The Scent of Murder (Jazz Ramsey #1) by Kylie Logan

The Scent of Murder

(Jazz Ramsey #1)

by Kylie Logan

Hardcover, 320 pages

Expected publication: May 7th 2019 by Minotaur Books (first published May 2019)

Goodreads synopsis:

First in a new series from national bestselling author Kylie Logan, The Scent of Murder is a riveting mystery following Jazz Ramsey as she trains cadaver dogs.

The way Jazz Ramsey figures it, life is pretty good. She’s thirty-five years old and owns her own home in one of Cleveland’s most diverse, artsy, and interesting neighborhoods. She has a job she likes as an administrative assistant at an all-girls school, and a volunteer interest she’s passionate about—Jazz is a cadaver dog handler.

Jazz is working with Luther, a cadaver dog in training. Luther is still learning cadaver work, so Jazz is putting him through his paces at an abandoned building that will soon be turned into pricey condos. When Luther signals a find, Jazz is stunned to see the body of a young woman who is dressed in black and wearing the kind of make-up and jewelry that Jazz used to see on the Goth kids back in high school.

She’s even more shocked when she realizes that beneath the tattoos and the piercings and all that pale make up is a familiar face.

The lead detective on the case is an old lover, and the murdered woman is an old student. Jazz finds herself sucked into the case, obsessed with learning the truth.

***

4 Stars

This is the first book in a new series for Minotaur Books.

I think the title and cover image of this book are a little deceptive. There is a dog being trained to help the police in and out of the storyline. It is a cadaver dog. Searches for victims based on scents. And the title using “scent” makes us believe subconsciously that the dog finding something will be key to solving the mystery. But that isn’t the case at all.

Did the dog find the dead body of the victim? Yes. Did the dog figure into how the murder was solved? No.

The setting was rather interesting. A gal who works at the school she went to, an all-girl’s school. She knows who the victim is even though the girl was found dressed like a goth with black everything and eyes rimmed with kohl. There is a whole background with the Horror scene and people who love those types of movies littered throughout this book upping the creep factor a bit.

Since Jazz found the body she is compelled to discover who killed her. And doing this digging is not making her the most popular girl on the block. I assume she started this death investigation since she knew Florie. But in most mysteries like this people are compelled to find the killer because the cops don’t seem to be doing their job.

The cop in this story just happens to be Jazz’s old boyfriend who is still interested in dating her. He doesn’t seem to have a problem digging for clues and finds most of the same ones Jazz does. There is a key insight at the end that Jazz does provide just before the killer tries to do away with her.

Interesting story and a little inconsistent. But it was good. I enjoyed the storyline and I read fast to figure out who did it. I have to admit that I did figure out who the killer was but I don’t think there were any red herrings leading us to that conclusion. Just a good guess on my part.

Check this cozy out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.