A Dead Mother

Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery series, Book 4

By: Anna Celeste Burke, Peggy Hyndman - editor

Narrated by: Rebecca Mitchell

Jessica Huntington is back in the fourth Desert Cities Mystery by USA Today best-selling author Anna Celeste Burke.

Jessica's ex-husband, James Harper, and her mother, Alexis, are in big trouble in A Dead Mother. Family dysfunction, infidelity, murder, and mayhem - what else can you expect from members of the rich and famous who move in Jessica Huntington's circles?

An arraignment in court goes off the rails after Jim Harper's Bel Air mansion is trashed and a man is left fighting for his life. Jessica's love life almost veers off track, too, as she struggles to balance her job, family, sleuthing, and her attraction to attorney Paul Worthington and detective Frank Fontana.

When a prominent member of the Palm Desert community is found dead on the side of the road, Jessica gives up hope that this year will be better than the last. It's a three-ring-circus of calamities as Jessica and her friends get pulled into another whirlwind whodunit.

©2017 Anna Celeste Burke (P)2018 Tantor

Five stars all round

Wow I loved the this book and can't wait for the next book. It did finish on what I would call a cliffhanger but has set it up beautifully for the next book, please be soon. I really like the characters and with the addition of a dog to the group what is not to love about this story. With plenty going on it is certain to keep you hooked.
Jessica and the gang start an investigation into the death of one of her clients but with a murder victim that was loved by everyone and had no enemies, she even a champion for the wildlife they have there work cut out for them. Someone obviously had a reason to hate the victim as her house is broken into and her dog terrified. As they dig deeper, clues start to point to some unsavoury people in her life that even the victim didn't seem to trust.
I like the narrator and think she does an excellent job of bringing all the characters to life. So an all round must read/listen to book.

Full of Surprises

This latest installment had me guessing to the very end. A mother has been killed and there are so many suspects. The Cat Pack have their hands full and a talented poodle becomes one of them. The police are also baffled. Jessica’s two love interests are also very busy so she has little time with either of them.

As usual, the narrator does an excellent job!

I really look forward to reading or listening to the next installment in this series.

Another good book

This is another good book in a very good series. It has the right amount drama, mystery and friendship. The only thing I don't like is that Jessica spends way too much time on self reflection and her friends take her for granted.