Dead Jitterbug [Paperback]

Victoria Houston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 5, 2005

Hope McDonald's advice column syndicates nationwide. So when Hope is murdered in her home, Chief Lewellyn Ferris can think of more than a few suspects. Now, she'll have to think of the perfect bait to net a cold-blooded killer.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Victoria Houston's love for her Wisconsin setting-and her wonderful characters-is evident on every page of her fine series. (Laura Lippman)

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (April 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425202011
• ISBN-13: 978-0425202012
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #515,529 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > Series

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hooked on Loon Lake, June 15, 2005

By 

Patricia E. Reid (Kansas City, Kansas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dead Jitterbug (Paperback)

Ray Pradt is a fishing guide in Loon Lake, Wisconsin. Ray's newest idea is a two-day seminar called "Fishing for Girls". He manages to rope Doc Osborne, his neighbor, into helping him with the excursion for the girls on a new pontoon Ray is trying to sell. Doc agrees to help out but is soon pulled away from this project to help Police Chief Lewellyn Ferris. Doc Osborne's many years as a dentist and resident of Loon Lake has been a big help to Chief Lewellyn in various investigations and Chief Ferris is not slow to call on Doc for help. They are also fishing buddies and sometimes lovers.

Hope McDonald, mother of one of Ray's "seminar girls", and the author of a syndicated advice column, is found dead in her home in Loon Lake. Then it is discovered by Doc and Lew that another of Ray's "seminar girls" Molly O'Brien formerly Molly McBride whose parents resided in Loon Lake and were brutally murdered. Molly was left alone in the home with the bodies of her parents when she was only two and a half. Now twenty-seven years later Molly is back in Loon Lake and married. Lillie Wright, local attorney, is now asking Chief Ferris to try to dig up the old files and renew the investigation for the murder since Lillie believes the person convicted was framed and the murderer is still in town and Molly is beginning to believe it too.

As if all of this isn't enough to keep Chief Ferris busy she is also asked to help locate a couple who have been robbing banks. The Chief is also in the midst of a campaign for Sheriff and Doc Osborne's daughter is her campaign manager.

Victoria Houston's vivid descriptions of the area and the residents love of fishing adds much to the story. This is the sixth Loon Lake mystery and each one gets better. Be sure and read them all.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Myster, June 26, 2005

By 

Cynthia Chow (Kaneohe, Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dead Jitterbug (Paperback)

Paul "Doc" Osborne should have remembered that no good deed goes unpunished. So when he agrees to help his friend Ray Pradt lead a "Fishing for Girls" fishing seminar Doc should have expected the worse. When one of the student's mother, a famous syndicated advice columnist, is found murdered, Doc is once again deputized and asked by the Loon Lake Chief of Police to help out with his forensic dental skills. Ray complicates matters as he begins to fall for one of his very married students who has a tragic past of her own, and soon Doc is up to his neck in murder and family secrets. Chief Ferris herself has her hands full with her run for Lake County Sheriff, a counterfeit money scam, and a cold case murder. Readers will be taken along as events roll along quickly to a very tidy and satisfying end.

This continues to be a strong series with no hint of letting up. Houston has created characters who continue to grow and readers will be thrilled with the evolution of Doc's romance with the lovely sheriff. Dead Jitterbug is an extremely entertaining mystery full of humor, fishing lore, wit, and suspense.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great story, but more fishing!, May 16, 2005

By 

TN Book Lover (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dead Jitterbug (Paperback)

Like all the rest of Victoria Houston's books in the "Dead" series, I really enjoyed Dead Jitterbug. But I missed the light-heartedness tone that preceded it in the others, and, there seemed to be a little less fishing. But all-in-all, it's great, and I'm still awaiting the next! Keep 'em coming!