Liars Anonymous by Louise Ure

Jessie Dancing, a real tough cookie, is the central character in this mystery. Formerly accused of murder, Jessie was determined not guilty by a jury. She did not escape the experience without scars. She is currently estranged from her family (two parents and six siblings) and is employed by a roadside assistance operator.

One day a call comes in from a Darren Markson and Jessie’s life is turned inside out. She becomes embroiled in a mystery and as luck would have it, turns up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Fraught with frustration, Jessie tries to reconnect with her family and put her past behind her. Unfortunately, her past is right with her every step of the way. Her former attorney tries to convince her not to get involved but there seems to be an intrinsic need for Jessie to be in the middle of it all.

In the end, Jessie makes a decision to right a major wrong in her life and suffers the consequences.

This was a lukewarm mystery for this reader. However, Ure has earned a Shamus Award(given by the Private Eye Writers of America to honor excellent work in the private eye genre) for best first novel-Forcing Amaryllis- in the past, and perhaps a look at one of her previous books might be worthwhile.

Lady Bookbug!