Checking the Traps

Isabel Long #3

by Joan Livingston

A man’s death. His brother’s doubts. Could it be a case of poetic justice? Isabel Long is banged up from her last case with a broken collarbone and her arm in a sling. But that doesn’t stop her from pouring beer at the Rooster Bar or taking her third case with Gary Beaumont, a local drug dealer, who once terrorized her. Gary is convinced his half-brother, Cary Moore, didn’t jump off a bridge known as a suicide spot. Somebody pushed him. Cary was a boozer who drove for a highway crew. But what interests Isabel and her ‘Watson’ — her 93-year-old mother who lives with her — is that the man wrote poetry. The chief suspects are one of Gary’s business associates and a famous poet who plagiarized his half-brother’s poetry for an award-winning book. Yes, he was that good. As a journalist, Isabel did regular meetups with her sources for stories. She called it ‘checking the traps.’ She does the same as a private investigator, and this time, she’ll make sure she doesn’t get caught in one.

Genres: Mystery, Crime

273 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 22, 2019

About the author

Joan Livingston is the author of novels for adults and young readers.

She has completed seven books so far in her mystery series featuring Isabel Long, a longtime journalist who becomes an amateur P.I. They are: Chasing the Case, Redneck's Revenge, Checking the Traps, Killing the Story. Working the Beat, Following the Lead, and Missing the Deadline. Her Hilltown Books include The Sweet Spot, The Sacred Dog, and Northern Comfort.

An award-winning journalist, Joan started as a reporter covering the hilltowns of Western Massachusetts. She was an editor, columnist, and the managing editor of The Taos News, which won numerous state and national awards during her tenure. Her last gig was the Pioneer Valley Editor-in-Chief overseeing the Greenfield Recorder, Daily Hampshire Gazette and Athol Daily News. She's officially done with journalism and concentrating on writing fiction.

After eleven years in Northern New Mexico, Joan returned to rural Western Massachusetts, which is the setting of much of her adult fiction, including the Isabel Long Mystery Series.

Reviews

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mother daughter detective pair was enjoyable. Isabel and her mother investigate a suicide as a bar owner friend of Isabel suspects that it is murder. The twists and turns of the story were enjoyable. The description of the place and Isabel's relationship with her brother was brought out well. Liked it.

[Tasha Mahoney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should begin this review by saying that I initially found myself somewhat confused. This is the third book in the series starring Isabel Long. As the characters were developed in the previous books and their relationships were also, to a point developed I struggled to ‘bond’ with them. Another issue was that Checking The Traps referred to the previous cases. I would advise anyone entering this series to start at the beginning.

Having said that, Joan Livingston does put enough into this story to gleam a little of the history and I still really enjoyed Checking The Traps. I just wish that I had read the previous books prior to this. As the story progressed I got completely immersed in the story. I enjoyed the characters as I got to know them, I wanted to know what had happened to Cary.

Checking The Traps has a little bit of everything. Intrigue, mystery, danger, romance and believable characters. The writing drew me into the mystery and had my brain working overtime – in the best way.

I will definitely read more by Joan Livingston in the future.

[Lel Budge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isabel is still recovering from her ‘accident’, her arms in a sling due to a broken collarbone…..will that stop her…..No is the answer!

Her business partner, is her 93 year old mother, sharp and with a heavy foot in her new red car.

Isabel takes on a new case involving the death of Cary, his brother, Gary Beaumont is the client. He doesn’t believe Cary would have jumped off that cliff !

The case involves a famous poet, a local drug dealer, and of course the well informed ‘Old Farts’.

There’s a bit of humour, tension, and some romance for Isabel and Jack in this clever whodunnit. The characters are realistic and believable, I really liked Isabel’s humour and that she’s no youngster but a mature, feisty and independent woman…… and her mum, Maria, is a sweetheart….a very shrewd lady.

Isabel does get herself into some scrapes again…..and amidst claims of murder, plagiarism, drugs and alcohol problems, she finds the solution in a tension and tears filled ending. Marvellously engaging writing by Joan Livingston….I will be looking for more in the series now!

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for a free copy of the ebook and this is my honest, unbiased review.

[Cheryl M-M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am probably guilty of ageism, but I was highly amused by this crime-fighting sleuth duo. I smirked quite a few times, whilst Ma stood look-out, trespassed or showed people what a lead foot on a gas pedal looks like. It was refreshing to have a main character, who isn’t all nubile, nimble or a femme fatale. Nor a cross between or derivative of Lara Croft, Miss Marple or Catwoman.

Isobel, don’t call me Izzie, Long is just a middle-aged grandmother who has a sidekick not far off from being an entire century-old. Her mother is a nonagenarian, who helps Isobel to solve crimes. As unlikely as this might sound, the two of them make for a very interesting combination.

The other thing that makes this series so appealing, is the small town feel the author has incorporated into the story. In the majority of books this feeling becomes something oppressive, a factor that facilitates crime or fuels the need to escape. In this case it is exactly the opposite. The closeness, the nosiness, the gossip and the way everyone is related to everyone else, actually drives the crime and the story.

In this third book in the series, Isobel is asked by the local drug dealer to find out whether his brother really did commit suicide or did someone help him fall from a great height? She is surprised to find a sensitive, creative soul, who was passionate about his poetry, when she delves into the life of the victim. A soul so easily pained he was perhaps unable to deal with rejection and failure?

I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s a character driven, quaint, funny and just in general a highly entertaining crime read. Livingston doesn’t rely on the usual tropes or stereotypes found in crime fiction. Her main character reflects the women society likes to forget about and shove aside after they have passed a certain age. Kudos to her for reminding us all that age is a number not a rule or restriction, and most of all for bringing the invisible women out of the shadows.
*I received a courtesy copy*

[Heidi Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been looking forward to this book after enjoying the first two in the Isabel Long series. And I think it might just be my favourite so far! I adore Isabel but once again her lead-footed, romance-reading 93-year-old mother stole the show - Ma is simply brilliant! The mystery is well woven and the clues are kept cleverly hidden until the final exciting scenes that had me turning the pages at lightning speed. There's a hint at the end of a fourth book and once again, I can't wait.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Joan Livingston’s writing. Her mysteries are always solid and there is always a bit of humor and wonderful character development involved. Needless to say, any time I see a book with Joan Livingston’s name on it, I’m picking it up.

This can be read as a standalone, however, I’ve read Redneck’s Revenge, and I plan to read Chasing the Case because this series is just so good. It’s your classic whodunit, with incredibly realistic and relatable characters, and twists you don’t see coming. I was fooled until the end.

Isabel is a feisty, mature woman and I absolutely love her. She’s a perfect main character, and I love watching the case unfold from her eyes. Her mother and sidekick, Maria is fantastic as well. I can’t decide which lady is my favorite. It’s definitely a tie.

I highly recommend checking this book out. It’s a fantastic mystery with some humor, a little romance and a whole lot of amazingness. You won’t be disappointed!

*I read this book for a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*

[Megan Mayfair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't get enough of this series! Absolutely adore Isabel Long. She's a fantastic, whip-smart and take-no-nonsense heroine and her sidekick, Ma, makes for one of the best detective duos you are likely to find. These are such refreshing lead characters, and the now regular supporting acts like The Old Farts (the group of senior gents who Isabel seeks local gossip from) continue to add a richness to the setting and Isabel's world. As with Chasing the Case and Redneck's Revenge (Books 1 and 2) in the series, I felt drawn into the crime early and curious about what had happened. There were a lot of interesting possibilities with investigating an apparent suicide and I loved following along with all the clues and Isabel's techniques to find the truth. I find the relationship between Isabel and Jack (not to mention his rival for her affections, Dave) very realistic, engaging and adds to the plot, rather than distracts from the main action. It's really cleverly done. Another brilliant read in a brilliant series and I'm hoping to read many, many more adventures in the Isabel Long Mystery Series.

[Lis Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isabel Long, former local newspaper editor, now beginner P.I., is still recovering from her banged-up arm and ribs from her second case. She's still serving drinks at the Rooster Bar, though, and still interested when Gary Beaumont comes to her, asking her to look into his older brother's apparent suicide, six years ago. Gary has never believed it was suicide, but the authorities didn't take his doubts seriously. Apparently, small-time local drug dealers don't have a lot of pull with the police in small-town western Massachusetts.

What catches the interest of Isabel and her sidekick--her 93-year-old mother, Maria Ferreira--is that drug dealer Gary Beaumont's older half brother, Cary Moore, highway worker, not involved in Gary's business, was a poet.

She starts digging into his background and interests, and what had happened in the period leading up to his apparent leap from the bridge into the river in Titus. Much to her surprise, she finds both evidence that Cary might have been depressed enough to kill himself, but also that someone really did have a motive to kill him, and it relates to his poetry.

What really happened to Cary Moore? You will care, and need to know.

This is a good mystery with a great mix of characters, and local, small-town life in the western Massachusetts hill towns. I frankly get tired of everything being set in Tennessee, or Texas, or Minnesota, with the frequent accompaniment of chest-puffing over these places being Real America--especially the places that were going to war with the USA barely a century and a half ago, and often with explicit put-downs of New England or the northeast generally. Joan Livingston's characters don't find a need to put down any other part of the country while going about their daily lives and the solving of their local crises.

These are interesting characters, not all of them likable, but you do get to see their positive as well as negative traits. Not everyone is complicated, that's not real life any more than everyone being completely simple, but no one is one-dimensional. Isabel, her family, and their neighbors are definitely worth getting to know better.

Recommended.

I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher, and am reviewing it voluntarily.

[Christie72 (Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read!!!! I have read a lot of mysteries, but this one has to be one of my favorites I have read in a while!!! It’s a great mystery with characters I won’t soon forget.

Isabel is one heck of a character. She is older, but the only reason I would know that is when the author describes her...and her older mother and children and grandchildren. She is in better shape than some women half her age. She lives a very full life, and she proves age is just a state of mind. She is sassy, sexy, and independent. The best part is her 93-year-old mother is her partner!!!!!

Now, that you know what great characters are in the pages of the book, the plot is just as good! Gary Beaumont has hired her to look into the death of his half-brother, Cary, six years ago. It was thought to be a suicide, but Gary thinks someone pushed him. This turns to be quite a complicated case with twists and turns I didn’t see coming.

This is a part of the series, and I haven’t read the other books yet I wasn’t lost. I fell in love with the way Livingston writes, and her character development is unreal. If you are looking for a great mystery with quirky, memorable characters, you can’t go wrong with this book!

[Caroline Venables · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.  Although it is third in a series it works well as a stand alone.  It is well written and the story flows well.

Isabel Long is a private investigator and at the beginning of the book she is still suffering from her last case.  She lives with her lively 93 year old mother and they are a part of the community even though they are still classed as 'new comers'.

After her recent successes in cases, a local wants to hire her to enquire about the death of his brother.  Cary, died six years ago after what was widely considered to be a suicide, the brother has other ideas.

Isabel uses her instinct as a former journalist to dig into the death and finds lots of suspects.  Along with her mother, she finds out what really happened to Cary.

[Alfred Nobile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third in a series, Can be read as a standalone. More on the blog tour.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Isabel Long series really hits its stride in book three, Checking the Traps. Looking forward to more adventures with Isabel and her 93-year-old mother/sidekick.

[B.R. Maycock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extreme, extreme apologies to Rachel’s Random Resources, Crooked Cat books and the author, Joan Livingston for the lateness in posting this, but technology-wise I’ve been very much let down today with the internet, OUR ELECTRICITY (yes, seriously!), my phone( charge went), my Kindle (switched off) AND WordPress(prepped post was gone!) too. So with all of these disappearing or losing power at one stage or another, it’s been an interesting day to say the least. Anyhoo, thanks to all three for the book in return for an honest review and thanks so much for having me on the tour!

We are introduced to Isabel, our heroine PI, in a way that had me happy out from the start, with a first person narrative where it seems more like we’re with her and she’s taking us through what’s happening.

‘A broken collarbone and a few badly bruised ribs are souvenirs from my second case, that and the satisfaction I nailed the bastard who ran my car off the road.’

I immediately bookmarked the author’s name to go looking out any previous books. The chapters and quick and named after something to do with what’s happening in that particular chapter, and the book absolutely flew in (it’s less than 250 pages). It is a light read, a crime has taken place, or maybe not-a brother believes his brother didn’t commit suicide 6 years before that and has commissioned Isabel. Isabel is known around the country music playing, jeans and plaid shirt wearing bar The Rooster, which is owned by her boyfriend, as someone who can solve cases. Her side kick is her gung-ho, up for anything mother who helps her and accompanies her throughout. The book is a great blend of vivid characters, dry wit and mystery. It is a slow burner in that Isabel’s romance with Jack and the people she chats to to find out about the death are as imperative to the book as the crime itself. This book was beyond satisfying and I’m looking forward to catching up with Isabel (not Izzie!) and her mother. Very much recommended.

Rating: 4/5

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabel Long was a reporter in the hillside area of Massachusetts until she was fired after a large corporation took over the small paper that she was working at. She is a widowed, mature woman that lives with her mother, works at a local bar, Roosters, at a part-time bar tender.

I love Isabel Long and her mother. They are partners in solving crimes. Most of the crimes they are solving are cold cases. Maria, Isabel’s mother is a 93-year-old woman who has a heavy foot when driving, enjoys reading and has a simple, sensible way of looking at cases when Isabel is trying to figure things out. Isabel’s relationship with Jack may be in trouble in this story when a surprise guest shows up.

I love the characters in this series and way that the story is written is entertaining. Ms. Livingston writes these stories as if Isabel is telling the story herself, and when she mentions someone or something that happened in a previous book in the series, she states, “You know how that turned out.” I love it.

Isabel and Maria are trying to figure out how Gary Beaumont’s older brother Cary Moore, died six years earlier. It was listed as a suicide, but Gary thinks he was pushed. The case will lead Isabel to some interesting discoveries along the way. The suspense and twists in this book were great. Isabel will go through more danger while she is trying to solve this cold case. As usual, she will be in danger from those that she is investigating and that are on her list of suspects.

I give this story a 4.5-star review and highly recommend it to readers that enjoy stories with suspense, twists, crime, and a woman PI who loves being able to snoop. I really like Ms. Livingston’s writing style.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabel is trying to recover from her last case. But the broken collar bone and sling don’t slow her down at the Rooster Bar. Then she is approached by Gary Beaumont, a local drug dealer that she has had dealings with in the past. Gary doesn’t believe that his half-brother, Cary Moore would have committed suicide by jumping off a bridge.

Initially it looks like it was a suicide until Isabel and Maria is that Cary wrote poetry, really good poetry. So good that one of his business associates stole Cary’s work and used it to publish an award winning book. But this is not going to be a case easily solved. Isabel and Maria have their work cut out for them.

I really enjoyed Redneck’s Revenge and when I saw this book on tour I jumped at the chance to catch up with Isabel. This is a great story that quickly drew me in. I really like Isabel, she is a no nonsense person that is determined to find out what really happened to Cary, even if Gary is not that trustworthy as a person. And Maria, what can I say. What a sassy lady!!

I really enjoyed this read and recommend it to anyone that likes mysteries. There were some good twists and turns and I was not expecting the end. This book does build on the last book so I do recommend reading the series in order.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

[Penny Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Isabel Long Series, and what an enjoyable series it is turning out to be. We meet Isabel as she’s recovering from her last case - having an arm in a sling doesn’t stop her from taking on the next job. Ably assisted once more by her nonagenarian mother, Isabel investigates the supposed suicide of Cary Moore. She is employed by his half-brother Gary Beaumont, who doesn’t believe Cary would have thrown himself off a bridge. Isabel soon comes up with a promising list of leads, and with the help of Ma and the ‘Old Farts’, she is soon on the scent.

The story includes some lovely detailed descriptions of Mid-Western town life; one thing I love about this series is the great sense of place. Isabel’s love-life is still a major element, with her relationship with the bar-owning Jack hitting a stumbling block when his ex-wife turns up. There’s nothing like a bit of competition to add to the emotional suspense.

With its quirky characters, red herrings, and pacy plot, Checking the Traps did not disappoint this reader.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabel Long Book 3 - Will there be more?

Third book of the series and although can be read as a stand-alone, it’s helpful to read the first two books for the backstory of some of the characters, as this author doesn’t drone on and on hashing over the previous two books.

Isabel’s love life is tangled up again in this one as it was in the first and I hope there’s a fourth just to tie that all together.

She’s a decent PI in training although it seems at times improbable what she does. But hey, it’s fiction and entertainment.

I’d recommend this book as well as the whole series.

[Joe Vitucci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Former reporter now private investigator Isabel, wearing a sling and still recovering from her previous case, also works as a bartender when she gets a call about taking another case. Some of her sources include the mail lady, the sheriff, the cook at the bar where she works, her current friend, the Bald Old Fart, the Fat Old Fart, the Grumpy Old Fart, etc, your normal run of the mill people from small hill towns. Will she find "who dun it"?
I enjoyed the story. I thought it was real slow at the beginning, so hang in there.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cerebral mystery

This is third book ( preceded by Chasing the Case and Redneck's Revenge) of a series featuring a middle aged PI and her 94 year old mom as sidekick.I zoomed through all three in 4 days because they were fun!I
Non-violent, rural small town venue with lots of gossip. Use of nosing around and using common sense instead of guns and threats.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, the third in the series featuring Isabel Long. Great characters, great storyline. It was as good as ever - and I cannot wait for the next one!
Thank you, Joan Livingston, for a great read.

[Colleen Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read all 3 and enjoyed all 3

Some surprises, but just easy reading, well written stories. I love the character development. I live in a small town of 1000 voters and was able to relate to both the charm and the false sense of security. I'll keep reading, if Joan keeps writing.

[Karen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reporter turned Private Investigator

I liked the story of a former newspaper reporter becoming a private investigator in a small rural town. The fact that her assistant is her 92 year old mother is a nice addition to this story solving the death of a young man.

[Helen Starbuck]

I love this series and I love that Isobel Long, the main character, is a woman of a certain age (LOL mine) who investigates and solves the mysteries and has a little romance along the way. A good read.

[Belinda O'donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Country Life

Excellent series with funny and witty characters interesting cases and surprise endings. Each character has just enough realism to visualize them in the settings with just the right amount of humor and human connection thru their trials living life.

[Barbara George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabel is on the case

These just keep getting better. Can’t wait for #4. Surprise ending to a great whodunnit! Was it nursery or suicide? The suspects rise and fall. Once again amusing characters and portrayal of Massachusetts hill towns.

[Mary Good · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok story. It helped pass the time.