Buying Murder [Paperback]

Nancy Lynn Jarvis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 27, 2010

Murder gets personal when human remains are found in the beach cottage that real estate agents Regan McHenry and her husband, Tom Kiley, buy. The murder victim has been hidden away for sixteen years, and although the authorities quickly discover his identity, the trail to his killer is cold after so many years. Regan has sworn off playing amateur detective, but when it becomes clear the police have to focus on more pressing crimes, she has to break her promise. As her friend police ombudsman Dave Everett says, "Your house, Regan, your murder." Welcome back to Santa Cruz, the community whose unofficial motto is "Keep Santa Cruz Weird," for the twists and turns of the third book in the Regan McHenry Mystery Series. The murders are invented, but Nancy Lynn Jarvis uses real events and stories from her twenty plus years as a Realtor for background details, although, sometimes they are the parts of the books that seem like fiction. The series has been called smart and funny; perfect books to kick back with and have a good read.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...the story flows really well and the ending felt right...extremely satisfying. --Morgan Rankin, editor Battle Mountain News

This third book in the Regan McHenry series by Nancy Lynn Jarvis gives readers a gripping mystery. When police cannot make this cold case a priority, Regan breaks her previous vow to stop playing amateur detective, taking readers along with her following the clues to attempt to solve the murder.

Has Regan bought more than she can handle this time? Jarvis keeps readers caught up in this excellently plotted story, with its unanticipated twists and turns, right to its satisfying conclusion. --Angie Mangino, November 6, 2010, Reviewer for the San Francisco /Sacramento Book Review

About the Author

Nancy Lynn Jarvis has been a Santa Cruz, California, Realtor for more than twenty years. She owns a real estate company with her husband, Craig. After earning a BA in behavioral science from San Jose State University, she worked in the advertising department of the San Jose Mercury News. A move to Santa Cruz meant a new job as a librarian and later a stint as the business manager of Shakespeare/Santa Cruz. Nancy’s work history reflects her philosophy: people should try something radically different every few years. Writing is her newest adventure. She invites you to take a peek into the real estate world through the stories that form the backdrop of her Regan McHenry mysteries. Details and ideas come from Nancy’s own experiences.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Good Read Mysteries (July 27, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982113560
• ISBN-13: 978-0982113561
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,789,632 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nancy Lynn Jarvis has been a Santa Cruz, California, Realtor for more than twenty years. She owns a real estate company with her husband.
After earning a BA in behavioral science from San Jose State University, she worked in the advertising department of the San Jose Mercury News. A move to Santa Cruz meant a new job as a librarian and later a stint as the business manager of Shakespeare/Santa Cruz.
Nancy's work history reflects her philosophy: people should try something radically different every few years. Writing is her newest adventure.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buying Murder is a tale of Murder & Deception, September 22, 2010

By 

Bonnie Raymond (Havre de Grace, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buying Murder (Paperback)

Author Nancy Lynn Jarvis has used her 20+ years as a Realtor and a BA in behavioral science to craft a believable and entertaining mystery with a glimpse behind the scenes into the world of real estate. You might say that "Buying Murder" is a cautionary tale of what could happen if you buy a home and fail to have it inspected before settlement. All the television home shows stress the importance of that inspection and now we know why. All the characters in "Buying Murder" seem real and not forced. I can imagine sitting down to dinner with many of them but the major characters of Regan, Tom and Dave, seemed liked old friends by the time I finished the book. I particularly liked the way Ms. Jarvis tied up all the loose ends at the conclusion of the book so the reader is not left to wonder about some detail or other. Reading "Buying Murder" was a rare treat for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to others.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Getting more for your money!, September 3, 2010

By 

Charminkb - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buying Murder (Paperback)

In Nancy Jarvis' "Buying Murder", Regan McHenry, a savvy real estate agent from the Santa Cruz area, gets a call to list an old, unoccupied cottage on the beach and finds the spot so darling; she decides to buy it for herself. In a rush to make the purchase, Regan neglected to do the usual inspections before closing. Shortly after the purchase, Regan had a known inspector come over and take a peek and advise on some renovating when they realize that the house was already occupied...by a corpse. Regan, intent on finding out what happened to the soul that had rested inside the walls of the cottage for so long, embarks on a fact finding mission. Unfortunately, someone is on a mission of their own. A mission to silence Regan. Has she come to close to the murderer or is she dealing with a disgruntled son of an eviction she had assisted with?
This was the first of the Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries I had the pleasure of reading and was not disappointed. Working in the real estate industry myself, I found Nancy's views and perceptions spot on with reality. The story was very entertaining with a hint of eerie realism to it. While several times I would have bet my book money that I knew the outcome, within pages I would realize I was wrong. After doing this three times, I gave up on trying to speculate and just enjoyed the read. This is an easy reading, solid murder mystery that keeps you turning the pages and asking the ever famous question "who dunnit?".

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You must buy "Buying Murder" if you love mystery, January 21, 2011

By 

Mary Beth Magee "Mary Beth" (Sierra Nevada Foothills, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buying Murder (Paperback)

Author Nancy Lynn Jarvis packs a double punch with her mysteries. Jarvis is both a successful REALTOR© and skilled mystery writer. Her heroine, Regan McHenry, just happens to be a real estate agent in Santa Cruz, California. Like Jarvis, McHenry works in partnership with her husband.

In "Buying Murder," the third novel in the series, McHenry finds herself the owner of a property where an undiscovered murder took place years before. When the home inspector uncovers the body, McHenry determines to solve the mystery that seems to be of little interest to the local police.

I found myself becoming fond of Regan and her husband, Tom Kiley. Their relationship is warm and loving, but subject to the pressures of business and personalities that mesh nicely, but don't match exactly. They aren't perfect, but they are very human. Jarvis has given them a depth of personality often overlooked in novels.

Their police officer friend, Dave Everett, brings a third perspective into the mix. His affection for the couple alternates with exasperation as Regan gets herself involved in potentially deadly situations.

As Regan pursues her unofficial investigation, she receives threats and has several near-misses. She meets several possible culprits for the murder along the way and uncovers secrets someone wants left hidden. The question becomes "Can Regan solve the crime before she becomes another victim?"

Jarvis puts real estate jargon in terms that any reader can understand. While the real estate profession provides the setting of the story, it doesn't overshadow the flow of a well planned narrative. While there is some violence in the book, "Buying Murder" is not a gory blood fest. The action fits and makes sense.

Although this is the third book in the series, you'll enjoy it even without having read the first two; but I think you'll want to go back and read them. If you enjoy stories of a crime fighter who isn't a professional investigator, you'll like "Buying Murder." If you like action seasoned with wit, get it immediately. You won't be sorry.