Salmon in the Soup

The Jessica James Mysteries, Book 2

By: Meg O'Brien

Narrated by: Joan Dukore

She’s one crime reporter who can hold her own with any man. A smart lady in a tough business. But that’s okay—she means business....

Mystery usually follows murder, but when Baby Cakes Sloan bites the bullet, everybody in Rochester already knows whodunit. Beautiful Babs had been Marcus Andrelli’s lawyer—until she got iced on the crime king's yacht. Of course, all fingers of guilt point to Andrelli. But Jesse James smells something fishy. And she’s casting for the truth, even if she has to drag the bottom of Lake Ontario to get it. Nobody knows Andrelli better than Jess. Mafia don, certainly. Killer of the woman he loved, no. To solve the murder, Jess has got to find the one missing witness: Andrelli’s bodyguard. Reeling in this tall, dark, and eccentric man should be a cinch for a woman as street-smart as Jess. But fishing for a guy who’s as slippery as an eel lands her in a Mafia whirlpool—and enough hot water to drown a reporter with heels in cement.

©1993 Meg O'Brien (P)2022 David N. Wilson

More Personality, Moral Ambiguity, & Heart

Jessica James is back with a punchier comedic personality in a more traditional detective thriller. This installment builds nicely on one of the more morally ambiguous characters in the first book (so far I recommend reading them in order). The plot builds well on the first and positions in a way that makes the next installment look curiously different bending away from the investigative journalist persona. The social construction of reality is highlighted in the epilogue but seems like a thesis here; that the plot is what people warp things to be - an emphasis on social manipulation. There is a child porn subplot that feels a little tacky but is handled with discretion more for atmosphere and as a ruse for some of the pieces; a thematic counter balance to some of the more positive emotional subjects (and maybe a sly jab at conspiracy theories like pizzagate; which fits with the construction of reality side).

Not impressed

Wrote a review a couple of months ago but for some reason, a lot of my Audible reviews disappeared.

I had a hard time with this Audible. Did not enjoy it at all. Hard to finish but I finally did. Cannot give a recommendation.

Received an ARC of this Audible to review for Free Code. This is an honest and voluntary review.

Very good

I love Jessie, she’s an investigative reporter that is not afraid to look into what could be a dangerous situation. The narrator has done a great job with narrating each character.

Well Written Mystery

This is the 1st book I've listened to by this author. The book is well written and the narrator does a fantastic job.

Smart, Sassy, Stunning Who Done It!!!

Baby Cakes Sloan was shot on a yacht and the prevailing theory is that her ticket was punched by none other than her client, Mob Boss Marcus Andrelli. Everyone says it’s so, but Jessie James, investigative reporter extraordinaire, and close friend of the Don, isn’t so quick to buy in. Can she get to the bottom of the shenanigans before someone puts HER at the bottom of the deep blue sea? I’m not telling! Salmon in the Soup was one heck of a fast moving, suspenseful, thrill ride of a listen! Filled with interesting characters, convincing dialogue and more plot twists than a pretzel on steroids, this one kept me throughly engaged and delightfully entertained until well past my bedtime! I think what impressed me the most was at the reveal, not only did EVERYTHING make perfect sense, the writing was so well done that I was genuinely taken by surprise! This really was such a refreshing, entertaining, and engaging listen! The brilliant narration that brought this fantastic story to life was excellent! Salmon in the Soup gets a delicious five stars on all counts!