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Jill McLeod California Zephyr Series Books 1-4
ALL FOUR JILL McLEOD CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR MYSTERIES IN A BOX SET.
Zephyrette Jill McLeod is armed with good instincts and her knowledge of human nature, skills that serve her well when murder rides the train.
DEATH RIDES THE ZEPHYR
A COLD-BLOODED KILLER. A COLD, REMOTE CANYON. A MURDERED PASSENGER.
Zephyrette Jill McLeod spends her working days answering questions, taking dinner reservations, or providing first aid. She can usually solve any problem. But she wasn’t counting on a missing passenger—and a body in a sleeper car.
DEATH DEALS A HAND
WHO GETS THE DEAD MAN’S HAND? A HIGH-STAKES POKER GAME. DEATH HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
Zephyrette Jill McLeod is back on the rails, riding the sleek silver streamliner west from Chicago to San Francisco. She can deal with almost anything, from an unexpected reunion with a long-lost relative to a troublesome passenger who likes to play poker—and has a shady past.
THE GHOST IN ROOMETTE FOUR
A GHOST ABOARD THE CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR?
Zephyrette Jill McLeod tells herself that shimmering light couldn’t possibly be a ghost. She doubts the evidence of her own eyes. But she can’t explain it. Does it have something to do with that body Jill found two months ago?
DEATH ABOVE THE LINE
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION—MURDER.
Jill McLeod is playing a Zephyrette in a film noir. Dark conflicts swirl around cast and crew. A studio executive's visit brings hidden emotions boiling into view.
Zephyrette Jill McLeod is armed with good instincts and her knowledge of human nature, skills that serve her well when murder rides the train.
DEATH RIDES THE ZEPHYR
A COLD-BLOODED KILLER. A COLD, REMOTE CANYON. A MURDERED PASSENGER.
Zephyrette Jill McLeod spends her working days answering questions, taking dinner reservations, or providing first aid. She can usually solve any problem. But she wasn’t counting on a missing passenger—and a body in a sleeper car.
DEATH DEALS A HAND
WHO GETS THE DEAD MAN’S HAND? A HIGH-STAKES POKER GAME. DEATH HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
Zephyrette Jill McLeod is back on the rails, riding the sleek silver streamliner west from Chicago to San Francisco. She can deal with almost anything, from an unexpected reunion with a long-lost relative to a troublesome passenger who likes to play poker—and has a shady past.
THE GHOST IN ROOMETTE FOUR
A GHOST ABOARD THE CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR?
Zephyrette Jill McLeod tells herself that shimmering light couldn’t possibly be a ghost. She doubts the evidence of her own eyes. But she can’t explain it. Does it have something to do with that body Jill found two months ago?
DEATH ABOVE THE LINE
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION—MURDER.
Jill McLeod is playing a Zephyrette in a film noir. Dark conflicts swirl around cast and crew. A studio executive's visit brings hidden emotions boiling into view.
ebook
Published March 22, 2022
541 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Janet Dawson
65 books71 followersJanet Dawson is the author of The Sacrificial Daughter, first in a new series featuring geriatric care manager. She has also written thirteen novels featuring Oakland private investigator Jeri Howard. Her first, Kindred Crimes, won the St. Martin's Press/Private Eye Writers of America contest for best first private eye novel. The most recent book in the series is The Devil Close Behind.
Her Jill McLeod historical mystery series features a Zephyrette sleuthing aboard the long-distance train called the California Zephyr in the early 1950s. The first in that series is Death Rides the Zephyr.
In the past, Dawson was a newspaper reporter and a Navy journalist. She has worked in the legal field and on the staff of the University of California Berkeley. She is a long-time member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
Her Jill McLeod historical mystery series features a Zephyrette sleuthing aboard the long-distance train called the California Zephyr in the early 1950s. The first in that series is Death Rides the Zephyr.
In the past, Dawson was a newspaper reporter and a Navy journalist. She has worked in the legal field and on the staff of the University of California Berkeley. She is a long-time member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 29, 2022
Too much exposition
The author obviously did her research and created interesting characters for the books set in the early 1950s.. The novels' plots involved contemporary events ,such as the theft of American A Bomb secrets, glamorous train travel, theft of art during World War II and prejudice against blacks, women and homosexuals.
Since the four novel's are in one set, certain information about characters and sights along the route of the California Zephyr's cross country train route are repeated from one book to the next, like they were copied and pasted several times. Even minor characters are described in detail, even if they play no part in the plot. It seems like Dawson used every bit of Colorado and California history she unearthed. But there are long paragraphs about the California Gold Rush , early women doctors in the West and the history of every whistle stop the train pulls through. which are not germaine to the plot. And every reference to the death of the heroine's fiance in Korea is at "frozen Choisin."
The heroine is plucky and intelligent but she recklessly confronts the murderer alone in every single book. She gets Information on the suspects through personal contacts but never shares it with the police. She also has a knack for overhearing incriminating conversations.
You will enjoy the plots but you probably can skip the titles of every book each character is reading along with other superfluous details. Janet Dawson needs a good editor.
The author obviously did her research and created interesting characters for the books set in the early 1950s.. The novels' plots involved contemporary events ,such as the theft of American A Bomb secrets, glamorous train travel, theft of art during World War II and prejudice against blacks, women and homosexuals.
Since the four novel's are in one set, certain information about characters and sights along the route of the California Zephyr's cross country train route are repeated from one book to the next, like they were copied and pasted several times. Even minor characters are described in detail, even if they play no part in the plot. It seems like Dawson used every bit of Colorado and California history she unearthed. But there are long paragraphs about the California Gold Rush , early women doctors in the West and the history of every whistle stop the train pulls through. which are not germaine to the plot. And every reference to the death of the heroine's fiance in Korea is at "frozen Choisin."
The heroine is plucky and intelligent but she recklessly confronts the murderer alone in every single book. She gets Information on the suspects through personal contacts but never shares it with the police. She also has a knack for overhearing incriminating conversations.
You will enjoy the plots but you probably can skip the titles of every book each character is reading along with other superfluous details. Janet Dawson needs a good editor.
August 18, 2022
I'd previously read Book 3, so when I was able to get 1-4, I jumped on it. I read them all in about three days. Well worth it. If you like Agatha Christie, then you'll be crazy for Janet Dawson. In the very beginning, I was a little put off with so much scene building and the constant descriptions. But it didn't take too long to realize how much research went into these stories. The background info, the geography, and railroad history bring so much realism to the plot, that you feel like you are right there.
Our heroine is a sweetheart. She's smart, articulate, and very logical. It's a wonderful way to spend an afternoon
Our heroine is a sweetheart. She's smart, articulate, and very logical. It's a wonderful way to spend an afternoon
July 30, 2022
Train Riding with Murder
I loved this series. The first two books take place on the California Zephyr. The third gets off the CZ occasionally and gives a look into Jill's home life. The fourth is off the real CZ and in a pretend one for making movies. This series takes you back to a special time and place. Where train travel was a special occasion and you dressed in your best. The murders were interesting and Jill was on the job. I hope there are more books to come.
I loved this series. The first two books take place on the California Zephyr. The third gets off the CZ occasionally and gives a look into Jill's home life. The fourth is off the real CZ and in a pretend one for making movies. This series takes you back to a special time and place. Where train travel was a special occasion and you dressed in your best. The murders were interesting and Jill was on the job. I hope there are more books to come.
February 21, 2023
Historical info is quite enjoyable and informative, but this info is repeated in all books. Very tedious and makes one want to skip any pages with this information if you have already read other books in the series. Way too much detailed information on everything, even when a character walks from place to place. The mystery is the smallest part of the book. Will not finish all the books.
December 28, 2023
I really enjoy Janet Dawson's Jeri Howard mystery series. I only wish her California Zephyr series was as good. She spends too much time on the layout of the train cars and the scenery the riders don't seem to notice much and not enough time developing the mystery plot.
If a reader gets discouraged with these stories, don't give up on Dawson until you've read a few of her Jeri Howard books.
If a reader gets discouraged with these stories, don't give up on Dawson until you've read a few of her Jeri Howard books.
December 13, 2022
Way too much detail! I can appreciate that the author did a lot of research, but I don't need to be informed of Every Little Thing! Just the first chapter was so full of little descriptive detail that it forgot it was telling a story. We want a story with our books!
September 18, 2024
Leisurely, Detailed Stores
These books are about 2/3 travelogue and history, and only 1/3 mystery. That being said, as I love both historical data and travel description, I truly enjoyed the stories. However, reading all four books in sequence means that the reader encounters a good deal of repetition. I chose to skim over much of that.
There is, at times, also too much detail in the simplest actions. (I don't really need to know every move the main character takes while putting together a simple picnic lunch!) Again, I skimmed.
I found very few historical inaccuracies in the books; it's obvious the author did an enormous amount of research. One thing I noted, though, was the mention of colors in a snapshot. In 1953, color photography was almost unheard of except in rare magazine shots. Snapshots were always black and white, and even professional photos were, if in color, hand-tinted. Another example of an anachronism was the phrase, used by one of the characters, of taking their relationship "to the next level". Uh, this is a very 1990s term!
With all that being said, I still enjoyed the books a lot. The mysteries, most being set on the train and one on a movie set, have a very Agatha Christie flavor. The author has a rich understanding of human behavior, and the books are well-written. Jill McLeod is an interesting woman with a great deal of spunk, and the character Tidsy is a delight! Despite their flaws, I enjoyed all four books in the series, although I would recommend to readers that they not read all four in sequence, but break them up by reading other books in between the novels.
These books are about 2/3 travelogue and history, and only 1/3 mystery. That being said, as I love both historical data and travel description, I truly enjoyed the stories. However, reading all four books in sequence means that the reader encounters a good deal of repetition. I chose to skim over much of that.
There is, at times, also too much detail in the simplest actions. (I don't really need to know every move the main character takes while putting together a simple picnic lunch!) Again, I skimmed.
I found very few historical inaccuracies in the books; it's obvious the author did an enormous amount of research. One thing I noted, though, was the mention of colors in a snapshot. In 1953, color photography was almost unheard of except in rare magazine shots. Snapshots were always black and white, and even professional photos were, if in color, hand-tinted. Another example of an anachronism was the phrase, used by one of the characters, of taking their relationship "to the next level". Uh, this is a very 1990s term!
With all that being said, I still enjoyed the books a lot. The mysteries, most being set on the train and one on a movie set, have a very Agatha Christie flavor. The author has a rich understanding of human behavior, and the books are well-written. Jill McLeod is an interesting woman with a great deal of spunk, and the character Tidsy is a delight! Despite their flaws, I enjoyed all four books in the series, although I would recommend to readers that they not read all four in sequence, but break them up by reading other books in between the novels.
Want to read
February 5, 2023FreeBooksy
DEATH RIDES THE ZEPHYR
A COLD-BLOODED KILLER. A COLD, REMOTE CANYON. A MURDERED PASSENGER.
Zephyrette Jill McLeod spends her working days answering questions, taking dinner reservations, or providing first aid. She can usually solve any problem. But she wasn’t counting on a missing passenger—and a body in a sleeper car.
DEATH DEALS A HAND
WHO GETS THE DEAD MAN’S HAND? A HIGH-STAKES POKER GAME. DEATH HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
Zephyrette Jill McLeod is back on the rails, riding the sleek silver streamliner west from Chicago to San Francisco. She can deal with almost anything, from an unexpected reunion with a long-lost relative to a troublesome passenger who likes to play poker—and has a shady past.
THE GHOST IN ROOMETTE FOUR
A GHOST ABOARD THE CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR?
Zephyrette Jill McLeod tells herself that shimmering light couldn’t possibly be a ghost. She doubts the evidence of her own eyes. But she can’t explain it. Does it have something to do with that body Jill found two months ago?
DEATH ABOVE THE LINE
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION—MURDER.
Jill McLeod is playing a Zephyrette in a film noir. Dark conflicts swirl around cast and crew. A studio executive's visit brings hidden emotions boiling into view.
DEATH RIDES THE ZEPHYR
A COLD-BLOODED KILLER. A COLD, REMOTE CANYON. A MURDERED PASSENGER.
Zephyrette Jill McLeod spends her working days answering questions, taking dinner reservations, or providing first aid. She can usually solve any problem. But she wasn’t counting on a missing passenger—and a body in a sleeper car.
DEATH DEALS A HAND
WHO GETS THE DEAD MAN’S HAND? A HIGH-STAKES POKER GAME. DEATH HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
Zephyrette Jill McLeod is back on the rails, riding the sleek silver streamliner west from Chicago to San Francisco. She can deal with almost anything, from an unexpected reunion with a long-lost relative to a troublesome passenger who likes to play poker—and has a shady past.
THE GHOST IN ROOMETTE FOUR
A GHOST ABOARD THE CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR?
Zephyrette Jill McLeod tells herself that shimmering light couldn’t possibly be a ghost. She doubts the evidence of her own eyes. But she can’t explain it. Does it have something to do with that body Jill found two months ago?
DEATH ABOVE THE LINE
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION—MURDER.
Jill McLeod is playing a Zephyrette in a film noir. Dark conflicts swirl around cast and crew. A studio executive's visit brings hidden emotions boiling into view.
March 18, 2023
The storyline is really good and interesting, but there is a lot more detail than we need and as you continue from book to book, it does get a little repetitious. A lot of that may be for anyone who reads these out of order, but I am thankful that by the time book 3 came around, the heroine was off the train more than on it. Jill was smart, but too reckless. She constantly put herself in the path of the murderer with no thought to how she would extricate herself and at times, thanks to others for coming to her rescue and through luck that she manages to get the attention of others to help her. I did like the setting where you do learn a lot of the history of the CZ and its route from CA - Chicago, but because of the "historical" setting and the details provided throughout the route of the train, it reads a little slow. The last 2 books were my favorite with the inclusion of the "ghost" and the Hollywood of the 50s movie and characters.
March 10, 2024
5 stars for amazing micromanaged detailing the history of each little town and mine and mountain on the train ride. And attempting to create the atmosphere for anyone who didn't live through the forgotten Korean war, the Manhattan Project, the Rosenberg trial, I like Ike, Joseph McCarthy's "commie" blacklisting of thousands of artists -- and a taste of the contemporary scene with a list of every singer and current song, and every movie and current actors. Whew! Too early for rock 'n' roll, saddle oxfords and poodle skirts.
That said, it was all pretty boring, hard to find the tiny whodunits in all those long lists of who was on each train and their personal histories. Books 3 and 4 were a little more manageable, but main character Jill had the bad habit of walking right into murder -- I guess she hadn't had the opportunity to watch "Alien," where everyone in the audience yelled, "Don't go in there, stupid!"
That said, it was all pretty boring, hard to find the tiny whodunits in all those long lists of who was on each train and their personal histories. Books 3 and 4 were a little more manageable, but main character Jill had the bad habit of walking right into murder -- I guess she hadn't had the opportunity to watch "Alien," where everyone in the audience yelled, "Don't go in there, stupid!"
June 18, 2023
Good Reading for Railroad Buffs
Great historical research went into these books, telling in detail the story of the actual California Zephyr. The book gives accurate descriptions of all the sights and stops along the route, as well as particulars down to the china and silver patterns in the dining compartment and actual menu items.
Interesting characters, but such minute information such as the brand of coffee and maker of the percolator used in the 1950s, while factually accurate, was referred to so often, I found myself skipping over large sections.
But for a series, there was too much repetition, making it a tedious read.
Great historical research went into these books, telling in detail the story of the actual California Zephyr. The book gives accurate descriptions of all the sights and stops along the route, as well as particulars down to the china and silver patterns in the dining compartment and actual menu items.
Interesting characters, but such minute information such as the brand of coffee and maker of the percolator used in the 1950s, while factually accurate, was referred to so often, I found myself skipping over large sections.
But for a series, there was too much repetition, making it a tedious read.
July 4, 2023
Delightfully different cozy mystery series
Loved the "recent history" of the 1950s, when my parents were young. The train is a fascinating setting, and it was fun to imagine being a Zephyrette. Clean, classic fun. Enjoy!
Loved the "recent history" of the 1950s, when my parents were young. The train is a fascinating setting, and it was fun to imagine being a Zephyrette. Clean, classic fun. Enjoy!
Read
December 24, 2023It was a very enjoyable series. I like the scenic look at what the what you could see from The Zephyr. I like the amount of research that she did so that things were authentic and I like the fact that she had a lot of strong feminine characters
January 4, 2024
lots of details
I can’t imagine the amount of research that went into these books. There were times when reading that I skipped over some of the history and details. I just wanted to get to the story. I did like the stories and would read more of them.
I can’t imagine the amount of research that went into these books. There were times when reading that I skipped over some of the history and details. I just wanted to get to the story. I did like the stories and would read more of them.
April 21, 2024
I loved this series it really brought out what it was like on the train for the employee's and the passengers it was mesmerizing I couldn't put it down I wanted to see what would happen next. it is a really well written mystery train ride.
February 8, 2025
The author obviously did a lot of research on the California Zephyr and wanted to include every factoid she had learned. Peter standard characters and Porter generic dialog, but it was interesting to her an idea of what train travel was like in the golden years.
June 4, 2022
Lovely read and gives the lovely experience of the old rail trips., thanks for a great read
August 12, 2022
Really engaging
Great historical research, excellent detail to engage the visual senses. Well written mysteries. I recommend these books and want more to create as well.
Great historical research, excellent detail to engage the visual senses. Well written mysteries. I recommend these books and want more to create as well.
February 5, 2023
Great series
I enjoyed all the Jill McLoed books. Very well researched with lots of detailed descriptions. The stories kept me reading.
I enjoyed all the Jill McLoed books. Very well researched with lots of detailed descriptions. The stories kept me reading.
March 22, 2023
A great escape
I enjoyed reading this collection. I learned about train and movie history. I would love to ride a train through the Rockies.
I enjoyed reading this collection. I learned about train and movie history. I would love to ride a train through the Rockies.
September 20, 2023
Trains
This book set will keep you engaged and on your toes not to lose your train of thought. Very captivating as you follow the characters.
This book set will keep you engaged and on your toes not to lose your train of thought. Very captivating as you follow the characters.
December 22, 2023
Too Cozy…
Lots of details about the train trips and wardrobe and the duties of a Zephyrette and scenery along the route and…
Lots of details about the train trips and wardrobe and the duties of a Zephyrette and scenery along the route and…
Want to read
March 29, 2024A set of mysteries and fun looks back to the 50's and train travel. Read Kindle book using Alexa audio asset. purchased this set of four edition on December 4, 2023, from Amazon for free. Jill McLeod California Zephyr Series Books 1-4. A mystery and fun look back to the 50's and train travel. Read Kindle book using Alexa audio asset. purchased this edition on December 4, 2023, from Amazon for free. Jill McLeod California Zephyr Series Books 1-4.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews