Customer Reviews

Murder Unleashed (Jack & Jamie, Bk 2)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I read this book a year ago and was revisiting Amazon recently when I read the review by "booklover" ("Good Dogs, Bad Books") and was very surprised to find someone who obviously hasn't even read this book writing a review of it!  How does this happen?  Why?

I can understand differences in taste. "booklover" recommends Susan Conant and Laurien Berensen in place of reading Kelley's dog mysteries. I've read one book each by these authors and found them to be below average -- actually not much better than a third grade level compared to Kelley's electric writing, at least IMO. Meanwhile I love Kelley's characters, his storytelling style, and think his writing is fresh, first rate, and far above a third grade level, which I suppose if you hadn't read Hemingway and Faulkner you might not appreciate.  I doubt "booklover" would agree with me on this, even if she had read "Murder Unleashed", though she clearly hasn't: I had the pleasure of re-reading this book over the weekend, just to be sure I was right about some of the nonexistent plot points she mentions.

First of all, no one has framed the lead character, Jack Field, for murder in this novel, especially not Sheriff Flynn. In fact, nobody at all is framed for murder! It's not part of the plot! I have no idea where she'd get that idea if she'd actually read the book.

Second, while it's true that Jack and Sheriff Flynn were antagonistic toward one another in the first novel, they actually like each other in this book, and work together to solve one part of the mystery.

Third, Jamie, the state medical examiner, who is Jack's love interest, is not his "married lover", as this so-called reviewer states. Yes, she was legally separated in the first novel but was waiting for her divorce to be finalized. In "Murder Unleashed" she is finally divorced, which gives Jack an opportunity to propose to her.  (Does he?  I won't say!)

As I said before, I understand that different readers have different tastes. I'm sure that Susan Conant and Laurien Berensen sell more novels than Mr. Kelley, despite the fact that he's the better writer.  What I don't understand is why someone would want to "review" a novel they haven't even read!!  Please!

This is a funny, suspenseful, intelligent, and superbly written novel.  Five stars.

A prominent Judge is found dead in his car, his throat ripped up, and his daughter's dog his only company. The police point the finger at the dog, a boxer named Roark. Jack Field, kennel owner and former cop, believes that there are no vicious dogs and that behavior problems can be solved with liver treats, a tennis ball or a good game of tug-o-war. He immediately takes Roark under his protection. Jack doesn't really want to get involved in the investigation, but he can't stand by while a dog is accused of murder! With the help of Jamie Cutter, medical examiner and love of his life, he dives into the tangled webs surrounding the murder. It's a race to the finish, as Jack and Jamie dodge bullets and search for clues.

The banter between Jack and Jamie is lively, and their romance adds extra interest to the story. The supporting ensemble is made up of shallow caricatures, but the main characters have complex histories and relationships. The plot gets a little too busy at times; it doesn't twist so much as become cluttered with numerous side adventures. There is a small logical flaw in part of the plot involving a diary that I found jarring, but not enough to ruin my enjoyment of the book.

Dog lovers will definitely get a kick out of the canine characters and will probably be interested in Jack's training techniques as well. Author Lee Charles Kelly has been a professional dog trainer for 10 years. Murder Unleashed is a quick, entertaining read and does not depend on having read the first Jack Field novel, A Nose for Murder.

I actually wrote the first novel in this series in 1997 but it wasn't until almost five years later that I finally got a publishing deal. That deal was eventually signed in mid-November of 2001 and included deadlines for two more books, and the first had to be delivered by February!

Luckily I'd written a basic outline for MURDER UNLEASHED (which I originally called BEAGLE TROUBLES), and even had five or six chapters under my belt. Still, it's one thing to leisurely write your first book with no deadline and no pressure and to be able to allow yourself the luxury of taking nine months (or six years) to do it, and it's something else to suddenly have to finish your second novel in less than three months!

Needless to say, once the deal was signed and the advance check was in my pocket, I worked non-stop on MURDER UNLEASHED. I wrote chapters on subway trains, on buses, on park benches (when the weather was nice), and took my powerbook with me everywhere I went. I remember very clearly writing one very funny yet suspenseful chapter where Jack and a couple of local cops are trying to apprehend a fugitive who's fleeing down a fire escape. The final scene of that chapter was written while I was riding the M-57 bus, crosstown to Sutton Place. The ending cracked me up so much I was laughing out loud, almost uncontrollably, in fact, while all the other passengers were giving me strange looks and wondering, "What's WRONG with that guy?"

A substantial portion of MURDER UNLEASHED was also written over the Christmas and New Year's holiday, while I was dog-sitting for one of my training clients' dogs, Achille, a blue Dane, who lived in Chelsea. (His owners were in Paris.) I remember the long, quiet afternoons spent at their kitchen table, between his morning and evening walks, when I sat looking out over 23rd Street, with Achille snoring on his bed in the living room, and how the character of Hooch, a Dogue de Bordeaux, magically showed up on my computer one day and wouldn't leave.

At any rate, I completed the manuscript on schedule and was glad to learn that I still had a chance to make further revisions during copy-editing and galley-proofing. (I was a novice to the publishing industry and I'm still not sure if those are the correct terms.) I was just glad to have finished the thing but felt, quite honestly, that it was nowhere near as good as my first novel. Imagine my surprise when my editor said she thought it was a lot better.

"You've really grown as a writer," she said.

"Yeah?" I wanted to say. "Tell that to those people on the bus!"

I've since come around to her point of view. I think it IS better than A NOSE FOR MURDER. I hope you enjoy it!

Why is it that sexy ladyloves of tough burned-out ex-cops have to hit their men to keep them in line? Maybe it's because Jack Field knows dogs better than he does people. He's also prone to an occasional slip of the tongue over billiards. (ie. on marriage: "Thankfully the subject has never come up.") By the end of the book, however, he undergoes a transformation and, complete with a Tiffany diamond, proposes to the small town medical examiner, Dr. Jamie Cutter. That is, if she can get him away from his dogs, especially ones accused of murder!

Jack not only has A Nose for Murder (title of the debut novel of the series), he has a nose for quality. He defends a bloodhound against murder charges, and saves Tulips, an Asian-American singer and illegitimate daughter of a murdered judge, against the abuse of her drug-running boyfriend. Unfortunately, a shady sergeant, the murdered judge's even more shady in-law sniffing around Jamie tend to raise Jack's hackles and make him more dangerous than a dachshund that can't reach the Puppy Chow. But the pair who burglarizes together stays together. How can a man write realistic male-female relationships? The answer's easy: Borrow some of the sense God gave a dog, and like Jack Field, you'll sniff out and uncover what's really important in life, even without a rolled-up newspaper.

This is a terrific book in a lot of ways, though I found it flawed in spots. The story had me laughing at times and turning the pages as fast as I could at others. And I loved all of the characters, especially the dogs (wait till you meet Hooch!). The writing style was unobtrusive and easy to read, at least for the most part. But there were sections that bogged down a little, at least for me. Luckily, there weren't many sections like that, just a few. I also read the first book by Kelley and I think he has the makings of a hit series. I will definitely read more books by this author.

I read and enjoyed Kelley's first book, A Nose For Murder, as I'm a murder mystery fan and avid dog adorer. In this new book, Kelly seems to be settling down and getting really comfortable with the world and characters he's created. It was a great read, and I can't really explain, but while the voice is intelligent and knowledgeable, it's also light and humorous. I guess that's from Kelley's getting comfortable like I mentioned above.
I just got totally absorbed in the novel, and the ingenious plot had me guessing till the last minute which part of me whished would not soon come. The book was just so funny and engrossing, I didn't want it to end.

So what is it that is so very appealing about this series? Maybe for me it is the setting- my own adopted state of Maine. Or could it be the characters? Jack Field, ex New York detective, is the owner of a dog kennel/ training business. He is usually in the company of or thinking about Jamie Cutter, the Medical Examiner. Living with Jack is his foster son, 'Duke" a crime victim from NYC. A steady, well written cast of characters traveling from one book to another to make this a cohesive, fun group of books to read. The starring roles though are assigned to the various dogs that populate the scenes. Much space is also given to dog training tips- a system based on play and praise.
Kelley writes with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek. He seems to understand that Jack makes Sherlock Holmes seem dense and plots are more interesting when they appear impossible. The asides and comments to the reader draw the casual reader into his world. He cleverly admits that these are just good mystery stories that are enjoyable to read- and what more can we ask from a cozy?
(Next step would be a top rated tv show! Anyone out there know any producers..but remember it was my idea first!)

Three Hints for reading this series:
1. It is not neccesary to read them in the order written but would be more enjoyable to follow the continuing plot lines in order.
2. Just remember- the dog is always innocent ! (oops- is that a spoiler?)
3. If you do not have a dog when you start the series you probably will by the end!

Murder Unleashed
Roark, a boxer, seems to be the only possible murderer of a Supreme Court justice
when he is found in the car with the judge and the judge's throat is torn apart. Jack knows,
of course, that Roark is innocent. With his usual ability to link seemingly unrelated
information he and Jamie set off to prove that the death is not what it seems.
An all dog star cast gives this book its delightful ending.

Jack Fields is a former NYPD Detective. Now he and his god son Leon run a dog kennel in Maine. His girlfriend, Dr. Jamie Cutter, is the part-time medical examiner. When she gets called out to examine the body of the judge who had been missing, Jack must drive her because her car gets blocked in by debris from a storm.

He had planned to drop her off and leave, but when he heard there was a dog involved, he became involved. Much to the chagrin of Sheriff Flynn. They had run ins on a previous murder investigation. Of course, it probably didn't help that Jack had solved that one instead of the sheriff.

A boxer, Roark, was found inside the car with the judge. As yet no one has been able to get to the body because Roark was attacking them. Jack, using his alternative dog training methods, coaxed Roark out of the car with a tennis ball.

The police believe that Roark killed the judge. Jack gets permission to house Roark at his kennel overnight. He does not believe Roark killed the judge. The next day Jack takes Roark to a local vets to hide him. He gives the dog a phony name. The vets office recognizes Roark, but as soon as they find out that Grant Goodrich was trying to get Roark to put him to sleep for killing the judge, they agreed the dog wasn't Roark.

Farrell Woods' ten beagles come to stay at the kennel. Eventually Farrell Woods came by and Jack was able to get some much needed information about some things going on in town recently.

Jamie and Jack keep digging and the identity of the real killer and the truth about what happened begin to come clearer.

I truly enjoy this series. Jamie and Jack are great characters and their interaction is so well written. I love all books set in New England so the setting in Maine just adds to the story for me.

The plot is always well constructed and there are plenty of twists and turns.

I highly recommend this book and series. It is a great cozy mystery.

Jack is a man who wants to forget his brilliance as a sleuth & psychologist in order to make a simple life with dogs. Jamie is a seemingly simple woman who wants romance, marriage & window treatments, despite being a brilliant pathologist. They chaffe each other even as they love each other, often while carrying wire-cutters as they look for evidence. Murder Unleashed is chock-a-block with wit, suspense, dog antics & training tips, jazz, police procedures, FBI profiling techniques, cooking ideas & the generosity of two people who love each other despite themselves, & love dogs for what they are. Wrap yourself up in Kelley: he's a great way to survive a rainy winter!

I really enjoyed reading this novel. I thought it was smart and sassy and funny. There were a couple of great villains, including one that all dog lovers will love to hate-Grant Goodrich, who's on a mission to rid the state of Maine of all pit bulls, Rottweilers, and other "vicious" breeds. Luckily, Jack Field, our hero, comes to their rescue. (He also solves a high-profile murder case.)

The writing style is simple and breezy, yet clearly written by someone with a great deal of knowledge and intelligence. I actually learned a lot from this book.

There are some truly hilarious moments, as well as some that had me on the edge of my seat, and others that are very romantic. Plus, Jack Field is a great character.

And you know something, I kind of missed the characters when I finished reading it. I WANT MORE!!