Customer Reviews

The Death Contingency

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an author who really knows her craft. Obviously well researched, the book is loaded with interesting facts and good solid background. A very well crafted, interesting murder mystery. My hat's off to Nancy!As the Twig is Bent

After spending three times on the buyer's market in Santa Cruz, and one selling experience, I think I got to know a lot about it from a client's perspective. I always enjoy a book set somewhere I've lived!

Well, I had a fun ride through the book and the landscape--and I may have used the same title company that's in the novel. I stayed up too late two nights in a row to finish the book, which I would say dovetails several sub genres--the cozy mystery, the roman a clef, the special interest mystery, and a darned good read.

Obviously, anyone who's read or reviewed it has enjoyed it. So what's keeping you from ordering it right now?


Oh, one thing more--Regan reminded me of my favorite realtor, who got us in and out of the first house we bought, on eastside Santa Cruz.

This first in the writer's series asks some thought provoking questions along the way to solving a mystery and, of course, murder. Readers get a look at how real estate works: sometimes it's a tough business and sometimes some pretty funny stuff happens. I like the author's second book, "Backyard Bones" even more than this one.

Very good mystery story! A classic and a fun read. Something to take on a fight, vacation, or to the cottage. (or just to bed)

I read it right after

The House of the Vampire

Which was just as good, but very different! Enjoy for yourself or your mystery loving spouse!

"This murder mystery is set in Santa Cruz and Bonny Doon. A seller disappears before signing the grant deed. He turns up dead; and his nephew, a realtor Regan has known for years, becomes a person of interest in his death. She's convinced the authorities focus is all wrong and sets out to prove it."

Nancy Lynn Jarvis provides and interesting twist in a murder and its resolution. In THE DEATH CONTINGENCY, just when you think you know who `dunnit' the story throws in another twist and your back to stage one.

This is a wonderful story told with flair, skill, humor and interesting side stories from the real estate industry, Nancy's inspiration for all her tales. I highly recommend THE DEATH CONTINGENCY to mystery lovers everywhere.

I just loved all the incidental real estate stories - funny and informative on what goes on behind the scenes of real estate - eye opening revelations.

The mystery unfolds in a way that I found refreshingly different. Rather than wrapping up all the clues at the end of the book, we are privy to Regan's logic and questioning as events unfold - we get to think and explore along with her.

The friendly banter between Regan and her policeman friend, Dave, is a hoot. They are always trying to get the upper hand in a war of cleverness. When Dave is witty, you know Regan is safe; when he turns serious, watch out Regan!

Find me a more memorable character than Mrs. Rosemont and I'll read that book. Her fiery red hair, her Rogue's Gallery of local influentials, and the extraordinary way in which she imparts to Regan what she needs to know, when and if she needs to know it. Double entendre of the first magnitude.

Ebook lovers: it's in Kindle and for my mother-in-law, large print.

This book is about a Realtor, Regan McHenry, who stumbles upon a client's death. Chartering into unfamiliar territory, McHenry toils her way through the investigative process. Much to the reader's delight, Jarvis demonstrates a more realistic approach in her character's efforts to investigate the facts surrounding the case, ultimately providing a more convincing and appreciated story. A quick read!

I love a mystery! And I especially love a mystery in which the protagonist(s) are regular people who have been thrown into circumstances beyond their normal pay grade. This book tells the story of a woman who usually spends her days scouring the real estate market for her clients, and her husband who is a computer dude, as they are thrust into the death and mystery of a client.

These sleuths are real, and flawed, and not experts in the field of investigations, so it's a fun read to see how someone very much like the reader can work their way through a mystery.

The Death Contingency is a first rate mystery in the amateur detective tradition. The plot is well constructed without any gimmicks or tricks though the ending wasn't quite what I expected. The writing is so good that it became unnoticeable as I became engrossed in the story. The characters are engaging, particularly the heroine realtor Regan McHenry. I appreciated the humor that occasionally lightened the narrative. I recommend this work for lovers of the amateur detective genre without reservation.

Here's a cozy mystery with a new twist--the amateur sleuth is a real estate agent. So is the author. It seems like a great occupation for a detective as real estate agents certainly run into a wide variety of interesting clients, interact with people in tense situations (buying a house), and are privvy to all sorts of private (particularly financial) information about said clients. In this case, agent Regan McHenry is confronted with a seller who is late for the closing. The seller is an elderly gentleman and Regan is concerned as to his whereabouts. Is he just on a brief vacation? Or could there be something more sinister afoot? She begins to investigate. Along the way, we the reader discover much about the world of houses--and I'm sure author Jarvis has included many real estate anecdotes that are at least based on fact if not totally true. The characters are imminently likeable and strongly drawn. I was particularly taken with Mrs. Rosemont. The writing is clean and easy to follow. The plot unfolds in a nice puzzle-solving fashion and the reader sees all of Regan's thought processes--which I like. I definitely intend to read more Regan McHenry/real estate agent mysteries.

Patricia Rockwell
Author--"Sounds of Murder"