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Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man: An Amanda Bell Brown Mystery Pub. Date: 7/28/2006 Publisher: NavPress Publishing Group

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Overview

For Amanda Bell Brown, just living her life is murder!

How's a woman supposed to grapple with faith, a fine man, and turning thirty-five when she keeps tripping in her high heels over mysteries — and not just the God kind?

Amanda Bell Brown knows that life as a forensic psychologist isn't quite as cool as it looks on prime-time TV. But when she turns thirty-five with no husband or baby on the horizon, she decides she's gotta get out and paint the town — in her drop-dead red birthday dress. Instead, she finds herself at the scene of a crime — and she just may know who the killer is. She needs to spill her guts, but not on the handsome lead detective's alligator shoes — especially if she wants him to ask her out. A complicated murder investigation unearths not just a killer but a closet full of skeletons Amanda thought were long gone. Murder, mayhem, and a fine man are wreaking havoc on her birthday, but will her sleuthing leave her alive to see past thirty-five?

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781416551942
Publisher: Howard Books
Publication date: 1/29/2008
Pages: 320
Sales rank: 597,627
Series: Amanda Bell Brown Mystery Series
Product dimensions: 5.50 (w) x 8.30 (h) x 0.80 (d)

Meet the Author

Claudia Mair Burney is the author of Murder, Mayhem & a Fine Man, Death, Deceit & Some Smooth Jazz (both titles in the Amanda Bell Brown Mystery series) and the young adult novel, Exorsistah. She lives in Michigan with her husband, five of their seven children, and a rabbit. Visit her blog at ragamuffindiva.blogspot.com.

Read an Excerpt

Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man

An Amanda Bell Brown mystery

By Claudia Mair Burney

NAVPRESS

Copyright © 2006 Claudia Mair Burney
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-57683-978-2

Chapter One

I HAD EVERY REASON to be peeved, and I told Carly so.

"Why didn't you just get me a T-shirt that says, 'I turned forty today, and all I got was the chance to poke around at a crime scene?'"

"'And this lousy T-shirt.' Don't forget that part," Carly added with a grin.

"And I'll bet that lousy T-shirt would be small enough to fit a toddler."

"It's okay. I'd have given you a Wonderbra to go with it. happy birthday, sis!"

Honestly, she's just like our mother.

Carly, unlike our mother, is a medical examiner and happened to be on call that night. I knew I shouldn't have gone out to dinner with her, but frankly, I didn't have anything more compelling to do other than watch a boxed set of the newly released season of CSI - my birthday present to myself. Carly had offered to buy me Cajun at Fishbones instead. She'd already purchased my saucy little dress and matching shoes from one of the high-end boutiques she can afford, but I can't. Still, I would have rather watched crime scene investigators than be one.

I shot her the evil eye.

Carly had insisted she take me out because I'd been feeling down. To her, the idea of a depressed psychologist bordered on heresy. We'd argued all the way from Greek Town, stopping only when we pulled up in front of the house.

"C'mon, Bell. You can'tspend the big four-o holed up in your apartment watching television. And how can a psychologist be depressed? What's up with that?"

"It's not television. It's a DVD. And why can't I be depressed? Don't medical examiners die?" I paused to give her my best sassy glare. "What's up with that?"

She sighed. "DVD or not, CSI is a TV show." She poked her lips out in the mock outrage I've seen my sister play at many times before, "And pathologists do not die."

I looked at her.

"They expire," she said, followed by a wicked grin. I smiled in spite of myself.

"Then, I'm not really depressed. I'm having an episode." I'd spoken the gospel truth about that. Even if I'd been mowed down by a full-blown clinical depression, I had good reasons to be low. I'd never married. I turned forty, God help me, and I had a raging case of endometriosis, which, according to my doctor, meant I shouldn't wait a whole lot longer before trying to make a baby. Only I lacked a man, significant other, husband, boyfriend, main squeeze, or any other variation of that theme. No knight in shining armor had appeared, magnanimously holding a test tube full of his little soldiers, mine for the taking.

Carly had stopped her black Escalade next to two police cruisers, their light bars flashing against the house and trees. Groups of people - some still in their nightclothes - huddled on the sidewalk. Yellow crime-scene tape halted any looky-loos from getting too curious, or too close, for their own good. I glanced out of the passenger window at the house. It sure did look familiar - number 2345 - a small white house nestled in a ghetto upgrade neighborhood. Nothing about the nondescript ranch stood out. So why did a nagging uneasiness tug at me the moment I set eyes on it?

Number 2345 - the one that sits a little farther back than the others.

I vaguely recalled, at sometime or another, actually writing down directions to this very house. I'd been here before.

A blue, unmarked Crown Victoria pulled up beside us.

Carly thrust her gearshift into park and turned the ignition off. She fluffed her long black hair and wagged her eyebrows at me. "Honey, God is smiling on you. A yummy birthday treat has just arrived." With no other explanation, she jumped out of the SUV like she'd scoped out a fine man on the horizon, and about three seconds later I understood why.

He was stunning. Tall, but not too tall, and lightly tanned. He sported the classic boys-in-the-hood 'do - impeccably groomed brown curls, a little high on the top, with a fade on the sides - and he wore it well.

This white guy has been hanging around the brothers.

Wait.

I took another lingering look.

Is this white guy a brother? Or isn't he?

He possessed the kind of exotic good looks that appeared to be an ambiguous blend of races - at least black, white, and Latino. He must have pulled all the fine out of that multicultural gene pool. Mr. United Nations had on a gray lightweight wool suit tailored to perfection. His white button-down shirt had been starched into military submission. His artsy tie, knotted charmingly askew at his neck, looked like an expressionist painting. I sensed a little wildness there, and it looked good and natural on him - like wildness looks good on mountains and waterfalls.

He walked up to Carly with a hand extended. She ignored it and scooped him up in a hug.

"Carly Brown," he said, nearly humming her name with a voice as smooth and rich as a cup of Godiva hot chocolate. When he released her, I stole another look at his face.

He smiled, and one word came to mind: wow. But this wasn't the time to be ogling some blue suit, even if he was in plain clothes. Dead folks were in the house, for goodness' sakes, and CSI stuff needed to be done. Shoot. I wanted to see Gil Grissom or that fine Warrick Brown - or at least a reasonable facsimile. Then again, the plain-clothes cop who recently hugged up with Carly would do just fine as the on-site hottie.

"How are you, Jazzy?" Carly asked after she squeezed him. knowing her, she had also given him a subtle brush with a strategically positioned breast.

He grinned at her. Laughed even. "How's the most gorgeous medical examiner in the county?"

"County?" she complained, with mock hurt in her eyes. She batted her lashes as though she might be going blind, "last time you said state."

"Aw, sistah, my bad," he said.

I stole another look at him.

He's black, and a hood rat at that.

He continued oozing charm in Carly's general direction. "You already know you're the most gorgeous medical examiner in the United states."

"And Canada."

I groaned. Great birthday. I get to sit in an SUV on an unseasonably hot September night - at a crime scene - listening to Carly flirt. I spent my adolescence doing that - minus the dead bodies, thank God.

Could it get any worse?

I shouldn't have wondered. If I've learned anything in forty years, it's that one should never pose the question, "Could it get any worse?" As it happens, one's situation can almost always get worse, and mine promptly proceeded to do so.

"Get out the truck, birthday girl," my sister said, "and let me introduce you to Jazzy."

Wonderful. Another opportunity to be negatively compared to my beautiful, intelligent sister. I stepped out of the SUV. Jazzy appraised me from head to toe with one, bold, sweeping glance. Okay, handsome. Go ahead - be a rude and pompous jerk and ask me how old I am.

"Birthday girl," he asked, "how old are you?"

I started to answer like my great-grandmother and namesake would. I could picture Mama Amanda Bell Brown rolling her shoulders back, standing erect, and cutting her eyes at him. Then her stern retort, "Old enough to eat cornbread without getting choked." I would have said it just like Ma Brown, but the guy smiled at me, and darn it if my heart didn't start to flutter. I lost the nerve to be so sassy. "Classified information," I muttered with a fake smile to return his generous one.

"She's forty," Carly said.

I mentally plotted my sister's destruction.

"Happy Birthday," he said.

Honestly, he could have been a toothpaste model. I felt disoriented just looking at him.

"Nice dress."

Nice dress? He had that right, thank you kindly, big sis. The brassy red number defied my own personality. I would have never ventured to buy it - not even for my birthday - the soft, crimson silk turned more heads than a chiropractor. I'd have to do some business with god about the plunging halter neckline, and the A-line skirt made my legs in the red stiletto sandals look - quite frankly - devastating. I finished the look with a shawl, embroidered with African-inspired designs. It alone tempered the heat my hookup sent out into the atmosphere.

Mr. Colgate-smile stood there looking a little stunned, trying to stop checking out my rarely seen gams. I said a quick prayer that it wasn't lust, but merely a strong appreciation for the beauty of God's creation. As birthday fun goes, his thinly veiled delight in my appearance had become the highlight of my now-dismal night. I'd had no idea I'd meet someone who looked like a fashion model, but since it happened to be my big day, and I'd already been upstaged by the dearly departed, if necessary, I'd ask Jesus to forgive me for enjoying the whole thing. Heck, I wasn't getting any younger. Compliments like the ones in his eyes don't come down the pike too much anymore, and I let myself enjoy them.

I guess he finally found his manners and said, "Another lovely Brown woman, whose name is ..." He held out his hand to shake mine. Unlike Carly, I had sense enough to actually shake the man's hand instead of sexually assaulting him.

"Dr. Amanda Brown," I said, using my cool, professional psychologist voice. I reserved my nickname for my closest family and friends.

"Everyone who loves her calls her Bell," my sister chimed in.

"Nice to meet you, Bell."

No Dr. no Ms. Brown. Went straight to Bell like he was entitled.

"I'm Jazz Brown." He flashed me that megawatt grin. "No relation."

"Like we wouldn't have noticed you at family reunions," Carly said.

"On the bright side," he said, nearly charming the two-hundred-dollar strappy sandals off my feet, "if I were to marry one of you, you wouldn't have to change your name."

"I'll be darned if I'm not already engaged, Mr. Brown," Carly said, "but my baby sis here ..."

I wanted to kick her. As soon as I got the chance, I would kick my big sister with the enthusiasm of Billy Blanks on a Tae Bo infomercial. I gave both of them an exaggerated sigh. "Aren't there dead people in that house?"

"All work and no play, Bell?" Jazz teased.

I pointed to the house. "The dead are crying out like the blood of Abel in there."

"She's only tripping like that because she doesn't do this for a living. So what have we got, Sugar?"

Sugar! She called him Sugar like it's his name. Why can't I be that confident around gorgeous men?

"Report I got said it's two males. No visible cause of death."

"A double suicide or something?"

"No note, and probably more like 'something,' but you're the M.E. You can tell me." He flashed me a look that said, "You stay back."

"My baby sis here is a forensic psychologist ... and a theologian." Carly nodded toward me. "Maybe she could help, or at the very least, say a prayer for you." Although serious, she said it in a teasing way so that if he said no, she'd save me face.

"A praying theologian slash forensic psychologist at a crime scene," Jazz said. "Interesting."

Interesting? He had to be kidding. I sounded like the bomb, if I must say, and apparently I must.

But I didn't. I denied it like Peter on Good Friday morning. "I'm not actually a theologian."

I hate it when women dumb down for a man, and yet ...

"I did most of my training at Great Lakes Theological seminary, but in psychology," I said, appalled at myself.

A seminary degree automatically made me a theologian in most people's minds. Still. Did I have to act like I didn't know the sixty-six books of the Bible?

"In fact," I added, like an even bigger idiot, "calling me a forensic psychologist is a stretch."

"Are you, or are you not a forensic psychologist?" He had a challenging gleam in his eyes.

"I am, but ..." I tried to decide if he would consider me a forensic psychologist based on whatever nebulous definition he may have. I spent my workdays administering tests to inmates at the county jail, writing my reports, and testifying in court. I'd studied crime-scene photos, but had never been on-site. I hated that I felt defensive standing there sweating and discrediting my own hard-earned skills. All because he was prettier than me.

He cocked his head to the side and regarded me with eyes teasing. "I consult with forensic psychologists on occasion. you're welcome to join us," he said. "Or not."

With that he fairly dismissed me, and I could tell he had read me like the Bible on Easter. He might as well have called me 'fraidy cat to my face. I didn't appreciate his attitude.

"I'll have a look," I said, trying to sound cool. Frankly, I'd rather have him extract my back molars than go into that house of horrors. My fascination with true crime was one thing. It even extended to taking a few post-graduate criminology classes. But being knee deep in the dead? I'd just as soon leave that to Carly. Yet I wouldn't let him see me punk out. I'm tough. I'm Bell Brown. If Carly could be cool in there, so could I. We came from good stock. Strong black women.

"I'm going in," Carly said, sounding bored. She went to her SUV and grabbed her kit out of the rear of the car, punctuating the quiet evening with a soft thud as she closed the hatchback. She walked to the front door of the house without us, where a uniformed officer nodded a greeting. He moved a piece of yellow crime scene tape over so she could enter.

Detective Jazz Brown sized me up for a few more moments and smiled like a sated cat. He stretched out his arm, but his eyes still mocked. When I moved to his side, he placed a hand at the small of my back, guiding me to the front porch. I felt a tingle at his touch. He leaned in and whispered to me, "You have five minutes, Doctor Bell Brown. And don't contaminate my crime scene."

What have I gotten myself into?

I should have stayed home washing down a few chilidogs with a diet cola and in the privacy of my bedroom watched the bad guys get caught. Now I was about to walk into a real crime scene with a gorgeous, arrogant detective who had a slight attitude that both annoyed and attracted me. And I had to prove myself.

Fine. I knew all about suicides. How hard could it be? I'd give the man one competent, professional insight. Five minutes. Show him what I'm made of, then get the heck out of there and never see those delicious brown eyes of his again.

I said a silent prayer. Lord, let me help in some way, however small.

With that simple prayer, the trouble began.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man by Claudia Mair Burney Copyright © 2006 by Claudia Mair Burney. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Introduction

discussion questions

1. The Lord's Prayer is prominently featured in this book. Is your experience with this prayer similar to Bell's — — rote memory? How do you interact with this classic prayer?

2. Bell and Carly have very different lifestyles. How do you deal with other Christians who may not have the same values you have?

3. Bell is Evangelical and Jazz is Catholic, yet they have a strong friendship. Do you have friends who are of different religions and denominations? How do you deal with your differences?

4. The attraction between Bell and Jazz is undeniable. Do you think they deal with their feelings appropriately? What would you do if you were in their situation?

5. Jazz's conflict about remarriage after divorce keeps him from pursuing a deeper relationship with Bell. What is your opinion of divorce and remarriage? Do you think Jazz should move on or remain single?

6. Bell says that at her church, the Rock House, God is like a pal. Do you think this attitude is too casual? Why do you think Bell would choose a church like this after her experience with Adam? What is your idea of a healthy church?

7. When Bell goes to Gabriel's house to find Susan, she experiences a painful consequence. Should she have gone? What should she have done differently?

8. Bell experiences several traumatic life lessons, yet she continues to have faith. What helps you hold on to God, even in times of suffering?

9. Bell never grieved the loss of her daughter. What would you do to begin to heal from a profound loss? What support do you think you would need?

10. In the end, Bell discovers her anger is deeper than she realized. Her rage could have led her to make theworst possible decision. How could she have handled her feelings differently when she confronted Gabriel?

Claudia Mair Burney is the author of Murder, Mayhem & a Fine Man, Death, Deceit & Some Smooth Jazz (both titles in the Amanda Bell Brown Mystery series) and a young adult novel, Exorsistah. She lives in Michigan with her husband, five of their seven children, and a rabbit. Visit her blog at ragamuffindiva.blogspot.com.

Reading Group Guide

discussion questions

1. The Lord's Prayer is prominently featured in this book. Is your experience with this prayer similar to Bell's — — rote memory? How do you interact with this classic prayer?

2. Bell and Carly have very different lifestyles. How do you deal with other Christians who may not have the same values you have?

3. Bell is Evangelical and Jazz is Catholic, yet they have a strong friendship. Do you have friends who are of different religions and denominations? How do you deal with your differences?

4. The attraction between Bell and Jazz is undeniable. Do you think they deal with their feelings appropriately? What would you do if you were in their situation?

7. When Bell goes to Gabriel's house to find Susan, she experiences a painful consequence. Should she have gone? What should she have done differently?

8. Bell experiences several traumatic life lessons, yet she continues to have faith. What helps you hold on to God, even in times of suffering?

9. Bell never grieved the loss of her daughter. What would you do to begin to heal from a profound loss? What support do you think you would need?

10. In the end, Bell discovers her anger is deeper than she realized. Her rage could have led her to make the worst possible decision. How could she have handled her feelings differently when she confronted Gabriel?

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5

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11530884

Posted September 5, 2011

Waste of time!!

No text was provided for this review.
Muffy_86

Posted July 11, 2011

more from this reviewer

Awesome

Highly recommended - A MUST READ
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Janna6

Posted December 30, 2008

more from this reviewer

Can you stand it?!?!?!

This book is a laugh out loud, mystery that will keep you going from beginning to end. I love the characters, the dialogue is absolutely brilliant and this book and it's sequel "Death, Deceit and Some Smooth Jazz" are fantastic. You start with a single 30 something forensic psyshologist who has never actually been to a bad crime scene, her 40 something sister who is a medical examiner and then throw in a good looking, tall drink of water named Jazz who just happens to be a homicide detective. Mix that up at a crime scene and come away with Amanda Bell Brown starting in on an investigation dealing with cult leaders and their influence over people while crushing on some Jazz. There is some deep insight into some dark stuff while some amazing flirtation and sweet nothings between Bell and Jazz and her sister Carly is there to protect her. What a great book!
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Anonymous

Posted June 1, 2008

A Great Book

Sitting down to read Murder, Mayhem, & a fine man was very intriguing. It was as if I was sitting down with a girlfriend catching up on her life. Burney¿s witty writing drew me into the banter between Dr. Bell and her fine man, Jazz. Dr. Brown or those that love her call her Bell is a forensic psychologist celebrating her birthday with her sister. In walks a fine man, a very fine man, Jazz, who is a police detective. The attraction is instantaneous and dynamic. Before the night is over Bell and Jazz are at a crime scene. Bell realizes she may know the killer¿. The appeal for me is the complexity of the characters with their past issues. I loved how spiritual threads of grace, compassion, and forgiveness with splashes of humor and sagacity weave through the entire story. Burney also tackles two difficult issues facing us today especially in the church, cults and remarriage. Coming from a toxic church myself, it was easy to relate to the abused. But it also gave me hope that you can move past whatever has happened to you even if it is in the church. Like I said, this intricate story is a must read!
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Anonymous

Posted May 11, 2008

A Great Book!

I've never written a review before, but I loved this book so much. I was literally smiling the whole time. It was a mystery, romance, and thriller all in one! Amanda Bell Brown is a great character. I read this book in one day because I could not put it down. The next book in the series, Death, Deceit, and some Smooth Jazz is just great. Great series - keep it going!
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Anonymous

Posted March 25, 2008

Murder, Mayhem, and A Fine Man mixes all the right ingredients, spinning a tale that you won¿t want to miss.

When Amada Bell Brown¿thirty-five years old, single, biological clock ticking¿meets homicide detective Jazz Brown at a murder scene, the second crime of the night happens. Technically, there¿s nothing criminal about Bell and Jazz finding each other mutually irresistible, even at a murder scene, even after Bell hurls all over Jazz¿s expensive shoes. But Jazz, a.k.a. Mr. UNAVAILABLE, breaks all laws when he refuses to maintain a professional only relationship with Bell. But it¿s not only Bell¿s exterior that Jazz takes a fancy to. Wanting her skills and training as a psychologist, Jazz hires Bell to help him solve the murder case. This, of course, sets the scene for the couple to spend plenty of time together and leads us into the frightening world of cults. I¿ll stop here with the plot as I don¿t want to be a spoiler, but rest assured the remaining plot points make the book well worth the read. Though many suspense books are driven by their plot, and this one is not weak in that area by any means, it is the characters, vividly and clearly drawn through their dialogue and interactions that keep you reading long into the night. Witty, sassy, straightforward diva, Amanda Bell Brown comes to life in the book. It¿s been a while since I¿ve read a book where the main character¿s voice really cemented the character in my mind without any physical description. And, here¿s the bonus. Not only does Bell live large in this book, she is joined with her fellow cast mates, each leaping onto the page with their dialogue and relationships. Murder, Mayhem, and A Fine Man, is the first in the Amanda Bell Brown Mystery series with to Death, Deceit, and Some Smooth Jazz be released in April. Be quick now, pick up Murder, Mayhem, and A Fine Man, so you can savor each fabulous page before Death, Deceit, and Some Smooth Jazz is released.
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Anonymous

Posted March 13, 2008

A Great Fun Read

Claudia Mair Burney has written the ultimate fun book! Lovers of any genre will laugh out loud during the antics of just turned forty, Bell and her blossoming romance with too handsome to walk the streets, Jazz Brown. The tension and interaction between the characters while working to solve the mystery of what appears to be a cult suicide will have the reader flipping the pages fast enough to cause heavy winds. I had to force myself to slow down so I wouldn't miss anything. Murder, Mayhem and A Fine Man is a must read for readers of any genre. It contains it all: chick lit, suspense, and romance.
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harstan

Posted December 9, 2008

more from this reviewer

This is a fine police procedural

In Michigan, Carly Brown treats her younger sister forensic psychologist Dr. Amanda Bell Brown to dinner at Fishbones on the latter¿s thirty-fifth birthday. However, the medical examiner is on call so when she receives a page to come to a murder scene, Carly takes Amanda with her. At the crime scene, Carly introduces Amanda to police detective Jazz Brown (no relation to the two sisters), who leads the investigation. They are attracted to one another and he invites her inside for her opinion. Used to working at jails and having never met a corpse, she still provides interesting insight to the double homicides before puking on Jazz¿s shoes.-------------- Jazz learns that Bell, a theologian, has investigated toxic churches where nasty cults surface. He asks for her help and she takes him to her mentor septuagenarian Dr. Mason ¿Pop¿ May who insists he is the one for her. As Jazz and Bell work on the case, they begin to fall in love, but he insists no relationship can occur between them he offers no explanation except that he is celibate. As they argue and psychoanalyze one another, Bell goes out on her own frightening Jazz once he realizes what she is doing.---------------- This is a fine police procedural due to the fascinating lead couple as each struggle with desire and rejection. The investigation into what seems a cult murder mystery is cleverly designed so that the audience follows the clues, but also gain insight into Bell and Jazz. Although his celibacy vow is invoked too often, fans will appreciate this strong tale in which murder and mayhem converge on religion and love.--------------------- Harriet Klausner
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Anonymous

Posted February 5, 2008

A reviewer

While Amanda Bell Brown is a part of the living, she's basically just holding space. It's been 10 years since she fought love, or some semblance of the word. Bell advocates for others, yet she has been unable to find her own inner peace and continues to live with the shame from her own devastating past. While celebrating her birthday with her sister, Carly, a medical examiner, she is called to the scene of a double homicide. Could this also be the place where love and Bell reunite? Lt. Jazz Brown (no relation) is on the scene. Impressed with Bells' accolades, he invites her to utilize her forensic skills to evaluate the crime. While the immediate answers escape her, unlike Grisham, it's clear that something magical is sparking between the two. In the face of death, can it be, is this real love? Whether it's love or lust, it's two sided. Before the two can further investigate the cravings from the other one, Lt. Brown makes it clear that he's unavailable to love, participate or build a future. Understandably distraught, Bell decides just to be grateful for the moment. That is until the very `unavailable' Lieutenant decides to incorporate the psychologist into his investigations. Soon the sparks and rules continuously lead them towards trouble. Readers immediately forget that they're involved in trying to find a murder suspect as they get a front row seat to the meeting of hearts. While I may not be a lover of romance, I do love love! I love how Claudia Mair Burney makes you feel like you're a part of the story there with the insatiable desires, the bouts, the yearning and the learning. `Murder, Mayhem & A Fine Man' is recommended reading that is spiked with sin, shame, and a little knowledge of God.
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Anonymous

Posted February 7, 2008

A reviewer

While Amanda Bell Brown is a part of the living, she's basically just holding space. It's been 10 years since she fought love, or some semblance of the word. Bell advocates for others, yet she has been unable to find her own inner peace and continues to live with the shame from her own devastating past. While celebrating her birthday with her sister, Carly, a medical examiner, she is called to the scene of a double homicide. Could this also be the place where love and Bell reunite? Lt. Jazz Brown (no relation) is on the scene. Impressed with Bells' accolades, he invites her to utilize her forensic skills to evaluate the crime. While the immediate answers escape her, unlike Grisham, it's clear that something magical is sparking between the two. In the face of death, can it be, is this real love? Whether it's love or lust, it's two sided. Before the two can further investigate the cravings from the other one, Lt. Brown makes it clear that he's unavailable to love, participate or build a future. Understandably distraught, Bell decides just to be grateful for the moment. That is until the very `unavailable' Lieutenant decides to incorporate the psychologist into his investigations. Soon the sparks and rules continuously lead them towards trouble. Readers immediately forget that they're involved in trying to find a murder suspect as they get a front row seat to the meeting of hearts. While I may not be a lover of romance, I do love love! I love how Claudia Mair Burney makes you feel like you're a part of the story there with the insatiable desires, the bouts, the yearning and the learning. `Murder, Mayhem & A Fine Man' is recommended reading that is spiked with sin, shame, and a little knowledge of God.
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Deborah_K

Posted January 29, 2009

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Sassy with a touch of edge

I did not want to stop reading this book. From the beginning, Bell keeps you on her toes with her sassy attitude and no nonsense personality. Jazz is perfect for her, in that he wants to take care of her but since he's been hurt in the romance field, he wants to take things slow. The two of them have great chemistry together. Sometimes he would annoy me with some of his actions (like showing up in her house unexpected) but for the most part he's a really great guy. I was really creeped out with the whole Gabriel/cult situation. Bell's past was also painful to read but it showed the true power of God that she was able to get out of that lifestyle. I love how many 'taboo' topics were brought up in this book and that ClaudiaBurney was not afraid to write about them. For example, Bell and Rocky used to be an interracial couple. That topic is still not brought up a lot in Christian fiction, and while the two are not in a relationship anymore, they are still friends and not affected by it. Also Bell's past and her situations with Gabriel are very intense and with very mature topics, so this book is not recommended for younger teen readers. I applaud the edginess of this book. I couldn't put it down because of it. I can't wait til I get my hands on the next book in the series.
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MichelleSutton

Posted January 29, 2009

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A gripping mystery with tension and flava!

Murder, Mayhem, and a Fine Man is the perfect title for this unique mystery. One of my favorite lines... He put his elbows on the table and gave me an endearing look. 'Let's debrief.' (and the heroine replies) 'Coming from you, that sounds nasty.' Why did my furniture seem so very small? (Is that funny or what?) One of the endorsers called this work of art sassy. Not only is it loaded with sass, but it also has spunk, intrigue, and some mighty terrible villains. I loved how Bell, the heroine, teased her sister, Carly, for working with dead people (sister is a medical examiner) and Carly teased Bell about having crazy people for clients. The one-liners have snap! The author did such a bang-up job describing the crime scene it made me want to hurl right along with the heroine. Okay, so I had a stomach bug today...But I still identified with the heroine. Seriously, I read this book straight through. It's that engrossing. More than once my eyebrows raised at something the author wrote, and I thought...THIS was published by a CBA publisher? Then a slow smile tugged at my mouth. It made me want to give the author a high-five. Go Claudia! Her story has it all! Lots of teasing and sexual tension, extreme emotions like fear, some pretty scary people, tender moments, spiritual depth, and a whole lotta fun. I especially liked Jazz's parents and their twisted sense of humor. While described as chick-lit with flava, I say this cool read contains a whole lot more. Try mystery/suspense/romance/women's fiction/chick lit. I think Claudia Mair Burney created a fresh, new genre.
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Anonymous

Posted July 17, 2006

A must have for any self-respecting book-lover

I loved Claudia¿s book. It¿s awesome. Her voice is something very fresh to the CBA. Claudia pushes the edge of CBA boundaries and does it masterfully. It¿s like one day she sat down and said let¿s make a book that no one has ever thought of before and just started throwing things together. Throw in some mystery, a dash of chic lit, heavy on the romance and sexy hero. Bake in a hot oven¿ and what came out is an incredibly good book.
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harstan

Posted December 9, 2008

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A good murder mystery

Forensic psychologist Amanda Brown just turned forty, but the single woman wants a baby and knows her time is running out because she suffers from endometriosis. Her medical examiner sister Carly buys her a sexy outfit and takes her to dinner, but Amanda and Carly have to leave as Carly is called to a crime scene.----- There she meets Lieutenant Jazz Brown whom she thinks is a fine man, but concentrates on the homicides. She has been to this house before to investigate a cult leaders and his followers on behalf of a member¿s father. That man and another are among the dead. Jazz and Amanda hit it off, but he tells her they cannot have a relationship even as they need to team up to solve the case. The victims apparently took communion with poisoned bread and wine. One member of the cult Susan goes to Amanda¿s church where counseling to aid to people who suffered at the hands of a cult is offered. When Susan leaves, Amanda risks her life to find her, unaware that her decision will lead her to face and defeat evil in its most primal form.-------- Jazz and Amanda are terrific protagonists trying to live their lives in accordance with God¿s commandments. Both have relationship issues as Amanda was once an abuse victim who lost her baby due to that and Jazz¿s wife dumped him without warning. Claudia Mair Burney provides a good murder mystery wrapped like a moebius string in and out of a quirky relationship drama.-------------------------- Harriet Klausner
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Anonymous

Posted April 10, 2010

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Sassy with a touch of edge

A gripping mystery with tension and flava!

A must have for any self-respecting book-lover

A good murder mystery