Today, author Jonni Rich released her new book, Deadly Black Pearls. The cover is intriguing. I preordered this book, and I can't wait to dig into it. A mystery by Jonni grabs the reader with a tight grip and doesn't let go until the end.
Book REview
Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite (With Jonni Rich's permission. https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/deadly-black-pearls)
“What’s happening in Ville Nouvelle?" In Deadly Black Pearls by Jonni Rich, 54-year-old Emmaline Beard is surprised by the sudden appearance of Carol Powell, a young woman who came to the LeFevre House with an urgent request - to give a package containing black Tahitian pearls to her grandmother. The next day, Emmaline finds Carol dead at the foot of a LeFevre House staircase. Amidst the preparation for a theatrical production, a nuclear waste protest by the locals of Ville Nouvelle, a feud between neighbors, and much more, chaos is slowly descending in the peaceful community. Emmaline and her life-long friend, Byrd Jeffcoat, are determined to find out the truth before more troubles arise.
Deadly Black Pearls blends small-town eccentricity with whodunit crime, colored by the personalities of Ville Nouvelle's residents and a few unwelcome outsiders. Local charms are matched by unexpected danger, resulting in tension and drama. The characters, main and secondary, are rendered well. Emmaline Beard is a resilient woman, braving unexpected problems while trying to keep her historical house tour business afloat. Her relationship with Byrd is wonderful; their amateur sleuthing adding more dark fun and curiosity to the plot. I find Helen Condor, a famous psychic, gives another substantial layer to the mystery. Clues regarding the murders become more imperative as the clock ticks, making the reading more engaging as the story progresses. An enjoyable read, Jonni Rich's Deadly Black Pearls has a subtle classic sleuth style that I love coupled with a wonderful, engaging narrative.
Deadly Black Pearls blends small-town eccentricity with whodunit crime, colored by the personalities of Ville Nouvelle's residents and a few unwelcome outsiders. Local charms are matched by unexpected danger, resulting in tension and drama. The characters, main and secondary, are rendered well. Emmaline Beard is a resilient woman, braving unexpected problems while trying to keep her historical house tour business afloat. Her relationship with Byrd is wonderful; their amateur sleuthing adding more dark fun and curiosity to the plot. I find Helen Condor, a famous psychic, gives another substantial layer to the mystery. Clues regarding the murders become more imperative as the clock ticks, making the reading more engaging as the story progresses. An enjoyable read, Jonni Rich's Deadly Black Pearls has a subtle classic sleuth style that I love coupled with a wonderful, engaging narrative.
DESCRIPTION FROM AMAZON PAGE
The antebellum spring mansion tours are in full swing in the little South Louisiana town of Ville Nouvelle. Emmaline Beard, local leading citizen and theatrical producer, is tour hostess at LeFevre House, an ancestor’s former home. Emmaline is astonished when an old friend’s granddaughter, Carol Powell, arrives and thrusts a package into her hands and then flees as hastily as she arrived. Emmaline chases after her unsuccessfully. The package contains valuable black pearls.
The following evening, Emmaline discovers Carol’s crumpled body at the foot of a staircase at LeFevre House, obviously a homicide. Emmaline suspects the pearls were stolen, and they are the reason for Carol’s murder.
Emmaline enlists the help of her life-long friend, Byrd Jeffcoat, to catch the murderer and settle the question of the mysterious black pearls. While trying to solve Carol’s murder, another random murder occurs. A nuclear waste protest march led by a celebrity from the area has brought strangers into the small town.
Is a homicidal maniac at work, perhaps brought in by the protest march? Is there one killer, or two? The amateur sleuths hazard their way through tumults of theft, murder, arson, and even a theatrical production to unravel these grisly murders.
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Jonni, a north Louisiana native, is a retired retail store owner and librarian. She's a multi-published author of Gothic Suspense, Romantic Suspense, and Mystery.