Women's Fiction, Thrillers, Women Detectives - Fiction, Crime Fiction, Other Mystery Categories

Appraisal for Murder

Name: Appraisal for Murder
Author: Elaine Orr
ISBN: 9781466395077

by Elaine Orr, James Larkin (Contribution by)

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Overview

If your name translates to "pretty nice" in French, you've probably gotten used to teasing. It doesn't prepare you to find out that your soon-to-be-ex-husband has a gambling problem, raided your assets, and embezzled from his bank. Jolie Gentil moves to Great Aunt Madge’s bed and breakfast at the Jersey shore, taking her cat Jazz, and joining Madge's pair of prune-eating dogs. Jolie does not view this as a retreat, just a smart change. She had no idea her life was about to get even more complicated.
Jolie settles into the rhythm of late fall in a beach town and finds a work as a real estate appraiser with Aunt Madge’s friend Harry Steele. But a low-life named Joe Pedone demands that Jolie repay some of her husband’s gambling debts and she runs into Michael Riordan, her high school crush -- she's not sure which one is more trouble. Michael's good-looking but arrogant, and when she appraises his mother's house and finds Mrs. Riordan dead in bed she's not sure what to think. His mother's death leaves him as owner of the house, adding greatly to the wealth of the estate he is to inherit. After the funeral they arrest Michael.
Soon, the mundane work of appraising real estate and dodging suggestions that she go to the 10-year high school reunion become mixed with calls from reporters, scary suggestions from Pedone, and requests that she help the local busybody with First Presbyterian's social services work. Jolie also runs into Scoobie, the high school friend she hung out with most. With his blue jeans and longer hair, he’s the antithesis of oil company executive Michael, and much easier to be with. His haunting poetry reflects how different his life has been since Jolie knew him.
Scoobie cuts Michael no slack. Still, with Aunt Madge upset that her late best friend's son stands accused of murder, Jolie looks for indications he's not guilty. Michael, out on bond, insists that Jolie leave his defense to his lawyer. If only she could.
Jolie balances her fear of Pedone, conviction that Michael is innocent, and sometimes uneasy friendship with Scoobie. Her growing list of other possible murder suspects includes Michael's soon-to-be-ex wife and a couple other beneficiaries of Mrs. Riordan's will. Those suspicions don't include Scoobie, but he makes it to the police department's list. Jolie plots other ways to prove both friends innocent. But will Pedone's plans leave Jolie alive to find the truth?

About the Author, Elaine Orr

Elaine L. Orr has written fiction and nonfiction for many years and recently introduced the Jolie Gentil cozy mystery series. Before writing fiction she worked as a nonfiction writer and editor for public sector and nonprofit organizations. Her nonfiction includes material on caring for aging parents and carefully researched family history books. Elaine grew up in Maryland and moved to the Midwest in 1994. She and her husband, Jim Larkin, live in Indiana. It is largely Jim's poetry that is presented in the Jolie Gentil cozy mystery series.

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Editorials

LL Book Review - Susan Anderson

APPRAISAL FOR MURDER is a snappy read, with all the ingredients of a first class mystery including a sleuth who will engage your heart and mind...Themes include the healing power of humor, the success, if slow, of honest labor. Lucky Jolie, to have her sense of humor and an aunt like Madge; lucky us, to have an author like Elaine Orr.