Customer Reviews

Death, Deceit, and Some Smooth Jazz: An Amanda Bell Brown Mystery

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Amanda Bell Brown is a forty year old psychiatrist who's tried to convince herself she isn't in love with Jazz Brown, a homicide Lieutenant. It's almost working until he shows up at her door. The chemistry between them is electric and immediate. The only problem is her sister calls her to the scene of a murder: Jazz's ex has been found murdered in Jazz's loft.

Everybody tells her to stay out of the investigation, but Amanda can't. Partly because she's not sure Jazz did it, and partly because she doesn't think the police are willing to look at anyone else as a suspect.

The writing was fresh with a sassy twist that I really enjoyed. Claudia has a way with words that pulled me through the story -- and made me care deeply about Amanda and other characters that frankly I have little in common with.

And the faith element was amazingly fresh and real. Like this: "I had a WWJD moment. What would Jesus do? Not in a rubber bracelet, weird, Christian subculture, Jesus-junk-wearing way, but in a breathing incarnational, God-with-us way." Several times during the book I was challenged to think about how my faith would be stretched if faced with the same kind of situation.

I thought there was no way the ragamuffin diva, Claudia Mair Burney, could top her first story, Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man. But she did it with Death, Deceit, and Some Smooth Jazz. Totally amazing. The storyline was complex and well-thought-out. She had me really going there. The sugar glider just took the cake. I loved every scene and chapter. The usual tension between hero and heroine was present, but this time it culminated.

The author is a master at the "think of the worst thing that could happen, and make it happen" concept. Man, she had my head turning so often I got whiplash! I have to say, though, that more than once I wanted to slap Bell for messing with Jazz's head. Then again, I totally understood her "issues" that prevented her from accepting love from anyone, and her doubting something that seemed too good to be true. I was with Bell all the way and felt her confusion as well.

Being a social worker and having done counseling with many hurting people for years, I have to say that the author had the criminal psychology portion of the story perfected. The insight into Kate's messed-up past was flawless. Either the author did a lot of research, or she is really gifted with wisdom and insight into human character and dysfunction. Every scene was highly believable and amazing. Tension building all the way, but with interjected humor so hilarious that I laughed out loud more than once! Great way to keep the story moving along. Also, the sensual humor totally captivated me. Not to overuse the term, but that was also hilarious, and very honest, IMHO.

The biggest thrill in this story came when I figured out who killed Kate, and I WAS SO RIGHT! The author left just enough clues to point in the direction of the killer, but did so very slowly, and with absolute perfection. Also, the niggling perception that Jazz might have done it was tremendously applied. Wowsa! So does that make me smart, or the author a genuis at making me feel smart. :) You figure that one out.

Death, Deceit, and Some Smooth Jazz is masterful writing and highly entertaining. This probably ranks as my favorite sistah lit title thusfar. If you read it, I'm sure you'll agree that this is some serious entertainment with a powerful message. The takeaway value of this story is what made me love it so much. Plus, the mystery was compelling and complex. Man, the details involved in the plot were plentiful and so well-done it had me reeling. But I loved every minute of it. Oh, and the forensics were perfect. Excellent crime writing. Bravo! Get this one.

Bell and Jazz are back, but he's in trouble. Someone has killed Kate, his ex-wife and while he swears he's innocent, the evidence says something different. Jazz had the means and the motive, and Kate was killed in his apartment. His fellow policemen, some who like him, and some who don't, are convinced he's guilty. They aren't even looking for anyone else. Bell is determined to prove them all wrong.

The media gets involved and practically puts Jazz on trial in talk shows and newscasts, finding him guilty. The evidence is piling up and even Bell is losing confidence in her man. Claudia Mair Burney's books are always a delight. Her characters are smart and sassy. For a wild, unpredictible story, one that's hard to put down, you can't beat Death, Deceit, and Some Smooth Jazz. It's a good follow up to Murder, Mayhem and a Fine Man, the first book in the Bell and Jazz series.

I devoured Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man, book one of the Amanda Bell Brown Mystery Series by Claudia Mair Burney and couldn't wait for the sequel. Death, Deceit, and Some Smooth Jazz did not disappoint!
The author succeeded in creating one exciting scene after another. She has a unique skill of integrating romance with mystery--quite beguiling!
Bell Brown begins the story having sworn off of loving Jazz. It just wouldn't be safe. Her emotions were too fragile and there were so many unresolved issues. But then he pops into her life again, at the same time a crime has been committed in his home, his ex has been murdered. Was Jazz the murderer or merely a victim?
The mystery is intriguing, the romance sizzles, and the message is powerful. Imagine two television shows teaming up to solve crime: Girlfriends and CSI. Add in a spice of inspiration and you've got a hit!

Alone and lonely, Dr. Amanda Bell Brown, forensic psychologist, buys Amos the Aussie sugar glider (a marsupial that has characteristics of a squirrel and a bat) when her doorbell rings. Police Lieutenant Jazz Brown comes to tell Bell that he wants a relationship. This shocks her because he told her weeks ago he wasn't available and she walked away from him. She notices his face is scratched and he isn't wearing a coat.

The medical examiner who happens to be her sister calls her to tell her to get out of the house if Jazz is there because his ex-wife is dead in his bed, a victim of strangulation. When she arrives at the crime scene she doesn't think Jazz did it because she believes it was not a crime of passion but Jazz is arrested and let out on bond. He turns to Bell for comfort but she is afraid of getting hurt so tries to back away from a relationship. What she does do is investigate the murder because the police aren't looking for another killer and she knows Jazz is not the culprit.

This inspirational cozy is full of drama, romance and action without resorting to violent scenes to move the storyline along. The heroine is an everyday woman who loves yet pushes away the man she wants for fear to take a chance. That flaw makes Amanda seem realistic and not a stereotypical sleuth. Claudia Mair Burney has a winning series (see MURDER, MAYHEM AND A FINE MAN) leading to this reviewer impatiently waiting to read the next installment coming at the summer of 2007.

Harriet Klausner