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Anne Marshall Mystery #2
Revenge Served Cold
Kathy Spence awakens in the middle of the night and finds herself in a living nightmare. Her husband has been run down and she is the primary suspect. With an eyewitness to the crime and proof that her car was the murder weapon, it appears to be an open and shut case. Terrified for her future, Kathy turns to amateur sleuth Anne Marshall for help. Believing in Kathy s innocence, Anne launches her own investigation, uncovering proof of a conspiracy that reaches from Kathy s past and threatens her own life. In a race against time, Anne must count on her close friends and even the ghost of her father to help her bring a killer to justice before it s too late
- GenresMystery
287 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2010
15 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Fullerton
5 books2 followersA pseudonym of Jacqueline Fullerton.
Series:
* Anne Marshall Mystery
Series:
* Anne Marshall Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
June 11, 2010
When I first started reading this book, it was extremely fractured. The dialogue and action were broken up. Like this. And I felt disoriented. And sort of fractured myself. There was no flow. The sentence fragments and incomplete thoughts just made me feel lost. Like "What am I reading?". It doesn't flow the way a novel should.
Disclaimer: The above paragraph was written that way on purpose, to sort of give a sense of what I felt when I opened this novel and started reading it.
Thankfully, the rest of the novel flowed more smoothly, although there were still a couple or three spots where I ran into the fragmentation again. It started out as a rather fun type of read, but none of the characters ever fully developed for me. Kathy reads like a selfish neurotic, especially at the fractured beginning of the book. Anne did flesh out more fully, but as I read, I never felt 'pulled in'. The most interesting character in the book for me isn't even alive (Anne's dead father). Even as I got to the last few pages, I never felt that "Oh, my goodness! I wonder how it ends!" feeling.
Here is a synopsis (without spoilers - I hate spoilers).
Kathy Spence is married to Elliott Spence, who teaches law at the university. Both of them were friends of Anne's father, James, who died some months earlier. Anne is working as a court reporter and going to law school at night. Elliott Spence happens to be one of her professors.
Kathy and Elliott went to college with Ross and Alice. Ross used to be Kathy's boyfriend, and they even spoke of marriage. Elliott was a good friend of Ross's in college. Once Kathy met Elliott, she threw Ross over for him. Ross has been harboring a grudge over this ever since. Alice feels unrequited love for Ross and has since their college days.
Ross shows up in the town that Kathy and Elliott now live in. He pays Kathy a visit, and that same night, goes out for drinks with Elliott. He leaves the restaurant, and shortly afterward, Elliott is run down and killed as he leaves.
Shirley, Anne's boss, and also a close friend of Kathy's, asks Anne to see if she can find anything that will help clear her friend of suspicion. Anne's father also wants her to help (with his assistance, of course, even though he's a ghost now). So Anne works her way around town, digging up clues that the police missed and getting herself into troublesome spots as she does so.
I read some other reviews prior to actually having a chance to open and read this book myself. As a consequence, I found myself totally looking forward to it. After I read it, I went to Amazon and read all of the reviews there. This appears to be a book that's either totally loved by the reader or not liked very well at all.
Unfortunately, I probably fall into the latter category. For me, this is a mystery without a mystery. I would classify it as "truly light summer beach reading".
The Amazon reviews are a pretty equal mix. so I would suggest that if you like light reading, you'll probably like this book. If you read "Piercing the Veil", the first book in the series, and liked that one, you will also probably like this book.
Disclaimer: The above paragraph was written that way on purpose, to sort of give a sense of what I felt when I opened this novel and started reading it.
Thankfully, the rest of the novel flowed more smoothly, although there were still a couple or three spots where I ran into the fragmentation again. It started out as a rather fun type of read, but none of the characters ever fully developed for me. Kathy reads like a selfish neurotic, especially at the fractured beginning of the book. Anne did flesh out more fully, but as I read, I never felt 'pulled in'. The most interesting character in the book for me isn't even alive (Anne's dead father). Even as I got to the last few pages, I never felt that "Oh, my goodness! I wonder how it ends!" feeling.
Here is a synopsis (without spoilers - I hate spoilers).
Kathy Spence is married to Elliott Spence, who teaches law at the university. Both of them were friends of Anne's father, James, who died some months earlier. Anne is working as a court reporter and going to law school at night. Elliott Spence happens to be one of her professors.
Kathy and Elliott went to college with Ross and Alice. Ross used to be Kathy's boyfriend, and they even spoke of marriage. Elliott was a good friend of Ross's in college. Once Kathy met Elliott, she threw Ross over for him. Ross has been harboring a grudge over this ever since. Alice feels unrequited love for Ross and has since their college days.
Ross shows up in the town that Kathy and Elliott now live in. He pays Kathy a visit, and that same night, goes out for drinks with Elliott. He leaves the restaurant, and shortly afterward, Elliott is run down and killed as he leaves.
Shirley, Anne's boss, and also a close friend of Kathy's, asks Anne to see if she can find anything that will help clear her friend of suspicion. Anne's father also wants her to help (with his assistance, of course, even though he's a ghost now). So Anne works her way around town, digging up clues that the police missed and getting herself into troublesome spots as she does so.
I read some other reviews prior to actually having a chance to open and read this book myself. As a consequence, I found myself totally looking forward to it. After I read it, I went to Amazon and read all of the reviews there. This appears to be a book that's either totally loved by the reader or not liked very well at all.
Unfortunately, I probably fall into the latter category. For me, this is a mystery without a mystery. I would classify it as "truly light summer beach reading".
The Amazon reviews are a pretty equal mix. so I would suggest that if you like light reading, you'll probably like this book. If you read "Piercing the Veil", the first book in the series, and liked that one, you will also probably like this book.
May 25, 2010
Disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided by the Cadence Marketing Group for review. The views expressed here are my honest opinions and were in no way influence by the publisher.
Synopsis via Amazon.com
Kathy Spence awakens in the middle of the night and finds herself in a living nightmare. Her husband has been run down and she is the primary suspect. With an eyewitness to the crime and proof that her car was the murder weapon, it appears to be an open and shut case. Terrified for her future, Kathy turns to amateur sleuth Anne Marshall for help. Believing in Kathy s innocence, Anne launches her own investigation, uncovering proof of a conspiracy that reaches from Kathy s past and threatens her own life. In a race against time, Anne must count on her close friends and even the ghost of her father to help her bring a killer to justice before it s too late.
My review
Jacqui Fullerton is proving herself to be another up and coming author with her second novel Revenge Served Cold. A light murder mystery, the story placed a lot of emphasis on relationships. It was also a bit straight forward but nonetheless enjoyable. I liked the author’s style of writing and how she layered the plot. It’s almost like she’s tempting you to read on and on. I thought that revenge and the different ways that people seek it was a notable theme in the story.
Ann Marshall was one of my favorite characters in the book. She reminded me of old time detectives like Agatha Christie or even Jessica Landry in Murder She Wrote. Anne is a regular person who used her instincts and basic investigative skills and often times, this translated itself into great detective skills. From the onset, I was not convinced that she was the right fit for Kathy’s investigation, even though she had successfully solved a case before. However, in reading through the story you begin to see why she was a right fit for the case. The other characters were also very interesting and I thought that they supported the story well.
What stood out the most in this story was how people never let go of their pasts. I saw this occurring a lot when Anne’s dead father came back as a ghost to help her solve the case. Additionally you saw this theme occurring in the relationships issues between Ross, Alice, Kathy and Elliot.
Of course there were a few points of the story that made me question its realism. For a ghost, Anne father became way too involved and at one point for me, he began to take on almost human characteristics. Also there are times when the story seemed either too cliché or just too predictable. I love mysteries and I read and watch a lot of them and with this story I often found myself predicting what was going to happen next, even before the author revealed anything in the story. Also I am a bit worried about the image that the author created about the police. They seemed really clueless in the story, making mistakes that only an amateur would. In some instances I had no faith in them to solve the case on their own
All and all, Revenge Served Cold will be a good addition to your summer read.
June 11, 2010
A good plot, but the dialogue and description of action are pretty bad. No one would ever speak as these characters do.
April 24, 2020
From reading the back of the book, I was thinking this would be a good mystery. I was so wrong. Usually you wait til the end to find out who the killer was. Not this one. It pretty much tells you right away. I hated half of the characters. Maria is suppose to be a detective but towards the end when shots were fired, she was having flashbacks and was screaming. The police department couldn’t find their way out of a wet paper bag if their life depended on it. All Shane and Maria would say is “what is Anne up to now?” Well, Anne was doing their job. That is what she was up to. Jason wasn’t very protective of Anne like he should have been. I was so disappointed in this book but then again I get what I pay for considering I only paid $.99 for the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2013
This second book by Jackie Fullerton is an enjoyable amateur detective story following Anne Marshall’s attempt to identify a law professor’s killer.
When Professor Elliott Spence is killed in a hit and run, the police seem to be ignoring some vital information. Anne Marshall, a court reporter by day and law student by night, can’t let it pass and soon becomes involved in an investigation that goes way above her head.
Kathy Spence wakes up one night. Having spent the previous evening drinking rather heavily, she can’t remember if she was or wasn’t the one driving the car that ran her husband Elliott Spence over. Unfortunately, it’s her car, and a witness positively identified a blond woman as the driver.
While it appears to be an open and shut case, some details are a little off. Why would Kathy kill her husband when the couple is known to be loving, devoted and extremely happy? None of the usual signs of unhappiness are there. The thought that an innocent woman might go to jail grabs Anne Marshall’s attention. Believing in Kathy’s innocence, she starts her own little investigation into the matter, with a little unorthodox help: her dead father, whose ghost regularly visits her.
Sometimes amusing, mostly intriguing, Revenge Served Cold makes for a good summer read. Apart from the visits from her dearly departed father, the story is actually quite believable. The plot is great, but it has obviously been written by a still new author. For one, her voice seems halting; rather than one fluid story, we are instead served (pun intended) pieces of a story. While most of the story’s pieces are in themselves fluid, indicative of the author’s inherent writing skills, they are not put together in a fluid way.
But just like there are some extremely fluid and well-written parts, others sections of the book are less so. One of the author’s mistakes which made parts of the book hard to read was her use of a long series of short sentences, one after the other, in three to four continuous paragraphs. This made big parts of the book feel very halting because the sentences were so short. It made me out of breath. Consequently the flow of the text was halting.
The plot was extremely interesting, and we do have a good book on our hands. However, there are some more changes that would easily turn Revenge Served Cold into an excellent one. For example, the reader knows so much that halfway through the book, we figured out what happened (even before). The problem is that after this point, it becomes really frustrating to follow the protagonist as she makes mistake after mistake during her investigation, following the wrong leads and seemingly forgetting the conclusions she herself drew a mere couple of pages ago. And don’t get me started on how annoying it becomes to follow the shoddy police work. While police officers are humans and thus make many mistakes, the officers in this book are downright stupid, not following simple leads that anyone who watched enough CSI would think of.
Perhaps if, instead, the main antagonist was more mysterious, a fleeting shadow whose corporeality slowly increases as the story comes along, instead being a full fledged part of the story from the beginning, it would be a major improvement, as we the reader would then also be in the dark, alongside the protagonist, rather than being akin to viewers of a B-movie screaming at the blond chick not to open the door.
I would still give Revenge Served Cold a chance for the simple reason that it makes for a good summer read and because I’m looking forward to seeing where Jackie Fullerton will take her stories as her writing experience increases. Until then, I will continue sniffing the air for the smell of tobacco – a tell-tale sign that Anne’s father’s ghost is around. I have some mysteries I’d like his help to solve.
(First published on Blogcritics and http://saharsreviews.wordpress.com)
When Professor Elliott Spence is killed in a hit and run, the police seem to be ignoring some vital information. Anne Marshall, a court reporter by day and law student by night, can’t let it pass and soon becomes involved in an investigation that goes way above her head.
Kathy Spence wakes up one night. Having spent the previous evening drinking rather heavily, she can’t remember if she was or wasn’t the one driving the car that ran her husband Elliott Spence over. Unfortunately, it’s her car, and a witness positively identified a blond woman as the driver.
While it appears to be an open and shut case, some details are a little off. Why would Kathy kill her husband when the couple is known to be loving, devoted and extremely happy? None of the usual signs of unhappiness are there. The thought that an innocent woman might go to jail grabs Anne Marshall’s attention. Believing in Kathy’s innocence, she starts her own little investigation into the matter, with a little unorthodox help: her dead father, whose ghost regularly visits her.
Sometimes amusing, mostly intriguing, Revenge Served Cold makes for a good summer read. Apart from the visits from her dearly departed father, the story is actually quite believable. The plot is great, but it has obviously been written by a still new author. For one, her voice seems halting; rather than one fluid story, we are instead served (pun intended) pieces of a story. While most of the story’s pieces are in themselves fluid, indicative of the author’s inherent writing skills, they are not put together in a fluid way.
But just like there are some extremely fluid and well-written parts, others sections of the book are less so. One of the author’s mistakes which made parts of the book hard to read was her use of a long series of short sentences, one after the other, in three to four continuous paragraphs. This made big parts of the book feel very halting because the sentences were so short. It made me out of breath. Consequently the flow of the text was halting.
The plot was extremely interesting, and we do have a good book on our hands. However, there are some more changes that would easily turn Revenge Served Cold into an excellent one. For example, the reader knows so much that halfway through the book, we figured out what happened (even before). The problem is that after this point, it becomes really frustrating to follow the protagonist as she makes mistake after mistake during her investigation, following the wrong leads and seemingly forgetting the conclusions she herself drew a mere couple of pages ago. And don’t get me started on how annoying it becomes to follow the shoddy police work. While police officers are humans and thus make many mistakes, the officers in this book are downright stupid, not following simple leads that anyone who watched enough CSI would think of.
Perhaps if, instead, the main antagonist was more mysterious, a fleeting shadow whose corporeality slowly increases as the story comes along, instead being a full fledged part of the story from the beginning, it would be a major improvement, as we the reader would then also be in the dark, alongside the protagonist, rather than being akin to viewers of a B-movie screaming at the blond chick not to open the door.
I would still give Revenge Served Cold a chance for the simple reason that it makes for a good summer read and because I’m looking forward to seeing where Jackie Fullerton will take her stories as her writing experience increases. Until then, I will continue sniffing the air for the smell of tobacco – a tell-tale sign that Anne’s father’s ghost is around. I have some mysteries I’d like his help to solve.
(First published on Blogcritics and http://saharsreviews.wordpress.com)
May 11, 2010
Professor Elliott Spence is a professor of law at their local university. Married to her college sweetheart Kathy. They are still as in love with each other since they started 15 years ago. The only piece that is missing in their relationship is a baby. Something that Kathy knows they'll never have, something that she did 15 years ago that is eating her up inside. This fueled the depression that she is having. The one day she told herself that she will try hard not to think about it anymore, Elliott and her needs a fresh start, and so the next day she decided that she will call one of her friends and see if she can be of any help at her school. This potentially positive day had turn into a nightmare. Ross, Kathy's ex-boyfriend and Elliott's ex-best friend who made it clear that he hated his best friend's betrayal and his ex-girlfriend infidelity when he walked out on them 15 years ago decided to show up at their doorstep with the assumption that Kathy is not happy with Elliott. After a mild altercation and with Ross totally humiliating himself. He left with the ghost of the same hatred and rejection he endured those many years ago but this time instead of staying away he vowed retribution. He then called their other friend Alice, Kathy's college best friend who was in love with Ross since then, she then told Ross of Kathy's secret that involves all four of them. When Kathy woke up from a drunk stupor due to a nasty hand delivered package, she was faced to face with the police delivering a news of her husband's death and guess it was not an ordinary hit and run, it was murder and all evidence was direct to her. But it so happens that Anne Marshall is going to help her clear her name.
Anne Marshall is a law student, amateur detective with lots of interesting friends. She was also Professor Spence's student. Known for sticking her nose where it shouldn't have been, she was soon sucked in kathy Spence's case. There is a help that I was not expecting to be there. A ghost of her dead father, guiding her, assisting her on what questions to ask, where to find people, etc... I was really surprise that there is somewhat a supernatural element involve. It was an added bonus to this unputdownable book. While the mystery of who killed Elliott is not that hard to guess, the characters and how the story ran smoothly was worth the read. Anne is a very likable. The secondary characters which are her friends, boyfriend and dad compliments her character. Is this a series? Because I definitely would love to read more of Anne Marshall's sleuthing adventure with her cohorts.
Anne Marshall is a law student, amateur detective with lots of interesting friends. She was also Professor Spence's student. Known for sticking her nose where it shouldn't have been, she was soon sucked in kathy Spence's case. There is a help that I was not expecting to be there. A ghost of her dead father, guiding her, assisting her on what questions to ask, where to find people, etc... I was really surprise that there is somewhat a supernatural element involve. It was an added bonus to this unputdownable book. While the mystery of who killed Elliott is not that hard to guess, the characters and how the story ran smoothly was worth the read. Anne is a very likable. The secondary characters which are her friends, boyfriend and dad compliments her character. Is this a series? Because I definitely would love to read more of Anne Marshall's sleuthing adventure with her cohorts.
January 16, 2016
Kathy Spence has been extremely depressed, due to an botched abortion in college she is unable to conceive a baby with her husband, the love of her life, and she finds comfort in a bottle or two of wine nightly. She almost drinks herself into a coma after receiving a distressing anonymous package, when she is awakened in the middle of the night by the police who inform her that her beloved husband as been killed by a hit-and run. An eye witness and damage to her vehicle make her the number one suspect.
Terrified, she calls her friend Shirley, who works with Anna Marshall, an amateur sleuth. Shirley asks Anne to help prove that her friend Kathy did not kill her husband. The police think they have an open and shut case, so they are not even investigating, so Anne, her friends, and the ghost of Anne's father waste no time trying to find the real killer.
I may be in the minority here, but I really didn't like this book. To start with I didn't know that this was the second book in a series. The first book in the series was called Piercing The Veil by Jacqueline Fullerton, I probably would have enjoyed this book more if I had read that book first. The are so many references to the previous book in this book, connecting the characters, and explaining the ghost, that I really felt lost at times.
Also "the bad guys" are revealed almost at the start of the book, so there really is no mystery, it is more about Anne rehashing things with her friends and keeping things from the police, the police are made to look like bumbling idiots, when Anne feeds them another elementary clue. The only suspense was near the end of the book, when Anne refuses to listen to her friends and gets caught in the murderers hotel room and is driven off into the woods and chased by the murderer.
The thing I liked best about the book was the ghost, Anne's father, who only she could see and hear, but he smoked a pipe and everyone could smell the tobacco. It added a little humor to the story, things he could do were pretty far-fetched, but it did show the great bond between a father and a daughter.
You may enjoy this story but be sure to read Piercing The Veil first. If we all liked the same thing life would be pretty boring, this story just didn't suit me.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from The Cadence Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 19s 16 CFR, Part 255 : 1CGuides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. 1D
Terrified, she calls her friend Shirley, who works with Anna Marshall, an amateur sleuth. Shirley asks Anne to help prove that her friend Kathy did not kill her husband. The police think they have an open and shut case, so they are not even investigating, so Anne, her friends, and the ghost of Anne's father waste no time trying to find the real killer.
I may be in the minority here, but I really didn't like this book. To start with I didn't know that this was the second book in a series. The first book in the series was called Piercing The Veil by Jacqueline Fullerton, I probably would have enjoyed this book more if I had read that book first. The are so many references to the previous book in this book, connecting the characters, and explaining the ghost, that I really felt lost at times.
Also "the bad guys" are revealed almost at the start of the book, so there really is no mystery, it is more about Anne rehashing things with her friends and keeping things from the police, the police are made to look like bumbling idiots, when Anne feeds them another elementary clue. The only suspense was near the end of the book, when Anne refuses to listen to her friends and gets caught in the murderers hotel room and is driven off into the woods and chased by the murderer.
The thing I liked best about the book was the ghost, Anne's father, who only she could see and hear, but he smoked a pipe and everyone could smell the tobacco. It added a little humor to the story, things he could do were pretty far-fetched, but it did show the great bond between a father and a daughter.
You may enjoy this story but be sure to read Piercing The Veil first. If we all liked the same thing life would be pretty boring, this story just didn't suit me.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from The Cadence Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 19s 16 CFR, Part 255 : 1CGuides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. 1D
August 10, 2016
Many thanks to the folks at The Cadence Group for providing me with Ms. Fullerton's latest thriller, Revenge Served Cold. My thoughts in this book ran the gamut of emotions from the moment I picked it up until I finished the last page.
I will admit that as I worked through the first 40-50 pages, this book read like a soap opera and I began to wonder if I would make it through the story. Then, however, Fullerton starts putting the pieces in place and I was hooked. Yes, we know that Kathy Spence is not the murderer, but we are left guessing as to who it might be--from two possible suspects. I was pretty sure I knew who did it all along and upon reading the inevitable (though relatively minor) "twist" I learned that I was right! Paced rather quickly, Revenge Served Cold is an easy read with just enough pull to keep you turning pages. The writing and dialogues may lack color, but I finished it easily in one morning and it was nice to whip through the pages and forget the outside world for a few hours. I could have done without the ghostly encounters with Anne's father, mainly because she likely wouldn't have been able to solve this mystery without her deceased father's help, and that point bugs me just a bit.
For the most part, though, I was enjoying my escape into this book until the last couple of chapters of the book when our heroine did something so ridiculously reckless and stupid, I found myself annoyed through what was meant to be the most suspenseful part of the book. I just don't see how anyone with half a brain at all would do what Anne did towards the end of the story--particularly upon learning that the case should be wrapped up fairly shortly. I will leave it at that. Sadly, the way things played out with Anne further tainted my feelings on this book, but if you are looking for a tidy little mystery that won't occupy too much of your time, Revenge Served Cold is just the book for you!
I will admit that as I worked through the first 40-50 pages, this book read like a soap opera and I began to wonder if I would make it through the story. Then, however, Fullerton starts putting the pieces in place and I was hooked. Yes, we know that Kathy Spence is not the murderer, but we are left guessing as to who it might be--from two possible suspects. I was pretty sure I knew who did it all along and upon reading the inevitable (though relatively minor) "twist" I learned that I was right! Paced rather quickly, Revenge Served Cold is an easy read with just enough pull to keep you turning pages. The writing and dialogues may lack color, but I finished it easily in one morning and it was nice to whip through the pages and forget the outside world for a few hours. I could have done without the ghostly encounters with Anne's father, mainly because she likely wouldn't have been able to solve this mystery without her deceased father's help, and that point bugs me just a bit.
For the most part, though, I was enjoying my escape into this book until the last couple of chapters of the book when our heroine did something so ridiculously reckless and stupid, I found myself annoyed through what was meant to be the most suspenseful part of the book. I just don't see how anyone with half a brain at all would do what Anne did towards the end of the story--particularly upon learning that the case should be wrapped up fairly shortly. I will leave it at that. Sadly, the way things played out with Anne further tainted my feelings on this book, but if you are looking for a tidy little mystery that won't occupy too much of your time, Revenge Served Cold is just the book for you!
July 26, 2010
Revenge Served Cold by Jackie Fullerton
Published by Thomas House Publishing
ISBN 13: 978-0-9843815-0-0
ISBN 10: 0-9843815-0-3
At the request of The Cadence Group, an ARC PB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
Synopsis (back of book): Kathy Spence awakens in the middle of the night and finds herself in a living nightmare. Her husband has been run down and she is the primary suspect. With an eyewitness to the crime and proof that her car was the murder weapon, it appears to be an open-and-shut case.
Terrified for her future, Kathy turns to amateur sleuth, Anne Marshall, for help. Believing in Kathy's innocence, Anne launches her own investigation, uncovering proof of a conspiracy that reaches from Kathy's past and threatens her own life.
In a race against time, Anne must count on her close friends and even the ghost of her father to help her bring a killer to justice before it's too late.
My Thoughts and Opinion: In my opinion, and my opinion only, this was a light cozy mystery. The story line reminded me of a smaller version of the movie Ghost. At times the suspense grabbed and held me but then at other times it was quite predictable. I thought that the dialogue was simplistic. I also found that the characters were hard to relate to due to the lack of realism, which consisted of the main character, Anne, a court reporter and law student, and the ghost of her father who shows up to help solve a crime. On the same note of being unrealistic, Anne figures out, hunts down the murderer, finds witnesses, and assists the local law enforcement, whereas the police are depicted as incompetent at a basic level. Overall it was an easy read.
My Rating: 2
Published by Thomas House Publishing
ISBN 13: 978-0-9843815-0-0
ISBN 10: 0-9843815-0-3
At the request of The Cadence Group, an ARC PB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
Synopsis (back of book): Kathy Spence awakens in the middle of the night and finds herself in a living nightmare. Her husband has been run down and she is the primary suspect. With an eyewitness to the crime and proof that her car was the murder weapon, it appears to be an open-and-shut case.
Terrified for her future, Kathy turns to amateur sleuth, Anne Marshall, for help. Believing in Kathy's innocence, Anne launches her own investigation, uncovering proof of a conspiracy that reaches from Kathy's past and threatens her own life.
In a race against time, Anne must count on her close friends and even the ghost of her father to help her bring a killer to justice before it's too late.
My Thoughts and Opinion: In my opinion, and my opinion only, this was a light cozy mystery. The story line reminded me of a smaller version of the movie Ghost. At times the suspense grabbed and held me but then at other times it was quite predictable. I thought that the dialogue was simplistic. I also found that the characters were hard to relate to due to the lack of realism, which consisted of the main character, Anne, a court reporter and law student, and the ghost of her father who shows up to help solve a crime. On the same note of being unrealistic, Anne figures out, hunts down the murderer, finds witnesses, and assists the local law enforcement, whereas the police are depicted as incompetent at a basic level. Overall it was an easy read.
My Rating: 2
May 20, 2011
When a law professor is killed while crossing the road it’s not immediately clear if it’s accident or murder, but the police soon seem convinced the professor’s wife might have had motive and opportunity. Law student Anne Marshall’s not so sure, and neither’s her Dad. On realizing said Dad is dead I find myself thinking happily of an old childhood favorite on TV—Randall and Hopkirk (deceased)—and I know I’m in for a fun read.
Revenge Served Cold is Jackie Fullerton’s second mystery starring Anne Marshall (and ghost); there are just enough references to earlier murder and mayhem to intrigue the reader and inspire a search for the first (Piercing the Veil). Ably assisted by her team of fellow students, Anne navigates a complex path between revealing what she knows and keeping her father’s presence secret. Mom understands. Police friend wishes she wouldn’t interfere. Others just beg her to try a bit harder to stay safe. But staying safe isn’t always an option when an innocent woman stands accused.
While much is known right from the start, the author keeps readers guessing about the true motive and true killer till time is running out. It’s not a very complex plot or a deeply plausible one for investigative readers. But the writing’s quick and enjoyable with fun dialog, amusing descriptions, and convincing points of view. The characters inspire sympathy and the plotline does intrigue. All I need is a TV to watch it on. The ensemble cast promises more to come from the series and I really hope the author will oblige with book three sometime. If you’re looking for a beach-read mystery for this summer, this is definitely recommended.
Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy of this book by the Cadence Group in exchange for an honest review.
Revenge Served Cold is Jackie Fullerton’s second mystery starring Anne Marshall (and ghost); there are just enough references to earlier murder and mayhem to intrigue the reader and inspire a search for the first (Piercing the Veil). Ably assisted by her team of fellow students, Anne navigates a complex path between revealing what she knows and keeping her father’s presence secret. Mom understands. Police friend wishes she wouldn’t interfere. Others just beg her to try a bit harder to stay safe. But staying safe isn’t always an option when an innocent woman stands accused.
While much is known right from the start, the author keeps readers guessing about the true motive and true killer till time is running out. It’s not a very complex plot or a deeply plausible one for investigative readers. But the writing’s quick and enjoyable with fun dialog, amusing descriptions, and convincing points of view. The characters inspire sympathy and the plotline does intrigue. All I need is a TV to watch it on. The ensemble cast promises more to come from the series and I really hope the author will oblige with book three sometime. If you’re looking for a beach-read mystery for this summer, this is definitely recommended.
Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy of this book by the Cadence Group in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2010
Kathy Elliott is accused of running down and killing her husband while she was drunk.
Her husband, Elliott, had been at a restaurant with an old college friend, Ross Craig. Now Ross sees that Kathy has been drinking and thinks that it is because she really wanted to be with him. He comes to her home assuming she'll welcome him. When she learns his attentions, she orders him out.
Ross calls Kathy's old college roommate, Alice. Alice really has had a crush on Ross. She informs him the Kathy had gotten pregnant when she and Ross were dating and that she terminated the pregnancy, aborting his child. Now Ross becomes very angry, promising to make Kathy suffer.
The police think they have their suspect and don't continue to search for anyone else. Kathy turns to Anne Marshall for help.
Anne is a court reporter and law student. She is also an amateur sleuth. Her father was a respected attorney who had a heart attack and died two years ago. Now, he returns as a spirit who smells like old pipe tobacco. He is there to help Anne with her investigation and to protect her.
Other authors have used a spriit to help in an investigation, notably Charles Todd, so this idea is not new but it's still enjoyable.
Anne is in a study group at law school and the group seems more than willing to help her in her investigation. She is the star of the novel and reminds me of Evanovich's Stephanit Plumm. She's gutsy, intelligent, persistent and a delight to read.
Since the reader knows that Kathy is not guilty, there are only two possiblities. The author does a good job of keeping the reader guessing who the guilty person may be. A fun read and perfect for the beach.
Her husband, Elliott, had been at a restaurant with an old college friend, Ross Craig. Now Ross sees that Kathy has been drinking and thinks that it is because she really wanted to be with him. He comes to her home assuming she'll welcome him. When she learns his attentions, she orders him out.
Ross calls Kathy's old college roommate, Alice. Alice really has had a crush on Ross. She informs him the Kathy had gotten pregnant when she and Ross were dating and that she terminated the pregnancy, aborting his child. Now Ross becomes very angry, promising to make Kathy suffer.
The police think they have their suspect and don't continue to search for anyone else. Kathy turns to Anne Marshall for help.
Anne is a court reporter and law student. She is also an amateur sleuth. Her father was a respected attorney who had a heart attack and died two years ago. Now, he returns as a spirit who smells like old pipe tobacco. He is there to help Anne with her investigation and to protect her.
Other authors have used a spriit to help in an investigation, notably Charles Todd, so this idea is not new but it's still enjoyable.
Anne is in a study group at law school and the group seems more than willing to help her in her investigation. She is the star of the novel and reminds me of Evanovich's Stephanit Plumm. She's gutsy, intelligent, persistent and a delight to read.
Since the reader knows that Kathy is not guilty, there are only two possiblities. The author does a good job of keeping the reader guessing who the guilty person may be. A fun read and perfect for the beach.
January 7, 2011
Revenge Served Cold is billed as a mystery/suspense book but unfortunately, for me anyway, there was almost no suspense and not much of a mystery. There were two viable suspects introduced in the first couple of chapters and it was so easy to figure out the murderer and the motives. I thought the characters were not fleshed out at all and what was revealed about them was entirely implausible. Do you honestly think the prime suspect's lawyer would have Anne, a law student, look over the case file and ask her if she sees something missing? Not likely! Would police detectives not question the neighbors to see if they saw anything unusual? When Anne brings certain facts to the detectives attention, he has a Homer Simpson moment and asks "why didn't we think of that?" I could almost picture him saying "DUH" as he smacked his forehead.
How could this book be improved? If the author wanted to keep the paranormal and amateur sleuth elements in the story, it would be better to call this a cozy. There is a lot more leeway in the unbelievable in a cozy. Readers almost expect the amateur sleuth to solve the crime but even in a cozy the characters are not so cliched and situations are not quite as contrived.
I could go on and on but I want potential readers to make up their own mind. Maybe other readers won't mind not being able to connect with any of the characters or the very unrealistic dialogue throughout the book but for me these things do matter so the book did not work for me at all. It didn't pull me in at the beginning and it never managed to grab me for the rest of the story. Sorry, but this one gets a 2** It left me with that flat "meh" feeling.
How could this book be improved? If the author wanted to keep the paranormal and amateur sleuth elements in the story, it would be better to call this a cozy. There is a lot more leeway in the unbelievable in a cozy. Readers almost expect the amateur sleuth to solve the crime but even in a cozy the characters are not so cliched and situations are not quite as contrived.
I could go on and on but I want potential readers to make up their own mind. Maybe other readers won't mind not being able to connect with any of the characters or the very unrealistic dialogue throughout the book but for me these things do matter so the book did not work for me at all. It didn't pull me in at the beginning and it never managed to grab me for the rest of the story. Sorry, but this one gets a 2** It left me with that flat "meh" feeling.
April 16, 2014
Synopsis:
Kathy Spence awakens in the middle of the night and finds herself in a living nightmare. Her husband has been run down and she is the primary suspect. Terrified for her future, Kathy turns to amateur sleuth Anne Marshall for help. Anne, with the help of her dearly departed father's ghost, uncovers proof of a conspiracy that reaches from Kathy's past and threatens her own life.
My Take:
This is a fun, quick read. It is reminiscent of Mary Higgins Clark but with more humor and less disturbing mental images. The protagonist is Anne Marshall, a court reporter, who is in the perfect relationship with the perfect man, and has been for 15 years (and they aren't married because....?) and she sees and communicates with her father's ghost which is an interesting and fun twist.
The story and approach is fun, if unbelievable. Not the talking to a ghost part. The fact that a court reporter would be so unaware of the laws that she would gather information and evidence at the risk of becoming a witness against the accused (who talks to her which is WAY against legal advice and turning state's witness). Or even that the prosecutor might be concerned about the guilt or innocence of the accused rather than doing the job he is hired to do. Not to mention the many laws she breaks in order to gather the evidence, making it inadmissible in court.
In the legal sense, the story is definitely a work of fiction. On the other hand, I had no problem putting it down and picking it up again while following the story strands. Perfect beach book that leaves you feeling pretty good.
Kathy Spence awakens in the middle of the night and finds herself in a living nightmare. Her husband has been run down and she is the primary suspect. Terrified for her future, Kathy turns to amateur sleuth Anne Marshall for help. Anne, with the help of her dearly departed father's ghost, uncovers proof of a conspiracy that reaches from Kathy's past and threatens her own life.
My Take:
This is a fun, quick read. It is reminiscent of Mary Higgins Clark but with more humor and less disturbing mental images. The protagonist is Anne Marshall, a court reporter, who is in the perfect relationship with the perfect man, and has been for 15 years (and they aren't married because....?) and she sees and communicates with her father's ghost which is an interesting and fun twist.
The story and approach is fun, if unbelievable. Not the talking to a ghost part. The fact that a court reporter would be so unaware of the laws that she would gather information and evidence at the risk of becoming a witness against the accused (who talks to her which is WAY against legal advice and turning state's witness). Or even that the prosecutor might be concerned about the guilt or innocence of the accused rather than doing the job he is hired to do. Not to mention the many laws she breaks in order to gather the evidence, making it inadmissible in court.
In the legal sense, the story is definitely a work of fiction. On the other hand, I had no problem putting it down and picking it up again while following the story strands. Perfect beach book that leaves you feeling pretty good.
July 10, 2010
Revenge Served Cold by Jackie Fullerton is the follow-up to Piercing the Veil about law student Anne Marshall. Anne has a bit of a secret: her father James' ghost visits her regularly and helped her solve a murder mystery several months ago. Now he's back because a law professor and former friend of hisElliot, was killed in a hit-and-run accident and his wife, Kathy, has been accused of murder. James knows that Kathy is innocent of the crime; the two were deeply in love despite their recent struggles with infertility, so he recruits Anne to help him round up some evidence that will force the police to take another look at the case. Anne, with her law student friends, including police officer Maria, start their own investigation that quickly focuses on Ross, Kathy's former boyfriend whose recent efforts to rekindle their romance left Kathy bruised and Ross enraged and seeking revenge. Fullerton has a talent for creating interesting and believable characters. All of the couples enjoy very healthy (and frequent) sex lives, and Anne's boyfriend Jason is a romantic hero. The dialogue is a bit stilted in spots and could occasionally use some editing. It's James and Anne's relationship at the core of the novel, and their powerful bond easily explains why he came back from the dead to be with her. As Anne works her way through law school, I'm sure she will come across more mysteries, and I look forward to reading them.
May 16, 2010
Anne Marshall is a court reporter and sometimes amateur detective. Anne has a secret weapon and that is her dead father who sometimes rides shotgun and gives her some inside information. Anne has promised that she will not get involved with any investigations since she almost was killed the last time she tried to solve a crime.
Shirley Williams is the court administrator and when Anne finds her crying Shirley tells her of the tragedy that has struck her good friend Kathy Spence. Kathy’s husband Elliott Spence has been killed. Elliott was struck down by a hit and run driver and the police are accusing his wife Kathy of killing him. Anne is very familiar with Elliott Spence. Anne is also attending law school and Spence was one of her professors prior to his recent death.
Shirley explains that Kathy and Elliott had a wonderful marriage and their only problem was the fact that they were unable to have children. Kathy had been in a deep depression over this fact but was attempting to pull herself out of the depression.
When Anne starts checking the facts, she finds that Kathy has had a recent visit from a man in her past and the visit ended very unpleasantly. The more that Anne discovers about Kathy’s out of town visitor the more dangerous life becomes for both Anne and Kathy.
Revenge Served Cold is an interesting mystery. The ghost of Anne’s father adds some humor to the story.
Shirley Williams is the court administrator and when Anne finds her crying Shirley tells her of the tragedy that has struck her good friend Kathy Spence. Kathy’s husband Elliott Spence has been killed. Elliott was struck down by a hit and run driver and the police are accusing his wife Kathy of killing him. Anne is very familiar with Elliott Spence. Anne is also attending law school and Spence was one of her professors prior to his recent death.
Shirley explains that Kathy and Elliott had a wonderful marriage and their only problem was the fact that they were unable to have children. Kathy had been in a deep depression over this fact but was attempting to pull herself out of the depression.
When Anne starts checking the facts, she finds that Kathy has had a recent visit from a man in her past and the visit ended very unpleasantly. The more that Anne discovers about Kathy’s out of town visitor the more dangerous life becomes for both Anne and Kathy.
Revenge Served Cold is an interesting mystery. The ghost of Anne’s father adds some humor to the story.
July 16, 2010
Review (Guest Post by Caleb M.):
Since Kelli doesn’t read ghost stories and Natalie didn’t like the cover... I was designated to give this book a try because I like ghosts, zombies, and really anything scary. I read 100 pages of Revenge Served Cold, along with other random pages (including the ending) and had to stop. The book was... meh, nothing great, and I could barely keep my eyes open while reading it.
What mainly killed this book for me was the main character Anne and her dead father’s ghost who helps her solve criminal cases all while attending law school. The main threat in this book is for a friend of a friend, Kathy who is accused of murdering her husband. It was Kathy’s car that ran down her husband, Elliot, and she needs the help of Anne and her friend Shirley to prove her innocence. Together, Anne and Shirley (also with the help of the awesome ghost dad (who “breathed a sigh”...what???) try to prove Kathy’s innocence. There isn’t really much more I can say about this book. The plot was just too bland and predictable for my liking. From what I read, there wasn’t really anything inappropriate in this book. So it is suitable for younger audiences, if they are wanting a ghostly read. So my rating of the 100 pages that I read was meh, 1 star.
Just One Gripe:
The plot was too bland.
The Best Thing About This Book:
I liked the ghost dad!
Appropriate for a younger audience:
Yes
Score: Did not finish.
Since Kelli doesn’t read ghost stories and Natalie didn’t like the cover... I was designated to give this book a try because I like ghosts, zombies, and really anything scary. I read 100 pages of Revenge Served Cold, along with other random pages (including the ending) and had to stop. The book was... meh, nothing great, and I could barely keep my eyes open while reading it.
What mainly killed this book for me was the main character Anne and her dead father’s ghost who helps her solve criminal cases all while attending law school. The main threat in this book is for a friend of a friend, Kathy who is accused of murdering her husband. It was Kathy’s car that ran down her husband, Elliot, and she needs the help of Anne and her friend Shirley to prove her innocence. Together, Anne and Shirley (also with the help of the awesome ghost dad (who “breathed a sigh”...what???) try to prove Kathy’s innocence. There isn’t really much more I can say about this book. The plot was just too bland and predictable for my liking. From what I read, there wasn’t really anything inappropriate in this book. So it is suitable for younger audiences, if they are wanting a ghostly read. So my rating of the 100 pages that I read was meh, 1 star.
Just One Gripe:
The plot was too bland.
The Best Thing About This Book:
I liked the ghost dad!
Appropriate for a younger audience:
Yes
Score: Did not finish.
August 19, 2015
The story begins with Ross Craig and Professor Elliott Spence meeting at a bar after not seeing each other since Elliott’s marriage to Kathy. They had not seen each other in years. Elliott is not sure what they meeting was about as he leaves the bar and walks across the street and suddenly is run down by a speeding car.
As the story progresses we find out that Kathy, Elliott’s wife had dated Ross in college and there is more to their history. Why has Ross come back into town? What blond haired woman ran Elliott down and killed him? Kathy, who is blond, is a suspect as it was her car that ran him down. She claims she is innocent but she does have some secrets. Alice, another college friend enters the picture but what is her motive?
In steps Anne Marshall, amateur sleuth who thinks that Kathy is innocent and is out to prove it. She does have some supernatural help from her father, her ghostly father that is. With his help, she investigates and finds some things that may just prove that Kathy was innocent however, there are also things going on that could put Kathy is grave danger and Anne for that matter.
There are lots of twists and turns in this suspenseful mystery and you want to keep reading. The duo sleuths, Anne and her ghost father are likeable and I hope Fullerton writes a series about them, as I want to read more.
As the story progresses we find out that Kathy, Elliott’s wife had dated Ross in college and there is more to their history. Why has Ross come back into town? What blond haired woman ran Elliott down and killed him? Kathy, who is blond, is a suspect as it was her car that ran him down. She claims she is innocent but she does have some secrets. Alice, another college friend enters the picture but what is her motive?
In steps Anne Marshall, amateur sleuth who thinks that Kathy is innocent and is out to prove it. She does have some supernatural help from her father, her ghostly father that is. With his help, she investigates and finds some things that may just prove that Kathy was innocent however, there are also things going on that could put Kathy is grave danger and Anne for that matter.
There are lots of twists and turns in this suspenseful mystery and you want to keep reading. The duo sleuths, Anne and her ghost father are likeable and I hope Fullerton writes a series about them, as I want to read more.
June 22, 2011
Revenge Served Cold is a simple murder novel. I know it's supposed to be a murder "mystery" novel, but it was very predictable. With that said, it was still a really good book. Murder mysteries are one of my favorite book genres because I love trying to figure out who the murderer is in the story, but sadly I realized very early on who it was. Anne is a funny and spunky girl who loves to get to the bottom of things and doesn’t take “no” for an answer. I really liked how Anne and her father, even after his death, were still connected in such a strong way. I also enjoyed reading about the crazy, yet hilarious cases that Anne was working on in the court house. I’m sure judges have to hear some of those crazy cases every once in a while.
Elliott Spencer, A law school professor has been run down in the middle of the night and his wife, Kathy Spencer, is being charged for his murder. Anne Marshall, a court reporter by day, law student by night and a part-time self-hired murder investigator is asked by a friend to help uncover who really killed the professor. Anne, who in the beginning was hesitant to get involved, is being driven by her father, a ghost, to seek justice for Kathy. Anne will uncover many secrets, but will she be able to solve the mystery before it’s too late? I guess you will just have to read it and find out!
OUaT Blog: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2011...
Elliott Spencer, A law school professor has been run down in the middle of the night and his wife, Kathy Spencer, is being charged for his murder. Anne Marshall, a court reporter by day, law student by night and a part-time self-hired murder investigator is asked by a friend to help uncover who really killed the professor. Anne, who in the beginning was hesitant to get involved, is being driven by her father, a ghost, to seek justice for Kathy. Anne will uncover many secrets, but will she be able to solve the mystery before it’s too late? I guess you will just have to read it and find out!
OUaT Blog: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2011...
January 27, 2012
Revenge Served Cold is a simple murder novel. I know it's supposed to be a murder "mystery" novel, but it was very predictable. With that said, it was still a really good book. Murder mysteries are one of my favorite book genres because I love trying to figure out who the murderer is in the story, but sadly I realized very early on who it was. Anne is a funny and spunky girl who loves to get to the bottom of things and doesn’t take “no” for an answer. I really liked how Anne and her father, even after his death, were still connected in such a strong way. I also enjoyed reading about the crazy, yet hilarious cases that Anne was working on in the court house. I’m sure judges have to hear some of those crazy cases every once in a while.
Elliott Spencer, A law school professor has been run down in the middle of the night and his wife, Kathy Spencer, is being charged for his murder. Anne Marshall, a court reporter by day, law student by night and a part-time self-hired murder investigator is asked by a friend to help uncover who really killed the professor. Anne, who in the beginning was hesitant to get involved, is being driven by her father, a ghost, to seek justice for Kathy. Anne will uncover many secrets, but will she be able to solve the mystery before it’s too late? I guess you will just have to read it and find out!
review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2011...
Elliott Spencer, A law school professor has been run down in the middle of the night and his wife, Kathy Spencer, is being charged for his murder. Anne Marshall, a court reporter by day, law student by night and a part-time self-hired murder investigator is asked by a friend to help uncover who really killed the professor. Anne, who in the beginning was hesitant to get involved, is being driven by her father, a ghost, to seek justice for Kathy. Anne will uncover many secrets, but will she be able to solve the mystery before it’s too late? I guess you will just have to read it and find out!
review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2011...
June 2, 2013
Roy and Elliott were best friends in college. Roy and Kathy were dating, but on a fluke, Kathy fell in love with Elliott. She broke up with Roy and she and Elliott eventually got married. But before they did, Kathy found out she was pregnant. She terminated the pregnancy, unknown to Roy or Elliott. Now, years later, Kathy can't have a baby and it depresses her so much, she spends much of her time in a drunken haze.
When Roy unexpectedly comes back into town, he wants Kathy back, but she spurns him. He finds out about the baby from Kathy's college best friend and it throws Roy into a rage. He figures the best revenge is served cold, so he calls Elliott up out of the blue for a drink. But when Elliott leaves the bar, he is struck by a car, instantly killing him.
The car and driver are identified as Kathy, but Kathy knows she was passed out drunk at home. A poor alibi and she knows she needs help and she needs it fast. Kathy turns to one of Elliott's law students for help, Anne Marshall. Anne believes in Kathy's innocence and launches her own investigation. But she has to hurry because someone is determined to see Kathy dead.
Revenge Served Cold is a great mystery. I thought I figured it out within the first few chapters, but quickly realized I was wrong. With Anne's father appearing as a ghost to help, and other prominent characters, the pages fly by quickly. Thoroughly enjoyable!
When Roy unexpectedly comes back into town, he wants Kathy back, but she spurns him. He finds out about the baby from Kathy's college best friend and it throws Roy into a rage. He figures the best revenge is served cold, so he calls Elliott up out of the blue for a drink. But when Elliott leaves the bar, he is struck by a car, instantly killing him.
The car and driver are identified as Kathy, but Kathy knows she was passed out drunk at home. A poor alibi and she knows she needs help and she needs it fast. Kathy turns to one of Elliott's law students for help, Anne Marshall. Anne believes in Kathy's innocence and launches her own investigation. But she has to hurry because someone is determined to see Kathy dead.
Revenge Served Cold is a great mystery. I thought I figured it out within the first few chapters, but quickly realized I was wrong. With Anne's father appearing as a ghost to help, and other prominent characters, the pages fly by quickly. Thoroughly enjoyable!
July 16, 2010
I was sent this book free for review and only after beginning it did I realize that this is actually a follow-up book to Piercing the Veil. Reading the first book was not necessary to the storyline of this novel, but maybe it would have added some dimension to the heroine and supporting characters. As it was I felt very detached. Also the first story is referred to often throughout this book.
Everything about this story is far-fetched, from the plot (yes, I realize that most mystery plots fall into this category but this one was over-the-top) to the dialog to the setting. The author's need to continually reiterate events and conversations was distracting. This book also lacked mystery as the conclusion was blatantly obvious from the beginning. The action picked up during the last fifty pages and, though predictable, the climax kept it from flopping altogether.
Bottomline I wasn't impressed with this book but I do know a few people who would enjoy it. It was a simplistic, predictable PG mystery with a touch of humor. If this is your cup of tea I'd suggest picking up the first book before reading this one. Don't let the paranormal situation turn you off as that was one of the few aspects that actually worked well for this book.
My review as posted on readingforsanity.blogspot.com
Everything about this story is far-fetched, from the plot (yes, I realize that most mystery plots fall into this category but this one was over-the-top) to the dialog to the setting. The author's need to continually reiterate events and conversations was distracting. This book also lacked mystery as the conclusion was blatantly obvious from the beginning. The action picked up during the last fifty pages and, though predictable, the climax kept it from flopping altogether.
Bottomline I wasn't impressed with this book but I do know a few people who would enjoy it. It was a simplistic, predictable PG mystery with a touch of humor. If this is your cup of tea I'd suggest picking up the first book before reading this one. Don't let the paranormal situation turn you off as that was one of the few aspects that actually worked well for this book.
My review as posted on readingforsanity.blogspot.com
May 17, 2011
Revenge Served Cold by Jackie Fullerton is a paranormal murder mystery. Kathy Spence's husband was run down and she is the key suspect. Her car was the one used in the murder. Kathy needs help, so she asks Anne Marshall, an amateur detective for help. Anne calls on her study group friends and her father (who is a ghost) to help.
This is the second novel with Anne Marshall and her ghostly father, Piercing the Veil was the first. Although I did not read Piercing the Veil, Revenge Served Cold was easily read as a stand-alone book.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. Ms. Fullerton has an easy writing style to read, but the whole story fell flat for me. There were inconsistencies - Anne hears someone speak behind her, she turns around to see that it's her father (she didn't recognize his voice?), but other times he speaks behind her, she knows immediately who it is.
There were so many characters involved in the mystery and many were not developed as well as I would have liked. I couldn't make a connection to them. Also, since we knew who the "bad guy" was from the beginning, the suspense was diluted for me.
Now, I see that a lot of people enjoyed this book, so go read their reviews and make your own decision on this one!
*Disclaimer: I received this book from Cadence Marketing for free to provide a review.
This is the second novel with Anne Marshall and her ghostly father, Piercing the Veil was the first. Although I did not read Piercing the Veil, Revenge Served Cold was easily read as a stand-alone book.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. Ms. Fullerton has an easy writing style to read, but the whole story fell flat for me. There were inconsistencies - Anne hears someone speak behind her, she turns around to see that it's her father (she didn't recognize his voice?), but other times he speaks behind her, she knows immediately who it is.
There were so many characters involved in the mystery and many were not developed as well as I would have liked. I couldn't make a connection to them. Also, since we knew who the "bad guy" was from the beginning, the suspense was diluted for me.
Now, I see that a lot of people enjoyed this book, so go read their reviews and make your own decision on this one!
*Disclaimer: I received this book from Cadence Marketing for free to provide a review.
May 19, 2010
Jackie Fullerton has written a fun, funny,exciting, mystery in "Revenge Served Cold".
Kathy Spence loves her law professor husband, Elliott. She longs to have his child, but has been unsuccessful in getting pregnant. When a former boyfriend from her college days shows up, demanding she run away with him, the meeting leaves her frightened and bruised. She has been drinking heavily, when the police arrives at her door, informing her that Elliott has been killed by a hit and run driver, and she becomes the chief suspect.
When her friend Shirley asks law student Anne Marshal to look into the murder, the question arises, will Anne be able to solve the case in time?
Along with her study group, and the help of her deceased attorney father, Anne is convinced that Kathy is being framed, but can she prove it without sounding completely nuts?
This was terrific fun, it really set me up and took me for a ride. Now I need to read the first book of the series, "Piercing the Veil".
I hope Jackie Fullerton has many more stories to tell!
I received this book from Rebecca at The Cadence Group, for review. Thanks so much!
Kathy Spence loves her law professor husband, Elliott. She longs to have his child, but has been unsuccessful in getting pregnant. When a former boyfriend from her college days shows up, demanding she run away with him, the meeting leaves her frightened and bruised. She has been drinking heavily, when the police arrives at her door, informing her that Elliott has been killed by a hit and run driver, and she becomes the chief suspect.
When her friend Shirley asks law student Anne Marshal to look into the murder, the question arises, will Anne be able to solve the case in time?
Along with her study group, and the help of her deceased attorney father, Anne is convinced that Kathy is being framed, but can she prove it without sounding completely nuts?
This was terrific fun, it really set me up and took me for a ride. Now I need to read the first book of the series, "Piercing the Veil".
I hope Jackie Fullerton has many more stories to tell!
I received this book from Rebecca at The Cadence Group, for review. Thanks so much!
November 30, 2014
~Revenge Served Cold~
by: Jackie Fullerton
This book was sent to me via the Cadence Group and it's about a murder mystery. When Kathy Spence's husband gets murdered, who's the murderer. Kathy Spence has been hiding some ugly skeleton's in her closet. Mainly her ability not to be able to have children. Meanwhile the love shown between Kathy and Elliot is enough to over come the childless situation. When Elliot is murdered it becomes hard for Kathy's friend Shirley to even comprehend how Kathy can be blamed let alone be the prime suspect in his death. It's up to Anne and her classmates to figure what happened to their beloved Professor Elliot Spence.
This was a great read. It had humorous parts like listening to disputes while Anne makes sense of the real case she is working on. The bond between a father and daughter which can surpass a life and death bond. It kept you wanting to see how things were figured out and if the bad guys were ever going to get caught. And a 15 year old mystery connected the dots. Definitely a great read. Can't wait to see what the author will come up with next.
by: Jackie Fullerton
This book was sent to me via the Cadence Group and it's about a murder mystery. When Kathy Spence's husband gets murdered, who's the murderer. Kathy Spence has been hiding some ugly skeleton's in her closet. Mainly her ability not to be able to have children. Meanwhile the love shown between Kathy and Elliot is enough to over come the childless situation. When Elliot is murdered it becomes hard for Kathy's friend Shirley to even comprehend how Kathy can be blamed let alone be the prime suspect in his death. It's up to Anne and her classmates to figure what happened to their beloved Professor Elliot Spence.
This was a great read. It had humorous parts like listening to disputes while Anne makes sense of the real case she is working on. The bond between a father and daughter which can surpass a life and death bond. It kept you wanting to see how things were figured out and if the bad guys were ever going to get caught. And a 15 year old mystery connected the dots. Definitely a great read. Can't wait to see what the author will come up with next.
July 7, 2010
I love a good mystery/thriller. While this one probably falls more into the cozy mystery category, I still enjoyed it. I did find it extremely predictable in the who-done it category. I had the criminal pegged the moment the character stepped into the story. I liked Anne. It was a different twist that the person helping her with her case with the ghost of her father. It played out better than I expected. The story has a first in a series sort of feel. We're just touching the surface of the characters with the potential to get to know them better in future books. The only thing that bothered me a little is there's a previous case that Anne solved. It's mentioned in passing a few times, and I wish it was explained a little better. Also, I know cozy mysteries are light on sex and violence. But, the slight sexual references seem out of place in this story.
I would read more if the author decides to continue this into a series. I would recommend it to those who like cozy mysteries, stories about amateur sleuthing, and who done it stories!
I would read more if the author decides to continue this into a series. I would recommend it to those who like cozy mysteries, stories about amateur sleuthing, and who done it stories!
May 19, 2011
Revenge Served Cold by Jackie Fullerton
Anyone up for a good book containing suspense, intrigue, murder, unrequited love and a touch of the supernatural? Well this book is just what to order up.
Anne Marshall, nicknamed Mrs. Marple by her associates, gets involved in the hit-and-run death of her law professor Elliott Spence. Although she is a novice her instincts and intuitions take over and she is in … in over her head at times.
She sets out to prove that Professor Elliott’s wife was not his murderer but was being framed by estranged friends of the couple, who have mysteriously re-appeared and re-connected with them. All the characters in the book join forces to find the real killer. Anne stays ahead of the police investigation with the help of a very reliable and unsuspected source. Get ready to be involved immediately with the plot and characters. You just can’t stop reading because you want to find out who did it and most especially why.
Anyone up for a good book containing suspense, intrigue, murder, unrequited love and a touch of the supernatural? Well this book is just what to order up.
Anne Marshall, nicknamed Mrs. Marple by her associates, gets involved in the hit-and-run death of her law professor Elliott Spence. Although she is a novice her instincts and intuitions take over and she is in … in over her head at times.
She sets out to prove that Professor Elliott’s wife was not his murderer but was being framed by estranged friends of the couple, who have mysteriously re-appeared and re-connected with them. All the characters in the book join forces to find the real killer. Anne stays ahead of the police investigation with the help of a very reliable and unsuspected source. Get ready to be involved immediately with the plot and characters. You just can’t stop reading because you want to find out who did it and most especially why.
May 31, 2011
Revenge served cold by Jackie Fullerton
This is a complex mystery with a touch of the occult. It has lots of action entertaining characters.
Anne Marshall has a strange relationship with her father. He is dead. Ann's relationship with a ghost also includes crime fighting.
Anne is likeable and incredibly naive. Frankly the ghost was easier to believe than the fact that the cops accepted her egregious behavior.
We should all have friends as accepting as Anne’s friends. The author provided a very diverse cast of characters who supported Anne’s often reckless behavior. Love, jealousy, anger and revenge provide a cocktail of interest and entertainment in this book.
I recommend the book.
This is a complex mystery with a touch of the occult. It has lots of action entertaining characters.
Anne Marshall has a strange relationship with her father. He is dead. Ann's relationship with a ghost also includes crime fighting.
Anne is likeable and incredibly naive. Frankly the ghost was easier to believe than the fact that the cops accepted her egregious behavior.
We should all have friends as accepting as Anne’s friends. The author provided a very diverse cast of characters who supported Anne’s often reckless behavior. Love, jealousy, anger and revenge provide a cocktail of interest and entertainment in this book.
I recommend the book.
December 3, 2011
This book is a very readable murder mystery. It appears that someone is trying to set up Kathy Spence for the murder of her husband. Why?? Anne, a friend of Kathy's , who believes that Kathy is innocent of her husbands murder, is enlisted to find out what happened. Anne is a law student, and she enlists a few of her fellow law students to assist her in trying to solve this crime. As they dig deeper they find themselves in a very dangerous situation. Anne also has th ghost of her father who assists Anne in solving this murder.This is a story of thwarted love, greed and revenge. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who likes a quick and suspenseful story.
January 16, 2016
Kathy Spence has awoken to a nightmare: her husband, a professor at the local law school has been struck and killed in a hit-and-run accident and she has been accused. She turns to amateur sleuth Anne Marshall, a student of Professor Spence's, to clear her name. Anne and her father - who has been dead for three months - team up with Anne's study group to exonerate Kathy Spence, but someone is willing to kill to see Kathy in jail. I enjoyed this book and give it a B+!
March 2, 2013
A cute read for a thriller. I must say that I enjoyed it and found that it was a very fast and easy read. The premise is delightful and the characters likable. Thanks to my daughter who gave me her two books autographed!
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