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A Justified Bitch
It takes a guilty bastard to make a justified bitch.
When a severed finger shows up on her doorstep in a seedy section of Las Vegas, Helen Taylor does not freak out. She’s already crazy, as evidenced by her junk-stuffed house and its ever-growing population of cats. There’s also Bobby, her long-dead husband. Helen talks to him regularly, and Bobby talks back.
The finger and the brutal murder it reveals are more than a hoarding cat lady with a phantom husband can ignore. Helen’s a suspect, and she ends up in jail. Summoned by the detective on the case, Helen’s sister Pat arrives from Phoenix with two teen-age boys in tow.
While Helen is AWOL from a mental facility, another gruesome murder is discovered. Pat, the boys, and the detective struggle to separate fact from insanity, but it takes power beyond the ordinary to bring the truth to light.
When a severed finger shows up on her doorstep in a seedy section of Las Vegas, Helen Taylor does not freak out. She’s already crazy, as evidenced by her junk-stuffed house and its ever-growing population of cats. There’s also Bobby, her long-dead husband. Helen talks to him regularly, and Bobby talks back.
The finger and the brutal murder it reveals are more than a hoarding cat lady with a phantom husband can ignore. Helen’s a suspect, and she ends up in jail. Summoned by the detective on the case, Helen’s sister Pat arrives from Phoenix with two teen-age boys in tow.
While Helen is AWOL from a mental facility, another gruesome murder is discovered. Pat, the boys, and the detective struggle to separate fact from insanity, but it takes power beyond the ordinary to bring the truth to light.
311 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2017
4 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
H.G. McKinnis
1 book11 followersA life-long resident of Las Vegas and alumna of the University of Nevada, H.G. McKinnis knows her city as only a local can. By night, she fluffs feathers and attaches rhinestones to the exotic wardrobes of the most glamorous venues on the strip, by day McKinnis writes about the often hardscrabble lives of her fellow desert denizens and the unlikely city they inhabit. A Justified Bitch, a twisted tale of insanity, murder, and redemption, is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
August 1, 2017
Do not judge this book by its cover! Do not judge this book by its title! Neither of these serve the story very well.
It says Las Vegas Mystery #1 and I was all settled down to read a murder mystery or police procedural set in sin city. Somewhere along the line, the murder and the killer took a backseat to Helen’s story. But I am getting ahead of myself.
The dead woman’s severed finger was found just feet from Helen’s door step. Helen used to be a teacher but that was before her husband Bobby died in a climbing accident ten years ago. After that Helen’s world went a little sideways. Of course Bobby was still there for her, he would not abandon her, but there were also over twenty cats inside her over stuffed home. Helen was a hoarder and her place now, with the cats and their urine and feces, not to mention many a variety of bug, was no longer habitable for human occupation, at least by any sane person. Helen had put paid to that barrier some time ago.
Police took Helen into custody as they believed she was witness to the murder ( a butchering really) of her neighbour, but getting Helen to recount what she may have seen or heard proves impossible as Bobby keeps interrupting their conversation. The detective in charge of the investigation calls Helen’s sister Pat who lives in Phoenix. Although she has not seen Helen for almost ten years now Pat comes to Las Vegas with her two teen age sons in tow.
In the beginning and as new characters were introduced, especially those close to Bebe (the murdered woman) I was focusing on who had motive, opportunity and what not, to have committed such a heinous act but honestly, what was going on with Helen and her sister Pat in her attempts to at last do right by Helen, was far more compelling than the search for the perpetrator. Helen gave me a glimpse into the mind of the mentally ill and her thought processes, including just how crazy she herself felt she was and how alone. But we also get to see the struggle from her sister’s perspective, who is desperately trying to keep two teenage boys on the straight and narrow in a city of sin and lugging around years of guilt for having abandoned Helen, who she knew was unstable, all those years ago.
Thankfully McKinnis threw me a lifeline that wasted little time in yanking me back into the fold by dropping another dead body and another grisly scene in front of me. Helen is on the loose and nobody can account for her whereabouts. This is the second victim that she is tied to and it would seem that she does not have an alibi. Just how mad is she?
I thoroughly enjoyed this story from the get go. Time was taken with all of the principal characters, who were fleshed out, had histories and passed the, these people smell real to me test, with flying colours. That said, I have no doubt that I shall return to McKinnis’s fertile pen when Mystery # 2 comes off the drawing board.
A good mystery and a fabulous human interest story. A Justified Bitch gets four solid stars from me.
I would like to thank Imbrifex Books, H.G. McKinnis and NetGalley for an opportunity to read this book.
It says Las Vegas Mystery #1 and I was all settled down to read a murder mystery or police procedural set in sin city. Somewhere along the line, the murder and the killer took a backseat to Helen’s story. But I am getting ahead of myself.
The dead woman’s severed finger was found just feet from Helen’s door step. Helen used to be a teacher but that was before her husband Bobby died in a climbing accident ten years ago. After that Helen’s world went a little sideways. Of course Bobby was still there for her, he would not abandon her, but there were also over twenty cats inside her over stuffed home. Helen was a hoarder and her place now, with the cats and their urine and feces, not to mention many a variety of bug, was no longer habitable for human occupation, at least by any sane person. Helen had put paid to that barrier some time ago.
Police took Helen into custody as they believed she was witness to the murder ( a butchering really) of her neighbour, but getting Helen to recount what she may have seen or heard proves impossible as Bobby keeps interrupting their conversation. The detective in charge of the investigation calls Helen’s sister Pat who lives in Phoenix. Although she has not seen Helen for almost ten years now Pat comes to Las Vegas with her two teen age sons in tow.
In the beginning and as new characters were introduced, especially those close to Bebe (the murdered woman) I was focusing on who had motive, opportunity and what not, to have committed such a heinous act but honestly, what was going on with Helen and her sister Pat in her attempts to at last do right by Helen, was far more compelling than the search for the perpetrator. Helen gave me a glimpse into the mind of the mentally ill and her thought processes, including just how crazy she herself felt she was and how alone. But we also get to see the struggle from her sister’s perspective, who is desperately trying to keep two teenage boys on the straight and narrow in a city of sin and lugging around years of guilt for having abandoned Helen, who she knew was unstable, all those years ago.
Thankfully McKinnis threw me a lifeline that wasted little time in yanking me back into the fold by dropping another dead body and another grisly scene in front of me. Helen is on the loose and nobody can account for her whereabouts. This is the second victim that she is tied to and it would seem that she does not have an alibi. Just how mad is she?
I thoroughly enjoyed this story from the get go. Time was taken with all of the principal characters, who were fleshed out, had histories and passed the, these people smell real to me test, with flying colours. That said, I have no doubt that I shall return to McKinnis’s fertile pen when Mystery # 2 comes off the drawing board.
A good mystery and a fabulous human interest story. A Justified Bitch gets four solid stars from me.
I would like to thank Imbrifex Books, H.G. McKinnis and NetGalley for an opportunity to read this book.
July 17, 2017
This is that true case for not judging a book by it's cover. That cover and the title totally suck for this cute little book. It's good. It deserves better. My thanks to my buddy Zoeytron's review for cluing me in on this one.
You meet Helen, she is the neighborhood crazy cat lady.
Literally.
Helen hoards junk for the swap meets and talks to her dead husband Bobby.
Helen is good people.
Then her phone sexing neighbor gets cut into a million pieces. The police know that Helen may know something about it but good luck getting it out of her. Helen isn't sure of taking a bath..why should she remember a killing?
Helen's sister Pat is called to come to see if she can help out with Helen and she heads to Vegas with her two sons to try and figure out her wacked sister. Poor Pat, between two teenagers in Vegas and her sister escaping the looney bin...she isn't having a good day.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review
You meet Helen, she is the neighborhood crazy cat lady.
Literally.
Helen hoards junk for the swap meets and talks to her dead husband Bobby.
Helen is good people.
Then her phone sexing neighbor gets cut into a million pieces. The police know that Helen may know something about it but good luck getting it out of her. Helen isn't sure of taking a bath..why should she remember a killing?
Helen's sister Pat is called to come to see if she can help out with Helen and she heads to Vegas with her two sons to try and figure out her wacked sister. Poor Pat, between two teenagers in Vegas and her sister escaping the looney bin...she isn't having a good day.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review
July 11, 2017
Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review.
Meet Helen. Crazed cat lady, certifiable hoarder, and a very talented swap meet queen. Helen sees messages in everything. She also sees her dead husband, Bobby. He's quite the cutup. Chasing ghosts, conversing with the dead . . . it's time for your medication, Helen.
I cannot imagine what the marketing rationale is behind either the title or the cover. I would not have even bothered to read the synopsis for this if not for Arah-Lynda's engaging review. Liberally laced with dark humor, it turned out to be a most enjoyable read.
Meet Helen. Crazed cat lady, certifiable hoarder, and a very talented swap meet queen. Helen sees messages in everything. She also sees her dead husband, Bobby. He's quite the cutup. Chasing ghosts, conversing with the dead . . . it's time for your medication, Helen.
I cannot imagine what the marketing rationale is behind either the title or the cover. I would not have even bothered to read the synopsis for this if not for Arah-Lynda's engaging review. Liberally laced with dark humor, it turned out to be a most enjoyable read.
July 25, 2017
"I remember things, but sometimes I don't remember what I remember."
Helen...Helen...Helen...I love Helen....her discussions with her long-dead husband....her love of swap meets....and her love of cats!
Have you ever had one of your furry friends bring you a creepy gift? I sure have (some still alive) and the one that Helen receives from Wary the cat wreaks havoc and brings out the police in full force....but Helen can't remember where the little piece of incriminating evidence came from....so it's off to jail where colorful new friends are made and a murder mystery ensues.
A JUSTIFIED BITCH (ignore the cover) equals Great Fun in Las Vegas with a reunited family and a murderer too close for comfort.
Thank you Goodread's friend Zoeytron.....so glad I caught your review!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Imbrifex Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2017
A severed finger shows up on her doorstep in a seedy section of Las Vegas. But Helen Taylor does not freak out, she is already one crazy lady. Helen is a hoarder, her house is full of cats and she has conversations with her long-dead husband, Bobby. Helen is now a suspect in her neighbours murder and ends up spending a night in jail.
I really liked the character Helen, and her conversations with her long-dead husband Bobby, and the fact that Booby answered her back. Helen has a booth at her local swap meet and compares everything she sees with the retail price and the price she would sell them for. I thought this was going to be annoying at first pas it was mentioned quite a lot, but thankfully it didn't. This is a story that covers Mental Health illness, love and family loyalty. Do not judge this book by its cover as it does not do the book any favours!
I would like to thank NetGalley, Imbrifex Books and the author H. G. McKinnis for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked the character Helen, and her conversations with her long-dead husband Bobby, and the fact that Booby answered her back. Helen has a booth at her local swap meet and compares everything she sees with the retail price and the price she would sell them for. I thought this was going to be annoying at first pas it was mentioned quite a lot, but thankfully it didn't. This is a story that covers Mental Health illness, love and family loyalty. Do not judge this book by its cover as it does not do the book any favours!
I would like to thank NetGalley, Imbrifex Books and the author H. G. McKinnis for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2017
I give this book 5 out of 5 Cuckoo Stars! I just LOVED this book! This was definitely an unconventional type of read. This story was just fun and made me feel better about my insanity. That’s right here goes the part where Dani brings her crazy filled life into the story!
I have battled a very severe and rare mental illness since the age of 7 that has been an ongoing struggle since then. I am thankfully on a stable dose of medication and am able to function properly as possible but that was not always the case.
My illness mostly manifested because of continuous severe traumas I faced for three years as a young child. Like the main character, I lost touch of reality and used different methods to escape and deal with my pain and suffering. These unhealthy “coping” skills continued into adulthood and will stay with me lifelong.
I was given every medication regimen in the book and damaged my liver by young adulthood by medicines doctors have given me. I was put through crazy clinical trials because of having this rare mental illness. I was strapped down to beds for up to 14 hours at a time. I have a messed up disc in my back from caretakers taking me down to “protect” me. I have received electric shock therapy. I grew up in the system, group homes, residential treatment facilities and mental hospitals. By the age of 18, I have been placed in a faciliy of some sort 50 something times.
My point to explaining all of this is that I could relate to everything the main character was going through. I knew what it was like to lose touch of reality because the present was too painful to face and the author did a great job of describing the symtoms of how everything feels and works. This book was well written and the descriptions were amazing.
Most of the time a book like this may be a trigger for me but not with how the author portrayed Helen. Helen was crazy and it made you laugh.
She also was loveable and you could understand why she was the way she was even though she is a suspect. All the other characters were fantastic as well! I loved Jordan and Helen’s two friends that work at the Salon! The way the facility and the medication adjustments were described were a great portrayal of the battle people with psychosis face. Helen’s stay and escape from the treatment facility was realistic. Many might be like “this shit doesn’t happen”, they must have never been institutionalized with a severe mental illness.
This book made me laugh and also was very suspenseful. At one moment your laughing at Helen, the next you are having the hairs on the back of your neck stick up because of the intensity of this case. I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next!😄 I highly recommend this book and it is definitely Dani-approved! I hope I was able to explain my review well and hope everyone has a fantastic day!!! Much love to you all!❤🤗😘💖
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
You can find this review and others please visit touchmyspinebookreviews.com
I have battled a very severe and rare mental illness since the age of 7 that has been an ongoing struggle since then. I am thankfully on a stable dose of medication and am able to function properly as possible but that was not always the case.
My illness mostly manifested because of continuous severe traumas I faced for three years as a young child. Like the main character, I lost touch of reality and used different methods to escape and deal with my pain and suffering. These unhealthy “coping” skills continued into adulthood and will stay with me lifelong.
I was given every medication regimen in the book and damaged my liver by young adulthood by medicines doctors have given me. I was put through crazy clinical trials because of having this rare mental illness. I was strapped down to beds for up to 14 hours at a time. I have a messed up disc in my back from caretakers taking me down to “protect” me. I have received electric shock therapy. I grew up in the system, group homes, residential treatment facilities and mental hospitals. By the age of 18, I have been placed in a faciliy of some sort 50 something times.
My point to explaining all of this is that I could relate to everything the main character was going through. I knew what it was like to lose touch of reality because the present was too painful to face and the author did a great job of describing the symtoms of how everything feels and works. This book was well written and the descriptions were amazing.
Most of the time a book like this may be a trigger for me but not with how the author portrayed Helen. Helen was crazy and it made you laugh.
She also was loveable and you could understand why she was the way she was even though she is a suspect. All the other characters were fantastic as well! I loved Jordan and Helen’s two friends that work at the Salon! The way the facility and the medication adjustments were described were a great portrayal of the battle people with psychosis face. Helen’s stay and escape from the treatment facility was realistic. Many might be like “this shit doesn’t happen”, they must have never been institutionalized with a severe mental illness.
This book made me laugh and also was very suspenseful. At one moment your laughing at Helen, the next you are having the hairs on the back of your neck stick up because of the intensity of this case. I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next!😄 I highly recommend this book and it is definitely Dani-approved! I hope I was able to explain my review well and hope everyone has a fantastic day!!! Much love to you all!❤🤗😘💖
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
You can find this review and others please visit touchmyspinebookreviews.com
April 18, 2017
When her neighbour, Bebe, is murdered Helen finds herself and her eccentric lifestyle under scrutiny. Helen believes she can hear and see Bobby her deceased husband, refuses to bathe and groom herself and lives with a number of cats in squalor. After being taken into custody by the police her sister, Pat turns up and although they have been estranged for years feels a sense of responsibility and guilt for not being around. With help from the detective on the case can Bebe's killer be caught before becomes a target?
Easy to read and get into I found this crime thriller interesting as it gave an account of what it's like to be a native of Las Vegas. Helen's eccentricities were a quirky hook in this story and the complexities in her family add another dimension to the thriller. This is quite an even paced read and the characters really grew on me.
The supernatural question of whether Bobby is really seen by makes me want to read more in this series.
Easy to read and get into I found this crime thriller interesting as it gave an account of what it's like to be a native of Las Vegas. Helen's eccentricities were a quirky hook in this story and the complexities in her family add another dimension to the thriller. This is quite an even paced read and the characters really grew on me.
The supernatural question of whether Bobby is really seen by makes me want to read more in this series.
August 14, 2017
When I first read the book description of ‘A Justified Bitch’, I was immediately curious about this read. I love mysteries and the fact that this book had a confused main character just spoke to me. So I was super happy when I received the email that I could read and review this book.
First of all, I love this cover. I’ve read that most people don’t seem to like this cover, but I seriously love it! I love how the orange grabs your attention, and it just makes me want to start reading. I think it’s a very strong cover, and it was definitely the first thing that made me want to read this book. It’s different, and not like any other cover I’ve seen lately. Definitely a strong starting point for me.
Overall I enjoyed reading ‘A Justified Bitch’. From the moment I started reading, I knew there was something more to this book. The main character Helen Taylor, finds a finger in her back yard right before the police arrives at her neighbors home. Helen’s neighbor is brutally murdered, and it appears Helen might be the only one who has seen something. But the thing is, Helen is talking with her husband.. her dead husband! And Helen doesn’t seem able to give a ‘normal’ answer.
That is the moment Helen’s sister Pat receives a phone call from the police asking for her help. But Pat hasn’t spoken to Helen for years, and she is shocked to find out how Helen’s life has turned out.
I loved how mental illness played a huge part in this book. As a nurse, I enjoy reading books where people aren’t all ‘normal’. Especially since there are so many people with mental illnesses out there. In real life, I do get in contact with people with mental illnesses and I enjoyed reading how Helen coped with her illness.
The down part about this book for me, was that I really expected more of a mystery novel than ‘A Justified Bitch’ really was. I felt like this book was much more about the mental illness part, and the way people react to it then it was a mystery. It wasn’t necessary a bad thing, but I just expected something different. I also felt like this book was a little slow at moments.
First of all, I love this cover. I’ve read that most people don’t seem to like this cover, but I seriously love it! I love how the orange grabs your attention, and it just makes me want to start reading. I think it’s a very strong cover, and it was definitely the first thing that made me want to read this book. It’s different, and not like any other cover I’ve seen lately. Definitely a strong starting point for me.
Overall I enjoyed reading ‘A Justified Bitch’. From the moment I started reading, I knew there was something more to this book. The main character Helen Taylor, finds a finger in her back yard right before the police arrives at her neighbors home. Helen’s neighbor is brutally murdered, and it appears Helen might be the only one who has seen something. But the thing is, Helen is talking with her husband.. her dead husband! And Helen doesn’t seem able to give a ‘normal’ answer.
That is the moment Helen’s sister Pat receives a phone call from the police asking for her help. But Pat hasn’t spoken to Helen for years, and she is shocked to find out how Helen’s life has turned out.
I loved how mental illness played a huge part in this book. As a nurse, I enjoy reading books where people aren’t all ‘normal’. Especially since there are so many people with mental illnesses out there. In real life, I do get in contact with people with mental illnesses and I enjoyed reading how Helen coped with her illness.
The down part about this book for me, was that I really expected more of a mystery novel than ‘A Justified Bitch’ really was. I felt like this book was much more about the mental illness part, and the way people react to it then it was a mystery. It wasn’t necessary a bad thing, but I just expected something different. I also felt like this book was a little slow at moments.
May 13, 2017
Realistic!
That is the best description I can provide for this short, easy to read crime novel set in present-day Las Vegas. I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. It was written (skillfully) by H.G. McKinnis, and published by Flattop Productions, Inc. of Las Vegas in 2017.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is very realistic. The dialogue is believable, and the descriptions of the Las Vegas environment is accurate and colorful. Written in the 3rd person, the book presents the perspectives of the protagonist (Helen), her sister (Cleo, or Pat) and Detective Madison of the Las Vegas Metro Police Department (LVMPD). Even though the author supplies a few hints during the story as to the identity of the killer, we can never be sure, so the element of suspense is present until the end of the book.
Helen is a hoarder. She lives on the East Side of Las Vegas, just off Charleston Blvd. Her sister Cleo (or Pat — short for Cleopatra) lives in Phoenix with her husband and two sons. Helen makes her living buying and selling used merchandise at a swap meet in Las Vegas. She owns her own home, but she became mentally unstable after her husband died in a climbing accident ten years earlier. She still sees her husband, and talks to him every day, even though he is dead. Now, her house is full of trash, cats, insects and other critters, and is not fit to be lived in. Unfortunately, Helen might have witnessed the murder of her next-door neighbor — a meth-addicted prostitute and telephone sex worker. The murder scene is gruesome, and one of Helen’s cats brings home a body part that police subsequently find in her yard, implicating Helen in the murder. She is jailed as a material witness, and she meets some interesting people, and makes some new friends, while in jail.
Helen’ sister and two sons, Jordan and Marc, drive up from Phoenix to bail Helen out of jail and try to help her straighten her life out. That’s when the adventures really begin in earnest. But the murders aren’t over, yet. Another woman is murdered, and Helen does not have an alibi. Police immediately suspect Helen. The conclusion to the story is satisfying. Loose ends are tied up. The story is an easy, fast read. What’s not to like? For a change of pace in murder and crime novels, try this well-written work by H.G. McKinnis. You’ll be glad you did. 5 Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is very realistic. The dialogue is believable, and the descriptions of the Las Vegas environment is accurate and colorful. Written in the 3rd person, the book presents the perspectives of the protagonist (Helen), her sister (Cleo, or Pat) and Detective Madison of the Las Vegas Metro Police Department (LVMPD). Even though the author supplies a few hints during the story as to the identity of the killer, we can never be sure, so the element of suspense is present until the end of the book.
Helen is a hoarder. She lives on the East Side of Las Vegas, just off Charleston Blvd. Her sister Cleo (or Pat — short for Cleopatra) lives in Phoenix with her husband and two sons. Helen makes her living buying and selling used merchandise at a swap meet in Las Vegas. She owns her own home, but she became mentally unstable after her husband died in a climbing accident ten years earlier. She still sees her husband, and talks to him every day, even though he is dead. Now, her house is full of trash, cats, insects and other critters, and is not fit to be lived in. Unfortunately, Helen might have witnessed the murder of her next-door neighbor — a meth-addicted prostitute and telephone sex worker. The murder scene is gruesome, and one of Helen’s cats brings home a body part that police subsequently find in her yard, implicating Helen in the murder. She is jailed as a material witness, and she meets some interesting people, and makes some new friends, while in jail.
Helen’ sister and two sons, Jordan and Marc, drive up from Phoenix to bail Helen out of jail and try to help her straighten her life out. That’s when the adventures really begin in earnest. But the murders aren’t over, yet. Another woman is murdered, and Helen does not have an alibi. Police immediately suspect Helen. The conclusion to the story is satisfying. Loose ends are tied up. The story is an easy, fast read. What’s not to like? For a change of pace in murder and crime novels, try this well-written work by H.G. McKinnis. You’ll be glad you did. 5 Stars
March 13, 2017
I would like to thank NetGalley and Imbrifex books for an ARC of "A Justified Bitch" by H.G. McKinnis for my honest review.
The genres of this book are Mystery and Thriller,Suspense, and General Adult Fiction.
H.G. McKinnis does an excellent job in describing the devastating effects of mental illness on a family.
The story starts when Helen Taylor, finds herself holding a finger and sitting near by her house, where a body has been found murdered next door. Helen lives in a delusional world with her cats and hoarding, and is very comfortable having conversations with her dead husband. When the police question her, she can't explain what she saw. The police take her to jail as a material witness hoping to get information. Helen hasn't showered and her hair is matted. While in jail, she becomes friends with two "jail mates" who own a beauty shop.
The police call Helen's sister Pat(Cleo), and ask her to come and try to get Helen to disclose anything pertinent to the case. Helen has not spoken to Pat for over ten years. Pat arrives with her two teen aged boys. She has the key to Helen's house, and when she opens the door she is horrified to see the hoarding conditions that Helen and her cats have been living in. Helen has a place where she goes and sells some of the things that she hoards.
Pat goes to buy clothes for her sister and get her out of jail. When she arrives at the jail house, a detective convinces Pat to bring her sister to meet with a Psychiatrist. The Psychiatrist convinces Pat that Helen should stay for at least six weeks and be on medication and counselling .
Pat and her two sons are staying at a hotel, and finds that her sons are finding ways to get into trouble. Pat is also trying to get Helen's house in order.
Helen finds a way to go AWOL, to get back to her job. While Helen is away from the health center there is another dead body found.
The author describes dsyfunctional, complex and complicated characters. Some of the teenage adventures are funny. The interactions with Pat and her sons is humorous at times.
Who is the killer? Is Helen involved? This is an intriguing, and enjoyable read with lots of action and adventure. I would recommend this entertaining book.
The genres of this book are Mystery and Thriller,Suspense, and General Adult Fiction.
H.G. McKinnis does an excellent job in describing the devastating effects of mental illness on a family.
The story starts when Helen Taylor, finds herself holding a finger and sitting near by her house, where a body has been found murdered next door. Helen lives in a delusional world with her cats and hoarding, and is very comfortable having conversations with her dead husband. When the police question her, she can't explain what she saw. The police take her to jail as a material witness hoping to get information. Helen hasn't showered and her hair is matted. While in jail, she becomes friends with two "jail mates" who own a beauty shop.
The police call Helen's sister Pat(Cleo), and ask her to come and try to get Helen to disclose anything pertinent to the case. Helen has not spoken to Pat for over ten years. Pat arrives with her two teen aged boys. She has the key to Helen's house, and when she opens the door she is horrified to see the hoarding conditions that Helen and her cats have been living in. Helen has a place where she goes and sells some of the things that she hoards.
Pat goes to buy clothes for her sister and get her out of jail. When she arrives at the jail house, a detective convinces Pat to bring her sister to meet with a Psychiatrist. The Psychiatrist convinces Pat that Helen should stay for at least six weeks and be on medication and counselling .
Pat and her two sons are staying at a hotel, and finds that her sons are finding ways to get into trouble. Pat is also trying to get Helen's house in order.
Helen finds a way to go AWOL, to get back to her job. While Helen is away from the health center there is another dead body found.
The author describes dsyfunctional, complex and complicated characters. Some of the teenage adventures are funny. The interactions with Pat and her sons is humorous at times.
Who is the killer? Is Helen involved? This is an intriguing, and enjoyable read with lots of action and adventure. I would recommend this entertaining book.
July 31, 2017
First of all, a big thanks to Imbrifex and Smith Publicity for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Also, for the blog spot to kick off the tour!
A JUSTIFIED BITCH by H.G. McKinnis definitely grabbed my attention for two reasons: the title (how can you ignore that?) and the tagline - it takes a guilty bastard to make a justified bitch. Consider me instantly intrigued. I will say, this is a classic example of "don't judge a book by it's cover". It does not do the book justice.
It all starts with a severed finger is found just a few feet away from the doorstep to Helen Taylor. Most people would panic, not Helen. How come? Well, Helen is already considered crazy - from her hoarder lifestlye, her growing number of cats, and her conversations with her husband. Only thing is that her husband, Bobby, has been dead for years. We find out that the finger is connected to the gruesome murder of her neighbor, Bebe.
The police bring Helen in for questioning because they believe she could be a witness to the crime, or a possible suspect. While in custody, the detective calls up her sister, Pat, who currently lives down in Phoenix. She comes to her sister's aid with her two teenage sons. Upon her arrival to the police station, detectives convince her to have Helen brought into a mental facility to be evaluated. After seeing the conditions her sister was living in, she felt she had no choice and that its what was best for her.
Helen goes AWOL from the facility, and shortly after she escapes another gruesome murder occurs. Will the detectives, Pat, and her sons be able to solve the case and find Helen? In order to do so, they need to find the truth in the insanity.
This book definitely surprised me! I wasn't expecting such a gripping mystery (based on the title). I was anticipating more of a journey of revenge (again, based on the title). The characters were so well-developed and diving into the mind of Helen was quite the ride! The hoarding, the cats, and her dealing with the grief of her husband's death 10 years prior. I was drawn in from the start and McKinnis didn't let go until the very end - I'm excited and hoping for a book two in the Las Vegas Mysteries series!
If you want a great murder mystery with a character that makes you feel almost as insane as she is, then this is the one for you!
I give this one 4.5/5 stars!
A JUSTIFIED BITCH by H.G. McKinnis definitely grabbed my attention for two reasons: the title (how can you ignore that?) and the tagline - it takes a guilty bastard to make a justified bitch. Consider me instantly intrigued. I will say, this is a classic example of "don't judge a book by it's cover". It does not do the book justice.
It all starts with a severed finger is found just a few feet away from the doorstep to Helen Taylor. Most people would panic, not Helen. How come? Well, Helen is already considered crazy - from her hoarder lifestlye, her growing number of cats, and her conversations with her husband. Only thing is that her husband, Bobby, has been dead for years. We find out that the finger is connected to the gruesome murder of her neighbor, Bebe.
The police bring Helen in for questioning because they believe she could be a witness to the crime, or a possible suspect. While in custody, the detective calls up her sister, Pat, who currently lives down in Phoenix. She comes to her sister's aid with her two teenage sons. Upon her arrival to the police station, detectives convince her to have Helen brought into a mental facility to be evaluated. After seeing the conditions her sister was living in, she felt she had no choice and that its what was best for her.
Helen goes AWOL from the facility, and shortly after she escapes another gruesome murder occurs. Will the detectives, Pat, and her sons be able to solve the case and find Helen? In order to do so, they need to find the truth in the insanity.
This book definitely surprised me! I wasn't expecting such a gripping mystery (based on the title). I was anticipating more of a journey of revenge (again, based on the title). The characters were so well-developed and diving into the mind of Helen was quite the ride! The hoarding, the cats, and her dealing with the grief of her husband's death 10 years prior. I was drawn in from the start and McKinnis didn't let go until the very end - I'm excited and hoping for a book two in the Las Vegas Mysteries series!
If you want a great murder mystery with a character that makes you feel almost as insane as she is, then this is the one for you!
I give this one 4.5/5 stars!
August 7, 2017
Helen is a bit of an eccentric hoarder. Her husband died in an unfortunate accident a decade ago and her hoarding never got any better, but he's still there for her as she still sees him and their banter is fantastic. Imagine a woman with twenty cats that she can't properly take care of causing infestations of bugs and an abundance of cat feces and urine. A severed finger is found near her home but she's not bothered. Nothing really gets to Helen these days. However, she becomes a suspect and has to spend a night in jail. Then another murder occurs and she has a tie to this person as well - with no alibi. Her family comes up to try and help her but how do you properly help someone who lives in her own little world?
OK - first of all, I love the title of this book but it doesn't quite fit with the story line. I assumed it would be more of a tag line for a story of vengeance. Don't judge this book by the cover or title. Cleverly written, we get a look into the perspective of a person with hoarding issues. Have you ever seen the show, Hoarders? I have and am always fascinated by these people's stories. People are so quick to judge, but these are real issues stemming from something and they can get help. But back to the book - this was an easy page turner. Refreshing and different from most mysteries I've read lately with a lot of humor. Absolutely take a chance on this book and I look forward to the next book in the series.
OK - first of all, I love the title of this book but it doesn't quite fit with the story line. I assumed it would be more of a tag line for a story of vengeance. Don't judge this book by the cover or title. Cleverly written, we get a look into the perspective of a person with hoarding issues. Have you ever seen the show, Hoarders? I have and am always fascinated by these people's stories. People are so quick to judge, but these are real issues stemming from something and they can get help. But back to the book - this was an easy page turner. Refreshing and different from most mysteries I've read lately with a lot of humor. Absolutely take a chance on this book and I look forward to the next book in the series.
May 23, 2017
Opens up with a murder in an old section of LasVegas Helen’s neighbor has been grisly murdered. She was cut up and one of her body parts ended up in Helen’s yard. Police are trying to question Helen but aren’t getting very far. The reason is because Helen has a mental illness. She cracked when her husband, Bobby died. As a matter of fact she talks to Bobby all the time. Enter her well to do sister with her 2 sons trying to clean up this mess. While Helen is in jail she meets 2 hairdressers and they become friends. In order to keep Helen safe the lead detective talks Pat into putting Helen in a facility that caters to this disease. Helen escapes and another murder happens so of course since Helen is the only thing that ties these 2 murders together of course all fingers point to Helen while her sister Pat is trying to prove her innocence.
This book ties mental illness into the plot in such a way that you get the feeling how family copes with taking care of the person. The things that can go wrong and how it can bring a family closer. The writer describes Helen as a normal person with some flaws and explains that this could happen to anyone. The book is worth reading to get some kind of understanding about mental illness.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Ibrifex publishers for an advance copy of this book.
This book ties mental illness into the plot in such a way that you get the feeling how family copes with taking care of the person. The things that can go wrong and how it can bring a family closer. The writer describes Helen as a normal person with some flaws and explains that this could happen to anyone. The book is worth reading to get some kind of understanding about mental illness.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Ibrifex publishers for an advance copy of this book.
March 20, 2017
This is a fascinating murder mystery and is sold with the tag line that is the first in the Las Vegas Mystery series which pleases me no end.
We start off a little awkwardly by viewing the world through the eyes of Helen, named after Helen of Troy. It is so confusing at the start until you understand that the person she is having a conversation with is her dead husband Bobby. Then we are confronted with a pet dropping a gift of love at Helens feet – a severed finger complete with French manicure. Turns out that Bebe, her next door neighbour / prostitute has been brutally murdered and Helen appears to be the only witness. Helens sister Pat (named Cleopatra after another renowned beauty in history) arrives in Las Vegas via Arizona to try and help the police to get Helen to talk. Which proves to be a challenge as Helen is living in a world of her own.
The course of the book takes place over several days. Helen is a filthy recluse and a hoarder and has actual conversations with her husband which tends to throw people for a loop. Pat is the sister who feels that she abandoned her sister when things really started to go badly for her. She couldn’t cope with her sister’s mental breakdown and feels a great deal of guilt for it and wants to do the right thing by her. But the underlying question is, despite her mental instability, is Helen a murderer? There are other players in this story, such as Pat’s two teenage sons who get up to their fair share of mischief in the city of sin and the smart detective who manages to keep all the strings to this mystery in hand as they untangle and it ends with a satisfying crescendo.
I loved the pacing of this book. There were no dead pockets of story that felt like filler. The characters are relatable and sympathetic and personally likable although at the start when Helen is at her sickest she is not so visibly attractive. The story unravels until the end all and the time I was wondering the significance of the title which reveals itself at the very end – and it’s worth waiting for.
A great cosy thriller. It’s a wonderful way to spend a day.
We start off a little awkwardly by viewing the world through the eyes of Helen, named after Helen of Troy. It is so confusing at the start until you understand that the person she is having a conversation with is her dead husband Bobby. Then we are confronted with a pet dropping a gift of love at Helens feet – a severed finger complete with French manicure. Turns out that Bebe, her next door neighbour / prostitute has been brutally murdered and Helen appears to be the only witness. Helens sister Pat (named Cleopatra after another renowned beauty in history) arrives in Las Vegas via Arizona to try and help the police to get Helen to talk. Which proves to be a challenge as Helen is living in a world of her own.
The course of the book takes place over several days. Helen is a filthy recluse and a hoarder and has actual conversations with her husband which tends to throw people for a loop. Pat is the sister who feels that she abandoned her sister when things really started to go badly for her. She couldn’t cope with her sister’s mental breakdown and feels a great deal of guilt for it and wants to do the right thing by her. But the underlying question is, despite her mental instability, is Helen a murderer? There are other players in this story, such as Pat’s two teenage sons who get up to their fair share of mischief in the city of sin and the smart detective who manages to keep all the strings to this mystery in hand as they untangle and it ends with a satisfying crescendo.
I loved the pacing of this book. There were no dead pockets of story that felt like filler. The characters are relatable and sympathetic and personally likable although at the start when Helen is at her sickest she is not so visibly attractive. The story unravels until the end all and the time I was wondering the significance of the title which reveals itself at the very end – and it’s worth waiting for.
A great cosy thriller. It’s a wonderful way to spend a day.
August 2, 2017
A Justified Bitch is a light-hearted murder mystery and family relationship drama, and is easy-to-read and quite goofy. It is actually a bit outside the type of book that I normally read and feels like it is more on the "chick-lit" side than the gritty side of the mystery world. Nevertheless, the author knows how to spin a fairly good yarn and much of it makes for a compelling read. I think that the novel is at its best when it gives Helen's point of view. Helen is a hoarder extraordinaire with all the junk and many cats and who has a running dialogue with her dead husband, Bobby, as if he were sitting on her shoulder. The confusion and distraction and misunderstandings that flow from Helen's mental difficulties, especially her talking to her late husband, make this story. The murder and family drama are a bit secondary.
September 11, 2018
I liked the characters--particularly Helen--a lot. It was a unique blend of supernatural and mystery and family dysfunction, the latter particularly being where the novel shone. It felt to me like the "mystery" got pushed to the side until the last 50 or so pages and even then, the resolution was a little ho hum. But I did enjoy the ride with Helen and Cleo and the supporting cast.
May 8, 2017
Helen, an eccentric woman living in her squalid house in a seedy area of Las Vegas with many cats, is still talking to her dead husband Bobby, who died years ago in a hiking accident. A former English teacher, her current living is made by selling goods at a weekly market. Her house is filled with filthy garbage and her personal hygiene non existent. When one of her cats brings home a severed finger, the police appear to find the dismembered body of her prostitute neighbor and believe Helen may know something and take her into custody, both to question her and protect her. Because of her mental instability, she doesn't offer any coherent answers and they phone her sister Pat for help. Pat and her 2 teenage sons book into Caesar's and much mayhem ensues. Helen is taken to a mental institution, which she manages to escape from, to return to her stall at the weekly sales market, now efficiently being run by her nephew. When her psychiatrist is found murdered, she becomes the suspect in both murders.
This was a fun read, a little uneven at times, but the start of what promises to be a good series. It reminded me a bit of Janet Evanovich's books, which are highly enjoyable.
Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.
This was a fun read, a little uneven at times, but the start of what promises to be a good series. It reminded me a bit of Janet Evanovich's books, which are highly enjoyable.
Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.
June 7, 2017
A Justified Bitch
Meet Helen Taylor aka the cat lady one day while sitting on the porch one of her many cats delivers a severed finger it's from Bebe a neighbour once beautiful but who has let drugs take over her life now she will do anything for her next fix including prostitution phone sex among other things.
When police visit Helen to see if she witnessed anything they discover the severed finger which make them wonder if she is involved in the brutal murder of her neighbour. Helen lost her husband Bobby 10 years earlier in a climbing accident not that she seems to notice Bobby is not real and only in her imagination.
Introducing Bobby to policeman she tells him she cant remember there seems to be something but she just can't figure it out the police decide to take her to jail not sure if she's a suspect or a witness. It's while she's in jail She meets 2 bright and bubbly hairdressers Rasheeda and Hope with their bright clothes they soon rub off on Helen and they become firm friends.
Helen and Bobbys lives revolve around the weekend swap meet a couple of friends Pat and Dan help her load her truck and set up her pitch.
Cleo or Pat as she's now known Helen's sister comes from Phoenix with her 2 teenage boys. While Jordon falls in love with his aunt Helen and wants to help at the swap meet Marc keeps his distance.
Pat persuades Helen to go in to a care facility when she escapes there is another murder?
A Justified Bitch is a story of Mental Health illness, love, loyalty and family.
I have never read anything like this book it was truly amazing at times I laughed so much tears were running down my cheeks.
Only problem is how do you follow that H G McKinnis I for one can't wait.
Meet Helen Taylor aka the cat lady one day while sitting on the porch one of her many cats delivers a severed finger it's from Bebe a neighbour once beautiful but who has let drugs take over her life now she will do anything for her next fix including prostitution phone sex among other things.
When police visit Helen to see if she witnessed anything they discover the severed finger which make them wonder if she is involved in the brutal murder of her neighbour. Helen lost her husband Bobby 10 years earlier in a climbing accident not that she seems to notice Bobby is not real and only in her imagination.
Introducing Bobby to policeman she tells him she cant remember there seems to be something but she just can't figure it out the police decide to take her to jail not sure if she's a suspect or a witness. It's while she's in jail She meets 2 bright and bubbly hairdressers Rasheeda and Hope with their bright clothes they soon rub off on Helen and they become firm friends.
Helen and Bobbys lives revolve around the weekend swap meet a couple of friends Pat and Dan help her load her truck and set up her pitch.
Cleo or Pat as she's now known Helen's sister comes from Phoenix with her 2 teenage boys. While Jordon falls in love with his aunt Helen and wants to help at the swap meet Marc keeps his distance.
Pat persuades Helen to go in to a care facility when she escapes there is another murder?
A Justified Bitch is a story of Mental Health illness, love, loyalty and family.
I have never read anything like this book it was truly amazing at times I laughed so much tears were running down my cheeks.
Only problem is how do you follow that H G McKinnis I for one can't wait.
October 9, 2017
Very entertaining fun read - highly recommend! I can't wait to see what the next books in the Las Vegas Mystery series are about!
The book starts out with the gruesome murder of a Las Vegas former call girl who lived next door to Helen, a middle aged woman suffering from an undiagnosed mental illness that stemmed from the loss of her husband Bobby.
When a severed finger arrives on her doorstep Helen is thrown into the middle of a murder investigation and suddenly her whole life is being examined.
She spends her days with her ever growing population of cats, talking to her dead husband, and hoarding things. The detective in charge of the case is convinced Helen knows something, but Helen can't remember what she saw!
The police fear she is the only witness so she is taken into custody so they can get her to get some medical help and to keep her safe whilst they try to figure out who butchered her neighbour.
After the detective and psychiatric doctor evaluate her, her sister, Pat Henderson, drives up from Phoenix with teenaged sons in tow to care for Helen and help the police.
Pat hasn’t seen her sister in years and is shocked at how bad her life has become since Bobby’s death ten years ago, the conditions Helen has been living in and she feels like she owes it to her sister to stay and help take care of her.
As the police delve deeper into the murder, they start to wonder if the reason Helen isn’t saying anything is because, not only did she see what happened, but she was involved so the underlying question is, despite her mental instability, is Helen a murderer?
The story revolves around both a detective mystery and a mental institution which gives it a nice change of pace having the story split between different settings and themes.
The look into mental illness shows not just what Helen is going through, but how it affects her family, friends, the medical profession and the community. I thoroughly enjoyed the narrative of their family relationships, estranged and renewed, as well as Helen's own narrative through mental illness.
This was a fun easy read with a bit of a mystery at its core, better than i expected which is always a win for books that exceed expectations.
The book starts out with the gruesome murder of a Las Vegas former call girl who lived next door to Helen, a middle aged woman suffering from an undiagnosed mental illness that stemmed from the loss of her husband Bobby.
When a severed finger arrives on her doorstep Helen is thrown into the middle of a murder investigation and suddenly her whole life is being examined.
She spends her days with her ever growing population of cats, talking to her dead husband, and hoarding things. The detective in charge of the case is convinced Helen knows something, but Helen can't remember what she saw!
The police fear she is the only witness so she is taken into custody so they can get her to get some medical help and to keep her safe whilst they try to figure out who butchered her neighbour.
After the detective and psychiatric doctor evaluate her, her sister, Pat Henderson, drives up from Phoenix with teenaged sons in tow to care for Helen and help the police.
Pat hasn’t seen her sister in years and is shocked at how bad her life has become since Bobby’s death ten years ago, the conditions Helen has been living in and she feels like she owes it to her sister to stay and help take care of her.
As the police delve deeper into the murder, they start to wonder if the reason Helen isn’t saying anything is because, not only did she see what happened, but she was involved so the underlying question is, despite her mental instability, is Helen a murderer?
The story revolves around both a detective mystery and a mental institution which gives it a nice change of pace having the story split between different settings and themes.
The look into mental illness shows not just what Helen is going through, but how it affects her family, friends, the medical profession and the community. I thoroughly enjoyed the narrative of their family relationships, estranged and renewed, as well as Helen's own narrative through mental illness.
This was a fun easy read with a bit of a mystery at its core, better than i expected which is always a win for books that exceed expectations.
October 26, 2017
Reviewed by Anna Riley for Reader Views (10/17)
As in the words of the Talking Heads, “Psycho killer, Qu’est-ce que c’est?” author H.G. McKinnis captures readers in her debut novel, “A Justified Bitch” with quirky Helen Taylor. Helen speaks to her dead husband, has lots of cats, and sells “antiques” at a jockey lot, looking like a straight-out demented serial killer. When murder erupts in Helen’s sordid neighborhood the only question is did she do it?
McKinnis does a clever job of combing wit, suspense, charm, and family trials delivering a fast paced read with heart. Readers follow along like a fly on the wall as Helen, Cleo, and Detective Madison deal with obstacles as they occur after one of crazy Helen’s cats brings her neighbors severed finger to her doorstep. The whole book is a thrill ride that will tug at your heart strings. The entire time I felt entranced with Helen’s wit and ease of being completely comfortable with talking to her dead husband on the streets, and with those she met. Even more so I loved how her new friends played along like they could see him as well. Who knows maybe Bobby was really there?
I also loved how Helen viewed people, for instance, “her new friend who looked like a green M&M.” Every character has depth and personality, even the minor characters in the book, which causes readers to become attached to each one. I was guessing till the end whether or not Helen did it, and she was as well!
“A Justified Bitch” by H.G. McKinnis is great for teens, adults, and anyone who wants a great read on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It’s also great for those who love to solve the mystery before the book ends. It took a different twist than I expected, so good luck to you sleuths out there! I also learned a new perspective on mental health in this book. Crazy isn’t always as it seems. I really enjoyed this story and would love to hear from Helen and her family again, and see where their life has taken them.
As in the words of the Talking Heads, “Psycho killer, Qu’est-ce que c’est?” author H.G. McKinnis captures readers in her debut novel, “A Justified Bitch” with quirky Helen Taylor. Helen speaks to her dead husband, has lots of cats, and sells “antiques” at a jockey lot, looking like a straight-out demented serial killer. When murder erupts in Helen’s sordid neighborhood the only question is did she do it?
McKinnis does a clever job of combing wit, suspense, charm, and family trials delivering a fast paced read with heart. Readers follow along like a fly on the wall as Helen, Cleo, and Detective Madison deal with obstacles as they occur after one of crazy Helen’s cats brings her neighbors severed finger to her doorstep. The whole book is a thrill ride that will tug at your heart strings. The entire time I felt entranced with Helen’s wit and ease of being completely comfortable with talking to her dead husband on the streets, and with those she met. Even more so I loved how her new friends played along like they could see him as well. Who knows maybe Bobby was really there?
I also loved how Helen viewed people, for instance, “her new friend who looked like a green M&M.” Every character has depth and personality, even the minor characters in the book, which causes readers to become attached to each one. I was guessing till the end whether or not Helen did it, and she was as well!
“A Justified Bitch” by H.G. McKinnis is great for teens, adults, and anyone who wants a great read on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It’s also great for those who love to solve the mystery before the book ends. It took a different twist than I expected, so good luck to you sleuths out there! I also learned a new perspective on mental health in this book. Crazy isn’t always as it seems. I really enjoyed this story and would love to hear from Helen and her family again, and see where their life has taken them.
July 28, 2017
Some days can turn into a real nightmare, especially when your neighbor is dismembered more or less under your eyes. Of course, it's difficult to sort things out when you talk with your dead husband, have way too many cats, and a hoarding problem.
Helen Taylor is Det. Jake Madison's closest thing to a witness, but hardly a reliable one. She exists mostly in a dream world. Bebe, the victim, was extraordinary too - a whore past her prime, gardener, whose new profession provided phone sex.
Pat Henderson, Helen's sister, drives up from Phoenix with teenaged sons in tow to care for Helen and help the police. A complicated history and family life already have Pat at DefCon 3; Helen's disappearances and reappearances, almost put her over the edge. An urban cowboy detective, a swap meet business, flashy gay hairdressers, and another horrific murder move the story along.
If you like good characters, an interesting mystery, and the loyalty and conflicts of siblings, you'll enjoy A Justified Bitch. The title is accurate but does not indicate language issues for readers who don't enjoy coarse language. Recommended.
Readalikes/Similar Authors:
Sue Ann Jaffarian – Ghost of a Gamble; Dorothy Howell – Tote Bags and Toe Tags; Carole Nelson Douglas – Cat in a Jeweled Jumpsuit; Deborah Coonts – Wanna Get Lucky?; Suzette A. Hill – A Load of Old Bones; Charlotte Hughes – What Looks Like Crazy; Marne David Kellogg – Lilly Bennet mysteries;
Charlaine Harris All the Little Liars and Lily Bard series; Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum mysteries.
Review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Pace: fast
Characters: quirky
Story: character-based; outstanding secondary characters
Language: engaging
Tone: Upbeat; suspenseful
Frame: Las Vegas; contemporary
Helen Taylor is Det. Jake Madison's closest thing to a witness, but hardly a reliable one. She exists mostly in a dream world. Bebe, the victim, was extraordinary too - a whore past her prime, gardener, whose new profession provided phone sex.
Pat Henderson, Helen's sister, drives up from Phoenix with teenaged sons in tow to care for Helen and help the police. A complicated history and family life already have Pat at DefCon 3; Helen's disappearances and reappearances, almost put her over the edge. An urban cowboy detective, a swap meet business, flashy gay hairdressers, and another horrific murder move the story along.
If you like good characters, an interesting mystery, and the loyalty and conflicts of siblings, you'll enjoy A Justified Bitch. The title is accurate but does not indicate language issues for readers who don't enjoy coarse language. Recommended.
Readalikes/Similar Authors:
Sue Ann Jaffarian – Ghost of a Gamble; Dorothy Howell – Tote Bags and Toe Tags; Carole Nelson Douglas – Cat in a Jeweled Jumpsuit; Deborah Coonts – Wanna Get Lucky?; Suzette A. Hill – A Load of Old Bones; Charlotte Hughes – What Looks Like Crazy; Marne David Kellogg – Lilly Bennet mysteries;
Charlaine Harris All the Little Liars and Lily Bard series; Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum mysteries.
Review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Pace: fast
Characters: quirky
Story: character-based; outstanding secondary characters
Language: engaging
Tone: Upbeat; suspenseful
Frame: Las Vegas; contemporary
February 5, 2017
This is the My first book review for Netgalley. I was a little worried on which one to pick, but when i seen "Bitch" in the title, I thought "That has to be the one"!! How could that not catch your eye, right?!
This book was refreshingly different than most books i have read lately! It's not the serious action packed thriller mystery you might be expecting. I was actually relieved when it turned out to be funny! It was almost like Okay i can take a breath, relax, and just enjoy the book.
The first half of the book is hilarious, an eccentric hoarding cat lady is not quite sure if she witnessed the hooker's next door murder or not. She's not stupid she remembers things, but sometimes She doesn't remember what she remembers! Between laughing about the flirty cop, her jealous dead husband & the night she spent in jail, somehow you get drawn into this deeper heartfelt story where you can always count on Family to be there when you need them! Surprisingly enough it's actually the teenage boys that pull you in and make you want to understand more about Helen, her condition, and the crazy roller coaster ride that is her life.
This book gives you all the feels a great book should dish out, from laughing one minute, shedding a few tears the next (Darn you Marc and that picture box!), joy when you see everything coming together to get Helen into her home, and of course the best part of all, the mystery and suspense of figuring out who the killer is!
Will you know who it is before it's over? Only one way to find out!!
This book was refreshingly different than most books i have read lately! It's not the serious action packed thriller mystery you might be expecting. I was actually relieved when it turned out to be funny! It was almost like Okay i can take a breath, relax, and just enjoy the book.
The first half of the book is hilarious, an eccentric hoarding cat lady is not quite sure if she witnessed the hooker's next door murder or not. She's not stupid she remembers things, but sometimes She doesn't remember what she remembers! Between laughing about the flirty cop, her jealous dead husband & the night she spent in jail, somehow you get drawn into this deeper heartfelt story where you can always count on Family to be there when you need them! Surprisingly enough it's actually the teenage boys that pull you in and make you want to understand more about Helen, her condition, and the crazy roller coaster ride that is her life.
This book gives you all the feels a great book should dish out, from laughing one minute, shedding a few tears the next (Darn you Marc and that picture box!), joy when you see everything coming together to get Helen into her home, and of course the best part of all, the mystery and suspense of figuring out who the killer is!
Will you know who it is before it's over? Only one way to find out!!
July 24, 2017
I agree with some reviewers not to judge this book by it's cover, title, or even its first chapter. At first I was like "what is going on with this Helen girl" and was somewhat rolling my eyes. Then I started reading more and got hooked when her sister, Pat/Cleo, was introduced.
This book was a very interesting and fast read for me. VERY unexpected, but I really enjoyed it. I read this on a Saturday/Sunday and just flew through the book 100 pages at a time.
This story revolves around both a detective mystery and a mental institution. It was a nice change of pace when the story split between different settings and themes (though all very intertwined and not random). I was hooked and wanted to learn more about what happened, what would come of Helen, and how the entire plot would play out.
The character development is well done. I felt really tied to most of the main and secondary characters. McKinnis did a great job making you feel connected to them - I felt like I knew them and what they were about.
Very entertaining read - highly recommend! I can't wait to see what the next books in the Las Vegas Mystery series are about!
*Thank you to Netgalley, Imbrifex Books, and Smith Publicity for the ARC, for which I have given an honest and unbiased review*
This book was a very interesting and fast read for me. VERY unexpected, but I really enjoyed it. I read this on a Saturday/Sunday and just flew through the book 100 pages at a time.
This story revolves around both a detective mystery and a mental institution. It was a nice change of pace when the story split between different settings and themes (though all very intertwined and not random). I was hooked and wanted to learn more about what happened, what would come of Helen, and how the entire plot would play out.
The character development is well done. I felt really tied to most of the main and secondary characters. McKinnis did a great job making you feel connected to them - I felt like I knew them and what they were about.
Very entertaining read - highly recommend! I can't wait to see what the next books in the Las Vegas Mystery series are about!
*Thank you to Netgalley, Imbrifex Books, and Smith Publicity for the ARC, for which I have given an honest and unbiased review*
February 6, 2017
This book has all of the elements I love... mystery, insanity, murder, and clever dialogue. Helen sees things but she is not stupid. Helen forgets things but not important things. Helen's infamous hooker neighbor was dismembered and the detective on the case wants to know if she and her deceased husband Bobby saw anything. I loved Helen and her quirky friends and family. I thought the characters all had a great dynamic and likeability to them. The mystery aspect made the story fun, although it was not a thriller page-turner it had an element of surprise and the characters won me over so efficiently I had an incredibly hard time putting the book down so I read it in 3 sittings. I would gladly read any other arcs by H.G. McKinnis!
I was not sure how the cover actually fit in with the story. I would love some enlightenment to this as Helen always appeared to be so dirty... I absolutely love the story but feel it is deserving of a better cover that matches the story. Maybe dirty grubby hands holding the title...
I was not sure how the cover actually fit in with the story. I would love some enlightenment to this as Helen always appeared to be so dirty... I absolutely love the story but feel it is deserving of a better cover that matches the story. Maybe dirty grubby hands holding the title...
October 22, 2017
This story has so many realistic factors to it, you may wonder if it is actually fiction. There is a finger found on the property of a hoarding cat lady. When asked about the finger by the police, Helen, really doesn't seem to make much sense. Alice is constantly talking to Bobby, her dead husband. The police place Helen in a mental facility and call her sister from Phoenix. Pat arrives with her two boys, and try to help the police understand Helen. But Pat and Helen really are not close, so Pat isn't really sure what Helen is talking about. Then Helen leaves the hospital, and another murder is committed. Is Helen a murderer? Can Pat and the police figure out exactly what Helen was talking about and sort out the truth from her imagination? This story is very well written and shows us how people with mental illness think and are looked at by others. It also shows how family members react to members with this problem. A job well done. I received a copy of this book from Net Galley. The review is voluntarily done and of my own opinion.
May 21, 2017
I appreciate the opportunity to read and review a preview copy of this book, courtesy of NetGalley. I enjoyed reading about Helen Andover family and trying to understand how she fit into the mystery of Bebe's murder.
It was sad to read about the estrangement of her sister, Pat & family. Mental illness plagues Helen, and it doesn't help that she lost her husband, Bobby, in a tragic accident. The story tragedies chronicled the tied that bind family, and the complexity of mental illness.
Critical notes: the murder of Dr. Urban was not explained at all. Lots of red herrings, but the real killer was almost instantly obvious. One major issue I hard was with the editing. Like the character Tiny - halfway through the book, he's referred to as Tiny Jackson, but on the very next page, Tiny Davis. That's just sloppy and distracting. Overall, I enjoyed this book. It just needs another critical eye.
It was sad to read about the estrangement of her sister, Pat & family. Mental illness plagues Helen, and it doesn't help that she lost her husband, Bobby, in a tragic accident. The story tragedies chronicled the tied that bind family, and the complexity of mental illness.
Critical notes: the murder of Dr. Urban was not explained at all. Lots of red herrings, but the real killer was almost instantly obvious. One major issue I hard was with the editing. Like the character Tiny - halfway through the book, he's referred to as Tiny Jackson, but on the very next page, Tiny Davis. That's just sloppy and distracting. Overall, I enjoyed this book. It just needs another critical eye.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2017
This is a fascinating murder mystery and is sold with the tag line that is the first in the Las Vegas Mystery series which pleases me no end.
This book was a very interesting and fast read for me. VERY unexpected, but I really enjoyed it.
This is an outstanding story on many levels. It includes a murder mystery, a family reconciled, emergence from grief, and coming of age. The style of writing helps the story along with just the right level of description for the action being portrayed.
I received this book free from the publisher through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This book was a very interesting and fast read for me. VERY unexpected, but I really enjoyed it.
This is an outstanding story on many levels. It includes a murder mystery, a family reconciled, emergence from grief, and coming of age. The style of writing helps the story along with just the right level of description for the action being portrayed.
I received this book free from the publisher through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 18, 2017
This is an outstanding story on many levels. It includes a murder mystery, a family reconciled, emergence from grief, and coming of age. The style of writing helps the story along with just the right level of description for the action being portrayed. Helen is a woman developed in so much depth she is like an old friend or as described "a wacky aunt." The boys are true adolescents, with a developing relationship with their mother. So many wonderful vignettes provide smiles or frowns, but everything truly connects with the reader. This book is worth several reads.
September 2, 2017
I did not know what to expect from this book. It was different. Take one cat lady who talks to her dead husband, a hoarder and assorted other characters and a severed finger. What do you get? A book that is well written, interesting, and gives insight on mental illness. A very engrossing read. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book as well as the paperback copy (from the publisher) in return for my honest review. I look forward to reading more from this author
September 16, 2017
This book had me hooked from page one, I read it straight through. A fast paced realistic murder mystery that gives a unique perspective on mental disorders. When a severed finger arrives on her doorstep Helen is thrown into the middle of a murder investigation and suddenly her whole life is being examined. She spends her days with her ever growing population of cats, talking to her dead husband, and hoarding things. The detective in charge of the case is convinced Helen knows something, but Helen can't remember what she saw...
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