Review: In the Belly of Jonah by Sandra Brannan

Description:
In the Belly of Jonah is a fast-paced mystery with a likable protagonist and an intricately woven narrative brimming with bizarre yet believable twists. The first in a series, the book expertly lays the groundwork for Liv Bergen, amateur sleuth, and her love interest, FBI Agent Streeter Pierce.

Liv becomes involved in the investigation of the murder of Jill Brannigan, a summer intern at the limestone mine Liv manages near Fort Collins, Colorado (a breathtaking setting that unwittingly becomes an accessory to crime). In doing so, she inadvertently puts her friends, her family, and herself at risk of being swallowed in the belly of a madman bloated with perverse appetites for women, surrealistic art, and renown.

Perhaps a bit too daring (and at times irreverent) for her own good, ''Boots,'' as Liv's eight siblings call her, soon realizes she has a knack for outsmarting and tracking down the Venus de Milo murderer--and she enjoys it! As the gripping plot of In the Belly of Jonah unfolds, Liv Bergen takes her place alongside the best female crime-solvers as a woman with smarts, self-confidence, and intuitive savvy.

Details:
ebook, 288 pages
Published September 1st 2010 by Greenleaf Book Group, LLC
ISBN: 1608320774 (ISBN13: 9781608320776)
series: Liv Bergen Mysteries #1
 
Review:
FULL DISCLOSURE: I got this as a *FREE* download.  I cant’ remember from where, but it was free.  So, now you know.  I’m cheap.
 
This is a very quick read.  Once it got going, it moved.  Now, In the Belly of Jonah is not difficult, it’s pretty easy-peasy.  However, this story is murder-mystery-scripted.  It follows your normal, expected, typical path of the genre.  Which, was somewhat of a disappointment.
 
You have the independent woman-in-a-man’s-world Liv Bergen, who manages to inject herself Jessica Fletcher style into the murder investigation of one of her employees.  Um, been there done that.  Tired of it.  I expected a bit more of the author looking at the awesome cover and the description (which I believe was different than the Goodreads version).
 
I was entertained, even though I figured out the who-dunnit about mid-story (which I NEVER do).  All in all, it was an OK reading experience.  Can’t say I’d pay for book two.
 
2.5 Stars: Glad I didn’t pay for it.

Many Adventures,
Richard