Genre: Mystery, People of Color
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Miles Jenkins is new to the police force, and while he was prepared to deal with routine traffic stops and occasional gang violence, he wasn’t prepared to open a trash bag and find two glassy eyes staring back at him.
The rest of the NOPD writes the death off as a casualty of the streets, but Miles is confident it’s something more.
He’s so confident, in fact, that he’s determined to uncover the truth, and the first step is talking to the boy’s mother, her boyfriend, and her older brother, Leonard Davis.
Leo Davis has a lot going on. With a mother battling a drug addiction and the recent loss of his only nephew, the last thing he wants is a cop to come snooping around his streets, especially one as bright-eyed and hopeful as Officer Jenkins.
The officer is obsessed with finding out who killed his nephew, and he’s determined to involve Leo in his search. However, what starts out as a simple off-hours investigation quickly turns into more. With mounting threats and more dead bodies, can Leo and Miles find out who committed this heinous crime before they’re both silenced for good?
Murder in the Big Easy is the first of an on-going series. There’s mystery, romance, and action all wrapped up in one nice, fast-paced package. This is an origins story, so while it may feel a little light on the paranormal, realize there’s a lot more to come. This story is gritty and a little dark, so if you’re not into streetwise gangbangers or are sensitive to that language, this may not be the series for you.
Murder in the Big Easy is 101k and a complete story, but there are open threads and an overarching plot that will be resolved as the series continues.
The Review
Officer Miles Jenkins made choices that his father was’t happy with. He joined the military and then the police academy, and became successful on the force. He’s made a change and now has joined the NOPD, with hopes to bring law enforcement and the community together. So much of the crime was blamed on the gangs and the mean streets of New Orleans.
Miles takes it very hard when he finds a young boy’s body – Brandon Davis – in a dumpster. Miles can’t let it go, and the results of the investigation don’t add up. He doesn’t believe it’s just a gang or street issue.
In his search for answers, Miles seeks out Leonard Davis, Brandon’s uncle. Leonard could have had it all, with his athletic ability, but his home life and environment were his downfall.
Meeting Leo is an eye-opener for Miles. He sees the struggle that drugs and gangs brought to Leo’s life, and so many other issues within his family. Leo carries it all on his shoulders. Now he has a decent job, cleaning floors at night with Mr. Martin. He strives to do one thing – to get help for his bipolar, drug addicted mother.
At first things are somewhat rocky between Leo and Miles. As they get closer, Leo takes Miles out and shows him that New Orleans isn’t as bad as it seems. As their connection grows, there are warnings from both sides, telling them that they should keep away from each other. As Miles sees both the bigotry and how screwed up the investigation of Brandons death is, he digs deeper. As he pieces everything together, he has no idea what danger lies ahead for him.
This is first time read for me of author Jules Monroe. She does characterization really well, giving us an in-depth look at Miles Jenkins and Leonard Davis. As a reader of mysteries, this is also my first time reading a novel that has two MC’s who are black, and it was very well done. I got wrapped up in both these characters – their lives, the environment, their personalities and the connection that they make.
Miles’ and Leonard’s characters carried this story perfectly. The author also keeps the story moving with many interesting, secondary characters, including Zahavia, Katarina, Xavier, Auntie Octavia, Chris, Farhad, Miles Ashe Jenkins the first, Dorian Davis, and Mr. Martin.
The author covers many aspects that impact New Orleans’ black community – gangs, bigotry, racism, homosexuality and many other issues that exist today, with the hopes to bring the gangs, community and law enforcement together.
There’s also just a touch of the paranormal. As I read, I kept looking for it, but was still totally surprised with what was to come. I don’t think it was intentional, but it did make the story even more appealing.
There is a second novel to come, “Murder and Bad Gris-Gris,” on October 31, 2021. Now that I know what the paranormal aspect is, I can’t wait to see how the next book will play out, and how it will effect Miles and Leonard.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
