Indie Weekend: Deuce by Gail Meath #cozymysteries #bookreviews #germanshepherds #indiebooks

Indie weekend is my effort to help Indie authors market their books. Indie authors have to do it all, including marketing, so if I can help even a little bit, I’m happy to do so. Below is my review of Deuce by Gail Meath, the third book in her wonderful Jax Diamond Mysteries series. Disclosure: I am also the editor.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

One for sorrow, two for spice triggers a game of three blind mice.

While vacationing in New England, PI Jax Diamond and his courageous canine partner, Ace, bite off more than they can chew when two small town deaths reveal two big time killers, and the locals don’t take too kindly to strangers.

Laura Graystone, Broadway star, auto expert, and Jax’s heartthrob, is once again front and center digging for clues while trying to ditch an old boyfriend. That is, until her brother becomes Jax’s prime suspect. Then all hell breaks loose, and Ace is left in the lurch, tracking down leads with his new sidekick, Susie.

A crazy duet of crimes sends Jax, Laura and Ace into a tailspin in small-town USA during the Roaring Twenties. Where no one is above the law, everyone is a suspect, and time is running out before the clock strikes one.

BOOK REVIEW

Deuce is the third book in the Jax Diamond Mysteries series. In this series, private detective Jax, his wily German Shepherd partner, Ace, and Jax’s girlfriend, Broadway singer Laura Graystone, solve crimes in New York City. In Book three, Jax, Laura, and Ace head to Laura’s hometown of Millbury, MA in order to investigate the death of Laura’s father several years before. As soon as they arrive, Jax finds a body, but when he attempts to show it to the police, it is gone! Laura’s old “boyfriend” who was never a boyfriend, Pete, is also a deputy sheriff who tries to throw a wrench into Jax’s investigation.

I just adore these characters. Jax, Laura, and Ace are a wonderful team, and they are soon joined by a familiar face from New York. The small town setting in Millbury is a fun escape, and we learn a bit of history about the town. While the investigation involves the murder of Laura’s father and others, we also get a peek into Jax’s own history. The characters are just fantastic, as always. Jax is a sharp investigator and a great romantic partner for Laura. Laura’s expertise goes beyond singing because she knows everything about cars, as her late father was a racecar driver who worked on cars. Ace, of course, steals the show, and is always there to assist Jax and Laura.

The mystery is complex, and I could not figure out who the “culprit” was until the end. The story moves along well and I was entertained throughout. The book ends with a promise of a return to New York and Broadway, so I can’t wait! I highly recommend this mystery series to fans of cozy mysteries and dog lovers.

I received a free copy of this book but also purchased a copy. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

Readers can look forward to books four and five: Book 4, Two of a Kind: The Beginning is a Christmas novella about how Jax and Ace met. It is coming out in December. Book 5, Blackjack, is set back in New York City as Jax looks for his own family. It will be out June of 2023.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gail Meath is the author of the multi-award-winning Jax Diamond Mysteries series, the story of a wise-cracking ex-cop turned PI, his sweet German Shepherd partner, and Broadway singing heartthrob as they solve crazy crimes during the Roaring Twenties. “Think Sam Spade meets Judy Garland.”

Gail has always been a dreamer and lover of romance and history, and she finally picked up the pen to write plot-twisting mysteries, heart-wrenching westerns, and powerful biographies of fascinating yet unknown heroines of the past. She lives with her fabulous husband and beloved Boston Terrier on their own golden pond in a small village in Upstate New York. Connect with Gail on her website at GailMeath.com, on her Facebook page, or on Instagram. .

BUY LINKS

Buy the whole series by clicking on the image above.

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