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Redemption (Jane Perry #2)

by Laurel Dewey (Goodreads Author)

3.99 of 5 stars 3.99 · rating details · 187 ratings · 36 reviews

After the events in Protector (Story Plant mass market, May 2009), Jane Perry has resigned from the Denver Police Department. Trying to make a living as a private investigator, she finds her past haunting her at every turn and her old demons rising up to torment her.

Seeking some level of comfort at an AA meeting, Jane encounters a woman who knows what Jane does for a livin...more

Hardcover, 400 pages

Published May 26th 2009 by Story Plant, The

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Mar 18, 2011 Leslie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-reviews, humor, suspense

Article first published as Book Review: Redemption by Laurel Dewey on Blogcritics.

As Jane Perry’s undercover assignment is blown, she is as angry as hell. Having her bust taken over by the local authorities is like a kick in the pants. Having left a position with the police force and opening her own office as PI, she is very obsessive of her cases. Working with the FBI on this undercover sting was only going to build her business one more step. When she finds out, they have bypassed her and gone...more Article first published as Book Review: Redemption by Laurel Dewey on Blogcritics.

As Jane Perry’s undercover assignment is blown, she is as angry as hell. Having her bust taken over by the local authorities is like a kick in the pants. Having left a position with the police force and opening her own office as PI, she is very obsessive of her cases. Working with the FBI on this undercover sting was only going to build her business one more step. When she finds out, they have bypassed her and gone with the locals she sees red. Frustrated and worried she finds herself open for a new job. That is how she hooked up with Catherine (Kit) Clark. An older slightly eccentric bohemian type, looking for answers.

Kit is convinced the man who killed her granddaughter so many years ago, has just kidnapped another young girl. Recently released on bail, he is waiting for a new trial. Kit needs Jane’s help to track him down and find Charlotte Walker, the twelve year old who recently disappeared. Initially Jane is intrigued. The story Kit tells is tragic, blaming herself, the abduction and murder of her own granddaughter is heartrending. Yet it has destroyed her family and alienated them to the extent they consider her dead. She has come to terms with her life and her part in Ashlee’s death. Recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, she wants to put to rest and close the book on Lou Peters the alleged murderer. Now she is convinced he has taken another victim. Jane is hooked.

With media interest in the case, Jane tries to keep a low profile. However, how low can it be when she finds that her client-copartner in the case is just a bit kooky? She drinks jade water, walks backwards for relief of her back, and wears outlandish clothes. She eats herbs and is a naturalist. As Jane delves deeper into the disappearance of Charlotte Walker, she finds out that Catherine has not told her everything.

Immersing herself further in the case, she stumbles on a religious cult. Lou is deep in the group and they believe in his innocence. Lou has ingratiated himself and become close with the founder. Can Jane find Charlotte before it is too late? Will Lou’s madness escalate before she can find the clues?

In Redemption, Laurel Dewey further develops the character of Jane Perry who made her first appearance in Dewey’s first novel, Protector. Jane is a strong and opinionated character. She is a survivor of physical abuse as a child, and believes she has overcome her past. She is vulnerable because of that past, and it dictates many of her decisions in life. She finds she has difficulty trusting and pushes people away. When offered the chance to become Sergeant, she turned it down. Her old boss Weyler was one of the few people she trusted, but she needed a break, she had to get away. She really begins to like Catherine and get close only to find that Catherine also has a secret, which puts her at odds with the law.

Kit is a likable character, full of flair. She has lived an interesting life, growing up in the era of free love and flower power. She is gregarious and funny, with some extremely odd quirks. She believes her cancer was caused by her anger and hatred after the death of her granddaughter Ashlee. Not only did she feel at fault for her death, her daughter blamed her as well. The pain was so deep that forgiveness would never come. She has made peace with her life but worries at how the hatred in her daughter will make her ill as well. Her companionship is good for Jane, it steadies her in a way she has never had.

The spirituality of the book is subtle and flows throughout the background. It is intrinsic to the story and very interesting. Kit has some very interesting and thought provoking beliefs, without which this novel would not have been the same. Well written, the story is fast paced and thrilling. You will find yourself drawn to the characters and feel their pain as well. The mystery and plot are well researched and very believable.

I would recommend this book for those interested in suspense and murder. It also has a little twist of lightheartedness as well as sadness. I was not prepared to enjoy it as I did. I found it unique and interesting, and could not put it down. This would be a great book for a book club, it spans a time when changes were happening and cultures were new. It would create a great deal of conversation and opinions

This book was received as a free copy through the publicist. All opinons are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.
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May 16, 2013 Bernie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After reading the first in this series as a Free Fridays offering from B&N I purchased this book. That in itself speaks volumes about the respect I have for Laurel Dewey, since I have purchased very few books as I use the local library's collection of downloadables and read some of the free offerings from B&N. So take note, authors and B&N, giving away the first in a series does lead to sales. I will soon purchase #3 in the series.

The plot is fairly predictable, but I find the charac...more

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May 04, 2012 Mary rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Jane Perry series, and I liked it only marginally better than the first one, which is to say not much at all. Although, I was gratified that she had to work a little harder and think a little harder to find the killer in this book. (Spoiler Alert for the first book: how it took her until the last 20+ pages to figure out the real culprit in Protector, I will never understand. It was so obvious that it made me seriously consider if I wanted to read this book.)

The wri...more

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Nov 25, 2011 Mareena rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who likes contemporary mysteries

Recommended to Mareena by: Tracee at Pump up Your Book

Jane Perry has resigned from the police department and is trying to make a living as a private investigator. However, her past is rising to haunt her. Seeking comfort at an AA meeting, she meets a woman whose granddaughter was murdered many years ago. This woman discovers what Jane does for a living and asks Jane to drive with her from Colorado to California to find her granddaughter's killer whom she's convinced is still murdering people.

Jane is somewhat skeptical when she finds out that the l...more

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Apr 14, 2011 Brenda Casto rated it 5 of 5 stars

Katherine "Kit" Clark is convinced that the Lou Peters, the man who raped and murdered her granddaughter Ashlee is at it again. When reasonable doubt was proven in the case of Ashlee,Lou is granted a new trial and he was ordered out of prison on bond. Now there is another missing girl and Kit is convinced Lou is the one to blame.
Jane Perry quit the police force to become a private investigator, and things haven't been going so well. While attending an AA meeting she decides to step out for a smo...more

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Apr 11, 2011 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Detective Jane Perry is trying to bring down the bad guys one at a time and on her terms. When an undercover sting operation goes wrong, Jane finds herself in desperate need of money and fast. So when Katherine “Kit” Clark from Jane’s “AA” meeting group offers to hire Jane to track down a serial killer in California, the offer is too good for Jane to pass up.

Redemption is the second Jane Perry novel. It can be read as a stand alone novel. Right from the beginning, this book did not hold back. J...more

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Feb 28, 2011 William Bentrim rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-for-swap

Redemption by Laurel Dewey

This is a suspenseful private eye novel with a strong female protagonist.

Jane Perry’s tenacity is her greatest strength. I always like a book with a strong female protagonist. Of course in Jane’s case bull headed and stubborn might also apply. Her inability to accept those who want to help her appear to be her biggest fault.

The story bogged down for me when what appeared to be proselytization occurred. The spirituality and mysticism weren’t strong enough to categorize...more

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Feb 02, 2010 April rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jane Perry is a hard-nosed, rough around the edges private investigator who has spent the last 6 months getting sober while trying to ignore her tortured past. Kit Clark is a free-spirited follower of new age practices trying to keep history from repeating itself. When these two women come together they clash on every level until they discover their common ground, the one thing they are both seeking; Redemption.

Kit has hired Jane to help find a missing 12-year-old girl who she believes was kidn...more

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Sep 17, 2009 Darcy Odden rated it 5 of 5 stars

In Laurel Dewey's "Redemption," private investigator Jane Perry, a former Denver Police detective, takes a road trip from Denver to California with her client, Kit Clark, in search of Lou Peters, a man Kit says killed her granddaughter many years ago and who Kit believes is responsible for the disappearance of a 12-year-old in California.

Though traveling together, the two don't always work together since Jane is not sure if Kit is seeking revenge for the murder of her granddaughter. And then the...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Molly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-review

My first thought, when opening this book, was 'oh boy'. I didn't think that it would hook me like most suspense novels do. But, upon further reading and getting into the story, I was surprised by the pull this thriller had on me as a reader. I'll admit, that there was use of a lot of F bombs that could have been left out, but, in my opinion, sometimes with a thriller, it's what makes the story. It helps to tell the characters true personality and why they are a part of the story. The roller coas...more My first thought, when opening this book, was 'oh boy'. I didn't think that it would hook me like most suspense novels do. But, upon further reading and getting into the story, I was surprised by the pull this thriller had on me as a reader. I'll admit, that there was use of a lot of F bombs that could have been left out, but, in my opinion, sometimes with a thriller, it's what makes the story. It helps to tell the characters true personality and why they are a part of the story. The roller coaster of ups, downs, ins and outs was awesome, though! By the time I was finished, man, I was out of breath from the fast paced nature of this novel.

Jane Perry is complex. She had a pretty rough time of it growing up, and is an alcoholic, albeit a recovering one. Her issues go deep and really show her complexity in the story. Until she meets Kit, a spiritual woman, something Jane is not. Kit's character is just as complex as Jane, although her complexity comes in the form of a time limit on life, since she's terminally ill. She enlists the help of Jane before she expires, and together the characters become one great big ball of complex personalities and issues. The suspenseful mystery of a killer is mixed into the humorous, yet serious, aspect of Kit and Jane's lives, creating a guessing story throughout the novel.

The action of finding that killer before time runs out is outstanding. I could really feel my heart pumping and my brain working overtime, trying to help Jane and Kit solve the mystery. I was up and down on that roller coaster ride, and became so apart of the novel that I didn't know exactly where I was going to end up, and that left me on the edge of my seat more than once.

I could go on and on with the many things I liked about this novel. I could get right to my thoughts on the ending of this book, but if I do that, then what would be the point in you reading it? You'd know the ending. So, I will end it there. I will tell you that this is a continuing story for Jane Perry, who first appeared in Dewey's novel, Protector, yet, as being one who never read the first novel, it's not confusing and explains things in detail that will catch you up. Redemption is getting high recommendations from me, even though the F bomb is a bad problem in this book, along with 4 star praises. I suggest that if you love the intensity of a fast paced action thriller and mystery, then please get your copy today! (less)

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Mar 13, 2011 Literary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cover

I think the cover relates well to the book once a reader has read the book. If this is the first Laurel Dewey novel that you have read, like me, you wouldn't know that the blue Ford Mustang is symbolic of Jane Perry on the hunt.

Plot

This novel grabbed your attention from the start and didn't want to let you go. The character interactions were wonderful, the main plot and sub-plots were extremely well thought out and written. This was a mystery/suspense novel that kept you guessing until the...more

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Apr 14, 2011 Dan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jane Perry quit the police force and is now working as a private detective. But she has to deal with her personal demons which have led her to drink. Outside an AA meeting she meets Kit Clark who is convinced that a man named Lou Peters killed her grandchild and may be involved in the disappearance of another child. Off to California from Denver, Jane has to deal with a crazy cast of characters and a much more in hopes of located and saving this missing girl. This is the second Jane Perry novel...more

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Mar 09, 2011 Rachel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: general-fiction

I did not read the first book in the series, Protector, but that did not seem to matter all that much in reading this book. I caught up relatively easily to what the author felt I needed to know about Jane Perry's story so that I could dive into the action-packed, suspense-filled plot of this book.
One of the first things I noticed about the main character of Jane Perry is both her seemingly-abrasive personality, complete with a foul mouth, and her battle with alcoholism. Throughout the book, her...more I did not read the first book in the series, Protector, but that did not seem to matter all that much in reading this book. I caught up relatively easily to what the author felt I needed to know about Jane Perry's story so that I could dive into the action-packed, suspense-filled plot of this book.
One of the first things I noticed about the main character of Jane Perry is both her seemingly-abrasive personality, complete with a foul mouth, and her battle with alcoholism. Throughout the book, her strong personality is both her greatest strength and her biggest weakness. Her daily battle to remain sober - pushing six months - is also a prominent theme, complete with AA meetings, sobriety chips, and the 12-step program. I found these details interesting from the educational standpoint, since I have known a few alcoholics, both recovering and not, but nothing about the process of recovery from this horrible addiction.
The woman that hires Jane Perry, Katherine Clark (better known as Kit), is in many ways the very opposite of Jane. A woman in her 60's, she describes her personality as that of an "earth mother". Dealing with stage 4 cancer, she is a strict adherent of New Age philosophies and herbal medicine to treat both her cancer and her particular brand of spirituality. In addition, several of the plot's "bad guys" were followers of a particular sect of Fundamentalist Christianity that Kit spends an overt amount of time condemning, despite her many lectures of tolerance, love, and forgiveness. This in turn incites Jane to regularly mock Fundamentalist Christianity by proxy.
While I realize that radicals of any religion are easy fodder for mainstream literature, the personal beliefs of the author completely overpower the actual plot of the book. It is patently obvious that Dewey is a major supporter of all things New Age, with a penchant for Buddhism, and is completely against a literal translation of the Bible. As I have said in previous reviews, a good author is invisible to the reader, but in this book, the author often felt more present in the plot than the actual characters the book was intended to be about - some sort of amalgamation of Jane and Kit. Despite the good intentions that I am sure Dewey harbors in writing in this fashion, I became rather depressed by the end of the book by the over-saturation of Dewey's agenda of New Ageism versus Christianity, as the book became less and less about the heroics of Jane Perry and more about the beliefs of Laurel Dewey.
While I acknowledge that I do not agree with everything within the particular doctrines of the character of Dr. John Bartosh, I do consider myself a Fundamentalist Christian, a person who believes in both the literal and figurative translation of the Bible. For the author to expect me, the reader, to not even be slightly offended by the condemnation and open mockery of what I consider to be the foundation of my morality and how I live my life on a daily basis is both presumptuous and insensitive.
Despite this, the book was well-written from a literary approach, with unique characters, an unpredictable plot, and no loose ends.
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Mar 04, 2011 Misha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-suspense-thriller

*Rating is 3.5, not 3*

Redemption by Laurel Dewey is the second in the Jane Perry series, after Protector. However, I think Redemption can be read and understood without having read the first part, like me. There are some references to the first book but they aren't major or confusing.

Cop turned private investigator, Jane Perry, is an alcoholic. She joins an AA group in hopes of staying sober enough to solve a big case, which however, turns out be a disaster. Jane meets Kit Clark for the first ti...more

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Sep 21, 2011 Ellen Parker rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Readers who want real meat to their stories and love great character development

The second book in the Jane Perry series and it's full of the wonderful, heart tugging and inspiring plot points that you just don't see in your usual mystery/thriller genre reads. Jane is evolving as a person which I think is superb, but she's also dealing with the trauma from her past that she's having a hard time shaking. The title of this book really says it all; everyone in this book is looking for Redemption and they all find it by the end. GREAT READ!!!

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May 30, 2012 Wendy Cantu rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime-and-mystery, fearless-females

After powering through The Protector, I couldn’t wait to start Redemption.

Since I’m doing my reviews after reading the three books, I have to say, this was probably my least favorite of the three. It took longer to get in to, although once I did I was up until the early hours of the morning finishing it.

The biggest issue I had with this book was the plot. There wasn’t much of a mystery to solve and some parts were a little boring. It was great for character development, but really seemed just...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Tracey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Gritty main character is female private investigator. She has recently retired from the police force and is trying to help an older woman prove an ex-con is guilty of a new kidnapping. I really enjoyed this book, as well as Protector, (same author, same gritty main character). I recommend it. However, if you are easily offended by foul language, " gritty" is a euphemism for " swears A LOT." The story is great, though!

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Nov 13, 2011 Roger rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who likes murder / mystery

Second book in the Jane Perry series. Laurel Dewey continued her great story telling ability in this follow on from Protector. Many twists and turns keep you turning the pages. As well as coming to a successful ending in this saga, Jane Perry deals with her problems and at last starts to come to terms with them. Thouroughly enjoyable read.

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Apr 03, 2011 Cheryl rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: pump-up-your-book-virtual-book-tour, own, 2011, 2-diamonds, black-diamond-s-book-reviews

Three Reasons Review (borrowed from: jennylovestoread.blogspot.com)

1.) Reasons you chose this book

* I like to read mysteries
* It sounded like an interesting book!

2.) Reasons you liked or disliked this book

* I liked the mystery when certain things kept coming up, like the snake stone and Eagle Road. It seemed like signs were coming up everywhere. I found this very interesting.
* Now I am a Christian, but the religious parts of this book just took away from the story for me. I really found myse...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Beth rated it 5 of 5 stars

The second in a series about a conflicted police woman and her life outside the force. She has become a PI and while solving cases is also coming to terms with her upbringing and problems.

Good mystery with many twists and turns though the story is mostly about the "maturing" going on in Jane's life.

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Aug 16, 2011 Shawn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Second book I have read by this author. I loved it. Finished it in 2 days. She does an excellent job developing her characters. When a book makes me cry or my heart pound then you know it is good. I really love the edgy and tortured main character. Bought her new short story today. Keep on writing Laurel!

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Mar 07, 2013 Old_airman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

By the end of this the second book of the series, I have gone from disliking Jane, the main character, to really enjoying watching her develop. In the first book, I disliked so much, I nearly quit reading. Glad I did not. This is a great story with wonderful characters. A lot of cussing and soul searching. A bunch of offending all types of spirituality.

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Jun 22, 2012 Katrinadohn Dohn rated it 4 of 5 stars

This author weaves a good, engaging story. While I didn't care for Jane, the main character at first in the first book, she has definitely grown on me. I like how the underlying story in both books is Jane's personal development and working through of issues that make her who she is as she tackles her investigative challenges. I will definitely read the third book in the series!

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Jan 05, 2013 Eddy Gilley rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Still a good read, but not as good as her first book in the series. This was just a bit too slow paced and I had pegged the bad buy 2/3 the way thru. Sometimes, this is okay provided there are other surprises and secondary story lines, but not the case in this book.

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Dec 27, 2012 Christine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

3.5. I am enjoying this series... These books start out a little slow, but the main character is good and the story is a really quick read in the end. Some of the plot is predictable, but the ending was really good.

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Sep 03, 2012 Judy-Sug rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jane Perry is a cop gone private detective. Kit comes to ask her help in finding an abducted girl and nailing the kidnapper who she is convinced abducted her niece and killed her. Starts slow but picks up at the end.

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Apr 26, 2011 Michelle Vasquez rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A great suspense thriller! Read my full review of this book here:

http://lifeinreviewblog.wordpress.com...

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Dec 23, 2012 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another great read! Keeps me wanting to read more. The stories are complex and filled with characters that have depth and are interesting.

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Dec 22, 2012 Colette rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book - lots of twists and turns and "who done its" however, it drug on a little too long for me and is therefore not one of my favorites. Laurel Dewy winds a clever mystery story though and it is a book worth the read!

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Apr 06, 2011 Georged rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great follow-up to The Protector.....Kep them coming

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About Laurel Dewey

Laurel Dewey’s writing career has been anything but predictable. Born in Glendale, California, Dewey began her career working in public relations. Her writing talents quickly took her into other entertainment avenues. As an assistant editor at BOP Magazine in the late 1980's, Dewey helped launch the blockbuster career of teen pop groups, including The New Kids on The Block. During this time, she w...more Laurel Dewey’s writing career has been anything but predictable. Born in Glendale, California, Dewey began her career working in public relations. Her writing talents quickly took her into other entertainment avenues. As an assistant editor at BOP Magazine in the late 1980's, Dewey helped launch the blockbuster career of teen pop groups, including The New Kids on The Block. During this time, she wrote a string of successful mystery radio plays for Los Angeles public radio networks.

Not satisfied to write in only one genre, Dewey went on to pen a western novella “In the Name of the Land” which was nominated for a Silver Spur Fiction Award. A collection of short stories followed, as did a successful stint writing and producing radio ads and promos.

In the early 1990’s, Dewey relocated to rural Colorado. But her eclectic writing forte continued as she pursued work as a freelance investigative journalist, advertising/marketing promoter and newspaper columnist. In the mid and late 1990’s, two of her books on plant medicine were published, along with 10 booklets and hundreds of articles on alternative health. During this time, she appeared as a featured guest on hundreds of national radio and television programs and lectured extensively across the United States and Canada.

But then the pages turned...literally. In 2007, Dewey released her first fiction novel, PROTECTOR, a gritty, mystical crime thriller that follows the rocky life of damaged Denver homicide detective Jane Perry. In preparation for writing the book, Dewey immersed herself in detailed research, interviewing Colorado homicide detectives and traveling on "ride-a-longs" with street cops. The intricate research helped Dewey create a debut novel that is powerful, compelling, controversial and utterly original.

The sequel to PROTECTOR, REDEMPTION, was released in June of 2009. The third book, REVELATIONS, released in June, 2011. A series of short stories and novellas featuring Detective Jane Perry were published throughout 2011, starting with "An Unfinished Death" which is a prequel to PROTECTOR.

The fourth Jane Perry novel will be published in late 2012.

In keeping with Dewey's ability to push the envelope, she's written a standalone novel, "Betty's (Little Basement) Garden," that is set for release on June 12, 2012. This controversial book will certainly spark many conversations and hopefully enlighten readers at the same time.

Dewey lives with her husband and two orange cats in rural Colorado.(less)

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Quotes from Redemption

“Seek contentment rather than happiness. Contentment holds water. Happiness leaks. (Kit Clark in REDEMPTION)” — 3 people liked it

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Redemption (Jane Perry #2)

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