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Thursday, September 25, 2014

Throwback Thursday: Dead Cat bounce by Sarah Graves


Author: Sarah Graves
First published in 1998 by Bantam

dead cat bounce n. Stock market jargon for a small, temporary rise in a stock's trading price after a sharp drop.

Since she bought her rambling old fixer-upper of a house, Jacobia Tiptree has gotten used to finding things broken. But her latest problem isn't so easily repaired. Along with the rotting floor joists and sagging support beams, there's the little matter of the dead man in Jake's storeroom, an ice pick firmly planted in his cranium.

Not much happens in her tiny Maine town, but that's about to change. Jake's unknown guest turns out to be a world-famous corporate raider, local boy turned billionaire Threnody McIlwaine. When Jake's best friend, quiet and dependable Ellie White, readily confesses to the murder, cops and journalists swarm into snowbound Eastport.

Jake smells a cover-up, and begins poking into past history between McIlwaine and Ellie's family. But someone doesn't like nosy neighbors...and Jake's rustic refuge may become her final resting place.


As I started this audio-book, I had the feeling that I had read this book before a while ago.  I'm not usually one for re-reading books, but I remember  enjoying it.  I did not remembering the identity of the killer.  So, I stuck with it.  Dead Cat Bounce was a very enjoyable mystery.  I think fans of Murder She Wrote from the 80s will enjoy this cozy mystery.  That is what it reminded me of as I was listening.

I loved Jake.  I thought she made a great amateur sleuth.  She is smart, tough, and loyal to her friends.  After just under a year living in the small Maine town, she is becoming accepted by the locals.  She has settled in nicely as has her son, Sam.  She has a new love in her life and everything with her ancient house is going nicely.  Until, she finds a dead man in her storage room.  When her best friend confesses to the crime, Jake knows something isn't right.  I thought the mystery was well laid out with a few surprised along the way.  

This is a series I know I will definitely be checking out once again.  There are about 16 books so far, so I have a lot of catching up to do!


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