The Big Brushoff A Jake Laura Mystery edition by Michael Murphy Mystery Thriller Suspense eBooks
Download As PDF : The Big Brushoff A Jake Laura Mystery edition by Michael Murphy Mystery Thriller Suspense eBooks 
The irresistible Jake & Laura return in Michael Murphy’s witty, fast-paced mystery series—perfect for readers of Dorothy Cannell and Christopher Fowler. In The Big Brush-off, the charming and indomitable duo heads to the Midwest to solve a chilling cold case of a young girl’s murder.
Blackie Doyle is dying. That’s what Jake Donovan’s literary agent tells him. Sales are falling, and the rough draft of Jake’s latest Blackie novel doesn’t look promising. Maybe Jake has been distracted by a recent barrage of real-life homicides, or by his marriage to the beautiful up-and-coming actress Laura Wilson, now slated for a part opposite Clark Gable himself. Whatever the reason, Jake decides to return to his roots. Which is why he and Laura hop the next train to the small town in Pennsylvania where Jake once worked as a Pinkerton detective.
Ten years ago, the murder of a teenage girl interrupted life in quiet, God-fearing Hanover. The unsolved case has always gnawed at Jake, and it seems no coincidence that as soon as he starts digging up old ghosts, he’s once again writing like a dervish. Nor is it surprising that some townfolk would rather see the truth stay buried—and maybe even Jake and Laura with it. But the glamorous crime-solving pair refuse to leave before sorting through a bevy of suspects—and at long last nailing the one who almost got away with the not-so-perfect crime.
Praise for The Big Brush-off
“This entry in the series is every bit as much fun as the previous books.”—Reading Reality
“If you like clever repartee mixed with a fun historical whodunit and a bit of glamour mixed in, then this series is going to make your day.”—Popcorn Reads
Praise for Michael Murphy’s Jake & Laura mysteries
“Glittering with a hint of Nick and Nora, Michael Murphy’s 1930s Manhattan provides a witty setting for murder and mayhem.”—Mary Daheim, bestselling author of The Alpine Yeoman, on The Yankee Club
“[Jake and Laura] are fun, witty, and charming, and [All That Glitters] is filled with the same kind of 1930s Hollywood glamour that made the film of The Thin Man such a classic.”—Popcorn Reads
“The third installment in Murphy’s series is just as much fun as the first. The mystery is full of twists with an ample amount of red herrings, suspects, and action.”—Mystery Please!, on Wings in the Dark
The Big Brushoff A Jake Laura Mystery edition by Michael Murphy Mystery Thriller Suspense eBooks
Two years ago, Michael Murphy introduced us to Jake Donovan and Laura Wilson, two New Yorkers who hit it big as a detective turned mystery writer and a Broadway actress/movie star. Since that time, Murphy has been prolific, giving us four Jake & Laura mysteries in locales as varied as New York City, Los Angeles, Hawaii and now, in The Big Brush-off, Hanover, Pennsylvania.Part of the fun of the first three novels were the glitzy, glamorous settings, but in The Big Brush-off, Murphy demonstrates he can write an engaging murder mystery without relying on exotic locales. Jake and Laura have enough glamour and chemistry to carry a story all by themselves.
The premise of The Big Brush-off is that Jake has lost his touch as a writer. Maybe he's lost focus because of his recent marriage to Laura, his support for her blossoming career, and the distractions of getting drawn into several, "real-life" murder mysteries in need of his detective skills. Whatever the reason, his New York editor tells him his latest work stinks, and he needs to find inspiration or move on to another career.
Jake decides to pursue a change of scenery by heading to Hanover, Pennsylvania, which has haunted him for a decade. He failed to solve a murder case involving a teenage victim. When the girl's dying mother asks him to try again, he finds it impossible to refuse.
Laura comes along, even though she's being summoned back to Hollywood to discuss the biggest role to date of her short movie career. She's a bit of an amateur sleuth herself, and she wants to be part of the adventure.
Hanover is good for Jake's writing, and he finds a way to breathe new life into Blackie. He and Laura continue to grow in a relationship that started when they were kids.
Once again, Murphy serves up lots of crisp, sassy dialogue, intriguing plot development, and some interesting characters. If you're a mystery buff, and you enjoy historical settings, give this book and the rest of Murphy's Jake & Laura series a try.
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The Big Brushoff A Jake Laura Mystery edition by Michael Murphy Mystery Thriller Suspense eBooks Reviews
Best-selling mystery writer Jake Donovan has (at least) two problems. Ten years ago, in 1925, he had to leave his last case as a Pinkerton detective unsolved when he was called to the bedside of his dying father. The teen-aged victim’s mother is now terminally ill herself and asks Jake to resume investigating her daughter’s murder, which she says none of the authorities is interested in solving. In addition, Jake’s editor tells him that his series is getting stale; his sales are slumping; and the publisher is not willing to offer him a new contract unless he shows them a manuscript with promise. Jake and his movie-star wife Laura (who is facing some important career decisions herself) visit Hanover, PA, to give Jake a quiet environment in which to write and to take another look at the unsolved mystery.
Having read The Yankee Club, the first book in the Jake and Laura series, I was very pleased to see that The Big Brush-off seemed to capitalize on the elements of the first book that I liked but eliminated what I had not enjoyed. Book one was appropriately described as a “noir” detective mystery, and the nasty violence in it, even from Jake, turned me off. The violence was missing from this book, which had almost more of a “cozy” mystery feel, especially the setting in a small town with a limited number of characters. I had enjoyed the characters in the first book, and personalities were explored more in The Big Brush-off. Jake and Laura’s love is very clear, as they each worry about the other’s challenges as well as their own and make plans for future family life. They come across as decent folks. Jake may be a tough-minded writer and detective, but he can still say things like, “as a boy, I always placed priests on a pedestal, and the older I got, many of them met my expectations.” There are also enjoyable portrayals of the citizens of Hanover, like teen-aged Freddy, son of the owner of the Hanover Inn, who seems to observe a lot that goes on in his town.
Murphy depicts the 1930s era very well. Obviously, there are sobering examples of the hardships people experienced during the Depression, but there are also nice small details that flesh out the picture. I especially noted the reference to the “simple mahogany dresser” in the murder victim’s bedroom, which put me in mind of the mahogany furniture throughout my grandparents’ homes and so many other homes of the period.
I was enjoying the characters and the setting so much that I realized the book was about half over and there had not been a lot of progress in the investigation. Murphy soon rectified that situation, however, and delivered a much more plausible situation and resolution than he did in The Yankee Club. I correctly identified the killer but not so early that it spoiled the book, a good device for a writer---to make the reader feel smart but not cheated.
Since I did not yet read books 2 and 3 in the series, I do not know what they were like, but based on the changes from Book 1 I can’t help but wonder whether we have a situation of an author writing what he knows---in this case an author rejuvenating a series that is going stale. If so, I can happily report success for both Jake and Michael.
PS You can enjoy this book without having read the earlier books, but there will be mild "spoliers" when you go back to read the others.
NOTE I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an objective review.
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Well written story that flows well. As it's a mystery there are clues but they are not overt and therefore don't give away the ending prematurely.
Great plot...full set of suspects in the murder...with Jake "resting on his laurels" in writing his previous novel...so..he must write a hit for his Editor OR lose his contract with his publisher. A kept man, he is not! So typewriter and paper by his side he works on two imperitives write another hit novel And help find the killer of the girl and help a dying woman know her daughter's killer has been brought to justice.
Twists and turns in plotting..good insight of their maturing relationship as spouses and helpmates. Better than ever..
The fourth Jake and Laura mystery does not disappoint! It is wonderful to revisit this delightful crime solving couple. While less filled with famous friends, this entry in the series adds insights into their lives and their occasional discomfort at being wealthy and successful when many around them are buffeted by the Depression. It was a interesting change of pace seeing them connect with regular folks in small town Hanover, while also facing uncertainty about their own professional futures. This is another fun story with a little mystery, a little history, and engaging leading characters. Hopefully there will be many more chances to spend time with Jake and Laura!
Two years ago, Michael Murphy introduced us to Jake Donovan and Laura Wilson, two New Yorkers who hit it big as a detective turned mystery writer and a Broadway actress/movie star. Since that time, Murphy has been prolific, giving us four Jake & Laura mysteries in locales as varied as New York City, Los Angeles, Hawaii and now, in The Big Brush-off, Hanover, Pennsylvania.
Part of the fun of the first three novels were the glitzy, glamorous settings, but in The Big Brush-off, Murphy demonstrates he can write an engaging murder mystery without relying on exotic locales. Jake and Laura have enough glamour and chemistry to carry a story all by themselves.
The premise of The Big Brush-off is that Jake has lost his touch as a writer. Maybe he's lost focus because of his recent marriage to Laura, his support for her blossoming career, and the distractions of getting drawn into several, "real-life" murder mysteries in need of his detective skills. Whatever the reason, his New York editor tells him his latest work stinks, and he needs to find inspiration or move on to another career.
Jake decides to pursue a change of scenery by heading to Hanover, Pennsylvania, which has haunted him for a decade. He failed to solve a murder case involving a teenage victim. When the girl's dying mother asks him to try again, he finds it impossible to refuse.
Laura comes along, even though she's being summoned back to Hollywood to discuss the biggest role to date of her short movie career. She's a bit of an amateur sleuth herself, and she wants to be part of the adventure.
Hanover is good for Jake's writing, and he finds a way to breathe new life into Blackie. He and Laura continue to grow in a relationship that started when they were kids.
Once again, Murphy serves up lots of crisp, sassy dialogue, intriguing plot development, and some interesting characters. If you're a mystery buff, and you enjoy historical settings, give this book and the rest of Murphy's Jake & Laura series a try.
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