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Logan & Cafferty #1
A Village Shattered
The Valley Retirement Village is the scene of a serial killer's revenge. Who is alphabetically killing Sew and So Club members, and why? When the newly-elected sheriff botches the investigation, Dana Logan and Sarah Cafferty, widows living in the village, decide to solve the murders themselves. Dana, a mystery novel buff, and Sarah, a private investigator's widow, soon make a sobering they are also on the killer's list. Dana's beautiful daughter Kerrie, a news correspondent, arrives, complicating matters, but she quickly proves her value in the investigation. San Joaquin Valley fog hides the killer as well as hindering the murder case. The plot is sprinkled with romance as well as humor in this first novel of the Logan & Cafferty senior sleuth series.
197 pages, Trade paperback
First published November 21, 2008
About the author
Jean Henry Mead
23 books9 followersAward-winning photojournalist and novelist. Published domestically as well as abroad. Novelist with 22 published books, both fiction and nonficition, including the Logan and Cafferty series, Hamilton Kids' mysteries and Wyoming historical novels. Former news, magazine and small press editor. Latest book, Mystery of the Black Cross.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 6, 2012
The fog of mystery and sharp tang of murder color the pages of Jean Henry Mead’s A Village Shattered. First in her Logan and Cafferty mystery series, I came to it after reading about the characters in other books. I really wanted to know where they came from, and I really enjoyed meeting them in the Village as they solved their first mystery.
The Valley Retirement Village feels pleasingly familiar as the author brings it to life, with fascinating characters, curious inter-relationships, and all the joys of a feisty group of people aging with grace. Dana Logan loves mystery novels and her friend Sarah Cafferty is a private investigator’s widow, so they’re obviously curious when a neighbor is killed. Soon the local gossips, fortune-telling friend, angry drunk, and the daughter recovering from a broken relationship are all involved in the race to find the killer as the body-count rises.
The police seem somewhat inept in this tale, but then again, it’s not a police procedural—more a mystery in the style of those old-fashioned novels where clues and red herrings abound. Of course, there’s nothing old-fashioned here. These feisty ladies are vividly up to date and the haunting San Joaquin fog can’t hold them down any more than a killer can.
The ebook version has some rather sudden and odd transitions between scenes—distracting to this reader, but not enough to stop me enjoying a fun mystery with an excellent cast of odd and intriguing characters.
Disclosure: I found a free ecopy online and was pleased at the chance to meet Logan and Cafferty again.
The Valley Retirement Village feels pleasingly familiar as the author brings it to life, with fascinating characters, curious inter-relationships, and all the joys of a feisty group of people aging with grace. Dana Logan loves mystery novels and her friend Sarah Cafferty is a private investigator’s widow, so they’re obviously curious when a neighbor is killed. Soon the local gossips, fortune-telling friend, angry drunk, and the daughter recovering from a broken relationship are all involved in the race to find the killer as the body-count rises.
The police seem somewhat inept in this tale, but then again, it’s not a police procedural—more a mystery in the style of those old-fashioned novels where clues and red herrings abound. Of course, there’s nothing old-fashioned here. These feisty ladies are vividly up to date and the haunting San Joaquin fog can’t hold them down any more than a killer can.
The ebook version has some rather sudden and odd transitions between scenes—distracting to this reader, but not enough to stop me enjoying a fun mystery with an excellent cast of odd and intriguing characters.
Disclosure: I found a free ecopy online and was pleased at the chance to meet Logan and Cafferty again.
February 21, 2021
I have to wonder if the author is a true blue fan of Agatha Christie? Residents of a retirement village begin getting murdered. At first, the women are members of the Sew and So club (needlework and gossip), and being knocked off alphabetically. Two women, Dana and Sarah, decide they're going to solve the crimes (one being the widow of a PI, the other an fan of mysteries). However, putting themselves in the center of the sheriff's attention zone is only making them look like suspects. Then the murderer goes out of order, so much for following The Alphabet Murders.
However, the author continues introducing new characters, without much background, and it becomes a confusion of who is who, what relationship who has to whom, and trying to keep track of where they are, as the scenes shift rapidly. Too long and drawn out for my tastes, it could have been wrapped up in half the number of chapters.
However, the author continues introducing new characters, without much background, and it becomes a confusion of who is who, what relationship who has to whom, and trying to keep track of where they are, as the scenes shift rapidly. Too long and drawn out for my tastes, it could have been wrapped up in half the number of chapters.
April 4, 2012
A Village Shattered by Jean Henry Mead
Series
e-book on Amazon: $2.99
Print book also available on Amazon
A deranged killer is stalking the retirement center, murdering perfectly innocent ladies of the So and Sew club. First one, then another and another, and the local elected sheriff doesn't seem to be able to do anything to capture the killer. Enter Dana and her friend Sarah. As part of the club and community, they see no other way than to join forces to uncover the killer.
Although this author writes a senior sleuth mystery series, this book is not a cozy with one death and a couple of nice old ladies go looking for the killer. This is a roller coaster ride of cleverly painted characters who alternately amuse us with their silly antics and then get bumped off! And I will never be able to look at the central valley's Tule fog without shuddering… the bad guy was that creepy. I actually lost sleep, reading the last exciting chapters, and couldn't stop until I found out who did it! For that reason alone, this book is a five star read for me.
RP Dahlke
A Dead Red Cadillac: http://amzn.to/x5qSDD
A Dead Red Heart: http://amzn.to/tHsgi4
A Dangerous Harbor: http://amzn.to/uWzIUl
Series
e-book on Amazon: $2.99
Print book also available on Amazon
A deranged killer is stalking the retirement center, murdering perfectly innocent ladies of the So and Sew club. First one, then another and another, and the local elected sheriff doesn't seem to be able to do anything to capture the killer. Enter Dana and her friend Sarah. As part of the club and community, they see no other way than to join forces to uncover the killer.
Although this author writes a senior sleuth mystery series, this book is not a cozy with one death and a couple of nice old ladies go looking for the killer. This is a roller coaster ride of cleverly painted characters who alternately amuse us with their silly antics and then get bumped off! And I will never be able to look at the central valley's Tule fog without shuddering… the bad guy was that creepy. I actually lost sleep, reading the last exciting chapters, and couldn't stop until I found out who did it! For that reason alone, this book is a five star read for me.
RP Dahlke
A Dead Red Cadillac: http://amzn.to/x5qSDD
A Dead Red Heart: http://amzn.to/tHsgi4
A Dangerous Harbor: http://amzn.to/uWzIUl
January 12, 2009
When a well-intentioned sheriff appears unlikely to figure out who's killing Valley Retirement Village residents before they're all dead, Dana and Sarah take matters into their own hands. They have nothing to lose, for they're already on the killer's to-do list as he works his way through the members of the village's Sew and So Club in alphabetical order. It's just a matter of time before they meet the killer face to face as the southern California fog wraps the village in a thick, concealing blanket.
Mead begins this novel at flank speed and never slows down. Everyone's wondering about the motives and whereabouts of everyone else, and the only people who aren't suspects are dead. This novel offers humor, romance, a boat load of red herrings, realistic characters, and two determined amateur sleuths who make one demand of sheriff Walter Grayson: if you can't figure it out, stay out of our way. Mead knows how to tell a story that will keep mystery fans up past their bedtimes with their doors and windows locked.
Mead begins this novel at flank speed and never slows down. Everyone's wondering about the motives and whereabouts of everyone else, and the only people who aren't suspects are dead. This novel offers humor, romance, a boat load of red herrings, realistic characters, and two determined amateur sleuths who make one demand of sheriff Walter Grayson: if you can't figure it out, stay out of our way. Mead knows how to tell a story that will keep mystery fans up past their bedtimes with their doors and windows locked.
April 6, 2009
A Shattered Village,
A Logan & Cafferty Mystery (Book 1)
Written By: Jean Henery Mead
Published By: ePress-Online Inc., 2008, First Edition, 209 pages, paperback
ISBN 978-1934258293
A Shattered Village feels like you are sitting down with a reassuring, old friend; it is one of those books that let you relax into it. The story is only mildly suspenseful until about 3/4’s of the way through when it ramps right up, but the whole story is packed-full of mysteries that lead you further and further away from the answers to these puzzling and disturbing murders of the members of the seniors Sew and So Club. The Author does a brilliant job of creating moods and settings that enhance the story; she is very skilled at creating entertaining and unique characters as well. With a smoothly-flowing plot and some surprising twists, the Author weaves a mystery that...
**Please follow the link to read the whole review:
http://bookreviewsbybobbie.wordpress....
A Logan & Cafferty Mystery (Book 1)
Written By: Jean Henery Mead
Published By: ePress-Online Inc., 2008, First Edition, 209 pages, paperback
ISBN 978-1934258293
A Shattered Village feels like you are sitting down with a reassuring, old friend; it is one of those books that let you relax into it. The story is only mildly suspenseful until about 3/4’s of the way through when it ramps right up, but the whole story is packed-full of mysteries that lead you further and further away from the answers to these puzzling and disturbing murders of the members of the seniors Sew and So Club. The Author does a brilliant job of creating moods and settings that enhance the story; she is very skilled at creating entertaining and unique characters as well. With a smoothly-flowing plot and some surprising twists, the Author weaves a mystery that...
**Please follow the link to read the whole review:
http://bookreviewsbybobbie.wordpress....
February 18, 2012
A Village Shattered by Jean Henry Mead will keep you on your toes from beginning to end. Someone is killing off residents of a retirement village, and it appears they’re being dispensed with alphabetically.
Amateur sleuths Dana Logan and Sarah Cafferty take things into their own hands because in all likelihood, they’re on the list and it won’t be long before their numbers (or letters) are up. Newly appointed Sheriff Grayson doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere in his investigation, and these two women know something has to break soon. Dana’s daughter, Kerri, shows up and adds an extra degree of difficulty to the situation. The twists and turns in this story will keep you guessing until the very end. Who wants the members of the Sew and So Club dead, and what could these seniors have done to deserve this fate?
The characters in this story will endear themselves to you and you may wish you knew them in real life. The story is told with humor and heart, and I highly recommend A Village Shattered. I look forward to the next in this series.
Amateur sleuths Dana Logan and Sarah Cafferty take things into their own hands because in all likelihood, they’re on the list and it won’t be long before their numbers (or letters) are up. Newly appointed Sheriff Grayson doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere in his investigation, and these two women know something has to break soon. Dana’s daughter, Kerri, shows up and adds an extra degree of difficulty to the situation. The twists and turns in this story will keep you guessing until the very end. Who wants the members of the Sew and So Club dead, and what could these seniors have done to deserve this fate?
The characters in this story will endear themselves to you and you may wish you knew them in real life. The story is told with humor and heart, and I highly recommend A Village Shattered. I look forward to the next in this series.
October 1, 2013
I liked this story. It takes place in a retirement village. Everyone seems to be living a happy life. They have a group of ladies that call themselves the "Sew and So Club". Love the name. I think they sew, but most of all just get together. The happy times ended when one of the ladies were murdered. It was Alice. Then Betty was murdered. Someone seemed to be murdering the Sew and So Club members in alphabetical order. Dana was getting close to being the next on the list, so she is bound and determined to solve this mystery. There are several people that could have done it. I tried to solve this myself, before it was revealed in the book. Just could not do it. Although I did have several people that I just know did it, I kept being wrong. Hang in there until the very end, and the person will be revealed. Boy was I surprised!! I know that you will be surprised as well. Enjoy the read.
November 10, 2014
Normally, I prefer to read a mystery series in order but sometimes things don't work out that way. I had read a few books in Jean Henry Mead's Logan and Cafferty series before I realized that I'd missed the first one. I enjoyed those books so much that I had to go back to read "A Village Shattered" and I'm glad I did.
"A Village Shattered" introduces Dana Logan and Sarah Cafferty, two spunky seniors who live in the Valley Retirement Village. Sounds peaceful, doesn't it? And it is until a serial killer begins to murder residents one by one and Dana and Sarah decide to try to find the killer before it's their turn.
"A Village Shattered" introduces Dana Logan and Sarah Cafferty, two spunky seniors who live in the Valley Retirement Village. Sounds peaceful, doesn't it? And it is until a serial killer begins to murder residents one by one and Dana and Sarah decide to try to find the killer before it's their turn.
August 27, 2010
Ms. Mead can write. That is what I learned from this book. I also learned she has a delightful sense of humor and sense of timing.
We are talking about quite the murder mystery. It takes place in a Retirement village and keeps the residents hopping. I had no clue as to the culprit until the ending when it was revealed. When, to my remembrance, you realize the clues had been deftly dropped throughout the chapters.
Excellent book and I'm looking forward to the next in the series which I fortunately already purchased!
We are talking about quite the murder mystery. It takes place in a Retirement village and keeps the residents hopping. I had no clue as to the culprit until the ending when it was revealed. When, to my remembrance, you realize the clues had been deftly dropped throughout the chapters.
Excellent book and I'm looking forward to the next in the series which I fortunately already purchased!
September 1, 2016
While the book had a good plot and kept you guessing as to who done it, I found the chapters a bit choppy. There didn't seem to be a transition from one scene to another, which made me have to re-read sections to see if I missed a page somewhere. There were also a lot of characters to try to follow and no real introduction to them. This is the first book in the series and I am told that they get better, so I am willing to read the second in the series as the first one wasn't totally bad.
April 15, 2012
Found this to be a most interesting mystery. Characters seemed like people you meet in your day to day life. Several unexpected twists which kept me reading with interest. You will enjoy a mystery that could happen in your own neighborhood.
September 23, 2016
Cozy murder mystery with rather two dimensional characters.
August 15, 2014
So stupid and so very loooong.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews