Murder Takes a Dare: The First Marisa Adair Mystery

Marisa Adair Mysteries #1

by Jada Ryker

Marisa Adair investigates a brutal murder while she guards her secrets of childhood deprivation and adulthood struggles with addiction as zealously as a bag lady protects battered sacks of scavenged treasures. Marisa is shocked when her unscrupulous friend Jonah is murdered just after he bursts into her office to tell her something of life and death importance. Gyrating with the mad desperation of a forty-year-old stripper with an adult entertainment mogul at her stage, the twisted trail to the murderer is littered by the subsequent executions of an exotic Goth Girl dancer with a taste for black lipstick and blackmail and two eyewitnesses who attempted their own blackmail with fatal results. After Marisa inadvertently causes a riot at an amateur wrestling match with her sexy alter ego, she joins forces with Russell, who may not be the dithering nonentity he seems, and Alex, chief financial officer and chief pain in Marisa's...neck. Parallel to Marisa's investigation, Althea, combat ready after decades of teaching elementary school; Clay, as handsome as he is mysterious; and Esther, reckless grandmother of the murdered dancer, hurl themselves into the investigative melee. The suspects range from Henry, the charismatic religious leader with scandalous secrets of his own and who could have killed the dancer when she chose the path to the stripper pole over the path to righteousness, to Brad Jacobs, an overzealous auditor who perceives the entire state of Kentucky as a "Trick My Hick" reality television show.

Genres: Mystery, Amazon, Ebooks

297 pages, Paperback

Published June 19, 2013

About the author

KINDLE SCOUT WINNER Jada Ryker snagged the Kindle Press publishing contract for her book, Take the Body and Run, through Amazon’s Kindle Scout program. The book is a “goofy thriller” about a hunted woman hiding behind a dead friend’s identity, a handsome lawman, a death doctor with fart machine-will travel, and a cranky cat with a nose for crime.

Jada is the author of Dog Days of Karma, the first Carr-Maah Consulting mystery/paranormal novel; A Pink Zombie, with a Mist, a Shaken, Not Stirred, mystery/horror adventure; and Murder Takes a Dare, the first book in the Takes a Dare mystery series. The books combine humor and murder in a total package of entertaining and fun southern adventures. At the same time, Jada sketches in addiction/recovery issues and childhood angst with a deft and compassionate touch.

Jada spent the first twenty-odd years of her life in rural Kentucky, many of those years without electricity or running water. In her writings, Jada draws upon her early years of deprivation.

She now lives in central Kentucky with her wonderful husband and their cat, rescued from the animal shelter. In her day job, Jada works in higher education. She holds a masters degree in public administration.

Jada's mystery adventures are available on Amazon in electronic and paperback formats.

Macey Malloy Mysteries with a Chick-Lit Twist:
Prequel: Two Tickets to Paradise (FREE in Winter Solstice, an anthology by Kindle Press authors)
Take the Body and Run
Take a Walk on the Dead Side
Short Story (takes place after Book Two): "What the Cat Dragged In" (FREE in Vernal Equinox, an anthology by Kindle Press authors)
Novelette (takes place after "What the Cat Dragged In"): Cat Scratch Fever

Kirbie Stone Mysteries:
Die and the Family Stone

The Shaken, Not Stirred, Mystery/Horror Series:
A Pink Zombie, with a Mist
Gimlet and Other Stories: The collected short stories run the gamut from mystery to horror to science fiction.

The Takes a Dare Series:
Murder Takes a Dare
Mayhem Takes a Dare
Arson Takes a Dare

The Carr - Maah Consulting Agency Series:
Dog Days of Karma
Equi Knocks of Karma
Soul Stice of Karma (expected release 2017)

Jada loves feedback from readers, both one-on-one and through customer reviews on Amazon.com. Connect with Jada to share your thoughts about her books by emailing her at jada_ryker@yahoo.com or by visiting her website at JadaRyker.com.

Reviews

[Debbie Herbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at a nursing home? Geriatric sleuths? Even a stripper or two on the grounds? It all works beautfully in Jada Ryker's novel.

The Home Away from Home nursing home is anything but peaceful and boring -- for residents as well as staff. Human Resources director Marisa Adair is a character I admired, someone who rose above a horrible childhood and addiction issues. Yet, she is no sterotypical character who has it all-together and the rest of her life figured out. Far from it.

Jada's writing is vivid and fresh. Here is my favorite metaphor: "In the fading sunlight slanting across the patio . . . the hopeless, hunched elderly men and women strapped and tied in their wheelchairs were scattered like haphazard tombstones, each erected in memory of forgotten lives."

Somehow this book manages to be both gritty and humorous. The author's fine sense of play is a refreshing backdrop against the tough issues at stake: betrayal, addiction, murder and family dysfunction.

I loved every page!

[Lesley Hewitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad read, I quite enjoyed it.

[S.A. Molteni · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Murder Takes a Dare" by Jada Ryker, is an exciting murder mystery featuring Marisa Adair, an HR professional, who also has a secret side involving addition, rehab and memories of a a bad childhood.

The story begins as Marisa’s friend Jonah is shot and killed by an unknown assailant in Marisa's office right before he can tell her some critical life or death information.

The last words spoken by Jonah indicated that there was something criminal going on at the nearby Home Away from Home nursing home. Marisa’s friend Althea is at the same nursing home, recuperating from a broken bone and getting cozy with a fellow resident, Clay.

After investigating the hints from Jonah's last words, Marisa finds the body of a stripper in the cemetery near the nursing home. The body is that of Zoe, a friend of Marisa's before she went into rehab for addiction.

The murders of Jonah and Zoe are tightly connected with the nursing home and a mad cap plot with numerous twists and turns takes the reader on a journey of gritty humor and laugh out loud funny moments as the cast of characters proceed to investigate the murders.

At times, there was some confusion as to who is searching for what during each characters version of their investigation into the murders, but this added to the "keep you guessing" allure of the novel and was needed for the reader to get deeply involved in the plot.

This is a great murder mystery novel and reminds me of Agatha Christie's stories from bygone years.

I highly recommend it to those who love a good murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.

Well done, Ms. Ryker.

[Lita Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Takes a Dare (Marisa Adair Mysteries) by Jada Ryker, is a cozy murder mystery featuring Marisa, a hospital human resources professional, who struggles to keep her life on track after rehab. At a nearby nursing home, Marisa’s good friend Althea recuperates from a broken bone, fends off a dashingly charming suitor named Clay, and smells a conspiracy centered around a mysterious ghost.

Marisa’s friend Jonah comes to her babbling about ghosts, a cemetery, and being in the middle of a mess. Before her shocked eyes, an unseen someone guns him down in her office. Following Jonah’s lead, Marisa discovers a second murder victim in an old cemetery near the nursing home. This victim is an acquaintance from Marisa’s days as an addict.

The nursing home conspiracy and the murders are connected. A twisty, fun plot has the characters investigating, insinuating, and maddening the police. I had no idea who the bad guy was until the end. There is also a “story within the story” told by the writer Althea. It too, was great.

One thing could make Murder Takes a Dare even better. Many times, the narrative described simultaneous goings-on (i.e. “As Mrs. Hill’s mother kept the gun on them, Clay leaned against Althea…”). Instead, describe things one at a time. Simultaneous events are confusing to keep straight, and this would clear up the conundrum.

Murder Takes a Dare kept me guessing, made me chuckle in spots, and Althea reminded me of my feisty and smart grandmother. Ryker’s story is murder, well done.

[Gino Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Murder Takes a Dare”packs enough plot for half a dozen mystery thrillers. The nefarious shenanigans include parental abuse, child abuse, murder, extortion, insurance fraud, mass murder in the tradition of John George Haigh, impersonating police officers, theft and desecration of a corpse, grand theft auto, erotic rituals in a cemetery, more extortion, embezzlement, identity theft, arson, sexual harassment, attempted arson, inciting a riot, grand theft bulldozer, grand theft city bus, more extortion, assault, smoking in a smoking prohibited area, kidnapping, euthanasia, more embezzlement and more extortion.

The colorful and richly detailed cast of characters include a corrupt evangelist, scammers, slackers, hackers, hookers, strippers, moochers, smoochers, huggers, muggers, wankers, transvestites, extortionists, professional wrestlers, lesbians, thespians, sex addicts, and people with secret identities, secret passions, secret perversions, well-known obsessions and painfully obvious incompetencies.

Many of the characters seem highly susceptible to extortion because of prior and current indiscretions and criminal activities, and several characters are eager to exploit their vulnerability. While there are several murders, it is really a story about morally corrupt and bankrupt individuals who exploit the vulnerabilities of others and of an unjust and uncaring system.

[Ginger Gelsheimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the Zany Sleuths!

I couldn't help but think about the old Scooby Doo zany mystery machine when I read Murder Takes a Dare. I loved following Marisa as she tried to solve the string of murders with her crazy sidekicks. No one was who you thought they were with disguises and interconnected relationships. I was waiting for the confession from the killer almost like the "I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those pesky kids!" I loved the banter and back and forth between Clay and Althea too as they suspected almost everyone in the nursing home. Ms. Ryker did a great job of keeping the story moving the whole way through, avoiding the "saggy middle".

I will say that there are so many characters that it was a little confusing at times to keep everything straight, but they all had their fun purpose to the story. There were also numerous mentions of the bosom towards the beginning which actually became comical and made me laugh.

If you are looking for a light and fun read and enjoy mysteries, I would highly recommend Murder Takes a Dare! I look forward to reading the sequel.

[Ronesa Aveela · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Marisa's friend Jonah gets half his face blown away at the moment he's about to reveal something important to her, she gets caught up in trying to unravel the mystery of his untimely death. She teams up with a mismatched crew, only to be called a suspect herself, and have her past life of addiction brought to the surface.

With a cast of so many characters in this murder mystery, you might think they all wouldn't have individual personalities. That is far from the truth. The author has brought to live each one with their own faults, quirks, and history. Their actions and voice are uniquely distinct, making it easy to keep track of so many characters.

Although a murder mystery, the story is has many hilarious and sobering moments. The plot is well thought out and complex, with all the pieces coming together at the end. As an added bonus, you get to read a story within a story, one that symbolically parallels the fictitious author's life.

More than a mystery, though, this well-written book has a recurring theme of the futility in making assumptions about people. We all tend to see what we want to see, and judge people by what we choose or expect to see.

[J.C. Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Jada Ryker’s
Murder Takes a Dare: The First Marisa Adair Mystery Adventure
Here is a murder mystery you can sink your teeth into. Marisa is a hospital human resources professional. After her stint in rehab, she struggles to keep her life on together. Marisa’s life begins to change with a conspiracy about a mysterious ghost begins to circulateJonah, a friend of Marisa’s, tells her about ghosts, a cemetery putting her in the middle of this ghost mystery that she would rather not be a part of . However, when Jonah is gunned down before her, she begins to following Jonah’s lead, finding a second victim murdered in an old cemetery near the nursing home. As she investigates, she finds the nursing home conspiracy and the murders are connected.
Jada has created a winding, fun plot, that has the interesting characters and, though sometimes a bit confusing, a good mystery to become trawled. You won’t know the killer until the end, of this twisted mystery. Murder Takes a Dare keeps the reading guessing who the murder could be. There are times you’ll find yourself sniggering spot. Jada Ryker’s mystery story of murder is one that has been well done.

[Christoph Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Murder Takes a Dare” by Jada Ryker is great fun with a blend of colourful characters.
Marisa Adair is a Human Resources manager by day and an ex addict with a liking for strip clubs by night. She is an excellent protagonist with a lot of seeming contradictions.
She gets drawn into a murder investigation when Jonah Graham collapses on her desk after being shot in the head. Jonah’s grandmother recently died in a nursery home where Marisa also has friends. Throw into the mix the death of one of the strippers, a goth girl, who is found dead on a cemetery and you got yourself a well plotted and fast paced story. Despite being primarily written for entertainment there are some deeper notes and observations thrown in about the life in homes and the ‘waiting’ and ‘escaping’ death.
There are plenty of side characters to crowd the scene and add hugely to the entertainment value of the book, such as nursery busy bodies and two senior love birds. “Murder Takes a Dare” should appeal to many fans of the genre.

[Karen Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a man is shot dead in front of her, Marisa finds herself thrust into the midst of a murder investigation that quickly takes over her life. Surrounded by a cast of endearing characters, and trying to do the right thing, which of course equates to solving the murder, the heroine finds it necessary to re-visit her old neighborhood, and re-connect with people she knew `back when.'
Marisa has friends willing to help her, along with members of her former addicts support group, who are loyal to a fault. Their interactions though the book are often priceless. There are those, however, one in particular, hoping to destroy her.
Using a combination of light hearted entertainment, dramatic social quandaries, and good old fashion detective work, the author has created a mystery that will keep you turning the pages to the satisfying end.
I enjoyed Ms. Ryker's writing style. She created a number of delightful and loveable folks in this book, and I hope she plans to keep them alive in future novels.

[D.K. Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Array of Stories.

Author Jada Ryker masters the creative use of language, wordplay, and plot, in this collection of short stories. The stories are emotional, funny, scary, and wonderfully written.

This description of Fresna, in the story, “How the Crow Flies” is beautiful.

“Fresna stood in front of a mirror comb in hand, and attempted to smooth her gnarled hair, which resembled wet rodent tails around her pale face.”

I love how the character Mae Rue, in “Alien Act of Honor”, gets her name. I also enjoyed the subtle humor in this Science Fiction story.

“You are smarter than you appear, Keeper of the House Dust.”

This smart engaging collection of stories will keep you entertained. I also think you’ll want to read it more than once. Another nice feature of this collection is the explanation before each story. This writer has taken great care to create memorable characters and situations. A fabulous read!

[Christina Keats · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was taken in by the character, Marissa Adair. She is all things in one and her life spans a wide range of experience. The story’s setting was unique for me compared to other reads and I liked how the author could swing this mystery in that particular environment. I liked how each character was very much alive and the balance between actions and internal thoughts was well thought out.

This read overall reminds me of a good and straightforward old time mystery. Like a game of Clue the reader is putting together little hints that the author has intertwined and dangled within each scene. I did find myself getting a tad lost in some of the detail that did not pertain to the overall story, while reading and sifting through the keys to the mystery. In the end, however, it all comes together!

A fun read and looking forward to more Adair!

[Victoria Simcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

A murderer is ready to do away with Marisa. Not long before, an old acquaintance of Marisa’s was killed…her old friend Jonah. This isn’t an easy case to solve and to top it off Marisa must work together with some strange folks seeming to be too interested in her past then the case at times. Marisa and her pals must find this murderer in order to crack the enigmatic case or this killer just might murder again? All said, this isn’t going to be easy for her, for she’ll have to delve back into her dysfunctional past. What Jonah had said just before he died is a crucial clue in solving the case of the dead, exotic dancer in the graveyard, not far from an elderly care facility. Author Jada Ryker will definitely keep you on your toes with suspense as you read her fast paced novel. This is a wonderful thriller, murder mystery you don’t want to pass up.

[Lorrie Farrelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

GIMLET, author Jada Ryker's highly entertaining anthology of offbeat mystery/supernatural stories, is a delight to read. Most of the selections appeared previously in other works by Ms. Ryker, but they suit each other very well in this collection.

The author has a wonderful way with words, and every story has not only unique characterizations, suspense, and plot twists, but a thread of wry humor as well. My favorite story was"As the Crow Flies," in which kind but over-burdened nursing home attendant Fresna sadly believes "If there's magic out there, it won't be for me. It's too late for me." Just how Fresna is proven wrong is very satisfying to read.

I also really enjoyed "An Alien Act of Honor," an ET invasion story that could indeed have the strangest and most endearing aliens ever. Readers will love Cat! Don't miss these engaging and surprising tales.

[Sonya Dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the very first page, this is a fast-paced, exciting read. The main character Marisa is easy for the reader to empathise with as we follow her on a roller coaster ride amongst murders and dealing with her past addictions.
The tale forces Marisa to face her own demons as well as those of the murderer as she closes in on this evil character who leaves a trail of bodies in their wake.
This is a well-written book, with realistic characters and plenty of action to engage the reader.
There are a range of emotions engaged with this read from humour, to horror, to poignancy. It does show a darker side to nursing homes which is a real contrast with the strip joints Marisa is forced back into in order to investigate the murders.
A thrilling read!

[C.E. Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a mystery guy, at all. I don't like mysteries because they seem needlessly complex and trite, to me. This was the first mystery in years that I actually enjoyed. The pace was well-done, increasing steadily in intensity. The plot-twists are many, and well-done. It began to feel like a car careening out of control toward the end of the book, the plot twists came so fast and so furiously. This is well-done fiction, and worth your time and money. Copy provided for honest review.

[James Chalk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Book!
This was a fantastic nuder mystery. Wow what a good writer. I’m very glad I bought this book. The pace grows faster and faster as the plot progresses and the twists thicken. The main character is likable and complex with realistic flaws and strengths. The supporting characters are an eclectic and sometimes hilarious collection of personalities that enhance the reader’s enjoyment tremendously. This book has it all mystery, action, drama, and humor. I highly recommend it.

[Eric Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not one to lay out plots and characters in reviews. Instead, I will just say that I really liked how the author developed the tone of this book. I really liked how the "bad guys" were developed throughout the book. The story line was tight, with a nice build-up of action and drama, until the surprise ending.

[K.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome read. I just loved the characters, the settings and the humour of the writer. The mystery element had me going until the very last page. I adored the character of Marisa and would willingly have given some of the other characters house room. Loved it and will definitely follow the others.

[bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would definitely read more. Good but not great. 3*

[Dharma · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disjointed and I could not stomach the trouble/no transitions in the writing. Did not finish.

[George · Rating 2 out of 5]

Confusing and hard to read.

[Bonnie Dale Keck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited or else got on freebie day, depending on which story talking about. Too much 'chick' stuff for me, though the title warned, but feel it took away from the actual story being told, made it too much going on that didn't have enough to do with the actual mystery part. However having said that, and trying to overlook the chick part, overall it's not bad even with or because of the 'odd' characters, so am going on through her other books. The consulting detective agency ones oddly, for me or maybe due to writer style, rate the same. Having said that part, though, and liking the beginning rundown of characters, bit too much to overly describe them elsewhere. The 2 horror ones, may be jaded or whatever but just meh.

Macey Malloy Mysteries with a Chick Lit Twist -Take the Body and Run 1 - Take a Walk on the Dead Side 2
Carr — Maah Consulting Agency Book 1) Dog Days of Karma 2 - Equi Knocks of Karma
Carr - Maah Consulting Agency (2 Book Series)
The Marisa Adair Mystery Adventures - Murder Takes a Dare 1 Mayhem Takes a Dare 2 - Arson Takes a Dare 3
Marisa Adair Mysteries (3 Book Series)
Shaken, Not Stirred, Mystery/Horror Series - A Pink Zombie, with a Mist 1 - Gimlet, a Shaken 2

[Bonnie Dale Keck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited or else got on freebie day, depending on which story talking about. Too much 'chick' stuff for me, though the title warned, but feel it took away from the actual story being told, made it too much going on that didn't have enough to do with the actual mystery part. However having said that, and trying to overlook the chick part, overall it's not bad even with or because of the 'odd' characters, so am going on through her other books. The consulting detective agency ones oddly, for me or maybe due to writer style, rate the same. Having said that part, though, and liking the beginning rundown of characters, bit too much to overly describe them elsewhere. The 2 horror ones, may be jaded or whatever but just meh.

Macey Malloy Mysteries with a Chick Lit Twist -Take the Body and Run 1 - Take a Walk on the Dead Side 2
Carr — Maah Consulting Agency Book 1) Dog Days of Karma 2 - Equi Knocks of Karma
Carr - Maah Consulting Agency (2 Book Series)
The Marisa Adair Mystery Adventures - Murder Takes a Dare 1 Mayhem Takes a Dare 2 - Arson Takes a Dare 3
Marisa Adair Mysteries (3 Book Series)
Shaken, Not Stirred, Mystery/Horror Series - A Pink Zombie, with a Mist 1 - Gimlet, a Shaken 2