Customer Reviews

Deadly Charm (Amanda Bell Brown Mystery Series, Book 3)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I tried to read the second book in the novel, but could not get through it. So I picked up this book because I did not want to give up on the series. However what began as a mystery ended up veering off into a romantic back and forth and then wrapped it up in such a contrived way. But the thing that bothers me most was no progress was made - We get it - Amanada Bell has self-esteem issues. We get it - she feels guilty about her past, even despite her faith and knowing that God loves all of us and looks past our sins. We get it - Jazz is finer that any man that has walked the face of the earth. There was no character development and no growth, especially from Amanda who gets something she wants very badly yets doesn't seemed very concerned about it to stop investigating. It was the same old, same old throughout the whole book. I'm not sure if I will be reading a fourth book. I love lady investigators (Tamara Hayle!) and I love Christian fiction, but this one left A LOT to be desired.

Dr. Amanda Bell Brown, or Bell to her friends, has been pretty lost without her husband Jazz. He had left her the day after they got married when he found her kissing her ex-boyfriend Rocky. Well, actually Rocky had kissed her. He did not know that she had gotten married and she was trying to let him know without causing more hurt.


Rocky was the pastor of the Rock House. Ezekial Thunder and his family were staying with Rocky while Ezekial was trying to jump start his ministry again. He had made a shambles of it a few years back when he had an affair with an intern. Since then his wife had passed away and he had married the intern, Nikki. Together they had a little boy, almost 3, by the name of Zeke or Little Zeekie. Ezekial had other children - all of whom were named some form of Ezekial.

Bell does not really care for Ezekial and Nikki, especially after her "exorcism" of her "interracial dating and adultery" demon at Ezekial's Crusade. It had ended badly with her vomiting right at the feet of Ezekial. This episode made it on CNN when they began covering the Thunders after Little Zeekie accidentally dies while taking a bath at Rocky's. Or was it an accident?

Bell decides that it is up to her to find out. She teams up with her detective husband, Jazz, whom she is still separated from, to try to find out the truth.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Bell was full of quick wit and a sarcastic tongue which brought a smile to my face quite often. I loved the banter between Jazz and Bell. They clearly loved each other but were both very proud and independent. Here is an excerpt of that banter:

I didn't move. "What are you doing?"
"Opening the door for you."
"Why didn't you drive over to where your car is?"
"I'm not ready to leave yet, Bell."
"What if I've had enough of you for one day?"
"Oh, I happen to know you can take more of me than that." He said this with a wicked grin.
"Is your head always in the gutter?"
He leaned toward me, his arm resting on the top of the Love Bug. "Get out of the car, baby."
"No."
"I know you're mad. We can talk inside."
"I don't want to talk to you."
"You asked me to look into this for you, and that is what I did. Will you get out of the car so I can tell you whatI accomplished this evening?"
I took a peek at him. "You were just working?"
"I was."
"You're not attracted to that Cruella De Vil stick figure?"
"Hardly"
"And you don't think I'm too fat?"
"Bell, get out of the car. It's cold out here."
"You were supposed to say something romantic that made me believe you don't think I'm fat."
"Bell, if you don't step out of the Love Bug right now, I'm going to drag you upstairs."
"That fell way short of romantic, not to mention you still haven't said I'm not fat."
He sighed and rake his fingers through his hair. "You're not fat. I think you're stunning. You're so hot that I can hardly resist you, even though I'm still mad at you."
I grinned. "You think I'm hot?"
"Perhaps you should focus on my saying I'm still mad at you."
"You'll get over it. About me being hot. . ."
"You'll be hotter inside your apartment."
"Do you want to ravish me?"
"No. I want to throttle you. Please get out of the car."
I stepped a leg out. "I'm only letting you inside so you can report what happened with your girlfriend Nikki."
He moved back, took my hand, and helped me out of the car. "Fine."
"I don't want you getting fresh just because you're my husband. We're separated."
"You grill me about whether or not I want you, and now you insist that I not flirt with you."
"I have my standards." (pg 135-137)

This goes on all the way through the book. It cracked me up because I could so see arguing like this with my husband.

A little raunchy for me

This, the third book in the Amanda Bell Mystery series is, frankly, very highly sexually charged.

The graphic descriptions of how Dr Amanda Bell Brown and her estranged husband feel toward each other may be tame by many people's standards but are VERY edgy for a work of Christian fiction.

The mystery of the death of Zeekie Thunder, televangelist Ezekiel Thunder's youngest child is extremely well written and comes to a superb, if a little predictable, climax.

If you're a little less prudish than me, and you like mysteries you'll probably love this book!

Dr. Amanda Bell Brown is back, and neck deep in trouble. Again! When Evangelist, Ezekiel Thunder's baby is found drowned in the bathtub, Amanda is certain is was no accident and turns her attentions on the little boy's mother. Admidst babies, illness, and trying to repair her own marriage, Amanda goes head-to-head with the woman. When everything Amanda holds dear is threatened, she "steps it up" to solve a murder and save her marriage.

Claudia Mair Burney has done it again! Amanda Bell Brown is back and sassy as ever. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in the Amanda Bell Brown mysteries and wasn't disappointed in the third. Burney has the reader, laughing, crying, and gasping through one page-turning escapade after another. Bravo!

Amanda Bell Brown is at it again in Deadly Charm by Claudia Mair Burney. As Amanda, known as Bell, tries to cope with her newly formed marriage to Jazz Brown, she finds herself still running to that safe place. That place being Rocky, her ex- pastor and boyfriend. Rocky's intentions to let Bell know that Jazz is the one for her, is overshadowed by his spiritual father, Ezekiel Thunder's return. When a tragedy happens to the Thunder family, Bell cannot help but put on her investigator hat. Nikki Thunder, Ezekiel's young wife, seems to be suspect number one. And it sure does not help that Bell feels that Nikki may be attracted to her husband, Jazz.

Jazz is not thrilled with Bell getting involved and risking her life, yet again. He is the cop and he wants Bell to put on her wife hat. The Browns fight each other to the end. But their love for each other is evident. Will Amanda get caught up in something she can not get out of? Will the truth finally come to light?

Deadly Charm is the third book in the series of the Amanda Bell Brown Mysteries. If you have not read the other two books, you can still enjoy this one. You will crack up at the antics of Bell. The mystery will have you on the edge of your seat. Maire's insertion of Christian values and scripture was perfect. You will definitely want to pick this one up.

Donnica Copeland
APOOO BookClub
Sista Talk Book Club

I truly was not sold on the concept of a soul mate, and the jury was still out for me on marriage...until I read this series. I read all 3 books within a matter of weeks. I could not understand why Bell grated my nerves so badly to the point where I imagined she was a real person standing in front of me and I shook her hard, screaming "PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER! AND GO GET THAT MAN!" But I realized that Ms. Burney simply and brilliantly created a woman who is so like me and so many other women I know - broken, not fully believing in the grace of God's love but beautiful and filled with the spirit of God. Jazz made me believe that God has somebody for everybody...and they might not come in the package you expected. The murder mysteries were off the chain too.

Dr. Amanda Bell Brown, or Bell to her friends, has been pretty lost without her husband Jazz. He had left her the day after they got married when he found her kissing her ex-boyfriend Rocky. Well, actually Rocky had kissed her. He did not know that she had gotten married and she was trying to let him know without causing more hurt.

Rocky was the pastor of the Rock House. Ezekial Thunder and his family were staying with Rocky while Ezekial was trying to jump start his ministry again. He had made a mess of it a few years back when he had an affair with an intern. Since then his wife had passed away and he had married the intern, Nikki. Together they had a little boy, almost 3, by the name of Zeke or Little Zeekie. Ezekial had other children " all of whom were named some form of Ezekial."

Bell does not really care for Ezekial and Nikki, especially after her exorcism of her dating and adultery demon at Ezekial's Crusade. It had ended badly with her vomiting right at the feet of Ezekial. This episode made it on CNN when they began covering the Thunders after Little Zeekie accidentally dies while taking a bath at Rocky's. Or was it an accident?

Bell decides that it is up to her to find out. She teams up with her detective husband, Jazz, whom she is still separated from, to try to find out the truth. This book did not hold my interest like most mystery books do, I just could not get into the story. This is the first one from this author for me.

This book was sent to me by Christian Reviews for me to review.

This was the first book I had purchased by this author. It was a good book that held your interest throughout. I am looking forward to the next book.

If you loved the first two Amanda Bell Brown books (Murder, Mayhem & a Fine Man; Death, Deceit & Some Smooth Jazz), you'll love this one even more. If you haven't read the first two, you MUST read them first or this one won't make much sense. This series is unique in combining a sassy, funny style and high sexual tension with deep, serious spiritual content. This is not your grandma's CBA fiction. It's real and it's gripping. And definitely NOT only for African Americans. But be sure to block out a weekend to read it, because you will not be able to put it down!

I read the first 2 novels of this series within 5 days. Both were execellent page turners. This one however was a bit disappointing. The main character, Bell, was very indecisive. For her to be a seasoned christian, she behaved like a babe in Christ. I'm only halfway through the book, and I have put it down several times because of Bell's position with her husband. Her behavior is very annoying. Also, it appears as though Carly's attitude is very different from book one. I'm not sure what's up with Bell's Mom. Thus far, I have been disappointed with the whole story.