Death Roll (A Snake Jones Zoo Mystery) [Kindle Edition]

Marilyn Victor (Author), Michael Allan Mallory (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

...I have never read another story set behind the scenes in a zoo, and that alone made it fascinating and intriguing. But the plotting and writing were also both first rate, and extremely sophisticated. It was a book I did not want to put down, and just kept reading till I reached the end. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

--Eden Embler, I Love A Mystery Newsletter -- www.iloveamystery.com June, 2007 http://www.iloveamysterynewsletter.com/eden_embler1.htm

Zookeeper Lavender Jones, aka Snake, and her husband, Jeff, an Aussie herpetologist who bears a striking resemblance to the late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin, investigate a murder in which the zoo's star crocodile is chief suspect.

Anthony Wright, director of the Minnesota Valley Zoo, is no one's favorite. Still, finding him dead in the crocodile pool on the night the zoo's Australian exhibit officially opens is a bit of a shocker. Even more shocking is the arrest of the crocodile keeper, JR, who the police discover is wanted for murder in Florida. Snake can't believe JR is guilty even after her sleuthing turns up the details of his alleged crime, which involves several other members of the zoo family: Wright's wealthy wife, a State Senator and JR's ditzy girlfriend, on the run from an abusive husband. When Snake barely escapes with her limbs intact after she's kicked into the crocodile pool, she's sure her hit-and-miss detection has hit a nerve. Gary Olson, intern on Jeff's wildly successful cable wildlife show, Zoofari, adds to the confusion when he shows Snake evidence that Wright may have been involved with the lucrative illegal trade in wild animals. Snake must dig deep to prove to her high-school boyfriend, now the cop in charge of the case, that JR is innocent.

A competent debut with engaging characters and an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at zoo life. -- Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2007

Product Description

Who would want the director of the Minnesota Valley Zoo dead? Everyone! Anthony Wright made a career of getting what he wanted, whatever the price. When he's murdered and ends up as a late night snack for the zoo's fifteen-foot crocodile, few are shedding any tears. After police arrest the lead crocodile handler, it's up to zookeeper Lavender "Snake" Jones to prove her friend's innocence. But is she really helping? Each lie she exposes only serves to strengthen the case against him, rattles her belief in those she trusts and, in the end, threatens her own safety. With the help of her Aussie husband, herpetologist Jeff Jones, mystery's first zoologist sleuth hacks her way through the shadowy underworld of illegal animal trading to uncover a snakepit of sordid deeds, secret pasts, and corruption.

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 393 KB
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003CJU05G
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #304,882 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Behind-the-scenes zoo thriller, September 26, 2007

By 

Connie Fletcher (Wilmette, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Death Roll (Hardcover)

The most fun I've had reading a mystery in a long time! It's a mystery why no other author has given readers a zoo setting before -- lots of behind-the-scenes animal fascination and human intrigue here. A wow of a book!
--Connie Fletcher, Chicago, IL

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Story, June 5, 2007

By 

Amy J. Adams "HamsterMom" (Rice Lake, WI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Death Roll (Hardcover)

I typically do not read mystery books, but was introduced to this story and was intrigued as it relates to the Minnesota Zoo and is set in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Getting a sense of what zoo life is like beyond what we see in the exhibits was very interesting. I have never thought about what happens behind the scenes and have a new appreciation for zookeepers and all the work involved in creating the displays we see.

The characters are interesting and I found that I could easily picture each. I became interested in the fate of everyone throughout the book and would love to read about where everyone is 5 years later. The plot twists were great, just as soon as I was convinced I was on the right track a new piece of information was interwoven in the story and I had to rethink my position. While away from the book, I still found myself thinking about the character interaction and trying to conclude who the guilty party was. I also enjoyed the elements of "normal" zookeeper activities spread throughout the story. It was hard to set the book down.

I recommend this book to people interested in wild animals and zoos, people who are familiar with the Twin Cities and enjoy "knowing" where the action is taking place and anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's All Happening at the Zoo, February 8, 2011

By 

Lil Gluckstern "Just a music lover" (Half Moon Bay, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Death Roll (Hardcover)

Very satisfying peak at life in a large zoo park with wonderful, sympathetic characters, and charming animals. The mystery is satisfying, but the treat is seeing how zookeepers to deal with the crises of animal care, and daily life (and hopefully) not so daily mysteries. "Snake" and her crocodile handler husband are charming. The authors' knowledge of zoos is so nicely presented, and if you've ever enjoyed a visit to a good zoo park, this will delight you as it did me. I'm already looking forward to the next.