Fresh Kills

Cass Jameson #3

by Carolyn Wheat

Reluctantly assisting a colleague in what seems to be a routine adoption case, criminal lawyer Cass Jameson is alarmed when the young birth mother she represents is murdered and an illegal adoption ring is uncovered

Genres: Mystery

Paperback

First published June 1, 1995

About the author

Carolyn Wheat is an attorney, an editor, and an award-winning author. Her short stories won the Anthony, the Agatha, the Shamus, and the Macavity awards, and two of her six Cass Jameson legal mysteries have been nominated for Edgar awards.

Reviews

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book with some neat twists and turns that captures the Staten Island mindset and atmosphere. It falters at the end with a conclusion that is too pat, and reeks of a made for television movie or an episode of a weekly detective series with the heroine facing down a murderer alone in an isolated location in a story concerning greed and the murders of a baby’s mother and her erstwhile accomplice in a tale about a black market baby adoption scheme.

The book rates 3.5+ stars which have been rounded up to 4 stars for keeping the reader engaged in the book.

[Teresa Lavender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this! Why haven't I heard of Carolyn Wheat before! I cannot wait to read more. So refreshing to read a novel that isn't laden with sex, but a great story!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cleverly worked mystery.

[International Cat Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very engaging mystery... but the author had some odd views on abortion and adoption that caused me to spend the book trying to figure out if she had a political agenda. Perhaps she herself is conflicted on those issues? Several characters made comments to the effect of 'I don't understand why there are single moms now that abortion is legal' and 'Why didn't you just abort like everyone else?' It was hard to tell if the characters thought abortion was super common and ok, or super common and terrible. Additionally, one of the main characters had severe abortion-remorse from an abortion that she had had years previously. The book was pretty down on the system of adoption/foster care in the US and, in the worst possible example of corrupt adoption practices, featured a baby selling ring. In the end it I decided that there was no political agenda, just a mystery dealing in a rather odd way with some complex issues.

[LJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

FRESH KILLS - VG
Wheat, Carolyn - 3rd in Cass Jameson series

At the request of a colleague, Cass reluctantly ventures out of her realm of expertise to handle an adoption case. But complications arise when the young birth mother is murdered.

I enjoy her books. They are traditional mysteries without being fluffy.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing left something to be desired and the story was a sad one of greed. Sometimes it's hard to believe the level some people will sink to to make a dollar. : (