Murder in the Dog Park/Dog Spelled Backwards by Jill Yesko
Ms. Yesko is skilled as a writer…
~rantin’ ravin and reading
Murder in the Dog Park
Mystery
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Baxter World Publishing (May 28, 2012)
ISBN-13: 978-0985485207
File Size: 242 KB
Print Length: 128 pages
ASIN: B00A10IU7O
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Synopsis
Discovering a brutally murdered boy in a rainy dog park sends misanthropic private detective Jane Ronson on a journey through Baltimore’s gritty underbelly. Aided by a sexy cop, a bad-ass bull terrier, and an only-in-Baltimore cast of characters, Jane must use her computer-hacking and street-fighting skills to save her only family member from being framed as the killer.
Dog Spelled Backwards: An Unholy Mystery
Mystery
Paperback: 210 pages
Publisher: Baxter World Publishing (August 17, 2013)
ISBN-13: 978-0985485214
File Size: 1355 KB
Print Length: 118 pages
ASIN: B00FDXQVO8
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Synopsis
Private investigator Jane Ronson suffers from oppositional defiant disorder, the uncontrollable urge to punch first then ask questions later. When a rabbi with a shady past offers her a bag of cash to spy on a rival rabbi, Jane jumps at the chance to make what think will be easy money. To get her cash, Jane impersonates an Orthodox Jewish woman and infiltrates a black market kidney ring in Baltimore’s Orthodox community. Between Russian gangsters and double crosses, Jane is number one on everyone’s hit list. To save her life, she forms an alliance with a religious woman and confronts a family.
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GUEST POST
I would like to thank Jill for stopping in to share her thoughts.
It’s All Your Fault Nancy Drew
Like many girls, I grew up hooked on the Nancy Drew series. During my pre-teen and teenage years, I plowed through the series with an almost religious fervor.
Although I can’t recall the specifics of the books—what was The Ringmaster’s Secret? Who was The Invisible Intruder? – what sticks out in my mind is how much I enjoyed them. I couldn’t wait for the next installment of those yellow-spined books with exotic titles like The Password to Larkspur Lane or The Moonstone Castle Mystery. I spent many afternoons eating pretzel sticks and curled up with Nancy, her perpetual best friend Bess, and Bess’s tomboy cousin George.
Forty years later, looking at book covers depicting Nancy in a prim dress, Patty Duke Show hairdo, clutching a flashlight, her peaches and cream face captured in thoughtful pose (dreaming of her boyfriend Ned?), I’ve reconsidered my Nancy Drew crush.
What the hell was I thinking?
I probably had more in common with Nancy’s cat Snowball than with the fictional heroine who spoke French, drove a convertible (that she knew how to repair!), was a gourmet cook, and who was a golf, bridge, and tennis prodigy.
Could I have been jealous of Nancy?
Certainly I wanted to be the popular girl who had her father’s attention all to herself. Unlike my fragile ego, Nancy’s ego never took a bruising. She was never bullied at school, never had a pimple, experienced menstrual cramps that made her double over, never had a bad hair day, and always saved the day without breaking a sweat.
Which is why as an adult my attention has turned to more problematic heroines like the foul-tempered but uber-skilled Katniss Everdeen of the Hunger Games.
Like Nancy, Katniss is a leader. Like Nancy, Katniss lost a beloved parent at a young age. And like Nancy, Katniss is a truth-seeker (and par of a multimillion dollar franchise).
At age 55 I want my heroines to be problematic—the more flaws the better. Bring on the issues!
Katniss Everdeen is a grouch who doesn’t just break the rules, she smashes them to smithereens. Katniss is borderline rude to her mother. She can drop a deer with a perfectly launched arrow from 500 yards then skin it. She treats the man who loves her like an insect. Katniss has no idea how to behave herself around people, especially those who are trying to save her life. I’ve met people like that!
Nancy would be horrified.
A worse nightmare for Nancy would be Lisbeth Salander, the Nordic goth girl, avenging dark angel conjured by Stieg Larsson in his international best selling series that began with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.
Talk about a girl with problems! But problems are interesting. Admit it, as much as Lisbeth annoyed you, you couldn’t stop wanting to know more about her. Why was she so angry? what made her tick? As anti-social and foul-mouthed as she was, her gurl power squared kept readers and movie-goers coming back for more.
That’s because Lisbeth and Katniss know how to get things done. Lisbeth solves crimes by hacking computer and settles debts by being a vigilante that would make Charles Bronson run away screaming. To save Panem from the evil President Snow, Katniss literally exploded the sky. It doesn’t get much cooler than that.
Can you image Nancy having to fight for her life or even hitting another girl?
Didn’t think so.
As much as I salute Nancy Drew for getting me hooked on mysteries, these days I’ll take the half-feral Lisbeth Salander and socially awkward archer with on mission Katniss Everdeen any day.
Sorry, Nancy.
I love learning more about authors and want to thank you again, Jill for sharing your inspirations.
About This Author
Jill Yesko’s 20+ year writing career has included stints as a sport writer, NPR commentator and investigative reporter. She’s written about everything from body piercing to human pyramids in Spain. After a solo trek around the world, Jill was profiled as an “adventurous traveler” in O, the Oprah magazine. Before becoming a writer, Jill was a national-class cyclist and graduate and cartographer. A New Jersey native, Jill now patrols Baltimore’s dog parks with her basset hound.
Author Links
www.murderinthedogpark.com
http://murderinthedogpark.blogspot.com
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18386998-dog-spelled-backwards-an-unholy-mystery
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15826419-murder-in-the-dog-park
Tour Participants
April 14 – rantin’ ravin’ and reading – Review
April 15 – Mommasez… – Review, Guest Post
April 16 – readalot blog – Review
April 17 – Kelly P’s Blog – Interview
April 18 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – Guest Post
April 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Review
April 21- deal sharing aunt – Guest Post
April 22 – StoreyBook Reviews – Review
April 22 – fuonlyknew ~ Laura’s Ramblins and Reviews – Review
April 23 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – Review
April 24 – fundinmental – Guest Post
April 25 – Thoughts in Progress – Review, Interview
April 26 – Chloe Gets a Clue – Interview
April 27 – Melina Book Blog – Guest Post
April 28 – Teena in Toronto – Review
April 29 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – Review
April 30 – Brooke Blogs – Review, Guest Post
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GIVEAWAY
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Cute guest post. It’s true, Nancy would be mortified by the female heroes of today! They make Nancy look like a girl scout!
So true, Taylor. It seems everything has gotten more sophisticated, requiring more depth to the characters and storylines. Thanks for always stopping in Taylor.
Interesting how our tastes change with maturity, isn’t it?
I find it very interesting. You comments are always appreciated, Elisabeth. ^_^
These were such fun books. I love it when I can read the books as stand alones too.
I wasn’t able to sign up to review them, but will be keeping my eyes open for another opportunity. They looked so good, I wanted to share them anyway. I love stand alones!
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