DEATH, DECEIT AND SOME SMOOTH JAZZ

In her second Amanda Bell Brown mystery, Burney brings back many of the appealing characters she created in MURDER, MAYHEM, AND A FINE MAN (2006). Forensic psychologist Amanda bemoans the fact that at 35 she has no man in her life. When her former sweetie, Homicide Lieutenant Jazz Brown, becomes the prime suspect in the murder of his ex-wife, Amanda tries to help him prove his innocence, and the sparks between them fly once again. Narrator Sharon Washington gives us an upbeat, vivacious Amanda full of wit, wisdom, and want, and her portrayal of Jazz takes sultry to a new level. Washington's appealing reading tempers the sometimes-heavy faith-based message, offering intriguing secondary characters and a fast-paced mystery that will keep listeners listening. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2009]