Read in less than a day. The author has a sense of humor and writes in a similar vein to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum mysteries, but with a bit less physical comedy.

Started out like a pretty good who-dun-it serial killer mystery with a little three-way romance mixed in. Not the kinky kind - the Guy and Girl are friends since childhood but nothing more until the new guy shows up and sweeps her off her feet making the old friend a little jealous….that kind of three way.

The murder mystery clues seemed to be leading somewhere but things are not even close to being wrapped up. Since the clues weren't pointing to anyone in particular but to so many different people there was no way to narrow anything down yet. Then suddenly here's the killer, admitting to everything and wrapping it all up in about a page and a half. The murderer is someone who they never even mentioned in the book until the last few pages. It just didn't make any sense. Of course the main character is attacked by the killer at the end and is of course saved my her long time friend and wakes up in the hospital to see him sitting at her bed-side, before she passes out again. But then BAM! The End!! Books over! I was left feeling cheated by this book. There was no closure!! There was so much more that could have been written and other ways it could have gone that would have made more sense. I think the author was setting up for sequels, because there are three more. But after reading this first book, I may not continue on with the series. ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed the main character's narration. I enjoyed the small town scenes. I did not enjoy that I didn't suspect the murderer. It made all my involvement seem pointless. ( )

J.J. Graves has seen a lot of dead bodies in her line of work...

She's not only in the mortuary business, but she's also the coroner for King George County, Virginia. When a grisly murder is discovered in the small town of Bloody Mary, it's up to J.J. and her best friend, Detective Jack Lawson, to bring the victim justice.

The murders are piling up...

When a popular mystery writer shows up on J.J.'s doorstep with plans of writing his new book about the Bloody Mary Serial Killer, J.J. has to decide if he might be going above and beyond the call of duty to create the spine tinglers he's so well known for.

And passions are rising...

J.J and Jack discover each victim had a shocking secret, and the very foundation of J.J.'s life is in danger of crumbling when it turns out she's harboring secrets of her own--secrets that make her a perfect target in a deadly game.

Coroner and mortuary owner Dr J J Graves and Sheriff Jack Lawson of Bloody Mary investigate the death of an abused victim, then another body is found. ( )

3.5 stars

I really liked it!
The only reason I did not rate it 4 stars was the abrupt ending...
hope there's more of Jack&Jaye in the second book! ( )