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Jackson #1

Madness and Murder

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Homicide detective, Mac Jackson is on a collision path with a civilian in his hunt for a killer. A lack of evidence leaves him frustrated. With the body count rising, he questions his own ethics when he considers risking the life of an innocent woman to put the killer within reach. The stakes are high if his gamble fails. Jessica Croft begins a new life in San Francisco, ninety miles from the sinister secrets and the madness that destroyed her family. She hopes to find tranquility, maybe even love, but her chance for happiness is threatened when she finds herself the target of a madman. Unwilling to live a life of fear, Jessica takes a bold risk to draw him out; unaware of the trap he has already set for her.

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 2010

63 people are currently reading
278 people want to read

About the author

Jenny Hilborne

34 books216 followers
Find me on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jenny-Hilborne...

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San Francisco is one of my favorite places and the setting for most of my mystery/thrillers. It's diverse, exciting, and easy for a killer to move around!

NEWEST RELEASE: ONE BAD THING: 3rd in the Doucette mystery series. A body has washed ashore. As Homicide investigator Doucette hunts for evidence, he finds several suspects who all had motive and opportunity.

THE BLACKEST NIGHT: a paranormal mystery set in San Francisco and the 3rd in the Jackson series. When a wrongful conviction is overturned and an innocent man is set free, he believes his darkest days are behind him, until the night he is attacked in an alleyway.

STONE COLD: a psychological thriller. The mysterious deaths of three high-flying corporate executives stun the Oxfordshire community.
(Stone Cold is set in the beautiful English Cotswolds).

HIDE AND SEEK: Suspense: A private party takes a chilling turn when a guest disappears.

Bestselling psychological thriller, MADNESS AND MURDER: homicide cop Mac Jackson is on a collision path with a civilian in his hunt for a killer.

NO ALIBI: Suspense: Isabelle Kingsley never thought her husband would cheat; he never thought she would find out.

https://www.amazon.com/One-Bad-Thing-...

http://www.amazon.com/Stone-Cold-eboo...

http://www.amazon.com/Hide-Seek-Jacks...

http://www.amazon.com/Madness-and-Mur...

http://www.amazon.com/The-Blackest-Ni...

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5 stars
109 (35%)
4 stars
112 (36%)
3 stars
58 (18%)
2 stars
23 (7%)
1 star
9 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Profile Image for Sheri.
2,111 reviews
September 7, 2011
Madness and Murder (Jenny Hilborne)
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

Jessica Croft and her brother Judd moved from Sacramento to San Fransisco to start fresh and escape their past. Jessica hopes to have a happy life, and maybe meet a nice guy. Things are not going as planed.
Her brother is gone a lot and seems secretive, her friend Alex has problems at work and Jessica is not sure how to help. Add to it there is a killer out there and no one seems to be safe.

When Alex and Jessica team up to try to resolve their issues, Jessica finds her self being stalked..the target of a madman. Flashes of her past are surfacing to haunt her....can there be a connection? Who can she trust...will she be able to escape her stalker and solve the mysteries surrounding her...and most important, how it this all connected?

Fast paced, all night read. I could not put it down. Suspense/Mystery readers will enjoy this read. I look forward to more work from Jenny Hilborne. No Alibi
Profile Image for Jen Wylie.
Author 21 books678 followers
December 8, 2010
I’d like to start off saying that up until now I’ve been primarily a fantasy and sci-fi junky. That said, after reading Madness and Murder my horizons will now be broadening. Jenny Hilbornes debut novel is a gripping murder mystery certain to keep you glued to every page.

Set in San Francisco, the story unfolds with Jessica Croft and her twin brother Judd as children. As you read their tragic story of murder and madness you meet Mac Jackson, veteran homicide detective. Jumping ahead to the twins as adults the story truly unfolds as Jackson grows frustrated in his inability to catch a serial killer. Jessicas past has always haunted her and continues to do so as she finds herself the target of a madman. Alex is another main character whose story is wonderfully weaved into the plot when she moves to San Francisco to be with the man of her dreams.

Memorable characters make this book a joy to read, not only are they believable but extremely well written with much thought and depth put into each. This is not a slow paced novel. From the first page you are whisked along with the well developed characters as a number of twists and turns provide no shortage of action and suspense.

Madness and Murder is an excellent novel I didn’t want to put down. It is an extremely worthwhile read! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to reading more this excellent new author!
Profile Image for Jeannie Walker.
Author 12 books567 followers
March 3, 2013
"Madness and Murder" is a work of fiction.
Unfortunatlely, I know about someone committing a most heinous crime and showing no remorse. I remember hearing a penetrating scream coming from the courtroom. I, along with many others, stood in disbelief when we heard the sentence the jury gave the cold-blooded killer in my true story "Fighting the Devil".
The difference in a fiction and a non-fiction is that author can tailor and craft the outcome the way it should happen. I, along with others, really like the way Jenny Hilborne crafted her debut and very engrossing murder mystery. It is well written and has lots of twists and turns. My compliments to the author on a job well done!

Jeannie Walker - Award Winning Author of "Fighting the Devil" - A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder
"I Saw the Light" - A True Story of a Near-Death Experience
Profile Image for Darcia Helle.
Author 30 books735 followers
April 11, 2011
Madness and Murder is the perfect title for this book. From the first page, both the madness and the murder held me riveted. The action is fast-paced, taking me on a rollercoaster ride from start to finish. Hilborne disperses little details throughout that allowed me to 'see' the setting. The characters are well developed; some I loved and some I couldn't help but despise. This is an excellent first book and I'm looking forward to many more!
Profile Image for Andrew Kaufman.
Author 13 books647 followers
January 22, 2011
Jenny Hilborne's smoothly executed writing style makes this an effortless and highly pleasurable read. By the end of the book, I felt as if I knew the characters, and yes, even cared about them; that's quite an accomplishment, one which many authors fail to achieve, even on a perfunctory level. Simply said, Madness and Murder is a must-read. I'm very much looking forward to seeing more from this talented debut author.

--Andrew E. Kaufman
Bestselling author, While the Savage Sleeps
Profile Image for Brian Meeks.
Author 22 books100 followers
June 14, 2011
Jenny Hilborne’s debut novel, ‘Madness and Murder’, is a remarkable foray into the world of writing. I purchased the Kindle version and read it on my ipad, using the Kindle reader. At $2.99 it is a bargain and I would recommend buying it, to anyone who likes the mystery/thriller genre.

The book begins:

“You have committed the most heinous of crimes, and you have shown no remorse. The court imposes the maximum sentence the circumstances will allow…life without parole.”

From there on we learn of the tragic crime, followed by more heartache for our main characters. Ms. Hilborne’s character development is spot on, giving the reader enough to get going and then building along the way. By the end of the novel they feel like old friends. For me, I want to finish a book, still curious about where the lives of the characters will go next, but satisfied in how they got to the end. In both cases, she had done well.

I don’t want to give too much away and I am not a trained reviewer, so I will simply say that there is intrigue, multiple people to dislike and distrust, and soul searching by our heroines, which makes for a book which is hard to minimize. (See how I did that? I didn’t say put down…but minimize…I am sooo 21s century…I digress)

I read a lot of Elmore Leonard and I wouldn’t compare her voice or style to his at all, but I did find one similarity. The sign of a good book, in my opinion, is when I read a sentence or phrase, which is so nicely crafted as to make me put the book down. I mull the sentence over, think about it, and generally feel a warm glow of awe at the fine example of wordsmithing. Most Elmore Leonard novels give me 5 of these moments, Jenny’s had 3 or 4, I am sure.

As I do with everything, I will rate her novel on the ‘Meeks’ scale (1 to 37), which though not an official weight and measure, is what I use. Scales based upon a number of stars can suck it! So I would give her a solid 33 out of 37. Most of the dreck I have downloaded thus far is at best a 15, with many struggling to make it to double digits. I would give Dan Brown’s ‘The Lost Symbol’ a 33 too. Harper Lee’s, ‘To Kill a Mocking Bird’, gets a 37. Bottom line, she is an exceptional writer and I enjoyed it very much.

END OF REVIEW

Now I would like to share six questions I asked of the author, who I have met on Twitter.

1) This was your first novel. How long did it take you to write it?

Eleven months for the first draft followed by six months of editing.

2) Have you studied writing?

No. I took English lit and English language at high-school, but no creative writing classes of any kind.

3) Who is your favorite dead author?

Sidney Sheldon

4) Which formats is it available in? (Kindle, Nook, ibooks, Sony Reader, Print...carved into ancient tablets)

I believe it can be downloaded to all ereaders, definitely Kindle and Nook.

5) You have a second novel, did you do anything different the second time around?

I learned a lot from the editing process of the first novel and wrote the second one based on that - in other words, without the initial unnecessary clutter. I also avoided weak words and weak sentences.

6) Do you believe that the people who changed the rule about 2 periods (changed to 1) after a period should be publically flogged, possibly burned alive, and then made to suffer ridicule in front of friends and family?

Okay, now I understand Q 6. In the UK, we call it a full stop. I don't care whether publishers want one or two, makes no odds to me.

That concludes the interview portion of tonight's post. Jenny did very well, scoring a 5 out of 6. She did miss the sixth question as the correct answer is, "I believe the people responsible should have all of those things done to them and possibly more. I would add a life time cookie ban and 3 week annual retreat alone with Snooki."


Profile Image for A.F..
Author 60 books403 followers
March 28, 2011
Madness and Murder is a taut crime mystery, with a terrific underlying narrative of character interaction and a theme of second chances. There is a splendid interweaving of subplots, overlaid with a chilling murder spree.

In Madness and Murder the plot unfolds on twins recovering from childhood tragedy, a homicide detective, and a girl who met the wrong guy. Their lives intertwine on the streets of San Francisco headed straight for a collision course with a serial killer.

The novel is well-plotted with some nice twists and turns, red herrings and multiple possible suspects that keep you guessing and in suspense. The characters are realistic and human, plus the female characters do not come off as helpless victims even when targeted by less than scrupulous people. The flow of the book engages and keeps the pages turning effortlessly.

The plot does hinge on a couple of coincidences of fate, but nothing that stretches the bounds of credibility and the author’s style makes it believable. Also, there were a couple of minor plot points that left me wondering a bit, but they don’t distract from the overall quality.

Madness and Murder is a great mystery novel and recommended.

Profile Image for Cheryl Landmark.
Author 6 books112 followers
May 28, 2013
I love a good murder mystery and this one definitely fits the bill. Ms. Hilborne crafted a taut, suspenseful, chilling tale of revenge, murder, madness, courage and strong, relatable characters. It was chock full of twists and turns, red herrings and enough suspects that it was difficult to guess the identity of the murderer until right near the end.

There were several subplots that at first seemed disconnected, but quickly coalesced into a thrilling, fast-paced story that had me turning the pages relentlessly to see what happened next. Alex and Jessica were two very strong, courageous women who refused to become helpless victims and drew on hidden reserves of strength to thwart the actions of sexual predators, drug-dealing ex-husbands, and an insane murderer bent on brutal revenge.

Mac Jackson was a great character, too--a good cop, determined and relentless in his pursuit of the bad guys, and a man who possessed uncanny instincts and gut hunches. I will definitely be reading more of Mac's cases in the future.
Profile Image for Carol  MacInnis.
453 reviews
May 13, 2011
This book was incredible. Jenny Hilborne captures the readers attention right from page one! A horrible homicide of a set of young twins big brother sets the stage. Their Father cannot accept the fact that he could not keep his eldest son safe finally ends his own life. Now their Mother has lost her sanity and the twins are forced into the system. It is a tumultuous time for both Judd and Jessica and Judd acts out as any frightened child would. Through the years the Homicide Detective, Mac Jackson must help hunt down the killer of their past for the sanity and safe being of these twins. A fabulous read!
Profile Image for Black Butterfly.
2,630 reviews39 followers
June 1, 2015
STARTED OUT PROMISING THEN FIZZELED OUT AS IT PROGRESSED. THE STORY LINE JUMPS AROUND TOO MUCH MAKES I CONFUSING AT TIMES, THE CHARACTERS ARE UNBELIEVABLY STUPID. ALEX WAS WARNED ABOUT_______________ BUT LATER GETS ANGRY AND SAYS WHY DIDN’T SOMEONE WARN ME ABOUT HIM. HUH-WTF? I STRUGGLED TO FINISH THIS ONE I THOUGHT IT WOULD NEVER END. GLAD I BORROWED IT. GROANER! ;0
Profile Image for D.L. Fowler.
Author 9 books62 followers
November 2, 2011
A captivating story made more intense by exceptional writing. The author kept me glued to the page from beginning to end.

The characters were rich and believable. Each risking everything in pursuit of their own personal stakes.

It's not everyday you pick up a book this good.
Profile Image for Connie.
Author 1 book4 followers
May 16, 2011
Jenny Hilborne's "Madness and Murder" is a really good read. Her murder mystery's characters have depth and personality. The reader becomes quickly invested in what happens to them. I enjoyed the story, which moved along well and had a nice twist. A well-written crime novel.
Profile Image for Sue.
1,417 reviews5 followers
April 28, 2011
Madness and Murder is an excellent novel I didn’t want to put down. It is an extremely worthwhile read! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to reading more this excellent new author.
8 reviews
November 10, 2019
Enraptured

Couldn’t put this book down! Absolutely will buy book #2. I really like Jenny’s style of writing and look forward to the next.
3 reviews
June 11, 2015
Veteran homicide detective Mac Jackson is known for his remarkable hunches giving him the ability to solve complicated crimes. Currently in the middle of trying to solve a series of violent murders, Jackson is discouraged with the lack of evidence. The abhorrent violence of these murders has Jackson remembering another brutal case from his past that haunts him.

Twin siblings, Jessica and Judd Croft have relocated to San Francisco to start a new life. Running away from their traumatized past, Jessica hopes to keep her family secrets buried. But her fear returns when she realizes she has a stalker. Determined to have a normal life, Jessica makes a daring move that will put an end to her worst nightmare . . . one way or another.

“Madness and Murder”, the first book in the Jackson mystery series, has a complex, multi-layered plot. Jackson is a troubled protagonist who won’t let go of his case, which makes us like him even more. The writing makes it clear that Hilborne loves the setting of San Francisco.
Profile Image for Gayle.
Author 21 books66 followers
June 7, 2011
This was a well-written, tightly paced story of very interesting people. The only "problem" with it (I use the term loosely) is that it could have been a big, fat, 100,000-word thriller. These are complex people, the plot is clever, and the writing is good - I'd have gone along on a bigger ride with the author.
54 reviews
October 15, 2015
I don't know if the other reviewers read the same book as me, but this book is horrible. I finally quit at about the 70% mark. Nothing happens. The characters are beyond dumb. The dialog is lame. The author seems to have puritanical views on sex and alcohol; I actually double checked at one point to see if it was Christian fiction.
Profile Image for Anne Carter.
Author 14 books42 followers
August 2, 2013
I've seen the words "thrilling" and "intriguing" and I couldn't agree more. Fabulous psychological thriller, scary at times, especially for those sensitive to women-in-peril situations. The whodunit moment comes a little earlier than I'd expected, but there was plenty of drama and action following.
Profile Image for Kelli Landon.
Author 12 books36 followers
February 6, 2011
Excellent thriller! This book grabbed me from the beginning and ended with a jaw dropping twist! I was immediately immersed into the lives of Mac Jackson and the Croft family. Love Detective Jackson and hope to see him pop up in Jenny's future novels - I am a fan! Can't wait for her next book!
Profile Image for Barry Crowther.
Author 7 books17 followers
March 17, 2011
This was a great read! Plenty of twists and turns with great writing. I'm sure when the rest of the series comes out I'll grab a copy. Good writing, good mystery, doesn't get any better. Glad a made the journey with Mac.
9 reviews1 follower
May 13, 2011
I have read this book twice already and probably I will read it a third time as well. Everything is so skillfully structured-from the characters to the story and the plot twists. Highly recommended for those who want to be emotionally overwhelmed till the end.
Profile Image for Tiffany.
16 reviews1 follower
September 27, 2012
I couldn't put this book down. I read it in 2 days. The story line was great. I was looking for a new book to read & put it out in twitter. So glad the author responded with the suggestion to read her book! Loved every minute of it.
633 reviews7 followers
October 11, 2014
Great murder mystery

I enjoyed the flow of the story and how the characters interacted with each other. I was surprised that a girl so young took a chance and moved so far from home to be with a man. I enjoyed this book and was surprised
11 reviews
April 9, 2016
Snow Day Entertainment

What can I say...I finished the book in one day...I thought it started oddly but it picked up and was very interesting....recommended for all mystery lovers. I do wish there had been a year after update on the characters but maybe that's in the next one.
Profile Image for Rebecca Hollingsworth.
868 reviews7 followers
April 21, 2016
Excellent

This book will leave you guessing who the crazy, bad guy is, then once you figure it out, or think you figured it out, a major twist will happen and you will have to start all over with guessing. Loved it!
2 reviews
March 21, 2011
Moves fast, plenty of twists, great read.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
42 reviews
September 25, 2012
This is the 2nd book I have read by this author. I really like her writing style. She really keeps the reader interested. The Jackson series reminds me a lot of Alex Cross.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews

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