Deadly Blessings: An Alex St. James Mystery

Alex St. James Mysteries, Book 1

By: Julie Hyzy

Narrated by: Karen Commins

It's not often that Alex St. James has a story this tantalizing fall into her lap, only to have it snatched away again. As news researcher at Midwest Focus Television in Chicago, she'd been set to interview a young Polish immigrant woman, pregnant by a Catholic priest.

When the woman is found murdered, and Alex tries to investigate, her boss abruptly reassigns her to a fluff piece, so he can give the hot murder story to the station owner's nephew. But anyone who knows Alex also knows that, like fate, she'll find a way.

Acting without authority and without assistance, she continues to investigate, making some very powerful people in the Chicago Archdiocese uneasy. Suddenly Alex finds herself in the middle of a plot so sinister and far reaching that the very next thing she might hear are her own last rites.

©2005 July Hyzy (P)2015 David N. Wilson

Critic reviews

"Julie Hyzy's riveting mystery, Deadly Blessings, launches appealing sleuth Alex St. James in a twisty, absorbing, headline-current case. First rate." (Carolyn Hart, author of the Death on Demand series)

A new character for Julie Hyzy's - love it.

I love Julie Hyzy's books. I certainly hope there are more to come with this character.

Bad Hair and Prostitution!

Narration - Karen Commins - Pretty Good. There's quite a few characters in this story and she does a pretty good job of differentiating between them all. She's a really good storyteller so the overall narration was engaging and very enjoyable.

The story is a mystery that's pretty intricate and detailed. I found that I had suspicions, but for the most part, I was mostly wrong - or if I was in the ball park, it wasn't the right park. Alex is a tough investigative reporter who is smart and has nerves of steel. I really loved her character. I also enjoyed the way the mystery was woven in several directions.

There's a bit of a catholic priest scandal so if that's not you're thing, this book isn't for you.

I'll definitely continue with this series and based on other reviews, it looks like I will look into other books from this author.

Really enjoyed it!

I received a copy of this audiobook free of charge from audiobookblast in exchange for an unbiased review

Great Story

I almost gave up on this because the beginning started off so slow. However, I'm glad I didn't. This was a very interesting story and fast paced story once the foundation was built. I have read other books by this author and also enjoyed them. I hope the next book in this series is made available in the Audible library.

Life in the Land of opportunity

It's not often that Alex St. James has a story this tantalizing fall into her lap, only to have it snatched away again. As news researcher at Midwest Focus Television in Chicago, she'd been set to interview a young Polish immigrant woman, pregnant by a Catholic priest. When the woman is found murdered, and Alex tries to investigate, her boss abruptly reassigns her to a fluff piece, so he can give the hot murder story to the station owner's nephew. But anyone who knows Alex also knows that, like fate, she'll find a way. Acting without authority and without assistance, she continues to investigate, making some very powerful people in the Chicago Archdiocese uneasy. Suddenly Alex finds herself in the middle of a plot so sinister and far reaching that the very next thing she might hear are her own last rites.
Although this book examines themes that have become popular over the last several years, it does so in interesting ways. While not a brilliant or unique book, this is a well written, well plotted and engaging mystery. The characters are nicely developed, an while there is a bit of type casting, that is alleviated by touches that give each character a definite, and believable, personality.

This is not a full out action thriller, but does demonstrate how news stories are investigated, and, when there is action, it can become intense, especially the action just preceding the climax of the book. The writing is straightforward, but the author also demonstrates sensitivity and compassion, through her characters’ thoughts and words, that enhance the story and make it a satisfying read. Perhaps her villains are a bit too simplistic, and a little too villainous, without benefit of qualms or conscience, but then, at least one of them is probably a sociopath, if not a psychopath, so even this works rather well.

The narrator did an excellently professional job, and combines a pleasant voice with excellent pacing, shaping enunciation, and can handle foreign accents extremely well.

This is a good, solid mystery, and a very enjoyable read. I give both book and narrator 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this free book in exchange for this unbiased review via the courtesy of AudioBookBlast dot com.

A new Julie Hyzy series

I love the series White House Chef by Julie Hyzy. I was gifted this audiobook with the understanding I would give an honest review. I enjoyed both the narrator and the story. I look forward to the next in this series.

Priestly Pimping

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would to some one who likes this genre

What did you like best about this story?

Alex's grit.

Which character – as performed by Karen Commins – was your favorite?

William.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I had no extreme reactions although I thought that Alex's boss, her ex and the new reporter who is the owner's nephew as well as father Bruno were all A 1 jerks. Father Bruno was also a sociopathic scum bag.

Any additional comments?

Alex is an investigative reporter who got bumped off a story of a murdered Polish immigrant who had been impregnated by her priest. The story was given over to the new news agency's owner's lazy whiny nephew who expects Alex to do his work. Alex stumbles on even a bigger story when she discovers that the Polish immigrants that father Bruno has been recruiting from Poland were being forced into prosecution.

Alex almost gets herself and Sophie a young Polish woman whom she is helping killed in the course of her investigations. There is also some sparks flying between Alex and her co-worker William. Her annoying boisterous boss Bass is actually a decent fellow under his crude facade.

This was a pretty good mystery thriller and an entertaining listen.

“I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot come”

Good Narration

Alex is your typical news reporter, wanting the big scoop. When her boss pulls her, she goes after on her own. Soon she is in over her head and nobody to help her. Starts slow building, a good story and how is she going to get out, a reporter doesn’t till the next big story comes. Good narration clear, and added to the story. Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion

Good start to the series

This work is about a reporter that gets way in over her head but unlike most books, there is no white knight to ride in and save her. It was a steady story without too much excitement but with enough intrigue to keep my interest. The narrator did an excellent job giving voice to the characters.

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."

Book Blessings!

Deadly Blessings: An Alex St. James Mystery: Alex St. James Mysteries, Book 1 by Julie Hyzy is a good book. i was pleasantly surprised by Julie Hyzy since i never heard about her before this. This is a great first book in a series. it is not perfect and to be honest there are things in the book i don't like but that has to do with my taste level and maybe not the book it self! So i would recommend this book, and i will to people that like these kind of books.

12 hrs and 6 mins with Karen Commins is a bit hard at the beginning. Saying that is hard. She is just a bit staccato, or it is just the way she speaks. But i get used to it when times goes by. This is my first book with her so maybe it is just a way to get used to it: Hear more books with her!

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."

Worth a Listen

Any additional comments?

I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The narration is very good, and the story keeps the attention of the listener. If the story lacked anything, the author plays the exploitation angle a little too close to the vest. That needed a few more harsh scenes to expose the horror of compelled prostitution, but I can understand being worried that it might upset some readers. I'm not saying the author sugar coated it, it just wasn't shown to be as bad as it could have been.

I also like the way the author handles the kind of unwarranted respect the clergy often receives without coloring all priests as power hungry frauds.