder. What’s a girl to do? in sandy’s case, she’s going to figure out what happened and what’s going on…even if she’s missing out on the billable hours.
I really enjoyed the authors previous New Jersey based series and was hesitant to try the new one as it lands in California. I’m just sorry that I waited this long. You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can’t take the Jersey out of the girl! I will catch up on the first few books and be ready dive into the next one in this series!
October 21, 2022
Sandy just can't get away from crime, no matter what she does. She's moved to California from New Jersey and switched to family law but still. Now she's got Riley in her office and the kid has persuaded her to look into her mother's mother. Sure. her father said he did it but Riley doesn't think so and now neither does Sandy. Copperman has a great ear for dialogue, especially between Sandy and whoever she's talking with- and in this latest in the series, the wordplay between Sandy and Riley is fun. There's a charm to these novels that goes beyond the mystery because of the supporting cast. No spoilers from me as to who did it but there are a few twists along the way. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read that will satisfy fans of the series and be just fine as a standalone.
November 5, 2022
My favorite Jersey Girl is back under the cerulean sky of Southern California with a baffling case involving a smart young millionaire, his murdered mother and his jailed father accused of the crime...
But because nothing is as straightforward as it seems with Sandy mayhem ensues and the reader will be kept in stiches for a few hours...
EJ Copperman is back with a hilarious new addition to his marvellous Jersey Girl Legal Mystery where once again family lawyer Sandy Moss, her best friend and her glamorous TV actor boyfriend get involved into a story full of madcap, danger and ridiculous situations.
A "murder comedy" full of twists and turns, slapstick humor and laughing out loud moments that should definitely keep readers in stitches for a few hours....
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this terrific ARC
But because nothing is as straightforward as it seems with Sandy mayhem ensues and the reader will be kept in stiches for a few hours...
EJ Copperman is back with a hilarious new addition to his marvellous Jersey Girl Legal Mystery where once again family lawyer Sandy Moss, her best friend and her glamorous TV actor boyfriend get involved into a story full of madcap, danger and ridiculous situations.
A "murder comedy" full of twists and turns, slapstick humor and laughing out loud moments that should definitely keep readers in stitches for a few hours....
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this terrific ARC
December 10, 2022
So a theme of mine is usually if a romance-like series ends on an ok note, I always give it 4 to 5 stars, because it has fulfilled its purpose and made me feel fluffy and warm. But with this series finale, I couldn't suspend my disbelief that much.... is this how 11-year-olds act? I seriously doubt that they are this capable and know so much shit. Copperman did a terrible job at portraying a child and I just could not get on that ride. Everything else is fine, and again I really appreciate a good post covid book that didn't talk exactly about covid to the point that it's exclusively about that, but did a good job in merging reality with fiction in a very soft way. The romance is also solid. But the storyline is just a flop on this one.
So for that i had to knock two stars off...
3 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
So for that i had to knock two stars off...
3 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 30, 2022
Sandy is a lawyer in California, and is employed by 11 year old Riley, who is desperate to prove her imprisoned father's innocence - he has been found guilty of murdering Riley's mother, but did he really do it? Can Sandy keep herself and Riley safe whilst trying to find out the truth?
I enjoyed the way the book is written, with the character of Sandy talking to the reader. I think US audiences may understand more of her references than this UK reader did, but there was still enough to keep me amused (Sandy's boyfriend Patrick being British definitely helped - I could hear his accent in my head!)
This is the fourth book in the series, the first I've read. I didn't feel I needed to have read the previous before this one, it works as a standalone.
I enjoyed the way the book is written, with the character of Sandy talking to the reader. I think US audiences may understand more of her references than this UK reader did, but there was still enough to keep me amused (Sandy's boyfriend Patrick being British definitely helped - I could hear his accent in my head!)
This is the fourth book in the series, the first I've read. I didn't feel I needed to have read the previous before this one, it works as a standalone.
March 11, 2024
Sandy is conned by a millionaire eleven year old into working to get her convicted of murder father out of jail - and she is doing it pro bono.
If you can believe this premise, then you will probably enjoy the fourth in the series.
I found the house hunting episodes very annoying, as well as the repetitious description of the realtor Emily Webster as being a crazy attempted murderer. Why the houses are rejected are also unbelievable.
But the investigation into the murder of the mother of Riley Schoenberg's mother was interesting and kept me reading. I also enjoy the authors comments on life in Los Angeles, having lived there and done that.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
If you can believe this premise, then you will probably enjoy the fourth in the series.
I found the house hunting episodes very annoying, as well as the repetitious description of the realtor Emily Webster as being a crazy attempted murderer. Why the houses are rejected are also unbelievable.
But the investigation into the murder of the mother of Riley Schoenberg's mother was interesting and kept me reading. I also enjoy the authors comments on life in Los Angeles, having lived there and done that.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
October 27, 2022
And Justice For Mall by E. J. Copperman is an engaging entry into the cozy mystery genre. Sandy Moss, an attorney, can’t resist a challenge or a plea for help. So when eleven year old Riley walks into her office asking for her assistance, she agrees to take the case pro bono then discovers that Riley is a millionaire.
This was a fun romp that kept me engaged from beginning to end. The characters were quirky yet interesting and likable. The many suspects and red herrings had me guessing and changing my mind until the final pieces fell into place. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.) A well-written whodunit that is sure to please.
This was a fun romp that kept me engaged from beginning to end. The characters were quirky yet interesting and likable. The many suspects and red herrings had me guessing and changing my mind until the final pieces fell into place. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.) A well-written whodunit that is sure to please.
March 3, 2023
Sandy Moss
In thos book in the series, Sandy is hired by an 11 year old girl to get her dad out of jail for killing her mom. When that girl gets kidnapped and her dad and her Uncle Pete escape from jail, Sandy figures they kidnapped Riley so she could be with her dad. Then the kidnapper is killed and Sandy feels the pressure to find Riley before the 48 hours are up. How Sandy manages to find Riley and expose the murderer of Riley's mother make for a great story. This one in the series was really good. Great editing, great characters, and a great mystery. Highly recommend this book.
In thos book in the series, Sandy is hired by an 11 year old girl to get her dad out of jail for killing her mom. When that girl gets kidnapped and her dad and her Uncle Pete escape from jail, Sandy figures they kidnapped Riley so she could be with her dad. Then the kidnapper is killed and Sandy feels the pressure to find Riley before the 48 hours are up. How Sandy manages to find Riley and expose the murderer of Riley's mother make for a great story. This one in the series was really good. Great editing, great characters, and a great mystery. Highly recommend this book.
December 19, 2022
I was disappointed in this fourth book of the series. The main character, Sandy Moss, became annoying. What bugged me were the inane asides. Maybe it’s just me, but there seemed to be a marked increase in the number of them over the first three books. In earlier books the asides often clued me in to her background. In this book, many were just pointless (a few I didn’t understand). It became distracting and ruined the flow of the story.
October 29, 2022
E.j Copperman mysteries are always a lot of fun and solid. This is the best one so far and I thoroughly enjoyed since the first pages.
A quirky cast of characters, a solid mystery, a bizarre situation. I was hooked and the plot kept me guessing.
A highly entertaining story that I strongly recommend
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
A quirky cast of characters, a solid mystery, a bizarre situation. I was hooked and the plot kept me guessing.
A highly entertaining story that I strongly recommend
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
November 30, 2023
The fourth entry in the Jersey Girl Legal cozy mysteries is an interesting one. Our heroine Sandy Moss lands herself an interesting case, eleven year old billionaire Riley has is willing to pay Sandy, anything to get her dad out of prison. He was convicted of killing her mom. Even thoughhe admits to doing it..Sandy ends up looking into the case. Which l like for this particular series. It keeps getting better with each book.
August 21, 2024
Given the state of the world these days, the Jersey Girl mysteries are coming across as less outlandish and more probable. Having 11-year-old Riley as a client really ups the ante in And Justice for Mall. As always, the book is smart and suspenseful, while being unconventionally funny...in a good, Jersey way. I love the familiar characters and how they grow on each other.
December 22, 2024
This high quality humorous mystery is up on the intelligent and witty side of cozy mysteries. I absolutely enjoyed the fast paced, wildly entertaining audio book filled with liars, losers, murderers, and love.
November 16, 2022
witty cozy mystery
December 6, 2022
This is an enjoyable quirky mystery with lots of information regarding the legal system. The characters are all great and the plot moves very quickly. A fun read.
December 20, 2022
Another comedic mystery from Copperman. Made me laugh and keep turning pages.
December 27, 2022
More adventures with the gang.
January 14, 2023
3.5 Stars
I might have enjoyed this more if I had read the book and not listened to the audiobook. The narrators voice(s) just didn't do the story justice.
I might have enjoyed this more if I had read the book and not listened to the audiobook. The narrators voice(s) just didn't do the story justice.
March 4, 2023
Very enjoyable, as are all of the author's books
June 29, 2024
I liked this one better than I've like some others by Copperman (not bad writing, just not a fit for me).
November 22, 2024
Interesting mystery. Good character development, unusual plot. Part of a series.
March 8, 2025
Easy to read, uncomplicated, quick.
July 27, 2025
A fun read. I didn’t really care to solve the murder mystery, just enjoyed the ramblings trying to get there. A lot of entertaining characters.
August 21, 2025
cozy mystery
Not what I expected but the story was ok. This is just not my cup of tea. If you like cozy mystery then this would be one for you.
Not what I expected but the story was ok. This is just not my cup of tea. If you like cozy mystery then this would be one for you.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews