Generous Death (Jenny Cain Mysteries, No. 1) [Paperback]

Pickard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 14, 2007

As director of the Port Frederick Civic Foundation, Jenny Cain is privy to the charitable intentions of the town's wealthiest citizens. There's eccentric old Arnie Culverson, who's promised millions to the local art museum. Who's found there one bright winter morning, neatly tucked into a priceless antique Chinese bed. With pillow and blanket. Dead. Then another dearly beloved donor dies in the night. And the killer leaves behind a nasty rhyme suggesting rich and beautiful Jenny will be next!

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (November 14, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416586881
• ISBN-13: 978-1416586883
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,113,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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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 The first in a great series..., March 20, 2004

By 

Korillian "AMS" (Coral Springs, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Generous Death (Jenny Cain Mysteries, No. 1) (Paperback)

Nancy Pickard hasn't written a Jenny Cain novel in a long time, so I was "forced" to start re-reading the series to get my fix. I started at the beginning, with Generous Death. I'd forgotten just how much I like this series, and this book. Ms. Pickard did a great job introducing the characters without overwhelming with too much wordy detail. I found myself rooting for Jenny, but also caring about what happened to the rest of the characters as well. The mystery itself is not heavy but there's still a lot of suspense and danger. And yes, there is a relationship in this story, but it's not overdone and does a lot to advance the story while giving insight into the characters.

Ms. Pickard followed in the footsteps of trail-blazers like Marcia Muller and Sara Paretsky with this series, which features a first person female protagonist who loves men but doesn't need one to be happy. If you like those authors, you should definitely give the Jenny Cain series a try. But I would encourage anyone who likes mysteries to add Nancy Pickard to the list of authors you read.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intresting debut of the long running Jenny Cain series, February 10, 2001

By 

Carol Peterson Hennekens (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Generous Death (Jenny Cain Mysteries, No. 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Having read a couple of the Jenny Cain series at random, it was fun to finally read the book that set up the series. Indeed, I found myself liking Jenny a good deal more in this book than in some of the others. She displays a charming dry wit that I really enjoyed.

This book sets up the earmarks of the series. For me, a westerner, the clearest distinction is the strong sense of New England that permeates this book and series. Not that it is a foreign country, but certainly it is its own place. It's also fun to get insights on how foundations work -- a setting I haven't seen in other books.

Bottom line -- a debut book that is a good read in its own right.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Jenny Cain, February 12, 2006

By 

Mystery Girl "Zuzi" (Orange County, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Generous Death (Jenny Cain Mysteries, No. 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Unfortunately, I had read ALL of Nancy Pickards books before I even got to this first one! How I missed it I'll never know. It sets the story line for the books that follow and filled me in on quite a few gaps I previously missed. Fast flowing and smooth, but you can tell also how much she has progressed as a writer. This is not her best but it is up there with the others in the suspense department. I wish I knew why she hasn't written anymore books.....maybe someone can inform us?