I.O.U. (Jenny Cain Mysteries, No. 7) [Hardcover]

Nancy Pickard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1991

When Jenny's mother dies of pneumonia after years in a mental institution, an anonymous voice whispers in the crowded graveyard, "Forgive me. It was an accident. . . ". And when Jenny asks too many questions, an attack on Jenny's life is staged to look like a suicide attempt. "A compelling tale of sin, guilt, and the havoc human beings wreak upon one another. . . ".--San Diego Union.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The layered plot of the latest in the excellent Jenny Cain series ( Say No to Murder ) finds the Port Frederick, Mass., sleuth probing the cause of her recently deceased mother's insanity. Cain discovers that her mother's mental collapse many years before coincided with the bankruptcy of the family business. The closing of Cain Clams created considerable unemployment locally and countless enemies for the Cains--one such foe may now be trying to prevent the amateur detective from delving further into her family's past and the town's secrets. As she tracks down public mysteries, Cain unearths painful personal issues; an attempt on her life, construed as an effort at suicide, forces her to deal with the legacy of her mother's madness. Pickard masterfully resolves both plot lines in this affecting, provocative novel centering around the mystery at the heart of mother-daughter relationships.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA-- A contemporary, entertaining mystery that begins at the funeral of Jenny's mother, who had been hospitalized for mental illness many years before. An overheard whisper of "I'm sorry, it was an accident," starts Jenny wondering about her father's loss of the family business, his affair with her stepmother, the cause of her mother's illness, and whether it can be inherited. Her sleuthing unravels the answers to these and many more questions in this fast-paced novel, and she reacts believably to the unusual combination of events in her life. Although there are more situations in this mystery/soap opera than would likely happen in real life to any one person, they will grab readers' interest and hold it until every loose end is clarified and resolved. --Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 234 pages
• Publisher: Atria; First Edition edition (April 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671680412
• ISBN-13: 978-0671680411
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,050,838 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't read if you have conservative values, June 1, 2008

By 

TXBookLover "dranet" (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I.O.U. (Jenny Cain Mysteries, No. 7) (Paperback)

The book was just ~OK~ and it kept me somewhat interested. The writing was well-done, but the plot was weak and the details were vague. As a conservative Christian, however, I felt that the author used her book to trash conservative values. She didn't outright attack them, but she sure made it clear that her character was a liberal democrat, and anything else is just not worth her time. Subjects such as nude art and abortion are covered. "The embryo that was killed (aborted) was only a potential person, not a real one." I'm not here to debate, just warn people that have similar values as me.

If the book had been better I might have been able to overlook the jabs, but as it stands, I don't recommend this book.

2 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I.O.U is the a cutting edge thriller that you've got to see., November 12, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I.O.U. (Jenny Cain Mysteries, No. 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

Your taken to a world of a girl who suffers from horrible nightmares. Chasing after her in these nightmares, is the essence of all her fear, but when nightmares become reality, she and her family get more than they expect from a troubled teenager. I would recommend that anyone who enjoys nonstop action to read this. You may find yourself hiding in a corner when your through.