Genre: Mystery, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Lesbian
Reviewer: Maryann
Get It On Amazon
About The Book
When all the facts point in the wrong direction … Book 11 in the popular Lessons in Murder series, by award-winning, best-selling author Edale Lane.
Lieutenant Detective Jenna Ferrari and Dr. Randi McLeod have been enjoying a summer of newlywed bliss when a fresh case threatens to rock the boat. With all evidence pointing toward Randi’s sensei for killing his nemesis, Jenna has no choice but to make the arrest, sending Randi into a rare display of temper. But if the obvious suspect didn’t do it, who did?
The investigation reveals the victim to be guiltier than any of the suspects. Then an unbelievable confession sends Jenna scurrying to uncover fresh evidence. Meanwhile, an unrelated death affects Jenna’s reluctance to consider raising a child. Can Jenna repair the rift with Randi and find the right killer, or will an innocent person take the wrap? .
Innocent of Murder tests Jenna in ways she’s yet to encounter in the series, and Randi must get her emotions under control to help uncover the truth. Revel in the tender moments, quirky banter, and whodunit suspense guaranteed to keep you guessing until the end.
The Review
Lt. Det. Jenna Ferrari and Professor Randi McLeod are still enjoying their honeymoon bliss. They appreciate each other, but unfortunately their time off has run out, and it’s back to the hubbub of life.
Randi has found more time in her teaching schedule. No night classes, and Tuesdays and Thursdays her eight AM classes give her more time during the day. She’s taken on instructing at the dojo “House of Kime” for youth classes. It hasn’t not only helped Sensei Yoshiro Moro, but the time spent instructing covers her membership fee, there’s also the prestige of being able to assist him.
Randi has some students that she pays particular attention to: Chelsea, Anna, Whitney and Wally. They make her think of maybe having a child of her own one day. She wonders how would Jenna fee about it.
While instructing, Randi is caught off guard when a big man comes barging into the dojo. She recognizes Bruce Griffin – the owner of Strike Zone karate school. Randi overhears the argument taking place about a student who was kicked out of Strike Zone. Randi is about to step into the situation when Griffin attacks Sensei Moro. Even though Master Moro is older, he’s a fourth-degree-black belt. He isn’t badly injured, and Randi would never want to humiliate him.
When Griffin’s body is found at Strike Zone, Lt. Det. Jenna Ferrara and her expert Roanoke PD team goes into investigative mode. Is it all too easy when Jenna arrests Moro for the murder?
Randi’s loyalty to Master Moro is shaken to the core, and it stirs an anger that Jenna doesn’t see coming. Randi feels she should have at least been warned of his arrest. She was totally blindsided. When she visits Master Moro in jail, he admits to nothing, and stands by his firmly held belief that everything will work out.
In between it all, Jenna finds herself dealing with a drug overdose death and meets five year old Aurora. Her thoughts also take her to the subject of children, and why this sweet little girl has attached herself to Jenna.
Even though there’s a mountain of suspects, the Roanoke PD team will have to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and dig deeper into all the suspects again. And then Randi finds out a dark secret that is beyond belief.
Innocent of Murder is book eleven in Lane’s “Lessons in Murder” series, and it’s one mind boggling case which reveals a new side of Randi. She’s always had a strong personality, but this book had me looking at her in a different light.
The author deals with a number of ways to having children, from adoption to “at-home-artificial insemination.” There are pro’s and cons.
All of the Roanoke PD team is back: Ron Owen, Trisha Jamison, Bauman, Dr. Valentine, Dr. Gupta, Wilcox and Davenport and more. Jenna starts to really see that these people all have lives that are changing. Trisha and Bennet are going to tie the knot, even though their families beliefs are different. Ron Owen has a teenage son in high school, plus a few other children who are growing up. Bauman is still seeing Mario, and Mario seems to suit him well. And Jose Martin, fingerprint specialist and family man, brings some snarky humor to the story.
I highly recommend Innocent of Murder – another suspenseful mystery that has Jenna and the team giving it their all as emotions run high between Jenna and Randi. As always, Lane keeps you turning pages and guessing up to the very end. Outstanding!
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.
